Does your to-do list feel like it’s running away with you? Having your own business means you’re juggling so many different tasks and keeping on top of them and prioritising is a job in itself. Keeping on top of things can cause stress and overwhelm and this week on the podcast I’m chatting to Amy Mitchell, a systems expert, on how to overcome this. Amy specialises in helping small businesses use Asana, a project management tool or ‘second brain’ which can help you manage your work so you have m...
Dec 15, 2022•48 min•Ep. 145
Are you considering starting a podcast for your pet business? Having your own show is a way for you to let people get a glimpse of what it’s like to work with you and build trust and a feeling of familiarity fast. Because you’re in your listener’s ears, there’s a real intimacy about the relationship. You have their attention much more so than you might on social media or other communication channels where other distractions can take over. And if people like what you do, the ripple effect means t...
Dec 08, 2022•32 min•Ep. 144
Dog trainer Aileen Stevenson’s social media posts are regularly shared dozens of times, often attract over a hundred comments and power her business. She creates meaningful content that people connect with, written from the heart, sharing observations from her own dog Charlie and the dogs she supports. Only five years ago, Aileen was working as an accountant then retrained as a dog trainer and fulfilled her dream of building a successful business. She’s written a book, Dogs, Bumps and Babies and...
Dec 01, 2022•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 143
Would you love to go into the Christmas holidays knowing that you had all of your marketing for January done? You need my Plan Your Jan three day challenge. It’s happening from November 28th - 30th and it’s to get you thinking about what you’re going to be promoting in 2023. You’ll come away bursting with ideas for different ways to talk about your offer. And you can relax over Christmas knowing your marketing for the first and most miserable month of the year is already done. Learn what to expe...
Nov 24, 2022•11 min•Ep. 142
Whether you are an aspiring or established breeder, looking for a new furry family member, or simply a pet parent who wants to learn, you’ll love this inspirational, informative podcast with expert dog breeder Rebecca Walters from Pupstarts Breeders. Rebecca has worked with dogs for over two decades. She started out working for councils in London, picking up stray dogs from the streets. While some found new homes, but ultimately it led to many dogs being put to sleep and Rebecca had to deal with...
Nov 17, 2022•43 min•Ep. 141
When you’re creating content for your pet business, you may have been told it’s key to attract your ideal client. And what if you could send your nightmare clients running to the hills too? You can with a Content Fortress - where you create a Kingdom of Happiness for your business. It’s a concept created by Martin Huntbach and Lyndsay Cambridge, founders of Jammy Digital, a content marketing and website company and authors of The Content Fortress. In this podcast episode they share everything yo...
Nov 10, 2022•53 min•Ep. 140
When you run your own business, promoting what you do is one of the many tasks you need to learn fast and get on with. You’re grappling with what to post on social media, what platforms are best for you, whether you should have a blog, what your audience likes and much more. That’s why I’m creating the Pets Get Visible mini-membership as a place for you to go to get the support and resources you need to figure this stuff out. It’s a simple toolkit with the essentials you need to market your busi...
Nov 03, 2022•21 min•Ep. 139
Bella Vasta is a pet sitter turned marketing coach and she has over two decades experience in running a thriving business. She’s weathered several recessions and economic crashes, the Coronavirus pandemic, political upheaval and much more in her own business and supporting others. In this episode she’s sharing her no fluff advice on how you can weather the storm of the cost of living crisis. And how actually, we should always be prepared for something to come along and throw a spanner in the wor...
Oct 27, 2022•41 min•Ep. 138
If you’ve got a pet product business you’ll love this episode with Jo Milnes where she’s sharing the marketing activities that have worked for Distinctive Pets. Including what goes on behind the scenes of her awareness day, Muddy Dog Day, which is happening on October 29th. Jo has three pet businesses, a horse stud, a dog friendly holiday cottage and she set up Distinctive Pets, selling products for pets, pet parents and the home in 2016. In that time she’s tried all kinds of things, starting wi...
Oct 20, 2022•28 min•Ep. 137
The words ‘Future Proof’ are everywhere at the minute especially with the cost of living crisis. And this week's podcast guest is here to share with you how to do this for your pet business. I'm chatting to Lucy Rennie, she’s a communications expert and she’s been talking about Future Proofing your business for years and shares everything you need to know. From making your clients feel special to launching special products or services in line with what is happening in the world and turning uncer...
Oct 13, 2022•40 min•Ep. 136
Do you see other pet businesses talking about awareness days and national days and feel like it’s something you’d like to start doing? But you’re not sure how, or maybe you’re worried it might seem a bit random or cheesy or that it has to be your day? Here are some common questions around awareness days and how best to use them in your pet business content. Plus examples from pet business owners who've created their own days and how they've boosted their business. Key topics and timings in this ...
Oct 06, 2022•19 min•Ep. 135
Would you love to be able to magic 30 social media posts from a video you’ve already recorded or an article you’ve written? If so you will love this podcast with Skarlet Rockwood, a pet business content marketing expert and the creator of the Pawprint Method. It’s a system where you turn one piece of core content, so a blog, podcast or video or a live into up to 30 posts. Rather than sharing it once, you use it over and over - without it sounding tired or boring! Skarlett and I chat about how to...
Sep 29, 2022•35 min•Ep. 134
Would you love to feel more comfortable sharing what you do in your pet business? Telling your potential clients and customers about the product or service you offer and how it can help them? Without sounding pushy, selly or desperate. If so, the Be Bold Bootcamp for pet businesses is for you. It’s a short course designed to give you a gentle nudge when it comes to marketing your business. Over four weeks you’ll learn to feel more at ease sharing the passion that inspired your business, identify...
Sep 28, 2022•46 min•Ep. 130
Looking for some inspiration for your pet business marketing this winter? As the dark nights draw in and the temperatures drop, the needs of pets and pet parents can change and so does the way you talk about your product or service. Key holidays like Bonfire night, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year are opportunities for you to pitch to the press too. And the sooner you get your ideas together and sent off, the more likely it is that your story will be picked up. The same for social...
Sep 22, 2022•32 min•Ep. 133
Want to know what it takes to build a sustainable and profitable pet product business? Listen in to this episode with Debbie Humphreys from Redhound for Dogs who has 12 years experience in the pet industry. Starting out designing outfits for her whippet to writing a book on Dogs In Jumpers to surviving and thriving in the pandemic and raising thousands for charity. Debbie has tested out so many things when it comes to growing her business and shares so much wisdom in this episode. It’s a must li...
Sep 15, 2022•44 min•Ep. 132
This podcast is following the sad news about Queen Elizabeth II passing away in September 2022. The aim of the episode is to share some thoughts on how to navigate this sad news as a small business owner. It's thoughts, not advice, and I'm sharing it as it can feel challenging knowing what to do (if anything) in these situations. Here are the key points covered and timings: 0.58 - Why people have such fondness for the Queen. 1.21 - Protocols, the impact and the loss of a figurehead being played ...
Sep 09, 2022•10 min•Ep. 131
Do you feel like you’re forever being told about what you’ll miss out on if you don’t ‘put yourself out there?’ You know that being seen more will bring more inquires, sales and customers, but it doesn’t stop it feeling daunting and overwhelming. So how about you reframe it and look at who will miss out if you’re not visible? There will be people searching for what you do on Google, asking for recommendations from friends and family on social media, asking in person. And if no-one knows who you ...
Sep 01, 2022•24 min•Ep. 129
Is it ok to press pause on your business for a month? This summer you might have heard business owners talking about taking big chunks of time off, or taking August off, or even the entire summer. When you work for yourself it can take over your life. You can’t turn off your work phone at 5pm on a Friday and walk away from your computer. You worry whether your clients might be upset if you don’t respond on a weekend, and you live, sleep and breathe your business. Being in the thick of it 24/7, 3...
Jul 28, 2022•16 min•Ep. 128
Would you love to have more reviews for your pet product or service? You go above and beyond for your clients and wouldn’t it be lovely if they would shout about you from the rooftops? People are busy going about their day, they’re not thinking about raving about you on the internet, so how do you make it happen? Keep going and don’t feel disheartened because reviews have clout. A huge 49 per cent of people in a recent study said they trust a review as much as a recommendation from a friend or f...
Jul 21, 2022•27 min•Ep. 127
Do you find you get loads of engagement on your social media, and people love your stuff, but they’re not hitting the ‘buy’ button? It can be frustrating, and with a lack in customer confidence thanks to the state of the economy and upheaval in Government, small businesses are feeling the pinch. This week on the podcast I’m chatting to my friend and marketing expert Niki Hutchison on the topic of converting browsers to buyers. She’s sharing so many tips and strategies you can follow to turn thos...
Jul 14, 2022•43 min•Ep. 126
Would you love to get more engagement on your social media posts from your potential clients rather than people in your industry? If so, you’ll love this chat with dog trainer coach Erin Moore about how create content for pet parents rather than pet professionals. It’s for you if you feel like your social media is an echo chamber. Where you get more interest on posts from other pet professionals - who won’t ever need to buy your services. When it’s actually pet owners who you want to attract. Er...
Jul 07, 2022•45 min•Ep. 125
Are you looking for inspiration for ideas for your pet business this summer? The hot weather presents so many content and media opportunities. From safety messages pet parents need to hear over and over again about not leaving their dogs in cars, to fun games and products pets can enjoy. Having your content planned out means you can be consistent with marketing for your social media, newsletter, email marketing and press pitches. Then you’re front of mind for your existing customers, plus if you...
Jun 30, 2022•25 min•Ep. 124
Is getting in the press something a focus for you and your pet business? Perhaps you’re thinking of hiring a PR company to do this for you? Or considering learning how to do it yourself? If you see the value in being seen in newspapers, news websites, magazines, TV and on the radio and you have a pet business, my Get Your Pet Business in the Press is a way for you to learn how to go about it. In this podcast episode I'm sharing all you need to know if you're considering taking part. The next coh...
Jun 23, 2022•24 min
What happens if your pet business goes VIRAL? Niki French from Puptalk knows all about it. Earlier this year she launched her first #Dontwalkyourdogday and it reached millions of people all over the world.. Niki, a dog trainer from Twickenham in London, is author of the book Stop Walking Your Dog and created the awareness day to shine the spotlight on her book. She pitched it to the press and her story was picked up by over a dozen outlets, leading to hundreds of thousands of posts and discussio...
Jun 23, 2022•51 min•Ep. 123
Can you get your pet business in the press for free? Yes you absolutely can. Would you love to see your pet business in your favourite magazine, your local newspaper, or to be invited to talk on the radio or even the telly? So you can reach more of the pet parents who need what you offer, make an impact and more sales too? Learn how to Get Your Pet Business in the Press in this free five day challenge that has seen hundreds of pet businesses land awesome media coverage. Getting in the press isn’...
Jun 16, 2022•20 min•Ep. 122
What would you do if someone copied your pet business? That’s what happened to Debbie Humphreys from Redhound for Dogs, not once but TWICE. The first time was a department store who copied knitting kits she’d made for dog jumpers. The second was someone who ripped off her entire product, buying her designs, and using the exact pattern. In this episode Debbie shares what it’s like to find out you’ve been copied, and how to take action to protect yourself. She talks about the emotional impact and ...
Jun 09, 2022•48 min•Ep. 121
Are you thinking of starting a pet blog or a blog for your pet business? Having a blog gives you a creative outlet to share whatever you like, whether it’s showing off your pet or putting something you feel passionate in the spotlight. It’s a platform you control, where you’re not at the mercy of ever changing social platform trends and algorthityms. Particularly with the changes happening on social media right now where you might feel like you don't know if you're coming or going! You can publi...
May 26, 2022•37 min•Ep. 119
Promoting your business can feel like a full time job along with creating your product or delivering your service. And imagine what it might be like if you had TWO businesses to think about? This week’s podcast guest is Louise Humphrey from Paws4Running and Studio 44 Pilates and that’s exactly what she does. Two sets of social media, newsletter subscribers, websites and communities, plus a podcast and lots more. Louise takes it all in her stride and in this episode we chat about how she juggles ...
May 19, 2022•28 min•Ep. 118
In this episode I'm talking about a topic that comes up a lot. Why I DON'T do done for you PR. Deciding to set up a coaching business rather than offering done for you PR has meant it has taken me a LOT longer to be able to bring in enough income to have this as my sole revenue stream. And it is still a work in progress. In this episode I'm talking about why I made this decision, and how learning to do your own PR can empower you as a small business owner. Plus, how you can work with me and lear...
May 12, 2022•25 min•Ep. 117
Is improving your Instagram on your to-do list? Then you will LOVE this episode with Helen Perry from the ‘Just Bloody Post It’ podcast. Helen has grown a huge, engaged following on the platform and shows how small businesses can do the same on her own Instagram account, her podcast and online courses and workshops. In this chat, Helen shares loads of brilliant marketing advice that can be applied no matter what platform you’re on! And as a former BBC Radio One journalist, she gives some bonus t...
May 05, 2022•52 min•Ep. 116
