Can understanding the different functional characters of the dogs you support help you as a pet professional? Heather Stevens is a dog trainer who is on a mission to educate people in the industry around this topic and believes it can. She'd spent her life training dogs and 10 years studying the different functional characters and helping pet professionals and owners identify the characters of different dogs. The process is a little like the Myers-Briggs personality tests you might have taken in...
Jul 02, 2024•43 min•Ep. 207
Do qualifications matter when you’re working as a pet professional or running a pet business? This is a topic that comes up regularly on my coaching calls, and online, with a range of clients from different parts of the industry. It might be that you run a business creating products, and your qualifications might be around production, sustainability, marketing or HR if you have a team. You might have a pet service business and have studied for a range of accreditations and certifications to demo...
Jun 25, 2024•32 min•Ep. 206
Helen ‘Scotty’ King is a cartoonist and illustrator supporting business owners in the pet industry by bringing their messages to life. She works with all kinds of clients, including holiday cottage owners, product makers, coaches, and people providing pet services, capturing the essence of what they do. Helen says she was ‘rubbish’ at drawing growing up, but loved the work of Walt Disney as a little girl and set herself a challenge to learn to create cartoons. She studied for an online diploma i...
Jun 18, 2024•50 min•Ep. 205
In this bonus episode, I'm sharing key takeaways from the Business of Pets event organised by the Pet Industry Federation. This covers range of topics including the importance of having a mentor, the value of a strong support network, the need for a business plan, and the significance of knowing your numbers. Plus the power of storytelling, the impact of customer confidence on the pet industry, and the role of influencers in promoting pet brands. You'll also learn about the innovative products a...
Jun 08, 2024•34 min•Ep. 204
Would you like support in growing your pet business and to feel part of a community by joining a membership? It can be lonely and overwhelming as a solo business owner, and there are always new skills and challenges to figure out. Being part of a community of other people who are in your industry and are experiencing the same thing can be valuable and that’s where memberships come in. Over the last ten years there has been a rise in online communities, and there are many different pet business o...
Jun 04, 2024•22 min•Ep. 203
Can playing to your strengths rather than focusing on your challenges help you feel more comfortable with self-promotion? Sasha Louise Smith, a life coach supporting dog professionals, says embracing what makes you unique can help your business thrive, on your own terms. Sasha has worked in the dog industry since 2015, as a walker, trainer and dog boarder. She decided to train as a coach after experiencing burnout and benefiting from a mentor herself, Christina Cass from Epic Dog. Now an accredi...
May 28, 2024•47 min•Ep. 202
Are you looking to approach content creators to feature your pet business? In this podcast episode, I'm talking about why thinking 'What's in it for them,' rather than 'What's in it for me,' will drastically improve your pitch success rate. One of the exercises I do with my clients is to ask them to create a ‘wishlist’ of publications where they’d like to be published. Regularly, people will get in touch and say, ‘I want to be in this magazine or on this podcast or work with this blogger.’ It mi...
May 07, 2024•24 min•Ep. 201
Would you love to secure press coverage for your pet business and need some story inspiration? You’ll find plenty in this blog post and episode of the podcast where I’m sharing my top 20 favourite stories from five years of helping clients get in the press. To celebrate the 200th episode of the Your Pet Business Content, Your Way podcast, I’ve rounded up a selection to show what journalists look for. Since I began working with small businesses supporting them with approaching the media, there ha...
Apr 30, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 200
Do you find yourself worrying around how much engagement you have on your social media accounts? This is a topic I find comes up repeatedly on social media, in Facebook group conversations, and in the coaching calls I run in my membership. Pet professionals who are doing a brilliant job of caring for animals and supporting their clients, making brilliant products that make a difference. Yet they become tied up in knots with social media, trying to keep up with the ever changing demands of platfo...
Apr 16, 2024•34 min•Ep. 199
Are you fed up with feeling awkward when selling your product or service? If so, I think you’ll love this episode with sales expert Sara Dalrymple, author of More Sales Please, where we’re talking about letting go of the discomfort you feel around asking for money. You started your business because you wanted to do good work and make a difference, and for this to happen, you need to earn a living. You likely love doing your work, and Sara says that simply ‘developing a love of talking about what...
Apr 09, 2024•49 min•Ep. 198
Would you love to be an award-winning pet business? To gain recognition for the hard work you do and stand out from the competition? Whether you own a grooming salon, a pet shop, training or dog walking service, or you make products that make a difference, being involved in industry awards will boost your credibility and attract new customers. In this podcast episode, I'm sharing reasons you should aspire to be an award-winning pet business. Plus tips on choosing the right award for you and usin...
Mar 26, 2024•22 min•Ep. 197
What do you do when something happens in your life, and it means you have to stop everything in your business to deal with it? We live in an uncertain world, and the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic has shown that you don’t know what might be coming around the corner to turn your life upside down. And while your business is a huge part of your life, there are inevitable things that happen with your family and loved ones which, at times, mean they need to come first. Running a business is challenging du...
Mar 19, 2024•35 min•Ep. 196
Each year Theo Paphitis puts on his Small Business Sunday winner's event in Birmingham to celebrate small businesses and give them a boost. It's a brilliantly inspiring day where Theo and his panel of experts give so much encouragement and line up fabulous speakers to educate and inspire you. This year, we had talks on using AI in your marketing from Google and a spotlight session from Susan Bonnar, founder of The British Craft House and a former SBS winner. NatWest chaired a panel discussion wi...
Feb 27, 2024•33 min•Ep. 195
Are you thinking of joining my Pets Get Visible membership? If so, this podcast episode is for you. Inside you’ll learn what the membership is, the different elements inside of it, and what’s in it for you if you join. Plus my clients Helen and Nina share their experience of being part of it. If you know you’re ready to join, here’s the link: https://publicityforpetbusinesses.mykajabi.com/pets-get-visible Key topics and timings in this episode 0.43 - this week's topic - my Pets Get Visible membe...
Feb 20, 2024•31 min•Ep. 194
Is your pet business marketing in need of some tender loving care? I’d love to invite you to my ‘Show your pet business some love’ challenge. It’s a free five day challenge taking place from February 12th - 16th 2024 where you shake things up in your pet business and remember why you fell in love in the first place! With Valentine’s Day coming, I decided to create a free event around showing the love and you can learn what to expect in this episode. SAVE YOUR SPACE HERE: https://publicityforpetb...
Feb 10, 2024•14 min•Ep. 134
What do you do when you see pet professionals who use aversive methods being given a platform to share their views? And when your kind, force-free training methods are challenged in the mainstream media? This podcast is in response to a recent story in The Times newspaper about ‘How man’s best friend became the master.’ In the article, positive reinforcement training was mocked and challenged, and Colin Tennant from the Cambridge Institute of Dog Training and Behaviour was quoted as having said:...
Feb 06, 2024•24 min•Ep. 193
Do you need to write a press release about your pet business? You're in the right place! This episode will cover everything you need to know when it comes to creating a press release for your pet business. But what I’m really keen to stress is that there is more to landing press coverage than writing a press release. What journalists want are stories, and by the end of this episode, you’ll have a sense of how to go about finding them in your pet business, plus what you can do if you’d like some ...
Jan 30, 2024•33 min•Ep. 192
What do you need to create a successful online dog training business? Caroline Wilkinson from Barket Place is a dog trainer, behaviourist, and online pet coach and created her digital business way before the world went online. Her background is in digital marketing and when her first dog Ezri came into her life she wanted to learn more about how our dogs think and feel. So she decided to study dog training and behaviour, first shadowing another pet professional, then studying to become a trainer...
Jan 23, 2024•46 min•Ep. 191
Are you ready to plan out 2024 for your pet business? Whether the start of the New Year has you brimming with enthusiasm or you’d rather ease yourself in gently, it’s likely you’ve been thinking about what you’d like to accomplish. And if you’d like some structure and support around this, I’d love to invite you to a 'Plan Your Prosperous 2024' workshop. It’s happening on Tuesday, January 9th, at 7 pm, and there is a replay if you can’t make it live. Together we’ll look at your personal, financia...
Jan 09, 2024•15 min•Ep. 190
Is raising your profile and feeling more confident when it comes to being visible one of your goals for 2024? If so, it would be great to chat about working together! As a journalist, pet blogger, and visibility coach specializing in working with small businesses in the pet industry, I’d love to help you get noticed. There are a range of options to choose from, starting with my budget-friendly Pets Get Visible membership to working together one to one. In this podcast episode, I’m outlining the ...
Dec 26, 2023•22 min•Ep. 189
How was 2023 for you? Is it a year you’re happy to look back on or one you’d rather forget? This week’s podcast is about reflecting on the last 12 months because there will be high points and inside of the challenges there are always lessons. It’s also about looking forward to 2024 and thinking about what you want for your business for the year ahead. So that you can break your goals down into manageable milestones and think about what you’d like to focus on. The episode also talks about being k...
Dec 12, 2023•30 min•Ep. 188
Have you ever thought about the culture of your pet business? This topic came up recently during a discovery call with a client, and I realised I had never taken the time to define my own. Your culture is comprised of the values, beliefs, behaviors, and environment that shape your brand or business. It plays a significant role in how you operate and communicate with prospective customers and clients, influencing how people experience your brand and why they choose you. In this episode, I cover w...
Dec 05, 2023•34 min•Ep. 187
Tracey McLennan is a dog trainer specialising in working with dogs with high prey drive. After studying for a degree and a Masters, decided she wanted to have her work feature in a journal. It was a challenging process with her surveying over 2,000 dog owners and studying over 90 videos of dogs. And earlier this year Tracey had her findings published in the Journal of Applied Animal Behaviour Science. In this podcast episode, we chat about her journey from working in IT to following her dream an...
Nov 27, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 186
You know what you offer in your pet business makes a difference, but how do people know you’re there to help if they don’t know what you do? When it comes to creating content to effectively market your work so you CAN reach the people out there who need you, there’s so much conflicting advice. New platforms, different demands, the latest trends, it’s no surprise it leads to huge overwhelm and makes you want to hide away. Returning to the question ‘how will they know you’re there to help?’ can be...
Nov 21, 2023•41 min•Ep. 185
Learn from Natasha Courtenay-Smith about how to keep up with the content monsters and what being visible means for a small business for the next three years. Natasha is a journalist turned digital marketing expert who has a string of businesses including Buddy and Lola, a pet supplement brand. She's a powerhouse with a capital P when it comes to marketing and we talk about content monsters and the lessons small business owners and solopreneurs can learn from big brands and gurus like Gary Vayner...
Nov 14, 2023•51 min•Ep. 184
Christmas is right around the corner and this is such an exciting time for you and your pet business. People love spending money on pets during the holidays, whether it’s treating their furry family members to new toys, tasty treats, fun accessories, and more. If you provide a service, you’ll likely be in high demand as a pet sitter, groomer, or trainer helping pets be on their best behaviour when visitors call round. So it’s vital for pet parents get to see you and for you to showcase how your ...
Nov 07, 2023•18 min•Ep. 183
When you're running a business, it often feels like there's never a moment to catch your breath, with a constant stream of tasks demanding your attention. This week's podcast looks into the significance of occasionally hitting the pause button. This allows you to assess what's working, take stock, and give yourself a moment to breathe! I'll be discussing how the concept of 'pause' functions in coaching, whether you're in the role of a coach or a coachee (client). Remember that any form of educat...
Oct 10, 2023•29 min•Ep. 182
When you make a decision in your pet business, do you consider the impact on your physical and mental health, or do you tend to think about the money? I'm chatting about this with my podcast guest Jane Ardern, and whether you really do need to grow a huge pet business. Or whether it's ok to have one that brings in enough money to pay the bills, give you a comfortable lifestyle and the time to enjoy with your own animals. As solopreneurs, we have to think about money and bring in enough to surviv...
Oct 03, 2023•54 min•Ep. 181
When you started your small business, did you think there would be a smooth path to growth, an upwards trajectory? This week on the podcast, I’m talking about the rollercoaster ride that is being your own boss, and why we need to talk about the lows as well as the highs. The highs are those moments of exhilaration, when you’re riding high at the top of the rollercoaster. Then there’s the lows, where you feel like you’ve been shaken around and come crashing down to the ground, and might find your...
Sep 26, 2023•44 min•Ep. 180
Can you grow a pet service business via in-person networking? Hayley Hilton, a canine massage practitioner and pet sitter says yes you can. Hayley has been in the pet industry since 2014 after she started her own Hotel for Dogs. Later, she studied to become a massage therapist and wanted to get the word out there in her local community. While online is often seen as the ideal way to reach people, Hayley went old school. She joined groups like 4Networking and BNI, and soon built a steady client b...
Sep 19, 2023•59 min•Ep. 179
