June 2019
How To Market Your Horse or Dog Care Business #1
28/06/19 20:02
You can get lots of different ideas on how to promote your horse or dog care business. This can include offline advertising, such as magazines and newspaper ads. Or online using websites and social media. But before you do any promotional and marketing work, you should consider some basics. These marketing basics are:
So let’s take these in turn and consider as an animal care professional what these might mean to you.
Messaging - Do you want potential customers to see you as an expert working with dogs? Or someone who travels helping animals around the world? Or is education your goal, and advising people on how best to care for their animals?
If you are an 'educator', make sure your marketing strategy shows how you will do this. For example, will you be holding workshops, lecturing on courses or at events? Spend some time thinking about what your messaging strategy is.
Ideal Customer - Research who your ideal customer is. So for example if you want to work with racehorses. Your ideal customer will be someone who trains racehorses. But then you can refine that further. So is your ideal customer a flat-racehorse or national hunt or a point to point trainer? Where is your ideal customer based? Understand what their interests might be and think of how and why they would want to be buying a service from you.
Fit in the marketplace - Are you the same or different from your competitors? You do need to understand who your competitors are and what they appear to be offering. But it’s not a race - remember you may not know how successful another business is anyway.
A good point to consider is that you want to attract your ideal customer. You may prefer to have clients who are regular and repeat customers. Clients who want you to help their horses or dogs for preventative treatments. Or you may prefer to travel to shows and competitions. Being able to help your animal athlete achieve their best performance.
In Conclusion - Be clear on what messages you want to get “out there”. If you know your ideal customer profile and where you want to be in the marketplace. You can then build on that and start developing your marketing strategy further. Whether you are a sole trader working by yourself or are a larger company. The principles of marketing remain the same.
What Should You Do Next?
Review your marketing plans. Do you need to make any changes? If your marketing is already going well, that's great. But could you make any refinements?
How to Make Your Equine or Canine Business Thrive
Email me at info @ taranet.co.uk for business coaching and consultancy information.
About The Author
Suzanne Harris is an equestrian and canine entrepreneurial coach and consultant to veterinarians who want to help prevent animals being affected by domestic abuse.
- What is the messaging you want to get across to your ideal customer?
- Who is your ideal customer?
- Where do you want to “fit” in the market place?
So let’s take these in turn and consider as an animal care professional what these might mean to you.
Messaging - Do you want potential customers to see you as an expert working with dogs? Or someone who travels helping animals around the world? Or is education your goal, and advising people on how best to care for their animals?
If you are an 'educator', make sure your marketing strategy shows how you will do this. For example, will you be holding workshops, lecturing on courses or at events? Spend some time thinking about what your messaging strategy is.
Ideal Customer - Research who your ideal customer is. So for example if you want to work with racehorses. Your ideal customer will be someone who trains racehorses. But then you can refine that further. So is your ideal customer a flat-racehorse or national hunt or a point to point trainer? Where is your ideal customer based? Understand what their interests might be and think of how and why they would want to be buying a service from you.
Fit in the marketplace - Are you the same or different from your competitors? You do need to understand who your competitors are and what they appear to be offering. But it’s not a race - remember you may not know how successful another business is anyway.
A good point to consider is that you want to attract your ideal customer. You may prefer to have clients who are regular and repeat customers. Clients who want you to help their horses or dogs for preventative treatments. Or you may prefer to travel to shows and competitions. Being able to help your animal athlete achieve their best performance.
In Conclusion - Be clear on what messages you want to get “out there”. If you know your ideal customer profile and where you want to be in the marketplace. You can then build on that and start developing your marketing strategy further. Whether you are a sole trader working by yourself or are a larger company. The principles of marketing remain the same.
What Should You Do Next?
Review your marketing plans. Do you need to make any changes? If your marketing is already going well, that's great. But could you make any refinements?
How to Make Your Equine or Canine Business Thrive
Email me at info @ taranet.co.uk for business coaching and consultancy information.
About The Author
Suzanne Harris is an equestrian and canine entrepreneurial coach and consultant to veterinarians who want to help prevent animals being affected by domestic abuse.
Client Testimonials
20/06/19 16:54
Hi,
Customer testimonials can create confidence in your horse or dog care business.
Using testimonials from your customers in your marketing can be helpful. Whether this is your website or leaflets, or other promotional materials.
But be clear with your customers who give you their testimonials what you're going to do with it. A testimonial could include a picture of your customer's horse or dog. Or be a couple of sentences about the benefits of your service.
A customer may not be happy to have their testimonial used on the internet. But they may be happy to have it used in a leaflet. Or vice versa.
An easy way for you and your customer to be clear is to have a simple agreement in place. When your customer provides a testimonial for your service. An agreement can help you be clear where you can use it.
Is it for:
i) Your own professional portfolio. (Could be useful for your continuous professional development or other training)
ii) Online (e.g. website or social media)
iii) Offline promotional materials (e.g. leaflets)
Agree how your customer wants to be 'labelled'. Is it for you to use their whole name and location? Or initials and area? Are they happy to be contacted by your new prospective customers?
Your customer should sign or confirm in writing. Agreeing that you can use the testimonial in whichever format they agree to.
Does this matter if the customer "volunteers" the testimonial?
Yes! Misunderstandings can occur. Avoid them by always having a clear agreement.
What next?
If you're already collecting testimonials, then are you already getting a signed agreement? If not, start today! Review existing testimonials with the customer to check they're happy.
If you're not already getting testimonials. Then if you see this of benefit to your marketing, then start doing it today. Many people are happy leaving reviews, so why not ask?!
How to Make Your Equine or Canine Business Thrive
Email me at info @ taranet.co.uk for business coaching and consultancy information.
About The Author
Suzanne Harris is an equestrian and canine entrepreneurial coach and consultant to veterinarians who want to help prevent animals being affected by domestic abuse.
Customer testimonials can create confidence in your horse or dog care business.
Using testimonials from your customers in your marketing can be helpful. Whether this is your website or leaflets, or other promotional materials.
But be clear with your customers who give you their testimonials what you're going to do with it. A testimonial could include a picture of your customer's horse or dog. Or be a couple of sentences about the benefits of your service.
A customer may not be happy to have their testimonial used on the internet. But they may be happy to have it used in a leaflet. Or vice versa.
An easy way for you and your customer to be clear is to have a simple agreement in place. When your customer provides a testimonial for your service. An agreement can help you be clear where you can use it.
Is it for:
i) Your own professional portfolio. (Could be useful for your continuous professional development or other training)
ii) Online (e.g. website or social media)
iii) Offline promotional materials (e.g. leaflets)
Agree how your customer wants to be 'labelled'. Is it for you to use their whole name and location? Or initials and area? Are they happy to be contacted by your new prospective customers?
Your customer should sign or confirm in writing. Agreeing that you can use the testimonial in whichever format they agree to.
Does this matter if the customer "volunteers" the testimonial?
Yes! Misunderstandings can occur. Avoid them by always having a clear agreement.
What next?
If you're already collecting testimonials, then are you already getting a signed agreement? If not, start today! Review existing testimonials with the customer to check they're happy.
If you're not already getting testimonials. Then if you see this of benefit to your marketing, then start doing it today. Many people are happy leaving reviews, so why not ask?!
How to Make Your Equine or Canine Business Thrive
Email me at info @ taranet.co.uk for business coaching and consultancy information.
About The Author
Suzanne Harris is an equestrian and canine entrepreneurial coach and consultant to veterinarians who want to help prevent animals being affected by domestic abuse.
Do You Prioritise Continuous Professional Development?
13/06/19 16:59
Hi
As a small business owner you may find it difficult to take the time out for training and development.
This can be for many reasons. But this is an important question..… Why should people spend their money and invest in your product or service, if you're not investing in you?
People's horses and dogs are precious to them. So they want reassurance that you'll give their animal the best possible service.
If you’re a member of a professional association there may be requirements set by them. Most need you to complete regular continuous professional development. This can be necessary to keep membership and ensure your skills are as up to date as they can be.
Have you got a coach or mentor? There’s many business coaches and mentors all around the world - and many who offer online support too. They can help fine tune your mindset and approach to developing your business. And help you to identify your goals.
Money could be an issue for you. But there are some excellent books available to help you. Is developing your mindset an area of growth for you? Then I recommend Niyc Pidgeon’s book “30 days to live your happiest life” - take a look online at Amazon here.
By investing in yourself. Whether that's through training courses, books or coaching. Then it can transform the quality of your work and relationships. Many of the world’s most successful people are learners. Always striving to learn and develop themselves.
Be Inspired
Here are some articles that I've found online, which maybe interesting reading for you:
Forget The 10,000-Hour Rule; Edison, Bezos, & Zuckerberg Follow The 10,000-Experiment Rule
The power of doing nothing at all
Regards, Suzanne
About The Author
Suzanne Harris is an equestrian and canine entrepreneurial coach and consultant to veterinarians who want to help prevent animals being affected by domestic abuse.
As a small business owner you may find it difficult to take the time out for training and development.
This can be for many reasons. But this is an important question..… Why should people spend their money and invest in your product or service, if you're not investing in you?
People's horses and dogs are precious to them. So they want reassurance that you'll give their animal the best possible service.
If you’re a member of a professional association there may be requirements set by them. Most need you to complete regular continuous professional development. This can be necessary to keep membership and ensure your skills are as up to date as they can be.
Have you got a coach or mentor? There’s many business coaches and mentors all around the world - and many who offer online support too. They can help fine tune your mindset and approach to developing your business. And help you to identify your goals.
Money could be an issue for you. But there are some excellent books available to help you. Is developing your mindset an area of growth for you? Then I recommend Niyc Pidgeon’s book “30 days to live your happiest life” - take a look online at Amazon here.
By investing in yourself. Whether that's through training courses, books or coaching. Then it can transform the quality of your work and relationships. Many of the world’s most successful people are learners. Always striving to learn and develop themselves.
Be Inspired
Here are some articles that I've found online, which maybe interesting reading for you:
Forget The 10,000-Hour Rule; Edison, Bezos, & Zuckerberg Follow The 10,000-Experiment Rule
The power of doing nothing at all
Regards, Suzanne
About The Author
Suzanne Harris is an equestrian and canine entrepreneurial coach and consultant to veterinarians who want to help prevent animals being affected by domestic abuse.
Learn How To Conquer Facebook
03/06/19 20:10
Hi,
Increasing the number of followers and post likes is an important goal for many Facebook page owners.
There’s a variety of theories as to what is the best time of day or time of week to post.
And I personally don’t feel that there is any huge difference. Instead the key is to post regularly and post good quality content.
If your Facebook page's most recent posts are from several weeks - or months - or even longer ago, it can give the impression that as a company/brand, you’re not using Facebook. Depending on your type of business, a lack of posts may even lead people to think you’re closed!
Tip: If you don't have time to use Facebook regularly for your business, don't use it!
Pick a social network that you can commit to regularly (and frequently) updating and engaging with potential clients. This means effectively using a social network you enjoy using, you are more likely to then do it.
Facebook offers a variety of techniques for page owners to promote your business. Of course, these often mean having to pay. But although it's of course possible to spend a lot of money on an advertising/promotion campaign. You can spend only modest amounts (e.g. less than £10 per week) and still gain good exposure for your business.
Do make use of targeting to define your audience, and use different audiences in order to see what works best.
So how can you define your audience? As an animal care professional, you can choose from people's interests and those who follow different subjects/pages - select those that are animal related.
For example if you want to promote a horse care business, you could choose people who follow a horse charity (e.g. World Horse Welfare, Redwings Horse Sanctuary) or an equine sport (e.g. British Eventing, Badminton Horse Trials, etc).
Neat Ideas for Increasing Facebook Engagement
Here are 5 popular tips:
What Next?
Get your free social media guide for animal care businesses. Email me at info @ taranet.co.uk to get your copy.
About the Author
Suzanne Harris is an equestrian and canine entrepreneurial coach and consultant to veterinarians who want to help prevent animals being affected by domestic abuse.
Increasing the number of followers and post likes is an important goal for many Facebook page owners.
There’s a variety of theories as to what is the best time of day or time of week to post.
And I personally don’t feel that there is any huge difference. Instead the key is to post regularly and post good quality content.
If your Facebook page's most recent posts are from several weeks - or months - or even longer ago, it can give the impression that as a company/brand, you’re not using Facebook. Depending on your type of business, a lack of posts may even lead people to think you’re closed!
Tip: If you don't have time to use Facebook regularly for your business, don't use it!
Pick a social network that you can commit to regularly (and frequently) updating and engaging with potential clients. This means effectively using a social network you enjoy using, you are more likely to then do it.
Facebook offers a variety of techniques for page owners to promote your business. Of course, these often mean having to pay. But although it's of course possible to spend a lot of money on an advertising/promotion campaign. You can spend only modest amounts (e.g. less than £10 per week) and still gain good exposure for your business.
Do make use of targeting to define your audience, and use different audiences in order to see what works best.
So how can you define your audience? As an animal care professional, you can choose from people's interests and those who follow different subjects/pages - select those that are animal related.
For example if you want to promote a horse care business, you could choose people who follow a horse charity (e.g. World Horse Welfare, Redwings Horse Sanctuary) or an equine sport (e.g. British Eventing, Badminton Horse Trials, etc).
Neat Ideas for Increasing Facebook Engagement
Here are 5 popular tips:
- Use a paid ‘follower acquisition’ campaign, using targeting to reflect who your ideal audience is.
- Pay to promote your post and send invites to whoever liked the post.
- Post a variety of content - video is great and often well-received. The Facebook algorithm often promotes video’s higher in people’s newsfeeds.
- Promote the fact you have a Facebook page on your marketing materials and invoices and receipts. This is often overlooked but is easy to achieve! Don’t forget to have your Facebook page name clearly stated, to make it easy.
- Incentivise people to like your page or posts - use a giveaway or prize draw. (NB: Make sure you follow any current Facebook rules for competitions that may apply).
What Next?
Get your free social media guide for animal care businesses. Email me at info @ taranet.co.uk to get your copy.
About the Author
Suzanne Harris is an equestrian and canine entrepreneurial coach and consultant to veterinarians who want to help prevent animals being affected by domestic abuse.