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This question has been closed, and points have been awarded.
Help With A Dog Sitting/walking Flyer
Posted By: aquaman0728 on 5/28/2005 1:41 PM (CST) 250 Points
I'm just starting a dog sitting service and I am tring to figure out something for a flyer thats concise, catchy and is geared towards dog walking and dog sitting please help thank you.

Posted by: mgoodman Accepted Answer
5/28/2005 4:43 PM (CST)
You need awareness more than anything. Catchy isn't nearly as important as communicating what you do and why you're better than anyone else at it. Less copy is better. Great graphics is the way to get people to notice. And be sure to include the call to action -- e.g., "For more information, call 1-800-PET-CARE."

Because this is a local business, you might want to reference the area you serve, so your target audience will know you're "one of them." And if you can get a reference/testimonial from a local vet (or two), that would be terrific.

Good luck.
 
Posted by: billc24 Accepted Answer
5/28/2005 4:49 PM (CST)
I would also try to anticipate major concerns or questions that people might have and address them on the flyer. Consider some sort of promotion such as first walk free if signed up in the next week, to give some urgency to the promotion. I would also clearly state what services you provide. I have a dog and have no idea what a dog walker does or how the service works. Tell me so that I am considering the service based on reality vs. my preconcieved notions.

Good luck!

Bill
 
Posted by: d_turps* Accepted Answer
5/29/2005 1:08 AM (CST)
You need to create your Mission Statement. Get testimonials from past clients/customers and put some of the testimonials on your flyers somewhere. Be concise in what your product has to offer and why they should choose your company rather than another that provides the same service.

Good Luck!
 
Posted by: eugene Accepted Answer
5/29/2005 10:26 PM (CST)
Adding on to the answers above, how many competitors do you currently have in your neighbourhood? Are they doing a good job or are the popular?

I would think that this business is very much based on trust and how comfortable people with you or your employees.

Getting testimonials from past or current clients would be great, and if you can get word of mouth advertising, all the better. Perhaps you can offer your friends / customers something for promoting to their friends or neighbours, perhaps free dog walking / sitting for a day or a week etc.

As to your flyer, make it look like fun but professional at the same time. Very important is a contact number and address, some people would want to check you out before entrusting you with their pets. Put a picture of your dog if you can, somehow that influences people. I mean, would you hand over your dog to someone to walk if that person has never had a dog?

Good luck.
 
Posted by: michael Accepted Answer
5/30/2005 9:34 AM (CST)
Try considering WHEN people would need a dog sitter. Are we talking about when they go to the store? Or are we talking about from 6pm to 3am when they're working the night shift?

Because most of the ideas are already given about, try focusing on the alternatives with headlines like:
"Think your dog likes sitting the a hot car in the "Barking-lot" at the store? Under that something like: The 4 things vets warn about leaving your dog in the car. Don't forget to get REAL ideas from a vet.

You can also go with something simple like: "Thinking about hiring a dog walker but afraid of the risks? If they've ever even considered it (what we call the Breakthrough stage because the idea has broken through into their brain) they'll pick up the flyer. Follow it up with something like "The plusses and minuses of using a walking service". Make sure the minuses are stated so they beccome a plus. e.g., "You won't be able to put off that office project you've been avoiding"

Woof!
 
Posted by: Holy City Rollers* Accepted Answer
5/31/2005 3:33 AM (CST)
Call the business "Lucky Dog" Walkers and sitters. Maybe create a flyer using photo-shop, showing YOU being walked by a dog...or maybe you sitting in a dog house with the caption "Been There Done That".... something funny and lighthearted that will get the readers attention.

How about this, "BARK BARK, BARK BARK, WOOF WOOF" Translated, "Take me to Lucky Dog walkers please!"
Something like that...

Or
“When you gotta go and your dogs gotta go call Lucky Dog.

Or
”When you gotta go you gotta go, and if your dogs gotta go call Lucky Dog.”
The graphics possibilities are endless…..
 
Posted by: duvet* Accepted Answer
5/31/2005 2:07 PM (CST)
Personally, in order for me to consider a dog sitter, I'd like references and some kind of assurance that my dog is safe in your area, or that my house is safe if you come there. I think TRUST is a big issue and I would stress that.
Do you have any type of training in case of an accident or dog fight? If so state it. State exactly what services you are willing to perform, including (if applicable) distace you are willing to travel, weather you are willing to walk in, types of animals you will accept or not accept. It doesnt have to be a hugs boring bit of information, but you can have that smaller near the bottom once they are interested enough to read the flyer.

My suggestion would be a headline along the lines of "Who can take care of your baby the way you do"? or something similar. Help the customer to see you as a surrogate mother if you would. A cute graphic of a puppy with a pacifier or something.

Good luck and hey are you in my area?? I need you
Vicky (pittsburgh)
 
Posted by: aquaman0728 Author Response
6/2/2005 2:55 PM (CST)
Sorry for taking a long time to respond back, All of your responses are great and I thank you all. I'm looking for maybe a few more reponses cause I know there's some other great ideas out there. I will no matter what close the question in 2 days. billc24 I like that giving a walk free idea. I'm not looking to put alot of info on the flyer like testimonials I think that would be great if I was putting out a brochure. What do you all think about this:
(my business name) your trustworthy, dog freindly and schedual punctual dog sitting and walking service References available sevicing (my city) in (blank,blank and blank) areas for more information call (my name) (my #)
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?
 
Posted by: Mushfique Manzoor Accepted Answer
6/5/2005 1:49 AM (CST)
hi aquaman

great response from experts. my 2 cents...

1. it will be better if you can have the endorsement of some of satisfied your clients and of the vets. it should tbe opening of the flyer. i.e Dr. XXX or Mr. YYY recommends as Dog sitter/walker etc.
2. if you have been a K-9 team member do mention about that. usually K-9 teams are great handlers of dogs.
3. talk about your training of dog handling/sitting/walking
4. also the flyer should have some pictures of dogs are playing with some stuff, like balls, frisbees etc. so that the dog-owners know that the dog wont be bored at your place.
5. i like bill's idea of 1st Walking Free and having a telephone number as mentioned by micheal
6. make the flyer in the shape of a big bone(usually associated with dogs)

hope this helps.

cheers!!
 
Posted by: Mushfique Manzoor Member Response
6/5/2005 1:53 AM (CST)
adding to my earlier post....

can you video your dog sitting/walking/handling sessions and copy into CD to be distributed with the flyer. try to cover all aspects that you do during a dog sitting/walking session.

cheers!!
 
Posted by: CJ* Accepted Answer
6/5/2005 4:04 AM (CST)
Get a small visiting card type mailer with a crisp short message: "Next time you've to leave your dog back home...just call XYZ on 010101010 (Your Phone)".
Hand this visiting card over, push it under the wipers of the cars, or stick it on the driver side window. Our experience had been that people tend to preserve the visiting card whereas the flier would normally be thrown away.
 
Posted by: CJ* Member Response
6/5/2005 4:05 AM (CST)
Have small magnetic buttons captioned 'Dog Sitters" and telephone number, which people would invariably stick it somewhere. Distribute it in the neighborhood and watch the results.
 
Posted by: michaldover* Accepted Answer
6/11/2005 9:15 AM (CST)
Hi

I would continue on the line that Holy City Rollers
suggested and have a picture of two dogs tanning with sunglasses and talking about their last experiences dog walking

One dog’s owners( name the owners honey and muffin)took them out so late and another dog sharing an experience of a neighbor babysitting but really only coming in once a day.
A third dog saying something like Baby and Yes dear ( the owners’ names) know that I need that special touch that's why they took me to : oh my! you’re so cute( name of the lady in Lucky dog according to the third dog), she knew exactly what I was talking about.

End it with Lucky Dog a place that talks the talk and walks the walk.
Or something of that sort.

Hope this helps
Michal
 
Posted by: carrie77 Moderator Response
6/12/2005 7:59 AM (CST)
Hello all. I am closing this question since it's more than 2 weeks old. We do this to reward the contributions of participants in a timely manner + to give increased visibility to the newer questions.

Thanks for participating!
Carrie (Production Editor)
 


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