Published by Jen Flatt Osborn on August 26th, 2021
If marketing strategy is high on your list of priorities for your pet business, here's a NEWSFLASH: You need a blog! And you need to update your current one. I'm going to give you 10 good reasons why. Blogs saturate our virtual world. Unless you live in a cave, you're not only aware of them, you might even have a favorite. And if you're especially savvy, you have one of your own. With titles like "Millenial Monica's Musings of Motherhood," how could you not? Although they started as primarily a business/technology tool in the mid-90's, blogs eventually became one of the favorite forms of getting your opinion out online. If you can think of a subject, there's a blog about it: Pets, food, politics, even blogs about blogs and today, businesses that have them are ahead of their competitors who don't. If content strategy was a movie, blogging would star in it. Okay, let's get to it. Here's what you came for… 10 Reasons to Have a Blog or Things to Include In Your Blog for Those in the Pet Industry 1. Attract new leads -- You can advertise a blog on social media, in a newsletter or an email, a podcast, and more. This creates lead generation by bringing potential clients to your website via your blog. 2. Announce events -- Are you holding an adoption event? Is it Spoil Your Dog Day or National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day? (Actual holidays. Find more HERE.) Is there a Customer Appreciation Day you have planned? Let your customers know via a blog. Consumers are savvy now with the way they can find information about a company. Promote your blog on the home page where they'll be face-to-face with everything they need to know. 3. Announce employee achievements -- A blog is the perfect vehicle to communicate: > Someone on staff just adopted a new animal! Include pictures of Mom and Spunky together. Customers can never get enough dog and cat (or rabbit!) photos. > A promotion. If a volunteer has been promoted from dog walker to your administrative department, let everyone know! Personal stories create trust, loyalty, and allow people to feel like they're a part of your success. > If one of your employees will be training for a new certification, announce it! This will not only show appreciation but will also give customers a feeling of security in your practices. 4. To use your content strategy/SEO (Search Engine Optimization) directly -- One of the best places to utilize SEO practices is in a blog. Whether it be you, an employee, or a copywriter who publishes it, make sure everyone's on the same page with your voice and brand. Important note: Always have realistic expectations with even satisfactory use of SEO. There are MANY factors that determine your rank on the SERPS so if you don't see results in a reasonable amount of time, keep trying. 5. Announce monthly birthdays -- Ask new customers to fill out a short information form and find out when their big day is. Hold a monthly giveaway with prizes like: A percentage off a future purchase of a product or a service. A free bandana for their precious pooch. A free treat bag with their next purchase. 6. Take Surveys -- Get ideas for a short survey with unique and interesting questions about how well you're doing HERE. It's invaluable to see what's working and where you can improve. Keep checking the pulse of your organization and this is one excellent way to do it...To get the information directly from the horse's mouth. 7. Post animal stories -- Customers love to chat about their animals. Is there a bird pet who thinks she's a cat? An embarrassing story about the situation a dog put his guardians in? A gerbil who eats while he stands up? Get that sucker in your blog. Entertainment builds relationships. 8. Give detailed information about your business -- Go a step above the rest and explain your training process, the size of the cat beds and how much catnip they can safely ingest, and prices during the next sale. Transparency goes a long way towards getting and keeping loyal clients. 9. Tell your personal story of why you chose this vocation -- Even though the information should ideally be on your "About" page, reiterating it in your blog with more details will allow you to go deeper into your journey. 10. Introduce top staff members -- Owners, managers, board members, the employee who goes above and beyond for the animals...Give them the spotlight they deserve and sit back and watch the increase in morale and the added cohesiveness it provides. If you don't have a blog yet or you do, these are ideas you can move on immediately. Give your customers value 'til it hurts. Your competition is real and using such a large space to share about the things that make you tick will be a real benefit to them. So get your skates on and do the thing that will keep you up with the times and do your business good -- Blog! P.S.If you need blogs that will grab your customers' attention, gimme a shout! Contact me at jenflattosborn@writeawaycreations.com orhere.And my tail will be wagging.
