A Pet Business Website

You've heard all the talk, and you've browsed the internet some but still not sure about creating a website? Well if you're considering starting a pet business, a website is a must. Now don't let that line scare you, creating and publishing a website is easier than ever and is completely affordable no matter what your goals are.

We'll briefly cover the basics, but understand you'll need to research the best options for you and your pet business. Because you're entering a niche market with a pet related business there are companies who cater directly to you in assisting you in your pet website creation endeavors.

In your first steps you'll want to decide on what your pet website will do. Will it just provide a page to tell visitors about your services/products, will your site share pet related information, or will you sell straight from your site? Or maybe a combination of the three? You'll need to think of a great website name as well. For this step brainstorm several ideas, and try to include what you'll do in your name. But be careful you don't want a super long name, this will be difficult to remember and hard to fit onto materials later on.

GOOD EXAMPLES: Pet Passion Walkers, Doggie Duty Waste Clean-up, NOT SO GOOD EXAMPLE: Sarah's Pet Walking, Sitting and Boarding Services.

Start looking at similar sites and get a feel for what you like and take notes on design cues. This DOES NOT MEAN COPY, please ensure you're not copying an exact copy of another pet related website, this is illegal not to mention distasteful. For instance if you find a site with a great organizational structure make a note of that. Or great navigation order? Make a note.

Keep track of what type of information you want to include on your website. Keeping your content specific to your pet services or products will allow more customers to find you easier and keep the search engines happy. What does that mean? People can find you faster or better through search engine sites like Google, Yahoo, Ask.com and others.

If you decide to go with a website builder company not in the pet business niche look for clues of professionalism, longevity and support. Look for 'live' customer sites, a complete list of features for their packages, technical support that is free and readily available. Also at this point you should have an idea of what you want out of your website so that you can match this up with what is available from the providers. Most reputable hosting and web building companies will offer a great site builder, at least 3 email accounts(so you can have info[at]yourdomain.com etc), technical support, great server uptime usually 99% or better, plenty of disk space usually 500 mega bytes or more, and enough bandwidth that if you get a surge in traffic your pet business website can handle it.

And Trust Me... DO NOT use those FREE WEBSITE, DOMAIN companies. Where you don't pay in hosting or for your domain you pay in technical support (or lack thereof), and user-friendly ease. These companies usually 'get you' in other ways that are not ethical or industry standards. So please do your research and if you've got questions...We've Got Answers, just ask.

For more information on building Your Pet Business Website Go Here!

**3 Pet Businesses You Can Start Today**

Need some pet business idea boosters? We list some great idea starters to get your start-up started!

1* Pooper Scooper- It's hard to believe but you can make a good living picking up 'doody' for pet parents who either don't have the time to do it themselves, or would rather spend their time doing otherwise. This business is appealing due to the low start-up costs, no special skills needed, and no special equipment to purchase. In a nutshell if you can navigate a shovel, plastic bags and can tolerate the less than appealing aroma, you're in business! Or if you prefer you can hire hands to do the 'doody work' and you can handle the admin side of the business. Taking care of spreading the word, handling mobile payments, scheduling appointments and managing the team.

You'll want to get the word out by talking with local vets, visiting dog parks where pet parents hang-out with their pets, and posting on community listings boards. Don't forget your weekly community newspapers as well, their advertising rates are generally cheaper than the city papers. Research other scooper's rates to get an idea of what your service should charge. But be forewarned...do not just charge a lower fee, instead look for ways to enhance your services to add value to your services. Maybe include a pet-friendly grass and yard treatment, or maintenance. Use your imagination and think about what you'd like to see offered as a busy pet parent.

Don't forget you'll need reliable transportation, a great sense of direction or a GPS, cell phone, garbage buckets, plastic bags, shovels or grabbers, and an industrial pair of rubber gloves and boots.

Keep your image professional with business cards, letterheads, and mailing labels. Be sure to keep your look consistent, this starts your 'branding' look. You'll also want to consider a logo that will be on all your materials as well.

Get started today and you're on your way to a successful Pooper Scooper business.



2*Pet Photographer- Got shutterbug skills? Then maybe a business capturing animals on film is for you. What better way to capture the furry family members than with photos or video. You can specialize in a particular animal or do all animals the flexibility is entirely up to you. Start out part-time to get your feet wet and to build up your business clientele. You can choose to be mobile, operate from a local boutique or store, from a home studio or all of the above.

Keep your business fun and entertaining for the pets and their parents with funny costumes, playful backdrops, great music and themes. Add value to your services by including customized products with their photos on them like mugs, t-shirts, collages, bags, calendars, hats and whatever you can come up with.

Taking professional photos requires a great digital camera. This doesn't mean you have to spend tons of your budget on a camera, but you'll want to spend a good deal on your camera. Do some research and pick a camera that has enough pixels, and the Macro function for great close-ups.

You'll want to have experience with a variety of animals so that you can persuade them to cooperate...and keep them at ease. This will make your job easier and keep your pet parents happy not to mention keep those referrals coming.

To spread the word about your business consider taking pictures for rescue and animal shelters in exchange for your business being displayed with flyers or business cards. Donating your services is a great way to get your name out there for your pet photography business, and you'll get great experience to boot.

So got you camera handy? Then get out there and shoot!



3*Pet Fashion and Accessories- Are you a fashion maven? Love staying ahead of fashion trends? A business in the pet fashion industry could be right up your runway! Pet parents are spending $30 billion on their furry family members, and you can carve a niche out with unique, durable pet fashions and accessories. Create your own fashions or become a wholesale distributor for a company you like.

This industry is branching off into pet 'pawties' too. Hosting home shows for pets and their parents is becoming a fast-growing trend as well. You can become a distributor for national companies that provide all the products and you can host the parties or make appointments to take the show on the road to other pet parents homes.

Again low start-up costs, but you'll want business cards or postcards to keep a professional image. Spread the word to your friends and families that own pets and go from there. You can even offer incentives to host a party for you.

Ready? Now work that catwalk!

Now there are tons more pet-related businesses out there you can start right now. We've covered just a few, but if none of these fit you keep searching or contact us we'd be happy to assist you in figuring out the best fit for you!