While pet owners often pamper their pets, pet groomers often face fierce competition for their clientele. Battling large chain stores as well as small independent companies, every pet groomer needs to maintain a steady client base while also reaching out for new customers. With email marketing software, pet groomers can face these challenges without having to expand their staff or marketing budget. Email marketing software allows them to quickly and efficiently send out email reminders to current clients, email newsletters about their services and even email coupons to potential target markets at low costs and with minimal staff time.

Pet groomers need to maintain and cultivate their repeat client base. To help prevent other groomers from seducing their customers away, it is imperative that pet groomers stay in contact with their clients. This contact, however, needs to remain friendly and beneficial to the customer so it doesn’t have the negative impact of annoying emails. By using a detailed database with clients’ and their pets’ names, birthdays for both the pets and the owners, their last visit and their favorite services, the email marketing software can send out automatic friendly emails that will keep the groomer at the forefront of customers’ minds while not alienating them with repetitive emails.

Pet owners are often extremely interested in learning about dogs, tips on grooming, diet and exercise and other helpful tips for each season. Should dogs wear mittens in the snow? Is rock salt bad for their paws? What are the best treats to give your pet so he or she doesn’t get too fat? With an email newsletter, you can highlight these topics. The more interesting your newsletter is, the more your clients will look forward to reading it and passing it on to other pet owners. Always remember to list your services in the email newsletter so that potential clients can see what you can do and current clients can expand their use of your services. With easy-to-use templates, email newsletters are quickly customized to meet your needs.

Email marketing software also allows pet groomers to send out coupons and announcements with minimal time or effort. The pre-existing templates can easily be personalized to announce special offers, especially during slow months where sales are down and an added boost would be most beneficial. By using email marketing software to deliver these coupons, you not only reach a wide audience; you don’t have the additional expenses incurred with print advertising.

Whether you are maintaining your current client list or expanding to reach a larger target market, email marketing software is an efficient and budget friendly way to stay ahead of the competition.

By: Dan Forootan

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Here’s a handful of small business advertising ideas that you can use to get free advertising for your business. Today’s tough economic climate has made us all pull in our belts and trim the fat, especially from our advertising budgets. The money saved this way can be put to better use in your business.

There are a number of ways to bring buyers in without having to spend a lot.

The classifieds

The local classified section usually has a section for free ads. This is a bonus to the small business, as hundreds of potential buyers see your ad. Use as many free classified ads but keep a record of sales from them. Once you find which works best you can gradually cut down on the ones not bringing in the business and only use the sales generating ones. This tracking of ads takes some time at first but it’ll be well worth it at the end.

Message boards and local shops

Most malls and larger shops, even some small ones have a message board for customers to post messages. If you regularly use certain shops, ask the owner or sales person if you could leave some flyers or business cards on the counter, put up a flyer on the board, a small message/notice in his window, and you could advertise his business in the same way if he is not a competitor.

Any public and social venue you attend, leave your business cards for the public. Especially if the social gathering is related to your line of business, is an industry event, or in a public building. One person I know leaves cards in public restrooms on the counters, and within minutes (not hours) they are gone.

Donations

This one is not entirely free but it is a small price to pay for the exposure it gets your business. Offer a local charity, fire department, police station, or any public service a new product or related service of yours, then let your local paper know about it as an item of interest for their readers. You might be pleasantly surprised by the response and interest of the public. This is a good way to advertise and it’s free.

Word of mouth

This is the very best and most effective free advertising any business can have. If your service/product is great, people will talk about it. Networking at social events can work wonders. If you are an “online person”, Twitter can create buzz for your business. Make lots of friends on Facebook and tell them about your business, but don’t spam or give them a sales pitch. Join in discussions on forums and give other members value first before discussing your business. Blogs are great for giving and getting feedback. Also, writing or paying someone for an ezine article about your product/service (discussing or reviewing your product) can lead to sales as long as you don’t hard-sell.

There you have it. These small business advertising ideas can save you some hard earned money and boost your business at the same time. Almost forgot: consider creating your own blog about your business.

By: Marlene Dewitte

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