FACEBOOK LIVE videos offer service providers like professional pet sitters and dog walkers a unique (and free!) opportunity to connect with current and potential clients, as well as other local pet professionals and business owners. This virtual connection is even more important as the pandemic continues to limit in-person interactions in certain parts of the country. Being able to connect and engage with your Facebook audience in real time allows you to share important pet-related information, highlight your services and better establish your business brand — but many pet sitters we talk to resist the idea of using live video because they are not familiar with how to use this Facebook tool or feel nervous about going “on camera.”
Now’s the time to put those worries aside and explore how Facebook Live can benefit your professional pet-sitting or dog-walking business. If you aren’t already using Facebook Live — or perhaps you’ve used it sporadically but not as a regular part of your marketing mix — check out these reasons why Facebook Live is such an important marketing tool for pet-care businesses.
Reasons to Add Facebook Live to Your Marketing Efforts
Consider these statistics:
- Facebook Live videos produce six times as many interactions as traditional videos.
- Facebook Live videos get 10 times more comments than regular videos.
- Facebook Live users spend 10 times as long watching live videos as they do pre-uploaded ones.
Beyond the numbers, however, Facebook Live also gives you an opportunity to introduce yourself to local pet parents and allows them to make a connection with you — and your business.
In our industry, you likely find yourself competing with hobbyists and non-professionals — neighbors, teenagers, those offering pet sitting just to earn some extra cash, etc. — on occasion. You can easily distinguish your business from these non-professionals by highlighting industry standards and professionalism — you are insured and bonded, you may be a Certified Professional Pet Sitter, you are trained in pet first aid, etc. — to explain what makes your business the better option.
But how do you distinguish your business from other professional businesses — how are you different when the other options are also insured, bonded, certified, well trained? When pet parents have multiple professional options to choose from, it’s going to be YOU that makes your business stand out — and Facebook Live is such a powerful opportunity to introduce YOU to your target market.
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Facebook Live Topic Ideas
When it comes to what you can share with your audience through Facebook Live videos, the possibilities are virtually endless. When brainstorming ideas, remember your business videos should educate and/or engage your audience. The best videos do both!
To get your creative juices flowing, here are some ideas to consider:
- Informational videos with seasonal pet tips (e.g., keeping pets safe in hot weather, winter weather precautions for pets, holiday treats that are dangerous for pets, etc.)
- Overview of upcoming local pet-friendly events
- Important company announcements (e.g., now booking for summer pet-sitting requests, meet our new staff sitters, our staff just renewed their pet first aid training, I am now a CPPS, etc.)
- Giveaways and prize drawings
- How-to videos for pet-care basics (e.g., nail trim, basic first aid, checking harness size, etc.)
- Behind-the-scenes videos (e.g., staff training, showing your COVID safety precautions, shadowing a pet-sitting visit, preparing for an event, etc.)
- Product recommendations/demos of pet products
- Interviews or shared live videos with other local pet professionals (e.g., trainer, vet, etc.)
One final note: While many pet sitters and dog walkers use Facebook as their main platform for social media, these ideas also will work on YouTube, Instagram and even TikTok.
