To be concerned I can't even get one customer?

[corgiology]

I have been advertising through various channels for my new dog walking and dog training business for several weeks now. Yet I haven't had a single enquiry.

I have tried:
Car Magnets
Facebook advertising
Blogging
Social Media (posting in groups in my hometown, updating my pages regularly, trying to increase SEO)
Streetlife.

Next thing I will try is wearing a uniform but it's really disheartening that I am getting nowhere. I don't want to harass people in the park or on walks where possible but that might be my next plan.

I really thought facebook advertising would work.

Shop window? leaflets through doors?

TBH I wouldn't look at any of the places you listed. What is your demographic?

Local kennels? Vets?

Drop leaflets through the doors of houses in affluent areas. That'll work. Only expect a 10% contact rate though, with maybe half of that converted to sales. After that word of mouth will help a little too.

do you have a website? do you make your qualfications and credentials clear?

what are your competitors doing? is it a crowded marketplace?

i have seen dog walking going very cheaply and even for free on gumtree.

Sounds like you've been very proactive hopefully that will pay off in the future- I would target local parks with leaflets or going there to hand out leaflets but at weekends/early/later so you are catching people who are working and have more need.
Maybe do an offer of a free trial or some kind of incentive?

Is there a lot of competition in your area? Did you do any market research to see if it's something in your area would be interested in/need?

Where about a are you based?

Have you registered on yell? Printed business cards, flyers to post through doors? Flyers up in local shops, vets, pet stores? Is your business name really obvious as to what it is?

It's a saturated market, so many people do it now. But I would suggest local Facebook groups, pet stores, website.

How much are you looking to charge? Could your prices be putting people off?

Umm trying to put this as nicely as possible but are you sure it's a valid business for your area. Maybe nothing has happened because here is no demand for your services. I can't see how harassing people who are actually happily walking their dogs themselves is going to help.
Maybe try linking to similar local businesses - flyers at the vets?

Does your van have a logo? I do notice the dog walking (and cleaning) band and cars on my road.

vans not band

Take out an ad in the local paper?

I'd be targeting vets practices and local owt shops with posters/flyers

As an aside, do you have any animal-related qualifications? I'd only use a dog trainer who was qualified by a certain body, and used (mainly) positive methods - no Cesar Milan shit...

I'd look at your prices - I need a dog walker but the price always seems too high and with things being as they are in my area I just can't justify the cost. Sadly, there will be other people with dogs who are in the same position.

I doubt there is the market tbh. Could you combine it with something else? Dog grooming/pampering?

Are you qualified to train dogs?

Regarding dog walking, most people I know have dogs because they enjoy walking them.

Although that's not to say they always have the time, or are as able bodied as they were when they first got their dogs.

But still, it might be area dependant?

I have been to many business networking type events and they say online is the way forward and leafleting is a waste of time (I also know of others in my area who have done leafleting with little success, I know I throw out any leaflets coming through my door!)

There is a lot of other dog walkers in my area but I am not the same as them. I have a unique selling point. I do have a website with little traffic.

In terms of vets/kennels etc I have tried that before and again very little comes from it.

My demographic is full time workers or people with very little time to train their dog. I target pet owners on facebook. I do in home training which means that I will help train their dog when they are out at work (with regular follow up appointments).

I am fully qualified to walk/train dogs. I have a degree in animal training, national diploma in animal management and numerous years of experience working with dogs so I feel I am definitely qualified in this area.

What is your unique selling point?

Perhaps you need to look at a different area, if most of the people who need dog walkers already have them sorted.

A degree in animal training?? What's your USP?

We have a couple of dog walkers round here who do really well -but we live in a very rural fairly affluent village where most people have one/two dogs. Look at your local area again; does it have enough potential clients? Use local newspapers, advertise in shops. Leaflet -we get loads of business from leafleting at work. Initial special offer/introductory price?

but how do your prices compare with your opposition?

Ultimately, if you've not had a single client, then I would suggest you are charging too much. Tbh, I doubt if most people really care about your qualifications - they surely would employ someone to take the dog out for a walk because they are out all day or because they are infirm, not to 'get their dog trained'.

Maybe the market is flooded in your area.
Maybe there is no demand for it in your area.
Change the area you are advertising in/working in.

What are you charging compared to the competition?

Would you be able to link to your business page so we can give feedback?

A degree in animal training???

We got the vast majority of initial clients through well designed and printed leaflets & business cards at vets & pet shops. Have a think about branding etc before getting them printed. Our business cards & fliers match our website and had our website and phone details on there. Website has a short bio of each of us and different pages for prices / services etc. Cat sitting (in owners houses) is also popular although sporadic dependent on when people are going away.

We did do flier drops around areas that are known for commuters (out all day, job that pays well, lonely dog at home) with some success. Think that directed most of them to our website and then to give us a call.

Do you have public liability insurance?