Dog walking

[user1489434024]

Can anyone recommend ways to increase my customer base for my dog walking service?

Facebook and websites are a good way. Word of mouth is the best though!

Everyone always says word of mouth but you can't start a business on word of mouth. I would invest in a short promotion video the boost posts on Facebook. You can target your audience really specifically and get the add out to loads. It is a little bit of out lay but you need to spend money so get the word out. Or do a leaflet drop, typically uptake is about 5% but it's very cheep if you do it yourself and word of mouth may take it from there. Put a good offer on the leaflet/ ad to insentivise.
Talk to vets, pet shops, dog groomers, behaviourists. Anyone who works a lot with dogs and may need your service.

I agree with the above, plus notices put up on local noticeboards, entrances to parks etc., and handing out leaflets to people in the parks when you're walking your own dog.

This is, I suspect, a good time of year to start - the nights are drawing in and it's getting harder and harder to get home and walk the dog before nightfall if you work (and if you're unlucky, the local park is shut and locked at dusk...)

Could you also add cat / small pet sitting to your repertoire?

Do you have a good website? To be honest If you didn't I would think you were just half heartedly doing some dog walking rather than viewing it as a 'good business'. I would also expect you to offer different walks (group, individual, maybe day care etc) otherwise I would pick someone else as that would signal flexibility etc.

I have a dog walker and know 3 others. Around here there are quite a few - they are all quite friendly and "recommend" each other to potential customers if they don't have space on a particular days etc. So I would say get to know those people too ( seems crazy as you are in competition I know!). Also have a web page or Facebook page where you can post pics of your walks for existing and potential customers, my dog walker quite often links me to her video/ pic of the day if she's walked my dog. Plus if you have a van - good signs to promote your business.

Also do you have a particular breed/ type of dog you specialise in ( e.g. Prefer the spaniel/cockerpoo breeds) as this will help you promote by word of mouth. Plus do you do single or pack walks? On or off lead ? Promoting all that will be easier for people to identify if you are what they are looking for...

I got my dog walker through the ‘Tailster’ app. Could you register with them?