She laughed at me. Maybe it was the way I hesitantly asked. Maybe it was what I asked for. She was a bank account manager and I was asking for 4 new checking accounts for my business – in addition to the one I already had. I was implementing the Profit First approach and I guess she saw that request as odd.
She said she was disappointed. It is wasn’t what she expected. She was one out of over 200 sales to message me something like this. I know it wasn’t perfect, but it was needed and I couldn’t wait for perfection to put it out there to help everyone that needed the information. And the positive feedback had been *astounding.*
These two are just TWO examples of being laughed at or criticized as a business owner. It never ends. But you just can’t let it stop you from helping those that need your help.
I receive and share tons of positive reinforcement, but I wanted to take a moment to be real with you – it isn’t always like that. Fortunately, I’ve developed a thicker skin over the years and I don’t let it stop me from showing up and helping my ideal clients and customers. The ones who need to hear what I have to say and share.
Persistence is critical. In order to succeed, you can’t be dissuaded by negativity, eye-rolling, or laughing. You won’t be perfect – give up that dream right. this. minute. But that only means that you’re trying to make a difference. You’re putting yourself out there. You’re giving people a leg up in their lives, you don’t need to give them a whole ladder.
Brene Brown puts it perfectly – “If you are not in the arena also getting your butt kicked, I’m not interested in your feedback.”
Keep this in mind the next time you come across someone that wants to give you “constructive criticism.” You DON’T have to accept it. You can let it roll off your shoulders. Your way of doing things is JUST FINE. If they want it differently – they can get their own hands dirty and get in the arena.
Right now, people are scared. They’re angry. They’ve got lots of times on their hands. So this is bringing out the best and the worst in them. Be aware of this as you move forward and continue to navigate these rocky waters. Their words are not necessarily even about you, you just happen to be in the way.
Maybe they’re going through job loss, illness, excessive stress – and you’re within firing range. You are not responsible for their actions even though you might be on the receiving end of them.
Keep moving forward. Focusing on your mindset. Growing your audience (maybe with the help of my 4 week Clicks to Clients social media course for dog trainers). Keep on keeping on while protecting your own mindset.
I re-opened my Clicks to Clients course because there’s never been a better time to develop your brand on social media. There have never been more people online at any given time and many of them need your help! Click here to learn more.
Overcoming these challenging times will make you practically bullet proof. Guard your mental space like it is worth more than gold. It could be the determining factor on whether or not you will prosper through this. I guarantee you that you are already your *biggest* critic, don’t let others intimidate you from showing up and building your dream business.
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This community has been truly inspirational. As dog trainers, problem solving is an every-day practice. No two dogs and situations are the same. We’re really good at taking our understanding of concepts and applying them to find creative solutions.
It’s thrilling to see you all apply your genius to quickly change the way you serve your clients.
You’re offering virtual lessons and classes.
You’re providing dog-only, day-training services.
You’re creating online courses to prevent future behavior issues that might come out of these.
While these are hard times, its important to maintain ownership of what you CAN do to move forward.
Focus on those that need and want your help – even if that has changed drastically.
Think about how you can innovative in your approach, your content, your solutions, and your services.
One thing’s for certain, we’ll all overcome this stronger humans and stronger business owners. This will prepare us for future challenges we don’t even know about yet.
You’ll gain skills during this time that you’ll be able to utilize and use to your advantage for the rest of your life – in this business, in a future business, or wherever life takes you.
These circumstances do not have to be the end of everything as we know it. They are simply the beginning of a new era where technology is more integrated into our services to better serve our clients.
One student privately messaged me this about it: “Thank you so much, Ines! You have shown through as the brightest light in our industry. Today is my first virtual training session!! I took your webinar a couple of weeks ago and am also writing a couple of courses for Thinkific. You have been my saving grace bringing me the easiest way to get going virtually quickly.”
These kinds of responses truly mean the world to me and motivate me to continue showing up and providing valuable information. Like the FREE Zoom tutorial I recorded…
If you want offer lessons via Zoom, make sure you don’t miss the FREE Zoom tutorial I made for my community. (Make sure to join my FREE Facebook group!)
Looking to add Virtual Dog Training Lessons or Classes to your services?
This is the end of “professionalism” as we know it.
News anchors are working from home with their kids as their co-hosts. Conference calls have kids screaming or dogs barking in the background.
The only way to continue working right now is by working from home. The speed at which these circumstances happened has left people unprepared to create proper set ups and with the kids home from school or daycare and no in-home childcare as an option, it’s almost impossible to keep work and personal lives separate right now.
It’s momentarily uncomfortable, but this will break down barriers. People are showing their true selves online like never before. The era of pristine professionalism is finally over.
Maybe you’re hosting classes and lessons from your living room virtually. You clients are dealing with their dogs and their kids at the same time.
Growing up, I was taught that I had to keep my true self to myself, true opinions private, and certainly not post anything I’d “regret” on the internet. *gasp*
With parents that are in Human Resources and Engineering – being professional was taught as a requirement to being a part of the “real world.” And it’s only in the last few years that I’ve started to break down those beliefs. If you’re part of my Facebook Group, you’ve seen me step up this past year and teach loads of live trainings on Facebook Lives. I’ve been slowly letting the world get to know who I am as a human, not just a business coach/teacher/educator.
I’m not going to lie – its been uncomfortable, but I’m thankful these efforts have been mostly met with open arms. And I’ve created real, offline relationships with people because of it!
People need connection. And while it’s easy to fake your personality online, it’s becoming more and more acceptable, expected and welcome to show your true self – flaws and all – online. I believe it is actually bringing us all closer together as everyone is realizing that everyone else is human, too! And that’s it’s okay to be yourself.
What I’ve learned, and what I want you to realize too, is that you can be yourself AND be regarded as an expert AND be friends with clients. That is the future of work that is sustainable, fulfilling, and flexible. Sure, you absolutely have to have policies and boundaries to protect your mental space, but the walls are being torn down – especially right now.
Being overly professional, like I used to be, is now – for certain – a thing of the past. People need connection and just because you’re there to help their dogs doesn’t mean you can ignore the human relationship. People will want to work with you now and in the future because of their relationship with you – not for what you can do for their dogs.
As a service-based, dog business owner, you’re in your client’s daily or weekly network and community. The world can be a lonely place and we all have seen how dogs can bring people together. Take careful consideration of this as you grow your presence online or in-person when we’re able to do so again.
You still have to be a skilled expert in your field. People can easily tell if you know what you’re talking about, but what I’m saying here is that that isn’t the only thing that matters anymore.
Let me know in the comments – what is it that your clients love most about you?! (Find out if you don’t know…)
The world is a pretty scary place right now. With popular events, festivals, and concerts being cancelled over Coronavirus concerns and schools and workplaces shutting down preventatively, it feels like everything is out of control. Many dog trainers are experiencing cancellations and reschedulings left and right due to fears of Coronavirus.
During this time of panic over loss of income, I’m urging you to do the opposite! Virtual dog training could be the solution to all your problems.
Yes — between the stock market and the spread of Coronavirus, it’s clear that we’ve hit a recession. But I’ve got good news for you: the pet care industry is recession-proof.
What does this mean? That in the last two US recessions, spending on pets actually increased. During the 2001 recession spending on pets went up by 29 percent, and during the 2008 to 2009 recession it went up 17 percent.
Our pets make us happy, so it makes sense that during times of stress we do things to increase their happiness (thereby making us happier in turn).
Just because people are staying inside to avoid getting sick doesn’t mean you can’t maintain or even boost your income.
This is by no means a time for panic; it’s time to be smart and proactive about your business model and marketing.
The Virtual Dog Training Revolution
Offering virtual dog training lessons — done via video conferencing — is a great way to stay healthy and expand your service area without traveling.
A Standard on Your Service Menu
There are a ton of reasons besides Coronavirus to have virtual lessons on your service menu:
Traveling, but need to keep earning income
Moving, but clients in your current city want to continue working with you
Want to offer assistance to people outside your local service area
Want to reduce your workload by taking some of the commute out of your day
Even if your particular locality is struggling, offering online services expands your reach and gives you an opportunity to boost your income.
Capitalize on Quarantine
A little macabre, I know, but hear me out.
With the general public being advised to practice social distancing, dog trainers are concerned about losing income to mass droves of cancellations. Offering virtual dog training services during this time is a great business move.
People are going to be stuck at home with their dogs; not only will they have more time for training, they may even notice new behaviors in their dogs they were unaware of before!
There are a number of options to consider when offering online services; private lessons, classes, resource centers, and each one works differently and provides a unique value.
Be a Leader in Your Community
Empower yourself and your community. People are scared and as a leader in your community, you should be there to guide them. Use your online platform to share factual information, spread truths, and provide strength to others.
Think Like a CEO
You’re your own boss, and you have to think like a CEO and how one would respond in this time. Serve your clients in a new, creative way.
Being flexible and providing virtual services is a strategic move that will keep you ahead of the recession. You have to be disciplined, stick to your routine, and market yourself for this to work!
Develop Your Virtual Dog Training Education
There’s a lot to learn when it comes to offering virtual services; how to price, how to run your lessons and classes, what technology to use, and more.
Unsure of how to get started? I’ve got you covered. I hosted a live Virtual Dog Training Lessons Workshop so you can run virtual lessons your clients will love! The recording + slides + discussion forum + bonuses are now available for you! It’s currently 35% off so don’t wait to snag this amazing deal…
The workshop includes info on how to run virtual lessons and classes, what technology to use, free tools, dos and don’ts, and more. It also comes with scripts and templates for you to utilize for a smooth transition into offering virtual services.
The world is chaotic enough as is — you shouldn’t have to worry about income in addition to navigating a pandemic and a recession. Be proactive for yourself and your business and get your virtual dog training up and running!
***
Unsure what steps to take to keep yourself, your employees, and your clients safe during the Coronavirus outbreak? Here’s our need-to-know COVID-19 guide.
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Coronavirus — it’s on everyone’s mind and at the forefront of almost all media outlets. This respiratory illness originated in China and quickly spread internationally. Coronavirus was officially categorized as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11, 2020.
As Coronavirus spreads, health and government authorities are recommending social distancing. Unfortunately, though this is better for the sake of the general public, it means dog trainers are facing waves of rescheduling and cancellations.
Things are looking rocky ahead, but you don’t have to completely close up shop while this pandemic is being monitored. There are a myriad of ways for you to keep training and not lose your income!
Go ahead and let out a sigh of relief, because at this time it’s believed that dogs (and cats!) are not at risk for contracting Coronavirus.
A Pomeranian in Hong Kong “weakly tested positive” for COVID-19 in early March. This worried pet owners with the idea that they may be able to infect their animals or vice-versa. However, as Alex Oldenburg (CPDT-KA and soon-to-be MPH) explains, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) says there’s no need to worry about your pets getting sick yet.
There is a canine Coronavirus, but it’s an intestinal disease — and there’s a vaccination for it (whew!).
At this time Coronavirus is spreading from person-to-person, so the main concern for dog trainers should be their human clients and themselves. Many trainers have started their own businesses to have flexible work schedules to accommodate personal health challenges — including chronic illnesses — and may be more susceptible to a virus like this.
Avoid touching eyes/mouth/face with unwashed hands
Use hand sanitizer when soap and water are not readily available
Clean and disinfect touched surfaces daily
Avoid close proximity with other people, especially in large groups
Stay home if you’re sick
Taking all this info into account, there are a number of measures you can take to reassure your clients, staff, and yourself during this stressful time.
Preliminary Research Results on the Coronavirus
The SARS-CoV-2 virus is a new mutation of Coronavirus; a virus genetically related to the virus that caused SARS in 2002. There aren’t a lot of solid answers from health and science authorities on where the virus came from, how it works, and how to kill it and prevent it.
One study, looking at how long the virus can be transmitted through the air or on surfaces, found that virus particles could be measured in the air up to three hours after being sprayed, up to four hours on copper surfaces, 24 hours on cardboard surfaces, and up to three days on plastic and stainless steel surfaces.
This research is not yet peer reviewed. However, it gives an idea of why social distancing and proper cleaning and disinfecting are important, and starts to explain how the virus spreads.
Precautionary Measures for Coronavirus
In addition to making sure you don’t lose out on business, this is overall important information to make sure you and everyone who utilizes your services or works for you stays healthy.
Extra Cleaning
The CDC is recommending frequent cleaning of touched surfaces. This includes doorknobs, handles, light switches, countertops, desks, chairs, tables, appliances, phones, computers, keyboards, faucets, toilets, etc.
In a dog training facility, trainers should make sure they also clean play and training equipment, clickers, registers/payment technology, treat jars/tupperware, rubber mats, and so on.
Communication is an important part of any dog training service. But during this time, it’s especially important to encourage your clients and staff to communicate openly with you if they’re showing signs of illness.
Make sure everyone knows how to reach you for cancellations, and remind them that you’d rather they stay home and get better than risk their own and everyone else’s health. Consider sending out an email blast with this information as a reminder, or make a post on your Facebook page like Summit Dog Training.
Take Sick Days
This one gets the biggest groan from dog trainers. None of us like to stop working, whether out of financial need or passion, but a pandemic is no joke.
Take your sick days. Even if you just have a cold, make yourself stay home. Having any kind of communicable illness at this time is dangerous for two reasons; colds and flus lower your immune system which makes you more susceptible to COVID-19, and spreading illness to others puts them at the same risk.
Someone you know and love is likely immunocompromised. Keep them safe, and keep yourself safe.
Additionally, look into short-term disability insurance. This is a great safety net for independent dog trainers who don’t have insurance through an employer. Short-term disability insurance ensures you still have at least some income when illness and accidents take you out of work.
Revisit Cancellation Policies
Have a rigid cancellation policy? It might be time to temporarily suspend it.
Last-minute reschedules and cancellations can be frustrating to deal with, and it’s completely understandable to have a policy to handle them. However, during this time of heightened stress and illness, people may need to cancel more suddenly than usual.
Would you rather someone call you the night before class to cancel because they were exposed to someone with COVID-19, or risk them coming to class anyway to avoid conflict/fees?
Consider Virtual Dog Training Lessons
One thing that a lot of trainers fail to consider in general is serving their clients with virtual dog training lessons, and now is a great time to turn this scare into an opportunity.
There are a ton of reasons besides Coronavirus to have virtual lessons on your service menu:
Traveling, but need to keep earning income
Moving, but clients in your current city want to continue working with you
Want to offer assistance to people outside your local service area
Want to reduce your workload by taking some of the commute out of your day
Facing a global pandemic (turns out, weirder things have happened!)
Virtual lessons can easily be a staple of your dog training business, and they benefit you in a multitude of ways. We have the gift of technology — why not use it to its fullest?
This Saturday, March 14th, Ines McNeil, CPDT-KA, will be hosting a LIVE Virtual Dog Training Lessons Workshop designed to help prevent loss of income, even grow your income, and increase your reach as a dog trainer. Learn everything you need to know about pricing your virtual lessons, necessary communication, structure, dos and don’ts, technology, and much more.
In short, though the Coronavirus pandemic is rapidly changing and a little scary, it shouldn’t affect your business and livelihood. Keep calm, wash your hands, and carry on.
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There’s no one right way to become a dog trainer. Some aspiring trainers enroll in a formal education course (either online or in-person), but not all beginners have the resources to afford this kind of education.
Another popular and far less expensive method is to find a mentor to apprentice under. But how do you find a mentor, and how do you know you’re getting the education you were originally seeking?
Facebook Live Webinar by Ines McNeil, Transcribed by Gem Sheps
Take a Training Class with Your Own Dog
Chances are if you’re an aspiring dog trainer, you’ve got a dog of your own. Taking classes with a trainer in your area is a great way to start learning basic training methods and familiarize yourself with dog body language and social activity.
It’s courteous to be up-front with the trainer you want to take a class with — let them know that you want to be a dog trainer and taking one of their classes would be a good opportunity to get an idea of what classes look like and how things are run.
Lots of people spend time exploring industries before diving in deeper and the trainer will probably give you extra information about the process during classes if they’re aware.
If the trainer doesn’t want you in their class, that’s okay. All that means is that they’re someone you probably don’t want to spend time with anyway. Trainers who are more worried about competition than helping educate others aren’t the trainers you want to learn from.
Attend Local Seminars and Network
Seminars themselves are wonderful learning opportunities; you get to hear unique perspectives from fantastic trainers and potentially even participate in a workshop. But the end of the event is when the networking begins.
Usually, trainers go out for drinks after events! Just like other professionals, dog trainers like to sit down with a beer and some food and share stories and experiences with each other. They also tend to recap what they learned at the event and how they’re going to apply it to their own clients.
Get in on some after-event shop talk. This stuff is priceless; I’ve had such incredible experiences with trainers from all over the nation. You get to hear amazing stories, both good and bad, and it’s a great glimpse into the life of a dog trainer.
Directly Contact Local Trainers
If you’ve heard good things about a trainer in town or you’ve been following a local trainer online and you like the way they work, reach out to them and ask to shadow.
A lot of the time, a trainer would be glad to take on an apprentice because it also benefits them. Apprentices can help out by walking a demo dog or a stuffed animal while the trainer counter-conditions a reactive dog. Apprentices can act as the “stranger” for dogs who have stranger danger problems. While you’re gaining an education, your mentor is getting free assistance.
Make sure you look to see what training methods they practice before reaching out. Wanting to be an R+ trainer and learning from someone who uses different methods won’t work out well.
When it comes to basic dog handling and training mechanics, one especially popular and extremely unique resource I love is the Fenzi Dog Sports Academy. Depending on what “level” course you purchase, you get to fully participate — you take videos of yourself training and submit them, and then receive critiques.
It’s a great experience, and once you complete a course you get access to the Facebook alumni group. There you have access to hundreds of other trainers and their experiences, shared learning opportunities, and more. It’s also nice to socialize with other people in the industry without talking shop — you can make new connections through the group and find a place in the community.
Cultivating relationships with other trainers can be intimidating, especially for people who get along better with dogs than humans. Don’t be scared — industry veterans sometimes seem aloof, but they’re just people who want to make sure newbies are being taught well. If they have the opportunity to make a positive impact on the community by guiding new trainers, then it’s a win-win situation.
Know of any other ways to find a great mentor as a new dog trainer? Let us know in the comments.
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Successfully running a business is no easy feat, but standardizing the way you run it is a huge help to you. Every business benefits from having a standard operating procedure (SOP) manual.
Facebook Live Webinar by Ines McNeil, Transcribed by Gem Sheps
Why Do You Need an SOP Manual?
If you’re used to running things on the fly and making procedures up as you go, sitting down to create an SOP manual may sound finicky and daunting. However, there are a number of ways having one would benefit you and your business:
Increase consistency in organizing your documents and invoices and ensure important paperwork is not lost
Lay out plans for marketing and social media content strategies
Effectively onboard new clients in a way that is stress-free for both you and the client
Productively manage your time and prevent miscommunication with clients
Lay out procedures for potential occupational hazards (such as working with aggressive dogs)
Serve as a guide if you end up taking on employees in the future
A solid SOP manual can be the foundation to a well-organized, successful business. Be thorough — you want your manual to be easy for you (and anyone else who may use it in the future) to follow.
How to Outline Your SOP Manual
Now that you know why you need an SOP manual, you need to know how to start creating one.
Title Page
Open up a new Word or Google Doc and begin by creating a title page with essential information:
“Standard Operating Procedures,” company name, date last updated (which, in this case, is today), your name, your contact info
Table of Contents
SOP manuals can get pretty hefty — you’ll want a table of contents to help you navigate it.
If you run your business solo, keeping your SOPs for all elements of your business (sales, marketing, training methods, etc.) in one document is fine. Later on if you end up hiring employees you may decide to create separate documents for certain sections depending on the kind of help you need.
Add these sections to the table of contents:
Operations — this section will include things like business hours, emails, templates, intake forms, testimonial request process, procedure for documenting case studies, procedure for maintaining client records, tracking mileage, etc
Marketing — this section will include social media process (how you create content, when and where you post, frequency, etc.), branding guide for print and digital, editorial calendar, process for direct outreach, testimonials, referrals & rewards, etc.
Sales — this section will include new client inquiry call response, scripts, discounts, unique selling propositions, monthly & quarterly goals, track results, etc.
Client Management / Customer Service — this section will include new client onboarding processes, client support, communication methods, your rules re: training methods and tools, payments & cancellations & refunds, etc.
Delivery Systems — this section will include an overview of your services and fees, scheduling classes / sessions, how you’re going to launch & market services, handouts, phone etiquette, evaluation procedures, process for running classes, information on behavior modification management, etc.
Adding Content to Each Section
Once you’ve laid out the sections you’re going to use, it’s time to start documenting your procedures. I recommend using bullet points (and flow charts if you’re a visual learner) to keep things clear, concise, and step-by-step.
Use checklists to support your process — things don’t always have to happen in the exact same way. Still, you should at least have a checklist of the steps necessary to successfully complete a task.
Utilize headers — each section’s title should be an H1 or 2, and subsections should be H2 or 3. This makes it so that the table of contents links with the content.
Remember that this is a living document. As your business evolves and grows, it’s okay to change things! You’re going to be adding, removing, and changing your procedures over time. Just make sure you’re appropriately documenting the process to make things easier on your future self.
Grab The Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) Template for Dog Trainers
When you’re considering hiring someone that you’re going to bring into your home — like a housekeeper, plumber, or even a dog trainer — it can make you nervous. You’re letting someone into your home and personal life in the hopes that they will provide a solution to your problem. You want to make sure they’re trustworthy and the right fit for the job.
Facebook Live Webinar by Ines McNeil, Transcribed by Gem Sheps
Why Do I Need Testimonials?
One of the first things people do nowadays when searching for a service is hop on Google or Facebook and check out the reviews.
Here are some tips on how to collect testimonials for your website and social media profiles. Trust me — your potential customers will be looking for them. The more (positive) reviews you have, the quicker someone will be convinced to hire you.
Ask Clients to Submit Video Testimonials
Nowadays, it’s a little too easy to “buy” followers and five-star reviews. There are people for hire who will create batches of bot accounts that you can then purchase to add to follower count or alter their average star rating.
One of the best methods for trust-building with future clients is to request that existing and former clients send in video testimonials. Most people — if they’re happy with the work you’ve done — will be eager to help out!
Be sure to give them a heads-up during your second to last in-person meeting and plan to shoot the video at the last session so they have time to put their thoughts together. If you spring a sudden video shoot on them, they may not be as comfortable with you recording them.
Ask Questions for Them to Answer
To get the best results from your video testimonials, plan on asking your client these two questions:
What motivated you to hire me specifically as your dog trainer?
What would you tell a friend that was considering hiring me?
By asking those questions, you guide them toward getting the best material for your video testimonial.
Brag About Your Accomplishments on Social Media
When a client has had a good experience with the results they hoped to achieve, brag about it! Share your client success stories on your website, Facebook, Instagram, and wherever else you’re active.
For example, right before your last lesson with a client you could say “I think we’ve made awesome progress and I’d love to feature your dog on my website (or social media profiles) with a review from you.”
The client will likely be just as excited to share their satisfaction with the solution you provided to their problem.
Send Out Emails
One of the easiest ways to get written testimonials is to send emails to your last 10 clients following this script:
“Hi! I’m looking to add some fresh material to my [website and/or social media]. I would love to feature [client’s dog]! Would you be able to send over a couple of sentences about what it was like to work with me and how our time together impacted you?”
Say your “thank yous” and “look forward to hearing back from yous” at the end, sign your name, and send it off! Once a month you can follow up with your latest clients and collect their testimonials.
It may feel odd in the beginning, but requesting testimonials is a big part of marketing your services! Don’t be afraid to show off your good reviews.
What if you knew exactly what to say, sell, and do, to work less, earn more per client,get better results, have happier clients?
What if you knew exactly what to say, sell, and do, to work less, earn more per client, get better results, have happier clients?
Know exactly what to post, what to say, how to sell, and how to deliver a high-value, high-impact dog training program in the next 30 days.
This includes all of the sales, marketing, and program design information you need to get jump started into selling high-value dog training programs as a science-based professional dog trainer.
One of the key elements to running a dog training business is being able to manage your time efficiently. Time management is a tricky skill that takes time and dedication to learn, and I’ve got some tips to help you develop that skill.
Facebook Live Webinar by Ines McNeil, Transcribed by Gem Sheps
Schedule Your Time Off
Managing your time off is just as important as managing your appointments with clients. Do yourself a favor and schedule your time off in your calendar.
By blocking off time on your calendar for yourself, you’re making it easy for yourself to see that you do not have time to take extra appointments. If a client tries to squeeze into your schedule last minute on your day off, you’ll have a visual reminder of your unavailability.
Making room for extra appointments leaves minimal time in your schedule to take care of yourself, relax, and recharge for your next workday.
You can simply tell clients that you’re booked for the day and offer them an alternative.
Don’t Accommodate “Special Requests”
Sometimes if you’re too flexible for clients in the beginning of your working relationship, they will continue to take advantage of you over time. This can be a big contributor to burnout.
Accommodating the special requests of every single client is unrealistic. No matter what, you can’t make everyone happy — but it’s a lot easier to make others happy once you’ve taken care of yourself.
Schedule your time off and stick to it. Know how many appointments you can comfortably fit into your day without overwhelming yourself. Your future self will thank you for it. (Hint: You don’t necessarily have to work harder to earn more.)
Schedule Your Appointments by Location and Day
For trainers who drive all over the map trying to speed to private lessons, here’s a tip — schedule appointments based on location and day.
For example, try to get all of your clients on the east side of town to schedule for the same day, and schedule west side appointments for another day. Avoid commuting more than working and your schedule will become less hectic.
Communicate Your Availability Proactively
When you reach the end of a session and it’s time to schedule the next one, many trainers ask the client when they would like to schedule the appointment. This, however, doesn’t give them a guide to your availability and makes scheduling more difficult.
Don’t make clients guess when you will and won’t be available — let them know up front. Offer a few time slots you know for a fact are open and let them choose between those.
Write Down Your To-Do List
If you don’t write down what you know you need to do every day, you’re eventually going to forget something important. A client might get left behind. You might forget to pay a bill. You’re juggling a lot as a business owner and trainer. Put everything down on paper and prioritize!
You can use your phone, a notepad, a sticky note, or anything else that works for you. Just jot it down.
Focus on Methods You Know Work
Eliminate things that don’t drive immediate value to your business.
If you’re posting on social media without a real strategy and you aren’t getting clients out of it, then it may not be the best use of your time. Stick to methods that you have had success with bringing in clients.
You don’t have to post on social media every day — or even every week — just because everyone else is doing it. Though social media is a helpful tool, you may be wasting time on it if it isn’t stimulating your business.
Don’t Answer “Can I Pick Your Brain?” Questions
I don’t think I’m alone in saying that sometimes, I don’t want to mention that I’m a dog trainer around new people. Because they always immediately have questions for me.
Here’s a getaway line for you:
“I actually have a policy where I don’t give training or behavioral advice without having a full understanding of the situation, but we could absolutely set up a [free consult, initial phone screening, etc.] so I can get the whole picture.”
This saves you time and it could protect you from giving incomplete advice when you don’t know the full extent of the situation. It also shows a commitment to actually addressing their concerns and the challenges they may be facing.
Discipline is Self Care
Building the discipline that it takes to stick to your work schedule, rest schedule and other policies is self care! You’re taking care of your future self by keeping your business and your home life running smoothly.
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Whether you’re just starting up your dog training business or you’re looking for ways to improve your current business, you need to know how to set boundaries for your clients and yourself.
Facebook Live Webinar by Ines McNeil, Transcribed by Gem Sheps
For Clients
Almost everyone out there has had to deal with an overbearing, pushy, ignorant, or just plain rude client. It’s aggravating, but a lot of the time these clients just aren’t aware of your policies. Making sure that they know coming in how you run things is critical to preventing repeat negative interactions with clients.
Lay Down the Law Prior to Your First Session
Set your clients (and yourself) up for success by making sure everyone clearly understands your policies.
If you have a welcome packet for clients it should have your contact information and hours clients can reach you, what training tools you do and do not allow, and other things your clients absolutely need to know.
You also want to make sure you limit the amount of access your client has to you after the training package is over.
Once they’ve completed the program, you don’t have to continue talking to them in the same respect.
You don’t want to allow former clients to “pick your brain” over email or text for ongoing help when you could be meeting up with them to have the discussion and charging for your services.
Boundaries to Set for Yourself
Setting boundaries for yourself is often far harder for people than setting boundaries with clients. As a business owner, you have to be able to hold yourself accountable and lay out boundaries to make running everything as smooth a process as possible.
Treat Your Business Like a Business
Something that I’ve noticed during strategy sessions is that many trainers need to build the discipline to treat their dog training business like a business.
You have to have policies, you have to have processes, marketing, sales—and as the business owner, you’re the one who has to do it all.
You have to be disciplined in all aspects of your business. It will allow you to be successful long term and not go back to working another job.
Set all of your policies, processes, packages and pricing, and stick to it.
Stand Your Ground
Many trainers are worried about having to negotiate their pricing with their customers, but you’re a professional and professionals don’t haggle.
If you don’t document your processes, you’re losing valuable information to help you build your business. Be an advocate for yourself and record how lessons went, whether clients found what you told them easy to understand, and cut elements that aren’t working for you.
If you want to run a dog training business that is sustainable and successful, you have to have the willpower and discipline to set boundaries for your clients and yourself.
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