Libsyn Directory

575: Avoiding Google Suspensions: What Every Pet Sitter Must Know with Amy Toman

Release Date: 03/05/2025

593: Building and Letting Go with Nicole Packin

Pet Sitter Confessional

How do you know when it’s time to transition your business—or even your life? In this episode, Nicole Packin shares her incredible journey through selling two successful pet care businesses, moving across the country, and preparing for her next adventure. She opens up about the emotional and practical challenges of letting go, creating healthy boundaries, and finding new passions after nearly two decades in the industry. She discusses the evolving pet care landscape, the pressure entrepreneurs put on themselves, and the importance of taking space to breathe and reflect. Whether you’re...

592: Bridging the Trust Gap

Pet Sitter Confessional

Trust is essential in every part of a pet sitting business. It begins before a client ever reaches out and is built through clear communication, consistency, and transparency. Clients look for reassurance at every step, and trust can grow when expectations are met and mistakes are owned. Building trust with pets requires patience, routine, and positive reinforcement to create a sense of safety. Internally, trust within a team—and with yourself as a business owner—comes from accountability, honest reflection, and clear follow-through. Main Topics Recognizing signs of client distrust ...

591: From Lions to Labradors with Leanne Burger

Pet Sitter Confessional

What happens when you treat pet sitting not just as a job, but as a serious and deeply rewarding responsibility? Leanne Burger, owner of Going Away Pet and House Sitting in South Africa, shares her journey from raising lion cubs to building a thriving team of pet sitters and groomers. Leanne shares how her passion for animals, commitment to trust, and attention to detail helped her business flourish across multiple cities. She explores the deep responsibility that comes with caring for both pets and homes and the balance needed to maintain quality as you grow. It’s an inspiring look at how...

590: Finding Repeatable Success

Pet Sitter Confessional

Have you ever wondered why something worked so well in your business, but struggled to replicate it? In this episode, we discuss the critical importance of building repeatable success by tracking your actions and outcomes. We share how documenting your systems, analyzing client feedback, and maintaining consistency lead to sustainable growth. We explore the connection between daily habits, professional development, and long-term business stability. By making intentional, data-driven decisions, pet sitters can create a reliable, thriving business and personal life. Main Topics: Tracking and...

589: It’s All About the Heart with Janet Buchwald

Pet Sitter Confessional

What does it take to create a business that truly stands out? Janet Buchwald, owner of Kisses Happen, shares her journey from a corporate career to running a thriving pet sitting company. She discusses the deep emotional connections between pet sitters, clients, and their pets, and how understanding both animal and human behavior has helped her business grow. Janet emphasizes the importance of clear communication, maintaining professional boundaries, and marketing with authenticity. She also provides valuable insights into branding, SEO, and client retention strategies. This episode is a...

588: Success on Your Terms: Escaping the Comparison Trap

Pet Sitter Confessional

What does success really look like in today’s pet care industry? In this episode, we dig into the shifting landscape of 2025 and explore how external pressures—from social media comparison to AI tools and rising costs—can distort our definitions of success. We challenge you to define success on your own terms rather than chasing someone else’s goals. From financial milestones to personal freedom and mental well-being, we highlight both tangible and intangible markers of a fulfilling business. We also share practical steps to help you gain confidence, clarity, and control over your pet...

587: The Changing Landscape of Pet Services with Carmen Rustenbeck

Pet Sitter Confessional

How are mergers and acquisitions reshaping the pet care industry? In this episode, we welcome back Carmen Rustenbeck of IBPSA to discuss the rise of corporate buyouts, the impact on small pet businesses, and the challenges of maintaining a personal touch in an evolving market. They explore industry regulations, including Ollie’s Law in Massachusetts and the new Veterinary Professional Associate role in Colorado, and what they mean for pet professionals. Carmen also highlights the growing influence of Gen Z pet owners and their unique preferences, from pet insurance to reptile Main topics: ...

586: Stop Running Someone Else’s Business

Pet Sitter Confessional

Are you building the business you actually want—or just the one you think you should have? In this episode, we get honest about the constant pressure to scale, grow, and do more in the pet care industry. We share how chasing someone else’s definition of success can lead to burnout, resentment, and misalignment with your personal goals. Instead, we encourage you to use data, not emotion, when making decisions and to define what sustainable success means for you. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone looking to grow intentionally and build a business that supports their life—not...

585: Building Client Trust Through Niche Services with Niki Lepine & Steph

Pet Sitter Confessional

How do you build trust with clients while offering specialized pet care services? Niki Lepine and Steph Law of Dog Jogs share how they carved out a niche in pet care by focusing on reactive dogs, shift workers, and personalized dog jogging services. They discuss how they built a loyal client base by addressing unique pet care needs, the importance of clear communication, and why community engagement matters. From offering pet first aid courses to hosting monthly dog walk meetups, Niki and Steph break down the strategies that have helped them stand out in a crowded market. If you’re looking...

584: Show Up and Stand Out: Visibility and Value for Pet Businesses

Pet Sitter Confessional

Can showing up at local events truly set our pet businesses apart? We discuss our experiences speaking at a Home and Garden show, highlighting how community visibility builds trust and credibility among pet parents. We also reflect on powerful lessons learned from our son’s entrepreneurship bake sale, emphasizing the importance of confidently pricing premium services. Practical insights are shared about identifying speaking opportunities to boost our brand’s visibility. Ultimately, this episode explores why delivering value first can transform our pet businesses into trusted community...

More Episodes

How do you keep a Google Business Profile working for your business? Amy Toman, owner of Pet Sitter SEO, explains why “almost anyone can get a Google Listing, but few can keep one.” She dives into the essential steps for setting up a listing correctly from the start, why compliance with Google’s rules matters, and how regular updates like adding photos, responding to reviews, and optimizing services can keep your listing thriving. Amy also shares tips on avoiding suspensions, the importance of having proper business documentation, and how interacting with your listing helps Google see you as relevant and trustworthy. Her insights are a must-hear for any pet care business owner looking to stay visible and competitive in a digital world.

Main topics:

Importance of Google Business Profiles
Avoiding Suspensions Through Compliance
Photo Uploads and Content Relevance
Consistency in Reviews and Interactions
Best Practices for AI Usage

Main takeaway: “Almost anyone can get a Google Listing, but few can keep one.”

Your Google Business Profile is more than just a checkbox—it’s a powerful tool for attracting clients and growing your business. But here’s the catch: simply getting your listing isn’t enough. To truly succeed, you must set it up correctly from the start and maintain it over time.

✅ Follow Google’s rules for your business name and address.

✅ Regularly update your listing with photos, reviews, and services.

✅ Ensure your paperwork and business details match your listing.

Failing to comply with Google’s guidelines or neglecting your profile can lead to suspension—shutting off a major source of new clients. Take the time to set it up right and keep it active. Your business depends on it! 🚀

About our guest:

Amy Toman is the owner of Pet Sitter SEO, a business dedicated to helping pet sitters and pet care professionals optimize their Google Business Profiles and websites to attract more clients. Since founding Pet Sitter SEO in 2017, Amy has become a Google Business Profile expert, earning the prestigious Diamond badge for her contributions on the Google Business Profile forum. She combines her extensive knowledge of SEO with practical advice tailored to pet care businesses. Amy is also the co-founder of the Digital Pack Leader program, where she collaborates with industry professionals to teach the latest in digital marketing and website optimization.

Links:

Episode 120: https://www.petsitterconfessional.com/episodes/120

Episode 267: https://www.petsitterconfessional.com/episodes/267

https://digitalpackleaders.com/meet-the-pack-leaders/

https://www.petsitterseo.com

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