Episode 298: Common Mistakes To Avoid When Using Pet Sitting Software

Pet sitting software is a crucial aspect of running an efficient business. Many business owners find themselves either without software or paying for one they aren't even using to its fullest potential. And as a business owner, you want to do everything that helps move your business forward by thinking smarter, not working harder. There are common mistakes I see business owners make when utilizing or choosing the correct pet sitting software. Is your client communication in multiple areas? How do you prefer your clients to book? Where do they go? How do you schedule and how is it communicated with your sitters? We are seeing many business owners use software for one spect instead of utilizing it to the fullest, costing them time, money, and sanity in the long run. Today I am talking about the 5 important points to look at when choosing or using pet sitting software and how you can avoid some common mistakes. I am also so excited to reveal a 6-month-long project I have been working on in this episode that I think will be so helpful when it comes to pet sitting software. Biggest Takeaways: 1:52 Software will help you 2:15 time spending 3:30 What is your booking process? 4:35 Client information 7:05 How do you schedule? 7:31 primary & secondary sitters 8:20 Your Communication 9:55 Something big I have been working on! 10:40 jumpconsulting.net/software Recommendations: When it comes to choosing your pet sitting software, there are many different things that may be important to you and your business. You want to find software that helps you think smarter rather than work harder. Whether it is scheduling, booking or financials, using software to its full potential to benefit your business is a priority. Head over to jumpconsulting.net/software and see what we recommend we use based on your needs! Links: jumpconsulting.net/software Transcript: This is episode 298 of Bella in Your Business. Hi there, I'm Bella Vasta from Jump Consulting. You might know me from CBS, NBC, Fox, Huffington Post, Entrepreneur, or maybe you've seen me speak on stage or read my book The Four Dogs That Every Business Owner Needs. In any case, get ready because you're about to get your hashtag Bella Butt Kickin' in this next episode of Bella in Your Business. So what do you say? Let's get ready and jump. Welcome to another episode of Bella in Your Business. My name is Bella Vasta, and today we're going to take it back to a topic that we're going to start a little mini-series on — and that is software. This is the software that you use to keep track of your clients, schedules, and your employee shifts. We're going to talk a lot about it because I think it's important as I start this series to kind of begin from a mutual understanding. I've learned to never assume anything because, as they say, “when you assume, you make an ass out of you and me.” Ever heard of that? So, there are so many people out there who have either never used software or have one but barely use it. It’s like having an iPhone and only using it to make phone calls — what? No! It’s used for so much more than that. And especially if you’re paying for one of the more expensive ones, it’s really important that you get your return on investment (ROI) and use it fully. So, we’re going to start today by stressing how much your software can actually support you. I’ve got five different areas, and I want you to think about either:A. how it could help you if you’re not using it, orB. if you’re already using it — are you using it to its full potential? This is going to be a shorter episode, but don’t skip over it — it’s a good check-in. 1. Hours Saved Obviously, software saves you hours. It automates tasks. How many of you have recurring daily dog-walking clients? Do you have that on automatic recurring schedules? What about staff schedules — are you still trying to manually figure out employee shifts? Or does your software auto-populate those schedules? If not, you’re losing time. And here’s a spoiler alert — at the end, I’m going to give you a brand-new tool that I’ve had a developer working on regarding software that you’re not going to want to miss. But first, let’s continue. 2. Booking Now, something I used to love doing — and this is a true story — when clients called me to book, I would literally tell them, “My gosh, I’m so excited that you called. However, I don’t have access to the system right now and I want to make sure we don’t mess up. So can you please go online and schedule it? As soon as you do, I’ll hit the accept button.” Then I’d go quiet. Even if I did have access to the system, I’d still say that — because it’s important to train clients to book themselves. You can do this with employees too. Many scheduling systems allow them to request time off directly — no back-and-forth texts or extra admin work. If you’re doing that manually, you’re creating “virtual assistant” tasks for yourself that your system could handle automatically. 3. Client Information This one applies to both newbies and long-time veterans. If you’re just starting out, you might be jotting client info in a notebook. But what happens if that notebook gets lost? (True story: that used to happen to me.) If you’ve got staff or contractors helping you, how are they accessing client details? Are they constantly texting you to ask, “Where’s the leash?” or “How much does Fido eat?” All of that info should live in your system. And if you already have a system and think, “Yeah, Bella, we’re using it,” let me challenge you: are you really? Here’s a trick that has dramatically improved my clients’ staff satisfaction and consistency: In the backend of your client info (the part staff can see), add a simple checklist — a step-by-step process for that home. Something like: Unlock the door with the keypad. Turn off the alarm. Let the dog out of the crate. Let the dog go potty in the backyard. Take the dog for a walk. Feed the dog. Let them out again. Put the dog back in the crate. Arm the alarm. Lock and close the door. This ensures every sitter delivers consistent service and makes your staff happier — they won’t have to scroll through notes or guess the order of tasks. 4. Scheduling Scheduling staff becomes a breeze if you’re using your system right. Don’t just use your “iPhone for calls” — use all its features. If your software allows staff to block time off or if it auto-fills primary and secondary sitters, make sure those are set up. I can’t stress this enough. Some of you are still manually assigning each visit — step by step by step. That’s like nails on a chalkboard for me. Your schedule should practically build itself. Let the system do the heavy lifting. 5. Communication Most software comes with a client portal or in-app chat. Use it! This keeps all messages — client, sitter, and admin — in one place, instead of scattered across texts, emails, and voicemails. You can control notifications, vibration, ringtones — and most importantly, your sanity. If your software has this feature but you’re not using it, join the user group for that software and learn how others are leveraging it. Almost every pet-sitting software has an active Facebook community where veteran users share tips. Bonus: The Free Software Comparison Tool If today’s episode has you thinking, “Maybe my software isn’t working for me,” I’ve got something exciting. I gathered 19 pet-sitting software companies and created a huge spreadsheet comparing their features. Then, I hired a developer to turn it into an interactive tool. You can go to jumpconsulting.net/software and select your top five must-have features. The system will instantly tell you which software fits your needs — so you don’t waste time trialing all 19. You’ll also get access to the full comparison chart (though it’s overwhelming, so I suggest using the interactive tool first). It took six months and two developers to build this for you, and it’s completely free. So please — share it with your friends, post it in your groups, and use it to make smarter decisions. If you’re just starting your business, think of your software like buying shoes a little too big — you’ll grow into it. And if you already have one, dedicate some self-development time to truly learning how it can make your life easier. Again, go to jumpconsulting.net/software — and next week, I’ll be talking about “Is Your Pet Sitting Software Working For or Against You?” Remember: when life gets you down, always keep jumping. Bye for now! So what did you think? Did you love this episode? I sure hope you did, because I put a lot of love into this for you. The best way you can show me that is by going to iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, or wherever you listen to your podcast and leaving a review. I just might read it on the next episode. And remember — when life gets you down, always keep jumping. Thanks for listening.