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Critter Corner - Do You Have One?

By Bobby Carroll

Real Estate Agent with Jaclyn Smith Properties

June 18, 2007 02:21 PM

When it comes to purchasing pets, feeding our pets and caring for our pets, these numbers should get your attention real quick. In 2006, it is estimated we spent $38.4 billion on our pets.

Breakdown:

Food $15.2billion
Vet Care $9.4 billion
Supplies/OTC Medicine $9.3 billion
Live animal purchases $1.8 billion
Pet Services: grooming & boarding $2.7 billion

Ok, so why the numbers? Just in case you missed it, we are crazy about our pets and we spend mad money on them! We blog about them! We share pictures on-line about them. Are you starting to see where this is going?

Do You Talk About Pets On Your Website?

The other day Charlene Hammontree blogged about her experience of "acquiring a puppy" and now she has all these wonderful ideas to include "Daisy" in her marketing strategies. No doubt you or a competitor you know has at one time or another included that favorite photo of a dog, cat or horse in your marketing materials. So do you have a page on your website dedicated to "Pets"? Of course you already know that dogs and kids are 2 of the most heavily used tools for marketing. So how about you?

Why not devote a section of your website to Critters?

Several of Dakno's clients have choosen to show their love and affection for pets by creating pages on their websites with pet information including Moving With Pets and The Care of Pets.

Get Creative With Your Marketing Strategies

Here are a few ideas to consider when you devote your website to pets:

Create a Lost and Found Pet section on your website for your farm neighborhood/community
Conduct a Pet Photo Contest for your farm community or subdivision and allow homeowners to submit/upload images to your site
Share photos on your website from a local animal shelter for pet adoption
Sponsor a Pet-related event and create a blog about it!
Create a Business Directory and include Pet Care Services as a Category on your website
Hold an Open House and place a Dog House on the front lawn and hang a sign on it: Dog House For Sale $350,000 - Owners home FREE!

Maura Gebhardt with The Gebhardt Group blogged how she uses Man's Best Friend for marketing and it's a hoot!

Gary Rocks stated in a recent comment on a recent blog how he would handout little bags filled with dog biscuits, his business card and a Complimentary Market Analysis Certificate. He stated the prospecting tool is popular and helps "break the ice". Great idea Gary! Take that idea a step further and wrap them bonz with a "branded wrapper" with your logo, tag-line and your contact information.

If you feel so inclined, join the Pet Realty Network for Pet friendly Realtors.

So what are you waiting for? Make yourself a goal this week to take 2 great marketing ideas you read about on AR and implement them in your marketing strategies.

Your prospects will be howling for your perrrfect RE services!

To Your Success!

Bobby Carroll - Your Real Estate Marketing Partner

Comments(17)

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Cynthia Sloop

Community Association Manager - Indianapolis, IN

Hi Bobby -

Well I love my doggie and think she should be included on most everything and yet I've heard a totally opposite view from this one. Some circles think it's inappropriate to have your beloved pet in everything. Hard to tell. I guess if your prospects are animal lovers, they'll feel a bond with you. If prosepects don't like pets, maybe it'll turn them away. Hard to tell?!?!?!

Jun 18, 2007 02:32 PM

MAUREEN STACCATO

Springfield, MA

Well I have 2 cats, a bird and a dog so I guess I am going broke this year.

Jun 18, 2007 02:48 PM

Brad Carroll

Dakno Marketing - Knightdale, NC

Real Estate Web Designer

Great stuff. I think the great thing about a "critter corner" is that it's not overwhelming to the people not crazy about pets. But the pet lovers out there will immediately be drawn to that feature of the site. I love the references and links. I can tell you did your homework on this one!

Jun 18, 2007 04:31 PM

marti garaughty

garaughty.com - Montreal, QC

a highly caffeinated creative type...

Hi Bobby, as a real animal lover your post caught my eye and I really related to the truth in what you wrote, animals lovers are crazy for this kind of thing. Thanks for sharing...

marti garaughty

Jun 18, 2007 04:49 PM

Bobby Carroll

Jaclyn Smith Properties - Clayton, NC

Clayton NC New Home Happiness Coordinator

Cynthia, connecting with your propects and speaking in their terms is important. Being creative with webpages that speak and provide unique content for that group (niche) can help you reach-out to buyers and sellers.

Maureen, Brad and Marti...thanks for the feedback.

Jun 18, 2007 10:28 PM

Molly of The Pet Realty Network

Pet Realty Network - Naples, FL

Great Post!!!

It is estimated that approximately 10.7 million people move with their pets every year. There are some more interesting figures about the pet market in my post "How does your market grow".

The Gebhardt's marketing materials are great, aren't they? We are so glad they are part of The Pet Realty Network. Thanks for including a link to their Bio.

Jun 22, 2007 01:49 AM

Bobby Carroll

Jaclyn Smith Properties - Clayton, NC

Clayton NC New Home Happiness Coordinator

Hi Molly,

Thanks for the "howling" endorsement! If you feel so inclined, please consider subscribing to my blog. When we interview our clients, we always ask what interest our clients have. If they indicate a passion for pets, we always urge them to include information on their site and other marketing materials about moving and pets so they can emotionally connect with their prospects.

We enjoy offering creative marketing ideas that helps our clients and the industry succeed!

Bobby

Jun 22, 2007 02:09 AM

Molly of The Pet Realty Network

Pet Realty Network - Naples, FL

Bobby:

Just subscribed and I look forward to keeping updated.

Thanks!!

Molly

Jun 22, 2007 02:16 AM

Meredith Hanson

Coldwell Banker Colorado Rockies Real Estate - Silverthorne, CO

This is an area we have yet to explore in our marketing and website. We are in Summit County Colorado which is typically a very active lifestyle and a lot of dogs hiking and biking with their owners. I'll definately have to look into utilizing our critters.

Jun 22, 2007 03:42 AM

Bobby Carroll

Jaclyn Smith Properties - Clayton, NC

Clayton NC New Home Happiness Coordinator

Molly...thanks for subscribing!

Meredith...appreciate your comment! As you know, some people are passionate about their pets. Many think of their pets as family members. Why not connect with these prospects by offering web pages, blogs and activities that allow you to be someone who shares their passion. That commonality could be the bridge that takes a site visitor and translates them into a client for life!

Keep me updated on your efforts and feel free to subscribe to my blog!

Have fun!

Bobby

Jun 22, 2007 03:50 AM

Brigita McKelvie, Associate Broker

Cindy Stys Equestrian and Country Properties, Ltd. - Lehigh Valley, PA

The Broker with horse sense and no horsing around

Bobby,

Great blog! I specialize in horse properties, so I know how important it is to talk about your pets and animals. Some of my blogs include stories about some of the horses I have owned, plus how horses are treated at horse shows from observations. All those blogs seem to be the more popular ones. Most of the people are definitely into animals.

Jun 22, 2007 04:05 AM

Bobby Carroll

Jaclyn Smith Properties - Clayton, NC

Clayton NC New Home Happiness Coordinator

Brigita...thanks for reading the post. Glad to hear you have honed in to a niche like horse farms and properties using your online assets. All the more reason to find a target and maximize it!

I stopped by your site. Glad to see you make text references to your specialization. You might spice-up your site by including a unique search or even featured horse properties in your area. Kick in more photos of horse properties and horses.

I confess I'm not much of a fan of music on a site (particularly when I can't turn it off). At least give the site visitor the option to start it or turn it off. Like the old saying goes "the first time it's cool, the second it's cruel."

Otherwise, great platform to interact with horse lovers, prospects and properties.

Bobby

Jun 22, 2007 05:49 AM

this profile is

Invalid - Frederica, DE

Lol sometime i think we have too many pets, 2 dogs and 2 cats. My wife has her alleged "dog" a bichon-friese and I have the "real"dog a Belgian Shepherd/Border Collie cross.

Jun 22, 2007 06:39 AM

Bobby Carroll

Jaclyn Smith Properties - Clayton, NC

Clayton NC New Home Happiness Coordinator

Thanks for stopping by Christian. Gotta love those bichons!

Jun 22, 2007 06:44 AM

Monica Bourgeau

Portland, OR

Business Coaching

I love the suggestions, thank you so much! We'll definitely try some of them in our marketplace.

Sep 15, 2007 03:16 PM

Bobby Carroll