First of all, let me start with thanking Ginger for inviting Mindy and I to this wonderful group.  We enjoy reading your blogs about dogs and look forward to getting to know you all better.

Now for the purpose of this blog.... I wanted to offer something back to the Group for accepting us, and this idea is working well for us.

Mindy and I stared a website about 4 months ago called www.OlindaRanchPets.com  This website is an online pet directory for our farm that allows the residents to submit a brief description of their animals and a picture to help get them back to the correct owners when or if they find their way out.  We say a great need in our farm area for animals to get back to their own home as quick as possible because the coyotes are always out lookingg for their next meal.  So we started this site in an effort to give back to the community that gives us so much of our business every year. 

Why Is This Good?

It is always good to offer your clients something tangible that they will use, that is free, and that does them some good. (you can only get so many note pads)

How Does It Work?

You purchase and set up the site.  You throw events like our "OlindaRanchPets.com Dog Walk" or the "OlindaRanchPets.com Costume Contest." At each of these events you have sign-ups for people to add their pet, and even take the pictures for them.

What is the point?

Othar that doing something to give back, you also develop an up-to-date database of your farm including names, phone numbers, address and email address.

How do I get started?

I purchased my URL from www.godaddy.comand built the site right on their program called WebSite Tonight.  I am no computer guru, but it was quite easy.  Then you just have to get the word out.  Get sign-ups and keep adding to the site.  I am yet to meet a person who lives in my farm that is not interested in adding their pet to the site.

So there you go....always remember that if you give your people something that is valuable to them, they will find value in using you.

Cheers,

Aaron