| By marketing pet products over the last five years on | | | | a sales pitch, but feel free to put a link to your site at |
| the Web, I have learned how to sell online to pet | | | | the end of the article. |
| buyers all over the U.S. The newspapers are a thing of | | | | 6. A site dedicated to helping people accomplish tasks |
| the past, as pet buyers are now using the Web to | | | | through a one page informative site. You can build this |
| shop from home. The effective methods I will talk | | | | page for free (called a lens), and it should be |
| about all start with a website to promote whatever it is | | | | informative, such as "How to find a Yorkie from a |
| that you are selling, so this is the most critical part of | | | | reputable breeder." Also, be sure to include your video |
| the article. Make sure that you have a professional | | | | here, and of course a link to your website! |
| looking website that is optimized for the search | | | | 7. Free classified sites. You will be able to find free |
| engines. This means having keywords related to your | | | | classified sites that allow you to post ads in different |
| subject throughout the pages of your site, along with | | | | categories for free. Write your ad, and include a link to |
| pictures and pages named with the same keywords | | | | your site. Some examples are Craigslist.org and |
| you are trying to promote. Also, it is important for you | | | | Backpage.com, but there are others. Be sure to pay |
| to have a website title and website keywords that | | | | attention to the rules. For example, Craigslist does not |
| match your target customer. For example, if you were | | | | allow the sale of pets on their site. |
| selling Yorkies, it would be essential for the title of your | | | | 8. This is a place where people post questions to |
| website to include Yorkies and Yorkshire Terriers, as | | | | problems they have, and a great place for you to |
| well as the keywords Yorkies and Yorkshire Terriers. | | | | establish yourself as an authority on a particular |
| Don't forget testimonials of satisfied customers, with | | | | subject. Find questions that need answers, and submit |
| photos if possible! It is better to have someone with | | | | your response (along with a link to your site again next |
| experience create the website for you if you are not | | | | to your name at the end). Find topics that relate to |
| familiar with building websites that are search engine | | | | your website subject, and you will find interested |
| friendly, as well as an experienced professional in the | | | | customers! |
| pet industry. | | | | 9. Google Pay Per Click and Overture (Yahoo) Pay |
| Once your website is up and running, there are many | | | | Per Click marketing. I mention these two alternatives |
| tools you can use to promote your business. Here are | | | | because they are a good way to get targeted traffic |
| some of the methods I have successfully used to | | | | onto your website, but it can be costly. You will bid |
| promote pet businesses: | | | | against other advertisers to have an ad appear on the |
| 1. YouTube is the leading video site on the Web, and it | | | | search engine for keywords that you pick. For popular |
| is relatively easy to create your own movie. Movies | | | | keywords (such as "Yorkie") it is very competitive, but |
| can be either shot with your digital video camera | | | | if you can find more specific terms instead, you could |
| (maybe puppies running around in the backyard), or | | | | find some cheaper cost per click rates. For example, |
| you could make a slideshow movie using still pictures | | | | "yorkie puppies for sale in new hampshire". |
| of your product with easy to use software that can | | | | 10. Start collecting email addresses on your website |
| be found online. Remember, cute and/or funny always | | | | for a newsletter. What better way to reach your |
| works on the internet (think about all the funny emails | | | | potential customers than a targeted newsletter (or |
| you get forwarded to you). Also, be sure that you | | | | Ezine, short for electronic magazine) that you email to |
| have the last frame of the movie an advertisement | | | | your database of contacts? Talk about promotions, |
| for your website! There is nothing more aggravating | | | | contests, and current events in your industry. Don't |
| than a great movie that provides no mechanism to | | | | forget to link to your site! Many times people will send |
| reach the intended product. Don't forget that when you | | | | your newsletter to others that might find your content |
| upload the video to YouTube, you can use the | | | | interesting. |
| keywords needed to find your item, and also put a link | | | | 11. Sell on Animals cannot be sold on Ebay, so pay |
| to your website in the description of the video! Also, | | | | attention to what can and cannot be sold on Ebay. |
| Yahoo and Google also have video areas that you | | | | Ebay is the world's biggest online marketplace, so |
| can upload the movie to. | | | | what better way to start selling your product? |
| 2. Social networking is becoming a bigger part of | | | | 12. Write an Ebook. You can create a PDF file that |
| today's online marketing. Create a free MySpace | | | | gives instructions to others on how to do something, |
| account with a page that talks about your product | | | | for instance, how to find a reputable dog breeder. This |
| (don't forget to include your new video), link to your | | | | information can be posted for sale (yes, you can earn |
| website on the MySpace page, and start networking. | | | | revenue on the Ebook too!) in places like and Don't |
| Start by adding friends and family to your MySpace | | | | forget the links to your site in the Ebook! |
| "friends", and then join groups that have the same | | | | 13. Online press release. If you have a new and |
| interests as you. You will be surprised how quickly | | | | exciting product to introduce, try writing a press |
| your "friend" list will grow, and MySpace allows you to | | | | release and submitting it online. Many services (such as |
| email and post comments to all of them. What a great | | | | PRWeb.com) have their own distribution channels that |
| way to spread the word about your new website! | | | | can get your service or product in front of the right |
| 3. Same as MySpace.com, and it's becoming a real | | | | people. Don't forget a link to your website. |
| contender within the social networking community. | | | | 14. Trade links. There are websites that bring together |
| Why not have an account with both and | | | | people that are willing to trade links to each other's |
| 4. Blogs. Use a major search engine like Google or | | | | website. One example is Be sure to trade links only |
| Yahoo to locate blogs that are in your segment of the | | | | with people that have related websites (for example, if |
| market. Or, better yet, start your own blog! Either way, | | | | you sell dog food, be sure to only trade links with other |
| be sure to comment on other stories that involve your | | | | pet related websites). |
| segment of the market, and always be sure to sign | | | | As you can see, this is just a small sample of things |
| your name and website link at the conclusion of each | | | | you can do to market your pet product online. Most of |
| blog entry. | | | | these are free or very low cost solutions. Remember, |
| 5. Write articles. Why not start writing your own | | | | it all starts with your own website to promote your |
| articles and submitting them for online publication? You | | | | product. For more information on getting your own |
| can also submit them to article directories. A great | | | | website or for implementation of any of these |
| way to talk about topics in your field of expertise and | | | | techniques, visit us online at: Petwebdesigner. |
| establish yourself as a guru. Do not make it sound like | | | | |