Digital Dog Walkers and Connected Cat Sitters on the Rise

Sept. 2, 2011 - PRLog -- Pet Sitters International’s 2011 State of the Industry Survey results indicate that professional pet sitters are turning to smart phones—and a host of other technologies—to manage their businesses and improve service to pet-owning clients.

“When I began my pet-sitting business in the early 1980’s, the two essential tools were a business phone (landline) and a day planner,” said Patti Moran, PSI president and industry pioneer. “With today’s technologies, professional pet sitters can more efficiently schedule, track and invoice for pet-sitting services.”

The association surveys its more than 7,000 member businesses every three years. Twenty-seven percent of PSI’s members responded to the 2011 survey.

Nearly 66 percent of respondents reported using a smart phone for their businesses. More than 69 percent use laptops or PCs and 74 percent use their own Web sites to promote and operate their pet-sitting services.

“I used to be out doing pet-sitting visits all day and would come home to a screen full of e-mails and a blinking answering machine,” said Cara Armour, owner of Active Paws in Waltham, Mass. “Since I’ve starting using a smartphone, I am able to respond to both e-mails and phone calls throughout the day. I still leave a few e-mails for the end of the day if they‘re not urgent, but the efficiency a smartphone provides is priceless to my business.”

PSI’s survey results also found that professional pet sitters have embraced social media to promote their businesses and stay connected with their pet-owning clients.

“When I’m with one of my dog playgroups, I’ll shoot a quick video with my smartphone and upload it to the Active Paws Facebook page,” said Armour. “Clients love being able to see what their dogs are doing while they are away and other pet owners visiting the site get a better understanding of the services I offer.”

In fact, the survey data indicate that nearly 70 percent of PSI pet sitters currently use or plan to use social media for their businesses in the near future. Of those already using social networks, more than 95 percent reported that Facebook is their preferred social site.

“Technology is reshaping the pet-care industry,” Moran said. “As an association, PSI stays current on new technologies and trends. In some cases, we are able to educate our members on how these new tools can help manage and promote their businesses.”

PSI provides its members with free monthly webinars, online marketing and social media resources. It partners with companies such as PowerPetsitter.com (http://www.powerpetsitter.com), an internet-based software provider, to ensure that members have access to the latest business management technology.

For pet owners, PSI offers the largest, most-searched online directory of professional pet sitters. Pet owners can search the directory of more than 7,000 PSI members in all 50 states, most of the Canadian provinces and 14 other countries for free.

To learn more about PSI, visit http://www.petsit.com. To find a PSI professional pet sitter in your area, visit the Official Pet Sitter Locator at http://www.petsit.com/locate.

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Established in 1994, Pet Sitters International (PSI) is the world’s largest educational association for professional pet sitters, representing nearly 7,500 independent professional pet-sitting businesses in the United States, Canada and abroad. PSI provides members with access to affordable bonding and pet-sitter liability insurance as well as educational resources that include a comprehensive Certification Program, Pet Sitter’s WORLD magazine, The Scoop e-news and PSI’s annual Quest convention. For more information, visit http://www.petsit.com, home of the Official Pet Sitter Locator™ or sign up to receive The Scoop on Pet Care. Visit the PSIStoreOnline, http://www.psistoreonline.com, the largest specialty retailer of products for pet sitters and pet-sitting business owners.