How to Create Dog Training Business Cards
Ok, let’s be honest, the #1 goal of any business is to get clients.
There are tons of ways to promote the services your business offers, but one of the most popular (and totally retro but still relevant) ways - is through business cards.
If you’re a dog trainer, business cards can be a great way to get your name out there. However, not all business cards are created equal… So what does it take to create a dog training business card that has the bookings rolling in?
Let’s take a peek at what makes good dog training business cards good.
What Type of Information You Need
The information you will include on your dog training business card is perhaps the one thing you need to pay the most attention to. People are not interested in reading tons of stuff about you, so you need to make sure that you only include what is necessary to not only deliver the right info, but also make a great first impression.
What do you do?
First, start by mentioning what exactly you do. What is your service, and what value do you bring to people? There is no point in giving out your business cards if it won’t be immediately apparent to everybody what you offer. People will just chuck it out if they don’t immediately see value in it, so make sure you put “Dog Training” in a central and visible space on the card so no one is left wondering.
Contact info
Obviously you need your contact information- or no one will be able to get in touch with you. You might be tempted to put every little stitch of contact information you can on your cards, but this strategy could actually work against you.
If you don’t check your landline often (or don’t have voicemail), don’t put the number on your card. Include the contact information you check frequently, and only you have access to, like your cell phone. It could be confusing for a potential client to try and reach you, and have someone else pick up the call. Definitely not the first impression you’re going for to have your kid pick up the phone and although most people might be cool with it, you could definitely lose a prospective client. All of these little moments are what help you build trust - and trust is the #1 thing that makes people want to book you!
Besides a phone number, make sure to have an email address and a website address so dog parents can easily contact you. For the email, ideally you want to make sure that you have a specific address exclusively for your business that matches your website - not a gmail or the hotmail you created in high school. This is another little indicator that you’re legit and can be trusted.
While not all dog trainers want to be perceived as ‘professional’ (there is space in the market for all sorts of dog training brands) - you definitely want to come across as established and reliable on your dog training business card and all other communication.
Website + Socials
As for the website address, these days it’s pretty essential for every dog training businesses to have a website or some sort of online platform to direct people to. By having your website address on your card, you reduce the perceived risk of getting on the phone or emailing, by allowing potential clients to check you out before getting in touch.
Many people don’t feel comfortable just jumping on the phone (especially millennials who are becoming the largest pet owning / pet spending audience) - so make sure you give them at least your facebook page or instagram so they can take a peek before they call or email.
Don’t have a website but want to make a great first impression? Apps like bookyourpet.com can easily provide you with an easy and free profile page with a direct link, where you can connect with current and new customers - and they can book you directly on the app in just seconds.
Name + Title
Finally, make sure to include your name and your title or occupation. People respond better when they know that there is a specific person they can talk to and knowing your name in advance can help them overcome the social anxiety of actually having to call you. To increase the likelihood even more that someone gets in touch - you can also include a small photo of you if you have space. This helps put people at ease and definitely creates more of a connection with your potential client.
You wouldn’t believe how many dog trainers avoid putting their face on the ‘about page’ of their website - or featuring themselves on their social channels - but it’s an easy thing to do to increase the number of inquiries and clients you get each month.
Having your face out in public representing your business as a professional dog trainer shows confidence, and people want to see the face of the person they’re going to trust with their precious puppers.
Selecting the Right Design
It’s not just the information that matters on your business card. Just like every aspect of your business and brand - presentation is super important! Choosing an attractive, uncluttered, memorable design can be just the thing that makes someone realize you’re a great fit for them. Design is the most important part of a successful first impression with your business card.
With a well designed card, you can show some of your brand’s personality and help potential clients know instantly if you’re a good fit for them. There are million and one ways to design a business card, but here are a few ideas to get you started:
Classic
A classic one or two-sided, horizontal design is what most people tend to use. Those who choose a classic design usually value simplicity (and economy - if they are one-color they are usually the cheapest to print). If you are just looking to put your contact info on a card and move on, a classic straight-forward design will work fine. Slap your logo or tagline or business name on one side, and your name, title and contact info on the other.
Creative
One of the advantages of owning a dog business, is getting to use photos and illustrations of dogs! If you decide to use a lovely photo or a funny cartoon (depending on the vibe of your brand) you will definitely succeed in getting a dog lover’s attention straight away. The card screams ‘dog’ before they read a single word… which is really valuable because we humans perceive visual information 60,000 times faster than text!
If you want to have a sophisticated business, use a sophisticated illustration or beautiful, well-let photograph (you can check outstockpetphotography.com for some great options). If you want your business to be more fun, consider some quirky cartoon-like imagery you can buy as stock or have created for you by artists on websites like Fiverr.
You can also experiment with your business card's design and shape. Some cards have shapes of bones or faces of dogs that can make your card truly stand out from the more traditional ones. If you have a fun brand, why not have fun with your business card?
Modern Flair
As mentioned earlier, a website is perhaps one of the most important things to have as a business, and including it on your business cards is a must. But these days you can add a QR code for people to scan, which will immediately transfer them to your website.
Post-Covid pandemic people are more familiar with QR codes than ever (most restaurants how have their menus available via QR code), so this is a great time to use a little tech to enhance their experience.
Make sure your website has your contact information at the top or in the footer and also be sure you have a clear contact page… but once they’re on your website, people can also access photos, reviews, prices and other information that they wouldn’t be able to through just a card.
While on a traditional card, they could easily skip the step of visiting your website; with a QR code, you get them directly there. If you do use a QR code - it makes sense to invest in making your website look great, ensuring it’s easy to access and informative as well as your visually interesting business card.
Alternative
Other unique alternatives to the classic business card are to use different base materials instead of paper. Some dog business owners choose metal dog tags or even treats that simply have their information on them. Dog trainers have also used clickers with their contact information, which can be used during training.
All these options can be great gifts for clients that finish their training with you as they can be things that they can then keep instead of throwing away. Past clients who still have items with your information can help keep you top of mind, and help spread the word about your work.
Bonus Additions
STARS
If you want to take your dog trainer business card up a notch, include your stars from any review sites. For example, If you’re 4.6/5 stars on facebook, use those little stars, 4 and half of them shaded in as a visual statement that you’re great at what you do! Just plop them somewhere on the side with your contact information.
TAGLINE
If you want to be even more memorable, spend a bit of time coming up with a catchy tagline to explain not just what you do, but to provide an idea of how you do it, or what makes you better or different, here are some examples:
‘Fun & Playful Dog Training’
'We take the stress out of dog ownership’
‘Kind & Gentle Dog Training’
Promote Your Services
While business cards can be very handy in promoting your services, you still need to get them in peoples’ hands - so when you’ve got your handy new cards - consider where you’re going to use them - local events, networking opportunities, at the dog park - anywhere dog owners go (which is everywhere) is a good place to make sure you’ve got your dog training business cards handy to hand out!