Pet Marketing Unleashed Podcast

Pet Marketing Unleashed Podcast

Your Ultimate Guide to Growing a Thriving Pet Business—Stress-Free Welcome to The Pet Marketing Unleashed Podcast, the go-to resource for petpreneurs (AKA pet business owners) who want to scale their service-based pet businesses without the overwhelm. Whether you're a dog walker, pet sitter, dog trainer, pet photographer, dog daycare owner, or any other pet care professional, this podcast is packed with actionable marketing, branding, and website strategies tailored to your unique needs. Hosted by Mikaela Vargas, designer and educator for pet businesses, each episode dives into practical tips for streamlining your online presence, boosting client onboarding, implementing SEO strategies, enhancing your branding, and avoiding burnout—even while you’re out walking dogs or managing your busy schedule. Expect a mix of solo episodes and guest interviews that dig deep into what it takes to build a successful, sustainable, and stress-free pet business. So, pop in those earbuds, grab your favorite treat (or three!), and join Mikaela as she shares how to grow your fulfilling pet care business—one walk, sit, or coffee break at a time! https://www.petmarketingunleashed.com

Episodes

June 2, 2026 14 mins

This episode shares why sometimes the most productive thing you can do is step back, simplify, and focus on what you do best—plus what's next for PMU and how this might inspire you to evaluate your own business.

You'll learn:

  • Why pausing isn't quitting (and why nothing in business has to be permanent)
  • The shift from "creating more" to "improving what's already there"
  • How to evaluate what dese...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

After covering the broad SEO and AI shifts in episode 41, we're now sharing with you one of the most important lessons from our brand new AI module inside our SEO Course so you can actually implement changes instead of just knowing theory! EXCITED for this one!

You'll learn:

  • 5 key tasks that improve AI visibility
  • How blog content and service pages serve different purposes in AI search
  • What NL Web is and how it changes sea...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Overwhelmed by how fast AI and search are changing? SAME! This episode breaks down the 5 biggest shifts we’re paying attention to right now with SEO and AI for local pet businesses.

You'll learn:

  • How search behavior has shifted away from "pet sitter near me"
  • What type of content is pulling over half of AI search results
  • How site structure and clarity help AI understand and recommend your business
  • Why outdated website ...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

This episode is the audio version of Pet Marketing Unleashed’s most popular free website masterclass, breaking down what to do to start converting website visitors into dream clients.

You'll learn:

  • Why your website isn't inspiring dream clients to book
  • The shift from talking about yourself to speaking directly to your client's needs
  • How slow response times cost you clients
  • Why your website should be your virtual assis...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Seeing lower website traffic numbers for your pet business lately?

Before you panic, a drop in reported traffic doesn't always mean a drop in actual opportunity or visibility. Learn what's really happening with search behavior, AI, and tracking, and what actually matters for getting clients in the door.

In this episode, we chat about:

  • Why tracking tools are likely underreporting your actual traffic
  • How AI search is changi...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

If you’ve ever Googled ‘how to get a website for my pet business,’ you’ve probably been hit with a million different answers from Wix, Squarespace, WordPress, templates, custom design,… it’s a lot. And everyone has different opinions. 

It’s actually one of the most-searched questions in the pet industry, which isn’t surprising given how many options there are.

I’m walking you through what that process actually looks like:

  • What you...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Most people click away if your site takes more than 2 seconds to load, so a slow website means… you’re losing clients.

Learn seven simple, no-coding-required fixes to make your pet business website faster, smoother, and more trustworthy.

You'll learn:

  • Why broken links drag down performance (and how to find them fast)
  • The #1 culprit slowing down most pet business sites (hint: images)
  • How to use animations without killing your lo...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Stop stressing every time a new client books! Learn how to create a simple, strategic client welcome packet for your pet business that answers questions before they're asked, sets boundaries, and makes your onboarding feel professional and effortless.

You'll learn:

  • What a welcome packet is and why most competitors don't have one
  • The 9 essential sections to include
  • How to set boundaries through your welcome packet
  • Ways...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Building trust online starts with authentic, emotion-driven visuals. Pet photographer and commercial brand photographer Sarah DeRemer shares how pet businesses can elevate their marketing through powerful photography, behind-the-scenes content, and visuals that tell a real story,  whether you're shooting on your iPhone or hiring a pro. If you want your photos actually to convert and feel more like you, this episode is for you.

...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Think design is the only thing that matters on your website? Wrong (and yes, we say that as website designers!). Your words are doing just as much heavy lifting, if not more. Discover why your website copy might be costing you bookings and how to write words that actually convert visitors into clients.

You'll learn:

  • The biggest copywriting mistake pet business owners make
  • Why "click here" buttons are hurting your ac...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

This episode is a recast of our popular website refresh episode, now updated for 2026! Learn simple, impactful pet business website updates that build trust, improve conversions, and set your business up for success, plus a brand new bonus tip on accessibility.

Get the full episode blog at www.petmarketingunleashed.com/33

🎉Ready to refresh your website for 2026? Start with the quick wins. Update your copyright year, check for broken...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

I'm pulling back the curtain on PMU's most popular service: Branding Days. This one is a real personal one that shares our mission and how it’s grown and evolved over the years into what we have now in order to make strategic branding accessible for the people we want to be working with - small pet business owners.

You'll learn:

  • Traditional branding costs and our accessible alternative
  • Our 6-step branding day proces...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Feeling stuck between loving your current logo and knowing your brand needs an upgrade? Discover the difference between a brand refresh and a full rebrand, plus how to make the right choice for your pet business without losing what makes you recognizable.

You'll learn:

  • The key difference between a brand refresh and a rebrand (and which you actually need)
  • How some major brands handled rebrands (and what went wrong for some)
  • The...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Stop hiding one of your best marketing tools on a website page that nobody clicks on (and if you don’t believe me, check your Google Analytics and it’ll show you!)! Learn how to turn basic testimonials into powerful stories that sell your services and where to place them so people actually read them.

You'll learn:

  • Why testimonial pages are a waste
  • The questions to ask clients that get you story-based testimonials
  • How to edit t...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Feeling behind on your books or unsure how to actually use your financial data? Anne-Marie Caden from Tiny Paws Bookkeeping breaks down year-end prep and shows you how to make your numbers work for you in 2026 (and beyond).

You’ll learn:

  • How to prepare for year-end financially (including 1099 season, contractor management, and record-keeping cleanup)
  • Why tracking profit margins by service helps you identify which offerings are act...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Discover how strategic partnerships can become your most powerful (and stress-free) growth tool for your pet business.

🔍 You'll learn:

  • Why throwing business cards at every local business doesn't work (and what to do instead)
  • The 4 key factors that make partnerships successful
  • How to partner with competitors (this is a game-changer!)
  • Specific partnership ideas for different pet businesses
  • The biggest mistakes that waste you...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Maris from House of Paw Pet Care and I chatted about how she built systems that allowed her to take a 2-month maternity leave while her pet care business continued thriving - perfect for any business owner wanting more freedom.

PLUS, some big personal news from the PMU Team! 🍼

You'll learn:

  • How to conduct an audit to identify what's taking up your day
  • The power of automations (and our favorite tools) for creating seamles...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Email marketing expert Dawn Richardson from Flodesk shares everything pet business owners need to know about email deliverability, growing local businesses through email, and prepping for the holidays.

🔍You’ll learn:

  • Why your emails might be going to spam and how to fix it
  • The importance of list cleaning and sending to engaged subscribers only
  • How local pet businesses can use email for exclusivity, VIP offers, and targeted content
  • ...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

This episode is your website self-audit for pet business owners whose sites aren't converting visitors into bookings. In it, we’re covering the 5 biggest website mistakes that kill conversions.

You'll learn:

  • How to optimize the ‘above-the-fold’ area of your website to get potential clients to stay on your site longer.
  • Why weak call-to-actions are costing you bookings and how to improve them
  • Simple ways to speed up your sl...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Worried about AI changing the way people find your pet business? In this episode, we break down what’s actually happening with SEO and search, why your website matters more than ever, and the simple steps you can take to future-proof your site (without overcomplicating it).

Here's what we dive into:

  • What's actually changing with AI overviews and search results
  • Why local and niche businesses aren't impacted the same ...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    Hey Jonas! The official Jonas Brothers podcast. Hosted by Kevin, Joe, and Nick Jonas. It’s the Jonas Brothers you know... musicians, actors, and well, yes, brothers. Now, they’re sharing another side of themselves in the playful, intimate, and irreverent way only they can. Spend time with the Jonas Brothers here and stay a little bit longer for deep conversations like never before.

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

    Stuff You Should Know

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    The MeatEater Podcast

    Building on the belief that a deeper understanding of the natural world enriches all of our lives, host Steven Rinella brings an in-depth and relevant look at all outdoor topics including hunting, fishing, nature, conservation, and wild foods. Filled with humor, irreverence, and things that will surprise the hell out of you, each episode welcomes a diverse group of guests who add their own expertise to the vast world of the outdoors. Part of The MeatEater Podcast Network.

    The Joe Rogan Experience

    The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2026 iHeartMedia, Inc.

  • Help
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • AdChoicesAd Choices