4 Reasons You’re Failing At Rover
In the last 3 months I have made over $1,500 at my side hustle. That’s $1,500 of EXTRA income that goes towards things my family needs - and towards extra debt payments.
It has allowed us to supplement our income while Joe is in school and while my startup business is in it’s first fledgling years.
In June 2011, Rover opened it’s e-doors at the Startup Weekend contest in Seattle, Washington. Now, the company is the leading provider of Independent Contractor pet care.
Since then the company has exploded, and I am one of the lucky people who reap the benefits of their high visibility and popularity.
Being so public about the love I have for this side hustle, I’ve been getting more questions about it. One of the biggest: How can I make as much money as you?
Here are 4 mistakes I see in the Rover world and how to fix them.
I hope this helps you in your pursuit of more cash while using this app!
1.You Don’t Have An Open Schedule
I attribute most of my Rover success to my flexible work schedule. I have the privilege of working from home, so I am able to do drop ins, walks, and overnight stays during the times that most adults have to work.
The majority of my clients are 9-5 professionals wanting someone to walk their dog in the middle of the day.
If you have a ‘regular’ job, you’re not going to be able to do that.
Note: This is not me saying that you should throw your hands up and say ‘No’ to giving Rover a shot.
It’s me saying that you may not have as much success if you don’t have an open schedule.
2.You Have 0 Testimonials
If I am looking for a sitter on Rover for my dogs, I will ignore your profile if no one can vouch for you.
What’s the first thing you check when looking at a product? I know for me, it’s price and reviews.
It’s no different when ‘shopping’ for a pet care provider.
If you have no testimonials or reviews, you will not get the same traction you would if you had them.
When you first get your profile going, send emails to friends and family requesting that they write a testimonial for you. This isn’t the same thing as a ‘Verified Stay’ review that one of your clients will leave you, however, it is EXTREMELY important to have when you haven’t landed a booking yet.
I asked my loved ones who had first-hand experience with my pet loving skills to write a few sentences about my care.
This is a critical part of the profile to complete.
Pro Tip: To get your first booking, drop all of your prices $3-5 below that of other sitters in your area.
These are testimonials
These are ‘Verified Stay’ reviews
3.You Don’t Update Your Calendar
This is an easily overlooked part of being a Rover sitter.
When you create a Rover profile, you have an individual calendar. This shows potential clients your availability.
The way that Rovers search engine works is that when you update your calendar, your profile moves to the top of the list of available sitters in your area.
Set a reminder in your phone to update your calendar everyday - this ensures that you’re winning at the Rover SEO game.
4.You Have A Lackluster Description
There are literally hundreds of Rover sitters on Rover… all wanting the same thing you do: Bookings. That means that just putting the same description as everyone else does will yield you no results. I like to put attention grabbers in my header that match the time of year OR holiday. Why? Two reasons:
It shows that you have been recently active on the website, and you’re not just another dormant account to sift through
It shows that you actually have a personality
I’ve even seen one profile that proudly proclaimed that they loved petting dogs and loved paying off debt. Rover helped them do both.
She had over 200 reviews on her profile.
My point: Don’t be a stick in the mud. It’s not rocket science. It’s dogs. Have fun with your copy! Show a nerdy or quirky side of yourself. Odds are, you’ll stand out!
Pro Tip: Make sure your profile picture is clear and shows your face! You’d be surprised how many unprofessional looking pictures I come across.
I genuinely love the experience I have had on Rover. We’ve been able to pay off debt quicker and go on trips that we wouldn’t have normally afforded. It has also given me the ability to branch off of the app and start my own independent pet sitting business.
If you are an animal lover, or if you have professional pet experience, I HIGHLY suggest downloading Rover.
If you’re interested in creating a Rover profile, please click the above image! Once you complete your first stay as a sitter or first walk as a dog walker, I’ll get a $50 Visa prepaid card.