Growing a successful online dog training business with Caroline Wilkinson

What do you need to create a successful online dog training business?

Caroline Wilkinson from Barket Place is a dog trainer, behaviourist, and online pet coach and created her digital business way before the world went online.

Her background is in digital marketing and when her first dog Ezri came into her life she wanted to learn more about how our dogs think and feel.

So she decided to study dog training and behaviour, first shadowing another pet professional, then studying to become a trainer and a behaviourist.

Caroline built a local service business through networking, collaboration, supporting pet carers in her area and was able to step away from marketing.

Then she combined her former career and her passion to create Barket Place, an online training and support community for pet parents.

She works with pet brands as an expert, including Forthglade pet food and Dorwest Herbs and has been featured in publications including the Telegraph, the Guardian and Edition Dog.

In this episode, Caroline shares her journey and you’ll learn what goes on behind the scenes to running a successful online business.

Key topics and timings in this episode:

01:30 - Introduction to Caroline’s business and her background in Digital Marketing.

03:54 - Why Caroline decided to make the transition to having an online business.

07:03 - Caroline talks about the challenges of launching an online dog training business.

10:06 - The importance of building an audience and marketing.

11:46 - How Caroline went about building a community to make her online business sustainable.

15:18 - The nuts and bolts of creating and building an online business and Caroline’s advice for other pet professionals who might be thinking of taking their business online

18:24 - Why it’s important to be visible and authentic.

22:21 - How collaboration and working with others can help you grow your online business.

24:54 - PR and media opportunities and the impact they have had on Caroline’s authority.

27:32 - Why relationships and support are key when you’re working online.

30:02 - Navigating social media and stepping away from drama online.

32:06 - Caroline shares the marketing strategies she’d found have worked for her business.

34:25 - Why we mustn’t forget about prioritising wellbeing and self-care.

38:12 - Why it’s ok to do things your own way.

40:48 - What’s next for Caroline?

43:01 - Where to find out more about Caroline and Barket Place.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Visit Caroline's website at www.barketplace.uk