When Jennifer Gardner was laid off from her archeology job in 2014, she knew it was time to turn her part-time pet-sitting gig into a full-time business. So she launched Platinum Paws, a premium pet-sitting services company offering in-home care for all types of pets in Washington County, Maryland. And when Gardner says all kinds of pets, he means it. Her clients include common pets, but also lizards, horses and more. “Chickens, dogs, guinea pigs, you name it,” Gardner said.
Gardner and his seven part-time employees are experts in managing the menagerie in their care, as well as building client relationships. “We create wonderful relationships with our clients’ dogs and cats and their pets,” she explains. “The most rewarding part of running my business so far is having employees and bringing in employees who are just as pet focused and customer service driven as I am.”
But after a few years in operation, this solo entrepreneur realized he needed help if he was going to grow his business. “I had no idea, really, what to do with marketing, so I started looking at Verizon Small Business Digital Ready,” Gardner said.
Since discovering the program, Gardner has taken more than 50 courses, including live search engine optimization (SEO) coaching sessions led by veteran digital marketing expert Maisha Walker.
“Search engine optimization is a very exciting space for small business owners,” explains Walker, “because it represents a place where they can connect with potential customers, essentially free, if they can see their businesses in search engine results.”
With Walker’s help, Gardner said he started getting more inquiries about the business over the phone — from zero to 15 or more per month. And his revenue is up 25% year over year, which he partially credits to the Digital Ready program.
“Verizon’s program is: Here’s what you need to know to run a business,” he said. “And here’s what you need to know to run and grow your business. It’s not a cookie-cutter approach.”
Gardner also finds himself returning to the platform for a sense of community. “There are the group community events that are so fun to go to, because everyone gives feedback. And I love that,” he said. “You get to know people. You can ask questions. The instructors know you.”
Expert instructor Maisha Walker, meanwhile, is just as passionate about the program and the opportunity to work with entrepreneurs like Gardner. “Being able to help small business owners be more successful and build these businesses that they’ve dreamed of is very rewarding,” he said. “I feel like I’m making a real impact … And that’s very exciting.”
Verizon Small Business Digital Ready is part of Verizon’s goal to support 1 million small businesses by 2030 with the resources to thrive in the digital economy. Visit CitizenVerizon.com to learn more about the company’s responsible business efforts. To sign up for Verizon Small Business Digital Ready, visit digitalready.verizonwireless.com. Individual user experience may vary and results are not guaranteed.
