THE SIT, STAY, SUBSCRIBE METHOD

A framework for pet business email marketing success.

Just like training a beloved pet, email marketing works best when you follow a step-by-step approach. The Sit, Stay, Subscribe Method takes the guesswork out of email marketing for pet businesses, providing a clear path to better engagement, more bookings, and increased revenue.

WHY PET BUSINESSES NEED A DIFFERENT APPROACH

Pet businesses face unique challenges when it comes to email marketing:

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Emotional Connection

Pet parents have deep emotional bonds with their animals that must be acknowledged and respected

Varied Service Schedules

From weekly training sessions to annual vet visits, timing matters

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Seasonal Considerations

Pet needs change dramatically with seasons and life stages

Specialized Knowledge

Pet health, behavior, and care information needs to be accurate and trustworthy

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Photo-centric Content

Pet businesses thrive on visual content, requiring different email strategies

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PHASE ONE: SIT

Strategy + Setup

Before diving into email creation, we establish a strong foundation - just like teaching a dog to sit before moving to more advanced commands.

    • Goal Clarification - Define what email success looks like for your specific pet business

    • Audience Segmentation - Identify key customer groups (by pet type, service needs, etc.)

    • Brand Voice Development - Create email guidelines that reflect your caring approach

    • Content Strategy - Map out what types of emails will serve your business goals

    • Platform Selection - Choose the right email tools for your specific needs

    • Jumping straight to sending emails without clear goals

    • Treating all pet owners as one homogeneous group

    • Using a formal tone that doesn't reflect the personal nature of pet care

The SIT phase creates the foundation for everything that follows. Skip this, and you'll find yourself constantly reacting rather than proactively building relationships with pet parents.

Dog groomer drying a small dog with a hairdryer on a grooming table.

PHASE TWO: STAY

Sustainable Systems

Next, we build reliable systems that continue working even when you're busy - creating consistency that builds trust with pet parents.

    • Welcome Sequence - Create first impressions that turn subscribers into clients

    • Service Follow-Ups - Automate post-appointment communications

    • Nurture Sequences - Develop educational series that build authority

    • Re-Engagement Flows - Bring back dormant clients automatically

    • Milestone Celebrations - Remember pet birthdays and anniversaries

    • Creating one-off emails rather than cohesive sequences

    • Forgetting to include pet-specific personalization

    • Building automations that are too complex to maintain

The STAY phase is where the magic happens - email marketing that works while you focus on caring for the animals in your charge. These systems create touch points that feel personal but don't require daily manual work.

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PHASE THREE: SUBSCRIBE

Success + Scale

Finally, we focus on growing your list with the right subscribers and continuously refining your approach for maximum results.

    • Ethical List Growth - Implement strategies to attract ideal pet parents

    • Testing & Optimization - Refine subject lines, content, and timing

    • Analytics Review - Measure what matters for your pet business

    • Advanced Segmentation - Create increasingly targeted messaging

    • Revenue Attribution - Connect email efforts to actual bookings and sales

    • Growing your list without considering quality of subscribers

    • Never testing different approaches to see what works better

    • Looking at open rates but not actual business impact

The SUBSCRIBE phase transforms email from a communication tool to a business growth engine. This is where we ensure your time investment in email marketing delivers measurable returns.

HOW PET BUSINESSES CAN USE THIS METHOD

For Groomers + Trainers:

SIT: Segment by service type, pet breed/size, and appointment frequency

STAY: Automate appointment reminders, after-care instructions, and skill reinforcement

SUBSCRIBE: Grow list through breed-specific guides and seasonal care recommendations

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For Doggy Daycares + Boarding Facilities

SIT: Segment by visit frequency, pet temperament, and additional services needed

STAY: Automate booking confirmations, visit recaps with photos, and "we miss you" sequences

SUBSCRIBE: Grow list through holiday planning guides and facility event invitations

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For Veterinary Practices + Animal Hospitals

SIT: Segment by pet type, age, and health conditions

STAY: Automate wellness reminders, medication schedules, and seasonal health alerts

SUBSCRIBE: Grow list through new pet guides and educational workshops.

For Pet Retailers

SIT: Segment by pet type, purchase history, and customer value

STAY: Automate product recommendations, usage tips, and restock reminders

SUBSCRIBE: Grow list through breed-specific shopping guides and loyalty programs

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GET STARTED WITH THE SIT, STAY, SUBSCRIBE METHOD

Ready to transform your pet business email marketing? There are several ways to implement this methodology:

Self-Implementation Resources

Download my Pet Business Email Quick Start Guide with 7 steps from the Sit, Stay, Subscribe Method that you can implement right away.

Guided Implementation

Book a free 30-minute strategy call to discuss how the Sit, Stay, Subscribe Method can be customized for your specific pet business. During this call, we'll:

✔️ Assess your current email marketing approach

✔️ Identify your biggest opportunities using the method

✔️ Create a roadmap for implementation

✔️ Determine if we're a good fit to work together

Full-Service Implementation

For pet businesses who want hands-on help, I offer complete implementation services including:

✔️ Custom strategy development

✔️ Email template design

✔️ Automation sequence creation

✔️ List growth planning

✔️ Ongoing optimization

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ABOUT THE GAL BEHIND THE METHOD

The Sit, Stay, Subscribe Method was developed by Jess Zierer, the founder of Tails & Emails and self-proclaimed email dog-tor.

Tails & Emails is an email marketing consultancy dedicated exclusively to helping pet businesses establish effective and easy-to-use email systems.

This methodology combines email marketing best practices with deep understanding of the unique challenges pet businesses face in connecting with their audiences.

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Each month, you'll receive practical advice you can implement right away to improve your pet business email marketing results.