How to Build a Website for Your Dog Walking Pet-Sitting Side Hustle

The world is your oyster when it comes to the type of side hustle you can start. You can do anything from freelance design to registering with a ride-sharing app, and everything in between.

While there are several different ways to make extra cash with a side hustle, it’s critical to remember one thing. Your side hustle could eat up several hours of your week, so it should involve an element of passion.

After all, the more you enjoy your side hustle, the less it will feel like work, and the more time you’ll put into growing your business.

Now here’s some good news.

If you’re a lover of our furry friends, then a viable option for earning extra cash is to start a dog walking or pet-sitting side hustle.

There are several pet parents that are looking for someone to treat their dog well while they are on vacation, or to take their adorable dog on a walk when life gets busy.

However, business isn’t going to come out of thin air. To find pet parents in your neighborhood, it’s vital to set up a website for your pet-sitting side hustle.

This article will review why you need a website as well as how you can start a website in just six easy steps.

Let’s get started!

start your business with gator website builder from hostgator

Why Do Pet-Sitters and Dog Walkers Need a Website?

The number one place people look for local services is online. In fact, 97% of people learn more about a local company online than anywhere else, and 'Near me' or “close by” type searches grew by more than 900% over two years.

While it’s true you can (and should) register your pet-sitting and dog walking services on apps like Rover, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have your own website, too.

Why?

There are several reasons, including:

  • Rover is loaded with the competition, and there is no guarantee a pet parent will find your information amid all the other dog walkers.
  • You can compete for coveted spots in the local search results (think the top of Google’s search page) when you have your own website.
  • You can design your website however you want, including adding all the content you want.
  • A website gives you credibility and helps establish yourself as a real professional.

When it comes right down to it, owning your own website for your dog walking or pet-sitting side hustle is a must. 

Now let’s talk about how you can start your own website with HostGator today.

How to Build Your Dog Walking or Pet-Sitting Website with HostGator in 6 Simple Steps

Building a website might not be your jam, and that’s okay. HostGator knows that everyone needs a website. HostGator also understands that not everyone is a web designer.

That’s why HostGator has already done the hard work for you. The developers at HostGator have made it easy for any website novice to get a website up in less than a day. 

All you have to do is follow six easy steps. Here’s how to get started.

Step 1: Pick a hosting plan for your dog walking or pet-sitting side hustle website

The Gator Website Builder has three hosting plans available, but which one should you choose?

gator website builder pricing plans

Pet-sitters and dog walkers don’t typically sell services online, which means you don’t need the eCommerce plan. You just have to choose between the starter plan and the premium plan.

The starter plan includes a free domain, 200+ customizable templates, a drag-and-drop editor, cloud hosting, and website analytics.

The premium plan includes everything the starter plan has, but also includes priority support. If you know you’ll need priority support while creating and maintaining your website, opt for the premium package. 

Once you’ve picked either the starter plan or premium plan, click 'buy now' and you can set up your account.

Step 2: Pick a domain name for your dog walking or pet-sitting website

Every website needs a domain name. As a pet-sitter or dog walker, it would be fun to brainstorm a creative domain name related to dogs, dog walking, or pet-sitting. If you already have a business name, then pick the name of your dog walking business.

To choose your free domain name, all you have to do is type something in the 'get domain' box. If your top choice for your website isn’t available, then select another until you find one that is available.

select domain name with hostgator website builder

If you already have a domain name, then you can connect it to your HostGator account by clicking 'connect it here.' 

Step 3: Create your HostGator account

Once you have selected a domain name, it’s time to connect your HostGator account.

Enter your email address or connect via Facebook, enter your payment information, and you’re all set.

Step 4: Pick a template for your dog walking or pet-sitting website

Another advantage of HostGator is it comes with more than 200 professionally-designed templates. This means you don’t have to design your website. 

All you have to do is pick a template that you like and customize it with your unique content.

Gator Website Builder design templates

Step 5: Add pages and content to your pet-sitting website.

Once you have selected the perfect template for your side hustle website, you can start customizing your pages. Clicking 'start editing' will send you to your dashboard where you can add, edit, and delete pages.

For a dog walking or pet-sitting side hustle website, you may want to include the following pages:

  • Home. The home page provides an overview of who you as a pet-sitter or a dog walker. You may want to include information about your experience, your values, and your approach to caring for dogs.
  • About. The about page offers insight into who you are, the experience you have, and any qualifications you may have. If you’ve been a dog walker or pet-sitter in the past, include that information on this page.
  • Services. The services page includes a list of what dog walking or pet-sitting services you offer. You can include prices on this page, or discuss them later over the phone.
  • Testimonials. When it comes to hiring a pet-sitter, dog parents want to know they are getting someone who will care for their dog. Consider collecting testimonials about how awesome you are from previous families you’ve helped.
  • Contact. A contact page helps potential customers reach out to you via email, phone, or contact form.

Gator Website Builder is a drag and drop builder that makes it easy to design your pages and add content. All you have to do is point and click. However, if you have any questions, it also includes a free and easy step-by-step guide for reference that you can access at any time.

add elements to page in gator website builder like buttons and contact form

To access this guide, click the 'menu' icon next to the Gator by HostGator logo and select the 'getting started tour.'  

Step 6: Review your content and launch your dog walking or pet-sitting website.

The last step is to review your website, make any changes, and then publish your dog walking or pet-sitting website. By clicking 'preview,' you can see your site in full, and make sure it looks perfect. 

During your preview, review your website and make sure everything is correct.

If everything looks great, then click the 'finish preview' button at the top and then 'publish website' at the top of the dashboard. 

Build Your Pet Side Hustle Website Today

If you sit around dreaming that you were walking a dog or pet-sitting a pup, then it’s time to start your side hustle. You may as well get paid for doing something you want to do anyway, right?

Get started building your side hustle website with HostGator today!