This transcript was generated from the episode audio and may contain minor errors.
[Music]
Woof, today's caller is a long time listener with an idea for a mobile app that connects dog owners with local dog walkers. Mike is looking for guidance on how to monetize his app and attract users before diving into development. Smart thinking, can we lend him a helping paw? Let's see what we can do. This is Sadder School, I'm Chris Guillebeau.
Let's fetch some advice right after this message from our sponsor. [Music]
Hey, this is Mike, a long time listener, first time caller. I have an idea for a mobile app that connects dog owners with local dog walkers. But I'm not sure how to monetize the app or attract users. And it seems like I should figure these things out before I move forward.
So in your expert opinion, what are the best strategies for monetizing an app like this and how can I attract users to the app? I guess I would need to attract dogs too but I figured they'll just follow the lead of their owners. Woof, thanks in advance for any advice. [Music]
All right, Mike, first off, thanks for being a long time enthusiastic listener and for reaching out with your question. So I like the idea of connecting dog owners with local dog walkers through an app.
It is positively brilliant, let's say. And let's also dig into some strategies for monetizing this app and attracting users, which are gonna go hand in hand. So when it comes to monetization, there are a few avenues you can explore. One option is to charge a commission or a service fee on each transaction between the dog owners and the dog walkers. The dogs, they get off free, they don't have to pay anything.
This way you earn a percentage of each booking made through the app. Another idea is to offer a subscription model where users pay a monthly fee to access premium features, perhaps priority booking or access to a wider network of walkers. And you might also consider in-app advertising, although you'll wanna be cautious not to overwhelm your users with ads. Also, don't forget about strategic partnerships with pet-related businesses. They might be interested in sponsoring.
So that's also a form of advertising, but it's a little bit different than just a bunch of banner ads in exchange for a fee. So now on to attracting users. To reel in both dog owners and walkers, you'll wanna create a marketing plan that utilizes a mix of online and offline strategies. So of course, obviously, social media. You wanna engage with your target audience on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter.
Reddit could also be cool for this. Share fun and informative content related to dog walking and pet care. And of course, use hashtags to reach a wider audience. Now, most importantly here, if you can win over the dog owners, I think the dogs themselves will be easier. So don't underestimate the power of PR.
Reach out to pet bloggers, pet influencers. You know, that's the thing. To help generate buzz about your app. All right, keep up the great work, Mike. Let us know how it goes.
We can't wait to see your app take the dog walking world by storm. When it's out, I'll come back and mention it to our listeners. And listeners, if you have a question, sidehustleschool.com/questions. A question, an idea, something you're working on, something that's going well or not going well. We'll continue to feature listener content every week.
Got a new episode every day. It's all completely free. My name's Chris Guillebeau. You're listening to "Side Hustle School." [Music]
From the Onward Project.
