Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelsey Rhinelander.
Hi Kelsey, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Before I was a dog trainer, I was a marketing strategist working on the implementation of digital marketing campaigns for Fortune 500 companies and later running an influencer marketing department that brought in hundreds of millions of views for companies around the globe. This opportunity gave me hundreds of hours of experience with complex marketing skills, from digital strategy, consumer profiling, Google Ads, budget management and allocation. All while training dogs on the side.
With a cross-country move to an area that *needed* more dog professionals, I decided to move into training full time. It was challenging but I loved every second of it. During my years as a trainer, I grew more as a person than I ever did in the agency world. I helped hundreds of dogs and their families live together in a way that worked for both the dog and the human. Making a real difference in the lives of people and pets in my community filled me up in a way that can’t be replicated sitting behind a computer.
With another cross country move on the horizon, I moved into a remote marketing role that allowed me to gain expertise with local, serviced-based small businesses in the pet industry- specifically veterinarians. My big agency skills came in handy and I learned to break down multi-million dollar strategies into hundred dollar strategies that were just as impactful. Having owned a pet related business and deeply understanding the needs of pet owners as clients, I was able to thrive in this role.
Then, after years of running my own dog training business and 1 cancer diagnosis later, I decided to start All Ears Digital.
Being a dog trainer is no easy feat. You spend years developing the knowledge and technical skills, and honing your delivery of complex topics so that the average pet parent can have a better understanding of what is going on with their pet. We work hours no one else wants to work to be available when clients are. We are constantly covered in unknown slime and a light (or heavy!) dusting of fur. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
When I was running my training business full time, I noticed that marketing services and professional help were out of reach for most pet professionals. And who has time to learn another intricate skill? As a small business owner, wearing 17 hats every day is tough, and it is inevitable that, at some point, the hat you want to wear most, will struggle because you are stretched too thin trying to keep the other (necessary) hats on.
And out of that, All Ears Digital was born. My goal is for All Ears to take tasks that you find difficult or draining off your plate. Tasks that you don’t have the skills or time to do. Tasks you don’t want to half ass and are necessary to grow your business. Tasks that take away from your ability to be the awesome pet professional that you are.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My business was built on adversity- both personally (paying for cancer treatment) and clients needing more than I could do myself. I started running Google Ads for dog trainers to help make ends meet during my cancer treatment- honestly as a side hustle! And at every step of the way, those people were needing additional services. It turned my side hustle into a real (but accidental!) business, forcing me to grow, expand and hire, all while recovering from cancer.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
All Ears specializes in marketing services for pet professionals and small businesses. Marketing a pet business is different than selling toothpaste- and if you try to sell training and pet services like you would toothpaste, you will not succeed. Our staff knows the ins and outs of the pet business industry and tailors our approach to the exact services pet business want to sell all while targeting their ideal client. We don’t serve 500 niches across many industries- We offer marketing by pet professionals FOR pet professionals. We are a full service marketing services agency and offer anything from business marketing strategy, google ads, social management to website development and branding.
What does success mean to you?
Being able to do what I love for clients who also are doing what they love.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.allearsdigital.com
- Instagram: @allearsdigital
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/allearsdigital
