When dog trainer and founder of How to Train a Dream Dog first approached us at SimplyPintastic, she wasn’t new to the world of dog training. Her years of experience, hands-on knowledge, and passion for helping puppy parents create their “dream dog” had made her an expert in her field. What she didn’t expect, however, was how Pinterest could completely transform her business in just a few months.
Puppy training is a personal journey, and for many new puppy owners, it’s filled with excitement and—let’s be real—a little bit of chaos. This was the exact audience How to Train a Dream Dog wanted to reach. But the challenge? Despite the incredible value offered in her signature program, 30 Days to Puppy Perfection, her online presence just wasn’t reaching the number of puppy owners she knew she could help.
At the time, How to Train a Dream Dog was relying heavily on traditional channels and a small number of referrals from her existing clients. While the clients she had were thrilled with the results they saw in their dogs, reaching new customers remained difficult. The real barrier was that many potential clients didn’t even know there was a solution like hers out there. They had no idea how much simpler, more effective, and rewarding puppy training could be when you understand how a puppy’s brain works.
The SimplyPintastic team came in with one goal in mind: to change the way How to Train a Dream Dog connected with its audience and brought new clients in the door. By focusing on how Pinterest could capture new leads, while also reinforcing the value of the 30 Days to Puppy Perfection program, we helped How to Train a Dream Dog not only reach more people but increase their course sales consistently over several months.
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The Stalling Block
Most business owners are skeptical when they first hear about Pinterest as a business growth tool. The same was true for How to Train a Dream Dog. After all, Pinterest is often misunderstood—people think it’s all about home decor, recipes, and wedding ideas. It can be difficult to see the value it offers for serious businesses, especially those focused on offering something as practical as a dog training program.
The biggest mental block for many entrepreneurs in service-based industries, like dog training, is the belief that Pinterest isn’t the right platform for attracting paying customers. We hear the same questions all the time:
- “How is Pinterest going to help me sell my services?”
- “Aren’t people just scrolling through for fun?”
- “Do I really need to be on another platform?”
This hesitation is natural. Many business owners see Pinterest as a place for browsing, rather than a key driver for lead generation and sales. But, in reality, Pinterest is one of the most effective platforms for capturing high-intent users—people actively searching for solutions to their problems. And that’s exactly what puppy owners are looking for: solutions.
They want a way to make puppy training easier, faster, and more intuitive. And Pinterest, with its vast user base of solution-seekers, is the perfect platform to meet them.
The Breakthrough Moment
For How to Train a Dream Dog, the shift began once we reframed the way they saw Pinterest. Instead of viewing it as just a place to share cute puppy photos (though that was part of it), we helped them realize that Pinterest is a search engine—just like Google—but with a more personal, visual appeal.
People aren’t just scrolling mindlessly. They’re searching for help, particularly during key times of the year, like after holidays when many families welcome new puppies into their homes. They’re seeking tips, tricks, and programs like 30 Days to Puppy Perfection to make sure their puppy becomes the dream dog they’ve always wanted.
From June to September, this simple shift in mindset resulted in an incredible transformation. By aligning their content with the search intent of potential puppy owners—those searching for how-to guides, training tips, and problem-solving techniques for common puppy behavior issues—How to Train a Dream Dog doubled their traffic and saw a consistent increase in course sales.
In June, they had just three sign-ups and two sales. By September, those numbers had nearly tripled, with nine new sign-ups and two sales in a single month. The month-over-month growth continued into October, showing that this strategy wasn’t a one-time spike but a steady path to long-term success.
Understanding the Customer’s Journey
Let’s break down the customer’s mindset. New puppy owners are typically overwhelmed. They want to get things right, but they often don’t know where to start. Maybe they’ve tried a few techniques here and there, maybe they’ve read a blog or watched a video, but they’re still unsure if they’re doing the right thing.
The beauty of How to Train a Dream Dog’s 30 Days to Puppy Perfection program is that it offers clarity. It teaches puppy parents not just how to train, but how to “speak dog”—a concept that resonates with anyone who’s struggled with communicating with their new furry family member.
Once people realize there’s a program designed to address this exact need, they feel a sense of relief. They’ve found a solution that takes away the guesswork and gives them a clear, structured plan to follow.
What Pinterest does so effectively is meet these potential clients at the exact moment when they’re feeling stuck. Whether it’s a holiday season or a family birthday that brings a new puppy into their lives, Pinterest helps How to Train a Dream Dog show up as the expert source for answers right when people are searching.
Tackling Objections with Real Results
Despite the growth, there were still hesitations. Some potential customers would land on the How to Train a Dream Dog site but hold back from purchasing. They had questions. Is this really going to work? Do I need another training program when there’s so much free information online?
To counter these objections, we focused on data-driven results. The proof was in the numbers, and How to Train a Dream Dog could confidently show that their program wasn’t just another option—it was the best one. By showcasing testimonials, success stories, and specific case studies from other puppy owners who had used the program to achieve success, we reinforced the value of the course.
Each month, as more and more people purchased and saw results in their puppy’s behavior, the word-of-mouth referrals increased as well. More sign-ups meant more success stories, and more success stories meant a steady flow of new clients willing to trust in the How to Train a Dream Dog method.
The Numbers Speak for Themselves
- In June, How to Train a Dream Dog had 3 course sign-ups and 2 sales.
- By July, sales increased, with 4 sales and 2 new sign-ups.
- August saw another uptick with 4 sign-ups and 3 course sales.
- September showed the most dramatic increase with 9 new sign-ups and 2 sales.
- By mid-October, How to Train a Dream Dog already had 3 more sign-ups and 1 sale.
This steady increase in both sign-ups and sales reflects not only the power of the program but also the effectiveness of reaching the right audience through Pinterest.
The Psychological Triggers at Play
Throughout this entire journey, there were a few key elements that contributed to the success of How to Train a Dream Dog’s marketing strategy. One of the biggest was understanding the emotional and psychological triggers that drive decision-making.
For many dog owners, the decision to invest in a training program is not just about the financial cost. It’s about the fear of failing their new puppy. They want to raise a well-behaved, happy dog, but they’re afraid they’ll make mistakes along the way. This fear often causes hesitation in making a purchase.
The solution? Reassurance.
Pinterest allowed How to Train a Dream Dog to position themselves as the trusted authority in puppy training. Every pin, every piece of content, and every testimonial was a reminder that help was available, and it worked. This subtle reassurance helped nudge people toward the decision to invest in the program, knowing that they weren’t just buying a course—they were investing in the future relationship they would have with their dog.
Easing the Pain Points
Another key to this success story was identifying and addressing the pain points of potential customers. Most puppy owners are tired. They’re frustrated. They’re looking for solutions, but they’re overwhelmed with all the free advice that’s out there. They’ve likely tried multiple methods, none of which seem to work consistently.
The 30 Days to Puppy Perfection program gave them a roadmap. Instead of piecing together bits of advice from here and there, the course offered a simple, step-by-step guide. It saved time, reduced stress, and provided real, actionable results. And for anyone who’s ever struggled with training a puppy, that’s priceless.
The Future of How to Train a Dream Dog
Now, as How to Train a Dream Dog continues to grow, their strategy with Pinterest will evolve. With our ongoing support at SimplyPintastic, they’ll keep refining their approach, capturing even more leads, and turning hesitant puppy owners into confident, happy customers.
Their success story is one of realizing that sometimes the right platform can make all the difference. It’s about understanding that your audience is out there—they just need to be shown the path to finding you. Pinterest was the key to unlocking that potential for How to Train a Dream Dog, and it’s only the beginning of what’s possible.
By focusing on the right mindset, understanding the emotional triggers of their audience, and showing up with consistent, valuable content, How to Train a Dream Dog has set themselves on a path to continued growth and success. The future is bright, and with the right tools, they’ll continue helping more puppy owners raise their own dream dogs for years to come.