Episode 437: How to Start Using AI in Your Pet Sitting Business (Even If You’re Not Techy)

Are you still staring at ChatGPT wondering what to even type in? Or maybe you’ve dabbled with AI and decided it’s just “not for you.” But here’s the thing—if you're not using AI in your pet sitting business yet, you're already falling behind. In this episode of Bella in Your Business, I’m breaking down exactly what that means—with zero tech talk. I’ll show you how AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and custom GPTs can help you write care notes faster, automate client emails, and even build your own AI assistant that sounds like you. I’m sharing real stories, real results, and how other pet sitters are already using AI to save time and serve better. No more guessing. No more generic advice. This isn’t the future—it’s the right now. So if you're overwhelmed or skeptical, listen in. I’m here to help you move from confusion to confidence with AI in your pet sitting business. In This Episode, You'll Discover... What ChatGPT and AI actually are (in plain English) Why AI matters right now for pet sitters The difference between using AI and training your own digital clone How to create a pet-sitting-specific AI that talks exactly like you Why ignoring AI could cost you time, clients, and money Timestamps 00:00 – Why AI matters right now for pet sitters 02:00 – The difference between using AI and training AI 05:00 – What a GPT is and how to make one for your business 10:00 – Real-life AI wins: Mother's Day & meet-and-greet hacks 15:00 – Building your digital clone + how to get started now Notable Quotes “This is not about pulling up ChatGPT and asking it to rewrite your email. That’s daycare level. We're aiming for grad school.” “AI in your pet sitting business isn’t optional anymore. It’s the difference between falling behind and staying ahead.” Resources & Links Try Bella’s custom pet sitting GPT. Learn how to build your own AI assistant. Connect on IG: @bellavasta Book a complimentary 20-min strategy call. Join Bella’s Mastermind. Did You Love This Episode? Share it on Instagram and tag @BellaVasta with your biggest takeaway using #BellaInYourBusiness. Ready to clone yourself and save time? Build your AI assistant today. Watch all our Podcasts on YouTube Previous podcast episode: ? Transcript Hi, I'm Bella Vasta, and in today’s episode, we’re going back to basics—especially with AI. A recent Mother’s Day moment reminded me that many of you may still be trying to figure this stuff out. I’ll also address common questions like, "What is GPT?" and "How do I use ChatGPT correctly?" Here’s what we’ll cover today: What is ChatGPT? Why AI for pet sitters matters right now How to create AI that sounds like you What’s next for AI in the pet sitting world Why AI Matters for Pet Sitters If you've heard of ChatGPT but still aren’t quite sure what it does or how it fits into your daily operations, you're not alone. This episode is designed to help you understand it—and maybe even get a little excited about it. The key takeaway? You don’t need to be a tech wizard, but you do need to start planning for AI integration now. The pet sitting industry is not immune to tech shifts, and the gap between those using AI and those who aren’t is only going to widen. What Is ChatGPT? Let’s demystify ChatGPT. Think of it like Kleenex is to tissues—ChatGPT is just one brand of AI. It stands for “Generative Pre-trained Transformer”—a fancy way of saying it’s a tool that generates human-like text. It learns from data, including pet care info, and uses a model called a transformer to generate responses. It's not the only option either—there’s Claude, Gemini, and even tools that aggregate all of them like Magai. At first, these tools just predicted text. But now, they're becoming what experts call agentic—they take actions on your behalf. Imagine an AI that writes client emails, social posts, or resolves scheduling conflicts, all sounding like you. We’re All in AI Kindergarten Right now, we’re at the beginning—AI Kindergarten. It’s not too late. Every pet business owner I know is curious and starting to explore. For example, tomorrow I’m leading a mastermind training on applying Joey Coleman’s “8 Phases of How Never to Lose a Customer.” Four of those phases are very creativity-heavy, and AI helps bridge that gap. The Rise of Digital Clones Pet sitters are now building digital versions of themselves. Not to deceive, but to scale their efforts. Imagine an AI assistant who knows how you respond to medication questions or handles last-minute dog walk requests with your tone and expertise. But remember, transparency matters—always disclose when AI helps with communication. Real-Life AI Success Story This Mother’s Day, I talked with my aunt, a 20-year real estate agent, who now uses ChatGPT for property descriptions, emails, and social posts. What used to take hours now takes minutes, and she’s saving thousands in admin costs. It got me thinking—pet sitters could use AI for creating detailed pet profiles right after meet-and-greets. No more 20-minute note-writing sessions. Just speak, prompt the AI, and let it format everything perfectly. Creating Your Own Pet Sitting GPT So how do you make an AI that talks like you? Step 1: Create a Custom GPT Go to chat.openai.com, get the Plus plan ($20/month), and go into your settings to turn off model training for privacy. If you want to see an example, visit jumpconsulting.net/ask. It’s a GPT trained on my old pet sitting handbook—you can ask it how to write a care note or do a pet sit! Step 2: Train Your GPT With Your Voice You can build your own GPT to: Write care notes Train staff Build schedules Create newsletters The secret? Feed it your content: emails, blog posts, client replies, even interviews. Then ask ChatGPT to create a prompt that mimics your voice. Upload this to your custom GPT and boom—you’ve got a digital assistant that talks like you. Tools and Resources You can take my full course at jumpconsulting.net/bot, where I show you how to create a GPT from your own handbook or brand voice. It takes 5 minutes to create once you have your materials. We’re moving from AI Kindergarten to Middle School and beyond. Some people are even creating voice clones for phone conversations. But this only works if you’re feeding the AI the right content. Final Thoughts: Get Started Today This will cut your time by at least 70%. But you have to build that foundation now. This is not just about rewriting emails—it’s about revolutionizing your workflow. Put ChatGPT on your phone. Ask it everyday things. Use it in your personal life first. The more you use it, the better it gets—and so will your business. If you’re still unsure, follow me on Instagram or Facebook (@BellaVasta), where I share real client success stories every week. Wrap-Up If you're not running your business using AI right now, you're falling behind. But don’t worry—it’s not too late. I’ve got 400 non-AI episodes if that’s your jam. But this show? This is where you’ll learn to leverage AI. Have questions? Message me, email me at bella@jumpconsulting.net, or join my community at jumpconsulting.net/mastermind. Thanks for listening, and remember—when life gets you down, always keep jumping.