Unleashing the community-building power of the internet

After losing a job, I decided to turn my passion for animals into a business. I started Bark Orlando as a mobile pet training company. Through the power of social media and the internet (and the related ability of satisfied customers and animal lovers to give incredible reviews) I’ve been able to grow and expand the business into a full-service pet care company in the heart of Orlando. We use Instagram to advertise as well as keep our customers up-to-date on their pets and their latest offerings. This year alone, our business has grown 40 percent. We’ve also leveraged the power of social media to help other people who are passionate about animals. Earlier this year, the Orlando Pet Alliance’s building burned down. We used social channels to help raise more than $10,000 to help them rebuild in less than 2 days!  

Kierstin Benitez, Founder and CEO of Bark Orlando