How to Market a New Pet Care Business [VIDEO BLOG]

Today, we’re going to talk about some easy and effective ways to market your new local pet care business. Whether you're offering grooming, boarding, pet sitting, or training services, these steps will help you get noticed and grow your customer base.

Video Transcript

Did you launch a new pet care business and now you’re doing everything you can to get a steady flow of customers? Smart, because in this video I’m going to teach you everything you need to know about how to get new customers and a steady flow of customers for your pet care business. And why is that so smart? Because the number one killer of any small business is running out of a guaranteed tried-and-true way to get more customers for your business on a regular basis. That’s the lifeblood of any business.

So, I’m going to break this down for you even if you have no marketing experience, even if your business is brand new, even if you have zero dollars to dedicate towards marketing. Don’t worry, this video is for you. I’m going to tell you everything you need to know based on my 15 years of experience helping local businesses grow their business and attract more local customers. Let’s break that down for you right now.

Okay, so whether you’re offering grooming, boarding, pet sitting, or training services, these steps will help you get noticed and grow your customer base.

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First up, little tidbit: do local service ads—that’s worth it. All right, those are going to be for pet care businesses if you have one of those qualifying types. You can literally put yourself at the top of Google with Google saying that you’re guaranteed. It’s pretty amazing, so go ahead and try those ads first and foremost. Set a simple budget for whatever you want; it could be $50 a month. That’s going to help you convert leads.

But now let’s break down all this a little bit more. Before you even do that, you should make sure that you have an understanding of who your market is. You can’t just say anybody who owns a pet or any type of pet because then you’re not going to be the best at anything. You have to carve out your target market and niche. What types of services are you best at? Who is looking for those types of services? Are these working professionals who might need pet sitting? Are these families who could use grooming for their pets? Are these families going on vacation that need more house sitting service?

Understanding what you will actually do, who you’re actually aiming to help, and what problem you’re actually aiming to solve is going to help with all your service and marketing efforts actually be great for your customers. Getting clear on who you’re helping, what problem you’re helping them solve, and then why you’re the best at solving or helping that situation for that type of person is how you win in a niche market.

Next up, don’t just go by your name. Your name’s not enough. It’s too easy to forget. People can’t look you up—they forget it too easily. You need a catchy business name, cute logo so that when people see them, they want them to think about pets and feeling happy. Your brand should reflect the care and joy that pets bring to their owners. Make sure your business cards, flyers, and advertisements have your logo and look professional and friendly.

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These days everyone uses the internet to find what they need, right? Having a website is like having a home for your business on the internet. It’s your online business card. Click on the link below to Mighty Sites. It’s only $9 a month for a simple professional website for your business. On your website you can share pictures of your business, list your services, tell everyone how to reach you.

Also, create social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram. Just share fun and informative posts about you, pets and shows, and before and after photos of pet grooming, happy testimonials from your customers—just get permission first and share all that fun stuff. It’s going to keep you top of mind for others.

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Next up, when people in your area search for pet care services, you want your business to come up first. This is called local SEO—local search engine optimization. Make sure your business is listed on online directories like Google Business Profile, Yelp, and Bing. Use keywords on your website that pet owners might type into search engines like “best pet grooming in your town” or “affordable pet boarding near me.”

You’re not alone in the business world. Find other local businesses that are not your direct competitors but also serve pet owners like pet stores, pet supply stores, veterinary clinics, pet adoption agencies. You can exchange flyers or coupons with them or even host joint events. This way you help each other get more customers.

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Look for events in your community where you can set up a booth or give a demonstration. These could be pet parades, animal charity events, or local markets. It’s a great way to meet potential customers face to face. You can show how well you handle pets and maybe even offer a free mini service like a quick trim or a pet health checkup.

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And everyone loves a good deal, so offer new customers a discount on their first visit or create a loyalty program where they get a free service after a certain number of visits. This encourages people to keep coming back and also to tell their friends about your great service.

Happy customers are your best advertisements, so encourage them to leave positive reviews online and to tell their friends about your business. Maybe offer a small discount on their next visit if they refer a friend who becomes a customer.

And last, not least, make sure that you pay attention and track your progress. Know what’s working and what’s not working in your marketing. Keep track of how many new customers you get and where they heard about your business. This will help you understand which marketing strategies are most effective and worth investing more time and money in.

Thanks so much for joining me. Hit like and subscribe so you catch all the future videos on how to build your website and market it to attract as many customers as possible for your pet care business. We’ll catch you in the next video.