10 Tips for Marketing Your Pet-Sitting Business in the New Year

As the excitement of the new year starts to bubble, you are likely wondering what’s ahead for your pet-sitting business. From gaining more clients to building awareness of your brand, the new year offers many exciting opportunities to expand!

But with more and more pet sitters entering the market, what's the best way to stand out and get ahead? The answer could lie in the effectiveness of your marketing plan.

Below are 10 tips on how to successfully market your pet-sitting business for a prosperous year ahead.

Source: payamona

10 Marketing Tips to Implement in the New Year

1. Create and optimize your Google Business Profile

One of the best ways to market your pet-sitting business is through a Google Business Profile. The goal is to have your business show up at the top of the Google search results when someone looks for a pet sitter in your local area. 

If you already have a Google Business Profile, the beginning of the year marks a great time to update and optimize your profile.

To optimize your Google profile you can:

• Ensure the information on your business profile is up to date

• Add new pictures to your profile

• Respond to reviews 

• Add a list of the services you provide

• Respond to any questions asked in the ‘Questions & Answers’ section 

In addition to your Google Business Profile, listing your business on NAPPS is another great way to be found by potential clients. Your NAPPS listing will show up in the ‘Find a Local NAPPS Pet Sitter’ section when someone searches for a pet sitter in your local area.

2. Create a website

Creating a website for your pet-care business can be a great way to showcase your services. A professional website can increase your credibility and build trust with your customers. If you are not technically savvy and immediately turned off by this idea, don't worry! You can hire a website designer to build and manage your website for you.

Don't forget to link your website to your Google Business Profile and your NAPPS listing.

3. Build backlinks

If you do have a website, one of the best ways to reach the top of Google’s search is by having backlinks to your website. Google's algorithm has over 200 factors it looks at when ranking a website. The number of referring domains is one of the most important ranking factors.

To get backlinks to your website, you can perform guest posting for other pet care businesses. This is where you write engaging and informative content around pet sitting for other pet-related websites. Within the content, you will place a link back to your website.

4. Create social media profiles for your business

Another great way to market your pet-sitting business is by creating profiles on popular social media platforms. TikTok, Instagram, Pinterest, and more can help you reach a wider audience to promote your business.

It's estimated that 74% of consumers rely on social media to make informed decisions about purchasing products. Having a strong social media presence can help you engage with your audience and promote your services effectively.

5. Focus on gaining positive online reviews

In today's digital world, having positive online reviews is no longer a nice thing to have but a necessity. Potential clients often rely on online reviews when making purchasing decisions. It's therefore a good idea to have a strategy in place for gaining positive online reviews. 

Common strategies to gain more reviews include:

• Poster: Add a poster to an area that your clients’ often see. On the poster, request a review and detail where to leave the review.

• Email: Send a post-appointment email that requests a review and includes a link to the review website.

• Ask: Don’t be afraid to ask your clients to leave a review. When your clients are picking up their pets, ask them to share their experience. Most will be happy to help you out if you’ve provided them with a good service.

• Social media: Add a post that requests a review to each of your social media profiles.

• Offer incentives: Offer a giveaway or prize for all your clients who leave you a review. 

Source: Group4 Studio

6. Build an email list

Building an email list is not as difficult as it may seem. You can start by adding your clients’ email addresses to a spreadsheet. When your business has the budget, you can use an email marketing tool to collect emails for you. 

Sending newsletters and promotional offers through email can help keep your clients engaged and your business at the forefront of their minds.

7. Perform a giveaway

To drum up more attention for your pet-sitting business you can perform a giveaway. This can be in the form of a free pet-sitting session, a discount on services, or even a pet-themed gift basket. Giveaways are a fun way to generate new leads and reward loyal customers.

8. Implement a referral program

Another effective way to market your pet-sitting business is by having a referral program. Referral programs offer incentives for current clients to refer their friends and family to your business.

This type of word-of-mouth marketing could be just the tool you need in your marketing arsenal. A recent survey found that nearly a third of consumers preferred to learn about new products through word of mouth. This type of marketing outperformed social media and online ads, proving to be one of the best ways to market a business.

Source: JLco - Julia Amaral

9. Attend pet-related events

Attending local pet-related events is not only fun but can be a great way to spread the word about your business. These events provide a good opportunity to network with other pet businesses and pet parents in your local area.

10. Partner with local pet-care businesses

Partnering with local pet-care businesses can help increase your brand awareness. Pet stores, groomers, and veterinary clinics are great businesses to collaborate with to cross-promote services. Having fliers in each other’s locations can be a great way to advertise to each other’s customer base.

Final thoughts

Hitting the ground running with your marketing strategies is a great way to scale your pet-sitting business in the new year. By building partnerships with local businesses or creating a professional website, you can attract lots of new clients.

Whether you are just starting or have an established pet-sitting business, implementing these marketing tips can help you grow your business successfully in the upcoming year. 

Author Bio: Hannah Fitchett 

Hannah is the proud dog mom of Makai, a Wolfdog with a penchant for naps and snacks. Hannah has a strong love for all animals but a special fondness for dogs. With a Master's degree in Chemistry and a love for writing, Hannah aims to share the latest scientific studies and expert knowledge with dog lovers worldwide through her Howling Wolf Pack.