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So how do you dominate Google search results for this business?
You have to optimise for the Google maps listing.
How do you do that? Follow these 10 simple steps.
10 steps to building walking business website that will CRUSH YOUR COMPETITORS.
Get a website. Make sure it complies with Google’s best practice guidelines.
Get your new website in Google so clients find YOU.
To do this you’ll need to use Google Search Console – Search on LaunchList for our Step-by-Step Guide.
Provide LOCAL PROOF . Using a local phone number on your website tells clients and Google you are definitely a business that is local to them.
Provide SOCIAL PROOF . Show reviews from real customers on your site. This is called “social proof”and turns browsers into buyers!
Use LANDING PAGES . A landing page is optimised for a specific search term making it rank higher than your competitors. Landing pages are for people who want to buy your service now. They show the client what they want to see
Provide great CTA’s (CTA =call to action). Make it super easy on your website for clients to get in touch with you by including features such as a messaging/chat app and CTA’s that show clients exactly how to contact you.
Share FEEDBACK . Go the extra mile to provide an outstanding service and you are sure to collect plenty of positive feedback from clients. Ensure you harness this by collecting reviews from every new customer.
AUTOMATE – You won’t have time to be manually updating your website. Make sure you automatically show the new reviews on your website, driving more clients to your business.
PROMOTE – Regular updates to your website and using Google tools will give your website an extra edge.
MAINTAIN – From time to time websites need technical maintenance to the software they run on to keep peak performance.
Most businesses in this sector DO NOT invest enough time and money to execute this simple marketing strategy providing you with the opportunity to step in and DOMINATE in the local search engine results.
Using live chat on your website can boost the number of enquiries you will receive.
This is great as it gives your potential customers a “one click method” to message you straight from your websites – you get the messages on your usual messenger account, this is probably something that your competitors won’t have and we’ve had clients getting great success using this tactic.
Make it easy for your potential clients to get in touch with you.
Collect reviews:
Demonstrate “social proof” by featuring reviews directly on your website landing pages.
Ask my team about review plugins Click Here .
Other great marketing tactics
Use wearable advertising.
Running a dog walking business will mean you are outside a lot of the time, often where there are other people exercising their pets.
Dog owners are a really social bunch and will often stop to socialise. This is a perfect opportunity for some wearable advertising.
A t shirt or sweatshirt with “Dog walker – Ask me!” written on it is guaranteed to see other people doing just that. Free referral business!
Register with dog walking apps
Other methods for getting started include registration with one of the number of dog walking apps. These apps allow dog owners to search for walkers in their area and some include the benefit of providing a way for the owner to track their pooch as it is being walked. The dog walker can even upload snaps of the dog walk, both as proof the service is being provided and reassurance to the dog owner that all is well with their beloved pet whilst they are in your care.
Dog walking apps we’ve seen include:
Gowalkies – Walkers keep 100% of their earnings. Has dog tracking feature, photo updates, 24hr online support, all bookings are insured (GoWalkies is available anywhere in the UK, and is the premier dog walking app for owners who want to track their dog’s walks in real time using our GPS technology.)
Rover – Founded in 2011, the Rover app and website connect dog and cat parents with loving pet sitters and dog walkers in neighbourhoods across the US, Canada, the UK and Europe. Largest network.
Pawshake.co.uk – More a dog sitting service, although sitters do offer dog walking services.
Petbacker.com – International company, can send photos videos, route tracking etc. PetBacker does not charge any upfront or ongoing fees – only a set percentage from the amount quoted will be charged after you win and complete the request.
Mypetwalker.co.uk – £15/month (1 person) More finance and business orientated app Management software was built to help pet service providers removing the need for you to carry out time wasting and repetitive tasks such as bookings, invoicing and chasing payments.
uk.holidog.com Pet sitters and dog walking. Walkers keep 100% of earnings. (Their customers pay a monthly fee)
Other formalities
There are other formalities that you will need to complete before you can start trading.
Business plan
Start by formulating a business plan. This will help to focus on delivering a clear message to your potential customers.
There are different types of business plan. But you can use my 1 page business plan here. It’s designed to cut the waffle but has enough detail to make it a meaningful tool so that you remain laser focused on what needs to be done when you set up this business.
Open a bank account
You need a separate business bank account for your business whether it’s a sole trader or limited company.
You need to pick a bank which integrate well with your accounts package. [Take a look at my business banking guide.]
Insurance
One of the startup costs that you can’t avoid is insurance.
Anyone trusting their pet to your care will expect you to demonstrate that you have comprehensive business insurance cover.
Luckily there are plenty of providers for specialised dog walking insurance so premiums are competitively priced if you shop around.
What are some of the risks you are protecting yourself against?
Petbusinessinsurance.co.uk are specialists in this sector and claims they’ve seen include the following:
Dog in collision with a car £9128.36
Dog bitten by snake £76.89
Dog Bit a Cyclist £6212.18
Dog cut ear in woods £342.59
Shut dogs tail in car door £778.55
Dog cut on barbed wire £446.74
Lost dog £2,052.00
Conclusion
An easy, low cost and highly profitable business with potential to scale rapidly.
Consider a hybrid business structure (take advice) – Talk to my team about this on 0800 0828 727.
Use a local marketing strategy to dominate online
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