Local SEO: How to Get Found by Pet Owners Near You

Why Local SEO Is Everything for Pet Businesses

Pet services are inherently local. Nobody is going to drive an hour for a dog groom or hire a dog walker from the other side of the city. When pet owners search for your type of service, they're looking for someone nearby — and Google knows this. That's why local SEO is the single most important marketing strategy for groomers, walkers, and pet sitters.

Local SEO is the practice of optimising your online presence to attract business from relevant local searches. When done right, your business appears in the "map pack" — those top three results with the map that appear before the regular search listings.

Claim and Optimise Your Google Business Profile

Your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is the foundation of local SEO. If you haven't claimed yours, do it today. If you have, make sure every field is filled in completely: business name, address, phone number, website, hours, services, and photos.

Add photos regularly — businesses with photos receive 42% more requests for directions and 35% more click-throughs to their websites. Show your workspace, your happy clients (the furry ones), and your team.

Get Your NAP Consistent

NAP stands for Name, Address, and Phone number. These three details need to be exactly the same everywhere they appear online — your website, Google Business Profile, Facebook page, Yell.com listing, and any other directory. Even small differences like "Street" versus "St" can confuse search engines and weaken your local rankings.

Do an audit of everywhere your business is listed online and make sure the information matches perfectly. This simple step alone can improve your local search visibility.

Create Location-Specific Content

If you serve multiple areas, create content that mentions those areas naturally. A page about "Dog Grooming in Manchester" or "Pet Sitting Services in Bristol" signals to Google exactly where you operate. Include local landmarks, neighbourhoods, and the areas you cover in your service descriptions.

Don't stuff keywords unnaturally — write for humans first, search engines second. But do make sure your location and service areas are clearly stated on your website.

Encourage and Respond to Reviews

Reviews are one of the strongest local ranking factors. Encourage happy clients to leave a Google review, and always respond to reviews — both positive and negative. A business that actively engages with reviews signals to Google (and potential clients) that it's active, responsive, and cares about customer satisfaction.

Make it easy for clients by sending a direct link to your Google review page after each appointment. A simple follow-up message can significantly increase the number of reviews you receive.