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Looking for some of the best dog grooming marketing ideas?
We get it. Resources and time are limited, so your marketing ideas have to count.
In this blog post, you’ll find some of the most research-backed strategies that will help generate results.
9 Best Dog Grooming Marketing Ideas
1. Referral Marketing
Did you know that referral marketing is the most credible form of marketing/advertising?
Indeed, referral marketing – i.e. a customer referral program – is one of the most effective strategies out there because people are more likely to trust the recommendations of people they know more than anything else.
Pinterest is a good source of inspiration while Canva is a super easy and free design tool for non-designers!
2. Online Booking & Reserve with Google
Online booking is one of the most practical dog grooming marketing ideas out there, allowing you to see almost immediate results.
Here’s why it is such an effective strategy, both from a marketing perspective and a practical one (i.e. that more customers are more likely to book after hours):
- Makes You A Premier Service Provider. Just think about how important convenience is in today’s world, from the rise of Amazon to food subscription boxes. Allowing customers to book right then and there instantly elevates the customer experience.
- Allows Customers to Book After Hours. Nearly 30% of bookings happen in the evenings so online booking also serves a practical purpose by effectively keeping your business open 24/7.
- Reserve with Google Adds a “Book Online” Button to Your Google My Business Listing = 86% More Bookings. This is one of the most talked-about features when it comes to online booking (and not all scheduling software offers it). The “Book Online” button capitalizes on the convenience of online booking but applies it to the biggest search engine in the world: Google.
(You can see why Vancouver dog groomer Noah’s Barque started offering online booking and how it helped her get 80% more online bookings here).
You can also read more about the benefits of dog grooming software here.
3. Improve Your Google My Business (GMB) Listing
Just like every other appointment-based business out there, your GMB listing is critical for driving local traffic.
There are many ways to improve your ranking, but one way is by generating more positive reviews.
Similarly, creating blog posts and investing in local SEO (and incorporating local keywords such as “Vancouver dog groomer” into your content) will not only help improve your organic results but also improve your ranking on Google Maps.
4. Loyalty Programs
Loyalty programs are another key marketing strategy – especially for businesses that provide a regular service to their customers.
First and foremost, the probability of selling to an existing customer is much more likely than trying to sell to a new one. Secondly, retention is cheaper than acquisition.
Offering some sort of incentive after X many grooms or baths can be a great way to ensure that clients continue to return.
5. Boosted Posts
Organic reach on social media platforms is declining. Indeed, research shows that just over 5% of your Facebook followers actually see your posts.
While boosted posts are typically not effective, they can be an effective way to strategically “boost” social posts such as promos and so on to get more eyeballs on the social posts that count.
6. Google Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Ads
Google PPC ads are so effective because they show ads to people who are looking for dog grooming services in that exact moment.
While other types of social media ads are also effective, they don’t necessarily get shown to dog owners, let alone dog owners who happen to need to take their dog to the groomer in that exact moment.
That’s why we recommend investing in Google PPC ads before other types of ads such as Facebook or Instagram ads.
7. Giveaways on Social Media
Giveaways that require users to tag two or three friends are an effective way to generate extra attention. They are also super popular on social media right now.
Once again, they are so effective because they leverage your current customer base, which is one of the most effective ways to reach new customers.
8. Improve Your Intake Process (Haircut Instructions)
Intake forms are not necessarily a direct marketing strategy, but they can still be a very important business strategy. This is particularly true when it comes to managing expectations and minimizing unhappy or even angry clients (and ultimately negative reviews that might get left on Google as a result).
At the end of the day, intake forms open up a communication process to discuss clients’ expectations and, most importantly, document them instead of discussing them over the phone.
Not only are intake forms practical but they also give the impression of offering a high-quality, premium service (because you are) by taking the time to ask about issues such as sensitive skin, health conditions or whether or not the animal is afraid of a blowdryer!
You give your clients the impression that you care (because you do!).
But they are also imperative for managing expectations as well. For instance, if you notice that a dog comes into the salon with a lot of mattes, leaving you with no choice but to shave their legs, you can clearly communicate this in advance to minimize surprises.
Here’s an example of a negative review that could have been avoided with a regular intake strategy:
Similarly, if you feel that groomers will need to spend extra time to remove mattes, you can communicate this extra charge in advance.
Some scheduling software (such as Yocale!) will allow you to attach intake forms when clients book an appointment online.
9. Partnerships with Animal Welfare Organizations
Partnerships may not result in an immediate new customer as some of the more direct strategies on this list, but they still help support your overall marketing efforts.
Not only do they allow you to create a unique value proposition (i.e. market yourself as a dog grooming company with strong core values), but they also create trust by allowing you to state that you support these organizations in your social media bios and website.
Millennials are continuing to choose companies that make a positive impact in some way, with a recent and much talked about report showing that 83% of millennials want companies to align with their values.
Not only is it a great choice socially but also strategically in terms of marketing and branding.
A partnership with the BC SPCA, for instance, can also take many different forms, from sponsorships of events/programs to donations of funds or in-kind contributions.
Here’s an example of how one Vancouver dog groomer partnered with a local animal organization:
Wrapping it Up
What are some dog grooming marketing ideas that have worked for you?
