Advertising Tips for Petcare Services

If your business provides pet care services, you've probably noticed that sometimes you have to provide a lot of encouragement in order to have your clients visit more often. Pet owners usually only go to the vet for their pet’s annual shots, or when their pets are ill. A visit to the pet groomer’s salon is usually seen as a luxury that a pet owner has to spend money and time on. But if you can establish rapport and good professional relationships with your pet-owning clients, chances are that they will see the benefit of visiting your clinic or shop more often. Those who already have a business or are interested in learning how to start a dog walking pet care business often need help advertising their services. Here are a few advertising tips to help establish your brand and your name among your target clientele.

Offer Vouchers

Offer vouchers for free or discounted services at the local grocery or pet store. Try to partner with the local pet store or the grocer’s where pet food, grooming products and other pet-related materials are sold. If you can get them to offer a coupon for a discount or a free service to customers who buy pet food or pet products, then this will encourage those customers to try out your service. You can even include free samples of products you might be offering on your store, such as soaps, pet toys and the like.

Run a Loyalty Program

One good way for any service provider to get return customers is by running a loyalty program. For instance, your promo can be a free service after X number of services have been performed. For instance, if a customer comes to your shop to have his dog groomed nine times, the next grooming is free. This is effectively a 10% discount in total, but to the mind of a customer, the key word is “free,” and he will keep coming back because of the “free” offer.

Run a Referral Program

Another way to help spread the word about your petcare services is by running a referral program. This is essentially a “tell a friend” program where existing patrons can get rebates, discounts or free services when they bring in a pet-owning friend who acquires your services. Or you can offer “package” deals wherein pet owners can get discounts if they team up on their next visit. For instance, if a dog haircut costs $50, you can offer a special price of $40 each if three or more dogs will be groomed.

City and Local Affiliations

Affiliate with your city or town council. Local governments often encourage people to have their pets vaccinated, spayed or neutered by performing these services free of charge. You can offer to run programs for free vaccinations, neutering or spaying at certain days of the month, to encourage people to visit your clinic or shop. This way, you can establish awareness of your brand and name, and help society at the same time.

Publish a Newsletter and Start Blogging!

Publish a newsletter or blog that offers free pet care advice. People like researching online for the latest trends and tips on just about anything. If you can publish free online tips that will be helpful to pet lovers around the world, then your brand can be seen as an authority in petcare and petcare services. You can even offer discounts to members of your newsletter subscription list or blog readers, so people are encouraged to visit your establishment for paid services.

Below-the line advertising, or advertising that is not necessarily a direct approach, may be the best way to market establishments like petcare service facilities. These are inexpensive and really effective, especially if the aim is to establish brand awareness in your target market or community.