Pampering pooches is a thriving business in many places. People work long hours and don’t have time to keep up with their dogs’ spa treatments.
If you have a doggie grooming business, you might be wondering why you don’t have clients if there’s such a demand for the service. It might be time to review your marketing strategies. We take a look at some tips to help you with promoting your company.
Get Your Admin Sorted
Before you start promoting your grooming venture, take a step back and review your business. Do you have everything you need to operate? Ensure you and your staff members are adequately trained, and you have any necessary licenses required to trade. Study any laws regarding working with animals.
Educate yourself on the dog owners liability act, so you know what to do, should one of your employees get bitten. Having all of the legalities in place gives you more details to add to your marketing plans. Clients are more likely to take their dogs to a licensed groomer with highly trained staff rather than one with no verified credentials.
Improve Your Online Presence
A website is essential to all small businesses. It’s a silent salesman for your company available 24/7 to any potential customers. Make sure that it represents your brand correctly, along with any services you offer. The first stop for people when they’re looking for a service provider is still the internet.
If you’re not online, you’re missing out on potential business. Websites don’t have to cost a lot of money, with several platforms offering a DIY option for business owners. Offer customers a newsletter option via the website. It’s a great way to share exciting news with your clients and, at the same time, develop brand awareness.
Use Social Media Channels
There’s no doubt that social media has taken over the world when it comes to quick interactive news on the go. For a business to keep relevant, it has to have a social media presence. As a dog grooming service provider, you don’t have to cover all of the platforms if they’re not pertinent.
At the very least, you should consider Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. These platforms offer you the opportunity to communicate with your customers using visuals. Think about it, posting photos of before and after pups are groomed, will improve relations with current clients and attract new ones. Who doesn’t love a pic of a cute poodle with ribbons?
What’s even better with this type of marketing is that it’s shareable. Proud dog owners are likely to share any photos of their beloved pets. So make it easy for them by posting pics of their animals on your social media pages to spread to all their friends.
Promotions and Giveaways
Marketing online doesn’t prevent you from trying some more traditional advertising methods, such as offering promotions or product giveaways. Think out of the box for unique ways to attract new customers. Send your clients home with product trial packs to share with others.
Offer discounts for new clients, or you could offer one free grooming session for every referral. Take part in doggie adoption days by offering your services at no charge to newly adopted pooches on the day. Send the new owners home with free pooch goodie bags and a discount for another grooming session.
Giving back to the community is a great way to increase exposure for your business.
Keep Furparents Happy
No matter what type of business you run, the critical component is customers. Even if your main clientele is furry and has four legs, you still need to market to get those paws through the door. Get all your licenses and training sorted so your clients can see that you’re a professional and reliable business.
Ensure you have an attractive website with the correct information on it for potential customers to find you online. Use social media channels to share photos of happy preened pets to drum up more interest, and offer promotions as often as you can. Don’t forget; attracting new customers is great, but keeping them happy makes them keep coming back.
