ne of the best long-term marketing strategies to utilize for your dog daycare and boarding business is SEO (search engine optimization). SEO is what determines where your business’s website shows up in organic search results. And although SEO can be a bit complicated, there are some easy tactics you can implement to increase your chances of topping your competitors in online searches.

1. Optimize Your Website.

A well-optimized website is crucial for good SEO. Make sure your site is easy to navigate, loads quickly and is mobile friendly. Google prioritizes websites that offer a good user experience, so these factors can significantly impact your rankings.

2. Create Quality Content.

Google likes content. Regularly updating your website with high-quality, informative content can help attract visitors and improve your SEO. This could be blog posts, FAQs or service pages that include pricing and descriptions of your services. Make sure to use your keywords naturally in this content, and also aim to provide real value to your audience.

3. Use Meta Tags.

Meta tags, like meta titles and descriptions, are snippets of text that describe a page’s content. They help tell Google what each page is about so they know what users might find helpful. Ensure that your meta titles and descriptions are compelling and that they include your main keywords to help the search engines understand the specifics of your web pages.

4. Build Backlinks.

Backlinks are links from other websites to yours. They act as endorsements, signaling to search engines that your site is credible and valuable. You can build backlinks by partnering with local businesses or getting featured in local news articles. Partnering with local animal rescue organizations and exchanging backlinks is a great way to improve the online presence of both parties.

5. Optimize Your Google Business Profile.

Your Google Business Profile is just as important as your website for rankings, so it makes sense to optimize it as well. Make sure all relevant info is accurate, including your address, phone number and business hours. Fill out as much of the profile as possible and upload pictures of your building, lobby and services in action (make sure you take the pictures with a cell phone that has location tracking turned on).

6. Get Reviews.

Encourage your satisfied customers to leave reviews on your Google Business Profile page. Positive reviews not only build trust, but also help improve your local search rankings. Make sure you have a strategy in place for getting Google reviews consistently.

7. Monitor Your Progress.

Keep an eye on how your SEO efforts are paying off. Use tools like Google Analytics to track your website’s traffic and performance. This data will help you understand what’s working and where you might need to make adjustments.

8. Allow Time for Results.

SEO requires a bit of patience, as it typically takes Google six to nine months to re-index the pages online, so you may not see the return on your efforts right away. However, if you understand it’s a process and stay consistent, you’ll see the results over time.

Fern is the founder of Overdog Digital, a digital marketing & consulting agency that helps dog daycare and boarding facilities attract, convert, and keep more customers by creating winning marketing campaigns and providing the business guidance to build momentum and spark long-term growth. Fern also has programs to train daycare staff, is a dog behavior consultant, and has a dog training business in New Jersey. He is the author of eight books and a popular speaker at national conferences and private events. To join The Dog Daycare Business Think Tank or ask a question, go to: www.facebook.com/groups/dogdaycarethinktank