How to Use Social Media to Attract Local Clients for Your Dog Training Business
Social media isn’t just for connecting with faraway friends and followers; it can be an incredibly powerful tool for attracting local clients to your dog training business. With a bit of strategy, you can tap into your local audience and turn your social media profiles into client magnets. Here are five tips to help you use social media effectively for local marketing.
Utilize Geo-Targeted Ads
Facebook and Instagram both offer ad-targeting options that allow you to specify the location of your audience. If you’re running promotions or hosting events, you can create ads that target users within a certain radius of your business. For example, if you’re hosting a dog training workshop in a specific park or pet store, you can specify the address and a radius around that address so only people living nearby see your ad, making it highly relevant and more likely to convert into bookings.
Engage with Local Hashtags
One of the easiest ways to get your business noticed by local pet owners is by using location-specific hashtags. On Instagram and Facebook, search for popular local hashtags that dog owners and pet lovers in your area are using. For example, if you live in Austin, TX, you might use hashtags like #AustinPets or #ATXDogTrainers. Engaging with these tags will make your posts more discoverable to locals who are looking for the services you offer.
Pro Tip: Just start searching for hashtags in the search box of those platforms and see where it leads you. Arrange the hashtags you find that have the largest number of followers into a spreadsheet or document, or a note on your phone for easy access when creating content.
Join Local Groups and Communities
On platforms like Facebook and Nextdoor, there are countless community groups dedicated to specific neighborhoods, cities, or regions. Many of these groups are filled with people looking for local recommendations, including dog training services. Join these groups, but don’t immediately start promoting your business—take time to offer helpful advice, answer questions, and engage in discussions. This positions you as an expert, and when the need for a dog trainer arises, people will remember your contributions.
Pro Tip: Use the 80/20 rule when promoting your business online. You want to give way more than you ask for or promote. ALWAYS ask group administrators permission before promoting any services in private groups.
Post Locally Relevant Content
One of the best ways to connect with a local audience is by sharing content that’s relevant to them. This could include local dog-friendly events, weather-related pet care tips, or shout-outs to local pet stores you partner with. For example, if there’s a heatwave, you could post tips on how to keep dogs cool during walks in your area. The more your content relates to your local audience, the more likely they’ll engage with it and see you as a trusted local resource.
Encourage Local Reviews and Tagging
Encourage your existing clients to leave reviews on your social media profiles or tag you in their posts when they share pictures of their dogs. These local reviews and tags help spread your business name to your clients' local friends and followers. Positive reviews act as powerful social proof, and when other dog owners in your area see your name pop up in their feed, it increases the likelihood they’ll consider your services.
By implementing these strategies, you can use social media to effectively connect with local pet owners, build your brand, and grow your dog training business.