Google Business Profile Setup Guide

Complete Guide for Pet Care Businesses in Maryville, TN

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Last Updated: January 2, 2025

Why Google Business Profile Matters for Pet Businesses

Your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is crucial for local pet care visibility in Maryville, TN. When potential clients search for "dog boarding near me" or "pet daycare Maryville TN," your profile appears in:

  • Google Maps results
  • Local Pack (top 3 businesses shown)
  • Knowledge Panel (right side of search)
  • Google Search and Google Maps apps

Local SEO Impact

Businesses with complete Google Business Profiles receive 7x more clicks and are 70% more likely to attract location visits.

1Claiming Your Business Profile

For Paws & Applause LLC:

  1. Go to business.google.com
  2. Search for "Paws & Applause LLC Maryville TN"
  3. If found, click "Claim this business"
  4. If not found, click "Add your business to Google"

Business Information to Enter:

  • Business Name: Paws & Applause LLC
  • Category: Pet Boarding Service (Primary)
  • Address: [Your Maryville, TN address]
  • Service Area: Maryville, Alcoa, Louisville, Friendsville, Knoxville
  • Phone: Your business phone
  • Website: https://pawsandapplause.com

2Selecting the Right Categories

Primary Category:

Pet Boarding Service - This should be your main category as it's your core service.

Additional Categories to Add:

Dog Day Care Center Dog Trainer Pet Groomer Pet Sitter Dog Walker

Category Strategy

Google allows up to 10 categories. Use all relevant ones, but ensure they accurately reflect services you actually provide. This improves visibility for various search terms.

3Writing Your Business Description

Optimized Description Template for Paws & Applause:

"Paws & Applause LLC is Maryville's premier pet care facility, offering personalized dog boarding, daycare, and NePoPo® certified training. As a woman and veteran-owned business, we provide a safe, home-like environment with a 10-dog capacity limit ensuring individual attention. Our services include overnight boarding, doggy daycare, professional grooming, dog walking, and specialized training programs. Located in Maryville, we proudly serve Alcoa, Louisville, Friendsville, and surrounding Blount County areas. Our certified staff, led by East Tennessee's only NePoPo® Silver Graduate trainer, delivers exceptional care for dogs of all sizes and temperaments. Book your pet's stay at our boutique facility where every dog receives the attention they deserve."

Key Elements to Include:

  • Primary services (boarding, daycare, training)
  • Unique selling points (NePoPo®, woman/veteran-owned)
  • Service area cities
  • Capacity limits or special features
  • Call to action

4Photo Optimization Strategy

Essential Photos to Upload:

  1. Cover Photo: Exterior of your facility or logo
  2. Profile Photo: Your logo (square format)
  3. Interior Photos: Play areas, boarding spaces, grooming station
  4. Team Photos: You with dogs, staff members
  5. Service Photos: Dogs playing, training sessions, grooming
  6. Certification Photos: NePoPo® certificate, licenses

Photo Best Practices

  • Use high-quality images (minimum 720px wide)
  • Name files descriptively: "dog-daycare-play-area-maryville-tn.jpg"
  • Add photos regularly to show activity
  • Include happy dogs and clean facilities

5Adding Service Details

Service List for Paws & Applause:

Service Description Price Range
Dog Boarding Overnight care in home environment $65-85/night
Doggy Daycare Supervised play and socialization $45-55/day
NePoPo® Training Certified professional dog training From $150
Pet Grooming Full service grooming $50-120
Dog Walking Individual or group walks $25-35/walk

6Business Attributes to Enable

Relevant Attributes for Pet Care:

  • ✓ Women-led
  • ✓ Veteran-led
  • ✓ Appointment required
  • ✓ Online appointments
  • ✓ Online estimates
  • ✓ LGBTQ+ friendly
  • ✓ Wheelchair accessible (if applicable)

Amenities to Highlight:

  • Free Wi-Fi (for pet parents in waiting area)
  • Parking available
  • Credit cards accepted

7Google Posts Strategy

Post Types and Ideas:

1. What's New Posts:

  • "Now accepting reservations for Spring Break boarding"
  • "New NePoPo® training classes starting March 2025"
  • "Limited daycare spots available - book now!"

2. Offer Posts:

  • "First-time daycare visit: 50% off"
  • "Multi-dog discount: 10% off second pet"
  • "Book 5 nights, get the 6th free"

3. Event Posts:

  • "Puppy Socialization Class - Saturdays"
  • "Open House: Tour our facility"
  • "Holiday photo shoot for pets"

Posting Schedule

Post at least once per week. Posts expire after 7 days (except Events), so maintain a regular schedule. Include a photo and call-to-action button in every post.

8Review Management Strategy

Getting More Reviews:

  1. Create a Review Link:
    • In your Google Business Profile dashboard, find "Get more reviews"
    • Copy your short URL
    • Share via email, text, or printed cards
  2. Best Times to Ask:
    • After successful boarding stay
    • Following training graduation
    • Post-grooming when pet looks great
  3. Email Template:

    "Hi [Client Name], We hope [Pet Name] enjoyed their stay with us! If you have a moment, we'd love to hear about your experience. Your feedback helps other pet parents find us. [Review Link] Thank you! - Paws & Applause Team"

Responding to Reviews:

  • Respond to ALL reviews within 24-48 hours
  • Thank reviewers by name
  • Mention the pet's name when possible
  • Address concerns professionally
  • Invite them back

9Questions & Answers Section

Seed Questions to Add:

  • "Do you offer overnight boarding for dogs?"
  • "What are your daycare hours?"
  • "Do you require vaccinations?"
  • "How many dogs do you board at once?"
  • "Do you offer training services?"
  • "What areas do you serve?"
  • "Do you have weekend hours?"
  • "Can I tour the facility?"

Q&A Best Practices

You can ask and answer your own questions initially. Have staff or trusted clients add questions too. Answer all questions promptly and thoroughly.

10Performance Monitoring

Key Metrics to Track:

  • Views: How many people see your profile
  • Searches: How people find you (direct vs discovery)
  • Actions: Website visits, calls, direction requests
  • Photo views: Which photos get attention
  • Call tracking: Peak calling times

Monthly Optimization Tasks:

  1. Add new photos
  2. Update posts
  3. Respond to new reviews
  4. Check and update hours
  5. Answer new questions
  6. Review insights and adjust

Common Google Business Profile Mistakes to Avoid

  1. Inconsistent NAP: Ensure Name, Address, Phone match everywhere online
  2. Keyword Stuffing: Don't add keywords to business name (e.g., "Paws & Applause - Best Dog Boarding Maryville")
  3. Ignoring Reviews: Always respond, even to negative ones
  4. Stock Photos: Use real photos of your facility
  5. Outdated Information: Keep hours, services current
  6. Single Category: Use all relevant categories
  7. No Posts: Regular posts improve visibility

Local SEO Tips for Pet Businesses

Beyond Google Business Profile:

  • List on Yelp, Bing Places, Apple Maps
  • Join local business directories (Maryville Chamber)
  • Get listed on pet-specific sites (Rover, BringFido)
  • Ensure website has local schema markup
  • Create location-specific content
  • Build local backlinks
  • Engage with local pet community online

Ready to Dominate Local Search?

A well-optimized Google Business Profile can transform your pet care business visibility in Maryville, TN.


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About This Guide

Created by Paws & Applause LLC, Maryville's premier pet care facility. We understand the unique challenges of marketing pet businesses in East Tennessee and share our proven strategies for local success.