How to Get More Customers as a Pet Boarding in Australia

Most pet boarding facilities in Australia still rely on word of mouth to fill their kennels. And look, that worked ten years ago. Regulars told their mates, your weekend bookings stayed full, and you never thought twice about marketing.

But the game has shifted. In 2026, 97% of customers search online before choosing a local business. That includes pet owners looking for somewhere safe and reliable to leave their dog, cat, or rabbit while they head off on holiday.

If your pet boarding facility doesn't show up when someone searches "pet boarding near me" or "dog kennel [your suburb]," you're invisible. And invisible businesses don't grow.

The average pet boarding job sits between $40 and $80 per night. A single new customer booking a two-week stay is worth $560 to $1,120. Pick up just five extra bookings per month and you're looking at $2,800 to $5,600 in additional revenue. That changes a business.

This guide walks you through exactly how to get more customers as a pet boarding in Australia. Step by step. No fluff. Whether you run a boutique cattery in the Blue Mountains or a large-scale kennel facility in outer Melbourne, these strategies work.

TL;DR

• Step-by-step guide to getting more customers as a pet boarding business in Australia
• Covers Google Maps, reviews, website optimisation, content marketing, and AI search
• Average pet boarding job value: $40–$80 per night
• Every strategy is actionable and proven for local service businesses

Step 1: Claim and Optimise Your Google Business Profile

Your Google Business Profile (GBP) is the single most powerful free tool available to pet boarding businesses. When someone searches "pet boarding near me" or "dog kennel [suburb]," Google pulls results from GBP listings and displays them in the Maps pack — that block of three businesses at the top of results, complete with reviews, photos, and a call button.

If you haven't claimed your profile, do it today at business.google.com. If you have, it's time to optimise it properly.

Here's the checklist:

• Business name: Use your actual registered business name. Don't stuff keywords in (Google penalises that).
• Primary category: Set this to "Pet Boarding Service." Add secondary categories like "Dog Day Care Center" or "Kennel" if they apply.
• Description: Write 750 words that naturally mention your services, the suburbs you serve, and what makes your facility different. Think: "Family-owned pet boarding in Penrith serving Western Sydney since 2014."
• Services: List every service you offer — overnight boarding, long-term stays, daycare, grooming add-ons, medication administration, pick-up and drop-off.
• Photos: Upload at least 20 high-quality images. Show your kennels, play areas, staff interacting with animals, and the property itself. Pet owners want to see where their animal will sleep.
• Hours: Keep these accurate, including holiday periods.
• Q&A section: Pre-populate this with common questions and answers. "Do you board cats?" "What vaccinations are required?" "Is there 24-hour supervision?"

Post weekly updates using Google Posts. Share photos of happy boarders, announce seasonal specials, or highlight a new service. Activity signals to Google that your business is legitimate and engaged, which boosts your rankings in the Maps pack.

Most pet boarding businesses we audit have incomplete profiles. Fixing this alone often moves them from page two into the top three results for their area. For a deeper walkthrough, check out our full guide on local SEO for pet boarding.

Step 2: Get Your Website Ranking for Local Keywords

Your Google Business Profile gets you into the Maps pack. Your website gets you into the organic results underneath — and it gives potential customers a place to learn about your facility, check pricing, and book.

The biggest mistake we see pet boarding businesses make is having a single-page website that says almost nothing. Google can't rank what it can't read.

Here's what your website needs:

• A dedicated page for each core service. Dog boarding gets its own page. Cat boarding gets its own page. Puppy daycare, exotic pet boarding, grooming — separate pages for each.
• Suburb-specific landing pages. If you serve Blacktown, Parramatta, and Castle Hill, create a page for each. Title them naturally: "Dog Boarding in Blacktown" or "Pet Kennel Near Castle Hill." Include local details — mention nearby landmarks, drive times, and the specific needs of pet owners in that area.
• Proper title tags and meta descriptions. Every page should have a unique title tag that includes the service and location: "Overnight Dog Boarding in Penrith | [Business Name]."
• Fast loading speed and mobile-friendly design. Over 70% of local searches happen on phones. If your site takes five seconds to load, people bounce before they see your first photo.
• Clear calls to action. Every page needs a phone number, a booking button, or both. Make it brain-dead simple for someone to contact you.

Keyword research doesn't need to be complicated. Use Google's autocomplete to find what people actually type. Start typing "pet boarding" and see what suggestions come up. "Pet boarding near me," "pet boarding [city]," "cheap pet boarding Sydney" — these are real searches from real customers.

Our SEO for pet boarding guide breaks down the full keyword strategy if you want to go deeper.

Step 3: Build a Review Generation System

Reviews are the deciding factor for pet owners. Leaving an animal with a stranger requires trust, and nothing builds trust faster than 150 five-star reviews from other pet owners who had a great experience.

But reviews don't happen by accident. You need a system.

When to ask: The best time is at pick-up, when the owner sees their happy, healthy pet. That's when emotions are highest and they're most willing to leave a positive review.

How to ask: Keep it simple and direct. Here's a template that works:

"Hey [name], so glad [pet name] had a great stay with us! Would you mind leaving us a quick Google review? It really helps other pet owners find us. Here's the link: [your review link]."

Send this via text message within two hours of pick-up. Text gets a 90%+ open rate compared to email's 20%.

Where to get your review link: Go to your Google Business Profile, click "Ask for reviews," and copy the short link. Put it everywhere — text messages, email signatures, printed cards you hand to customers at pick-up, and a QR code on your front counter.

How to handle negative reviews: Respond to every single one. Be professional, acknowledge the concern, and offer to resolve it offline. Potential customers read your responses as much as the reviews themselves. A business that handles complaints well looks more trustworthy than one with five perfect stars and no engagement.

Aim for a minimum of two new reviews per week. Consistency matters more than volume in any single month.

Step 4: Create Content That Attracts Customers

Content marketing isn't just for big brands. Blog posts, guides, and FAQs published on your website can rank in Google and bring in customers who are actively researching pet boarding options.

Think about the questions pet owners ask before they book:

• "How do I prepare my dog for boarding?"
• "What should I pack for my cat's kennel stay?"
• "Is pet boarding safe for anxious dogs?"
• "How much does pet boarding cost in Sydney?"

Write a blog post answering each of these questions. A 600–800 word article that provides a genuinely helpful answer will rank for that search term and position your facility as the expert in your area.

Content ideas that work for pet boarding businesses:

• "The Complete Guide to Dog Boarding in [Your City]"
• "10 Questions to Ask Before Booking a Pet Kennel"
• "How We Keep Your Pet Safe: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Our Facility"
• "Pet Boarding vs Pet Sitting: Which Is Right for Your Dog?"

Include photos from your facility in every post. Link to your booking page or service pages naturally within the content. And make sure each post has a clear next step for the reader: "Ready to book? Call us on [number] or book online."

Content compounds over time. A post you publish today could bring in enquiries every month for the next three years. Start with one post per fortnight and build from there.

Step 5: Optimise for AI Search (GEO)

AI search is no longer a future trend — it's happening right now. Tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google's AI Overviews are answering questions like "best pet boarding in Brisbane" and recommending specific businesses.

Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO) is how you get your pet boarding facility included in those AI-generated answers.

AI tools pull recommendations from a mix of sources: your website content, your Google reviews, directory listings, and mentions across the web. To show up, you need:

• Consistent NAP data (Name, Address, Phone) across every listing — Google, Yelp, Yellow Pages, TrueLocal, PetBoardingFinder, and industry directories.
• Strong review signals with detailed customer reviews that mention specific services and locations.
• Structured, authoritative website content that directly answers common questions in a clear format.
• Third-party mentions and backlinks from local media, pet blogs, or community websites.

We've written a full breakdown on GEO for pet boarding that covers this in detail. It's worth reading because AI search is growing fast, and the businesses that optimise now will own those recommendations for years.

Step 6: Track Your Results

Marketing without measurement is guessing. You need to know what's working, what's not, and where your next dollar should go.

Track these metrics monthly:

• Google Business Profile insights: How many people viewed your profile, clicked for directions, called you, or visited your website. GBP provides this data for free.
• Website traffic: Use Google Analytics to see how many visitors your site gets, which pages they land on, and where the traffic comes from (organic search, Maps, direct, social).
• Phone calls and form submissions: Use call tracking (a service like CallRail or even just a dedicated Google forwarding number) to count inbound calls from your online presence.
• Keyword rankings: Track where you rank for your top 10–20 target keywords. Tools like BrightLocal or SE Ranking work well for this.
• Review count and average rating: Monitor your total reviews and star rating weekly.

Set up a simple spreadsheet. Update it on the first of every month. After three months, you'll see clear trends — and you'll know exactly which strategies deserve more investment.

When to Hire a Professional

Everything in this guide is doable yourself. But doing it well takes time — 10 to 15 hours per week if you're serious. For most pet boarding owners who are already running operations, managing staff, and caring for animals, that time simply doesn't exist.

That's where we come in.

At MoneyNearMe, we specialise in local marketing for service businesses across Australia. We handle Google Business Profile optimisation, website SEO, content creation, review strategy, and GEO — all tailored specifically to your pet boarding business and your local market.

Our packages range from $500 to $2,000 per month depending on your market size and competition level. For a business where a single two-week booking can be worth over $1,000, the return on investment is hard to ignore.

Get in touch with us today for a free audit of your pet boarding business's online presence. We'll show you exactly where you're losing customers and what it would take to fix it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can pet boarding get more customers online?

Optimise your Google Business Profile, build suburb-specific website pages, generate consistent reviews, and publish helpful content that ranks in local search results.

What's the fastest way to get more calls as a pet boarding?

Fully optimise your Google Business Profile with photos, services, and accurate details. Most businesses see increased calls within 30 days.

How much should I spend on marketing as a pet boarding?

Allocate 5–10% of revenue. For most facilities, that means $500–$2,000 per month on local SEO and digital marketing.

Is Google Ads or SEO better for pet boarding?

SEO delivers better long-term ROI. Google Ads works for immediate visibility during peak seasons like Christmas and school holidays. Ideally, use both.

Ready to stop relying on word of mouth and start filling your kennels consistently? Talk to the MoneyNearMe team about a local marketing strategy built for your pet boarding business.