7 Ways to Rank Higher on Google and Get Found Online

When pet parents in your community search for “dog food near me” or “best groomer in [your city],” do they find your store — or a big-box competitor?

In today’s world, ranking higher in Google search results isn’t just a nice bonus. It’s essential for driving foot traffic, building customer trust, and winning over local shoppers before they ever walk through your doors.

The good news? You don’t need a huge marketing budget to improve your search rankings. By focusing on a few key areas, your store can stand out online and attract more pet parents in your area.

1. Claim and Optimize Your Google Business Profile

Your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is one of the most important tools for local SEO — and it’s free.

• Make sure your store name, address, and phone number are accurate and consistent.
• Add your business hours, website, and services (like grooming, training, or raw food).
• Upload high-quality photos of your store, staff, and products.
• Post regular updates — specials, new products, or events — to stay active.

👉 Pro tip: Customers are more likely to visit businesses with recent posts and photos.

2. Collect (and Respond to) Reviews

Google prioritizes businesses with strong, recent reviews. Ask happy customers to leave a review after shopping or using your services.

• Put up a sign with a QR code in-store. To get more reviews, you could even run a promotion for a free gift or amount off a customer’s purchase in exchange for leaving a review.
• Ask customers directly if they’d leave a review after a positive experience.
• Always reply to reviews — thank customers for positive ones, and address concerns politely on negative ones.

👉 Pro tip: Keywords often appear in reviews naturally (“best raw dog food in [city]”), which helps your ranking.

3. Use Local Keywords on Your Website

When writing content for your website, think about what your customers type into Google.

• Instead of just “Pet Food,” use “Natural Pet Food Store in [City].”
• Create dedicated pages for services like “Dog Grooming in [City]” or “Pet Nutrition Consultations.”
• Write blog posts answering common questions pet parents ask (e.g., “Can kittens eat raw food?”).

Not sure where to start? Check out 5 Ways to Do Keyword Research Without Paid Tools

👉 Pro tip: Adding your city or neighborhood name makes it easier to rank locally.

4. Keep Your Website Fast and Mobile-Friendly

More than half of local searches happen on mobile phones. If your site takes too long to load or doesn’t look good on a phone, customers will bounce — and Google notices.

• Test your site speed with Google’s free PageSpeed Insights tool.
• Use simple navigation and clear “Call Now” or “Find Us” buttons

5. Be Active on Social Media (and Link Back)

Google pays attention to signals across the web. A strong social presence shows that your business is relevant and trusted.

• Share educational posts about pet nutrition, grooming tips, or product spotlights.
  • If you don’t have time to post or aren’t sure where to start, sign up for Steve’s Feed! This is a 100% free social media service for Steve’s Real Food retailers that automatically posts pet-centric content to your business’s Facebook and/or Instagram pages 3 times a week.
• Hashtags are dying – instead, use local keywords in your social media post captions and profile bios.
• Always link back to your website or Google profile when possible.

6. Get Listed in Local Directories

Make sure your store is listed consistently across online directories like Yelp, Nextdoor, and local Chamber of Commerce pages. This builds trust with Google and strengthens your local ranking.

👉 Pro tip: NextPaw makes it simple to manage your online presence across 50+ sources in one place. Contact us for more information!

7. Host Events and Share Them Online

Events like “Puppy Playdate,” “Raw Feeding Workshop,” or “Adoption Days” can drive both foot traffic and online buzz. Post about them on your website, social media, and Google profile to attract attention and boost search signals.

Ranking higher on Google isn’t about outspending big-box stores — it’s about being consistent, local, and customer-focused. By optimizing your Google profile, gathering reviews, using local keywords, and staying active online, your pet store can rise above the competition and become the go-to spot for pet parents in your community!