Google Business Listings 101: How to Boost Your Pet Business Visibility & Avoid Suspensions with Amy Toman of Pet Sitter SEO
- ekrorkx
- 4 days ago
- 6 min read
If you run a local pet business, chances are you’ve Googled something like:
“Dog walker near me.” “Pet sitter in [my town].” “Best pet care in [city].”
What popped up first?
Probably a list of local businesses with star ratings, hours, and links to call or book - right?
That’s Google Business Profile in action (formerly known as Google My Business).
And if your pet business isn’t showing up there, you’re probably missing out on leads.
Most pet business owners either aren’t using their Google listing to its full potential or they’re unintentionally risking suspension without realizing it.
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Google Business Listings are One of The Most Important Tools for Getting Seen by Local Pet Parents.
But they’re also one of the easiest places to make mistakes, and those mistakes can get your listing suspended or wiped off Google completely.
That’s why I brought in Amy Toman of Pet Sitter SEO on the podcast to talk through all of the deets YOU need to know as a pet business owner, and I’m sharing the most important takeaways on the blog below. Amy is one of the top experts in the Google Business Profile world. She’s reached Diamond Product Expert status in Google’s forum (the highest level) and has spent years helping small businesses, especially pet businesses, get more leads through local search.
Why Google Business Listings are Crucial for Pet Businesses: Here’s What Google Business Profile Actually Does
According to Amy, for many small businesses, including dog walkers, pet sitters, and boarding facilities, Google Business Profiles are one of the biggest sources of new leads.
“They bring in, oh my goodness, for some businesses like three-quarters of their leads,” Amy shared. “That’s where people find you.”
Why? Because when pet parents search for local services, they usually see Google listings first.
But there’s more to it than just filling out a form and hoping for the best.
“They’re free to use, and they’re helpful,” Amy said, “but there’s a lot going on with them. You really have to make sure you’re following the rules because Google listings are very sensitive.”
Google Business Profile Optimization: Start with The Local Pet Business Basics
If you’re wondering how to actually optimize your Google listing, Amy suggests starting with the fundamentals.
Use your real business name in your Google Business Listing
This might seem obvious, but it’s the #1 mistake pet businesses make. Amy says too many business owners try to sneak extra keywords into their listing name, like adding “dog walker” or “near me” to the business title.
Google doesn’t like that.
“If you don’t have paperwork to support the name you’re using, you can’t use it,” Amy explained. “That’s one of the fastest ways to get suspended.”
Use the right address in Google Business Listings (and understand how it works)
Pet businesses often work from home, which makes the address field confusing. Amy clarified how it should work:
You cannot use a PO box, UPS store, virtual office, or coworking space unless you meet very specific guidelines and have updated paperwork.
As a result, you may need to use your home address, but you can (and are required to) hide it from public view unless you have permanent signage outside.
If Google finds out your address is virtual or noncompliant, your listing can get suspended or removed. And according to Amy, once Google removes your listing for this reason, it’s not coming back until you fix the problem.
How to List Niche Pet Services (Even When There’s No Category) on Google Business Listings
Many pet businesses offer services that don’t have a direct match in Google’s categories. Some examples of these are:
Cat care services
Pet wedding attendant services.
Amy recommends using the Products and Services sections of your Google listing to include those offerings.
For example:
15-minute dog walks
Overnight pet sitting
Cat care visits
Wedding pet attendant services
“Especially for services like wedding attendance or cat care, there is no category,” Amy said. “So the best way to get visibility is to list them as products or services.”
And don’t stress about writing detailed descriptions. Amy says Google typically doesn’t display or prioritize the descriptions themselves. It’s more about having the keywords present in your listing so Google knows what you offer, and can list it bolded in the results when someone searches for that service.
Why Photos & Reviews in Google Business Listing Matter for Local SEO
If you want your Google listing to work for you, it’s not enough to set it and forget it. Amy recommends staying active, especially by adding photos and requesting regular reviews.
What to know about Google Business Listing photos:
Use real photos of your services, not random stock images or unrelated shots.
Make sure the images are clear, well-lit, and in focus (yes, Google actually checks for this now).
Add new photos regularly to keep your listing fresh.
Why Google Business Listing reviews impact your visibility:
Google favors businesses that consistently get reviews, not just a flood of them all at once (this screams fake or incentivized reviews!. And the number of reviews you have protects you from the occasional bad one.
“If one review can bring your rating down a lot, you don’t have enough reviews,” Amy said. “Your goal should be to get consistent feedback from clients over time.”
How to Handle Negative Google Business Listing Reviews (Without Making It Worse)
Getting a bad review can feel like a punch to the gut, but Amy says not to panic.
“First, understand that Google doesn’t remove reviews just because you don’t recognize the person’s name,” she explained. “People can use any name they want when they leave a review, so Google has no way to verify identity.”
That said, you can report a review if it clearly violates Google’s guidelines. For example, if it comes from a competitor, a past employee, or if it’s obviously fake or contains offensive content.
Amy’s tips for responding to Google Business Listing reviews:
Always reply to reviews professionally, whether they’re positive or negative.
Don’t get personal or defensive. “Stay the consummate professional,” Amy advised.
If you’re planning to dispute the review with Google, do not respond yet. Responding could make it harder to get the review removed because it signals that you’ve accepted the comment as valid.
What to Do if Your Google Listing Gets Suspended
Google suspensions happen more often than most pet business owners realize, and they’re not always clear about why.
Amy broke down the three main scenarios:
1. Google Listing verification issues
Sometimes Google randomly asks for re-verification. That could mean a video verification, where you show Google that you’re operating at the location you listed.
2. Google Listing disappearing listings
In some cases, a listing just vanishes. You try to log in and it’s gone. Amy recommends contacting Google support immediately and providing all the identifying info you can, like past links or reviews.
3. Google Listing suspensions (soft and hard)
Soft suspension: Your listing still shows publicly, but you can’t update it or respond to reviews.
Hard suspension: Your listing is completely offline.
In both cases, you’ll need to gather paperwork to prove your business name and address before appealing the suspension. Google usually allows two appeals before you’ll need to escalate the case through their help forum or work with someone like Amy to get it reinstated.
Should You Post Updates on Google Business Profile?
You’ve probably seen the option to post updates on your Google listing, similar to social media posts.
So…do they matter?
According to Amy, it’s worth doing, but don’t overcomplicate it.
“Every post you make should link to a page on your website or prompt someone to call you,” she said. “That creates what’s called an in-link, and Google likes that.”
Amy also pointed out that Google moves things around constantly. Sometimes posts show up at the top of your listing, sometimes at the bottom. But either way, they help keep your profile active and give Google more reasons to recommend you.
Need Help? Here’s How to Work with Amy
If your Google listing has you stressed out (or worse, suspended), Amy is one of the top people in the industry to help. She offers:
Google Business Profile Optimization Reports (about 20 pages of personalized feedback)
Suspension troubleshooting and reinstatement support
Review issue guidance
You can find her at www.petsitterseo.com or email her at amy@petsitterseo.com. You can also connect with her on Linkedin at Amy Toman.
Final Thoughts: Keep It Simple, Stay Compliant, and Be Kind
At the end of the day, Google wants businesses to follow the rules, keep their listings accurate, and stay active. If you do that, you’re much more likely to show up in local searches without running into issues.
And if something does go wrong? Get help before it becomes a months-long headache.
Want More Local SEO Help for Your Pet Business?
If you’re ready to go deeper with SEO (beyond just your Google Business Listing) we’ve got you covered.
Our SEO Unleashed course teaches pet business owners how to:
Show up higher in local search results
Write website content that attracts more leads
Optimize blog posts, service pages, and location-based keywords
Understand SEO in plain English (no tech headaches required)
Podcast listeners and readers get 10% off with code PMUPODCAST at checkout.
