CASE STUDY: K9 EVOLUTIONS DOG TRAINING
An evolving digital strategy to build trust, credibility and visibility
Find out how we worked with K9 Evolutions Dog Training to develop a digital strategy rooted in solving their customer’s problems – leading to a deserved reputation as a respected presence among dog training clients and fellow pet professionals alike.
ABOUT K9 EVOLUTIONS DOG TRAINING
Industry: Dog Training
Location: Staley, NC
Website: https://k9evolutionsdogtraining.com/
True Boost Digital Partner Since 2023
Company Bio
Founded by Jesse Gervich, K9 Evolutions Dog Training is a multi-disciplinary dog training company based in Staley, NC.
Jesse’s journey into the world of dog training began in his early years in West Des Moines, Iowa, where dogs were an integral part of his life.
He graduated from a prestigious dog training school and was certified in training working police dogs, protection dogs, search & rescue dogs, cadaver dogs, detection dogs, service dogs, pet dogs & behavioral modification. After graduation, Jesse applied and was awarded an internship at the school he graduated from, gaining more hands-on experience.
Today, K9 Evolutions Dog Training serves pet dog and working dog clients, both locally and across North Carolina.
THE SITUATION
A crowded - and competitive - industry
In 2023, Jesse Gervich approached True Boost Digital about helping with his new venture, K9 Evolutions Dog Training (K9EDT). He was interested in a website build, with SEO and other digital marketing services, to get his business off to a great start.
“I had seen True Boost’s work before, namely on other dog training websites,” explains Gervich. “The biggest influence in me choosing to work with True Boost was seeing the way that they designed their websites. I loved the flow and the attention to detail.”
Dog training is a fiercely competitive industry. It is also completely unregulated, meaning that anyone can set up a business and call themselves a dog trainer. As we started to explore this project, we wanted to understand the competitive advantages that were differentiators for K9EDT and would allow the business to stand out in a crowded market. From our conversations, it was clear that Gervich’s education, experience, and passion for dog training was going to be pivotal to the positioning of the business.
THE STRATEGY
Content marketing serving multiple purposes
For the site design, we started by workshopping with Gervich on the key messages his website needed to convey in order to communicate the factors that set K9EDT apart. Our copywriting process was thorough, as he explains:
“I loved the fact that I was so engaged in the process. I wanted to be involved, because it is my voice and my brand. Having my voice in there – for example, showing my training philosophies, and the things that I believe in – is just hugely important to me.”
As part of the post-launch strategy, we embarked on a content marketing campaign that was designed to emphasize Gervich’s knowledge and expertise. We compiled a list of suitable blog topics that could sit as resources on the K9EDT website; while many of these topics were derived from traditional SEO methods such as keyword research, we also received input from the conversations Gervich was having with prospective clients.
This strategy meant that K9EDT published content that solved the real-world problems their clients were facing. We then worked alongside K9EDT to bring that content to life. This approach meant that the content performed multiple functions:
- Generated traffic from search engines (ex: We worked with K9EDT on a comprehensive guide to the sport of Mondioring. Since publication, for the search term ‘mondioring’ and its variants, the content regularly ranks in the top 3 results on Google and is cited in AI Overviews)
- Attracted attention on social media channels, such as Facebook and Instagram
- Provided a resource to prospective clients to demonstrate understanding of their problems and build trust
“I like the idea that if somebody wants to, they can go down the rabbit hole,” says Gervich. “In my case, when it comes to dog training, they can read the blogs or they can look at the specific details in my programs.”
THE RESULTS
"You’d be very hard-pressed to find someone who is as committed to you and who knows the ropes as well as Tom."
Tom has sharp attention to detail, and excellence in communication and reachability. I like it when he sends me the plans - for instance, on our social media strategy or planned future content - they are extremely detailed and a step-by-step process for a plan of attack.
If I want Tom’s advice on something I’m unsure of, he gives me facts that are on point. I can’t say enough good things about my experience with Tom and True Boost.”
Partners with True Boost Digital Since 2023
Since the K9EDT website was launched, it has seen consistent year-over-year growth. Last year saw visitors to the site double, and this year is on course to see similar growth. The consistent content strategy has continued to yield positive results, increasing K9EDT’s standing in the local pet community, as Gervich explains:
“One of the coolest things as a result of our digital marketing work was a partnership I struck with a local veterinarian. I take my dogs there – but what I didn’t realize until later was that one of the veterinarians was following me on Instagram and checking out my blog posts. They said they had been doing that for a long time. Then, one of the vet techs reached out to me and said the same thing – ‘we like what you do, and we like your training philosophy’. As a result, I have a referral program partnership with them now.”
We’re excited to continue working with K9EDT and have already discussed strategic objectives for the business in the years ahead – and how True Boost’s work can help them to grow and achieve those goals.