Getting people to look?

Although I'm in a far less populated area, I have a few thoughts.

• Respond FAST - Make sure new Rover messages are sent to your email and texted to you. If you don't know what to say right away (maybe you're busy or don't know if you can accept them), reply with a quick "Hi __. Thank you so much for reaching out to me. I will get back to you tonight once I can check my schedule."
• Badges - Get as many badges as you possibly can on Rover. I think these make sitters look more serious and professional.
• Reputation - Give yourself a name (aside from just your first name). I went with "Jean and Ray's Canine Cottage" because I do this with my husband and it makes me sound more like a business, which has a more professional, safe feeling to it than just some stranger who lives in the neighborhood. Be professional in your profile (including grammar, spelling, punctuation) and when you meet people.
• Low rate - Do NOT go for lowest, but definitely try to tie for lowest rate in your area. (I think being cheapter than anyone else makes people wonder.)
• Pix - Make sure you have lots of AMAZING photos of you, any dogs/pets you have or have had in the past, and pictures of you having amazingly postiive experiences with them. Also, post amazing photos of your space and area - your living room or common area at its cleanest, the park down the street on a beautiful sunny day, the best angle of the outside of your home, etc. Do not settle for less than amazing.
• Reviews - last but certainly not least, get reviews from anyone who's seen you interact with animals, even if they're from outside of Rover. When you start booking, make sure you greet people as soon as they arrive, introduce yourself and your animals, show them around, ask them about where they're going, send them (amazing) photos every day with detailed updates. I also do goodie bags and report cards at the end (everyone gets an A+), which people love.
• Buy stuff? - I haven't had to go this route yet, but Rover has lots of great items to promote your dog sitting. I like the yard signs especially, but the business cards would also be helpful. You could also post flyers around your neighborhood or close to areas where dog owners frequent.

Some pointers I've picked up for good pictures of dogs: Go for a walk or a run and take pictures while they're panting (best chances for those smiley pictures), take pictures in natural sunlight whenever possible, or take video and then get photos from the video later to get better action shots. Hope this helps! Best of luck to ya!