Are you a proud pet owner, obsessed with the cutest moments of your furry friend? Is there a part of you that thinks your pet should be internet famous? Well we have news for you! You can actually make it happen!
In this guide, we’ll dive deep into how to become a pet influencer. Trust us, it’s some work. And even more money. But if you’re committed to launching your pet into the spotlight and reaping the rewards along the way, then read on.
1. Pet Influencer 101: Where to Start
While having a pet is obviously the essential first step in turning them into an influencer, most pet owners who already have all kinds of content saved up on their phones before they even create the account.
1.1 Create Their Instagram Account
Making your pet’s new profile is super easy. Open up Instagram and click on your profile, then “+ Add Account.” The author reminds users to double check which account is currently active before ever posting photos or anything personal by accident.
1.2 Locked Content
After going through how to make an Instagram account (not exactly rocket science), they introduce something wild: locked content. Essentially clicking that link brings you to another page where they’ll ask for your email again and charge $5/month for access to a “comprehensive guide and engaging content.” Pretty scammy stuff but hey whatever works right?
1.3 The Author’s Background
A couple quick notes about who wrote this thing – she’s a writer, cat mom and creative content marketer which makes her pretty good at writing funny things that people want to read more about… like how she writes newsletters for her subscribers or whatever.
2.Tips for Success
2.1. Captivating Content Creation
Showcasing Personality: Pets have individual personalities, and the owners should take full advantage of this when sourcing content. Whether it’s a funny habit, quirk or heartwarming moment, these aspects resonate well with audiences.
Variety in Visuals: As the saying goes, “variety is the spice of life!” And this same rule applies to pet influencers on social media! By switching up content types such as photos, videos engaging posts and stories, the audience will be more engaged and eager to see more.
2.2. Strategic Storytelling
Crafting Compelling Narratives: A captivating caption can work wonders to create content, when it comes to connecting with followers! Encourage influencers to share anecdotes or create relatable situations that their audience would not only enjoy but respond to!
Consistent Theme: To ensure an account’s brand sticks within the niche industry of pet influencers, all visuals sponsored posts shared must follow a consistent theme
2.3. Building an Engaged Community
Interacting with Followers: Any form of reciprocation will help to build relationships in a community between influencer and follower! Encourage influencers to engage with followers through comments and direct messages!
User-Generated Content: Influencers should show love back by sharing fan-made creations on their story or social media presence even as a post! Even if it doesn’t receive many engagements, this action fosters a sense of community among those who support the influencer!
Fostering Community Engagement: Strategies for Pet Influencers
Dr. Kathryn Dench, MA VetMB MRCVS and Chief Veterinary Advisor at Paw Origins offers unique perspectives on tailoring content to showcase the personality of pets, understanding the preferences of the audience, and creating content that resonates emotionally, thus enhancing community engagement:
“Pet influencers have a unique opportunity to create a deeply engaged and loyal community by leveraging their pets’ personalities and the universal love people have for animals.
Based on my extensive experience in small animal health, I’ve observed that pets often serve as bridges, connecting people through shared emotions and experiences. Here are a few strategies:
- Personalized Interactions: Beyond regular posts, engaging with followers through personalized comments and messages can significantly enhance community feeling. Sharing behind-the-scenes content that showcases the pet’s personality, quirks, and day-to-day life can make followers feel like part of the pet’s extended family.
- Educational Content: Incorporating expert insights on pet health, behavior, and wellness can add immense value. For instance, explaining common pet behaviors, debunking myths, or providing tips for pet care based on scientific evidence helps in building trust and positions the influencer as a credible source of information. For example, posting reminders about chocolate poisoning in dogs around the typical chocolate holidays such as Valentine’s and Easter can ensure their followers are aware of those risks and take steps to protect their pets.
- Community Challenges and Events: Organizing online events or challenges, such as photo contests themed around pets, interactive Q&A sessions, or live streams featuring training sessions, can foster a sense of participation and belonging among followers.
- Collaboration with Pet Health Professionals: Collaborating with veterinarians or pet behavior specialists to host webinars or create informative content can provide followers with valuable knowledge, further engaging them. For example, in my practice, I’ve found that approximately 20% of the dogs I see exhibit signs of anxiety. Sharing strategies to manage pet anxiety, with professional insights, can resonate strongly with pet owners facing similar challenges.
- User-Generated Content: Encouraging followers to share their own stories, photos, or videos of their pets can create a vibrant, interactive community atmosphere. Highlighting these contributions on the influencer’s platform not only celebrates the community but also makes followers feel valued and seen.
In conclusion, building an engaged community in the pet influencer niche requires a blend of authenticity, interactive engagement, and the sharing of valuable, expert-backed insights.
By leveraging these strategies, pet influencers can cultivate a space where followers feel genuinely connected, not only to the influencer and their pets but also to each other.”
2.4. Optimizing Hashtags and Descriptions
Strategic Hashtag Use: Being strategic with relevant hashtags is essential for growth on any platform! So make sure your partner uses them accordingly.
Compelling Descriptions: Short – sweet – intriguing… does it make you want to know what happens next? Does it compel you enough to find out more about the animal? If not then they deserve one smack across the face!!
Leverage Hashtags for Visibility
Jasper Stoddard, the Marketing Coordinator at Achievable, emphasizes the role strategic hashtags and compelling descriptions play in the success of a pet influencer’s social media presence:
“Strategic hashtags and compelling descriptions significantly enhance a pet influencer’s visibility on platforms like Instagram and TikTok.
This is because their algorithms prioritize the discovery of new, relevant content, and these algorithms use hashtags to categorize said content.
This also makes it easier for users to search for specific content and find relevant posts and videos.
By carefully selecting hashtags that are popular and specific to their niche, pet influencers can increase their chances of appearing in the top results of search pages or discovery feeds.
To optimize hashtags for growth and engagement, influencers should regularly research and update their strategies to include trending hashtags.
This approach not only attracts new followers but also ensures content is seen by a highly engaged and targeted audience, thereby boosting interactions and the potential for ‘going viral’ on social media platforms.”
5. Collaborations and Features
Strategic Collaborations: Recommend influencers to collaborate with other pet influencers or pet-related brands. Cross-promotion is a way to introduce their furry friend to other platforms and new audiences!
Feature Partnerships: From time to time, encourage your influencer to feature someone else’s pet on their account. Besides diversifying content, this strengthens the sense of community within the niche pet industry.
6. Consistency and Patience
Regular Posting Schedule: The most important rule is having a regular posting schedule! If you’re gonna be an influencer, then act like one.
Patience as a Virtue: Don’t get your hopes up thinking TikTok fame will happen overnight… Because it won’t! It could take months or years but all that matters is if you’re doing something you love.
Leverage Unique Angles and Own Content
Lora Shaw, the Vice President of Operations at Pet Palace, advises key strategies to make your pet a standout influencer in a crowded market:
“First of all, pet owners have to be active on all social channels because it gives them the best chance of reaching the widest audience.
That being said, you also have to cater to each specific channel. So, what might work best on TikTok or YouTube Shorts might not be as effective on Instagram.
But to really stand out, you have to find an angle that simply hasn’t been done before, or possibly, one that hasn’t been considered in a while.
Why not create a website that caters specifically to your pet? That way, you can produce a ton of organic blog content that you own, and doesn’t leave you susceptible to the whims of a particular social channel that could more or less go away at any given time.
A website for your pet—and finding that unique angle with it—will give you a better foundation to work with into the future of your pet’s role as an influencer.”
3. Frequently Asked Questions
3.1. What are the benefits of turning my pet into an Instagram star?
This guide comes packed with answers! But just giving you one answer here would be unfair so I’ll give you three… gifts, fan art, pet products, and collaborations with other pet celebrities! Also, think about utilizing impactful marketing tools to enhance the earning possibilities of your page, especially if you’re planning to monetize it.
3.2. How do I navigate the process of setting up a pet Instagram account?
Don’t worry we’ve simplified it as much as possible! All you have to do is hop onto the app and press some buttons, full details can be found in our Medium article.
3.3. What is the significance of member-only content? Do I need to join Medium?
Member-only content adds an extra layer of exclusivity other influencers that only members can access. As well as increasing information value and commitment from potential influencers.
3.4. Is there an ideal breed or type of animal for becoming a pet influencer?
Absolutely not! Any type of animal can become famous on their social media accounts, thanks to their natural cuteness or silly personalities!
3.5. How often should I post content on my pet’s Instagram account?
Again, consistency is key to high quality photos. However it’s also very important to note that quality should always be prioritized over quantity.
3.6. Are there any challenges or downsides to becoming a pet influencer?
Yes, there are some drawbacks and we go in depth however the most common ones are negative comments from pet parents and balancing your pets well-being with their online presence.
Closing Thoughts
The potential is massive. It’ll take a lot of work and creativity, but hey — good things don’t come easy. If you decide to start this journey, remember to thank your animal friends for being such a good sport because they truly have no idea how big of a star they can become.
Guest Author: Saket Kumar
Last Updated on by Saket Kumar