5 Reasons Why Your Adorable Dog Isn’t Good Enough

by Kara Conway Love

WHAT???

What do you mean my best, most adorable friend isn’t good enough?  Good enough for what?

Let me explain…

Creating really good content to continually attract attention from your followers and get them to engage on your posts, stories and Reels is a challenge. And what about attracting new followers to grow your community and monetize your account?

I know I sound like a broken record, but people REALLY DO want to meet the person behind the dog, business or non-profit!

Share the Spotlight with Your Dog

Did you ever look at someone’s feed and see the first nine pictures that look almost the same - same lighting, same pose, same filters, same captions, same, same, same… Are you as bored as I am with this?

Would you stop scrolling and look at the 1 in 9 posts that has a person and a dog, or the dog business owner in her shop explaining what she does, or the executive director of the non-profit dog business explaining what their mission is and how you can help? I know I would stop and read or listen to that post much more often than “same, same, same…posts.”

Or how about someone’s feed who is forever breaking the 80/20 rule, meaning that more than 20% of their content is ads, collaborations, affiliate posts, paid product reviews, etc. As a general rule, you shouldn’t be posting ads in more than 20% of your content. How many kinds of treats, dog beds or CBD oils can you promote before your followers hit the dreaded “unfollow” or “mute” button? For every 15 posts, you shouldn’t have more than 3 posts that are ads, and even that seems like a lot.

You be the judge. Start paying attention to what you like and don’t like about other accounts that you follow. Start to notice what makes you stop and read a post or watch a Reel. You might be surprised, I sure was!

So, this leads me back to my BROKEN RECORD question- Are you hiding behind your Dog Brand or Business?

I get it! It is so much easier to stay behind the camera, right? Aren’t dogs the cutest, and who needs to see you anyway? 

Here are five reasons why you need to get out there and introduce yourself once in a while:

  1. People want to know who is behind the dog, dog business or non-profit. No matter how smart, talented, and cute your dog is, we all know there’s a Dog Mom or Dog Dad creating your awesome content, and bringing home the bacon, literally.
  2. Showing your face on Reels, Stories and in your feed posts makes you more relatable – people want to know what you’re up to. Followers are interested in what you do and why you do it. So, throw them a bone and give them a peep behind the scenes sometimes! People are WAY more likely to stop scrolling and watch your Reel or read your caption when they see a dog + person (sorry dogs, no offense!)
  3. Everyone wants to do business with someone they know, like and trust. Putting yourself out there helps build trust with your followers & customers. And once is not enough. Not saying you have to throw your dog out in the cold. Think gradually and occasionally – you can ease into sharing the spotlight and still have your amazing pups be the stars of the show or the faces of your business.
  4. People are CRAVING genuine, authentic connections in today’s busy world. Let’s face it, we’ve all had a crazy year through the pandemic. Many people are struggling with anxiety and depression and feeling isolated. Getting to know other dog parents on Instagram gives people a real sense of community. By introducing yourself occasionally and sharing a bit of your life with your followers, you are building your community and making meaningful connections.
  5. It helps to get your message across when you introduce yourself and tell your followers, and potential followers what you’re all about! You will find that others share your passion for hiking, rescuing senior dogs, raw feeding, designing and making dog fashion, dog training, tricks, agility or whatever gets your paws up! You can share your experiences and expertise and attract people who care about the same things you care about!

Need help? Grab your copy of our Sharing the Spotlight Guide - 

 

Let us know how it works for you!

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