Share This Page

Tweet

Meghann Evans | March 22, 2019   

    

When local pet owners seek to learn more about your business, one of the first places they may look is social media. You want to ensure that your social media pages are professional, informative and also fun. After all, you want to position yourself as the go-to source for local pet care.

Social media best practices are continually changing as the platforms evolve, but it’s always great to have a mix of content that you post regularly on your pages.

Here are 11 types of content you should be posting on social media:

1. Photos and videos of your clients’ pets

This one’s a no-brainer, and more than likely you’re already doing this, but be sure to regularly post cute photos or videos of the dog you’re walking or that bird you’re checking in on. Not only does this give pet lovers an “aww” moment when it shows up in their feed, but it also shows them your business in action.

If you’re looking for advice on how to take the perfect pet photo, be sure to read this post on The PSI Blog, “Tips for taking better pet photos: Advice from the pros.”

But here’s an important tip: Make sure you have the client's permission before sharing photos or videos of their pet. Incorporate this into the paperwork that your clients sign during the meet and greet. And also make sure you never post photos or videos with information about the client’s name or address, or that would make it easy to identify the home—you don’t want to make it obvious that the client isn’t there!

2. Live videos and Stories

Video can be a strong engagement generator on social media platforms, so when you create your monthly social media calendar, be sure to incorporate some videos into the mix, and don’t be afraid to try live videos. Social media users love the personal and informal nature of live videos, and you can easily engage with the viewers as they comment on your videos. For a live video, you could share a pet-safety tip or show how much fun you're having at a community event. The possibilities are endless, and if you don’t like the video, you don’t have to keep it on your page!

Social media platforms like Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook also give you the opportunity to post Stories—where you post images or videos in a slideshow format. They’re fun and allow you to be creative, and they only last for 24 hours! Show the world a day in the life of a pet sitter or give them a behind-the-scenes look at your business. Stories add that personal touch to your social media pages and humanize your business. When pet owners feel like they know you, they’ll feel more comfortable entrusting their pets’ care to you.

3. Holiday observance posts

There are a variety of pet-related holidays and observances you can share about on your social media pages—from National Pet Day to PSI’s Take Your Dog To Work Day. Even standard holidays like Mother’s Day and Thanksgiving offer you the opportunity to put a pet-related spin on the day, so highlight the holiday and be sure to use any related hashtags so your post is easily searchable.

If you’re a PSI member, you have access to free social media images for a variety of observances and holidays each month. You can view them in PSI’s private Facebook group for members.

4. Blog posts

Does your company website have a blog? Be sure to share those posts on your social media pages, from Facebook to Twitter to Pinterest! This will drive more people to your blog and help build your credibility as a local pet-care expert.

Do you follow a veterinarian or a pet website that posts helpful information about pet health? Also share these articles and blog posts on your page from time to time. You want to be the go-to pet-care resource in your community, so why not use social media to help educate your clients about how to be the best pet parents they can be?

5. Infographics

Infographics provide interesting overviews of topics in a visually stimulating and easy-to-understand format, which makes them a great type of content to share on your social media pages. PSI occasionally posts infographics you can share, such as an image explaining the difference between a professional pet sitter and a hobby pet sitter. You can also make your own infographics using a program like Canva.

6. Interactive content

Looking for a great way to get people talking on your social media pages? Post interactive content, from polls to questions to fill-in-the-blank images. You can create images with fun fill-in-the-blank sentences or questions for your followers to answer—whether it’s a question about their favorite spring activities in the area you service or their dog’s favorite treat. Many platforms have built-in features that allow you to create polls. These types of interactive posts encourage your followers to engage with your page and show that you’re interested in what your clients think.

7. Customer testimonials

Do you have a client who has left you a killer review or sent you a kind message about how much your services have meant to her family? This is great information for other pet owners to see and can really boost business, so ask that client if she would be okay with you sharing her words on your social media pages. You could put the words on an image you created or share them in the post along with a photo of your client or her pet. Get creative! This is your time to showcase the great work your company does.

8. Company news and photos

If your business has employees, it’s good to celebrate them on social media! You could share a photo of one of your employees with a caption about how they go above and beyond caring for your clients’ pets. Pet owners want to see the faces behind the company name. Featuring your hardworking employees can foster that familiarity, while also recognizing an employee for a job well done.

Even if you’re a solopreneur, that’s okay! Share about why you became a professional pet sitter or what keeps you motivated to provide exceptional service day after day.

Likewise, if you’re hosting a company event, have just introduced a new service, or are celebrating a company milestone—share the news! Social media is another outlet for sharing company news with your community.

9. Memes and quotes

No content list could be complete without a mention of memes—those glorious images that can keep social media users scrolling and laughing for hours on end. It’s okay to post funny pet-related memes on your business page from time to time—it’s great to make someone smile!—but try to steer away from anything that could be considered political or offensive. You want to make sure that your business appeals to a broad array of clients. Fortunately, pet-related humor is practically a universal language.

Likewise, a positive quote can brighten up your followers’ day, so don’t be afraid to get inspirational on your page. We could all use some extra motivation!

10. Job postings

Looking to hire new staff? Social media pages are great places to post your job listing, because the posts are easily shareable and are already being viewed by people who love pets (they’ve liked your page, after all). While you’ll still likely post your job listing on other sites as well, social media is just another way to spread the word.

11. Local recommendations

You want to show pet owners that your pet-sitting service is a part of your local community, so don’t forget to post about local events, as well as local businesses and organizations that you support. Does your business donate to a local charity? You can share a video about that charity on your page and write about why you support the organization. Will your company have a booth at an upcoming event? Share the event image or a link to the event page and let your followers know you'll be there.

Is there a pet product you highly recommend, such as a particular leash? Write a post about the product and where people can buy it in your community. Is there a dog trainer or a veterinarian that you highly recommend? Don’t forget to highlight them as well. (And in the post, be sure to tag any local business or organization you’re mentioning. That way they’ll know that you’ve posted about them, and they may just decide to post about your services in the future!)

There are so many options for creating social media content that will inform and engage your clients and potential clients—and help them learn more about your business. This year, make it a goal to try new types of posts on your social media pages. You may be surprised with how well they perform!

What types of content do you post on your business’s social media pages? Share in the comments below.