Social media is more than just space for you to share your pet pics and drool over delectable dishes. In fact, social media can be a powerful marketing tool that is easy to use and can reach a wide audience for little to no money. But when you’re busy running a business, you don’t always have time to do the social media aspect. Which means you likely will need a designated person or staff member to help you out. Yet, like any social situation, there is still digital etiquette to follow while online.
How can you ensure that your pet care business is using social media appropriately without having to micromanage? We’ve created a quick and easy to use guide to help you and your staff use the best practices for your pet care business.
Get Social
It’s called social media for a reason! It means you should be social. Interacting with followers and fans is a great way to build a digital relationship that can help bridge your online relationship to an offline relationship. Liking, commenting, and sharing posts can help those online get to know your business beyond the constraints of how you typically know a business. Yet, you want to be careful with who or what type of content you’re interacting with and sharing.
Here’s our advice…
- Avoid dicey topics like politics, religion, etc.
- Avoid liking, commenting, or sharing divisive posts.
- Avoid online arguments. If necessary, take it into your personal DMs or offline
- Be mindful of what you’re liking on the business account. Remember, people can see what you’ve liked.
Be Consistent
Consistency is key in every aspect of life, including social media. Consistency is what helps build your brand, establish your business as a thought leader, and ensures that your business is constantly on the forefront of users’ minds. Consistency in your posting can help you learn about your followers and fans. What posts are getting the most engagement? How can you use this information and apply it to your business’ services and offerings?
Stay Neutral
Social media can bring up a lot of unfortunate, sad, and nasty topics. But, on the flip side, there’s also a wonderful world of inspiring, hope-fueled, and downright hilarious content. As a business, no matter how you personally feel about certain topics regarding politics, religion, etc., your business’ name should remain neutral. Of course, topics related to pets and animal care can get a bit more passionate. However, avoid touchy topics that can ignite a storm online.
Post Relevant Content
You probably have your personal social media accounts, which means you probably see some pretty funny, silly, and downright outrageous memes and content that you’d love to share. Although, when it comes to your pet care business social media pages, you want to stick to posting relevant content. This doesn’t mean you can’t post funny or silly content, just make sure that it’s pet related. Some content ideas include:
- Live videos and stories
- Live Q&A sessions for pet parents
- Holiday observance posts
- Infographics
- Hour/location updates or changes
- Pet of the week
Focus on the Right Platform
Some of your clients are going to be big Instagram users, while others may prefer Facebook. Wherever your clients are, focus on that platform. Keep in mind that Instagram is a primarily visual platform; meaning, users are looking for eye-catching content and hilarious captions that follow it up. Facebook is both a visual and text-focused platform. Keep in mind, that text + images are more likely to catch a user’s eyes and attention than text or photo alone.
Stand Out Online
Social media can help you not only market your business but help develop, cultivate, and maintain longlasting relationships with clients. With these helpful tips, you’ll be able to create a strong digital presence that benefits you, clients, and pets!
