Yes, you think your pet is super cute, so why not share your fur pal with the rest of the world? One of the easiest ways is to set up Instagram for your pet.

Sure, Simba the cat might not become Insta-famous overnight. You may never reach a record-breaking 4.2+ million followers like Nala Cat, but it might be fun. So, if you’re thinking about sharing your meowing mate’s mischievous adventures or your barking buddy’s tomfoolery with other pet lovers, here are a few tips.

Before you set up Instagram for your pet

Hangfire, before you rush in and start setting up your pet’s Instagram account check out a few existing Pets Of Instagram accounts. Consider:

  • What information they include in their bio/profile
  • What type of posts they create
  • How they set up the images (are any props involved?)
  • Frequency of posts
  • The look and feel of the account and how they create this
  • Do they engage and interact with their followers?
  • What sorts of hashtags are popular?

Getting started: the basics

Setting up Instagram for your pet is easy. Here are the necessary steps to take.

1. Download and open the Instagram app.

2. Tap the ‘sign up’ button and enter your email address. Tap Next or, alternatively, you can log in using your Facebook sign-in details (assuming you have a Facebook account).

3. Create a username (this might be your pet’s name or a nickname you have for your fur pal) and password.

4. Fill out your profile details (aka your dog’s bio) and tap Done. Tip: try to explain in your profile what sets your account apart from other pet accounts. Be genuine and try to engage your audience. You might include your pet’s age, breed, likes, etc

Voila! Now you’re ready to rock ‘n roll.

Making Instagram for your pet a success

The best way to make your pet’s Instagram account successful is to PLAN. After all, the top accounts post regularly, they post interesting content and they actively engage with their audience. All this takes time, effort and, as already mentioned, planning!

When planning Instagram for your pet, it’s essential to think about the theme, the colours you want and the vibe you want to create. These factors all need planning to make them work.

Once you’ve thought about the basics and have a really good idea of how you want your account to look, you might find it useful to use a planning app. There are lots available, so do a simple online search to discover which one you think is best for you.

Insta-worthy snaps

You can do all the planning in the world, which IS important, but there will come a time when you need to take action. What good is it setting up Instagram for your pet if you don’t have any content?

Images are king, so get clued up on how to take the best images of your pet. The reality is, in most cases, pets are not super easy to photograph. Aside from the fact they don’t like to look at the camera, the lighting needs to be just right too.

Make things easier by taking snaps outside. After all, most things look better in natural light. Also, think about what props (if any) you want to use. You’ll need to have these ready and waiting, along with a few treats for your fur pal!

It’s useful to have a whole bunch of different photos of your pet to get you started. Just make sure they have different backgrounds and various props. You don’t want them to be too same-same.

Engage pet lovers everywhere

Hashtags are heroes when it comes to engaging people everywhere. Because they are searchable, it’ll make it easier for more people to see your content and your cute pet, of course!

Keep a note of useful hashtags you come across, as well as creating your own unique hashtags. Pop these at the bottom of each post. Note: don’t overdo it on the hashtag front. Remember, less is more; aim for no more than 10 hashtags.

TIP: some of the top pet hashtags include: #dogsofinstagram #instadog #dogstagram #catstagram #catlife #catsofinstagram #catlovers

Alongside being proactive in encouraging people to check out your Instagram account, actively engage with other pet accounts. You can like, respond to comments, search out other like-minded pet lovers and follow back.

Be consistent and creative

Finally, when setting up Instagram for your pet try to be creative and post consistently. Yes, you want it to be fun, not a massive drag—but you also want to keep people engaged. Be open and honest in your captions, and if you can throw in a bit of humour – then great!

Of course, the more enjoyment you get out of taking photos of your fur pal and posting to Instagram, the more you’ll want to do it. So, at the end of the day make sure you set out to have fun.

 

Have you set up Instagram for your pet? Got any tips to share?