You’ve probably heard of social media influencers by now – those people who everybody seems to want to follow on Instagram. Perhaps you follow a few of them yourself and are always intrigued by the products and services that they are promoting. The truth is that influencer marketing is big business right now, and it’s not just people that can get famous for it. Plenty of pets are also influencers – obviously with their trusty human behind their social media accounts. Cat influencers are a particular favourite because, after all, the internet is filled with cat videos, and we can’t seem to get enough of them. So, how do you make your cat famous?
Set Up Social Media:
First of all, you’ll need to set up social media profiles for your cat. You’ll need to think of a brand name for them or use their own name – it’s up to you. Influencers tend to be very successful on Instagram, as it’s a very visual platform with plenty of opportunities to promote products and services. However, there’s nothing stopping you from setting up a Facebook and Twitter account for your cat, too, if you want to try and reach out to a wider audience. Ingramer is a great app to get started on Instagram with.
Post Regular Content:
If you want your cat to become an influencer, then you’re going to have to give people a reason to want to follow her. And remember, it’s not necessarily going to happen overnight, it’s going to take time, a lot of content and possibly a lot of work. Now, since your cat can’t use Instagram, it’s down to you to make sure that there are plenty of cat selfies to post on a daily basis. The good news is that cats always manage to be entertaining, no matter what they’re doing. Even when they’re sleeping, this can make a really cute post idea. Think of different types of content that your followers might like to see, whether it’s an educational video of you doing something like trimming your cat’s claws, or a funny video of them trying to climb on something and failing.
Be Informational:
Most people follow influencers because they can learn something from them too. As the proud owner of a cat influencer, you will need to show that you are a responsible pet owner and ask others to be the same. Make sure that you have adequate cat insurance for your cat – you can browse options at https://www.everypaw.com/cat-insurance – and ensure that your cat is up to date with regular vet visits. You can obtain a quote online, and it only takes five minutes.
Don’t allow your cat to go outdoors if they are not spayed or neutered and make sure that they are microchipped, in case they wander a little too far. By setting a good example, you can use your platform for good and show others how to be responsible with their pets.
Promote Some Products:
Many influencers simply start off by promoting some products that they enjoy without expecting anything in return. This can be lots of fun, and it can also mean that your cat gets noticed by the company, and they start sending you freebies for him. Perhaps your cat has a favourite toy; make a post including it and add a link to the pet store that you got it from so that other cat owners can have fun playing with their cats with it too. Maybe you’re raving about a new brand of cat food that your pet can’t seem to get enough of; why not promote it in your next post?
If your cat does become a superstar and you’re flooded with offers to promote products, be sure to follow advertising guidelines – #ad. You don’t want to get your kitty into trouble!
Reach Out to Brands:
Brands can’t get away from the power of influencer marketing these days, but don’t sit around expecting a brand to come to you. In order to fully harness the power of social media for yourself and your pet, and get the fame that your cat is dreaming of, you’ll need to be proactive. Write some emails to pet brands explaining who you are and what you do, and that you’d really like to promote their product for them. Don’t expect every brand to send you something for free, though. If you’re really serious about promoting a certain brand, buy something from them, promote it, and let them know about it.
Engage With Your Followers:
The key to being a successful influencer – whether human or cat – is to engage with your followers and promote your personal brand. Even if you post every day and promote a lot of products, you are not going to get the results that you want if your follower engagement levels are low. Taking the time to reply to messages and comments or give your followers a shout-out now and again can really make a difference to the results that you get and will encourage your followers to talk about you – which usually means one thing: their friends and family will want to learn more, and they’ll start following you too.
When you think of social media influencers, you might think about celebs or models. But cats can be great influencers too!