There are all kinds of jobs today that wouldn't be possible without social media. One surprisingly lucrative gig: posting pet photos on Instagram.
A sponsored post — one in which your pet is photographed with a product — can fetch from a couple hundred dollars to tens of thousands. (The pet doesn’t have to be a dog or cat. There are successful accounts for foxes, pigs and at least one featherless bird.)
If your pet can perform on video, that’s worth even more, especially if you make the leap to booking TV commercials.
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It takes more than just a cute pet and an iPhone. To find out how to make your pet Insta-famous, we consulted the experts:
- Varisiri Methachittiphan, who lives in Corona and owns a cat named Nala. @Nala_cat has 3.4 million Instagram followers. Running the accounts for Nala and her two other cats (@white_coffee_cat, who has 1.5 million followers, and @hello_luna_rose, who has more than 295,000) is Methachittiphan's full-time job.
- Aiden Lee, who lives in L.A. and owns Geordi La Corgi, named for the character Geordi La Forge from "Star Trek: The Next Generation." @LAcorgi has more than 238,000 followers. When Lee isn't working with Geordi, she's an art director at an ad agency.
- Loni Edwards, the founder and managing partner of the Dog Agency, a New York City talent agency that represents Insta-famous animals. Edwards' dog Chloe (@chloetheminifrenchie) has more than 172,000 followers.
- Colleen Wilson, the chief executive of Pets on Q, an L.A. talent management company that manages animals that star in commercials, do book deals and, yes, have massive Instagram followings. (Nala and her feline siblings are part of Pets on Q's talent menagerie.)
Here's what they had to say:
1. Know your brand
When you start your account, choose a few descriptive words and phrases for your pet's "brand." Is your pet a spirited troublemaker? Curious and friendly? Silly and a natural performer? Make sure all your photos have a similar theme so your followers know what to expect when they see your pet in their newsfeed.
For instance, if your pet's brand is "free-spirited and loves nature," don't post photos of it perched in a first-class seat with a pet dish full of Champagne.
If it's "upscale city dog," don't post photos of it sitting artfully on a log in a forest. Keep things consistent.
2. Don't trade products for posts
You can start to make money from your pet’s account once you have about 20,000 followers. Before then, many smaller accounts will be approached by brands that want to give a free product in exchange for you posting a photo of your pet with it on your Instagram.
It’s tempting — free stuff! — but it’s a bad idea. If a multinational pet chain looks at your account and sees you’ll work for free, it will expect you to work for free for it too.
If you're serious about making a pet Instagram your full-time gig, hold out for a paycheck.
3) Post regularly and use hashtags
Plan to post, if not every day, then at least five days a week. Methachittiphan, Nala’s owner, posts two to three times every day across her accounts.
Lee, who owns Geordi La Corgi, said she sets aside some time each month and takes several photos and videos, then spreads them over the next few days or weeks.
When you post, add a few hashtags in a comment so people using Instagram’s “Discover” feature can find your account easily. For inspiration, look at accounts similar to yours and see which hashtags they’re using.
4) Have fun
This can be a full-time job that makes full-time money. But if you aren't having a good time, it's not worth it. You have to love taking photos of your pet or, at the very least, like doing it enough that you can motivate yourself to get it done even when you don't feel like it.
Edwards, who runs the Instagram pet talent agency, said people tell her often how much seeing Chloe in their Instagram feed brightens their day: “It really is an incredibly rewarding experience.”
FAQs
The best way to promote your Instagram pet account is to post interesting content with creative captions and hashtags. If your content is good, it will automatically gain popularity and attract more people. In addition, you can invest in social media ads and work with other pet influencers to reach a wider audience.
How to make money off pet Instagram? ›
My 2021 Earnings as a Part-Time Instagram Pet Influencer
- Sponsored Posts. Creating original content for a brand and posting that content to my social media account for my followers to see.
- Content Creation. Creating original content for a brand that they will use in their own marketing materials (eg. ...
- Affiliate Marketing.
With Instagram, focus on tagging pet brands, pet talent agencies, other famous pet accounts, and anything that is relevant to your photo. Then, add in a location and don't forget about hashtags. Find the right hashtags for you and your pet and focus on the more specific ones.
How much do pet Instagram influencers make? ›
Given their strong follower counts and high engagement, influencer pets can earn thousands of dollars from a single sponsored Instagram post or TikTok video. The highest-paid pet influencers reportedly charge over $10,000 for a single sponsored post.
How to be a successful dog influencer? ›
But in general, developing a successful social media presence for your dog requires a fair amount of planning and strategy, so that you're posting fun, quality content regularly. For sites like Instagram and TikTok, this usually means daily posting and engagement (likes, comments, shares, saves) with followers.
Who is the highest paid pet? ›
$97 Million
| Rank | Pet | Species |
|---|
| 1 | Gunther VI | Dog |
| 2 | Nala_cat | Cat |
| 3 | Olivia Benson | Cat |
| 4 | Sadie, Sunny, Lauren, Layla, and Luke | Dogs |
6 more rowsFamous Instagram dog #1: Jiffpom (10.2 million followers)
Jiffpom is the most followed dog on social media in 2021 with over 10 million followers on Instagram.
How can I get famous on Instagram fast? ›
How to become Instagram famous in 8 steps
- Define your personal brand.
- Find your niche and cater to it.
- Listen to your audience.
- Engage your followers.
- Be consistent.
- Create quality content.
- Treat your Instagram account like a business.
- Manage sponsorship interest like a boss.
Jiff Pom, a Pomeranian pup, is the most followed dog on all of Instagram with 10.3M followers. He's reached large-scale commercial success and counts with three Guinness World Records to his name, and friends that include the likes of Shawn Mendes, Ariana Grande.
How many followers do you need to be a pet influencer? ›
The more followers a pet influencer has, the more money they can earn. Influencers with about 100,000 followers might earn a few hundred dollars per post, according to Pet Keen. The top-earning influencer @jiffpom has 9.3 million followers on Instagram.
Identify what makes your dog stand out from the crowd and how you can use that in content. Post high-quality content (especially video) at the right times to grow follows, likes, and engagement. Craft funny or memorable captions, and include 3–5 relevant Instagram dog hashtags for maximum reach.
Who has the highest paid content on Instagram? ›
1. Cristiano Ronaldo – $3,234,000 Per Post. How much does Cristiano Ronaldo make per Instagram post? Coming in first place on our list, the answer is an astonishing estimated $3.2 million per branded Instagram feed post.
Can you make money being a pet influencer? ›
Overall, pet influencers can make money through a variety of channels, from sponsored content to merchandise sales and appearances. However, it's important to note that building a successful social media presence takes time and effort, and not all pets are cut out for the role of influencer.
How much do dog Instagram models make? ›
These dogs can make from $1,000 - $6,000 per post! Yup, you heard right. When it comes to yearly earnings, the top earning dog in this list made about $373,029 a year. The research did find that although they make a lot per post, that they predominantly earn their money through merchandise such as calendars and books.
Can I make money with my cat on Instagram? ›
Conclusion. Becoming a cat influencer is a great way to spread your love for cats and earn a little extra income. You'll also spend many joyful hours with your cat setting up shots, playing with affiliate products, and training them to pose for the camera.
Can you make money from a cat Instagram account? ›
Making Money From Instagram
Once you've built a loyal following, you can start to monetize your cat content. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to make money on Instagram in 2023. You just need to get a little creative and embrace money-making trends like: Affiliate marketing.
Can I make an Instagram for my pet? ›
Creating an Instagram account for your pet is easy. Using some strategy, planning, and social media skills, your pet might just be the next big thing. Here is everything you need to know to start an Instagram account and share your pet with the world today!
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