Careers in Pet Lifestyle & Content Creation: How to Become a Dog-Centered Lifestyle Influencer

You have probably seen a video on YouTube, TikTok, or Instagram, of a dog being funny, cute, or so smart. There is a reason it is a viral video; a dachshund in a Halloween costume, a golden retriever figuring out swimming, or a rescued mutt, taking pride in doing their first trick. We watch videos of dogs, for a lot of the same reasons we keep pets – they bring joy to our lives and they tug at our heartstrings. 

People realize there is an entire industry thriving and built around these videos. Pet lifestyle and pet related content has dramatically grown as an entire industry, from mere light entertainment to an alternative revenue stream. Many are entering this space and are using the passion they have for dogs; to generate income. One of the things we can learn from the current growth of dog influencers  is that people want to connect with other people with similarities based on love, laughter, and shared experiences with their pets, rather than just watching dog videos.

Photo by James Barker on Unsplash

Anyone Can Become an Influencer

There is no need to be a highly skilled social media creator or photographer to get started. All you need is a smartphone, many of today’s top influencers were just your average pet owner. When many of us started sharing our dog’s lives, we simply wanted to share the silly, cute or motivational moments that made our dogs live; we absolutely were not looking for fame or fortune.

People stop scrolling for authentic human moments. People can relate to real connections and true emotion without needing to think much about it. Think about it – you may be amazed and entertained by a high definition commercial, but what you will remember is a heartwarming video of a dog that jumps up and vigorously wags its tail when it sees its owner returning from work after a long day. And that is the whole point of being a dog-related lifestyle influencer, located heart and honesty, not perfection. If you’re serious about exploring professional options, you can also find jobs on Jooble that match your skills in content creation, marketing, or the pet industry. What begins as posting for fun can evolve into a full-fledged career.

Beyond Cute Photos: What It Really Takes

Let’s be frank; shooting it and waiting for likes by itself won’t move the needle for anyone unless you are using the content to help someone. Creators like influencers put in a lot of behind the scenes work; it is one thing to entertain an audience – all the while thinking about their content – or they could just be experimenting with styles and learning edits. 

You cannot build a community if you are posting once a month. Think of it as an art form; influencers are an example of being creative telling a story, but influencers can also post a dog pic. But possibly, it is taking screen shots of the highs and lows of training a puppy, or it could be portraying the story of the love your rescue has found in a new home – all you created the momentum; on some level there is the potential to eventually take a hobby and turn it into much more.

Why Dog Content Works

Why are dog posts and videos so popular? One part of the answer is how we view our pets, as dogs for many are not just pets we walk and feed, they are family members. We make birthday cakes for them when they have birthdays, we dress them up for special life events like Halloween or Christmas, we have them as guests at our weddings, or we stay at dog-friendly hotels just so the dog can go along with us. 

All of this leads to a desire to see content that parallels our level of bond. Everyone is looking for videos and tales that display the joy, struggles, and silly quirks that endearingly characterize their world with their dogs. That is what makes dog content so relatable to so many people, it becomes more than just humor, it becomes recognition. When followers see your dog, they think “That’s my dog too!”

Photo by Jamie Street on Unsplash

The Role of Brands and Marketing

All companies are hip to this trend. Traditional advertising is in real trouble because it does not engage consumers in the same way as before. Conversely, when an influencer we like and trust shares a video of their dog happily using a product (whether it be a healthy treat, toy, or harness), we truly believe it, and it is authentic. Followers trust that recommended product more than an advertisement on television or a billboard.

Partnering with pet influencers creates a win-win advertising opportunity for brands. They have the opportunity to engage the respective interested audiences and win them over by simply letting them deliver some anecdotal recommendation that they truly care about dogs. And it also could allow influencers to generate revenue doing something they love. But before they can do that, they have to prove to brands that their audience is engaged, loyal, and credible.

Choosing Your Content Style

Selecting content is one of the most exciting parts for new content creators. There is no right or wrong way, but you want to be selective to help yourself stand out. Some people share more serious training experiences so that they can discuss things they got right or messed up. Some just showcase travelling and share hotels, how the trails went, or dog-friendly bistros. Others are simply sharing the hecticness of bath time, the bliss of a morning walk, or the cuteness of your dog curled up on the couch.

There does not need to be any elaborate style. The key is to show how engaging you and your dog are with one another. Let your passion for dog adoption come through. If your style is humorous, even better. One thing we know for sure draws followers, and you have a “built-in” competitive advantage. You and your dog have an amazing journey together.

The Work Behind the Scenes

A lot of unobserved labour goes into every amazing video. There is a time cost that accumulates on so many platforms writing captions, editing, responding, etc. Many influencers say it’s a part-time job/full-time job. 

You will have to find out what your audience understands best: What do they prefer? their longer YouTube videos, or shorter Tik-Tok-style snippets? Are static posts increasingly in the rear view mirror, as the Instagram Reels front and centre? These decisions will affect your community growth, but again the more enjoyment you have creating, the less work it feels like, and the more rewarding it is to share your passion.

Staying Authentic and Building Trust

Authenticity is a key principle in this space, and audiences know the difference between someone who is merely chasing clicks, and someone who is actually passionate about what they are discussing. Be authentic about what your dog does not like about that dog product! Be authentic about what you love about that new dog product! Authenticity builds trust, and trust builds even more trust! Trust is what converts audiences, and brands, into long-term commitments.

This will also allow you to build an ongoing voice that is credible over time, rather than for short-term financial gain. Some influencers go through sponsorships quickly as they accept too many and forget to think if the products or values are aligned with their own. The influencers who are most authentic to their followers and their dogs will always be the most successful.

Photo by Samsung Memory on Unsplash

Monetization Opportunities

There are many ways to monetize your influence and each has a definite pro/con list:

• Sponsorships – Getting paid to work with brands.
• Affiliate Marketing – Getting commission on products that you recommend.
• Merchandise – Sell dog-related products or accessories
• Services – Consulting, training tips, workshops

What these different avenues share is a common bond of trust. Without trust – all the great monetization practices in the world won’t help you. With it, the options are potentially limitless.

Influence Beyond Income

While money isn’t always the most important part of being a pet influencer, many creators do their part by using their platform to promote responsible pet ownership, advocacy, and animal welfare. They share recovery stories, talk about nutrition, and give training advice. In doing, so they support a larger movement that makes dogs as family members or friends – Sure, it’s a chance to entertain, but it’s also a chance to communicate, educate, and inspire productive change.

If you are thinking about starting, don’t let self-doubt prevent you from doing it. You don’t need a big following or expensive cameras to start. All you need is your phone, your perspective, and your dog. Just post the first video. Just tell the story. As you make more videos you will improve and find your creative voice.

Conclusion

Ultimately, pursuing numbers is not the aim of a dog-centered lifestyle influencer. Chasing numbers is simply inviting them to come along with you on this journey where you are celebrating whatever relationship you have with your dog. It is pursuing joy, creativity, and connection.