Social media today is so much more than a place for connecting with old friends or sharing vacation photos. Today’s social media landscape has evolved into a legitimate channel for brand-building, marketing, and even sales—with Instagram emerging as a top contender. According to the platform itself, Instagram now has more than 200 million business profiles, with over 90 percent of its users saying they follow at least one business on the app. So how can you utilize Instagram marketing for your pet business?
First thing to keep in mind is Instagram business profiles go beyond window shopping. 71 percent of businesses use Instagram, with 36 percent utilizing story ads to promote their products or services.
Your dog grooming business can and should take advantage of this platform to grow your business. If used strategically, Instagram can increase revenue alongside brand awareness.
How?
Start by gaining inspiration from leading brands! One key example of a brand successfully using Instagram? Duolingo.
We’re all familiar with the bright green owl who (incessantly) reminds you to participate in your daily language lessons. But what makes this language service so enticing that 4.6M users follow it? Well, they’ve found their niche and cracked the code on engaging with a broad audience. And here’s how:
- They focus on Reels – short-form videos are their main content format
- They entertain, not bore – Duolingo follows trends and has a unique brand voice
- They engage their audience – Duolingo organizes plenty of activities (quizzes, challenges, AMAs) and actively engages with the audience
Steps to Build and Spruce Up Your Brand Execution
1. Optimize your profile and bio
It sounds like a no-brainer to have your profile filled out with important info, but this is a step you shouldn’t overlook. Think of your profile as a digital business card that can make or break whether prospective customers want to engage.
Ensure all important information is included, such as your brand’s name, location, and a brief description of your business or services provided.
Links are also important! Include a link to your website or online platform here (this is the only place Instagram will allow you to include a clickable link).
Have more than one link you’d like to include? Consider using Linktree, which will enable you to have multiple links for prospects or current customers to visit to get more insight or services. Even better: you can customize your Linktree to represent your brand, as well.
Taking a quick step back: Before you focus on your bio, make sure your business profile is recognizable. One way to do this is to use your logo as your profile picture and have your business name in your social media handle.
2. Make it easy for users to request appointments on Instagram
With beautifully curated photos, strategic hashtags, and catchy captions, your followers may be sold on your brand—but how do you make sure they request an appointment before scrolling to the next image in their feed? Consumers’ attention spans are shrinking and distractions are at an all-time high, with the average time a person’s attention is down to 3 seconds. Now more than ever, it’s important for businesses to close the deal while they are still top of mind.
Having a “Book Now” feature is helpful for converting social media scrollers into paying clients. You can also link to your business’s website in your Instagram bio or Linktree, so users can explore appointment options, commit to a time, and check out your dog grooming business for themselves.
3. Prioritize high-quality content
Alright, your profile and Linktree are all set. To get visitors to your profile, you need high-quality content, both visually and in substance.
Let’s start with the visuals. Essentially, you run a high-quality grooming shop, so your photos should be high-quality too. This does not mean you need to invest in a multi-thousand-dollar camera—most smartphones today have advanced settings that should do the trick.
Next step: share content that shows users what it would be like to walk into your shop. From photos of the workplace to your groomers, to your furry clients with fresh cuts—Instagram provides users with a preview of the quality and experience they will have at your dog grooming shop. It can even be the deciding factor of whether you win their business!
Consider mixing reels into your content lineup. Social media expert Lucas O’Keefe says the best way for newer businesses to gain followers in 2025 is by utilizing reels (if your account is more established, he recommends experimenting with carousels and static ads). Showcase your best work, any and all promotions, and don’t be afraid to incorporate your business’s personality into the content!
Hot tip: Try to use trending audio on your content when appropriate. This will help you reach a broader audience.
Bonus: Looking for fun ways to engage with your target audience? Try posting on pet-related holidays. Not sure where to start? We’ve got you covered with the year-round social media calendar: Download now.
4. Start a social media contest
Incentivize followers to engage with your content. This can be done in a few different ways, such as polls within your stories or by holding social media contests. Both of these options encourage foot traffic to your posts and profile. Also, contests are fun! And everyone likes a prize. Here are a few examples of contests you can host:
- After a visit to your shop, customers who post a photo of their pet’s newest hairdo and tag your business on Instagram get 10% off their next service.
- Customers who share your latest Instagram post will be entered to win a free nail trimming on top of their next haircut.
- If you have business profiles on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn, encourage your audience to follow you on Instagram, too—they may get a $5 coupon for one of your retail products!
The most effective contests will encourage followers to promote your business on their own profiles, allowing you to tap into their networks for greater reach.
5. Don’t overlook SEO!
No longer just for websites, SEO has entered the social arena with platforms like Instagram implementing SEO components into their algorithms.
Hashtags are often thought of as the best way to raise brand awareness on Instagram. And in a way, they can be! By tagging #groomers, you become part of a social media community of pet groomers, allowing you to expand to a broader audience. You also become more discoverable for users searching for that term.
However, that should be part of your strategy, not the whole thing. Instagram is now utilizing SEO in post captions, so it’s important to research and be familiar with keywords or search terms users might use to find businesses on social media. Think of it as a way to tell the algorithm who your brand is and what services you provide by making it clear across your profile and content.
That said, you want to use hashtags selectively and strategically. While Instagram allows you to have up to 30, the recommended number of hashtags is 3-5. When choosing tags, be sure to add a mix of relevant and general topics.
The easier users can find your dog grooming business, the easier it will be for you to convert virtual followers into actual foot traffic—which is why you want your SEO on lock.
6. Think of Instagram as an e-commerce platform
Instagram is not only the second most popular social media platform, but it’s also becoming a powerful e-commerce tool. With up to 81% of users using Instagram to discover products and services, it’s a space you don’t want to miss out on.
If you’re still on the fence about Instagram being the place to advertise your grooming services, then check out these compelling stats from Business Dasher:
- 46% of people purchased online or offline after seeing a product or service on Instagram.
- 37% of people visited a retail store after seeing a product or service on Instagram.
- 65% of Instagram users visited the brand’s website or app after seeing a product.
- 87% of Instagram users say they take action after seeing a product or service on the platform.
- 77% of people believe Instagram helps them connect with brands.
The stats agree: Instagram is the place for your grooming services to be. And with a strong link (or set of links) in your bio, your current and prospective clients can book with you more easily.
Wrapping it up
Social media is a valuable part of any modern business’s marketing strategy. It can bring in new customers, raise your brand awareness, and give customers more touchpoints so they feel connected to your brand. Follow DaySmart Pet on Instagram for more ideas to enhance your marketing strategies in 2025!