Owner & Pet Approved! Best Pet Marketing Strategies

According to Forbes, 66% of American households own a pet—so marketing to pet owners can have serious payoff.¹ And even if you’re not necessarily a pet business, there are still plenty of ways to connect with pet owners and experiment with pet marketing. Read on for tips on welcoming four-legged friends (and their wallet-wielding owners) into your business, plus some pet brand marketing ideas.  

Update & Promote Your Pet Policies

Do you want to make your business more pet-friendly? Depending on the type of business, here are some pet marketing ideas to get more paws through your doors.  

• If your restaurant or café has an outdoor space, open the patio to dogs. Get dog owners excited with a pup-friendly menu, complimentary bowls of water, or special “yappy hour” events.
• If your business operates out of an office building, consider allowing employees to bring their pets in daily, or choose one day a week.
• Run a retail shop? Show passersby that you’re a pup-friendly establishment with a window decal or a dish of dog treats out front.
• If you’re not able to be pet-friendly all the time, consider hosting a pet-centric event so you can still effectively market to pet owners.

Whether you decide to update an existing pet policy or create a new one, make sure you get the word out. Announce your pet marketing news on your most-used social channels, in your next email newsletter, with a flyer in your shop window, or via some good old-fashioned snail mail.  

Take a Pet-Forward Approach to Your Marketing Strategies

Whether a social post or a postcard, who doesn’t love seeing a cute photo of a dog or cat? In addition to marketing to pet owners, you’ll show customers that you’re a small business who loves animals—so it’s a great way to build an authentic connection with dog owners, cat lovers, and all kinds of pet parents. Here are some pet marketing strategies to get you inspired.  

• Partner with animal influencers. Even though they don’t have thumbs, pets can be influencers, too! All they need is a pet parent working behind the scenes. Spend some time on Instagram or TikTok to find pets that have an active following, and get your product into their hands. Whether your business is in the pet industry or not, influencer marketing is a great way to get authentic, native-looking content.
• Include images of pets in your digital marketing. Like we said…who *doesn’t* love when a cute animal photo or video pops up in their social feed? Even if you’re not a pet business, you can still use dogs, cats, and other pets in your digital marketing content.
• Get people through your doors with pet freebies. A dog-friendly freebie is almost a guaranteed way to convert a prospective customer into a paying one. After all, who goes to Starbucks to get their dog a ‘pup cup’ without buying themself a latte?

Excite Customers with Pet Promotional Products

Everyone loves swag—and whether you’re in the pet industry or just a pet-loving business, get your customers excited with pet promotional products. Here are some of our customizable favorites.  

Custom Collapsible Pet Bowl

An adventure-ready collapsible bowl makes a great giveaway for any outdoorsy brand or pet business. Whether you lead group hiking expeditions or sell backpacking equipment, include some swag for your customer’s furry companion. 

Custom Pet Rope Tug & Flyer Toy

A pup can never have too many toys…right? This affordable tug toy makes a great party favor for in-store pet events, or a great gift with purchase.  

Custom Curb Your Dog Bag Dispenser

Do you own a pet store? A doggy bag dispenser, like this one, is a great add-on gift when customers come in to buy a leash, collar, or harness.  

Custom 9″ Fido Friendly Flyer

A plastic flyer is the quintessential dog toy—this one is perfect for playing fetch by the beach, at the park, or in their backyard.  

Custom Pet Food Scoop

Give out these food scoops as a favor at your pet event or as a gift with purchase—customers are sure to use them every day, creating a lasting reminder of your brand.  

Do Good

Small businesses are at the heart of every community…and it’s never a bad idea to give back to yours. As an animal-loving small business owner, consider giving back to an animal shelter or rescue in your area. In addition to earning some good karma points, showing up for your local animal community is sure to draw attention from pet-loving potential customers.  

Aside from simply making a donation, here are some other ways you can do good—while also marketing to pet owners.  

• Host an adoption event at your restaurant, brewery, yoga studio, or retail shop.
• Use your photography studio to take headshots of adoptable dogs and cats.
• Sell raffle tickets for an item in your shop—and donate all proceeds to a local animal charity.
• Sponsor the adoption fees for one shelter animal (or more!) every month.
• Run a dog or cat food drive and reward customers with an in-store discount when they donate.
• If your business is in the pet industry, donate leftover food, treats, and supplies to a local shelter.

Bonus Pet Brand Marketing Ideas

Looking for pet industry marketing ideas? This section is for anyone who owns a pet-related business—whether you’re a dog groomer, obedience trainer, pet care provider, or pet supply store owner. Here are some pet business marketing tips for making a lasting brand impact. 

• Thank grooming customers with a branded bandana. Once you’ve finished prettying up their pup, send them home with a logo bandana.
• Add pet parent products to your merch lineup. If you own a pet store, we’re guessing you sell an array of leashes, harnesses, collars, and even pet clothing. So, why not sell apparel for humans? From ‘dog mom’ tees to ‘cat dad’ hats, don’t be afraid to think beyond pet products.
• Make four-legged customers feel special. Whether you’re boarding a cat for the first time or grooming a pup on his birthday, celebrate the moment with a custom pet product. It could be a personalized food bowl, customized collar accessory, or simply a certificate of bravery.

Sources: 

1. forbes.com/advisor/pet-insurance/pet-ownership-statistics