So many factors can influence why pets listed on Adopt a Pet may or may not be getting potential adopter interest. While this is more of an art than an exact science, here are some tried and true tips that have brought numerous shelters/rescues much success!
Top 4 Tips to attract more potential adopters to your pet's profile!
1. Your Pet’s 1st (aka main) photo is super important! It’s so important we dedicated an entire article to the subject: Photo tips to get pets adopted. Be sure to check it out AND add a new 1st photo if you're not receiving some click throughs or any applications after a reasonable amount of time. To do this, you'll need to delete all your pet’s current photos, don’t worry, you can add back the other photos, if you like, after adding your new 1st photo. Trust us, it’s worth it and has the potential to spark a lot of new interest! While a good photo showcasing your pet with a person is a great way to go as well, here are some examples of some super strong pet only main photos!
2. Show off their personality in Your Pet’s Name! Add a few fun words to your pet’s name. When adopters are scrolling through numerous pets, the pet’s name is visible in their search results (as you can see from above), so you want to entice them to click on your pet to learn more. You could add something to show off their personality such as:
- Lap cat Binky
- Lap dog Cash
- Sam loves snuggles
- Sadie loves kids
- Annie loves cats
- Max loves running
- Sandy loves playtime
- Mercedes loves dogs
3. Your Pet’s story is just as important as their main photo! Serious potential adopters try to ensure a good fit before applying to adopt a pet. Be open, honest, thorough, and compelling when writing (or re-writing) your "Pet's story"! Think about what you'd want to know as an adopter. Check out this super helpful article on what to include in your pet's story!
4. Share you pet's profile...re-share, and share some more! Share your pet’s webpage on all your social media platforms, via email, and with your colleagues, friends, and family! Don’t forget to ask them to share your pet’s profile with their own network as well. You can also reach out to local businesses and ask them to share your pet as a “pet of the week”. Start by reaching out to local veterinary clinics, local pet supply stores, and animal shelters or rescue organizations. Reach out to to all types of respected businesses (they don't have to be in the pet care industry).
Making these updates to your pet's profile will increase potential adopter traffic, however you never know where you may find another loving family for your pet. For that reason, we recommend you keep looking for an adopter or rescue elsewhere, even while your pet is listed on Adopt a Pet. Always remember, you are the best adoption ambassador for your pet!