Tag Archives: pet holidays

By Nancy E. Hassel, American Pet Professionals

Over a decade ago I worked full time at a PR firm, we had this enormous book, probably over 1,000 pages that had every odd holiday and regular holiday listed, by day, by week and by month. We would go through the book looking up odd and offbeat holidays to use for our client's promotions.  We had a lot of fun coming up with funny or different promotional ideas for our clients - which were hospitality clients - restaurants, resorts, luxury spas and retail stores.  

Why would we do this?  To make our clients stand out from the rest of what everyone else is doing.  For our members of American Pet Professionals they have been hearing this from me for years, aside from sounding like a broken record, this is something I think is very important for your pet business or animal rescue group.

Think about it - we are all posting about the latest pet holiday on our social platforms, very much in similar ways.  Now I know as a pet business you really should post about the top pet holidays  -- but it can be the sea of the same.    How could you have promoted the same holiday in a way that will have your business or rescue stand out? 

It's all in how you look at it, what can you bring to the table on a similar topic that is a different spin on what everyone else is doing?   You know you all have a unique perspective, different creative outlet that you can use to brand your business or rescue (if you are not already doing so).  You can use pet and human holidays to promote something fun at your store/grooming shop/veterinarian office/dog training facility or use it to promote a special offer as a pet photographer, pet sitter, pet product manufacturer or blogger.  The possibilities are endless, but you want to take some time preparing so you STAND out.   Coming up with your own ideas and concepts is not easy if you're just starting out and looking at what everyone else in the industry is doing.  It's not easy to come up with your own niche or voice, but it is super important for your business to do so.  (And really why would you want to just copy or be the same as every other pet business or rescue out there?) Here are some tips to get some ideas or perspectives. 

• Look at your favorite NON pet brands or businesses - what are they doing with promos, social media, or landing themselves in the news that you are really impressed with? 
• How are they getting their customer's attention that is different than their competition?
• What makes you drawn to their store/website to buy items from them or hire them?
• What is it about their brand that really inspires you or makes you wish you were doing something like that for your pet business/rescue, with your own spin of course? 
• Take notes on what they do, write down key elements that draws you to them, and then brainstorm in ways you can create that draw to your own business/rescue.
• Sometimes stepping away from and looking outside the pet industry, can re-inspire you/your business with new ideas and fresh content.

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