Animal Welfare Professionals

Hi!

I did a search on the forum but did not see any results for the topic of starting a Tik Tok for your shelter or rescue, so I apologize if this topic has already been discussed. 

I am the Director of Marketing for the Greater Birmingham Humane Society and I have been debating starting a Tik Tok for our shelter. I was thinking that we could use it as an engagement and adoption tool, but I have not found much research on shelters starting a page or any positives/negatives that come with the platform (I think that I found a total of two articles but they were more about how to go viral and did not give much information). 

I know that creating the content will be a lot of work and that is why I wanted to reach out and see if anyone had done it and had any advice or experience - good or bad - using the platform. 

I personally have seen a few shelters while scrolling through Tik Tok, but not a huge amount and wasn't sure if it was due to the newness of the platform or if there was a deeper reason. I am relatively new to the shelter world so I am trying to make splashes before I make waves lol!

Thank you everyone for your help with this! I am so excited that I found this resource where Animal Care Professionals can get together and discuss things like this!

#TikTok #SocialMedia  #marketing​​​​
#DataandTechnology
#FundraisingandDevelopment
#MarketingandSocialMedia

------------------------------
Stephanie Salvago
Greater Birmingham Humane Society
ssalvago@gbhs.org
------------------------------

Hi Stephanie,

On a recent Monday Shelter & Rescue Support Call, our friends @Tori Fugate and @Katie Grissum at KC Pet Project gave a presentation about using new forms of social media and strategies with a great section about Tik Tok 101! You can watch their presentation here: https://maddies.fund/ShelterRescueSupportCall22822 (they come on at the 36:56 mark). 

Katie also created and shared this cheat sheet on how to make Tik Tok videos that you can download and use for future reference. KC Pet Project has over 3 million followers on their Tik Tok account and I'm sure they could share more ideas and tips with you about whether or not you should create an account for your organization.​

------------------------------
Charlotte Otero
Community Strategist at Maddie's Fund
she/her
------------------------------

Thank you so much for sharing these resources!! 

And I would love to hear more about @Tori Fugate and @Katie Grissum's experience. As well as anyone else who has recently launched a profile.

Thank you again @Charlotte Otero (she/her)!!​​​

------------------------------
Stephanie Salvago
Greater Birmingham Humane Society
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-07-2022 01:01 PM
From: Charlotte Otero
Subject: Using/Starting a Tik Tok for your shelter/rescue - Pros/Cons?

Hi Stephanie,

On a recent Monday Shelter & Rescue Support Call, our friends @Tori Fugate and @Katie Grissum at KC Pet Project gave a presentation about using new forms of social media and strategies with a great section about Tik Tok 101! You can watch their presentation here: https://maddies.fund/ShelterRescueSupportCall22822 (they come on at the 36:56 mark). 

Katie also created and shared this cheat sheet on how to make Tik Tok videos that you can download and use for future reference. KC Pet Project has over 3 million followers on their Tik Tok account and I'm sure they could share more ideas and tips with you about whether or not you should create an account for your organization.​

------------------------------
Charlotte Otero
Community Strategist at Maddie's Fund
she/her
------------------------------

Thank you, very much, for all of these links! We only use Instagram right now, but this is awesome to have as a resource. Stay safe and healthy! 

------------------------------
Kate Sawyer
Treasurer
betterTogetherForever
CA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-07-2022 01:01 PM
From: Charlotte Otero (she/her)
Subject: Using/Starting a Tik Tok for your shelter/rescue - Pros/Cons?

Hi Stephanie,

On a recent Monday Shelter & Rescue Support Call, our friends @Tori Fugate and @Katie Grissum at KC Pet Project gave a presentation about using new forms of social media and strategies with a great section about Tik Tok 101! You can watch their presentation here: https://maddies.fund/ShelterRescueSupportCall22822 (they come on at the 36:56 mark). 

Katie also created and shared this cheat sheet on how to make Tik Tok videos that you can download and use for future reference. KC Pet Project has over 3 million followers on their Tik Tok account and I'm sure they could share more ideas and tips with you about whether or not you should create an account for your organization.​

------------------------------
Charlotte Otero
Community Strategist at Maddie's Fund
she/her
------------------------------

Not sure where to ask this question but it's in regards to social media. Our rescue would like to start using Facebook reels, another Rescue in our state does them and is having huge success with gaining publicity. My question is that on our rescue Facebook page, we don't have the reels option but the other rescue does. I've tried searching on the internet on how to get the reels button added to our page and have come up empty handed. I even asked the other rescue and she's not sure why we don't have that option as well. Does anyone know how to get it added to our page or can direct me in the direction to figuring it out!?! Thanks in advance!!

---------------------------------
Tracy Hanson

Ellie's Legacy Pet Rescue
---------------------------------

Hi Tracy!  I've found Facebook to be both frustrating in its inconsistencies and helpful if you contact them through the nonprofit "something's not working" part of nonprofit help.  Try asking the question in a couple of different places and maybe you'll get a helpful response from them.  I have always found them helpful.

Good luck with it!

------------------------------
April King
Volunteer and Board Member
Kotor Kitties
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-09-2022 07:04 AM
From: Tracy Hanson
Subject: Using/Starting a Tik Tok for your shelter/rescue - Pros/Cons?

Not sure where to ask this question but it's in regards to social media. Our rescue would like to start using Facebook reels, another Rescue in our state does them and is having huge success with gaining publicity. My question is that on our rescue Facebook page, we don't have the reels option but the other rescue does. I've tried searching on the internet on how to get the reels button added to our page and have come up empty handed. I even asked the other rescue and she's not sure why we don't have that option as well. Does anyone know how to get it added to our page or can direct me in the direction to figuring it out!?! Thanks in advance!!

---------------------------------
Tracy Hanson

Ellie's Legacy Pet Rescue
---------------------------------

Hi Stephanie- so here in Memphis we started doing tiktok/ instagram reels and it has been awesome! Keep in mind that at least with instagram, only people who already follow you see your content, with one exception- reels. This is seen by anyone, and so we try and use popular sounds or themes to increase engagement, and we are now seeing more than 7 million unique users each month across our social media platforms, and a big jump in followers on instagram since doing this.

It really seems to be the future of social media, and people have been nothing but kind and excited about it. Check out our reels on our instagram @adoptmas to see some of the content we have posted. Gateway Pet Guardians in St. Louis is another organization that is great at this that we have copied a lot :).​

------------------------------
Alexis Pugh
Director, Memphis Animal Services
www.memphisanimalservices.com

Organizational Management
& Pet Support Services Specialist
------------------------------

I have just now started thinking seriously about trying Tik Tok, but social media has always been my biggest struggle. We're currently on Facebook and Instagram and matter what I do (what the "experts" say), my posts just don't get seen. It's nearly impossible to fundraise and I'm seriously at a loss as to how to make it work.

------------------------------
Sincerely,
Johanna Spielman
Founder of Jamie Brianna's Legacy Fund
https://jamiebriannaslegacyfund.org/
------------------------------

I thought I saw on the news yesterday that Congress has banned TikTok from use in the US.  I'm not sure how that will affect those who already are using it.

------------------------------
Karen Kirsch
Founder
Spayed and Aid
KY
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-13-2024 02:56 PM
From: Johanna Spielman
Subject: Using/Starting a Tik Tok for your shelter/rescue - Pros/Cons?

I have just now started thinking seriously about trying Tik Tok, but social media has always been my biggest struggle. We're currently on Facebook and Instagram and matter what I do (what the "experts" say), my posts just don't get seen. It's nearly impossible to fundraise and I'm seriously at a loss as to how to make it work.

------------------------------
Sincerely,
Johanna Spielman
Founder of Jamie Brianna's Legacy Fund
https://jamiebriannaslegacyfund.org/
------------------------------

It's not banned yet; it is only in the early stages. It's heading to the Senate and the President to sign the order if it makes it that far. As for social media, I think there are resources to search here on Maddies for some ideas to get traction.  I genuinely believe the best followers are the ones that hear your story, the pet's story. Use video, not pictures alone. Share the experiences you are having while caring for the animals. Let many voices be on your reels, staff, volunteers, and adopters. We cultivate as much as we can just when the experience happens. We encourage our foster parents to DM videos and pictures to us for every day out, new experiences, and even chilled moments. We share every celebration we have inside the walls of WAGS. We want our cheerleaders to see our triumphs and tribulations. We even started a Shelter Diaries series to discuss struggles and real-life experiences. We use this tagline to let people know it is insider info. Ask questions, do polls, and ask for shared stories and post-adoption experiences. People want to participate in the conversation; make it easy. I would love a more enormous following for WAGS Pet Adoption, but because we are a tiny organization, I celebrate every little increase in engagement. We are bombarded daily with media, so even a little engagement is okay. That means we got our message out to just one more person. That person could be the next adopter or the next foster or the next volunteer.....here's to hoping. 

------------------------------
Michelle Russillo
CEO
WAGS PET ADOPTION
Westminster CA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-14-2024 06:36 AM
From: Karen Kirsch
Subject: Using/Starting a Tik Tok for your shelter/rescue - Pros/Cons?

I thought I saw on the news yesterday that Congress has banned TikTok from use in the US.  I'm not sure how that will affect those who already are using it.

------------------------------
Karen Kirsch
Founder
Spayed and Aid
KY
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 03-13-2024 02:56 PM
From: Johanna Spielman
Subject: Using/Starting a Tik Tok for your shelter/rescue - Pros/Cons?

I have just now started thinking seriously about trying Tik Tok, but social media has always been my biggest struggle. We're currently on Facebook and Instagram and matter what I do (what the "experts" say), my posts just don't get seen. It's nearly impossible to fundraise and I'm seriously at a loss as to how to make it work.

------------------------------
Sincerely,
Johanna Spielman
Founder of Jamie Brianna's Legacy Fund
https://jamiebriannaslegacyfund.org/

Half of Congress is trying to ban TikTok but it hasn't been passed yet. So much for the Freedom of Speech! Doubt it will pass.

------------------------------
Holly Holowach
Founder/President
Popoki Place O'ahu Cat Sanctuary
HI
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-14-2024 06:36 AM
From: Karen Kirsch
Subject: Using/Starting a Tik Tok for your shelter/rescue - Pros/Cons?

I thought I saw on the news yesterday that Congress has banned TikTok from use in the US.  I'm not sure how that will affect those who already are using it.

------------------------------
Karen Kirsch
Founder
Spayed and Aid
KY
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 03-13-2024 02:56 PM
From: Johanna Spielman
Subject: Using/Starting a Tik Tok for your shelter/rescue - Pros/Cons?

I have just now started thinking seriously about trying Tik Tok, but social media has always been my biggest struggle. We're currently on Facebook and Instagram and matter what I do (what the "experts" say), my posts just don't get seen. It's nearly impossible to fundraise and I'm seriously at a loss as to how to make it work.

------------------------------
Sincerely,
Johanna Spielman
Founder of Jamie Brianna's Legacy Fund
https://jamiebriannaslegacyfund.org/

Hi, Stephanie:

We have had a TikTok for our rescue, in addition to IG and FB, since we "opened" in August of 2022 but didn't do a whole lot with it. By that, I mean, we didn't stick to a schedule of posting, didn't work much at engaging with other accounts, and posted usually the same videos we posted on IG stories and/or reels. 
Then I made a video that used a trending sound and that video "went viral, " with almost 2M views. Before that video, we had 236 followers; we now have 13.6K followers on TikTok.
Most of our other videos on TikTok have now jumped into the thousands and some tens of thousands of views.

That hasn't translated to donations, though. We have a few donations from the video, and a few more followers on IG that I think came over from TikTok, but TikTok seems to be a world of its own. My feeling is TikTokkers are more inclined to buy than to donate, so we're actually working on some merchandise specific to this puppy dog, and we're going to see if that's true!
I'm still learning, but my other feeling is that TikTok is more personal. Not sure if that makes sense, but the videos that are more like, "these two laboratory survivors are running free" paired with an inspirational song, do not do as well on TikTok for us as they do on IG. 
We are just Cage to Couch on TikTok, Cage to Couch Rescue on IG, if you want to take a look. The video that has done so well is a video of our puppy Luna with a fractured skull and the trending sound is "What's a soul mate?"
Now, to learn how to rinse and repeat.

------------------------------
Mary Pryor
President/Executive Director
Cage to Couch
CA
------------------------------

We're a small rescue and try to use all platforms including TikTok. We love it because it allows us to use popular and copyrighted songs that sometimes are not allowed in other platforms. Lately, we've had some high school interns and they have been fast in creating content for us. They can produce results in minutes.

------------------------------
M K Bdeir
Matchmaker
Fur Ever Yours Dog Rescue
Tonasket WA
------------------------------

M K,  Is your tiktok account a business or personal account? One of our volunteers set us up as a business account so that our website and contact info would be listed but I find we can't use the same copywrighted music as the personal accounts

------------------------------
Lisa Burn
Co-founder/VP
Farmhouse Animal & Nature Sanctuary
Myakka City, FL
https://farmhousesanctuary.org
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-15-2024 07:18 AM
From: M K Bdeir
Subject: Using/Starting a Tik Tok for your shelter/rescue - Pros/Cons?

We're a small rescue and try to use all platforms including TikTok. We love it because it allows us to use popular and copyrighted songs that sometimes are not allowed in other platforms. Lately, we've had some high school interns and they have been fast in creating content for us. They can produce results in minutes.

------------------------------
M K Bdeir
Matchmaker
Fur Ever Yours Dog Rescue
Tonasket WA
------------------------------

Hi Lisa. 

We learned that business accounts are not allowed to use copyrighted music. So, we switched back to a personal account with the link to our website on our profile. With a personal account, we can still share the TikTok video to our rescue's Facebook account and the music is retained in the reel/video. We're small, and most often locked in the "200 - 800 views" jail. But the choosing trending music seem to make a difference in the views and shares/reposts.

If and when we get more followers and we have a volunteer who is comfortable to appear and talk on the videos, we will change back to a business account. We are told, the more original content gets more views.

------------------------------
M K Bdeir
Matchmaker
Fur Ever Yours Dog Rescue
Tonasket WA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-16-2024 04:31 AM
From: Lisa Burns
Subject: Using/Starting a Tik Tok for your shelter/rescue - Pros/Cons?

M K,  Is your tiktok account a business or personal account? One of our volunteers set us up as a business account so that our website and contact info would be listed but I find we can't use the same copywrighted music as the personal accounts

------------------------------
Lisa Burn
Co-founder/VP
Farmhouse Animal & Nature Sanctuary
Myakka City, FL
https://farmhousesanctuary.org
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 03-15-2024 07:18 AM
From: M K Bdeir
Subject: Using/Starting a Tik Tok for your shelter/rescue - Pros/Cons?

We're a small rescue and try to use all platforms including TikTok. We love it because it allows us to use popular and copyrighted songs that sometimes are not allowed in other platforms. Lately, we've had some high school interns and they have been fast in creating content for us. They can produce results in minutes.

------------------------------
M K Bdeir
Matchmaker
Fur Ever Yours Dog Rescue
Tonasket WA

MK,

Thanks. I switched to a personal profile last night. We too rarely get out of the 200-800 views and have only about 150 followers. Hopefully this will help us grow our followers too. 

------------------------------
Lisa Burn
Co-founder/VP
Farmhouse Animal & Nature Sanctuary
Myakka City, FL
https://farmhousesanctuary.org
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-16-2024 07:10 AM
From: M K Bdeir
Subject: Using/Starting a Tik Tok for your shelter/rescue - Pros/Cons?

Hi Lisa. 

We learned that business accounts are not allowed to use copyrighted music. So, we switched back to a personal account with the link to our website on our profile. With a personal account, we can still share the TikTok video to our rescue's Facebook account and the music is retained in the reel/video. We're small, and most often locked in the "200 - 800 views" jail. But the choosing trending music seem to make a difference in the views and shares/reposts.

If and when we get more followers and we have a volunteer who is comfortable to appear and talk on the videos, we will change back to a business account. We are told, the more original content gets more views.

------------------------------
M K Bdeir
Matchmaker
Fur Ever Yours Dog Rescue
Tonasket WA
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 03-16-2024 04:31 AM
From: Lisa Burns
Subject: Using/Starting a Tik Tok for your shelter/rescue - Pros/Cons?

M K,  Is your tiktok account a business or personal account? One of our volunteers set us up as a business account so that our website and contact info would be listed but I find we can't use the same copywrighted music as the personal accounts

------------------------------
Lisa Burn
Co-founder/VP
Farmhouse Animal & Nature Sanctuary
Myakka City, FL
https://farmhousesanctuary.org


Original Message:
Sent: 03-15-2024 07:18 AM
From: M K Bdeir
Subject: Using/Starting a Tik Tok for your shelter/rescue - Pros/Cons?

We're a small rescue and try to use all platforms including TikTok. We love it because it allows us to use popular and copyrighted songs that sometimes are not allowed in other platforms. Lately, we've had some high school interns and they have been fast in creating content for us. They can produce results in minutes.

------------------------------
M K Bdeir
Matchmaker
Fur Ever Yours Dog Rescue
Tonasket WA

I remember even before I started working at my shelter getting tiktoks from them on my for you page, especially during covid. I don't know any statistics but our shelter's page has over 200k followers and often gets thousands of views. My assumption is that we don't use a business account because they use a lot of trending sounds, however we have a linktree in our page's bio that leads to a few different pages on our website. I think they cross post to instagram reels as well. It's @nehumanesociety on tiktok and instagram if you want to see some of the videos they have made

------------------------------
Laurel Nelson
Cat Welfare Supervisor
Nebraska Humane Society
NE
------------------------------

Hi Laurel, do you know how your org got listed in the options of nonprofits to choose from? Meaning, when I click "edit profile", then click "nonprofit" to add a nonprofit to my profile.  I've registered with Tiltify and have a Benevity account, will we somehow just show up on the list eventually? 

------------------------------
Sincerely,
Johanna Spielman
Founder of Jamie Brianna's Legacy Fund
https://jamiebriannaslegacyfund.org/
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-17-2024 08:34 AM
From: Laurel Nelson
Subject: Using/Starting a Tik Tok for your shelter/rescue - Pros/Cons?

I remember even before I started working at my shelter getting tiktoks from them on my for you page, especially during covid. I don't know any statistics but our shelter's page has over 200k followers and often gets thousands of views. My assumption is that we don't use a business account because they use a lot of trending sounds, however we have a linktree in our page's bio that leads to a few different pages on our website. I think they cross post to instagram reels as well. It's @nehumanesociety on tiktok and instagram if you want to see some of the videos they have made

------------------------------
Laurel Nelson
Cat Welfare Supervisor
Nebraska Humane Society
NE
------------------------------

Johanna, That is a great question.  I would like to be able to add ours too. 

------------------------------
Lisa Burn
Co-founder/VP
Farmhouse Animal & Nature Sanctuary
Myakka City, FL
https://farmhousesanctuary.org
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-18-2024 02:30 PM
From: Johanna Spielman
Subject: Using/Starting a Tik Tok for your shelter/rescue - Pros/Cons?

Hi Laurel, do you know how your org got listed in the options of nonprofits to choose from? Meaning, when I click "edit profile", then click "nonprofit" to add a nonprofit to my profile.  I've registered with Tiltify and have a Benevity account, will we somehow just show up on the list eventually? 

------------------------------
Sincerely,
Johanna Spielman
Founder of Jamie Brianna's Legacy Fund
https://jamiebriannaslegacyfund.org/
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 03-17-2024 08:34 AM
From: Laurel Nelson
Subject: Using/Starting a Tik Tok for your shelter/rescue - Pros/Cons?

I remember even before I started working at my shelter getting tiktoks from them on my for you page, especially during covid. I don't know any statistics but our shelter's page has over 200k followers and often gets thousands of views. My assumption is that we don't use a business account because they use a lot of trending sounds, however we have a linktree in our page's bio that leads to a few different pages on our website. I think they cross post to instagram reels as well. It's @nehumanesociety on tiktok and instagram if you want to see some of the videos they have made

------------------------------
Laurel Nelson
Cat Welfare Supervisor
Nebraska Humane Society
NE

I couldn't give you a solid answer, I know people from my organization have taken classes through Maddie's pet forum before so I don't know if it's something they did. All I know is that I have my organization listed in both my contact information and under my work/volunteer experience.

------------------------------
Laurel Nelson
Cat Welfare Supervisor
Nebraska Humane Society
NE
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-18-2024 02:30 PM
From: Johanna Spielman
Subject: Using/Starting a Tik Tok for your shelter/rescue - Pros/Cons?

Hi Laurel, do you know how your org got listed in the options of nonprofits to choose from? Meaning, when I click "edit profile", then click "nonprofit" to add a nonprofit to my profile.  I've registered with Tiltify and have a Benevity account, will we somehow just show up on the list eventually? 

------------------------------
Sincerely,
Johanna Spielman
Founder of Jamie Brianna's Legacy Fund
https://jamiebriannaslegacyfund.org/
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 03-17-2024 08:34 AM
From: Laurel Nelson
Subject: Using/Starting a Tik Tok for your shelter/rescue - Pros/Cons?

I remember even before I started working at my shelter getting tiktoks from them on my for you page, especially during covid. I don't know any statistics but our shelter's page has over 200k followers and often gets thousands of views. My assumption is that we don't use a business account because they use a lot of trending sounds, however we have a linktree in our page's bio that leads to a few different pages on our website. I think they cross post to instagram reels as well. It's @nehumanesociety on tiktok and instagram if you want to see some of the videos they have made

------------------------------
Laurel Nelson
Cat Welfare Supervisor
Nebraska Humane Society
NE