Instagram can be a powerful platform for veterinary clinics, it’s where pet owners share their furry friends’ stories, look for advice, and connect with local businesses they trust. But one of the most common questions we hear from clinics is:
“How do we get more followers?”
Here’s the good news: it’s less about chasing numbers, and more about building the right audience of local pet owners who are most likely to book an appointment.
Here are our top strategies to help your vet clinic grow on Instagram:
1. Share pet-centred content
Pet owners love seeing animals they can relate to, along with practical educational social media content they can trust, so try posting:
- Patient spotlights (with owner permission)
- Behind-the-scenes glimpses of your team caring for pets
- Seasonal pet health tips and advice
This creates content that feels real, relatable, and worth following.
2. Try reels to engage new followers
Instagram uses “Reels chaining”, which means when someone watches one video, the app suggests another with similar themes or sounds. This means pet owners can easily discover your clinic’s Reels, giving you more chances to reach new audiences.
Instagram Reels are a powerful way vets can grow their Instagram followers. For extra inspiration, Adam Mosseri has shared some practical tips, watch the video here. You can try experimenting with different content, audio and styles to see what works best for your clinic.
3. Location and hashtags still matter
Hashtags are still worth using just don’t go overboard. A few relevant tags paired with clear location details will help you reach the pet owners who matter most: those nearby.
To make the most of them, try adding:
- Location tags (suburb, town, or city)
- Vet and Pet-specific hashtags (#pethealth, #veterinarian, #[location]vet)
- Trending tags, only when relevant (#petsofinstagram)
While hashtags are no longer the main driver of reach, well-chosen ones help Instagram categorise your content, so the right audience can find it.
4. Make it easy for clients to follow you
Growing followers isn’t only about content, it’s also about visibility. Remind your existing clients to connect with you online by:
- Adding social media links to your website and email newsletters
- Displaying QR codes at reception so pet owners can follow you instantly while in the clinic
- Including a “Follow us on Instagram” line on appointment cards or signage
These small touches turn everyday interactions into opportunities for growth.
5. Run simple follower campaigns
Running the occasional campaign that encourages follows can give your numbers a healthy boost while keeping things fun.
For example:
- Contests: “Follow our page and share your pet’s funniest photo to win a prize.”
- Giveaways: Partner with a local shop (like a groomer, dog trainer, or pet treats store) to offer a prize in exchange for follows and tags.
- Seasonal challenges: “Show us your pet’s Christmas outfit!”
When setting up these campaigns, include clear details such as “Follow our page and tag a friend”. This helps expand your reach, gain new followers, and keep the momentum going. These campaigns work best when tied back to your clinic’s personality and local community.
Paid ads to drive profile traffic & grow Instagram followers
If you want to accelerate growth, paid advertising like our Facebook Ads service, can help funnel pet-owners to your Instagram profile, not by forcing a follow, but by giving them a chance to see your content and decide to follow, which is why it’s so important to have strong engaging pet-centred content.
Why Facebook Ads?
- Facebook Ads (also known as Meta Ads) lets you target people who meet your ideal client profile (local pet owners, animal lovers, people interested in pet care).
- You can run campaigns that send users directly to your Instagram profile, not just to posts or external links.
- Because Meta owns both Facebook and Instagram, the ad platform is well integrated so your campaign can leverage reach across the Meta ecosystem.
From followers to loyal clients
For vets, growing Instagram followers isn’t about quick fixes, it’s about sharing a consistent mix of educational, entertaining, and promotional content that makes it easy for pet owners to connect with you. By showing up regularly and building a sense of community, every new follower becomes a potential client who already knows and trusts your team.
If you’re ready to accelerate that growth, our Facebook Ads service can help bring new pet owners to your Instagram profile and give your content the visibility it deserves. With the right ads, you can expand your reach in local suburbs to help attract new followers and turn online engagement into real bookings.