Last week, a major content creator—boasting over half a million followers on Instagram and hundreds of thousands more across other platforms—publicly announced he’s no longer feeding raw. He now shares cooked recipes and promotes kibble in his updated feeding philosophy.
To say it sparked backlash would be putting it mildly: Raw Feeding for Dogs: Debunking Common Concerns
But honestly, this is why I love creating content. These moments ignite meaningful conversations, push me to reflect on my own choices, and fuel new ideas. They also give me the chance to share why I continue to choose raw feeding. Am I the only one feeling this way?
If more people in the fresh food community spoke up, shared their journeys, and educated with confidence, the departure of a big page wouldn’t feel like such a loss.
In 2024 and 2025, I consulted with Meta, during which they shared tips and answered questions about growing on their Instagram platform. I’ve also followed several social media experts who share actionable tips without pressuring you to buy their consultation services and courses. In this article, I’m going to share the following:
This article is intended to get you started; use this information to inspire your content and create a plan that works for your social media goals.
Instagram Content and How it Performs
Instagram Picture
The Instagram picture is small, which may require redesigning your logo so people can quickly determine if they’re on the right page. Whether you use a logo or a photo, make sure that it’s clear. If using a professional portrait, experts recommend a photo on a solid, brightly colored background.
Instagram Bio
Your Instagram bio is the short block of text (up to 150 characters) located at the top of your profile, just under your name and profile picture. It’s one of the first things new visitors read to decide to follow you.
How to Use Your Instagram Bio Effectively
Think of your bio as your 30-second elevator pitch. It should clearly answer:
Who you are
What you do
What your page offers to followers
Why they should stick around
Be clear, not clever. Say exactly what people will get if they follow you. Take advantage of emojis for readability. And include a call to action (CTA) and use links
Be clear, not clever. Say exactly what people will get.
Use line breaks, emojis, or bullets for readability.
Include a call to action (CTA) and use the link field wisely (e.g., Linktree, Stan Store, your website).
Instagram Posts (Single Image or Video in the Feed)
Purpose: Showcasing your brand, sharing educational content, visuals, announcements, or thought leadership.
Best For: SEO-friendly content, evergreen tips, product shots, quotes, dog portraits, or before-and-after images.
Performance in 2025:
Instagram’s algorithm favors high watch time and saves/shares.
Static posts perform better when paired with strong captions and searchable keywords.
Valuable for long-term discoverability and profile consistency.
2. Instagram Reels
Purpose: Short-form vertical video (up to 90 seconds) meant to entertain, educate, or inspire.
Best For: Tips, myths vs. facts, transformations, voiceovers, trends, and behind-the-scenes.
Performance in 2025:
Reels still dominate reach and discovery, especially for non-followers.
Shares and watch time are key metrics.
Strong hooks, subtitles, and storytelling outperform trends alone.
I’m not super comfortable showing my face on Instagram. I tend to overthink things like my hair, makeup, and other details that don’t matter, so instead, I focus on creating faceless, voice-over videos using B-roll.
Throughout the month, I capture simple moments like making my dogs’ meals, going on walks, or doing daily routines. These clips give me plenty of B-roll footage to repurpose for Reels and educational content, without the pressure of being on camera.
3. Instagram Carousels (Multi-Image Posts)
Purpose: Swipe-through format to educate, share step-by-step info, or create mini-series.
Best For: How-tos, lists, comparison graphics, food/nutrition tips, infographics.
Performance in 2025:
Carousels have high engagement and save rates.
Instagram shows them multiple times to users who didn’t interact the first time (excellent re-engagement tool).
Great for algorithm visibility and retention.
4. Instagram Stories
Purpose: 24-hour disappearing content for personal connection, quick updates, polls, and direct interaction.
Best For: Daily life, product restocks, Q&A, reminders, quick tips, testimonials.
Performance in 2025:
Not ideal for growth, but crucial for nurturing your existing audience.
Polls, stickers, and DM links increase interactions.
Story views correlate strongly with trust and conversion.
5. Highlights
Purpose: A collection of past Instagram Stories you choose to feature permanently on your profile, just below your bio. Typically, Stories disappear after 24 hours, but Highlights allow you to keep them visible as organized categories.
Best For: Use Highlights like a website menu to complement your user profile description.
Performance in 2025:
Not ideal for growth, but excellent for SEO and branding.
Pin your best info: testimonials, FAQs, or showcase a new product.
Refresh the content regularly so new followers see your most relevant and recent content.
6. Grid
Purpose: Your Grid is the collection of all your posts and Reels displayed on your profile, arranged in rows of 3. It’s the first thing people see when they land on your page.
Best For: Creating a good first impression; think of your Grid as your visual resume.
Performance in 2025:
Use consistent branding to create an aesthetic look with consistent fonts, colors, and filters.
Use the pinned posts wisely, highlighting the best-performing Reel, an introduction, or an educational post. You can pin up to three posts.
Where Should You Focus in 2025?
Content Type | Best For | Priority for Growth | Priority for Engagement |
|---|---|---|---|
Reels | Reach, discovery | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
Carousels | Education, saves, shares | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Posts | Branding, SEO, storytelling | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
Stories | Nurturing, conversion | ⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
If you want to grow, lean into Reels. To build trust and teach, post Carousels. Use Stories to connect, and Posts to solidify your brand.
7-Day Instagram Content Strategy (2 Posts Per Day)
Creating a content strategy is easier than many realize. Think about questions you often see online, receive from friends and family, questions you had, or you can ask ChatGPT to design a content strategy for pet professionals and creators looking to grow their audience organically and sustainably.
Day | Morning Post | Evening Post |
|---|---|---|
Monday | Reel: "Myth vs. Fact" dog nutrition tip | Story Poll/Q&A: Ask audience pet questions |
Tuesday | Carousel: 5 Ingredients to Avoid in Dog Food | Reel: Behind the scenes – meal prep or chew pick |
Wednesday | Post (image): Inspiring client story or dog success | Reel: Quick tip – How to read a dog food label |
Thursday | Carousel: Step-by-step raw feeding tutorial | Story: Share reviews, testimonials, or “this or that” poll |
Friday | Reel: Common feeding mistake + how to fix it | Post (video): A message from you—educational or emotional |
Saturday | Reel: Day-in-the-life of a raw-fed dog | Carousel: Supplement guide or feeding chart |
Sunday | Post (image or quote): Encouraging message for dog lovers | Story: Weekly recap + ask followers what they want more of |
Tips to Optimize This Strategy:
Reels: Add subtitles, use trending audio wisely, and start with a bold hook.
Carousels: Use educational and swipe-worthy content with “Save this post” CTAs.
Posts: Mix personal stories with expert advice to humanize your brand.
Stories: Post 5–8 frames per day minimum; use polls, sliders, and “DM me” prompts.
Shares, especially through direct messages (DMs), have become a significant indicator of valuable content. Instagram Head Adam Mosseri emphasizes that when users share content privately, it signals a strong interest to the algorithm, enhancing reach. Creators are advised to focus on producing content that resonates emotionally or provides utility, encouraging followers to share it within their networks.
For example, I share many Reels that will make my friends laugh. In the fresh food community, we can share content with friends who will find it interesting.
2. Maximize Feed Posts for Visibility
While Stories and Reels are popular, Mosseri points out that the main feed remains the most impactful area for creators to gain exposure. Regularly posting to the feed ensures content reaches existing followers and new audiences through Instagram's recommendation system.
I make a point of sharing Posts, Reels, Stories, and Carousels throughout the week.
SUN | MON | TUE | WED | THU | FRI | SAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Post | Post | Post | ||||
Reel | Reel | Reel | Reel | Reel | Reel | Reel |
Carousel | Carousel | Carousel | ||||
Stories | Stories | Stories | Stories | Stories | Stories | Stories |
Posts: These are usually pictures about my life with dogs.
Reels: I alternate between short related Reels and educational voice-overs using B-Roll (making meals, walking dogs, etc.).
Carousels: These are educational posts; carousels can be up to 20 slides, but I try to keep them to 5 to 7 because attention levels are short.
Stories: Stories are up for 24 hours, and I post once daily. Sometimes I’ll share a post to stories because I can also add a link. Sometimes I share random thoughts in my stories.
The more consistently you post quality content, the more you train the algorithm to recognize your content and place it in front of the right audience—pet lovers. When starting, it’s tempting to throw everything at the wall and hope something goes viral. I prefer the slow and steady method of staying in my lane - dog food / raw feeding. I don’t veer outside my lane very often, respecting that people follow me for raw feeding tips, not my thoughts on politics, dog training, or gardening.
3. Engage Through Direct Messages
DMs are another mode of user interaction and a space where content sharing thrives. Social media experts note that actively engaging with your audience through DMs fosters community and can boost content performance, as the algorithm recognizes these interactions as meaningful engagement.
Although this form of engagement is encouraged, it can come across as spam, so I only engage via Direct Message as follows:
I encourage my followers to ask questions via direct messages. I get one or two messages daily, which is easy to maintain. Because I’m not promoting myself as a veterinarian, nutritionist, or consultant, I don’t get as many messages as other creators.
I use ManyChat to engage through direct messages. When I share a podcast episode or blog post, I encourage my followers to comment using a keyword, and a link is automatically sent to them through DMs. Instagram also encourages this practice. ManyChat can be used to promote off-platform content, sell products, and more. I use this app once or twice weekly.
4. Optimize Content for Watch Time
The algorithm favors content that retains viewer attention. Creating compelling hooks in the first few seconds of your videos and delivering valuable information encourages viewers to watch longer, signaling quality to the platform.
I don’t waste time using phrases like “Hey, Guys” or introducing myself. I get straight to the point because I know I can lose viewers’ attention in seconds. You can use ChatGPT for hooks. I requested ten strong hooks for Reels about dog food and nutrition, and the following was produced in seconds:
10 Hook Ideas for Dog Food & Nutrition Reels
"If you're feeding this every day, your dog might be missing key nutrients..."
→ Great for exposing common kibble issues or unbalanced homemade diets."Raw feeding sounds scary, but here’s what changed my mind…"
→ Perfect for beginners or transitioning stories."This one ingredient could be why your dog is itching nonstop."
→ Tease a deeper dive into food sensitivities or common allergens."Think your dog's food is healthy? Let’s read the label together."
→ Educational + interactive content that encourages comments and shares."Here’s what I feed my dog for healthier joints, skin, and digestion."
→ Share your feeding routine or a nutrition-packed recipe."Stop feeding these 3 ingredients—your dog's health depends on it."
→ Strong call-out format to raise awareness of problematic additives."Here’s why I ditched kibble after 5 years…"
→ A storytelling angle that creates emotional and educational pull."Veterinarians don’t always talk about this… but you should know what’s really in your dog’s food."
→ Builds curiosity and urgency around pet food industry transparency."Raw bones vs. cooked bones: Why one is dangerous and the other is essential."
→ A clear myth-busting or safety-focused hook."Feeding real food isn’t a trend—it’s what dogs are built to eat."
→ Great for a values-driven or educational mini-rant.
I don’t worry about the length of my videos. Although Instagram allows three-minute videos, I keep my Reels to a minute or less:
Relatable Reels - 15 seconds or less
Educational Reels - 30 to 90 seconds
Response Reels - up to 3 minutes
I create videos using the Instagram app, CapCut, and Instagram’s new editing app, Edits. You can find CapCut and Edits in the Google Play and Apple Store.
5. Leverage SEO and Searchability
Instagram is enhancing its search capabilities, making content discoverability more robust. Mosseri mentions that the platform is improving its indexing content, including analyzing captions and comments, to surface relevant posts in search results. Utilizing clear, descriptive language in your posts can aid in this discoverability.
Hashtags were used to tell the algorithm what a post was about, but Instagram no longer places the same weight on them, so I use minimal hashtags (one to five). I lean on my captions to tell the algorithm (and Instagram users) what a post is about, using the following terms depending on the post:
dog food
raw dog food
raw feeding
dogs
supplements
specific brand names
6. Utilize Instagram's New Features
Staying updated with Instagram's latest tools, such as enhanced DM functionalities and content creation features, can provide an edge in content strategy. Exploring and integrating these tools can lead to increased engagement and reach.
I use the following tools daily to create content for Instagram, several of which are free or have a free plan:
Camera Phone
ChatGPT
Canva
CapCut
Videos & GIF Memes
Meme Generator
Edits (just started using this, it’s not as robust as CapCut)
Google Docs/Drive (to save content ideas)
Instagram's save feature (to save content ideas)
Instagram drafts (when I get a burst of inspiration)
Instagram also wants us to cross-post our content to Threads and Facebook when appropriate. However, some Instagram features (trending music, caption length, remixes) don’t allow cross-posting.
What is a Remix? When I see a funny Reel that I can share after adding a dog food or relatable dog lover message, this is called a Remix.
7. Maintain Consistency and Authenticity
Mosseri stresses the importance of consistent posting and genuine interaction. Regularly sharing content and authentically engaging with your audience builds trust and encourages ongoing engagement, which the algorithm rewards.
Engage with thoughtful comments on posts within the same niche (dog lover, dog food, etc.). I spend 15 minutes a day doing this.
Reply to all comments on your posts. I don’t get hundreds of comments, so this is easy to do.
Share posts that caught your interest with friends via DM and in your Stories.
Create content responding to someone else’s post and tag them; share your thoughts on a topic (also comment on their post).
Finding Social Media Experts to Follow
One of the easiest ways to find social media experts to learn from is by searching “Instagram tips [current year]” on YouTube. I watched a few minutes of each video that came up and subscribed to the channels that offered the most helpful, actionable advice.
Take Inspiration from Others
Before you create or update your Instagram page, take some time to scroll through accounts that naturally grab your attention, even outside your niche.
Ask yourself:
What made this page stand out?
How is it structured? (Pay attention to the profile picture, bio, highlights, and grid layout.)
What is it about their content or branding that feels compelling or memorable?
You might also want to revisit your profile name - or even consider starting a second account. Your profile name is searchable and plays a key role in helping Instagram show your content to the right people.
For example, I changed my page name from Keep the Tail Wagging to Raw Feeder Life to better reflect my niche and attract the audience I genuinely want to serve.
Following these notes has increased my reach and engagement. Several videos have gone viral, and my page is steadily growing.
Best of luck!