Refresh Your Marketing for Long-Term Shelter Animals

When animals in your care are having a hard time getting adopted, it can be helpful to review and refresh their adoption marketing. Gathering the team for regular check-in meetings helps ensure we all know the animal’s latest updates and brainstorm new, creative approaches to finding them homes. Try rallying your team in one of these brainstorming sessions on a regular cadence to help attract adopters and keep your animals moving out the door. 

Pre-Meeting 

• Identify the animals who need to be discussed during the meeting 
• Animals without much adoption interest
• Animals with a longer than average length-of-stay
• Ensure all participants have access to current marketing materials for adoptables or that these can be shared easily during the meeting
• Assign a lead staff to bring adoption application details and any counseling feedback
• Gather input or visuals from staff or volunteers 
• Assign one staff to take notes and capture action items

During Meeting

• Brainstorm new creative suggestions for promoting the animal by reviewing and discussing the following:
• Review and discuss the animal’s online profile including:
  • Animal’s online profile
  • Bio 
  • Photos 
  • Videos 
• Application data (numbers, timing, and feedback) 
• Marketing  
• Social media posts 
• Media spots 
• Adoption events 
• Other suggestions (adjust fees, post-adoption support plug, etc.) 

Post Meeting 

• Connect with other staff, volunteers, or fosters, as needed, for new material 
• Follow-up with team on action items