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Brand Highlights Community Stories

What is the BARF diet and how can it benefit your pet’s health?

This article was brought to you by our collaboration with The Daily Barf.

Many dog owners have heard of the BARF diet, but they often wonder what it stands for. 

BARF. Also known as “biologically appropriate raw foods” or “bones and raw food” is a diet that practices raw feeding to your pets.

There are many misconceptions surrounding BARF diets. “Is it good for my pet? Is it bad?” Well, we are here to debunk those myths, and tell you how your pets can benefit from a BARF diet!

Myth #1: Dry foods are healthier than raw food

The truth is that commercial dry foods can cause obesity, diabetes, allergies, cancer, and other health issues. This is because store-bought products usually contain a long list of ingredients and preservatives that are not healthy for your pets. 

Additionally, these products also tend to contain animal and grain by-products that we humans wouldn’t eat. Overall, these ingredients can contribute to health problems for your pets as they are not part of their natural diet.

Myth #2: Feeding your pets raw meat and bones is dangerous

There is a difference between raw and cooked bones. Raw bones are soft, easy to digest, and provide a major source of calcium and phosphorus.

On the other hand, cooked bones are dangerous for your pet as moisture is removed from the bones making them brittle and splinter when eaten.

Furthermore, dogs and cats are descendants of wolves and wildcats. As part of their ancestral diet, they survive purely on raw meat, bones, and organs. These foods give them the nutrients they need to keep their bodies healthy and strong. 

Myth #3: Raw meat makes my pets more aggressive

This is false. As your pet transitions to a BARF diet, they may appear more possessive of their raw meat and bones as they view those with a higher value than a regular bowl of kibbles.

If you’re feeding 2 or more of your pets, it’s best to feed them separately to avoid any aggression between them. Over time, when your pet realizes this isn’t a one-off treat for them, the protectiveness would gradually disappear.

Myth #4: Feeding raw meat places your dog at risk of Salmonella

Dogs and cats are not created the same. Uncooked meat that would make us sick does not affect canines in the same way.

The hydrochloric acid in the stomach is a protective enzyme against bacteria, viruses, or other microorganisms that can cause disease. 

Secondly, a cat/dog’s stomach is highly acidic and, combined with its short digestive tract, is designed to push bacteria out quickly without giving it time to stay.

Thirdly, the natural flora digestive enzymes and bile in their body help them process bacteria without upsetting their healthy balance.

Myth #5: Cooked diets contain more nutrients

On the contrary, raw meat is easier to digest than cooked meat. Dogs and cats have evolved over thousands of years to break down and absorb the essential nutrition from raw meat, not cooked meat or grains.

Furthermore, cooked meat lacks the benefits of raw meat as well as essential nutrients because the act of cooking destroys or alters the protein, fats, vitamins, and minerals it originally contains.

How to get started

Transition from kibbles to BARF diet:

When introducing your pets to raw diets, you’d want to take things slow and see how they react to them. Your pets would require some time to adjust to the change in diet. Observe their behavioral changes and specifically their bowel movements.

Here’s a guide you can follow:

Read more about transition diets here.

Feeding guide:

A rule of thumb is to feed 2-4% of your pet’s body weight depending on the activity level of your pet. If your pet is highly active, we would recommend feeding 3-4% of its current body weight. For pets at home who do not get much exercise daily, we recommend about 2-3% of their current body weight.

How it benefits your pet

The BARF diet has a ton of benefits, containing all the important nutrients your pets need to live a long and healthy life!

It can improve your pet’s immune system, improve their energy levels, healthier skin and coat, and many more! You can read more about the benefits of the BARF diet here!

What are you waiting for? Get your pet started on a BARF diet here.

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Brand's Resources Creator's Academy

Pawjourr’s Creators: Xoxomeows

Once again, we’re back with our Pawjourr Spotlight series where we highlight Pawjourr Creators that create content in their unique way. Today, we’ll be talking about xoxomeows; Luna the Ragdoll, and Lumi the Chinchilla Persian, aged four and three respectively.

Meet Luna and Lumi

Our veteran #PawjourrCreator is known for their talents in modeling and creating content, perfect for marketing assets of any kind — stills, videos, product reviews, they got it covered!

In front of the camera, they are nothing short of poise and elegance, because according to their pawmom, Wan Ting, “they are vain like that!” Luna and Lumi find pleasure in dressing up, and the perks that come with the job; new treats now and then. 

But don’t be fooled by their appearances. Behind cameras, they are playful, clingy, and always curious. Their adventurous nature makes it an ease for their cheeky pawmom to put on elaborate costumes on them – and they’ll remain unfazed!

Luna and Lumi donning their Halloween costume

The beginning of their content creator journey

It was in 2021 when our creators joined the #Pawjourr community. But their content creation journey started before that. As a first-time pet owner, Wan Ting was introduced to the foreign concept of being a pet creator. 

With no social media habits, Wan Ting simply used their Instagram account as a photo dump of her fur kids’ lives. But soon enough, a company reached out for a collaboration, and that’s when they secured their first gig. 

Crafting captions, doing up the deliverables, and planning her angles. These did not come naturally to her. Wan Ting was so nervous about completing her first gig with her fur kids. As she looks back, she recalls, “ It was all for the fun of it, and it still is for us now for all the campaigns we take on.”

Luna licking lips with @applawssg

It never gets old

But now, present-day Wan Ting is no stranger to being a pet creator. Luna and Lumi have appeared in advertisement videos, and countless campaigns with brands like Farmer’s Market, NUTRIPE, Applaws, Aatas Cat.

They have even taken part in on-site video shoots, where they helped create marketing assets for ByteDance!

Luna on set for a photoshoot with ByteDance

Work with Pawjourr’s pool of creators today!

Our creators have come a long way, but this is just the beginning. Having worked on countless campaigns, and helping out on many shoots, Luna and Lumi have experience that so few out there have. And they’re going to keep growing!

Want to work with talented pet models like xoxomeows? Reach out to hello@pawjourr.com today!

Categories
Brand Highlights Community Stories

Helpful Information About PetOneCat Tofu Cat Litter

Cats can be finicky when it comes to their litter box. In fact, one of the most common behavioral problems reported by cat owners is inappropriate elimination outside of the litter box.

While this problem can be caused by a number of health concerns – urinary tract disease, gastrointestinal disease, stress/fear, etc. – cats can also have strong preferences for the type of litter you choose to put in their litter box. Therefore, it’s important to choose a litter that is both safe and comfortable for your cat to use.

How is PetOneCat Tofu Cat Litter different than traditional litter?

PetOneCat Tofu Cat Litter is made from natural, 100% plant-based materials including pea residues, corn flour, guar gum, and starch. This cost-effective, environmentally friendly method of production is meant to provide many advantages to your cat’s health, litter box behaviors, and wallet. Check out these benefits of PetOneCat Tofu Cat Litter:  

1. Because our cat litter is made from 100% plant-based raw materials, it is a natural and eco-friendly option for your cat’s litter box.

2. The product has lower dust than traditional litter (99% dust free!), improving the air quality in your home and protecting your cat’s respiratory tract. These ingredients also provide a better deodorizing effect by decreasing the particle size and increasing the odor absorption area on the surface of the litter. This is easier on your cat’s sense of smell and yours!

3. The combination of these natural ingredients creates a better clumping litter that is difficult to break when scooping out your cat’s box. The long, strip-shaped cat litter particles are less likely to be tracked out of the litter box on your cat’s paws, leaving less mess for you to clean around the house. Decreased stickiness also means the litter is less likely to get stuck to your cat’s bottom, lowering the chances of certain types of urinary tract infections.

4. Some cat owners worry about their cat ingesting their litter, either out of their natural kitty curiosity or by accident when grooming. Because Tofu Cat Litter is made from natural plant materials, it is safe for your cat to ingest!

5. PetOneCat Tofu Cat Litter is water soluble and naturally degradable. This means that it can be flushed down the toilet (please note that dumping large amounts of litter in the toilet at once can still cause clogging) or even be used as a fertilizer in the garden. 

6. Plant material is also much lighter than traditional mineral-based litter, making it easier to carry and move as needed.

PetOneCat Commitment

PetOneCat is committed to using natural, plant-based materials to produce environmentally friendly cat litter that is safe and meets the needs of many cats and cat owners. Years of research and development have left us confident in Tofu Cat Litter’s water absorption and deodorizing abilities. And we’re proud to help keep your cat healthy by providing a low-dust, non-toxic option for their litter box. 

This article is written by Dr. Sheena Haney, DVM. 

Where can I purchase PetOneCat litter? 

For a limited period of time, enjoy up to 40% off 1 bag of cat litter at only USD$17.99. 1 bag of cat litter can last for 30 days for a single cat household. Get yours here today.

Categories
Community Stories

Aon’s Happy Tales: Thepianocats

Healthcare can be tricky, especially when it comes to insurance. After spending hours and hours searching for the best plan out there, you might end up with more questions than before. But there is a reason why we go through this ‘struggle’; all for the sake of our furkid’s health. 

This is especially so for Michelle, pawmom to four domestic shorthairs – Toothless, Milkshake, Cupcake, and Chopin. As a talent developer, harpist, and an avid kayaker, Michelle is all types of busy. However, her passion for nurturing pets has always been her number one priority. 

Brought Together By Fate

Michelle adopted both siblings Toothless and Milkshake together; she chanced upon an adoption notice for Toothless, and Milkshake was just rejected by a potential adopter, hence she took both in. 

During the circuit breaker of 2020, she once again chanced upon another adoption notice by Toa Payoh North Strays for help to rescue an abandoned kitten, and that’s how she met Cupcake. 

Chopin, was part of a litter from a pregnant cat at a car workshop – and that completes the family!

POV: Toothless and Milkshake judging you.

Four’s Never A Crowd

You must be thinking: Wow amazing, four cats in one household? Well, that’s actually not all. Michelle also fosters many cats, even multiple at once. 

Her journey as a fosterer is not an easy one. She has encountered many of them battling certain illnesses such as Urine Tract Infection (UTI), Feline Coronavirus (FIP), Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), and Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) among senior cats. Unfortunately, all these illnesses are more common than you think, which is a huge concern for Michelle. But thankfully, they’re all covered* under Aon Happy Tails’ Purrfect plan

*Pre-existing conditions are not covered and such exclusion is typical with health insurance. Click here for more information.

Michelle with one of her foster kitty.

Preparing For The “What-Ifs”

With so many fur babies under her care, she would have to spend a hefty amount on treatment if they all fall critically ill at the same time, which is the last thing Michelle wants to worry about. 

That’s when she chanced upon Aon Happy Tails! Upon looking at their coverage and plan, she felt that it was the perfect idea to get insured for peace of mind in the event of an emergency.

“I like Aon Happy Tails. It has a low deductible and covers most of the medical expenses such as vet’s fee, diagnostic tests and medication which can be quite costly.”

Chopin looking as majestic as ever.

*Bonus Content*

If they could speak hooman for 7 days, what would you say to them, or do with them?

“If they could speak hooman for 7 days, I would convince them to go kayaking with me! I’ve seen some pets going paddling with their owners, which I thought was pretty cool and fun.”

Categories
Brand Highlights Community Stories

5 Care Tips for your Pet’s Healthy and Happy Life

This article is brought to you by Pets Club SG.

As responsible pet owners, it is our duty to provide the best for our fur kids. Cats have an average life expectancy of 15 years, and dogs on the other hand, have 12 years. That said, all these depend on their size, and breed. Other factors that affect their life expectancy, includes gender, genetics, lifestyle, exercise, and many more!

Studies have shown that the key to a long life is based on two main factors, genetics, and lifestyle choices. While genetics are out of our control, we can offer our fur kids with the proper care and food to ensure they lead a healthy and happy life!

Here are some tips you can follow to ensure just that!

Regular Veterinary Appointments

It is recommended to bring your fur kids in for a visit at least once a year. These annual visits should be doubled if you have a senior pet at hand! It may be hard to admit sometimes, but our precious fur kids do age faster than us humans.

These important visits allow you to learn what is normal for your pet at their age, and what you can do to improve their well-being. That is why early check-ups are vital, even if something seems insignificant, initiating preventive measures can help to prolong your fur kid’s life.

Plenty of Exercise

Obesity among pets can lead to a myriad of health issues. It is seen as the number one nutritional disease among pets by veterinarians. To keep your pets lean, take them out for regular exercises. 

Exercise ideas for Cats:

  • Toy chase (cat wand or flashlight)
  • Take them for a walk
  • Cat tower
  • Short but frequent playtimes

Cats have short bursts of energy, play in five or ten minute sessions, and let them catch their breath. It is also good to note that cats have very short attention spans, hence, it’s recommended to switch up the activities frequently. 

Exercise ideas for Dogs:

  • Walk around the block
  • Playing fetch at the park
  • Bring them along for a hike
  • Take them out to swim
  • Tug-of-war

Even though every dog may need to exercise, some may need more or less than others. So take note of your dog’s limits, and give them ample water afterwards.

Healthy Diet

Make sure your pet is getting the proper nutrition for their breed and age. Being overweight can shorten your pet’s life by as much as two years, so it’s important to get them on a healthy diet!

NUTRIPE ESSENCE offers a wide array of benefits with countless nutrients your pets need, from prebiotics to digestive enzymes. Their dry food range is formulated to maintain an appropriate balance of good bacteria in your pet’s gastrointestinal system. Besides absorbing nutrients, the digestive system plays a crucial role in fluid balance, and transporting electrolytes into circulation. It also supports their immune system, preventing diseases. 

You can get started here!

Socializing

Pets do get bored sometimes, and it can lead to serious issues. Keep your pets entertained by playing with them. As much as possible, bring them out for paw-dates, engaging in socializing activities with other fur friends. When you’re out for some fun and games, always bring along their favorite toys, and buy backups –in case it gets lost!

By developing a familiarity with other hoomans and fur friends, it can help minimize serious behavioral issues like aggression or nervousness. The exposure teaches your pet how to react to the world around them in a healthy way, without feeling scared or anxious. 

Clean and Comfortable Living Environment

Good hygiene is the key to a healthy life. This also includes the environment your fur kids are exposed to on a daily basis. As a pet owner, it can be tiring to maintain optimum cleanliness in your house. However, it is our duty to provide a comfortable living quarter for your fur kid. 

Purchase additional drinking bowls, towels, combs, toothbrushes, and other pet essentials to ensure you’re always prepared to cater to their needs. 


Pro-tip: Do not leave your pets unsupervised. Allowing them to roam freely can lead to unexpected accidents, including automobile accidents, predation, exposure to allergic foods, and etc.

Categories
Creator's Academy

How To Become A Pet Influencer Parent

We all click photos of our pets and pamper them with our love. Occasionally, we also post some cuteness-overloaded pictures for all to enjoy across social media platforms. Generally, images and videos of pets garner greater attention. Have you ever considered making a career using this natural attention that your pet receives?

Like all content creators, a pet influencer must have a recognizable personality. Our pets cannot talk to us, but they have quirks and traits that differentiate them from others. We should emphasize characteristics that make them weird, fun, and lovable. We all talk to our pets and imagine a reply they would give us in our heads. Put that out for the public to enjoy and create a consistent persona with our pet’s characteristics.

Grow Your Skills And Followers

A full-time job requires investment. Therefore, planning to be a pet influencer’s parent will require time, money, and dedication. Social media is filled with influencers coming up with new content ideas every other day. To stand out, we need to polish our skills and methods

Equipment

Tripods are important : Smartphones can take decent images and videos to get us started with our pet influencer account. But, to grow our social media account into a full-time hustle, pet videos and pictures must be high in quality. Therefore, we must invest in equipment like lights, cameras, tripods, and stabilizers. 

Photography and Cinematography Skills

Proper equipment can only alleviate our images and videos to a certain extent. However, truly bringing the best out of our pets requires learning new skills and techniques. We should practice taking pictures of our pets and try to improve upon them.

Learn about the camera

Photography and cinematography courses are readily available across the internet, and they can help us understand the minute details that are too complicated for a casual hobbyist. For example, how to utilize natural and artificial light in our photos and videos, use tripods and stabilizers, the correct camera setting depending on the environment, etc. 

Followers

With a unique personality, the proper equipment, and the necessary skills, we can start building a fanbase. Consistency is required when it comes to social media following. Utilizing photographs, videos, stories, shorts, reels, and live features of a platform is necessary to maintain consistency. To be consistent on instagram, you can use an Instagram reel maker to create posts quickly and easily.

Track activity and engagement

Using stories and comment sections, we should interact with the pages and accounts of different pet influencers to attract followers of our own. We can also use hashtags to increase the visibility of our pet influencer content. 

Start Monetizing

Once we have built up a loyal fanbase of a considerable amount, say 10,000 followers, we should start looking for sponsors relevant to the page. Like all other businesses, influencer management is also dependent upon networking. Some brands might approach us themselves for paid promotions , but we should also prepare ourselves to pitch our business to the brands.

What to Pitch?

It is important to define clear goals and requirements. While brands usually engage in paid sponsorships, some might offer an exchange of products and/or services, and some offer a mixture. Receiving perks like a day at a pet spa or free access to toys and other goodies is lucrative. But we should always assess the worth of our page and quote a fair price.

Dog spa and grooming

Firstly, we should get a rough idea from other social media accounts. Brands that usually sponsor those accounts will be interested in our social media page.

Next, approaching brands via email is the best method. We should highlight to the sponsor that our pet regularly uses and loves their products. Mentioning the natural, strong growth of our pet influencer account is necessary. It will help us ask for a price that we think is fair.

And finally, we should stay in our domain. Reaching sponsors that are relevant to our pets is very important. Endorsing a dog skincare product if our pet is a Persian cat makes little sense.

Affiliate Programs

Affiliate marketing can help us earn a good amount of money. It is a referral program where a retailer pays us commissions for every purchase made using our affiliate link. We need to divert traffic from our social media page to the retailer site to earn money. For example, if we have a YouTube Petfluencer account, we can make youtube videos and put a link in description to promote affiliate products.

Affiliate merchant

Joining the correct affiliate merchant can be a tricky part. Some merchants provide better commissions, sales, and bonuses over others. We should do proper research before partnering with a merchant.

Promoting products we vouch for is a healthy way to gain the trust of our followers. But it is not always the case. We can promote products we have not personally used if we are assured of their quality. Moreover, affiliates and sponsored posts should be mandatorily disclosed, and we should follow all the guidelines.

Merch is Cute and Profitable

Thanks to our lovable pets’ unique personalities and fan following, merchandise will sell like hotcakes. Physical products with cute designs and photos of our pets can be sold at merchant websites that act like affiliates.

These merchants stock up on socks, shirts, t-shirts, hoodies, and even pillows. They are direct-to-print merchants that print a design only after an order is placed. Therefore, inventory management is a non-issue. They are the ones who build websites for our products; we only need to design and promote them. Instagram is a great platform to promote merchandise. To create some engaging stories with minimal effort, you can use some prebuilt Instagram story templates.

Pet merchandise

Wrapping Up

While being a pet influencer parent is a full-time job, it is one of the most rewarding and fun career paths. However, it can be difficult to make a living from it. Earnings come from sponsors, affiliates, and merch only after we have built our brand using interesting content. Interactive social media filters, apps, and tools like Instagram reel makers to produce content on the go. All this can be done alongside having fun with our pets!

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News and Trends

4 booths you don’t want to miss at Pet Expo 2022!

Stop whatever you’re doing because PetExpo 2022 is back

In the past two years, PetExpo has been held online due to COVID-19 restrictions. Well, good news; it’s back as a physical event. 

It’s been a while since PetExpo was held physically, and I bet you’re hoping to find out what’s new and what you can expect at this year’s convention. So, here are 4 booths you do not want to miss at PetExpo 2022!

YoDoggo

Can’t seem to find high-quality fresh food for your doggo? Stop the search! ‘Cause beloved YoDoggo is part of this year’s lineup! 

They specialize in making completely balanced, 100% human-grade food for dogs and here’s what YoDoggo’s ambassador, Bubbles the pompom, have to say about their products:

“4 months into my YoDoggo journey, and we love how convenient YoDoggo has been as my daily protein and nutrition source. Fresh meat and veggies without freezing or thawing, how much better can it get?” 

Photo credit: @bubbles_thepompom

And they have a treat just for those who drop by their booths! There is an event-only promotion:  20% off on your first month for all new customers. So if you’re hoping to start your YoDoggo journey, now’s the time!

Booth number: M13

Pet Lovers Centre

Household name, Pet Lovers Centre (PLC) has been a familiar face at PetExpo conventions, so it’s no surprise that they’re part of this year’s lineup! 

For this year’s convention, you can expect a PLC photobooth for all three days – doesn’t that sound exciting? All you have to do is to follow their Instagram account (@plc_singapore) and:

  • Be entitled to a free dress-up photoshoot session with a variety of props to choose from
  • Get a free polaroid

Upload your photoshoot image(s) on Instagram, and tag PLC to join their giveaway with prizes worth $50. So be sure to check them out!

Booth number: L19

Levupets

It can be convenient to buy accessories off-the-shelf, but the horror of discovering it doesn’t fit your furkids can be frustrating. However, shopping for pet accessories shouldn’t be a nightmare.

Looking to spice up your furkids’ appearance with some bespoke pet accessories? We have some good news because Levupets is part of this year’s lineup and you do not want to miss their booth!

They’ll be having special promotions throughout PetExpo 2022, which you can check out here:

That’s right, your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you; with every $80 purchased, you’re entitled to a sure win scratch-card — what a steal!

But wait, there’s more! You can expect brand new products such as:

  • Harness
  • Leash
  • Hair clips

Along with their new collection, Upcycled Kimono Bow Ties. 

Don’t miss this chance to try out some bespoke accessories perfect for both dogs and cats!

Booth number: G21

Photo credit: @tomonhajime

Adoption Drive

The highly anticipated adoption drive, organized by the Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS), and supported by Animal Welfare Group (AWG) Partners is back at PetExpo 2022!

Previous years’ reception was very successful, with many rescued animals given a second chance to find their forever home.

If you’re looking to add a new member to your loving family, you don’t have to look far! There are all types of animals available at the drive, from fluffy bunnies to adorable dogs. Not sure what animals suit you? Feel free to ask the staff or volunteers that are ready to answer any questions.

Note: Being a pet owner is never easy, with many responsibilities that follow. Hence, AWGs do hold screening processes to ensure the welfare of these animals. 

Event Details 

You can buy a ticket online for PetExpo 2022 from 11 November onwards, or at the door from 25th to 27th November (Fri – Sun) at Singapore Expo Hall 6.

Opening hours

11am – 8pm on Friday

10am – 8pm on Saturday & Sunday

Admission

$5 for one-day admission

$12 for three-day admission

Free for children under 12 and all pets are welcomed!

*Bonus*

In partnership with AVS, PetExpo 2022 is bringing back the highly demanded free health check. That’s right, you heard me! You can get a free health check for your pets on-site for free. 

So what are you waiting for? Sign up here: bit.ly/avspetexpo2022

Categories
Creator's Academy General Updates

What’s new on Pawjourr: September 2022

An experience designed with creators in mind.

We’re proud to finally introduce the brand new Pawjourr Creator Dashboard with key features that will help you make the most out of your content creator experience. Expect a full rundown of what it is, how it works, and what’s new!

Everything you need in one place

Say goodbye to forgotten applications. With the new dashboard, you can now manage your profile and track your campaign progress on your homepage – allowing you to keep track of your application status and earnings efficiently!

In addition, we made sure it’s easier than before to upload your drafts. Ongoing Jobs allows you to view your active campaigns in greater detail and upload your content with ease – isn’t that such a breeze?

Watch your funds fill up

That’s not all! You no longer have to worry about how much you’ve earned or how much you’re making from your campaigns. 

Your Treat Jar helps you to keep tabs on your earnings and you can be an expert navigator by following these steps:

Step 1: Choose your preferred payment method.

Step 2: Add and save your preferred payout method for easy withdrawals.

Step 3: Keep track of your earnings and withdrawals through your transaction history.

Level up your job search

Skip the endless scrollings! With our improved filters, your next opportunity is only a few clicks away.  Select specific requirements based on your campaign preferences using the search filter on the left. From countries to creator types, we got them all!

Have a question?

For new creators, fret not! With the Pawjourr Help Center, you can easily access FAQs and answers to your questions. You can even connect with our team directly via our chatbot and we’ll be there for you in a jiffy!

Now that everything you need is all in one place, we hope you are ready to navigate your way through the world of exciting and fun branded opportunities. 

Let us know what you think about our new release!

Categories
Brand's Resources Creator's Academy

Instagram Reels vs TikTok: Which is better?

It can be hard to figure out which media channels to use for your company. Every social media platform has a different type of distribution content, not to mention different target audiences and media cultures. 

Fret not. Once you understand how the different platforms work and what kind of content best fits the audiences, you’ll be going viral and gaining a following in no time. Right now, video content is crucial in marketing your products and getting your brand out there. What’s the difference between Instagram reels and TikTok videos? 

By Pawjourr

Instagram Reels

For starters, just because they’re both video-based content doesn’t mean they are the same. The two media platforms are giants in their own way and have different ways to connect to audiences. 

Instagram, the old classic. It’s been around for a long time and chances are, your company already has an Instagram page of its own where you post your own branded content. Mainly a platform that posts images instead of videos, all that changed when Instagram reels were introduced in 2020. 

Typically lasting 15 to 60 seconds, these reels allow you to further your audience and reach. While Instagram stories are tied to your page and only your followers are privy to your content, your reels are discoverable through the ‘Explore’ page on Instagram and there’s a higher chance of your video being seen by new users. 

By Pawjourr

Due to the nature of the platform, content on Instagram is inclined to be a little more formal. That doesn’t mean all the fun stuff should be taken away but rather, educational videos for your brand’s community and polished informative videos are more likely to do better. 

You can also decide whether or not to have it displayed on your grid layout – you can move it to the reels tab instead. That way, your content can be curated in a different way than your images. Personalised vlogs, special takeovers and campaign videos all fit the bill! 

Statistics show that Instagram reels earn up to 22% more engagement than video posts shared on the native feed, so next time you want to post a video, you might want to publish it as a reel instead. 

TikTok 

The underdog that grew in popularity during the pandemic, is not to be taken lightly either. Even though it hasn’t been around as long as Instagram, the chances of going viral tend to be much higher and your content has way more chances of reaching new users due to the platform’s ‘For You Page’ algorithms. 

It might seem like TikTok isn’t the best platform for marketing your brand but it’s a huge window of opportunity. In fact, 84% of marketers are diverting their attention to TikTok. The emphasis on community and vlogging allows brands to connect with their customers while marketing their products with ease. 

By Pawjourr

The nature of TikTok videos tends to be more candid and real. Think of funny sketches, down-to-earth conversations and product reviews. In truth, it can be anything. The beauty of TikTok is that, unlike Instagram, there’s less pressure to curate your feed and create a unified brand of content. Since users are mainly scrolling through videos on their FYP, your videos will most likely be viewed individually. 

By Pawjourr

When to use IG Reels or TikTok

Even though there isn’t a strict rulebook you have to follow, after trial and error, you’ll find that your brand will be connecting with different communities on both platforms. Social media statistics show that TikTok’s users point to its rising popularity amongst teenagers while Instagram frequents both young adults and teens. 

The advertising opportunities on the platforms differ slightly. While Instagram is no stranger to including ads in your feed, TikTok puts a big emphasis on creator-based ads against Instagram’s ‘shopping’ section and shoppable ads. 

TikTok also tracks both the brand’s profile as a whole and the individual video performance. This means overall metrics, total playtime and geolocation. Instagram reels offer the general analytics you’re used to, interactions, reach, and engagement statistics with reel-specific data to get insights on. 


Take a look at the CatCare Water Fountain campaign in partnership with DogCare. Featuring Pawjourr’s pawfluencers, the two platforms saw different engagement statistics and results. Since the creative briefs were the same for the campaign, the style and content of the posts remain the same – the only difference was the social media platforms

By @maiathemeow on Instagram

The combined reach of the campaign, with 18 pawfluencers, was 129,000 accounts reached  with 4,300 profile engagements. 

Similarly, the campaign was also held on TikTok, featuring 12 pawcreators from Pawjourr. The results were 539,000 accounts reached with 6,900 profile engagements. 

By @tabbyandtuxedocat on TikTok

 Ultimately, you get to decide how your brand intends to curate your content and persona on these platforms. The difference between Instagram and TikTok might be confusing, but once you get the hang of it, it’s really rewarding. 

Don’t forget that your brand stands a good chance of reaching different audiences through the two different platforms. Growing your community and brand awareness is essential in building your brand, but remember to keep your content authentic and sincere. 

This way, no matter what you do, your content is sure to do well no matter what the platform is. 

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Community Stories

Aon’s Happy Tales: Lola.thegoldenshowgirl

This article was brought to you by Aon Happy Tails.

Holding the title for the most friendly dog breed, Golden Retrievers are as wholesome as they come. The breed is synonymous with being happy and easygoing and will want nothing more than for you to be happy. Such an embodiment of sunshine and rainbows is an absolutely accurate way to describe Lola, the durian-loving doggo to pawmon Daphne.

Lola is a good-natured cinnamon roll, friendly to humans and doggos alike. Despite being in doggy daycare since she was 14 weeks old, the Golden Retriever is rather unaware of her own size when playing with dogs and people alike. 

A smile worth protecting

Lola and Daphne

Lola’s golden rays had been shining for as long as Daphne could remember. “By chance, Lola was one of two remaining puppies in her litter of nine,” she said. “We picked Lola because she was the more playful of the pair and approached us. It was an easy choice after that.” The litter would still meet from time to time, thanks to Daphne and the other pawrents exchanging contacts and keeping in touch with each other. Because of that, Lola’s bond with her pack is even stronger than most — the litter even gathered to celebrate their first birthday!

Energetic and playful

As one would expect, Lola is incredibly high-spirited and active; possessing energy rivalling a dynamo. “She will play and completely forget that you can (and might) tip over if a 30kg doggo gets too excited and jumps at you!” Daphne mentioned that Lola is obsessed with tennis balls and swimming, so the pawfamily would go for regular swims (Sentosa Beach is where her heart lies). “Lola is also just happy being at any big field,” Daphne said. “There, she can run freely and chase after her tennis balls.”

Lola having the time of her life at Sentosa

Past experiences, present worries

“From past experiences, pet insurance is something that I know we should have.” Daphne’s previous Golden Retriever had passed due to Advanced Nasal Cancer. The harrowing experience had left the pawmom worried the same might happen to Lola.

Among dog breeds, Golden Retrievers, unfortunately, have the highest rate of cancer — slightly less than double the rate of cancer in all dogs. The estimate for that is one in three, according to the Golden Retriever Club. 

Daphne believes that pet insurance is mandatory for all pet owners to have peace of mind. After all, insurance exists to protect us from unforeseen circumstances. She recounted an incident when Lola was 15 months old, whereby the doggo accidentally swallowed an antler chew that she had been playing with. “We brought her to the vet for an X-ray and they performed an endoscopy on her to fish out the chew bone,” she said. “Thankfully, the majority of the cost of surgery was covered by insurance, so did not have to pay as much in the end!”

*Bonus Question*

Say Lola could speak hooman for 7 days. What would you say to her for that week?

“We would tell her to stop snatching someone else’s toys at the dog pool or beach. It’s embarrassing! We would remind her of her size and to give others their personal space. Most importantly, we want Lola to know that she brings lots of joy to everyone around her and we love her so very much. 

We always hope to be able to bring her along for a long holiday trip. Probably Canada during Autumn/Winter so she can experience a different and cooler climate because we think she’s gonna love the weather. It will be an adventure too, having her tag along on our travels and explore a whole new world for herself.”