A safe and separate method of contact – Many fosters who market pets online and in public will create a private gmail account for potential adopters to reach out. This protects their personal information from receiving unwelcome attention. You can always set up a special foster account such as: KellyRiggsFosters@Gmail.com

 A gripping first sentence - Similar to a title, the first sentence of your text is crucial. This is what the reader will use to determine whether to keep reading. What you’re looking for is text that will make an emotional connection with the supporters and make them want to find out more about your foster pet. Rather than, "Meet Fido!" or "We don't know why Charlotte isn't adopted yet!," try, "Mr. Fluffykins Fiddlemore demands you adopt with haste. This is the way!" 

 A great title - Posts on certain sites (Craigslist, Imgur, etc.) may necessitate a title. A title that is exciting and different will set your post apart and increase your chances of further investigation by potential adopters. Rather than, "My Foster Needs a Home," try "Couch Dogtato Requires New Netflix Buddy for Big Chill."

A good biography - Most shelters list their adoptable pets online, and for this every pet needs a biography (bio). As the foster, you are the person who most likely knows the pet the best, and are uniquely suited to writing or updating their biography. If your shelter or rescue doesn’t have a system in place for you to update your foster’s profile, ask your foster coordinator if they’d be willing to do the updating if you send in a bio. Photos in a home and an updated biography paired with contact information are a recipe for success. Write a short and sweet summary that includes some information on your foster pet’s behavior, likes and dislikes, and the best things about them – kind of like an author’s biography at the end of a book. Leave out negative details (Stop Signs) such as “no other pets,” “needs training,” etc., as these can deter even the perfect potential adopters and are best discussed one-on-one during adoption counseling (see heading, Marketing vs. Adoption Counseling). As in all adoption marketing, our most basic aim is to create a positive emotional connection with the reader. There are several different ways bios can be written. The traditional method is to paint a picture of your foster pet that gives potential adopters a rounded view. Another method is to tell a story about them in order for potential adopters to get deep insight into one aspect of their personality. In general, try to stay positive in your writing, but the gut-puncher may be a method to try in certain cases such as your longest-term resident or hardest-to-adopt pet.

Photographs and/or videos -Photographs can be the key to your foster dog’s adoption. Getting photos that are well-lit, in focus and that give the viewer a window into a pet’s personality can be tricky, but we have some ideas that can make this much easier for you.

The flyer - You can use Word or any program you’d like to create the flyer. The design does not need be intricate – simple is often best. Use one or two awesome photos, plus your short and sweet bio or story. Include contact information. These flyers can be hung at your office, your school, the local coffee shop or anywhere that will let you hang a flyer! Print it yourself, or try making it into a poster at http://bit.ly/2uliyS4

 Memes - When you’re creating a meme to advocate for an animal’s adoption, there are several different areas you can focus on. An animal’s appearance and personality are the two most basic areas of focus. There are also some successful strategies for promoting the adoption of animals that are victims of breed discrimination and those who have special needs. As you’ll see in the following examples, these four strategies can be combined in various ways as well.