Low-Stress Marketing Tips for Creatives with Harris Baker of Catfluence

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Marketing your creative work doesn’t have to mean burning out, posting every day, or trying to “beat” the algorithm.

In this episode of Tails & Tassels, Gemma Smith chats with Harris Baker, founder of Catfluence, about low-stress, realistic ways creatives can grow an audience online — even if marketing isn’t your favorite part of the process.

Harris is a digital marketer and SEO specialist who’s built Catfluence into a thriving cat-creator community, spotlighting everyone from celebrities and athletes with cats to everyday creators just getting started. Together, we talk about how cat-loving creatives, performers, and artists can show up online with more intention and a lot less pressure.

Whether you’re a burlesque performer, show producer, podcaster, visual artist, or just a creative with a cat who wants your work to be seen, this episode is packed with practical ideas you can actually use.

🔗 Resources & Tools Mentioned

• Buffer – Social media scheduling tool for cross-posting content
• Hootsuite – Social media management and scheduling platform
• Ahrefs – Keyword research and SEO analytics tool
• SEMrush – SEO insights and keyword research
• Canva – Create simple media / brand kits for pitching brands
• Google AdSense – Display ads for passive income on blogs
• Bluetooth camera clicker / remote – Helpful for filming solo or working with pets
• Ring light + tripod – with a Bluetooth remote

Connect with Harris:

• Catfluence: @Catfluence on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook
• Catfluence Website
• Harris Baker: @harris_baker on Instagram | Harris Baker on LinkedIn
• Elliot & Olivia: @elliot_and_olivia on Instagram

Connect with Us:

• Follow us on Instagram: @tailsandtasselspod
• Follow Catbaret on Instagram: @catbaretshow
• Email: tailsandtasselspod@gmail.com

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Transcript

Episode: Low-Stress Marketing Tips for Creatives with Harris Baker of Catfluence

TRANSCRIPT

[00:05] Gemma Smith:
Hello, hello kitty cats, and welcome back to another episode of Tails & Tassels — the show where you learn about the lives of burlesque and nightlife performers, their craft, their cats, and the way the two worlds collide.

I’m your host, Gemma Smith. By day, I work in animal welfare, and by night, I host Catbaret, New York City’s cat-themed variety show.

And today on Tails & Tassels, we’re doing something a little different. This is one of our guest expert interviews, and we’ll be talking about the business side of being a creative cat person.

I’m joined by Harris Baker, the founder of Catfluence — basically a whole social media universe dedicated to cat influencers, celebrities and athletes with cats, and the people who love them.

Harris is a digital marketer and SEO specialist, and he’s turned his love of Elliot and Olivia — his Law & Order: SVU–inspired cats — into a real cat creator brand.

In today’s episode, we chat about how Catfluence started, his annual March Meowdness bracket for cat creators (love a cat pun), the real basics of SEO for creatives in plain English, and why one really good post can be better than posting every day.

He also shares simple ways to involve your cat in your brand and his favorite low-stress tools.

If you’re a burlesque performer, MC, comedian, or producer who already loves being on camera, I think you’ll really get a lot out of the way Harris talks about making social media feel less overwhelming.

Quick note before we dive in: after this episode, I’m taking a three-week break from new releases. I’ll be back the first full week of January with a brand-new episode. I hope everyone takes time over the holidays to cuddle with your cats, rest, recharge — and I’ll see you in the new year.

[02:26] Gemma Smith:
And as a little ask to all of you, my kitty cats — thank you so much for listening to this podcast. I work really hard on it, and I’m grateful for every single listener.

If you’re a loyal listener and an episode makes you think of a friend — especially today’s episode — feel free to send it to someone in your life who’s a creative cat lover and would enjoy it.

All right. Let’s get into my conversation with Harris from Catfluence.

Interview Begins

[03:05] Gemma Smith:
All right, kitty cats — let’s get into today’s interview. Harris, thank you so much for being here. I can’t wait to talk about Catfluence, cat culture, and how creatives can use their love of cats to grow their work online.

[03:19] Harris Baker:
Thank you, Gemma. I appreciate you having me and the nice introduction. I’m looking forward to chatting.

[03:25] Gemma Smith:
Before we get into it — what’s your current cat situation? Any cats in the room with you right now?

[03:31] Harris Baker:
I have two cats — Elliot and Olivia. They’re brother and sister, and I’ve had them for about 12 years. Elliot’s in one of his beds over here, and Olivia’s in the other room, but whenever she hears her name, she usually wanders in.

It’s funny — I used to have a coworker named Olivia, and whenever I said her name on calls, my cat would jump on my desk. So I’m sure she’ll make an appearance at some point.

[03:55] Gemma Smith:
That’s so funny. Same with my cats. One of mine, Lion-O, will come onto my desk and refuse to move — like a king. You have to lure him off or he gets offended.

Catfluence Origin Story

[04:19] Gemma Smith:
For listeners who may not know, Catfluence is this fun, community-driven platform that shines a spotlight on cat influencers, celebrities, and athletes with cats. Can you take me back — how did Catfluence start?

[04:32] Harris Baker:
I started working at a digital marketing agency around 2014, working with athletes, influencers, musicians, and creators on brand partnerships and affiliate marketing.

Around 2017, I also had an Instagram account for my cats, Elliot and Olivia, where I was just posting funny photos. Instagram didn’t even have video back then.

I saw big cat accounts like Grumpy Cat and Lil Bub, and I thought — I’m doing marketing for athletes, I love cats, maybe I could build something creative for myself using what I was learning at work.

That’s how Catfluence started, and it’s evolved a lot since then — featuring athletes, influencers, and celebrities with cats, blogging, reposting content, and creating fun videos.

March Meowdness

[06:10] Gemma Smith:
One of the most popular parts of Catfluence is March Meowdness. I’m not a sports person, but I love how you merge sports and cats. How did that start?

[06:23] Harris Baker:
It started in 2020 during peak COVID. March Madness was canceled, and as a big sports fan, that was a huge bummer.

I was working remotely with a lot of time at home and thought — what could I do creatively with Catfluence? I recreated the idea as a bracket for cat accounts, added people I’d engaged with, and it really took off.

Brands sponsored prizes, and over the years both big accounts and micro accounts — even with 50 or 100 followers — have participated. Smaller accounts can really go on a run when people rally behind them.

Marketing Tips for Creatives

[09:07] Gemma Smith:
What are some common mistakes you see cat creators make?

[09:13] Harris Baker:
A big one is getting discouraged early. People compare themselves to viral accounts and burn out.

Consistency matters, but one really good post can outperform posting every day. If you’re happy with your content, that matters.

SEO for Creatives

[20:12] Gemma Smith:
Can you break down SEO for beginners?

[20:18] Harris Baker:
SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. It’s about making your content discoverable — not just on Google, but now across social platforms and even AI search tools.

Instagram posts can now be indexed by Google, which means keywords matter more than ever.

Tools & Workflow

[27:08] Harris Baker:
Using social media schedulers like Buffer or Hootsuite saves time. If you make a video, post it everywhere — Instagram, TikTok, YouTube Shorts.

[31:12] Harris Baker:
A Bluetooth camera clicker is great if you’re filming alone or with cats. You can control your phone while giving treats or petting them.

Wrap-Up

[33:10] Gemma Smith:
Where can people follow you?

[33:15] Harris Baker:
You can find @Catfluence on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Threads, X, Pinterest, and more.
My cats are @elliot_and_olivia, and I’m @harris_baker on Instagram and LinkedIn.

[33:56] Gemma Smith:
And that’s a wrap for this episode of Tails & Tassels.
You can email us at tailsandtasselspod@gmail.com and follow along on Instagram @tailsandtasselspod.

Thanks for listening, kitty cats.