Becoming a Dogfluencer: The Ultimate Marketing Guide for Your Furry Friend
Do you often scroll through social media, and come across dogs with more followers than you? You're not alone! Snoring, drooling, and furry-fourlegged influencers are taking over the digital world.
I'm talking about dog influencers, better known as "dogfluencers". They've not only won our hearts, but they also rake in the dough, having partnered with brands, sold merch, and even published books.
It's heartwarming to see these dogs on our social feeds, and equally intriguing to understand how dogfluencing works and all the marketing strategies that go along with it. I'm here to spill the kibble on how they're doing it, and how you can make your own furball the next four-legged superstar on your favourite social media platform.
The Effect of Dogs in Marketing
Imagine this: you're scrolling through your feed, and there's a dog with eyes so big and soulful that you'd trust them with your deepest secrets. Oh, and there's a product next to them that you never knew you needed. Suddenly, you're hit with an overwhelming sense of joy, warmth, and nostalgia.
Dogs have that magic touch; they can make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, invoking so much emotion within just a short video or photo.
When you see a product next to a beloved furry companion, you're more likely to develop a positive association with that product or brand. This emotional connection is pure gold for brands trying to captivate their audience.
For dogfluencers, this connection keeps viewers coming back for more, allowing them to grow their own strong social media presence. Trustworthiness, authenticity, and relatability - these are the qualities dogs embody without even trying.
Top Dogfluencers
Let's take a peek at some of the big dogs (pun intended) in the world of dogfluencing:
With over 9 million followers on Instagra (yes, you read that right), Jiffpom is not just any Pomeranian; he's a three-time Guiness World Record holder and even co-starred in Katy Perrys "Dark Horse" music video.
Doug boasts over 3 million Instagram followers and more than 6 million on TikTok. He's an actor, a two-time People's Choice Award winner, owns a holistic dog product company, and his owner's even started a nonprofit organization in his name, the Doug the Pug Foundation, for children battling cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. Who knew a pug could be this successful?
Tuna is a chiweenie with the cutest smile, and he's gripped the hearts of almost 2 million followers on Instagram. He proves that not just purebreads can make it big on social media.
Tucker is the goodest golden boy with 3.5 million followers on Instagram, just over 11 million followers on TikTok, and 5 million subscribers on YouTube. He's not just a pretty face; Tucker has also started his own company for dog products and is a two-time pet influencer award winner. Looks and brains!
These two frenchie's have the funniest personalities. They've amassed almost 450 thousand followers on Instagram, almost 5 million on TikTok, and just over 640 thousand subscribers on YouTube. They've also launched their own dog product store.
To see some more successful pups, click here.
How to Make Your Dog Famous - Key Marketing Tips for Paw-Some Success
Now, you might be wondering how you can turn your own four-legged buddy into the next big sensation on social media. Well, here are some barking-good tips:
Be Consistent
Just like your favourite human influencers, making your dog Instagram-famous requires some work.
Set up a content calendar and use scheduling tools
Find a niche that matches your pup's adorable personality and unique quirks. Whether your pups got an over-enthusiastic wag to a judgemental look in their eyes, hone in on their funny antics, impressive skills, and of course, their cuteness factor
Master all the trends and challenges
Keep a consistent brand or theme
Optimize for specific keywords
And remember - consistency is key!
Use Different Content Formats
Keep things exciting for your audience by leveraging all the different content formats available on the platform you choose.
Regular photo or video posts will help you show up in your follower's feeds. Stories are a great way to interact with viewers via polls or questions, and reels and shorts can help you reach new audiences. Give all of these options a try and keep track of performance metrics to find your perfect content mix.
It's all about keeping your audience on their paws
Engage With Your Audience
This is a good piece of advice for human and dog influencers alike. Once you grow a following, your fans are likely to interact with you in comments and DMs. Make sure you answer as many messages as you can to make your followers feel seen and appreciated.
Fueling conversations will also bring your accounts engagement rates up. Accounts with high engagement rates are more likely to work with brands. It's like the more belly rubs you give, the more treats you receive!
Tell a Story
People love a good dog story and I'm not talking about the one where they ate your homework (again).
Weave storytelling into your content. Share personal anecdotes that connect with your audience emotionally.
Share the story of the time your pup stole your slipper and just kept running away from you, or the time they went on an epic quest to get their tennis ball from under the couch, which might have seemed more like an excuse to bark until they got all your attention.
Post at the Right Time
Finding the right time to post is essential for reaching your audience and getting high engagement.
You should post when your following is online to give them a chance to interact with your content while its fresh.
There are many websites and platforms that outline the best times to post on different social media platforms.
Get Props
people adore dogs in costumes, and it's a great way to add some flair to your posts. So go ahead and build a fun wardrobe for your rising star. Just make sure your pup is up for playing dress-up.
Brand Collaborations
Look for collaboration oppurtunities with businesses, it's a great way to monetize your social media accounts. It also makes sense for brands to partner with pets because who can resist those puppy dog eyes when they're promoting a product?
Have Fun
While running social media accounts for a dogfluencer may eventually bring you fame and paid partnerships with brands, remember that it all ultimately comes down to having fun with your dog and sharing those moments with an audience of dog lovers.
Make sure that you and your pup don't go too crazy to create content, safety and well'being should always come first. And, remember, grumpy puppies are best left along (or treated with lots of cuddles and treats). After all, content creation should be a tail-wagging good time!
Join in on Our Journey to Social Media Stardom
Now that you've got the inside scoop on how to become a dogfluencer, join me and my french bulldog, Ruth, on our journey to social media stardom.
It has been ages since I last posted on her account - like, two whole years - and let's just say my previous attempts were a bit of a 'ruff' ride. But I'm ready to put all the tips mentioned in this post to the test and watch her following grow. I'm excited to see how it goes and for you all to join in on the fun! Follow along here!
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