Welcome to the ultimate destination for dog enthusiasts and social media mavens alike. At Dogfluencers, we're passionate about showcasing the best and brightest in the world of four-legged fame.
Whether you're looking for adorable photos, heartwarming stories, or expert tips on how to turn your own pup into a social media star, we've got you covered.
Today we got the honor of interviewing Stacy (Dunya's Human). You can find a direct link to their Instagram here.
Here is their story:
Can you tell us about your journey to becoming a dog influencer? What inspired you to start sharing your dog's adventures on social media?
Mejan: Nice question! This actually started when the Corona virus started. I was also temporarily unable to work because I was ill myself. So I had a lot of time. Dunya is a real adventurer, she enjoys taking lovely walks and she is willing to do anything for a tasty treat, haha! She is very photogenic, if I say so myself. She also always remains very still until the photo is taken. Because Dunya loves walking so much and likes to go everywhere, we have many nice places to create content. Of course it's also a good thing that she is so small and has a lot of hair. That makes her very cute, and many people like to see that.
What do you think sets your dog apart from other dogs on social media? What makes them unique or particularly interesting to your followers?
Mejan: What makes Dunya unique? Actually, I already answered this a bit in the previous question. Dunya is small, with a lot of hair; this makes her very cute. Whenever we are walking, someone stops to pet her. She also really loves people and enjoys all the attention she gets. Dunya can do very nice tricks, which also makes her funny. Besides all this, she is also the sweetest to us. As soon as she sees an opportunity to cuddle or give kisses, she takes her chance! Of course she also has her "less good" things, but that only makes her even more fun!
How do you come up with ideas for your dog's posts and content? Do you have a specific creative process?
Mejan: I always take pictures of everything, to the point of boredom! So also from Dunya. If she is lying sweetly or acting crazy, I immediately take the opportunity to take that cool photo or that funny video. Of course it's a bit boring to always arrive with the same content, so we try to find nice places outside of the house. A few years ago Dunya also thought it was fine to wear her funny outfits; but she doesn't like that as much now. We don't do that anymore! We can always spice up our content with a nice bow around her neck or an extra nice background. I don't have a specific style in my content, but I do think it is important to make my photos and videos in good resolution. Personally, I would never again post photos that are very dark, or are blurry, for example. When filming, you also have to make sure that your image does not shake through your hands, as that looks very unprofessional. My tip would be: purchase a tripod. This really helps a lot! Furthermore, you can always go along with the trends that are popular among people, and put your own spin on them so that it is also fun for animals!
Have you ever faced any challenges or negativity on social media, and how have you dealt with it?
Mejan: Fortunately, we did not experience this ourselves! But I do see this happen regularly. I think that if you have an Instagram account for an animal, you will always have less exposure to this. I mainly see it among human influencers. Very bad! And I never really understand why people do that. Everyone has an opinion, and that is allowed, but it does not always have to be expressed. People will have to learn to swallow their words more often and not type them. If I ever have to deal with this, I would say: "Remember who you started this account for. You are doing this for yourself because you like this, and ultimately for all the nice followers you have. Don't let yourself get down through some nasty reactions."
What advice would you give to someone who wants to start their own dog influencer account or share their dog on social media?
Mejan: Post what you like to post! Unique content is always more fun than content that everyone else creates. Don't be fooled into buying followers or likes, because this won't help you grow your account. Everything takes time. Rome wasn't built in 1 day either. Make sure you are active, it's almost like a full-time job. Respond to the people you follow, make sure you interact; then you will automatically get it back. This is how you build a loyal follower group. And as I mentioned earlier, make sure you have sharp content with enough light. Practice makes perfect!
How has your dog influenced your life outside of social media?
Mejan: Dunya complements our lives above all in a good way. She is always cheerful, and that cheers us up too. Are you sad for a moment? Then Dunya will make you happy again. Having a dog takes a lot of time, but I wouldn't miss her for the world. Without Dunya I would also be a lot less active. A dog naturally forces you to go for a walk. And let's face it, walking is much more fun with a dog! Fortunately, I also have lovely parents who are happy to look after Dunya when we are not at home or when we go on holiday. Dunya is there often. My parents also have a dog, so they have a great time together!
Can you tell us about a particularly memorable or funny moment you've had with your dog during one of your photo shoots or adventures?
Mejan: Actually there is always something funny. I can still remember very clearly that Dunya lost all her hair after anesthesia a few years ago. That was of course very annoying at the time, but when I look back at those photos now it makes me laugh a lot. She actually had a few strands of hair, which looks really funny in retrospect. Fortunately, things turned out fine again. Furthermore, it is always very funny to make fun videos. When we do something funny, Dunya can sometimes really look at me as if she wants to say "what are we going to do next". You should take a look at my reels on Instagram and you'll understand what I mean, haha!
What is your favorite thing about being a dog influencer?
Mejan: What I really like is that I always have a lot of photos of Dunya. All the fun moments are captured and so I always have fun memories on camera. We also love the fun collaborations we do. This way you will discover many great products and beautiful brands that you might otherwise not have come across. Also it's great that you have so many "friends" on Instagram. Because you share so much with your regular loyal group of followers, and they also with you, you also get to know each other a little. Sometimes it feels like you have a lot of friends, while you actually only know each other through Instagram.
Lastly, what's next for you and your dog on social media? Any exciting plans or projects in the works?
Mejan: We don't have anything spectacular planned for now. However, we still sometimes receive nice and tasty packages in exchange for content. We are very grateful that it has been able to get this far. It is a sign that we are doing well and that people and brands like us. We hope for many more fun collaborations and hopefully one day something big!
