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 Tracey (Oakley'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?
Blair: I'm a stay at home furmom of 4 dogs and 4 kitties. I've always seen these pet accounts and one day just said why not try it. My family laughed at me so I was that much more determined to create a fun account. Not having any clue what I was doing (I'm 50 years young) I started Oakley's page. I quickly found some great furriends and have been learning every day since then. I love being creative with photos. And more so, I love making people smile and laugh. I started his page in August. We've met some amazing people along the way, which inspires me to keep going. It's a community, one that surely will make you smile!
What do you think sets your dog apart from other dogs on social media? What makes them unique or particularly interesting to your followers?
Blair: Oakley isn't a typical dog that you see every day, we've only seen a couple of dogs that are similar to him. But more so, I think it's the fun way we engage with our followers and furfriends. It's not just a hi or hello, but like talking to our best friends. We truly enjoy seeing everyone's content. It's more about the personal touches in our comments and replies.
How do you come up with ideas for your dog's posts and content? Do you have a specific creative process?
Blair: I honestly have no process, I mostly just wing it. I like to be different and do our own thing not just what's trending. Reels are popular but we do alot more of photos. Occasionally we will jump on a trend but most often we don't. It works for our page. It's our page, so why not make it true to who we are. Having a dog account should always be about who you are, showcasing what makes you happy. If you're being true to who you are, people will like it. Always have fun too!!
Have you ever faced any challenges or negativity on social media, and how have you dealt with it?
Blair: So far we have not luckily, but we are only about 8 months into this. Our account isn't huge yet either. I've seen other friends have some nasty comments here and there. My honest opinion is, don't waste your energy on negativity, save it for the positivity. There will always be someone who doesn't like you or your content, and that's okay, they can have their opinion too. Don't let it discourage you. Focus on all positive things.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to start their own dog influencer account or share their dog on social media?
Blair: Go for it! Find what you want to showcase about your pet, maybe it's lifestyle, pet health or just fun... Whatever it is that makes you happy. Take good photos and videos in good lighting too. Pay attention to the small details when you are taking pics and videos. Look at your background not just your pet. Add music or sounds that set a mood or tone too. It's the overall experience that someone gets when they see your posts that you want to create. Have fun with it! It's very easy to overthink what you're doing, so try to keep it simple. Make sure you spend time on other accounts too, it's about creating friendship.
How has your dog influenced your life outside of social media?
Blair: Oakley is the one that I share the most on social media. He's my sidekick. He has a story, he was found starving on the road. No one claimed him and we wouldn't just drop him off at the shelter, he was so skinny and scared. He actually showed up one week before I had to put down my 16 year old Beagle, Jetterbean aka Jet. Although Oakley can never replace Jet, he has taken over for Jet. Oakley has a fun personality which makes life more fun. I may have rescued him but i honestly think he rescued me too. I can't imagine a life without dogs or cats. They are always there giving unconditional love. It's a bond that is priceless. Oakley is my sidekick (we have 4 children that are all grown) he's my furbaby.
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?
Blair: Every photo shoot with Oakley is fun, he does this whole pose and just sits almost perfect for me, usually sticking his nose up. I'm not even sure why, he just does it. It's like he was born to be a model or something. I have an account for my cats as well, so when I'm trying to do photos or videos for them, Oakley usually has to be part of it. He goes into his full Chihuahua mode, shaking and whimpering...he wants whatever the cats have even if he just had his own (treats, beds or toys) They all get along fantasticly though. Oakley secretly loves the cat toys, but don't tell anyone hehe.
What is your favorite thing about being a dog influencer?
Blair: I love how much happiness there is. Our followers have fallen in love with Oakley which makes my heart happy. We have fallen in love with accounts we follow. We've become friends through social media with these accounts, even though we've never met in person. If you're having a bad day, just scroll through your feed, someone is surely going to make you smile!! I also like the brands that we've met that we've been able to work with. We've been able to try products that we may never have known about if we weren't on here. Being able to promote brands that we like and enjoy is a great feeling. Being creative is another fun part. I'm able to come up with my own ideas of how to promote or share what we love. It's fun, thats what it's all about. Promoting small businesses is always great, those people are putting their hearts into their business, so being able to help them is a wonderful feeling.
Lastly, what's next for you and your dog on social media? Any exciting plans or projects in the works?
Blair: We're going to continue to do what we love, sharing smiles....they are contagious you know. I've created accounts for Oakley across all the platforms (IG, TikTok, FB) We've recently became Brand Ambassadors for a few companies. We will continue to grow our accounts and see where it takes us.
