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 Ollie (Ollie Lee'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?
Lee: I started the page to connect with Ollie's siblings, meeting local friends, and as a dog diary. Overtime I find that Ollie's page can be my creative outlet. I love creating beautiful photos and videos. They become the little moments of life that I feel grateful for. Sharing things that are cute and helpful to other dog lovers, and spreading positivity with Ollie's cuteness become my passion. I love being encouraged and inspired by others as well.
What do you think sets your dog apart from other dogs on social media? What makes them unique or particularly interesting to your followers?
Lee: Ollie looks like a cute and fluffy teddy bear. His look is unique. Besides, he's just so cute, I think our page portrays a realistic journey of a family with working parents, kids with a dog. Hopefully relatable.
How do you come up with ideas for your dog's posts and content? Do you have a specific creative process?
Lee: My source is everyday life. I don't go out of my way planning the flow. For example, our kitchen is always crazy with so many people using it. I focus on one side of the kitchen, decorate it with simple things for the season, and have Ollie there. That's my appreciation among chaos. Then I also just like sharing things that people might be interested in, like how I brush Ollie, some enrichment toys that he loves, food that he likes.
Have you ever faced any challenges or negativity on social media, and how have you dealt with it?
Lee: I got negative comments criticizing that Ollie didn't need clothes, he was not a pure breed, or a poor dog that he was crate trained, etc. I told myself that everyone is entitled to their own opinion and I tried to politely respond to them in a positive way. Honestly, they made me upset for a bit, of course, but I tried to let go and told myself that means my post did well because I reached random people, haha.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to start their own dog influencer account or share their dog on social media?
Lee: I think it is important to really think about the purpose of your account. In every effort you are doing: engagements, creating content that you think people would like versus what you like, etc., ask yourself are you having fun doing it? Are you staying true to yourself? Does it stress you out?
In the world of competitive social media, you might do super well or you might not. Honestly, if anyone has any magic recipe to grow please let me know. I can totally use that because I'm not an expert! I remind myself that I do it for myself, I do make some people smile out there regardless, and I make good friends that I enjoy engaging with. My account is not just driven by numbers.
How has your dog influenced your life outside of social media?
Lee: Ollie teaches me many things. He's happy with simple things, and his happiness is contagious. I walk slower because of him. I try to go out more so he can explore too. I talk to strangers during our walks (and the people on social media, haha). Best of all, he is always there for me.
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?
Lee: We took Ollie to the beach for the first time and took him off leash. I thought he would just run on the beach or sniff about. I imagined this romantic walk on the beach. However, he went straight to the water. I was so scared he would get swept away by the Pacific Ocean.
What is your favorite thing about being a dog influencer?
Lee: The community! Also being exposed to and working with small businesses and businesses. I love finding things that I can use for my creativity, Ollie's well-being, and sharing them with people who can appreciate them!
Lastly, what's next for you and your dog on social media? Any exciting plans or projects in the works?
Lee: Well, it is our everyday life so I don't look too far ahead and just keep doing what we're doing. Now we're focusing on capturing all the beautiful flowers and appreciating Spring!
