5 Social Media Top Dogs: The 5 Essential Qualities of Successful Social Media

One of the coolest things about working at DP is not only that we can bring our dogs to work, but that most of us actually DO bring them. When I agreed to contribute to our company blog I decided it’d make sense that my first post discuss my area of expertise as it relates to one of my favorite things about DP culture – DOGS! Thus, a list was born. Here are the 5 essential qualities of successful Social Media as demonstrated by some of the cutest canines on the interwebz.

1. Relevant
It’s not really relevant to post photos of yourself at the GRAMMYs 3 weeks after the GRAMMYs, is it? And it’s not really all that relevant to talk about what happened when you tried to get on an airplane once the buzz about the new TSA screenings has died down, is it? One quality of good social media is that your content  is relevant to your followers and to the rest of the world. Good social media campaigns keep track of what followers and fans are interested in through regular listening, and give those fans and followers what they want. Mishka the Talking Husky provides a perfect example of some very relevant doggy posts. Not only do her owners post consistent updates to keep her Facebook wall and YouTube content fresh and current, but they also post content that’s relevent to what’s going on in the world. During the holidays, they posted a breakdancing holiday dog video. On Halloween, they uploaded videos of Mishka and her brother in their Halloween costumes. In order to keep the attention of followers it is important to update your content at least once a day with things that are relevant to your audience.

2. Engaging
Whether it’s sharing, conversing, responding, retweeting, or interacting, all good definitions of “social media” will agree that to succeed in social media you must keep your audience engaged. I Has a Hot Dog is the epitome of the engaging dog. The creators of this website took one of the most well-known internet memes that has found its way into the hearts and minds of Internet users worldwide, and mashed it up with one of the cutest living things on the planet: the dog. So now, not only is it connected to about 15 other high-trafficked meme sites, but its main premise is for users to create and submit their own LOLdogs, and then vote on other people’s submissions. There is nothing that will captivate an audience more than asking it for its own opinion. I mean, that IS why they call it generation ME, isn’t it?

3. Transparent
Petey the Dog is an example of transparent social media through the persona of a dog (who just happens to be my dog). People, and dogs, who are transparent will admit mistakes, acknowledge criticism, answer questions, and respond to feedback. They are open, frank, and candid. If they make a mistake, they own up to it. If they eat cat poop, they’ll tell you they eat cat poop. If they chew up your pillow while you’re gone, they’ll post the photos to prove it. If they try to eat your cat, they’ll tell you why. Someone who is transparent “keeps it real.” It is very common for companies to be afraid of social media because they’re afraid of being transparent, but it’s important to note that the opposite of transparency is what often leads to those big scary social media disasters, and thus keeping it real is essential to being successful in the social realm.

4. Valuable
Good social media campaigns provide people with something of value. Sometimes that something costs money (discounts, prizes, or free samples), but sometimes it doesn’t (learning materials, advice, or recognition). Can you think of anyone you follow on Twitter that hasn’t earned your attention? Is there any Facebook page you haven’t hidden from your news feed that doesn’t offer content you find rewarding in one way or another? One dog-related example that comes to mind when I think of value is the Facebook page for the Villalobos Rescue Center. Villalobos is the largest pit bull rescue facility in the country and is home to the popular Animal Plant TV show Pit Bulls & Parolees. Its founders help dogs and humans who have bad raps by literally giving them a second chance at life. Contrary to many Facebook pages for TV shows and entertainment professionals, fans are allowed (and encouraged) to post photos of doptable bullies, ask pit bull-related questions, or gush about their own precious pups. To a dog owner, these things are all pretty cool. Being acknowledged with comments, thank-yous, and reposts by TV celebrities only sweetens the deal.

5. Innovative
Not only is it important that your content be relevant to your audience, but the method by which it is delivered to them also needs to be relevant. And it’s a plus if the method of delivery is MORE than relevant — if it’s eye-catching, even. Enter Courage Wolf. Courage Wolf is an extension of Advice Dog, and has supersized what it means to be innovative. The many faces of Courage Wolf include but are by no means limited to: a Twitter account, a Facebook page, a Facebook app, photo sets, a meme generator, Baby Courage Wolf, Lady Courage Wolf, and real courage wolf. His one-liners range from Chuck Norris jokes to motivational posters. Such a variety pretty much guarantees that any type of person will find relevancy in at least one of Courage Wolf’s many forms.

The following 3 pups didn’t make the cut but deserve honorable mentions: Bizkit the Sleepwalking Dog, Pit Bull Sharky and Boo.

If you feel I’ve left out any must-haves for successful social media or skipped any prominent furry friends, by all means, shed some light with a comment!