Although its not uncommon for pet owners to make social accounts for their dogs in order to get them noticed, Tinkerbelle the Dog has accumulated a much higher following than most.
With well over 100,000 fans across Twitter, Facebook and Instagram combined, the 5 pound Papitese uses her influence to promote products and events. By having a dog as its spokesperson, brands are able to reach a wide range of users by appealing to them with highly shareable images that appear less ad-focused.
So far, Tinkerbelle the Dog's brand partnerships include Purina, Febreeze and Swiffer, as well as a number of hotels like The Ritz-Carlton, Hilton and Kimpton. In addition to this, Tinkerbelle the Dog was also a model at New York Fashion Week and flaunted the designs of Ralph Lauren, Coach, Poochie Boots and more.
Viral Fashion-Savvy Dogs
Tinkerbelle the Dog is an Internet-Famous Model, Actor and Travel Blogger
Trend Themes
1. Pet Influencers - Brands can leverage the large social media followings of pets to promote their products and services in a more shareable and less ad-focused way.
2. Animal-centric Marketing - Marketing strategies that feature animals (rather than humans) as the brand's ambassadors provide disruptive innovation opportunities for brands to expand the reach of their campaigns.
3. Pet-friendly Tourism - The success and popularity of Tinkerbelle the Dog demonstrates the value of promoting the pet-friendly aspects of hotels, resorts, and other vacation destinations to attract new guests.
Industry Implications
1. Pet Industry - As more and more pet owners create social media profiles for their pets, the pet industry must find ways to capitalize on the trend and offer new and innovative products and services for these furry influencers.
2. Fashion Industry - Collaborating with pet influencers like Tinkerbelle the Dog presents an opportunity for fashion brands to showcase their designs in a unique and creative way.
3. Hospitality Industry - The success of Tinkerbelle the Dog and her partnerships with various hotels highlights the growing trend of pet-friendly travel and accommodations, presenting opportunities for the hospitality industry to expand and promote their pet-friendly amenities.