Author: kmacnaull19

by

Move Over People – Pets Are Taking Over Instagram

Are pet influencers really influencers?  Or are many of us following accounts like: Mr. Pokee, Esther the Wonder Pig and Grumpy Cat simply because the content makes us smile?

Image source

I will be honest the content posted on various pet-inspired Instagram accounts does not really affect my decision-making for my own pet. I do not choose one brand over another because a cute little kitty is wearing a branded, pink, bedazzled jump suit. What it does do however, is cut through all the negativity and heavy content on social media.  I scroll through my feed, see cute puppy pics, and I am instantly reminded that things in my life are not that bad.  That being said, it is no wonder that pet accounts actually out perform human accounts on Instagram (Rabimov, 2018).

Popular accounts like Doug The Pug and Nala Cat each have millions of followers, moreover, each grosses over $15,000 USD per post!  Even higher than that is JiffPom who makes over $45,000 USD per post (Dailymail.com, 2020).  Many of these accounts have sponsorship agreements with companies like TikTok, Target and Banana Republic.  Some have even appeared in commercials along side celebrities like Miranda Lambert and the Katy Perry (Dailymail.com, 2020).  Obviously, there is something to be said about social media influencers, specifically pet influencers, because large international brands are paying big bucks to engage with their followers. There must be a reason (and results) if companies are continuing to include this type of digital engagement in their marketing and sponsorship budgets.

But in the end, if you want an instant cuteness overload to brighten your day, check out some of my favourite Instagram accounts (by the way, I’m a dog person so they are mostly puppy-centric):

What are your favourite pet Instagram accounts to follow? (Shameless plug, my miniature golden doodle and his best friend pit bull have their own Instagram account, check them out at Fluffy and his Doodle)

Sources:

Dailymail.com, C. (2020, March 31). The highest-earning ANIMALinfluencers on social media make THOUSANDS of dollars per post. Retrieved June 21, 2020, from https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-8173579/The-highest-earning-ANIMAL-influencers-social-media-make-THOUSANDS-dollars-post.html

Rabimov, S. (2018, July 31). Instagram Zoo: The Rise and Rise Of Pet Influencers. Retrieved June 14, 2020, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/stephanrabimov/2018/07/28/instagram-zoo-the-rise-and-rise-of-pet-influencers/

Social media posts:

Twitter: Cuteness overload on Instagram? Yes please.  https://bit.ly/3fDIflg #instagram #petinfluencers #puppies #socialmedia

Facebook: Move over people, pet influencers are taking over Instagram. https://bit.ly/3fDIflg #instagram #petinfluencers #puppies #socialmedia

by

We Are On a Break

I do not know about you, but with all the negativity in the world these days, I have had to step away from social media. I’ve even heard the term “doomsurfing” being used, meaning we are bombarded with sad, disturbing and negative content constantly, it’s a rabbit hole really that we are falling into.

What is too much social media?  When do we need to walk away, or reassess the content we are taking in? Is social media fatigue really a thing?

Social media fatigue can be defined as “a users’ tendency to pull back from social media when they become overwhelmed with too many social media sites, too many friends and followers” (Techopedia, 2020).

Social media can be a wonderful tool, it can connect you with loved ones, and it can connect you to your passions in life.  It can also be overwhelming, stressful, and can lead to anxiety or ever sleep deprivation (Ervolino, 2017).

Image Source

So what have I gained by stepping away from social media for short periods of time during this pandemic?  It has allowed me to reset. It has allowed me to prioritize the content I am absorbing. It has forced me to connect with my friends and family in a more traditional way.  And by traditional I mean, I have even sent out greeting cards to the seniors in my life who may be feeling a little more isolated.  My eight year old niece and I are pen pals at the moment.  The excitement she gets from receiving a letter in the mail are the simple joys in life that are worth the anticipation, and can not be replicated through social media the same way.

After putting a pause on social media, I find that I actually look forward to logging on, and catching up with what is going on online.  By regularly taking these small breaks, I find that the social media fatigue I had been experiencing is not as dramatic and overwhelming.

Have you had to just step away from social media, and what did you learn by doing so?

Sources:
Ervolino, B. (2017, October 19). Everybody is exhausted: Stress and social media are taking their toll. Retrieved June 12, 2020, from https://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/health/ct-social-media-exhaustion-20171019-story.html

What is Social Media Fatigue? – Definition from Techopedia. (n.d.). Retrieved June 12, 2020, from https://www.techopedia.com/definition/27372/social-media-fatigue

Social media posts:
Twitter: Social media fatigue does exist. https://bit.ly/2Y0mIxp #SocialMedia #socialmediafatigue #negative #fatigue #stress #anxiety

Facebook: Are you suffering from social media fatigue? https://bit.ly/2Y0mIxp #SocialMedia #socialmediafatigue #negative #fatigue #stress #anxiety

by

Breaking Bread Through Social Media

Image source

Has your social media feed been bombarded by people baking lately?  Mine has! Everyone seems to be trying their hands at this age-old tradition, and I have to say that I am guilty of taking part in the craze myself.

Like many, we are looking for things to do while we are self-isolating during this covid-19 pandemic. From jigsaw puzzles, to baking, to even TikTok videos, we are all just trying to cope and have fun AT HOME during these uncertain times.

Baking has become so popular these last few months that it has been challenging to find some pantry staples in our grocery stores.  Ingredients like yeast and flour are like gold when you find them.  Food rationing and “fear cuisine” has not been part of our generation’s vernacular.  However, during the Great Depression and World War II this was a very common sensation as ingredients, in particular sugar and butter, were just not available (Julian, 2020).  One of the outcomes of this rationing was the creation of a chocolate cake recipe called “Wacky Cake”, it turns the most basic ingredients (i.e. flour, cocoa powder, vinegar, etc.) into a yummy dessert (Julian, 2020).

What differentiates us from those living during the Great Depression or World War II, is that we are not making wacky cake, we are making sourdough with a side of dalgona coffee it seems, and we are sharing our creations, and even our fails, on social media.  Hashtags such as #covidbaking and #covidcooking have popped up, and show a slew of tasty treats, some prettier than others.

With the craziness of what is going on around us, there definitely is something so comforting about the aroma of baked bread or cake wafting through the house, and sharing those treats (albeit virtually right now) to stay connected to those we miss and to inspire others to do the same, because sharing is caring, right?

What tasty treats provide you comfort, and have you shared them on social media during this pandemic?

Source:
Julian, S. (2020, May 05). When cooks in the Great Depression had no eggs and butter, they baked anyway – The Boston Globe. Retrieved May 30, 2020, from https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/05/05/lifestyle/when-cooks-great-depression-had-no-eggs-butter-they-baked-anyway/

Social media posts:
Twitter: Let them eat cake (or bread, or anything else I am baking during a pandemic). https://bit.ly/2XeYQWd #covidbaking #covidcooking #baking #bread #covid19

Facebook: Let them eat cake (or bread, or anything else I am baking during a pandemic). Food still unites us all during a pandemic. https://bit.ly/2XeYQWd #covidbaking #covidcooking #baking #bread #covid19

by

Fundraising Made Easy with the Click of a Mouse

I am an event manager for a local cancer foundation, and like many other non-profit organizations during the covid-19 pandemic, we had to cancel signature fundraising events for the remainder of the year.  The situation forced us to find new ways to raise money in order to fund local cancer care, research and clinical trials – unfortunately cancer does not wait during a pandemic.

Image Source

Peer-to-peer (i.e. TeamRaiser), crowdfunding (i.e. GoFundMe) and online auctions (i.e. 32auctions) are a few of the digital platforms that fundraisers have been using for some time often in conjunction with live events. These mediums are still important during these unprecedented times, however, now more than ever non-profits are turning to social media to fundraise to replace their cancelled walks, galas and golf tournaments.

For example, the emergence of Facebook fundraisers over the last year or so is a new revenue stream that charitable organizations can now rely on, and at no expense to their bottom line.  These fundraisers have made it easy for people to get started, share and raise money for the causes that mean the most to them (with no fees to do so). Whether you are celebrating a birthday, honouring a loved one, or graduating high school, Facebook has turned life’s special moments into a fundraiser.

Image Source

With only a few clicks of the mouse, you can create a Facebook fundraiser in minutes:

  1. Click “Fundraisers” in the left menu of your News Feed
  2. Click on “Select non-profit”
  3. Search for the charitable organization you wish to support
  4. Set your fundraising goal and the date your fundraiser will run until
  5. Create a name for your fundraiser and a post telling people why you are raising money
  6. Upload a cover photo or select one of the ones created by Facebook
  7. Click “Create”
    (Facebook, 2020)

Voilà! You are now a fundraiser!  A donate button is added to your post and your Facebook community can now support your worthy efforts. Just as easy as it is to create a fundraiser, it is just as easy for non-profits to receive the funds through a monthly e-transfer from the PayPal Giving Fund. 

Now that you know how easy it how easy it is to raise money for a cause near and dear to your heart, how likely are you to host a Facebook fundraiser?

Sources:
“How do I start a fundraiser on Facebook?: Facebook Help Center.” (n.d.). Retrieved May 22, 2020, from https://www.facebook.com/help/990087377765844

Social media posts:

Twitter: Find out how easy it is to fundraise for your favourite non-profit on Facebook. https://bit.ly/3cTK3G0 #nonprofit #facebook #fundraiser

Facebook: With only a few clicks of your mouse you can be a rock star fundraiser for your local non-profit. https://bit.ly/3cTK3G0 #nonprofit #facebook #fundraiser #local #ottcity