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How the Brain Processes Different Types of Content [Infographic]

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Sometimes, the movie adaptation of a book is better than the book itself. Maybe it’s the acting, maybe it’s the special effects or the soundtrack, or maybe the story is simply better told on the big screen than in our imaginations.

The reason? Different stories are better told in different formats depending on the message they’re trying to convey.

The folks at Main Path Marketing created an infographic to break down common types of content marketing formats and how they communicate information to your audience. And some of their insights may surprise you. For example, did you know that the human brain processes videos 60,000X faster than text? That’s part of what makes how-to videos so popular in online search habits. Save countless hours using these free, pre-made templates to design your  infographics.

Check out the full infographic below for helpful takeaways about how to tailor your content strategy according to how your audience interprets information.

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15 free infographic templates in powerpoint

How to Use Offline Events Ads From Facebook

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Do you use Facebook ads to promote your physical store or event? Want to know if your ads are driving foot traffic? Facebook now lets you track in-store or live event visits that occur after people see or engage with your Facebook ads. In this article, you’ll discover how to track conversions on Facebook ads […]

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5 Ways to Use Periscope to Connect With Customers

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Looking for new ways to connect with your customers? Have you considered live video via Periscope? Broadcasting live on Periscope lets you build meaningful relationships with your customers and prospects. In this article, you’ll discover five ways to use Periscope to improve customer engagement. #1: Host a Live Help Desk Yes, Periscope is a good marketing […]

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Animal Influencers: The Stories Behind 11 Famous Pets on Instagram

They command international attention, have amassed millions of followers on social media, and collaborate with the world’s biggest brands.

But you still have to pick up their poop.

Animal influencers are undeniably on the rise. These pampered pets (and their owners/handlers/entourages) enjoy a level of social media fame usually reserved for well, human celebrities, and bring in real revenue through their high-profile partnerships with brands like Zappos, Mercedes-Benz, Purina, and even Google. 

In other words, these adorable fluff balls make more money on a single Instagram post than you, a human, will probably ever make on a single Instagram post. Let that sink in for a minute.

According to Create&Cultivate, social media influencers (animal or otherwise) can expect to earn around $3,000 per sponsorship deal when they hit between 150,000 and 250,000 followers. Many of the pets on this list have over one million followers.

So why the sudden demand for four-legged brand ambassadors?

“People have this innate perception that pets generate warm, happy, fuzzy feelings,” said Loni Edwards — owner of Chloe (as in Instagram-famous @chloetheminifrenchie) — to Digiday. “Brands are starting to reach out because they make people genuinely happy, and they want their ads to make people happy.”

It turns out people really like cute animals — even if those animals are promoting things. “You don’t notice that you are getting advertised to, or you don’t care, because you’re seeing a super cute dog,” Katie Sturino (owner of another famous pooch, @toastmeetsworld) explained to Fortune. 

In addition to sponsorship deals, many of these pets generate income from their own branded products, such as books, calendars, apps, clothing, mugs … you name it, and somebody has plopped a cute animal on it and sold it on the internet.

Is this whole thing a little weird? Maybe. Did I follow all of these animals on Instagram? Absolutely I did.

Read on to see how 11 of these furry social celebrities are building their brands and growing their empires.

11 Famous Animal Influencers

1) Harlow, Indiana and Reese: @harlowandsage

Number of Instagram followers: 1.4m

This adorably photogenic trio consists of one very tolerant Weimaraner (Harlow) and two rambunctious Miniature Dachshunds (Indiana and Reese). In what is possibly the cutest rise-to-fame story ever, the three pups became an international internet sensation by snuggling.

Their owner, Brittni Vega, has made sure the cuddly canines use their fame for good. They recently partnered with dog food brand Purina to benefit the Canine Health Foundation, and have worked with Love Your Mellon, a cancer charity.

Harlow, Indiana, and Reese have also worked with Clorox to raise awareness about Parvovirus, a potentially fatal virus for dogs, and Petfinder, to help shelter dogs find homes. Other promotional clients include Petco, Figo Pet Insurance, and the Subaru Puppy Bowl.

Vega even spun the dogs’ popularity into a second Instagram account, @harlowandfriends, which exclusively features photos of dogs available for adoption.

  
 

2) Loki: @loki_the_wolfdog

Number of Instagram followers: 1.3m

When Mercedes-Benz needed a rugged, handsome new spokesmodel for the 2017 GLS SUV, they didn’t reach out to any old movie star — they got Loki, a Husky/Arctic Wolf/Malamute mix, to be the face of their latest campaign (Move over, John Hamm).

“Loki and his story aligned particularly well with our SUV portfolio,” said Mark Aikman, general manager of marketing services for Mercedes-Benz USA, to Digiday. “Our research has shown that a large number of SUV owners have pets.”

Known on Instagram as “Loki the Wolfdog”, this gentle giant spends his days traversing the great outdoors with owner Kelly Lund, who donates the revenue generated from Loki’s merchandise and sponsorships to two animal charities: Canine Support Teams and Eagle Trail Mountain Wolf Sanctuary.

Loki has become a magnet for brands looking to promote an outdoorsy lifestyle, including REI (he’s a social media sponsor for their annual #OptOutside campaign), GoPro, Rigid Industries LED Lighting, and Google Photos.

  
 

3) Nala: @nala_cat

Number of Instagram followers: 3.1m

This cross-eyed feline is closer to matching Kim Kardashian’s 88.3m Instagram follower count than you, probably.

Meet Nala, a six year old Siamese and Tabby mix with baby blue eyes and short, chubby legs. Since she first popped up on Instagram back in 2012, this remarkably photogenic cat has been racking up followers and brand sponsorships left and right.

She’s been featured on media outlets like BuzzFeed and Daily Mail, and has sponsorships with major brands like Friskies, Persil ProClean, and Zappos. She even recently ran a giveaway for Google’s new Pixel smartphone, which the brand gave her as a gift. 

It doesn’t hurt that Nala’s owner, Los Angeles resident Varisiri Methachittiphan (known by her nickname “Pookie”) has an MBA and strong business acumen. She’s even started an empire for her other cat, Mr. White, who has a respectable 1.3m Instagram followers of his own under the handle @white_coffee_cat_.

  
 

4) Pumpkin: @pumpkintheraccoon

Number of Instagram followers: 1m

How does it feel to be less popular than a raccoon? Because unless you have one million Instagram followers, you’re losing the social media rat race to a plump raccoon named Pumpkin. 

Pumpkin is a domesticated raccoon living a charmed life in the Bahamas with her owner, Laura Young, and canine siblings Toffee and Oreo. Her favorite activities include lounging on the couch, eating avocados, and petting dogs.

While her Instagram account is noticeably devoid of sponsored posts for now (besides a few posts promoting animal rescue charity BAARK), Pumpkin is a personal branding machine. She has a book — Pumpkin: The Raccoon Who Thought She Was a Dog — and has been featured on CBS, ABC, EW, and TV specials for BCC and Animal Planet.

And yes, Pumpkin is eating popcorn out of a Pumpkin the Raccoon branded bag in one of the below photos.

  
 

5) Chloe: @chloetheminifrenchie

Number of Instagram followers: 147k

A burgeoning fashion icon, Chloe has been featured in major publications like Martha Stewart and Vogue. She has her own line of fancy dog scarves (a collaboration with luxury human scarf brand Donni Charm) and Pawtty Bags, which her website describes as “essentially little dog purses to hold poop bags.”

For her second birthday, Chloe’s owner/manager, Loni Edwards, went all out, throwing a charity bash to raise money for the Humane Society of NY. The party was sponsored by BarkBox, Kind Bars, and Bloomingdale’s, among many others.

Edwards, a lawyer turned entrepreneur, started Chloe’s Instagram initially as a way to share photos of the ridiculously cute pup with her friends and family. In just a few short years, managing Chloe’s social media presence and endorsements has evolved into her full-time job.

“It became more than me and my friends following her — there were strangers appreciating her cuteness,” Edwards said to Racked about Chloe’s rapid rise to stardom.

  
 

6) Bodhi: @mensweardog

Number of Instagram followers: 289k

Clothing brands like Coach, American Apparel, and Brooks Brothers have a new muse: a gentlemanly Shiba Inu named Bodhi. Thanks to his affinity for perfectly tailored suits and brooding stare, this photogenic pooch has made a big splash in the fashion world, starring in major campaigns and even posing for exclusive fashion spread in the New York Times.

Bodhi’s fame was no accident. His owner and full-time handler, Yena Kim, quit her job at Ralph Lauren to focus on building her dog’s brand online. What seemed like a gamble at first has really paid off for Kim and her husband, graphic designer David Fung. 

Bodhi’s big break came in the form of a viral Tumblr post, and soon brands were reaching out to Kim and Fung as if they were like any other human fashion blogger seeking promotions. Today, Bodhi is sponsored by brands like Rockport Shoes and Gentleman’s Box on Instagram, and has his own fashion book. 

“He’s the dog version of the Dos Equis guy,” Fung said to Business Insider, “the most interesting dog in the world.”

  
 

7) Tuna: @tunameltsmyheart

Number of Instagram followers: 1.8m

Just like many human social media influencers, Tuna, a Chihuahua Dachsund mix with an undeniably endearing overbite, strives to project an authentic image across his many social platforms. And that means being very selective about the brands he chooses to work with.

“It’s enticing when you are offered big posting deals,” Tuna’s owner, Courtney Dasher, told Vice. “But if I’m not at peace with the idea or think it’s not a good fit with Tuna and the brand of Tuna, then I politely decline.”

The pint-sized pup mainly partners with animal rescue organizations and charities, but he also has an online shop that sells mugs, shirts, and other goods emblazoned with his toothy visage. If you’re really feeling that Tuna fever, you can even purchase an oxidized bronze ring shaped like his entire head. Because why not.

  
 

8) Toast: @toastmeetsworld

Number of Instagram followers: 370k

Toast, who is a dog, reportedly wore a custom Marchesa gown and $139,000 diamond necklace to her wedding, which was covered by Newsweek, People, and Town & Country. Toast (who, again, is a dog) married Finn Hearst (also a dog) after the two met at a charity gala and really hit it off, apparently.

The wedding was a charity fundraiser and promotional stunt for Zola, a wedding registry site, and it was hardly Toast’s first foray into the realm of brand promotions. Toast, who is represented by DBA (Digital Brand Architects), is an eyewear spokesmodel for Karen Walker, and has promoted big brands like Febreeze and Swiffer. She’s also currently the face of The Shelter Pet Project’s latest campaign, appearing in print ads and billboards around the country.

The toothless Cavalier King Charles Spaniel — who was rescued from a puppy mill — gained popularity on Instagram for her iconic floppy tongue and apparent tolerance of being dressed up.

Toast’s owner, Katie Sturino, told Newsweek she’s aware some people might find her profession a bit strange, but she’s managed to use her dog’s fame for good, raising awareness for the deplorable conditions at puppy mills.

  
 

8) Hamlet: @hamlet_the_piggy

Number of Instagram followers: 305k

While the vast majority of animal influencers are dogs and cats, some pigs are getting in on the action too. Hamlet, a charismatic mini pig who enjoys wearing wigs and having maple syrup poured directly into her mouth, has found unexpected fame on Instagram and Snapchat.

Hamlet’s owner, Melanie Gomez, adopted the unusual pet as a support companion after her epilepsy became hard to handle on her own (her husband is extremely allergic to dogs, so a pig was the next best option). She began posting Hamlet’s photos online as a way to make others happy, and never expected that the petite piglet would become an internet superstar.

Now a few years into her social media career, Hamlet has been spotted showing off a handful of products on Instagram, including Tostito’s snacks, Bose’s line of NFL headphones, and the Ollo Clip iPhone lens.

  
 

9) Lil Bub: @iamlilbub

Number of followers on Instagram: 1.4m

It would be an understatement to call Lil Bub a viral social media celebrity. The toothless tabby cat — born with a short lower jaw which exposes her tongue — was arguably one of the first big animal influencers on the scene, right up there with the ubiquitous Grumpy Cat.

Just a quick scan of Lil Bub’s extensive Wikipedia page reveals just how weirdly famous the quirky, stubby-legged cat has become. Here are a few highlights:

  • In 2015, a group of scientists crowdfunded $8,225 to sequence Lil Bub’s genome. The project was called LilBubnome.
  • Lil Bub is credited on the 2015 electronic album Science & Magic as a vocalist.
  • Vice produced a feature length documentary on Lil Bub in 2013 called Lil Bub & Friendz. It premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, and Lil Bub got to meet Robert DiNero.

Name any object, and it’s probably sold with Lil Bub’s face on it. The cat has a series downloadable ringtones, a weather app, and a line of watches. Way to go, Lil Bub — you’re more successful than most startups.

  
 

10) Doug the Pug: @itsdougthepug

Number of followers on Instagram: 2.2m

Doug the Pug, the self-declared “King of Pop Culture”, is just like us. He likes to unwind after a long day with a hot bubble bath and a glass of pinot noir.

Unlike us, Doug the Pug has millions of followers on social media, a book deal, and a close friendship with Chrissy Teigen.

Doug’s owner, Leslie Mosier, got her start in the music industry before becoming a full-time “momager” for her dog. She applied her PR background to Doug’s career, and the pug was quickly featured on Mashable and BuzzFeed. One Facebook video in particular — a 16-second clip of Doug playing with a pug balloon — went viral overnight, skyrocketing Doug to 2.2 million followers on Instagram and over five million Facebook likes.

When Doug isn’t promoting his book, calendar, or collection of stuffed animals, he can be found promoting brands like Febreeze and repping Dentastix at the Country Music Awards.

  
 

11) Lionel: @lionelthehog

Number of Instagram followers: 95.9k

Instagram does not discriminate by species. If you are a cute animal and you like wearing little hats or holding little umbrellas, the followers will come.

Say hello to Lionel, an adventurous hedgehog with a taste for the finer things in life. Lionel’s owner, Anna Mathias, works full-time in PR, and began Lionel’s Instagram account as a side project to show off her social media chops. In a few short weeks, he was featured on BuzzFeed, and the rest is history.

On Instagram, Lionel represents brands like The Book of the Month Club, Daniel Wellington watches, and Style&co, a (human) clothing retailer. This year, he even collaborated with West Elm and the ASPCA to release a custom holiday ornament and tea towel.

  
  

Who are your favorite animal influencers? Let us know in the comments.

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Apple confirms work on autonomous systems to transform ‘the future of transportation’

Apple’s car plans have long been kept under wrap by the company itself, but a new regulatory filing shows it publicly address the industry for the time. In a letter to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) uncovered by VentureBeat, Apple urges the government not to restrict testing of self-driving vehicles…

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Apple VP Paul Deneve disappears from Apple exec bio page, now reports to Jeff Williams

Apple’s vice president of special projects Paul Deneve has disappeared from the Apple executive bios page on Apple’s website. Deneve joined Apple in 2013 after serving as chief executive officer at fashion brand Saint Laurent. His removal from the biography signifies a change in management structure; Deneve now reports to Apple COO Jeff Williams rather than Tim Cook directly.

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Pinterest Launches Rotating Showcase: This Week in Social Media

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Welcome to our weekly edition of what’s hot in social media news. To help you stay up to date with social media, here are some of the news items that caught our attention. What’s New This Week Pinterest Rolls Out New Looks for Business Profiles: Pinterest announced several updates to its business profiles including a […]

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Apple’s new stunning flagship waterfront retail store in Chicago begins to take shape [Gallery]

Back in November of last year, Apple confirmed plans to build a new stunning waterfront flagship retail store on the Chicago River. At the time a few renders of Apple’s plans for the location were floating around courtesy of architect Foster + Partners, which Apple has worked with on several projects including the design of the company’s Spaceship campus, as well as the redesign for London’s Regent Street store. But Apple has rapidly made progress on demolition of the existing site and construction on the new store in recent weeks, as evidenced by these photos sent in by a reader (Thanks Tim King!).

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Hands-on: Creating a custom Touch Bar button using BetterTouchTool [Video]

As Chance noted last night, an alpha version of BetterTouchTool was released yesterday with support for the MacBook Pro’s Touch Bar. Being an alpha release, you can expect to find bugs, but I decided to go hands-on with the update to see how the Touch Bar implementation worked.

What I found was a seriously impressive tool that will allow users to have a ridiculous amount of fine-grained control at their fingertips. Have a look at our brief video walkthrough inside to see the customizable Touch Bar controls in action. more…

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Review: Bragi’s ‘The Headphone’, cord-free wireless earbuds worth considering before Apple’s MIA AirPods

They certainly didn’t get the message about not naming cord-free earbuds with a singular naming scheme, so this new product from Bragi is simply dubbed, “The Headphone.” But branding aside, these earbuds have made quite an improvement over the company’s first-generation product called “The Dash,” which was one of the first to hit the market a year ago. 

My biggest complaint when testing The Dash was half-baked fitness features,    unnecessary built-in storage, and sloppy touch controls that cluttered what could have been an otherwise decent cord-free earbud experience. The Headphone fixes a lot of those issues (mostly by simply removing the problematic features), and what you end up with is a basic but less expensive cord-free earbud that actually works well enough for everyday use. They’re also one of the first cord-free earbuds worth considering before the launch of Apple’s delayed AirPods.

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9to5Toys Lunch Break: Pioneer 4K A/V Receiver w/ AirPlay $339, Polaroid Action Camera $100, Logitech Bluetooth Audio Adapter $20, more

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

TODAY’S CAN’T MISS DEALS:

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Pioneer’s 7.2-Ch. 4K A/V Receiver has it all, including Bluetooth and AirPlay: $339 shipped (Reg. $400+, all-time low)

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Daily Deals: Polaroid Cube+ WiFi 1440p Mini Action Camera $100, Orbotix Sphero SPRK Robot $50, more

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iPhone 7 users: Add Logitech’s Bluetooth Audio Adapter to your stereo and wirelessly stream music for $20 Prime shipped (Reg. $30)

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1st big discount! iPhone 7 128GB in Gold and Silver Qualcomm LTE: $710 shipped ($40 off) no sales tax

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Apple’s 13-inch MacBook Pro w/ Touch Bar 2.9GHz/8GB/256GB: $1,700

eBay rolls out Cyber Monday Apple Deals: 27-inch 5K Retina iMac 2TB $1,900

eBay’s Black Friday Sale brings solid Apple deals: 13-inch MacBook Air 256GB $930

Grab a 12.9-inch iPad Pro (Certified refurb) Space Gray/Silver/Gold at Amazon for $549 shipped

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DirecTV Now launches with an aggressive free Apple TV offer when you pre-pay for three months of service: from $105 ($255 value)

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Former Apple award winning puzzle game Shades goes free on the App Store (Reg. $2)

MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:

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Portable Bluetooth Speakers: Philips BT3080 $20, Jabra Solemate Mini (multiple colors) $30 (Reg. up to $50)

MORE DEALS STILL LIVE:

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Bring Luma’s Whole Home 802.11ac Wi-Fi system to your house or office for complete coverage and control: $250 (Reg. $350+)

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Amazon and other retailers extend up to $50 discounts on Sonos speakers, including PLAY:3, 5, PLAYBAR and SUB

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Give your aging MacBook Air/Pro a new lease on life w/ Transcend’s 480GB JetDrive SSD Upgrade Kit: $230 shipped (Reg. $280+)

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New 2016 MacBook Pros default to scaled non-native Retina screen resolution, here’s how to change it

A little-known fact about the new 2016 MacBook Pros is that Apple changed the default screen resolution configuration. With a fresh install of the operating system, I noticed that my new 15-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar uses a scaled screen resolution that does not 1:1 map to the display’s native 2880×1800 resolution.

This setting is called ‘Looks like 1680×1050’ and offers more space at the expense of some blurriness, most noticeable on text. For the best Retina quality, you need to dig into the settings, although this will mean sacrificing some screen real estate. See a comparison, and how to change these options, after the jump …

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