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The Ten Best Gifts for Veterinary Social Media Nerds! 2017 Update

11/24/2017

One of my most popular blog posts last year was "Top 10 Gifts for Veterinary Social Media Lovers." Throughout the year, I met a few people in person who mentioned a product they loved and were still using! In honor of Black Friday (and Cyber Monday, and general holiday craziness right around the corner), I've updated the list with just a few tweaks.

I know these are good, because I actually own all of them! Some are fun, some are super handy, and some are downright essential. Whether these are gifts for a friend, colleague or yourself, they promise to make social media even more fun.
Happy holidays! -CD

DISCLAIMER: You'll notice that these are almost all Amazon links for a few reasons: 1) Who doesn't love and need Amazon 2 day shipping right now?! and 2) I'll earn a small fee if you follow the links below to order. However, I will be donating any and all affiliate link proceeds to a St. Louis Spay/Neuter program!
TheSocialDVM is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

1. Joby GripTight ONE Magnetic Impulse: $59.95

I loved this tripod so much I did a video review of using it in my clinic. The Joby GripTight ONE GP Magnetic Impulse is portable, flexible, super sturdy, and MAGNETIC! It holds my iPhone 7 plus just fine, and adjusts to fit any smartphone. It wraps around sink faucets, IV poles, sticks to metal window frames and exam tables, and goes wherever you want it to go. Best of all, it comes with a bluetooth wireless remote so you can snap pictures from afar or start your live video without that awkward lean in/giant finger footage. My number one favorite gadget this year, hands down! Check out my blog for the write up and/or the Facebook video review and see how I used it around our hospital! For whatever reason, this particular model is only available on Joby's website or at Best Buy, but you can find a similar Joby model on Amazon here- it also is magnetic and has the remote, but I suspect the smartphone adapter may not be as flexible.

2. PicMonkey One Year Subscription: $47.88
I recently set my computer's settings to automatically open several tabs as soon as I log in -- email, Facebook and PicMonkey. I literally use it daily for photo editing and graphic design. My favorite use of it is to brand photos with clinic logos quickly before posting to social media.
While for years, most of PicMonkey's features are free, they have transitioned to a paid service. That said, it's totally worth the $5.99 a month. You can now save images within the site itself (in the "Hub"), re-edit photos, and use some awesome templates. Skip your next coffee and save yourself time and energy by making your photos pop. Sign up for a 7 day free trial using my affiliate link by clicking on the PicMonkey logo image on the right, or purchase a year's subscription on Amazon!

3. Waterproof Smartphone Pouch: $6.99
I love this bad boy. Our jobs are messy, and phones are expensive. I've used this pouch numerous times to keep my phone dry, clean, and safe from whatever I'm about to spill on it, or what my patient is going to um, expel. Especially for farm calls, I've found this to be really handy for both phone protection and as a way to hang the phone (from a chute or IV pole) and have a handy way to film! I also can use the phone while still in the pouch, and it's clear on both sides so you can easily capture photos and videos while using (unlike some of the hardshell waterproof cases).

4. Apple iPad Mini 4: $370
Ok, ok, this one is a bit more pricey, but well worth the investment, especially for a clinic. I love the idea of clinics having a single device to use for their social media. Having one device, accessible to everyone, makes taking pictures, editing and posting on social media easy. It avoids the common owner frustration of staff using their cell phones during work time, and can also come in handy for showing owners photos and using other apps as well. Install your social media apps, PicMonkey, Canva and Picsart and you're on your way!

5. Selfie Stick: $7.99
I know, I know. I was TOTALLY against them forever. Literally, I only recently broke down and got one. I have made fun of people using them and swore I would never join the ranks of such ridiculous photo-takers. But then....we got one at the clinic, and I'm sold. Admittedly, I'm not taking this bad boy out and about to tourist destinations, but for group photos in the clinic, it's the only way to go. It's also really handy trying to get a decent picture of a person and an animal in those tiny exam rooms. Give it a try-- you won't regret it.

Update: The pre-existing model went up in price and down in ability to work with newer phones. I've upgraded my phone to an iPhone 7 Plus, meaning I no longer have a headphone jack (just the lightning connector)....and thus no way to plug in my selfie stick. Sad face. Still using this one around the clinic but there's usually a compatible phone among our ranks. That said, I've added this model to my wishlist in order to tote around to conferences and such and work with my (and by the reviews, any phone without having to physically connect it, and relying on bluetooth pairing instead!)

6. Jackery Portable Backup Charger: $15.99
If you're a big social media user, chances are you've run into the problem of draining your phone or tablet battery way too many times. I've gotten better about charging on the go with this handy gadget -- ESPECIALLY essential during conferences and all-day events where I may not have access to a wall charger. Handy and reliable, this has saved me many times!

7. Vetmoji Sticker Pack App! $2.99
Well, this is a bit of a shameless plug since I helped develop Vetmoji, but I wouldn't have done that if I didn't love it! If you and your veterinary peeps have iPhones, jazz up your text messages with the only veterinary-themed emojis available. Some serious, some funny, and more on the way!

8. Go Pro Fetch Harness: $38.50
Hands down the most fun item to use on this list. Obviously, it does require a GoPro, but if you don't want to buy one of those you can often rent or borrow from a friend. I use it with an older model GoPro Hero+, but any GoPro would do. The new GoPro Hero5 Session looks pretty awesome, but that's for another day. The Fetch harness, however, is a little more elusive and you will definitely want it for footage from the dog's perspective. It works on dogs 15-120 lbs, but trust me, not on cats. You can mount it on their chest or on their back, and I've gotten some great clinic tours and behind-the-scenes videos using it! Click here to watch the one we shot recently at my practice! Read my blog for my full tutorial and tips to use it successfully in your clinic!

9. Polaroid Zip Mobile Printer: $105
I love taking pictures of my patients and happenings in the clinic, but sometimes it's nice to actually have a "hard copy" of those images, right? Remember how we all used to print out photos and get our pictures developed all the time? I am super guilty of taking thousands of pictures, but I rarely get around to doing anything with them other than share on social media, both at the clinic and at home. Use these 2x3 instantly printed little gems to:

1. Apply to the front of any puppy/kitten/new client folder (they actually print with a sticker back!).
2. Display in clinic (e.g. bulletin board)
3. Include in the welcome card we send to new clients after their first visit.

Check out my blog for the full details, including info on the case and refills we use!

10. Puppy Dog Party Photo Props: $7.99
When is using photo props a bad idea? Never, I tell you. Using these made for one of the most fun staff photos we've taken. Show off your team's love of pups and have some fun while you're at it. Bonus: some of the puppy faces can really cover up your dark circles if you haven't had enough coffee yet. Check out my clinic's team photo to see them in action!

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