Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Vanessa Steinmann. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Vanessa, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s start with the decision of whether to donate a percentage of sales to an organization or cause – we’d love to hear the backstory of how you thought through this.

Yes! I donate $5 from every merchandise sale to Baldwin Park Animal Care Center, a Los Angeles County shelter. I chose this organization because I volunteer there and have seen firsthand how underfunded and overwhelmed they are. Supporting them felt like a natural extension of what Dogs Only Social Club stands for—community, compassion, and showing up for dogs in need. By donating directly, I’m able to ensure the funds go exactly where they’re most needed and can make a meaningful impact.

Vanessa, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Hi! I’m Vanessa — I’m half Thai, half Swiss, and I grew up in Australia before moving to Los Angeles in 2018. I’m a foodie, an animal lover, and someone who’s always been passionate about creating meaningful connections.

After moving to LA, I started fostering dogs, which led me to Cotton — a sweet, gentle Great Pyrenees who I first fostered and then adopted. Cotton completely changed my life. Through him, I realized how hard it can be to find truly welcoming, dog-friendly spaces and events in a big city. I also saw just how powerful dogs can be in helping us find joy, connection, and community.

After I lost Cotton, I also began volunteering at Baldwin Park Animal Care Center, an underfunded LA County shelter. That experience opened my eyes to how many incredible dogs are in need of love, care, and second chances — and it deepened my desire to get more involved and make a difference.

While on sabbatical, I decided to launch Dogs Only Social Club (DOSC) — a community-first brand and event series that brings dog lovers together through fun, thoughtful, dog-friendly experiences. We host hikes, meetups, themed pop-ups, and more — all designed to give dogs a chance to socialize in safe, controlled environments while helping their humans connect, too.

What makes DOSC different is how personal and intentional it is. It’s just me running the show, and I’m committed to creating a space that’s inclusive, welcoming, and community-focused. I also prioritize working with local small businesses — whether it’s hosting events at neighborhood spots or including local pet brands as vendors — because supporting the wider community is just as important to me as supporting dogs.

Every merch sale helps too — $5 from each purchase goes directly to Baldwin Park Animal Care Center (BPACC), where I still volunteer. That way, I know exactly where the donations are going and the impact they’re having. Many of our events also support BPACC and other local rescues through fundraising, awareness, and by featuring adoptable dogs to promote fostering and adoption.

At its heart, Dogs Only Social Club is about connection — between dogs and their humans, between strangers who become friends, and between the city and the small businesses that give it character. Whether you’re new to LA, looking for fun ways to bond with your pup, or simply want to be part of a kind, supportive community, DOSC was made for you.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Building an audience on social media has definitely been a learning experience. I didn’t come from a background in content creation, so I started by experimenting and figuring things out along the way. A big part of how I built my audience was by creating fun, catchy reels, especially event recaps that gave people major FOMO — the kind that made them say, “Wait, how do I get invited to the next one?” I really leaned into showcasing the energy, the dogs, the treats, the little moments that made each event feel special.

I’ve learned not to be too hard on myself if my feed isn’t perfectly “aesthetic.” There’s so much pressure to have everything look a certain way, but honestly, authenticity connects more than perfection ever could. If your content reflects your personality and your passion, it’ll attract the right people.

I’ve also been lucky to get advice from friends who work in social media — everything from how to improve my TikToks, how to structure videos, hook people early on, and use trending audio — little things that helped me improve without losing the heart of what I was doing.

If you’re just starting out, my advice is to keep it fun, focus on connection, and don’t overthink it. Share what you love, show people what it feels like to be part of your community, and the right audience will come.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

The most effective strategy for growing my clientele has been hosting unique, community-focused events that create memorable, shareable experiences for both dogs and their humans. When people attend an event and have a great time — whether it’s a pup hike, a themed meetup — they naturally want to share it on social media, and that word-of-mouth has been incredibly powerful.

On top of that, I always try to make people feel genuinely welcomed. Since I run Dogs Only Social Club on my own, I take time to personally connect with attendees, remember returning guests and their dogs, asking for their birthdays and celebrating them, and make the space feel inclusive and approachable. That kind of personal touch builds loyalty and keeps people coming back.

Collaboration has also been key — partnering with local small businesses and rescues not only helps build authentic community connections but also exposes Dogs Only Social Club to their followers, expanding our reach in a meaningful way.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.dogsonlysocialclub.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dogsonlysocialclub/
• Other: Tiktok: https://tiktok.com/dogsonlysocialclub

Image Credits

Kat Seibert