Facebook Will Now Count Unconnected Facebook and Instagram Accounts Separately in Ad Reach Data

This is a big change for Facebook advertisers: as on 12th October, the social network will start counting people who haven’t linked their Facebook and Instagram accounts in its Accounts Center as separate entities for ad purposes – in other words, if your accounts aren’t linked, Facebook will assume your Facebook and Instagram profiles are two separate people. 

With this new change, Facebook’s ad reach estimates could improve dramatically, with a considerably broader scope based on variable accounting. However, t his may also make ad estimates less accurate by inflating statistics and providing inaccurate numbers to advertisers, which can impair planning and ad reach estimations.

Link: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/facebook-will-now-count-unconnected-facebook-and-instagram-accounts-separat/608089/

Pinterest Shares New Insights into Emerging Travel Trends as People Look Beyond the Pandemic

Travel related content searches are on the rise by 19% on Pinterest compared to the pre-pandemic period in 2019, as more borders begin to open up. Domestic travel has been particularly popular, and Pinterest has provided a map of the most popular places among Pinners in recent months.

This could help you think about how to sell your travel programmes and packages, as well as the items and elements that people will require on their new adventures.

The search trend will be similar on FB sooner or later and IG will start to have more travel-related content.

Link: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/pinterest-shares-new-insights-into-emerging-travel-trends-as-people-look-be/608356/

Facebook Adds New Shipping Options to Marketplace Facilitating More eCommerce Activity

Facebook continues to evolve its on-platform shopping tools, this time with the addition of new shipping options on Marketplace, which will enable people to expand their pool of items to buy, facilitating more eCommerce activity in-app.

Shipping on Marketplace, which is now available to UK users, will enable sellers to add an estimated shipping cost to their listing, broadening their audience of potential buyers.

Marketplace browsers will also be able to filter their searches based on shipping options, making it easier for them to find expanded listings and sellers.

Link: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/facebook-adds-new-shipping-options-to-marketplace-facilitating-more-ecommer/608280/

Say Hi to Messenger API support for Instagram Messaging

Announced updates to the Messenger API to support Instagram messaging, allows biz to manage their customer communications at scale.

Currently, in beta, it facilitates businesses to integrate Instagram messaging into their business applications and workflows with the aim to increase customer satisfaction and sales.

Last year alone, daily conversations between people and brands across messenger and Instagram grew >40%. Some brands that were involved in the beta stage include – Adidas, H&M, Nars, Sephora, Michael Kors

Link: https://messengernews.fb.com/2020/10/19/say-%f0%9f%91%8b-to-api-support-for-instagram-messaging/

TikTok Shares New Research into How Users Respond to Ads on the Platform

TikTok teamed up with MediaScience, a neuromarketing research business, to determine if ads on the app will have the same level of engagement and response as content videos. This was a lab-controlled test with 343 participants that replicated the regular in-app experience over a series of ad tests to measure engagement, recall, and overall response in comparison to competing platforms.

Here’s what they found:

1. Brand recall for TikTok ads were strong, regardless of view duration. An ad on screen for 6 seconds or less still delivered 38% of the recall compared to ads viewed 20 seconds or more.
2. Ads on TikTok take less time to make an impact with their audience than similar ads on other platforms.
3. Brand messaging was better received on TikTok than it was on other apps, with brands advertising on the platform driving stronger brand perception than on other platforms.
   
   

According to the data collected, TikTok users are more receptive to commercial content, with better response and engagement rates than other platforms. While this isn’t to say that TikTok ads are failproof, and there are other factors to consider such as approach and audience fit, the data shows that taking the time to learn how TikTok works and what types of promotions or content perform best for your target audience can produce significant results.

Link: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/tiktok-shares-new-research-into-how-users-respond-to-ads-on-the-platform/607122/

Twitter Launches New #ExtremeWeather Mini-Site to Help Maximize Climate Change Messaging

Twitter’s new ‘Exploring #ExtremeWeather’ mini-site provides a range of climate case studies and data insight, based on tweet trends. The mini-site includes a range of interactive visualizations, created in partnership Brandwatch, NTT Data, and Sprout Social, as well as overviews that enable visitors to explore tweet discussion trends around key events, including the Australian bushfires, the Jakarta floods and the Texas freeze.

The visualisations look at how the overall conversation on Twitter has evolved, as well as specific components of interest and discussion, which could help provide more context for how trends grow while also providing more scientific background on climate change’s impacts. In addition to a general overview, T itter has added specific tweet insight for each trend, indicating important mentions that sparked increased debate around each event. Check out Twitter’s #ExtremeWeather mini-site here.

Link: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/twitter-launches-new-extremeweather-mini-site-to-help-maximize-climate-cha/607126/

Facebook Shares Insight into Content that it Looks to Limit in News Feeds

Facebook is increasing transparency and supervision into its procedures, including how its technologies determine what users see in their News Feed on a daily basis.  The main focus here is on potentially misleading and problematic content, with Facebook looking to reduce the reach of posts that fall into these categories such as Ad Farms, Clickbait Links, Comments Likely To Be Hidden, Engagement Bait and more.

Some of the limitations are indirectly encouraging content creators and page owners to utilise one of Facebook’s new tools that enables page owners to automatically delete/prevent certain keywords being commented on in their posts.

Link: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/facebook-shares-insight-into-content-that-it-looks-to-limit-in-news-feeds/607120/

Roblox – Brands are Flocking There, But What Is It?

Roblox is a metaverse, where users can download and create their own avatar, choose a name, dress themselves up with skins. It’s goal is to create a platform for immersive co-experiences, where people can learn, work, play, create and socialise. In simple terms, it’s a virtual world. Similar to Ready, Player One. 

Brands are flocking to Roblox to generate content to reach out to users, mostly targeting younger populations with low purchasing power who will remember the brands in there as familiar and be more likely to choose them as they grow up. Brands can sell verch – virtual merchandise, which is a Roblox concept, with customers paying in Robux (virtual currency). A percentage of these sales will go to developers and brands.

The platform went public in March 2021 and marketers are taking notice. In August 2021, they reported an equal number of users under and above 13. It now has about 48.2 million members, with users ranging in age from 6 to 60. However it’s early days still, and metrics that matter are still not determined and no benchmarks are set. 

Apple rolls out Major Design for Safari 15

Apple rolled out Safari 15 on Monday for iPhones, iPads and Apple Watch. macOS was excluded and will likely be updated at the end of the year in conjunction with the new macOS Monterey. 

2 big changes for Safari 15 especially for iOS and iPadOS

• The relocations of the address and search bar from the top of the screen to the bottom for single-handed users 
• Minimalistic streamlining of the interface to use less screen space overall

Users that are not comfortable with the new changes can opt to revert back to the old layout.

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/09/apple-rolls-major-safari-redesign-out-to-macs-ahead-of-monterey-release/

Twitter’s Testing a New Option That Will Show You the Spaces That People You Follow are Tuning In To

Twitter is launching a new test that will show you when someone that you follow on Twitter is listening in to a Space, by highlighting that broadcast at the top of your timeline.

• Alerting users to in-progress Spaces of interest had significant engagement potential
• However, if you came across a Space on a niche interest, or a questionable topic, you might not want people to know that you’re tuning in

https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/twitters-testing-a-new-option-that-will-show-you-the-spaces-that-people-yo/605538/

Instagram is Removing Swipe-Up Links for Stories, Replacing the Function with Link Stickers

Starting from Aug 30, swipe links will be replaced by link stickers to improve Stories interaction on the app. Users who have the swipe link function will be notified of the update with a prompt and revert to the link sticker instead. These are the benefits Instagram shared:

• A streamlined stories creation experience – Stories stickers, like Donation, Music, Poll, and now Link, help you further express yourself and share what matters to you on Instagram – in this case links.
• Added creative control – The sticker looks and functions the same way as others (i.e. question, poll, and location) – providing increased creator control. It can toggle to different styles, be resized, and be placed anywhere on your story for maximum impact.
• Further engagement – We also know that engagement and closeness are important to people. Users can receive quick reactions and replies on posts that have the link sticker, like any other story that is shared (e.g. the tray of emojis), whereas you couldn’t receive feedback with the “swipe-up” link.

https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/instagram-is-removing-swipe-up-links-for-stories-replacing-the-function-wi/605437/

TikTok is Developing its Own AR Effects Creation Platform to Expand its Visual Tools

The AR Effects Studio would enable creators to build their own effects for the platform.

This platform launched early in Aug 2021, but is still in its early, beta stages. This can help to create a whole new user experience, and works similar to the Facebook’s Spark AR platform and Snapchat’s Lens Studio

https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/tiktok-is-developing-its-own-ar-effects-creation-platform-to-expand-its-vis/605441/

Leveraging Tiktok Trends to Run Media Buy Ads on Facebook

NYC wanted to increase awareness and push downloads for their new Telegram stickers. They tapped on a Tiktok trend which is, Tell me you’re Singaporean without telling me you’re Singaporean.

They showcased the unique habits of the locals in a carousel style which is light hearted in nature.

However, the CTA is not strong and there is a lack of messaging in each frame.

TikTok Launches ‘Creative Solutions’ Guide to Building Effective TikTok Campaigns

With TikTok gaining more and more popularity, more brands and marketers are looking into how they can maximise the app’s tools and functions to boost their content’s reach and discovery. Unlike how Instagram and Facebook works, in terms of reaching out to the community, incorporating organic trends and even re-purposing ad campaigns or even creating professional-looking ads might not equate to more views and reach.

Thus, TikTok has put together a creative guide for brands based on case studies of effective organic videos that have done well on the app. TikTok explains creatives should be tailored to the platform’s unique characteristics. This guide provides useful notes and tips for effective and noteworthy best practices to make the most of the app for creators.

Link: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/tiktok-launches-creative-solutions-guide-to-building-effective-tiktok-cam/605010/ 

Instagram Adds New Features to Help Protect Users from Bullying and Abuse

Current features:

• penalties
• personal accounts to switch off DMs from people they don’t follow

New features:

• “Limits” option
• temporarily limit unwanted messages & comments from selected groups
• groups recommended based on detected activity
• display stronger warning message such as deletion of account
• automated detection based on certain terms & phrases in comment field
• hidden words feature for DMs
• automatically filter DMs based on potentially offensive terms, phrases or emojis
• re-routed to Hidden folder

Link: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/instagram-adds-new-features-to-help-protect-users-from-bullying-and-abuse/604846/  

Instagram Adds New ‘Audio’ Tab to its Search Options to Boost Reels Engagement

What

Instagram has added the capacity to search for audio specifically within the search tab in the app.

How it Works

Now when you search on Instagram, you’ll be able to switch across to a new ‘Audio’ tab, which will highlight the various tracks available for use within the app. 

Tap on any track and you’ll see a TikTok-like display of the Reels that have utilized samples of that song.

You can then save the audio for your own usage, while also getting a full overview of relevant trends and clips for inspiration.

This makes it easier to tap into trends based on music clips, with a focus on Reels creation based on the same.

Why?

Instagram is likely looking to increase Reels usage, in an effort to fend off rising competition from TikTok, it makes sense for it to align with usage trends, and facilitate related discovery as best it can.

As Tiktok continues to grow its user base and influence among the younger audiences, it is likely that Instagram is going to continue to add similar tools to slow down IG to TikTok user migrations, which eats into their audience bases.

Link: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/instagram-adds-new-audio-tab-to-its-search-options-to-boost-reels-engagem/604775/ 

Reddit Tests New TikTok-Like Video Feed as it Looks to Expand its Video Options

Reddit will be adding a video feed option to their forums after their previous acquisition of the company called Dubmash.

This was due to the popularity and rise of short video content.

As they do not have their own camera function for users to upload videos, they allow them to upload their video content from other platforms like TikTok, IG, YouTube and others.

A key takeaway would be Reddit is a popular platform for social and tech related topics. The new video feed will enable users to view videos of similar categories of videos they have previously watched or threads they have commented on. This will be a great tool for new tech tools to be discovered on Reddit.

Link: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/reddit-tests-new-tiktok-like-video-feed-as-it-looks-to-expand-its-video-opt/605008/ 

Instagram Verification

IG has rolled out a verification form to facilitate the application of account verification. Where previously the submission form was ambiguous, this new form clearly defines what needs to be uploaded, and has additional fields support to ensure documents and links are uploaded properly.

You can find this by going to Account ->  Request Verification

Do note that for applications which are unsuccessful, you need to wait for up to 30 days from the date of application, before a resubmission can be done.

Facebook Shares New Insights into the Key Elements of Effective Video Content

Video effectiveness on Facebook is determined by 2 main factors – executional elements such as ads, duration etc as well as the creative element which includes copy quality and design. These elements are at 20 and 70% respectively

7 best practices

• Frame for mobile (the article recommended 4:5 for FB and square for IG but we SHOULD GO FOR 1080 x 1350 px for IG!!!!!!!)
• Made for sound off – but we should go for sound on for most of the time!
• Showcase the product or service (main subject of the ad) 
• Have a single message focus – avoid squeezing multiple messages in one creative
• Showcase unique brand – due to FB algorithm, not everything will be showed
• Get to the point – make sure the key message is in the front. 
• Use movements or fast edit in introduction – aim to include some fast paced movement at the start and avoid having a still introduction. 

Highly recommended

• Say it it in less – succinct in messaging
• Flip the traditional storytelling arc
• Spark interest with twists and surprises
• Visual interest. Bright colours and close up

Link: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/facebook-shares-new-insights-into-the-key-elements-of-effective-video-conte/604940/