Tag Archives: MML

MONDAY MORNING LEARNING – 10 JANUARY 2022

8 Emerging Visual Trends for 2022 [Infographic]

Depositphotos enlisted the help of a number of digital marketing gurus to get their take on the newest trends, which they then matched with their own data to get a sense of where people are looking and what’s attracting their attention in their social feeds. It’s something to think about for your strategic plan.

Here are some visual trends to look out for in 2022:

1. The Metaverse
2. Psychedelic Art
3. AI-Generated Music
4. Y2K Aesthetics
5. Science Non-Fiction
6. Acts of Self Love
7. The Art of Storytelling
8. Immersive Everything

Link: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/8-emerging-visual-trends-for-2022-infographic/616580/

TikTok Shares New Insights into the Importance of Audio in Brand Marketing

TikTok has started a new insights series that will look into the significance of sound in clips. Sound is considered essential to the TikTok experienced by 9 out of 10 users. When distinctive brand sounds are used in advertising, brand connection and recall rise by over 8x when compared to other elements such as slogans and logos. Shoppee

Link: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/tiktok-shares-new-insights-into-the-importance-of-audio-in-brand-marketing/616633/

Facebook Adds New Features to Creator Studio, Including Stories Highlights and Timeline View for Posts

To celebrate the new year, Facebook has updated Creator Studio with new features such as a Stories preview option for video uploads and a new way to sample how your submitted material appears in-stream.

Highlight clips for video uploads in stories – A 20-second clip from the whole video to share on Facebook and Instagram Stories. To produce the preview, Creator Studio will automatically highlight a 20-second cut from the whole video, but you won’t be able to tweak and create the exact preview you want.

Timeline view for published posts – This illustrates how your posts would appear in user feeds on Facebook and Instagram. This is a popular feature on third-party posting tools, so having it available on Creator Studio would be easier for social media administrators.

Finally, certain tools have been relocated or renamed.

These enhancements provide more ways to use Creator Studio as a critical tool for post-production and improve user experience.

Link: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/facebook-adds-new-features-to-creator-studio-including-stories-highlights/616718/

TikTok Launches Test of ‘TikTok Stories’

Tiktok has begun a small pilot test of TikTok Stories in a number of locations outside of the United States. 

This new feature looks to function similarly to existing stories features on applications such as Instagram and Snapchat. Stories are housed in a new slide-over sidebar, where you may view stories uploaded by accounts you follow on TikTok for 24 hours before they’re automatically erased. Other people will be able to remark and react to your tale as well. 

You’ll be able to load a story by tapping on a user’s profile image, much like you can on Instagram and other sites. 

The app’s feature is described as “a new way to communicate with your fans” by TikTok. Users can start a new tale by hitting the “create” button in the sidebar and then filling in the blanks with captions, music, and text. Because TikTok is a video-first platform, it appears that stories must be videos rather than static photographs.

However, TikTok is still in the experimental phase, so this may not become a permanent feature.

Link: https://www.theverge.com/2021/8/4/22610011/tiktok-stories-snapchat-feature-social-media  

Blockchain Gaming: 2022 forecast

In terms of user popularity, GameFi applications have exceeded DeFi. In November, nearly half of all active cryptocurrency wallets connected to decentralised applications were used to play games.

 After months of being the most popular dapp use case, the percentage of wallets linked to decentralised finance, or DeFi, dapps plummeted to 45% within the same time period.

Play-to-earn (P2E) game on the blockchain Axie infinite exploded in popularity, igniting a gaming craze that is predicted to last until 2022. P2E blockchain-based games have high expectations from crypto analysts and gaming supporters, and there are certain to be a few sleeping giants that will rule the field.

Link: https://cointelegraph.com/news/5-nft-based-blockchain-games-that-could-soar-in-2022

5 Social Media Trends That CMOs Must Know in 2022 [Infographic]

Grazitti Interactive published an infographic highlighting five social media trends that every CMO and marketing professional should be aware of.

Companies have increased their marketing ad budgets to compete and attract the attention of their customers as a result of the epidemic, resulting in a 92.3% increase in social media ad spending year over year.

Other trends to take note of:

  • Video Content – Live Streaming
  • Influencer Marketing – Micro-influencers
  • Shopping capabilities  on Social Media Platform
  • Customer relations

Link: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/5-social-media-trends-that-cmos-must-know-in-2022-infographic/616779/

MONDAY MORNING LEARNING – 03 JANUARY 2022

Instagram’s Chief Outlines the Key Areas of Focus for the App in 2022

Throughout 2021, we saw Instagram copy virtually everything that TikTok has to offer, and according to Instagram chief Adam Mosseri, you can anticipate even more of the same in 2022, as the platform focuses on its main areas of growth, including streamlining its video formats to enhance interaction.

1. Reels will remain the key focus – all video formats will be round Reels.

2. Instagram will be looking to make messaging a bigger focus in the app, which is now ‘the primary way that people connect online’, while it will also be looking to add more monetization tools for creators in the app.

Link: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/instagrams-chief-outlines-the-key-areas-of-focus-for-the-app-in-2022/616571/ 

Tiktok Tests a New ‘re-post’ Option to Boost the Distribution of Clips

Tiktok is currently testing this feature with a small group of users, which allows them to re-share clips to their connections’ feeds under the ‘For you’ and ‘Following’ tabs without having to share the clip with each person individually, making it easier to distribute content.

On the other hand, making it easy to distribute messages could have the unintended consequence of spreading disinformation and hoaxes. At the moment, however, it is unclear whether this will become a standard feature.

Link: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/tiktok-tests-new-re-post-option-to-boost-distribution-of-clips/616446/ 

Navigating the Metaverse With PFPs

It remains to be seen whether NFT-based profile pictures (PFPs) and avatars will scale up in the long run. PFPs, on the other hand, is gaining popularity among NFTs at the moment. Read more about PFPs here and on the top PFP artists here. Additionally, read more on the 2021 updates to the Metaverse here

Tiktok Now Has Live-stream Intros to Help With Engagement

This is a minor but potentially useful addition to your TikTok live-stream broadcasts. TikTok has added a new ‘LIVE intro’ option, according to user Jonah Manzano, which allows you to write a short written explanation to welcome new viewers as they come across your broadcast.

When this new LIVE Intro option is enabled, viewers will see a brief explainer when they join your stream.  That could be a simple method to greet viewers and explain what your broadcast is all about, as well as what you want them to do as viewers.

TikTok is steadily expanding its boundaries beyond short video snippets, and live-streaming is becoming a bigger part of it.

Link: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/tiktok-adds-live-stream-intros-to-better-facilitate-engagement/616444/ 

MONDAY MORNING LEARNING – 13 DECEMBER 2021

Instagram’s Latest Update to Reels

When you click into a video in your main feed, it expands to a 16:9 aspect ratio. If you watch the video long enough, you’ll forget you’re scrolling through your main feed looking at posts from people you follow, and Instagram will now give you Reels from anyone who has the content you might be interested in.

This update gives creators more options for organic reach, so they don’t have to rely on ads or get people to follow their accounts to see their content. 

In some ways, it’s comparable to TikTok’s FYP, where you’re presented material based on what you’ve watched and what the app thinks you’ll enjoy.

Instagram Adds Reels Replies, Providing Another Way to Tap Into Short-Form Video

It’s been in testing for a while, but Instagram has now announced that users can now reply to post comments with Reels. Users may now reply to post comments using Reels, which is another method to integrate Reels into the Instagram process. 

It’s yet another opportunity for Instagram to enhance engagement while also capitalising on the short-form video boom. It’s also, unsurprisingly, nearly identical to a function TikTok introduced in June of last year.

Link: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/instagram-adds-reels-replies-providing-another-way-to-tap-into-short-form/611364/

Instagram rolling out delete image feature for grid carousels

We will soon be able to delete an image from a previously published carousel, thanks to an update that has been rolling out since mid-November (in case of errors or repeats). Additionally, deleting images and restoring them in the order we want them to display in the grid carousel is a solution for re-ordering a carousel.

Link: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/instagram-adds-option-to-delete-individual-posts-from-carousels-shake-to-r/610244/ 

Facebook Announces New Comment Moderation and Support Features, Including Live Chat for Some Account Issues

Facebook has enhanced its moderation tools as part of its ongoing effort to protect the community against spam and malicious comments. We used to be able to hide or delete comments on posts; this new feature allows us to do so again, but the person whose remark was hidden will still be able to see it. This reduces the likelihood of their posting on the same thread multiple times.

Link: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/facebook-announces-new-comment-moderation-and-support-features-including-l/611350/

With the Expansion of Horizon Worlds, Meta Takes the Next Step Toward VR Social

What exactly does this imply?

  • Our target audiences will become even more scattered, forcing marketers to compete even harder for their audience’s attention. If brands want to stay relevant, they’ll have to establish their own VR area at any given time.
  • With the launch of Horizon Worlds to the US and Canadian audiences for Christmas this year, Facebook has taken its first steps into the future.

When these new realities are implemented, e-commerce will be severely impacted owing to the introduction of NFT (Non-Fungible Tokens), where purchases are done using these tokens or cryptocurrency rather than our present cash/card payment system.

China also announced this week the formation of a new committee to advance the AR/VR sector, so we can anticipate TikTok to adapt to the new arena as well.

Link: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/meta-takes-next-steps-towards-vr-social-with-the-expansion-of-horizon-world/611305/

Pinterest Invests in Creative Tools by Acquiring Vochi, a Video Creation and Editing App

Pinterest is now seeing its users contributing pins in video format rather than photographs in an effort to move away from being solely an imageboard.

Pinterest sees the need to stay relevant in the wake of Tiktok, Instagram, and the rise of video consumption by providing more video creation options, in addition to the recently launched video-first feature Idea Pins and Creator Originals, where creators can make sales by tagging the items they want to sell like brand partnerships.

Link: https://techcrunch.com/2021/12/06/pinterest-invests-in-creator-tools-with-acquisition-of-video-creation-and-editing-app-vochi/

MONDAY MORNING LEARNING – 06 DECEMBER 2021

Facebook Adds New Trend Insights in Creator Studio, Which Could Help Shape Your Posting Strategy

Facebook’s Creator Studio now includes new Trend Insights, which may aid in the development of your posting strategy. Trending content and hashtags within categories connected to your Business Page are highlighted in the new ‘Inspiration Hub’ part. In Creator Studio, you’ll see the first of the new insights, which includes hot hashtags and videos made by Pages similar to yours in the recent 24 hours.

Examine several forms of trending content on Facebook to see what users are responding to and what individuals in your target market are engaged in. Although this type of data is available on CrowdTangles, not everyone has access to it, making this feature a welcome one for marketers.

Link: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/facebook-adds-new-trend-insights-in-creator-studio-which-could-help-shape/610823/

Meta Partners with Industry Experts on New Process to Detect and Remove ‘Revenge Porn’

As the title suggests, they can now detect inappropriate photos or videos from the internet using their technology. It isn’t entirely new, as YouTube already has a comparable technique for detecting copyright music. Previously, the photographs on Facebook and Instagram were not encrypted, allowing images of people to be easily accessed using Google’s reverse image search. Certain photographs from social networking networks are now undetectable by the reverse image search tool.

Link: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/meta-partners-with-industry-experts-on-new-process-to-detect-and-remove-re/610909/

LinkedIn Adds New Tools to ‘Creator Mode’

LinkedIn’s ‘Creator Mode‘ capabilities have been enhanced with the addition of LinkedIn Live access for those who have turned on the function, as well as a new newsletter option for creators to keep in touch with their audience. LinkedIn is working on more tools to recognise great producers and better align them with the app, so they can post more frequently and keep their audiences coming back for their views and insights.

Link: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/update-creator-mode-now-offers-access-linkedin-live-newsletters-/?trackingId=%2BVEj%2BDFDbL9ZroITqfaV3Q%3D%3D

TikTok Tests New Option to Tag Other Profiles in Your Video Clips

TikTok is experimenting with a new feature that allows you to tag profiles in your video clips. You can currently tag others in the video caption, but you can now tag them directly in the video. This is done as a way to connect creators, which may aid in the promotion of both their own and other people’s presence.
Link: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/tiktok-tests-new-option-to-tag-other-profiles-in-your-video-clips/610675/

MONDAY MORNING LEARNING – 30 NOVEMBER 2021

Google Adds New Trend Prediction Tools, Personalized to Your Business, to Google Ad Insights

Google is introducing new predictive aspects to Google Ads insights, using machine learning and historical data to forecast expected consumer behaviours. Users can view this function on the Insights page in Google Ads while it is still in development.

Google’s testing demand forecasts – Estimations of likely search interest for your products over the next 6 months by combining machine learning and past seasonal search trends

  • You can see trendlines for predicted search interest, actual search interest and clicks you’ve received from the trend
  • While this depends on how accurate the predictions are, it could still help with plan and strategy with the use of historical data to analyse and predict consumers’ search pattern

Consumer interest insight – Shows the number of people searching for each theme, the overall growth of each element and provide performance recommendations

  • Although consumer habits have changed significantly since COVID, it could improve over time with predictions that align with the shift in focus and behaviour

Audience insights – Can provide information on consumers’ interest, even what type of creativity they respond to or more likely would

  • It might provide indicative data with more specific information on what’s working in your Google Ads efforts

Link: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/google-adds-new-trend-prediction-tools-personalized-to-your-business-to-g/610299/

Tik Tok announced the testing of a new business registration option to confirm business information in the app

As part of their e-commerce strategy, the new business registration option will enable businesses to list their company category on their profiles and receive early access to new business features.

By doing so, Tik Tok can collect information on businesses and categorise pages into different groups on the app, allowing it to show relevant businesses to users, explain what brands have to offer, and encourage profile visitors to make purchases.

Link: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/tiktoks-testing-a-new-business-registration-option-to-confirm-business-i/610602/

Instagram’s Efforts to Win Back Young Users Will See Video Become the Focus of the Main Feed Display

In order to compete with TikTok, IG has started switching from its traditional content feed to a mobile/vertical first display. This is important because they’ve discovered that younger audiences are less inclined to use their VR/AR function.

One of the key reasons behind this, we believe, is the high cost of AR/VR gadgets for the younger age. (In the next 5 years, this should decrease.) IGS will be automatically shared on Reels as part of this update.

https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/instagrams-efforts-to-win-back-young-users-will-see-video-become-the-focus/610599/

Instagram Launches Live Test of Longer Videos in Stories

Instagram has now officially launched a live test of 60-second videos in Stories, which will mean that longer video clips will no longer be split into 15-second segments, and played across various Story frames. Right now it’s being tested with a small group of users.

Link: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/instagram-launches-live-test-of-longer-videos-in-stories/610535/

MONDAY MORNING LEARNING – 22 NOVEMBER 2021

Instagram Now Lets You Delete a Single Photo from a Carousel

Instagram has made it possible to remove individual items from a carousel post that has at least three photographs or videos. However, you may only delete items from the carousel; you cannot replace or reorder them. To remove an image or video from a carousel, hit the three dots in the upper right corner of the post and then click “edit.” Then, in the top-left corner, swipe to the photo or image you wish to delete and hit the “delete” symbol. Currently, the new functionality is only accessible on iOS, with Android compatibility coming soon.

Instagram Rolls Out New ‘Rage Shake’ Feature 

Users may now shake their phones to report an issue on the app using the new ‘Rage Shake’ function. Whatever problems you have with the app, such as Stories not loading or music not playing, the new feature allows you to shake your phone and a small button will appear that allows you to report a problem. You can explain what happened with the app and submit the problem after shaking to report. This new feature intends to assist Instagram with prioritising bugs and learning about other issues that need to be addressed in the app. For the time being, it is only available in the United States for both iOS and Android users.

Link: https://techcrunch.com/2021/11/18/instagram-rolls-out-new-rage-shake-feature-and-the-option-to-delete-posts-from-a-carousel/

Facebook Eases Social Issues Ads Policy to Allow Product-Focused Ads to Run Without a Disclaimer

Previously Facebook disallowed boosting of posts that relates to a social cause or product/services. However, this time they have revised that restriction and has allowed product or services relating to the social issue to be boosted without the need for account and profile verification.

Types of ads that has been allowed

  • A product or service is prominently shown in use or named or referenced in the ad;
  • The primary purpose of the ad is to sell a product or promote a service, even if the ad content includes advocacy for a social issue; and
  • The ad content contains a call-to-action to purchase or use the product or service

Link: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/facebook-eases-social-issues-ads-policy-to-allow-product-focused-ads-to-run/610382/ 

Facebook Tests New User Content Controls for News Feed

In their News Feed Preferences, consumers may now increase or decrease the quantity of content they see from their friends, family, Groups, and Pages, as well as the topics they care about.

It could be a good way to provide people with more control over their feed – though, of course, that does depend on how many people actually use it, with previous data showing that many people don’t change their Facebook settings, even when there’s a clear reason that they should.

It puts the onus on users, giving them more control, while Facebook itself knows that many won’t bother, ensuring it largely maintains the status quo in usage.

Link: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/facebook-tests-new-user-content-controls-for-news-feed-new-restrictions-fo/610304/

MONDAY MORNING LEARNING – 15 NOVEMBER 2021

TikTok Launches ‘Creative Exchange’ Platform to Connect Brands with Top Creators

With the advent of a new ‘Creative Exchange’ platform, brands may pitch a campaign brief to a selection of the greatest TikTok creative partners in the industry, this new option encourages collaboration between creators and brands. These content tailoring and personalization professionals can increase ad performance and drive results by tailoring and personalising content. Sign up for the Creative Exchange platform if you have a verified profile and want to give an overview of the campaign brief with a variety of pitching alternatives and determine how you want to explain your intended project.

From the initial setup, the platform provides a variety of campaign categories, such as “Story” or “Screen Recording,” to provide producers with a better idea of what they require. After you’ve filled out all of the information, you’ll fill out a form with your contact information and a brand storey or product description for creators to review before they take on the brief. Relevant creators who suit the project’s profile will be contacted, and they will have the option to accept the project and communicate directly with the client. In a word, this platform facilitates collaboration by allowing both parties to communicate and connect with ease.

TikTok’s success is partly due to content creators, and the platform recognises this by providing tools and assistance to advertisers and creators in order to maximise revenue potential and prevent them from switching to other platforms. Instead of sourcing on your own and not knowing if the artists you have in mind are genuinely fit, it may be easier for us to receive a list of creators suitable for the campaign through the Creative Exchange platform. As a result, this platform is currently in beta testing with a select group of advertisers and producers.

Link: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/tiktok-launches-creative-exchange-platform-to-connect-brands-with-top-cre/609922/

Facebook Launches ‘Creative App Platform’ to Expand Stories Functionality

As we’ve seen in the past, Facebook is developing functions that are comparable to those of its competitors. They’ve included a “new” feature this time that allows creative creators to promote their apps in Facebook stories. This feature is comparable to Snapchat Minis, which allows artists to provide people access to a stripped-down version of their creative app. Facebook has taken this route in order to win back the younger audiences from TikTok.

Link: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/facebook-launches-creative-app-platform-to-expand-stories-functionality/609945/

Shopping on Facebook Groups

Facebook is releasing new features to its apps that will improve shopping and purchasing. The goal of this initiative is to provide consumers with feedback and information from other shoppers, allowing them to make more educated purchasing decisions.

  • Shops in Groups allows you to support the communities you care about by purchasing their goods.
  • When you ask for advice in a group, Product Recommendations in Groups will display the products that members recommend.
  • Top Product Mentions in News Feed is a feature that allows you to find products that have been recommended by peers in groups to which you belong.

Link: https://about.fb.com/news/2021/11/shop-with-groups-creators-and-friends/ 

Removal of Targeting Options for Sensitive Topics

Starting January 19, 2022, we will remove Detailed Targeting options that reference causes, organisations, or public figures that are related to health, race or ethnicity, political affiliation, religion, or sexual orientation, as well as options referencing causes, organisations, or public figures that are related to health, race or ethnicity, political affiliation, religion, or sexual orientation.

You won’t be able to target your advertising based on issues like “World Diabetes Day” or other health concerns, nor will you be able to target people based on their sexual orientation, political beliefs, or other personal characteristics. According to many surveys, young people are more likely to buy from firms that support causes and movements with which they agree. In this regard, the elimination of certain targeted features may have an impact.

Continuing to Reach your Audience

In addition to broad targeting such as gender and age, below are some of our top tips and example use cases for our partners:

Instagram Tests New ‘Take a Break’ Feature to Encourage Users to Limit Time in the App

This break function has been implemented in a number of social networking apps. You can mute push alerts for a set amount of time with Instagram’s Take a Break function. On Facebook, the same option is available. Similarly, on DouYin, children under the age of 14 are limited to 40 minutes of app use every day, from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.Link: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/instagram-tests-new-take-a-break-feature-to-encourage-users-to-limit-time/609854/

MONDAY MORNING LEARNING – 08 NOVEMBER 2021

Pinterest Announces ‘Pinterest TV’ Shoppable Live-Stream Series

Pinterest has now launched Pinterest TV, a series of live, original, and shoppable creator episodes. At first sight, the UX appears to be very similar to TikTok/Dou Yin’s live stream feature, in which the products being discussed are displayed as a clickable image on the screen, and viewers can purchase the product while the creator is talking about it. 

Producers from Pinterest collaborate closely with each creative to create original content, provide “backstage” A/V support, and launch captivating episodes. 

Link: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/pinterest-announces-pinterest-tv-shoppable-live-stream-series/609202/

TikTok Provides New, Step-by-Step Guides to Creating Branded Content on the Platform

TikTok intends to help brands who are thinking about creating branded content or who want to enhance their content creation by providing extensive, step-by-step guidance to some of the platform’s most popular video genres. In their piece, Socialmediatoday goes over the three main video styles that TikTok has highlighted.

To begin, TikTok recommends making an introductory, first-person video to inform consumers about the business and what it does, complete with precise procedures and an outline, such as how long each clip should be and how the subject/product in the clips should be framed. Following that, a product demonstration and the creation of a customer’s tale by showing a real-life review of one of the brand’s most popular products.

Each of these video plans includes minute-by-minute framing comments, giving advertisers a clear picture of how to create an effective branded content clip that will operate best on the platform. If you’re out of ideas or don’t have time to explore the latest trends on the app, this is a great option.

While brands can pay to promote their videos to attract a wider audience, TikTok says that these recommended video formats can help brands develop a TikTok presence even if they don’t have financial assistance. Just a reminder that typical, interruptive ad methods will not work for TikTok; marketers will still need to align their creatives with TikTok trends to get the most out of their promotional dollars.

Link: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/tiktok-provides-new-step-by-step-guides-to-creating-branded-content-on-the/609359/

YouTube Tests Opening to Shorts Direct for Users That Regularly Engage with the Option

YouTube looks set to give Shorts even more focus.

“We’re currently testing out a new Shorts experience – if you’re in the experiment and you close the YouTube app while watching Shorts, you will be dropped into the Shorts player when you reopen the app (so you have direct access.) If you exit the YouTube app while watching any content other than Shorts, we won’t direct you right into Shorts next time you open the app.”

That would make Shorts the key focus for users who regularly engage with the option, with the app opening to a full-screen, never-ending feed of Shorts clips – just like TikTok.

Link: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/youtube-tests-opening-to-shorts-direct-for-users-that-regularly-engage-with/609433/ 

Instagram Post Preview Cards are Back on Twitter

Instagram has announced that IG posts shared in tweets will appear with preview cards once again, helping to improve cross-platform sharing. Instagram preview links were previously available on Twitter, but Instagram cancelled them in 2012. Earlier this year, Instagram and Twitter started working together again, with tweets appearing as shareable stickers in Instagram Stories. 

Right now, while you can share tweets in Instagram Stories, they’re not tappable, due to the way that Instagram limits links in Stories – or has done thus far, till it rolled out the link sticker to all users last month. That expansion could pave the way for tappable tweet links, which would make cross-platform sharing even better.

Link: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/instagram-post-preview-cards-are-back-on-twitter/609437/

Instagram rolls out new tools for creators to collaborate and partner with brands

Instagram’s testing new features to help brands and creators connect on the platform. Similar to TikTok’s Creator Marketplace, it would position Instagram as a one-stop shop for influencers to find brands to work with and vice versa.

3 features highlighted:

  • Partnership Messages
  • Data-driven Influencer Search
  • Preferred Brand Partners List 

Link: https://later.com/blog/instagram-branded-content-partnership-features

MONDAY MORNING LEARNING – 01 NOVEMBER 2021

Instagram Makes Links in Stories Available to All Accounts

It’s been a long time coming, but Instagram Stories links are now available to all accounts, regardless of follower count or verification status. From August 2021, anyone can use the link sticker instead of the Swipe up links on their Stories.

Instagram announced that they’ll be working on ways to customise the sticker so that users know what they’ll see when they click the link. With changes focusing on Reels and Stories, the platform appears to be putting more emphasis on pushing video creation, in accordance with Facebook’s shift in priorities for Instagram to be more like TikTok in July 2021.

Link: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/instagram-makes-links-in-stories-available-to-all-accounts/609021/ 

LinkedIn Launches New Freelancer Connection Tools to Lean into the Rising Gig Economy

With the global extension of LinkedIn’s Services Marketplace options, the company hopes to provide more ways for freelancers to discover and connect with one another, as well as maximise opportunities.

Advanced discovery is now available to users who add a Services listing to their profile, with additional suggestion tools, search filters, and other features that will assist business owners to hone in on what they need from freelancing providers. LinkedIn has also simplified the freelancer connection process by allowing users to place a request for services directly from your service page without having to connect or follow you. 

LinkedIn has also included a new dashboard for service providers, which will help them keep track of their numerous issues and requests. Users will be able to manage the customer reviews that appear on their services page through the new dashboard’s ‘Reviews status’ element.

Link: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/linkedin-launches-new-freelancer-connection-tools-to-lean-into-the-rising-g/609016/ 

Twitter Previews Coming NFT Display Options for Profile Images

Users will be able to display their NFT assets on Twitter in the future. This might be the beginning of other social media sites incorporating similar features for users in order to attract and retain a wider following.

Because of the regular exchanges between big personalities like Elon Musk, Twitter and Reddit have become one of the go-to venues for news connected to Cryptocurrencies.

Link: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/twitter-previews-coming-nft-display-options-for-profile-images/609123/ 

MONDAY MORNING LEARNING – 25 OCTOBER 2021

Instagram Will Enable Users to Upload Photos and Videos via Desktop from This Week

Instagram announced that users can now post images and videos from the desktop, as of October 21. Other than images, videos of up to 1 minute will be supported. 

How to do it?

  • Click the new + icon in the top right corner to get started (next to the Messenger icon)
  • Follow the prompts to upload your photos or videos (drag and drop or “Select From Computer”)
  • Choose your size/format
  • Pick your filter and/or edit (tab at the top)
  • Add your caption/location, and more
  • Choose Share

You may add alt text to each image on the desktop version; if you’re uploading multiple images, this can help enhance SEO for the post by assisting the Instagram algorithm in determining what the image is about. While the main goal is to make your content accessible to users with visual impairments, it can also help to boost the chance of your post appearing on your target users’ Instagram accounts’ ‘Explore’ page. Even though Instagram analyses each post using image recognition, alt text guarantees that your content is seen by the right people.

Link: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/instagram-will-enable-users-to-upload-photos-and-videos-via-desktop-from-th/608527/ 

Instagram Adds New Data Analytics to Provide More Performance Insight for Marketers

Instagram’s looking to provide more data for marketers with an update to its Insights element for business and creator profiles. The new metrics being added to Instagram insights are:

  • Accounts engaged – This will show the total number of accounts that interacted with your content in a given time period
  • Engaged audience – This data will provide demographic insights into the users that are engaging with your content, whether they follow your profile or not, including top cities, top countries, top age ranges and gender
  • Reached Audience – Similar to Engaged Audience, this will provide demographic information about the people you’ve reached with your posts in a given time period, including top cities, top countries, top age ranges and gender

Link: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/instagram-adds-new-data-analytics-to-provide-more-performance-insight-for-m/608509/

Facebook’s frequent update on policies and restrictions.

If the ad fails to perform the following, Facebook has begun to reject more ads that direct traffic to websites. 

  • There is no mention of any political figures giving a talk or a speech in the Ad.
  • The ad talks about social issues but has no disclaimer mentioned.
  • The partner is not tagged in partnered content.

How to tackle this rejection?

As of now, the solutions are vague, and brands that aren’t large spenders are frequently overlooked.

LinkedIn Publishes New ‘Inclusive Language’ Guide to Help Improve Brand Communications

Inclusion has become increasingly important in recent years. As we spend more time online, we are exposed to more content, and individuals are becoming more aware of what constitutes “politically acceptable” wording. As a result, it’s critical for content creators to be cautious about the language they choose.

Words like “blacklist,” “whitelist,” “salesman,” and “chairman” are typically avoided since they refer to a specific race or gender.

Link: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/linkedin-publishes-new-inclusive-language-guide-to-help-improve-brand-com/607965/