Social Media News For You In March

Let’s get right into the social media and influencer news you can use to start your week. This week, I’ll be covering TikTok experimenting with in-feed shopping, the struggles content creators and influencers face, and the latest app update from Spotify that feels a lot like TikTok.

Looking for more social media news worth using? You can see more of my latest social media updates and more deep dives on specific topics on my blog if you’re new to my website.

TikTok Experimenting with in-feed Shopping.

While most social media platforms have had limited success with in-app shopping, TikTok is pushing ahead with its in-stream commerce initiatives.

According to AdAge, several US retailers now appear to have a new in-stream shopping tab enabled on their profiles. In contrast to the regular TikTok shop functionality, which redirects users to the retailer's website for conversion, the in-stream shopping flow includes a shop overview and direct purchase capability within the app.

TikTok, in particular, relies on in-app purchases as part of a larger strategy to provide more revenue potential to app creators. If TikTok users do not behave similarly to those on Douyin, TikTok's revenue opportunities will be limited.

Content Creators Struggle as Social Media Platforms Evolve

It's no secret that the social media landscape is constantly changing. It takes time to keep up with changes, such as which platform is most popular, which medium is most effective, algorithm updates, and more. These trends are having the most impact on social media content creators, who are still caught in the middle.

Content creators are under pressure to publish content on every platform and meet their followers where they spend their time. This includes legacy and new apps, such as BeReal and Hive. However, not all platforms are where a content creator's audience lives, which is ultimately detrimental to the creator.

The ever-changing algorithms on each platform also play a significant role in some of the difficulties these creators face. Creators say dealing with Instagram's constant shifts is particularly discouraging and troublesome. Learn more about the challenges that content creators face here.

Spotify Unveils New App Design Inspired By TikTok

The audio streaming service recently redesigned its mobile app, similar to TikTok. The most noticeable changes include vertical, TikTok-style discovery feeds for music, podcasts, and audiobooks that allow users to scroll through previews of each type of content. What else makes this Spotify update similar to TikTok? 

• Spotify also added a "Smart Shuffle" mode for premium subscribers, which suggests new songs for your queue while you listen to a playlist. 

• And when you finish a podcast episode, similar podcasts will start playing automatically. 

Spotify joins Reddit, Netflix, Instagram, and YouTube in capitalizing on people's desire to see bite-sized versions of content while using their phones. Some of these features were rolled out on Wednesday, and the company announced additional updates coming later.

If you’re looking for more ways to build advocacy for your or your client’s brands, check out the latest of my freebies. I even created a quick infographic that contains a five-step framework for building brand advocacy on social media.

3 Strategies For Efficient Content Creation

Content creation is vital to any business's success, but it can take time and resources. However, you can create content quickly and efficiently with the right strategies. This blog post will cover five strategies for efficient content creation that will help you save time and maximize productivity. From creating social media content in 24 ours to repurposing content for vertical videos, creating engaging content lightning fast, you will be able to create content quickly and effectively. Let’s dive in!

Looking for more social media and influencer marketing news worth using? You can read more of my writing, covering my favorite social media tools to use, like GoCharlie.ai. and more deep dives on specific topics on my blog.

1) Lean Into Vertical Videos Across Multiple Platforms

If you want your audience to stick around, you need to provide them with valuable information they can use and share. Meta says content should either educate, entertain, or inform audiences when on their platforms, and that’s a good rule to follow.

Creating social media content can be daunting, but with the right approach, you can take a single video and turn it into multiple video assets. it can be done in just a few short hours. One of the most effective strategies for efficient content creation is to create vertical video content in 9x16 format.

With so many platforms demanding video content, it can be overwhelming to figure out how to create engaging social media content. Thankfully, the majority of the most popular social media platforms use vertical 9x16 videos. This means you can theoretically create one video in a 9x16 format, and repurpose it across multiple platforms.

2) Improve Your Content Creation Capabilities With Canva and Canva Pro

Another great resource for creating social media posts is Canva and Canva Pro. Canva has a library of templates that can make the content creation process easy while still giving your content a professional look. Using their graphics editor and preloaded videos, you can quickly produce multiple pieces of content in a more efficient manner. Leaving you plenty of time to spend on other related tasks, like community engagement. Whether you're looking to create simple images or video content, Canva has everything you need to get started.

If you’re looking for more, one of the newer features in Canva Pro is the Background Remover. This feature can remove the background from your videos, making them easy to edit without distractions. This is great for creating videos focused on one topic or removing unwanted elements from footage you want to use in your content.

Another great feature of Canva Pro is the ability to create batch content. With this feature, you can easily create a series of images or video content without starting from scratch each time. Enter a set number of parameters (such as resolution or video length), and Canva will take care of the rest!

3) Turn Long-form Into Short-form Content

As a content creator, one of the most important things you can do is ensure your content is created as efficiently as possible. With so much content out there, it's hard to stand out from the crowd. However, by using repurposing content, you can publish multiple short-form videos that are just as effective as more traditional long-form videos.

One of the best ways to do this is by taking a long-form video and cutting it up into multiple short-form videos. This is where templates on Canva come in handy.

For behind-the-scenes footage or photos, repurposing content often requires more effort than simply taking an existing video and cutting it down. However, with the help of tools like Adobe Photoshop CC and Adobe Audition CC, you can easily edit existing videos into what you need them to be without having to create them from scratch. Using these tools together saves you tons of time and energy in your content creation process!

To Wrap Things Up

Creating content for social media can be daunting, especially when it needs to be done quickly. However, with the right strategy and tools, you can easily create engaging content in no time. Canva Pro is an excellent option for those looking to unlock new possibilities and save time while creating stunning visuals. Repurposing content and creating vertical videos is also an effective way to create eye-catching visuals without breaking the bank. With these tips and tricks in mind, you can now easily create engaging content at lightning speed!

If you’re new to my website, you can also download one of my freebies to help with your social media marketing efforts.

Social Media News You Can Use In March

Let’s get right into the social media and influencer news you can use to start off the month of March. Today, we’re cover the latest around TikTok’s potential ban in the U.S., see how a CPG brand used influencers to reach GenZ, and why your brand needs to utilize organic and paid social to achieve your goals.

If you want more ways to build advocacy for your or your client’s brands, check out the latest of my freebies. I even created a quick infographic that contains a five-step framework for building brand advocacy on social media.

U.S. TikTok Ban Moves a Step Closer

You might need to find a new way to kill time on your phone. On Wednesday, the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee voted to give President Biden the authority to ban TikTok in the United States. But what exactly does this mean?

The White House already has a total ban on TikTok on government-owned devices, and Biden now needs Senate approval before the ban can be implemented nationwide. Former President Donald Trump demanded that TikTok be sold to a U.S. company or face a complete ban, which may still be an option now.

Much depends on China, and whether or not they continue to cause friction with the United States, as security officials are concerned about TikTok. If this concern has already resulted in a ban on government devices, it may soon apply to all citizens.

 How IPG Talked to GenZ About Healthy Food Choices 

Plenty of articles about how agencies and brands want to reach Gen Z for their advertising efforts. Instead, let's look at how one holding company and its client took on that challenge. To encourage Gen Z consumers to "dare to try" new foods for the sake of the environment, Unilever's Knorr has resorted to the power of influencers. 

To drive engagement with Gen Z on TikTok, the brand and its agency IPG partnered with 11 well-known influencers from different countries for a game of "Truth or Dare" in which they have to try, for example, eating insects. 

And to help connect things back to the brand, Knorr created a series of recipes to show how dishes can use diverse ingredients that reflect more sustainable choices, and he encourages people to be more mindful of what they eat. 

Organic vs. Paid? Why Brands Need to Use Both

The headline tells you right away, but I firm believer of utilizing both organic and paid social media to help my clients achieve their goals. I’ve written about this before on my website, but paid and organic social media are separate beasts that should be used in conjunction, albeit for different purposes. Knowing the benefits and downsides of each is essential for a comprehensive approach that balances awareness and conversion. 

Social media strategies that move the needle for their clients and often gain industry recognition are built on using organic content to satisfy their existing consumers while bringing new consumers into the marketing funnel with paid ads. See how brands like Impossible Foods, Publix, and Auntie Annes use paid and organic social to help achieve their business goals in this blog post from Sprout Social.

That’s all for today, but thank you for taking the time to read my blog post! Looking for more social media news worth using? You can see more of my latest social media updates and more deep dives on specific topics on my blog if you’re new to my website.

How To Improve Your Instagram Hashtag Strategy

Hashtags have become a staple on social media, particularly on Instagram. Hashtags can increase engagement, attract followers, and maximize your marketing goals. And they are a great way to help people find your content. Not only that but using quality hashtags can help drive more engagement on your Instagram posts. But what are the best practices for using hashtags on Instagram?

In this blog post, we will unlock the power of hashtags and provide tips on using them to increase engagement on Instagram. From finding your Instagram groove to using hashtags for high engagement, we will provide a guide to using hashtags on Instagram. So, if you are looking to grow your brand on Instagram, read on to learn more about hashtags on Instagram.

Setting The Stage

Hashtags are one of the most popular social media tools out there. Used correctly, they can help to increase engagement on your posts and amplify your voice. However, like anything else in life, hashtags can be used in a way that needs to be updated or more effective.

Before that, let's clear up some misconceptions about hashtags. Hashtags were originally created for photographers so that users across all social media platforms could find their work. However, as Instagram evolved and became more popular than other social media platforms, businesses started using hashtags too. In fact, according to the Head of Instagram, Adam Mosseri, hashtags are now "a very important part of our strategy" on Instagram because it allows users on the platform to discover your content organically by looking at the relevant hashtags.

Tips For Increasing Engagements On Instagram With Hashtags

Now that we understand why hashtags are still useful, we need to start thinking about strategies when using them on Instagram. Adam Mosseri suggests avoiding trying to rank higher based on the amount of hashtag use, instead, focusing on using sound judgment when creating and using tags so that potential followers easily find your posts.

While there is no correlation between engagements and the number of hashtags used, posts with three to four hashtags tend to generate higher average engagement rates by impressions. So be sure to use as many relevant and descriptive tags as possible when posting content on Instagram!

You should select hashtags that are relevant to the photo or video content you are uploading. Additionally, be sure to use hashtags that are popular with Instagram users. By doing this, you will maximize the reach of your posts and attract more attention from potential followers.

I always suggest to my clients that they 5-8 hashtags in their organic posts, using a mixture of widely used hashtags (i.e. #Recipes, or #CuteDog), and more niche hashtags (i.e. #KetoRecipes or #CorgiNation). And finally, never stop experimenting with new hashtag ideas! Do research within the app to see what hashtags are being used the most.

It should go without saying, but ensure the hashtags you are using are appropriate for the content in question. For example, do not include offensive or inappropriate hashtags in your posts. Likewise, do not use irrelevant tags simply because they are popular – try to select hashtags that relate to the photo or post in question.

Tip: Be sure to check Instagram's Creator Lab for more information on best practices regarding hashtag usage on Instagram. There are some great resources to help you create better content.

In Short

Hashtags are an essential part of successful Instagram marketing. They are a great way to improve engagement, reach new followers, and boost your brand's visibility. Getting the hang of hashtags and how to use them effectively can be challenging, but with some experimentation and dedication, you can find what works best for your posts. Start by researching trending hashtags in relevant topics, leveraging more niche or unique hashtags to reach a more engaged audience, and using analytics tools (natively or through a tool like Sprout Social) to track performance. Keep experimenting until you find the perfect strategy for your Instagram account!

Want more social media and influencer marketing news worth using? You can read more of my writing, covering my favorite social media tools to use, like GoCharlie.ai. and more deep dives on specific topics on my blog.

Social Media News You Can Use For Your Brand

Happy Sunday! As we prepare for the week ahead, let’s talk about the social media and influencer news you can use to start your week. This week, we’re going to look at Meta’s new paid verification service, Spotify is the latest brand to foray into Artificial Intelligence and the growing trend of deinfluence.

Are you looking for more social media news that’s valuable for your brand? If so, check out more of my latest social media updates and more deep dives on specific topics on my blog, especially if you’re new to my website.

Meta Now Offering Paid Verification

On Facebook and Instagram, Meta announced the launch of a new subscription service that will allow users to become verified. There is one catch: you must pay to be verified. The Meta Verified subscription will cost $11.99 per month online or $14.99 per month on iOS or Android.

In addition to the new badge on your profile, Meta Verified will include a few other features. Other features will include enhanced protection against account impersonation, increased visibility in areas such as search and recommendations, and improved access to customer support.

While Twitter’s subscription model did not get off to a great start, Meta is hoping to learn from those challenges, announcing that Meta Verified would begin soon in select countries such as New Zealand and Australia, with additional countries to follow.

Spotify Debuts Their AI-powered DJ

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has shown to be useful in a variety of ways and many marketers are evaluating ways to incorporate this new technology into their work. But now it’s being used to improve your musical taste. If you’re a Spotify user, you can now use a new feature, showcasing an AI-powered DJ. This DJ will tailor its selections to your listening habits, add new releases to your playlists, and sneak in a few throwbacks based on your listening history.

Within the advertising industry, there has been a lot of talk about AI, including at the agency I work at, Motion. Curious to learn more? See what Spotify has to say about this new platform addition: "Think of fan-favorite playlists like Discover Weekly or our annual Wrapped campaign for examples of how we use personalization. The beauty of these experiences is our ability to deliver the right piece of music at the right time, and perhaps even connect you with your next favorite artist. We're expanding on that innovation by harnessing the power of artificial intelligence in an entirely new way. And we're thrilled to announce that we're taking personalization to a whole new level with DJ."

I started using this AI-powered DJ over the weekend and it is definitely unique to hear a voice call out your favorite artists and songs. There have been some hiccups as I often use Spotify for ambient sound, so some of my ‘throwbacks” are the sounds of rain and rushing water.

Deinfluencing: What happens to social media influencers when inflation hits?

If you're an avid TikTok user, you've likely been encouraged to purchase that new, flashy, exciting product. But afterward, you discovered you didn't need it. But a new trend on the app has emerged in response to the app's push for overconsumption: deinfluencing. 

The "deinfluencing" hashtag features roughly 155 million videos. It has been slowly expanding in recent months, erupting in late January when a popular TikTok beauty influencer was accused of sporting artificial eyelashes in a paid video promoting L'Oréal mascara. 

If the current trend continues, it could signal the end of the easy money era for the influencer marketing economy, which is expected to reach $16.4 billion by 2022. Deinfluencing also reflects a tightening economy in which people are less interested in frivolous spending and more interested in spending nights in. According to market research firm GWI, the number of Gen Zers interested in influencers has dropped 12% since 2020. 

If you’re looking for more ways to build advocacy for your or your client’s brands, check out the latest of my freebies. I even created a quick infographic that contains a five-step framework for building brand advocacy on social media.

Tactics For Growing And Engaging Your Audience on Instagram

Are you looking to build a robust social media presence? Whether you're a small business or an individual trying to make it big on the internet, it is essential to have a strong online presence. Building a successful social media presence can be challenging, but it can be done using the right strategies. 

In this blog post, we will discuss some of the best strategies for growing and engaging your audience. One of the best ways to establish a strong social media presence is through Instagram. Instagram is a visual platform that allows you to share photos and videos with your followers. This platform can be used to connect with your audience and build relationships. Effective Instagram techniques help ensure that your content is seen by the right people and leads to successful brand collaborations or partnerships.

I want to teach you how to create an effective Instagram strategy for growing your following and building brand collaborations. By keeping an open mind while researching content, embracing creativity, and being topically consistent, you'll create content that is more binge-worthy than shows like Netflix and less intimidating for potential followers.

Work Smarter, Not Harder With A Social Media Tool

When it comes to social media, there's no doubt that scheduling is essential to success. However, many social media users need help with this task. That's where programs like Sprout Social or Hootsuite come in handy. Platforms like these include a social media scheduler tool approved for all platforms, making it easy to use, no matter your device. These tools are cost-effective when you think about the time spent posting manually across multiple platforms. Meaning, that you won't have to spend a lot of money to get started with this valuable tool.

When setting up your content calendar, the first thing that you'll need to do is decide how often you're going to be posting and the type of content that aligns with your branding. For example, if you run a fitness blog, posting about fitness-related topics makes sense to have multiple times on your content calendar. Once you've determined these type of answers when it comes to the type of content you’ll post, it's time to figure out when the best time of day for posting. While there isn't one definitive answer to this question, research has shown that posts tend to perform better during peak hours (between 7am and 9am EST) or early evening hours (5pm-7pm EST). Think of people’s commutes to and from work.

Finally, when it comes to growing your social media following on Instagram specifically, one of the best ways to do so is by posting consistently. This means posting content on Instagram regularly, in order not to show up in-feed and increase your follower growth on Instagram. By following these simple tips – and using a platform like Sprout Social as your helpful tool – you can spend more time focusing on building an engaged audience on social media!

Unlock The Power Of Instagram

Building a social media presence can be daunting, but it doesn't have to be. By discovering new content ideas and engaging with your audience, you can focus on what really matters: delivering value to your followers. Below, we'll look at some of the strategies I've found to be most effective when building a social media presence:

1. Discover new content ideas: One of the best ways to build an engaged audience is by continuing to come up with new and exciting content for them to enjoy. By exploring different topics and genres (and across multiple platforms), you can keep your followers engaged and coming back for more.

2. Engage with other people in your niche and their followers: One great way to reach more people is by engaging with others in your niche and their followers. By doing this, you’re not only reaching a new audience but also helping the algorithm identify that your content should be shown to users like these.

The key to building a social media presence is providing value to your current and potential followers. No one likes feeling like they're being talked down to – especially when it comes to content. Make sure that what you're putting out there is worth someone's time and attention. If you can provide helpful tips or advice, do so! However, don't overdo it – people may tune out if they feel like they're being inundated with information every single day.

When thinking about hashtags, it's important to remember that hashtags are not overly complicated or niche; use ones that describe your content, such as '#fitnesscoach' or '#fashiontips.'

Growing Your Presence Through Collaboration

When it comes to growing your social media presence, collaboration is key. By working together with others in your industry or community, you're able to reach a broader audience that you wouldn't be able to reach on your own. This is why partnering with other bloggers and content creators is so valuable. By working together, you can share resources and build relationships that will last long into the future.

Collaborations and going Live with another user are two other great ways to expand your reach on Instagram while delivering value back to your followers. Both are surefire ways of turning potential fans into current ones.

Consistency is one of the most important things you need to grow your social media presence. If you try to create quality content, users will eventually find your content and stick along for the ride! However, don't forget about analytics – knowing how well each of your posts is performing can help guide future decisions about content creation. When something works well (e.g., garnering lots of engagement), figure out why and use that information to create better future content!

Finally, never stop learning – constant progress leads to lasting success on social media!

Final Thoughts

Congratulations! You have now explored a few strategies to grow your Instagram audience and unlock the power of Instagram. Now it's time for you to put these tips into action!

Want more social media and influencer news? Then be sure to visit my blog for more of my writing.