The Social Media News You Can Use in September

After spending Labor Day at the Arc Music Festival, followed up by a client presentation, the start of September has flown by for me. Just because it's a short week doesn't mean nothing is going on in the social media and influencer marketing world.

This week, we’ll talk about a new feature Instagram is testing, the business impact of TikTok, and Instagram rolling out a “Close-Friends-only” option. Let’s dig in.

Instagram Testing Location Tags In Notes 

Instagram added music to their Notes inbox prompts in June, and now Meta has stated that Instagram is also testing the option to add a location tag. Notes allow users to start private discussions quickly by sharing up to 60-character messages that will appear at the top of their inbox and be visible to all their followers. Sharing Notes is especially popular among younger users, and Meta is looking into further Notes functions to keep the growth in DM conversations going. 

Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri said, "...people are using notes to share thoughts, moods, and even locations." We want to make it easy to connect over where you're hanging out and obtain fresh ideas for places to explore." 

Does It Always Make Sense To Follow TikTok?

TikTok has been an enormous success, and other platforms like Amazon, Spotify, Instagram, and YouTube have all tried to copy its short-form video format. But is this a good strategy for YouTube? According to 9to5 Google, some senior staffers at YouTube are reportedly concerned that the company's focus on short-form content is coming at the expense of its long-form content. Long-form videos are more lucrative for YouTube because they can accommodate more ads and have higher click-through rates. However, creators may not care because short-form videos are quicker and easier to make, and brands are willing to pay for them. 

If YouTube wants to keep up with consumer tastes, especially those of Gen Z and millennials, it must offer short-form video content. But that doesn't mean YouTube has to abandon long-form content altogether.  

Want to see a Shorts featuring one of our clients at the Motion Agency? Click here to see some of our work at the Motion Agency, with YouTube influencer Ben Sullins discussing the Tesla integration with myQ.  

Instagram Rolls Out Option to Share Feed Posts With 'Close Friends' Only

Instagram is introducing a new feature that allows you to in-feed posts with close friends only, giving you another choice to pick who you want to share material with and creating a more personalized experience. Some users now see a new 'Audience' option within the flow to produce posts, allowing them to share their feed post with 'Close Friends' alone, rather than all your followers as you would typically. 

In 2018, Instagram introduced the ability to share Story posts with Close Friends. IG has since added the ability to Notes and Reels, but you still can't create in-feed posts for Close Friends only. 

Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri said, "Instagram users now share way more content via DMs than they do in feed posts or Stories." As a result, developing the option to share in-feed posts with a select audience was a natural next step. This new feature isn't a tremendous shift for Instagram to implement, but it would help Instagram tap into recent user patterns. 

Once you’re caught up on the latest social media news in September, be sure to check out more of my writing, like covering my favorite social media tools to use, like GoCharlie.ai. and more deep dives on specific topics on my blog. 

Tactics to Help Build a Social Media Presence

Are you looking to build a robust social media presence? Whether you're a small business or just trying to grow your personal brand, having a strong online presence is essential. 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 through social media.

Unlock The Power Of Social Media

Building a social media presence can be daunting, but it doesn't have to be. By creating content that leverages trending post ideas and engaging with your audience, you can focus on what 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 post ideas and formats: 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 post formats like Stories, I can keep my followers engaged and coming back for more. I’ve been grateful to be on multiple podcasts recently, and I’ve been posting clips from these interviews in various creative formats.

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 can lean into the type of content the algorithm is prioritizing and learn from their strategies to improve your content. One constant that has always led my brand and my clients’ brands to success is to show up where your target audience is most active, and that’s often in the comments of accounts that are in your niche.

3. Give Instagram more than 5 minutes a day: Like any skill, you won’t see success if you aren’t allocating more than a few minutes a day to social media. That doesn’t mean you have to post every day and be on for hours. But sticking to 10-15 minutes daily on social media, specifically working to grow your presence, is usually enough time. This allows me enough time to engage with those with similar interests without feeling attached to my phone.

Strategies For Lasting Social Media Success

In this section, we will outline some of the best ways to reach and engage your audience, while staying consistent and providing value to your target audience. One such way is to network and build bonds with those in your online community.

When it comes to growing your social media presence, collaboration is vital. By working together with others in your industry or community, you can reach a broader audience that you wouldn't be able to get on your own. This can start by just liking and engaging with their content when you see it in-feed, to partnering with other bloggers and content creators. By working together, you can share resources and build relationships that will last long.

Another key strategy is providing value to your followers. No one likes feeling like they're being preached to or talked down to – especially regarding social media. Make sure that what you're putting out there is worth someone's time and attention. At the Motion Agency, we believe content must educate, entertain, or inform your audience. 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 daily.

Speaking of not overdoing things, consistency is one of the most important tactics you need to grow your social media presence. If you set out to create quality content consistently, followers will eventually find your content! However, don't forget about analytics – knowing how well each of your posts is performing can help guide future decisions about content creation (or even engagement!). When something works well (e.g., generating lots of engagement), figure out why and use those insights to create better future content!

Finally, never stop learning. Constant evolution leads to lasting success on social media, which is one reason I started this blog.

Final Thoughts

Now, it's time for you to put these strategies and tips into action! With consistency, dedication to creating quality content, and a bit of creativity, you can build a successful presence across the most popular social media platforms.

Are you looking for more social media and influencer marketing news worth using? If you're new to my website, you can read more of my latest social media updates and more deep dives on specific topics.

Social Media News You Can Use In August

Welcome back to another installment of the social media and influencer marketing news that you need to know in August. This week, we cover the latest news around Instagram’s push for long-form video, how Threads is faring after two months, and how Meta adds a new way to see branded content featuring influencers. Let’s dig in:

Instagram's Testing 10-minute Reels Uploads  

Instagram is now internally testing 10-minute Reels uploads to accommodate long-form content such as cooking demos, beauty lessons, educational sessions, and more. This modification would remove the requirement for creators to break a single video into many parts, making it difficult for visitors to discover the next corresponding video when visiting a creator's profile. Instagram is marketing its short-form videos like TikTok by expanding the time limit on Reels, as TikTok expanded video length to 10-minutes in February 2022.

Can Threads Still Capitalize on The Early Excitement?

We talked a little more about Threads improvements last week, and now folks wonder if Threads is still growing. The new Meta app had 100 million members in its first week, which has since dropped significantly. After eight weeks of use, the app had approximately 128 million users. It has climbed by an average of 4 million users every week, a significant decrease from the first boom.

Not all of the 128 million members have active profiles. This figure covers everyone who has created a profile, even if they aren't actively opening and using the app. In comparison, X presently has roughly 250 million daily active users (DAU), with a 25-minute average session length.

The debut of the Thread website, which we discussed last week, has increased activity, but analysts wonder if it's enough to keep the app actively rising. The social team will continue to evaluate Threads' performance and its potential influence on our clients. 

Meta Adds Branded Content Campaign to Ads Library

Meta has added a new tool to its Ads Library that allows users to track branded content by influencers. The tool can be used to search for campaigns by influencer or brand, and it shows the date range, platform, and creatives used in each campaign. This information can be helpful for brands and marketers who want to see how their competitors are partnering with influencers, and it can also be used to identify potential new partners. 

The new tool is currently limited to the past seven days, but Meta says it plans to expand the coverage in the future. The tool is available in the Ads Library on both Facebook and Instagram.

 If you’re looking for more social media related news, be sure to check out some favorite blogs on my site. Like the one covering my favorite social media tools, like GoCharlie.ai. Or keys to gaining success with influencer marketing and more deep dives on other social media or influencer marketing topics.

The Social Media & Influencer News in August You Need to Know

Welcome back to another installment of the social media and influencer marketing news that you need to know in August. There’s been a lot going on in the social media world this summer, and the past week is no different.

This week, we’ll be talking about the release of the desktop version of Threads, TikTok’s attempt to improve its e-commerce efforts, and the story regarding the former social media manager of NBA and its viral post.

Meta Launches The Destkop Version of Threads

Threads' initial release was a big deal for social media users but quickly disappeared. Meta has now announced that Threads is releasing their desktop version of the platform to rekindle the initial buzz. Most Threads users have access to Threads.net, where you can access your main Threads feed and write news posts just like you would on the app. However, functionality could be improved in comparison to the mobile version of Threads. For example, you cannot currently search for or schedule posts on the web version. 

Users on social media have been looking for a credible Twitter—er, X—alternative. Threads could have been the ideal solution, but app usage slowed following the app's first debut and rise. Many of the brands that were active at the platform's inception are no longer so. Meta is still striving to improve the desktop version and finish the app in terms of product features.

TikTok Shopping Gets a Boost

A $44 pickle sweatshirt making the rounds on TikTok is the new "I mustache you a question" merchandise for a generation who has only known life with the Internet. But we're not here to talk about merchandise; we're here to talk about TikTok's official launch into e-commerce: TikTok Shop. The new feature, fully rolled out in the US this month, lets TikTok users purchase anything from fashion to life hacks with just a few clicks, right from the comfort of their For You Pages.   

TikTok is looking to sell more than $20 billion in products through TikTok Shop by the end of the year, taking on e-commerce giants like Shein, Temu, and even Amazon. How would a company generate nearly $20B in product sales in less than a year? The algorithm, of course, with TikTok being accused of boosting videos that sell products through the new feature, which are marked with an orange shopping cart icon. The pickle sweatshirt, for example, is suddenly all over people's screens despite having been around since January. 

 NBA Social Media Manager Calls It Quits Publicly  

The NBA was recently the subject of a  whistleblower report in which a former social media manager alleged that the NBA's social media team was overworked and underpaid. The marketer, Nick Joannou, said he and his colleagues were often asked to work long hours with little time for breaks or vacation. He also said they needed more training and resources to do their jobs effectively. 

Joannou's allegations were made public after he allegedly accidentally posted a message about the team's work conditions on the NBA's official Facebook page. The post was quickly deleted, but it had already been seen by many, including NBA and marketing fans alike. The NBA has since responded to Joannou's allegations, saying it is committed to providing a positive work environment for its employees. The league said it is reviewing its policies and procedures to ensure its social media team is adequately supported. 

If you’re looking for more like covering my favorite social media tools to use, like GoCharlie.ai. Or keys to gaining success with influencer marketing, and more deep dives on other social media or influencer marketing topics.

Tips For Gaining More Engagements On Instagram!

Are you looking to gain more likes on Instagram? You're not alone! Everyone is searching for the secret to unlocking the key to gaining more engagements on Instagram. Look no further because today, we'll discuss ways to gain more engagements on Instagram! We'll cover “test and learn” opportunities and more. With the knowledge you’ll gain in this blog post, you'll be on your way to creating content that will garner more likes and engagement on your Instagram account. So, let's get started!

Gaining Likes On Instagram, Experiments Reveal The Secret!

Instagram is a popular social media platform that allows users to share photos and videos with friends and followers. While Instagram is an excellent platform for sharing content, increasing the total engagements on your posts can take time.

One way you can gain engagements on your posts is by leaning into the post formats that are getting the most views on the platform, specifically Reels. While more time intensive, your Reels content will reach a wider audience and in turn, potentially receive more engagement from those who view your content. Additionally, using music from trending memes or other cultural trends can help boost your post's traction.

Pay attention to what content performs well on each social media platform and analyze whether it will resonate with your target audience on Instagram. If you’re posting platform-specific content (which you should be doing), examine your own analytics to see if and how these types of posts work with your target audience. There are numerous content ideas to try out or be inspired by, so don't be scared to get creative.

Engaging and building community with other Instagram users is also essential – especially if you want to reach out to influencers. Influencers can significantly impact the visibility of your brand's content, so it's important to get in touch with them and tell them about your posts. Furthermore, using hashtags in your caption can help people find and follow your account more easily.

Finally, timing is key – make sure that you post content when an exciting trend or dance video is happening so that it has the maximum impact! Knowing when to publish on social media is another important factor in enhancing your overall engagements. Determine when to prioritize upcoming posts by determining the optimum time to post based on your platform and your target audience.

Ways To Drive Engagements With Your Content

Sure, you may be producing fantastic content. However, if no one Likes or comments on it, your account is likely to fall through the cracks, and you will miss out on opportunities to connect with your target audience. The next thing you know, you're having trouble driving conversions via organic and paid social media efforts, and it’s harder to show a return on your investment. So here are some ways to drive engagements with your social media content:

• Use images and videos that will capture your audience’s attention. Visual content, such as short-form videos and high-quality images, is more likely to be shared, so consider creating more content that is attention-grabbing.

• Optimize the hashtags you use with each post. Selecting relevant hashtags for your post will ensure that other Instagram users find your content through the Explore tab. You’ll want to use a mixture of generic hashtags that are regularly used, and more niche hashtags that will be used by your target audience. Plus, using popular hashtags can help you connect with other influencers and build relationships on the platform. I recommend to my clients and team that they utilize a variety of hashtags across their organic content.

• Lean into the algorithm. By posting consistently and engaging with other users, you can increase your chances of being seen by the platform's algorithms (aka the good stuff). And finally, remember to engage with the comments by responding to and liking them! Engaging with your followers in the comments not only helps build relationships and strengthens social media communities, it also increases your overall engagements.

• Finally, when possible, look to do collaboration posts between two accounts, like that between an influencer and a brand. By collaborating together on posts, both accounts can see increased engagement and traction for their individual content pieces by introducing their respective audiences to a new page.

In Conclusion

As we have seen, there are various ways to gain more likes on Instagram and other social media platforms. With these strategies, you can increase your brand or organization’s visibility and reach new audiences who may not have discovered your profile before. So, feel free to get creative and try out different approaches - they might pay off!

Now is the time for action - what methods will you use today to get more likes on Instagram? Looking for more social media and influencer marketing news worth using? You can read more of my latest social media updates and more deep dives on specific topics on my blog if you’re new to my website.

The Latest Social Media News in August

Happy August! Let’s dig into the social media news you can use his week. We’ll cover Meta’s upcoming AI project, the latest user and performance data from Pinterest, and ways you can adapt existing content to social media.

But before you get caught up on these updates, be sure to check out more of my writing. If you’re looking for more like covering my favorite social media tools to use, like GoCharlie.ai. Or keys to gaining success with influencer marketing, and more deep dives on other social media or influencer marketing topics.

Meta's AI 'Personas' Might Launch Next Month

Meta is developing a new line of AI-powered chatbots that mimic human-like conversations. These chatbots, called "personas," can take on different characters, such as Abraham Lincoln or a surfer-like travel adviser. 

Meta says these chatbots aim to increase user engagement on Meta platforms, such as Facebook and Instagram. Meta hopes these chatbots will provide users with a more personalized and engaging experience, making them more likely to spend time on these platforms. 

Surely nothing can go wrong with these chatbots, such as privacy concerns and the potential for addiction. However, Meta believes that the benefits of these chatbots outweigh the risks. 

Pinterest Reports Slower User Growth In Q2

Pinterest released its Q2 2023 Performance Update, report, which revealed some issues about the platform's general growth. While the platform is still expanding, it is doing so at its slowest rate yet. Pinterest attracted 2 million new members in the second quarter of this year, bringing the total to  465 million monthly active users. The most alarming aspect for Pinterest is that it is losing ground in its most crucial markets, such as the United States and Europe.

On the plus side, Pinterest's younger readership is rapidly expanding. According to the research, "In Q2, Gen Z were our largest contributor to overall engagement growth and the fastest growing cohort, growing by double digits and accounting for a larger portion of our overall mix."

While Pinterest may not outnumber the other social platforms in terms of active users, it remains a vital platform. Its huge network of people with diverse interests can assist numerous brands in reaching their target audience.

Ways to Adapt Content for Social Media

If you couldn't tell by all the latest changes to the most popular social media platforms, it's clear that these companies view social media as more of an entertainment platform than one for connection. People use social media to watch videos, listen to music, and even play games. This trend will only continue, so brands need to find ways to integrate entertainment into their social media strategies. 

Another way is through User-generated content (UGC), a powerful tool to spark entertainment and engagement. UGC is content that is created by everyday users rather than brands. This type of content is often more authentic and engaging because it feels and looks authentic.

And short-form video content continues to be the most engaging post format on social media. People are more likely to watch and share short-form videos than longer videos. This is why platforms like TikTok and post formats like Instagram Reels have succeeded.