Social Media News You Can Use
Let’s get right into the social media and influencer news you can use to start your week. We’re covering the latest social media platform, Instagram once again leaning into another popular social media platform, potential security issues involving Twitter, and the latest data that highlights the effectiveness of Reels.
If you’re new to my website, you can see more of my latest social media updates and more deep dives on specific topics on my blog,
BeReal Feature Teased on Instagram
We touched on it briefly last week, but I’ve got more updates for you! Instagram has discovered yet another way to mimic its new and rising competitor, BeReal.
To recap, BeReal is a social media platform in which users are prompted to "BeReal" at one random time each day. They then have two minutes to take and post an unfiltered look at their daily activities.
According to screenshots of the new feature shared on social media, Instagram is testing a feature called "IG Candid Challenges," which prompts Instagram users "every day at a different time" to share a photo to their Stories within a two-minute time frame. It also appears to use dual-camera shots — taking a selfie and a rear-camera photo at the same time — which is one of BeReal's key features.
This feature, according to Meta, is an internal prototype that has not been tested with a broader audience. More on Instagram's approach to overtaking BeReal can be found here.
Twitter Security Issues?
More Twitter news! If this shocking whistleblower allegation is accurate, Twitter executives may have misled government officials about serious security flaws in the platform that expose users' private information to risk and may even jeopardize national security.
Peiter "Mudge" Zatko, a former security chief for Twitter, is the whistleblower who made his identity public. Zatko claimed that senior Twitter executives covered significant security problems for over a decade and that various foreign intelligence agencies may have operatives entrenched within the firm. According to a report acquired by the Washington Post and CNN, an 84-page complaint was addressed to Congress last month.
Although there were no provisions for bot numbers in the legally binding contract Musk signed to buy the social media platform, the claim that Twitter deceived regulators and shareholders about the number may support Musk's position. Learn more about these potential security concerns here.
Reels Generating the Highest Reach on Instagram
Meta noticed the trend that video content is becoming more popular thanks to platforms like TikTok and YouTube. And leaned into heavily on Instagram. In early August, the platform announced that all video content under 15 minutes would be shared as a Reel in the future. According to a recent report, Reels have the highest estimated reach on Instagram, despite images and carousels having a higher overall content distribution.
More users engaged with Reels than static images. However, the number of comments on Reels remains low compared to static images. If your brand wants to increase your Instagram engagement, Reels are your best bet. If TikTok has taught us anything, it's that short and engaging videos are becoming increasingly popular. It's also an excellent way to share content with your target audience. Despite the growing interest and trend, Instagram still sees fewer users posting Reels.
That's it for this week's social media news worth knowing! What other marketing or social media tips do you know that would be helpful to other digital marketers? Be sure to visit my blog for more social media-related content.
Social Media & Influencer News You Can Use
Let’s get right into the social media and influencer news you need to start your week. We’re covering the latest social media platform, BeReal, the rise of LinkedIn influencers, and why TikTok content creators are being hired at both brands and agencies. If you’re new to my website, you can see more of my latest social media updates and more deep dives on specific topics on my blog,
Instagram Drawing Inspiration from BeReal
The latest social media platform to gain serious market share, BeReal, which has now surpassed 10 million total downloads, has gained significant traction throughout 2022 and piqued the interest of Meta, which has begun testing features on Instagram that mimic BeReal's format.
BeReal is based on a random prompt sent to all users at a different time each day, asking them to share what they're up to, with a 2-minute time limit to post an update. The app is being marketed as the latest pushback against the highly edited and sculpted social media profiles associated with Instagram and similar platforms. The immediacy of the sharing process removes the ability to edit an image, let alone curate one's feed.
Instagram is testing a new feature that will allow you to add a QR code to your posts, which other users can scan and see where you are at any given time on a live map. BeReal is made possible by Instagram's new dual camera feature.
The Rise of LinkedIn Influencers
Brands continue to find ways to leverage influencers across most social media platforms, and LinkedIn is joining that group. LinkedIn data showcases over 144,000 members with the job title "creator" as of December 2021.
This type of influencer programming is known as Business-to-Business (B2B) influencer marketing, which differs from the influencers you typically see on Instagram or TikTok. We've talked about B2C and B2B marketing in the past. Still, the main differentiator is that B2B influencers' goal isn't necessarily to generate revenue, but to pique the interest of decision-makers who buy products or services.
These decision-makers are much less likely to make impulse purchases than those scrolling through Instagram, B2B influencers can be utilized to highlight topics related to a specific service or business.
B2B influencer campaigns still make up a small slice of all influencer campaigns, but more and more traditional marketers are looking at this tool for 2023 planning.
Why Brands and Agencies are Hiring TikTok Influencers
We've discussed the shifts that have come with the various platform changes. The need for video content continues to increase, and agencies, brands, and everyone is looking for ways to supplement that need.
Meet the latest TikTok Creators that are working in-house, like Greer Hiltabidle. Hiltabidle joined 360i, and her day-to-day work is 50% filming TikToks and 50% creative ideation and wearing "different hats." In a recent TikTok for Burger King, she played a Leo who orders "attention," "praise," and "compliments" at the drive-thru. In another, she nervously runs through her "drive-thru anxiety script."
This isn't a one-off trend, with more than a dozen brands and agencies attempting to hire TikTok creators on LinkedIn.
Data from a flexible talent marketplace, We Are Rosie, states that a salaried TikTok content creator can make anywhere between $40,000 and $80,000 a year, or $25–$50 an hour if they're freelance.
Until next time! If you’re looking for more social media and influencer news, visit my blog.
The Top Social Media News You Need To Know In August
This week, we'll discuss yet another change to Facebook, social media tips to help jumpstart your brand's content strategy, and it’s already time to start thinking about your content needs for holiday planning.
For more news and trends, be sure to check out my blog. And you can find more of my recent writing here and here.
Facebook Shutting Down Live Shopping Feature
More Facebook changes are on the way. On October 1, Facebook will discontinue its live shopping feature to focus on Reels. Brands will no longer be able to host new or scheduled live shopping events on Facebook, according to the Meta. According to the social media network, brands will still able to use Facebook Live to broadcast live events. However, they will no longer be able to create product playlists or tag products in their Facebook Live videos.
Here’s how Meta views it: "As consumers' viewing behaviors are shifting to short-form video, we are shifting our focus to Reels on Facebook and Instagram, Meta's short-form video product..." If you want to reach and engage people through video, try experimenting with Reels and Reels ads on Facebook and Instagram...If you have a shop with checkout and want to host Live Shopping events on Instagram, you can set up Live Shopping on Instagram."
Find out more about the shutdown from Meta here.
Tips to Create Engaging Social Media Posts
While platform updates seem to happen every other week, social media has a few constants. Especially when it comes to leaning into social media best practices. This Search Engine Journal article offers ten suggestions for creating engaging social media content. Here are some of my favorites:
Maintain Authentic Relationships with Your Fans
Make sure each social post is purposeful and leads your audience on a journey to learn more about a brand or get excited about their products or services.
Make Use of a Strong Call To Action (CTA).
If a consumer is not ready to buy, brands can direct them to a specific blog post about how to use said product or an Instagram Reel featuring an influencer using the product. A compelling Call To Action (CTA) is essential for any content, especially on social media. Because the feed is already cluttered, using strong copywriting to ensure users don't scroll to other posts is critical.
Create Platform-specific Content
Before brands can create authentic and engaging content, they must first understand why consumers are on that platform in the first place. And brands can stand out by capitalizing on unique features as much as possible. Use a variety of hashtags, both broad and specific, on Facebook and Instagram. When it comes to Twitter, use Twitter Threads to tell a story that’s longer than 280 characters.
Twitter Holiday Planning
As the summer days shorten, the holiday season begins. If you’re a marketer, you’re likely already thinking about planning your content around the holidays. And the social media platforms see this as well. According to Twitter research, conversations around holiday shopping begin on social media as early as August. So the sooner brands join the conversation, the better. And Twitter is an important platform for staying active during this time of year.
Because consumers frequently discuss specific brands and products on social media, the more engaged brands can be, the more likely they are to remain top of mind when it comes to holiday shopping. While gift-giving is a popular topic during the holidays, social media conversations can vary, so it's important to stay on top of what your target audience is talking about. Some more highlights from the data:
When it comes to brand-related conversations during the holiday season, topics like entertainment and technology overindex.
If brands want to increase their reach and beat the holiday rush, they should start their holiday conversations as soon as possible.
As always, I appreciate you taking the time to read my latest blog post. And I hope there are some actionable items in here that you and your teams can leverage. For more learnings, be sure to check out the rest of my blog!
The Latest Social Media News In August
This week, we'll discuss TikTok’s appetite for music streaming, the growing trend of direct mail advertising, and debunking more myths around influencer marketing.
For more news and trends, be sure to check out my blog. And you can find more of my recent writing here and here.
TikTok Explores Creating Their Own Music Platform
If you're not on TikTok, let me introduce you to new consumer behavior when it comes to music. Since TikTok's meteoric rise as a popular platform, many users have often discovered a song on TikTok and then found it on their favorite streaming service. TikTok is far superior as a discovery platform when it comes to finding the next popular tune: TikTok is the first platform where 63% of users discover new music.
So much so that many believe TikTok is looking at hosting music on its platform. And those people were correct, as TikTok reportedly filed patents for "TikTok Music."
As ByteDance responds to questions about why TikTok user data from the United States is being accessed in China, the company hopes to move forward.
From Inbox to Mailbox
Thought that direct mail advertising was out of date? Think again. Snail mail is coming back; studies show younger demographics prefer it over email advertising. According to a USPS study, "62 percent of millennials read through their advertising mail rather than discarding it without reading." According to the study, millennials believe when brands send physical mail, they are “putting effort into their advertising."
Because of the clutter in online advertising and growing data-privacy concerns, some marketers are returning to traditional marketing materials such as direct mail. Furthermore, brands hope that by sending physical mail to a younger audience, they will be able to stand out in their respective industries.
Diving Deeper Into Influencer Marketing
Many advertising professionals and brand managers have misconceptions about influencer marketing. I've written about four of them in a previous blog post, but I wanted to highlight an article my team shared at our agency.
Influencer marketing isn't just for raising brand awareness; did you know that 80% of consumers have purchased a product after seeing it recommended by an influencer? It's also a more affordable option than many would believe! Micro-influencers are frequently more trusted by their followers and are significantly less expensive than the "Kim Kardashians" of the world.
I hope you found these news articles to be informative and useful. Until next time!
Social Media News To Start Your Week
Let’s get right into the social media news you need to start your week without further ado. We’re covering all things, Meta, this week. If you’re new to my website, you can see more of my latest social media updates and more deep dives on specific topics on my blog,
Instagram Changing Videos On The Platform
Meta followed the PR playbook and announced big Instagram news on a Friday. If you haven't already noticed, Instagram is adjusting its platform to match trends on TikTok and updating the platform so that every video post from now on will be a Reel.
Instagram combines the video and Reels tabs on user profiles into a single tab. Do you like your video content as is? Don't worry; videos posted before this change will still be available.
Whether or not consumers embrace this trend remains to be seen, but brands can expect more Reels content to close out the year. Since the introduction of Reels on Instagram in 2019, the average engagement rate for feed posts (excluding Reels and IGTV) has decreased by 44%, according to Later.
How to Leverage Instagram's Latest “Pin” Feature
Instagram announced its new grid pinning feature in June, similar to the pinning features seen on Facebook and Twitter. You can pin up to three posts to the top of your profile grid using the new feature. After finding the post you want to pin, tap the three dots in the upper right, and click "pin to your profile." And you're finished! To unpin, repeat the process but select "unpin from profile" from the menu.
Choosing which posts to pin for a brand can help their overall marketing efforts. Brands should ensure their pinned content aligns with their marketing strategy and that it is rotated out every couple of weeks to avoid it becoming stale. Using the pinned feature to promote launches and exclusive offers is an excellent way to draw attention to that content on your profile and increase viewership.
Meta Tweaks Facebook to Act More Like TikTok
Meta recently announced that they would be updating Facebook further to imitate TikTok, one of their main competitors. There will now be two feeds available.
"Home" is the new name for the tab that appears when you first launch the app, and it is intended for algorithm-based discovery with Reels, Stories, and other personalized content. Then there's a brand-new "Feeds" tab with recent posts from friends, groups, Facebook Pages, and favorites.
The Feeds tab reverts to Facebook's original social media experience, with your content focused on activity and posts from your friends and groups. On the other hand, the revamped Home feed reflects Meta's continued desire to chase TikTok by separating content from people you don't want to miss and posts the algorithm thinks you'll enjoy.
I hope you found these updates on the latest social media news informative and valuable. Are you looking for more information? Check out my blog, as I’ll provide you with the latest social media news worth knowing.
Social Media News You Need To Know
I am excited to share the latest social media and influencer marketing news you need to know. If you've visited my site before, you know I've recently posted a few recent blog posts. If you're new to my website, visit my blog and take advantage of all the insights I've shared.
Without further ado, let's dive into this week's social media news you need to be aware of.
More Updates In The Twitter and Elon Musk Saga
Elon Musk's story has taken yet another turn: A Delaware judge ruled that Twitter and Elon Musk will go to trial in October over whether the billionaire must complete his $44B acquisition of the social media company. The decision was the first in a lawsuit filed by Twitter earlier this month to compel Elon Musk to complete this historic transaction. Once the world's richest man, Musk agreed to buy Twitter in April but fast-forward two months, and he now wants to cancel the deal. Twitter hopes the trial proceeds quickly to reduce uncertainty within the company and avoid further damage to the company's stock value.
And as an avid Twitter user, I, unfortunately, don't see a positive outcome from this. Best case, Twitter gets paid more than the $1B Elon Musk owes them, but the impact on employee morale, stock price, and undoubtedly future deals even if the deal doesn't go through. Any other scenario, in my opinion, is worse for Twitter and its users.
Instagram Reel Ideas for Your Business
As TikTok's popularity grows over time, Instagram continues to work hard to counteract its growth with the expansion of its Reels feature. Even recently, Instagram announced that all video content posted on their platform moving forward would be classified as a Reel. Just like TikTok, Reels can be used to the advantage of a business. Easier said than done, but try to avoid creating Reels from scratch if you can.
One simple way to create a reel is timing static images to background music. This social media tactic enables a brand, regardless of size, to repurpose existing photos while avoiding additional resources required for a typical video asset. Something I tell my team is to find ways to extend the life of a piece of creative by repurposing existing creative.
A final tip from our team, share user-generated content (UGC). I've previously talked about User-Generated Content in the past, but this tactic frees up creative resources and allows brands to delegate content creation to their brand advocates.
TikTok is Eating Into Google's Search Business?
Say hello to "Just TikTok it." and goodbye to "Just Google it." At a recent tech conference, Google Exec Prabhakar Raghavan made the stunning admission that roughly 40% of Gen Z prefers searching for information via TikTok or Instagram over Google.
As we continue to uncover generational shifts in consumer behavior, younger people are more interested in using TikTok or Instagram to discover their next favorite restaurant. Google also sees this negative trend regarding product searches, with internal data showing that roughly 55% of product searches start on Amazon, not Google.
How is Google looking to adjust? By improving their search features, such as leveraging AI that will prioritize relevant video results, including those on TikTok and Instagram.
That's it for this week's social media news worth knowing! What other marketing or social media tips do you know that would be helpful to other digital marketers? Be sure to visit my blog for more social media-related content.
