Instagram has recently announced that advertisers will have the ability to display ads within the search results.
Ads Creation
With the introduction of “INSTAGRAM_SEARCH” as a new placement option, developers will create ads specifically designed for Instagram search results. This means that advertisers will leverage the power of search intent to display their products or services to users who are actively seeking relevant content.
“This will not require the use of a new endpoint; the ‘Instagram search results’ placement option will be available via the current Marketing API endpoint you may already be familiar with, through the addition of the INSTAGRAM_SEARCH placement option. With this new addition, you will be able to update your app to enable your clients to create and preview ads in Instagram search results via API,” said Instagram in a blog post
By seamlessly integrating ads within search results, businesses can capture the attention of potential customers at the right moment, increasing the chances of conversion and driving tangible business results.
Ads Insights
The update will allow Advertisers to analyze insights at the placement level, enabling them to understand how their ads are resonating with the audience in this particular context. By gaining valuable data on ad performance within search results, businesses will be able to refine their advertising strategies, optimize targeting, and allocate budgets more effectively.
Ad Preview
Another valuable feature introduced through this update is the ability for developers to fetch ad previews in the INSTAGRAM_SEARCH_CHAIN format. A functionality that will allow advertisers to preview how their ads will appear in search results before they go live.
By obtaining a visual representation of the ad in the intended placement, businesses can ensure their creatives are compelling, visually appealing, and well-optimized for the search results experience.
The new update by Instagram has a lot of potentials to drive advertising traffic to the platform. You can read more on how the Ads in search are intended to work here
LinkedIn is a powerful platform for professionals to connect, network, and showcase their expertise and when you hear content creation, you may not think they are linked but that’s not entirely true.
Building a strong presence on LinkedIn takes time and effort, but it’s worth it. To start, you must have a compelling profile and if possible, create a page where you will regularly share, valuable insights, engage with your network, and leverage LinkedIn’s features.
Creating content on LinkedIn
On LinkedIn, it’s essential to understand how to captivate your audience and drive meaningful engagement. First, establish consistency by posting once to two times a day and using eye-catching visuals to grab your audience’s attention.
With your content, it is essential to keep them short and spicy to clearly communicate the value to your audience and this will more likely generate clicks and engagement. Linkedin attracts serious viewers so for every piece of promotional content, apply the 4-1-1 rule which requires you to share updates from other sources and content written by others. This will keep your feed focused on your audience’s needs.
Once in a while, post updates without links such as quizzes or ask me anything about your products to engage your audience. Also, showcase specific brands and initiatives that speak to you, which means for LinkedIn, a niche will show people what you’re about as opposed to being a jack of all trades.
The platform offers a variety of tools and the content suggestion tool is essential in helping you discover relevant topics and articles your target audience cares about. Always remember to include hashtags to associate your content with ongoing conversations and communities you’re a part of to increase discoverability.
Creator Mode
LinkedIn creator mode is a game-changer if you’re looking to enhance your personal branding efforts and maximize reach on the platform. By enabling creator mode, you will gain access to a host of additional features that will significantly boost your visibility and influence.
Some of the features of this mode are a Follow button to replace the Connect button, the opportunity to be featured as a suggested creator, the ability to showcase preferred topics at the top of your profile and a bio link for effective call-to-action. Furthermore, creator mode offers profile rearrangement options, access to LinkedIn Live, newsletters, and detailed analytics. These help influencers create engaging content, attract a wider audience, and build a strong personal brand on LinkedIn.
The detailed analytics offered by creator mode allows users to gain valuable insights into their content performance and audience engagement, aiding in refining their LinkedIn strategy. The mode also offers more profile information, such as the ability to add topics, a website link, and a 30-second profile video, enhancing the overall profile presentation.
Sales Navigator
The Sales Navigator is an intelligence tool designed by LinkedIn to help sales teams and professionals achieve better results and drive revenue but it is available for at least 100$ a month. It provides advanced features and insights to identify and connect with the right prospects, build relationships, and close deals more effectively.
Sales Navigator offers enhanced search functionality, lead recommendations, real-time sales updates, and account management tools to streamline the sales process and maximize productivity.
Yesterday, LinkedIn announced five key improvements. Firstly, the Account Hub feature has been introduced which will allow sellers to prioritize their accounts based on growth potential, buyer intent, and risk alerts. This will provide valuable insights and networking opportunities within target accounts.
Secondly, the introduction of Product Category Intent will enable sellers to identify professionals on LinkedIn who are potentially researching their specific product category. This will help sellers understand buyer interests and tailor their approach accordingly.
“On May 31, Product Category Intent for 770 product categories across various industries, predominantly software, will be brought into Account Hub. Our AI model that drives Product Category Intent is constantly learning and today has largely isolated software-focused product categories, but this will change in coming releases. This feature is available for Advanced and Advanced Plus users,” Said Monica Lewis, Senior Director of Products at Linked In.
The LinkedIn platform is very broad attracting millions of users monthly, and if you want to reach large audiences, it’s time to start, it may take time to navigate but like anything that grows, the first step always leads to the next. So let’s create!
Youtube has announced some substantial upgrades that will facilitate more creators to build and engage their audience in a more interactive way. Some of the improved features include:
Expansion of Community Posts
In the past, only creators with 500 subscribers or more had access to this feature, now, YouTube has broadened access to community posts by integrating it into their ‘Advanced Features’ option.
To sign up for advanced features, creators will navigate it by going to Studio > Settings > Channel > Feature Eligibility and opt-in. You will also be able to access it on the YouTube app by tapping the plus sign and selecting “Create a post”. If you don’t have access to advanced features, you will be prompted to verify at this point.
Community posts not only build a stronger relationship between creators and their audience but also extend communication beyond the comment section. It’s essential to understand that community posts cannot be accessed through the “Send Feedback” link. The feature must be enabled via advanced features.
Interactive Quizzes in Posts
Last year in November, Youtube began experimenting with quizzes on posts, and using feedback from creators, the platform began rolling out the feature to Android users. Yesterday, Youtube announced that it will be extending the feature to iOS and desktop users in the following weeks.
“Due to your positive feedback, we began rolling the feature out to creators on Android, and we are happy to announce that over the next few weeks, quiz posts will be available for creators on ioS and desktop, the goal is to give you a new interactive way to engage with viewers’’ announced youtube
This feature not only provides an interactive way to engage with viewers but also, for educational channels, it offers a tool to help the audience learn in a fun and interactive way.
Live Shopping Optimization
With the rise of social commerce, YouTube has stepped into the game with “Live Shopping”. To help users optimize this feature for their audience, the platform is planning a series of informative videos, set to be released every Friday for the next five weeks.
The introductory video about live shopping will be available this week for anyone unfamiliar with the concept and keen on leveraging this new feature. It is unclear whether there are any updates that will be announced during the series or just training sessions.
Whether it’s through expanding access to community posts, introducing interactive quizzes, or optimizing live shopping, the platform has come up with ways to aid creators evolve and adapt to the needs of their audience. Explore these features and use them to your advantage!
As a content creator, maximizing reach and exploring different platforms is the way to go. LinkedIn has been recording worthwhile engagement from the massive number of users on the platform and if you haven’t yet, it may be time to consider. Here are some tips to get you going:
Understanding the LinkedIn Algorithm
LinkedIn’s algorithm is designed to ensure users see the most relevant content first. It primarily focuses on relevance, personal connections, and engagement. Essentially, the more engagement your content attracts, the higher the probability that LinkedIn’s algorithm will distribute it further.
Audience Engagement
Engagement in the form of likes, comments, shares, and direct messages increases the visibility of your posts. According to Linked In top voice Richard Bliss statistics, liking a post leads to a 30% increase in visibility, commenting leads to a 70% increase, sharing leads to an 80% increase, and direct messaging increases it by 85%.
Getting new connections also plays a significant role. When someone becomes a new connection, they see all your new content for the next two weeks, thus boosting your reach.
LinkedIn has two main engagement phases that influence the growth of your content’s reach. After posting, the first 90 minutes of engagement play a crucial role in quick growth for the next eight hours. The engagement received between 90 minutes to 8 hours after posting contributes to constant growth over the subsequent days.
Content-Type
The type of content you post significantly influences its reach. For instance, single image posts makeup 21% of users’ feeds, promoted posts 20%, document posts (slide decks) 16%, and text-only posts 10%. Based on the platform’s algorithm, the following strategies may maximize your content performance
1. Strategic Mentions and Use of Emojis. In every post, limit account mentions to less than 15, reduce tagging, and limit emojis to less than four per line and a maximum of 10 per post to prevent your content from coming across as cluttered or unprofessional. Don’t mention more than 15 accounts per post. Over-tagging can lead to decreased reach.
2. Optimize Post Length. Keep your posts between 1200 and 1800 characters. This length is long enough to convey detailed information but short enough to maintain the reader’s attention.
3. Timely Interaction. Respond to comments within 12 hours. Prompt interaction shows you value your audience’s input, which will increase their engagement. Also, aim to generate as much engagement as possible within the first 90 minutes of your post going live.
4. Be Mindful of Post Edits. Avoid changing your post during the first 10 minutes after publication. Any modifications may disrupt the algorithm’s initial assessment of your post.
5. Utilize Hashtags and Modes. Use a maximum of three hashtags per post to maintain focus and relevance. If you haven’t yet, consider turning on the ‘Creator Mode’ to enhance your profile’s visibility and engagement.
6. Consistency in Posting. Avoid posting several low-engagement posts in a row, as it may cause LinkedIn to reduce the reach of your subsequent posts. Aim for consistently high-quality posts instead.
Succeeding on LinkedIn requires strategic planning, thoughtful content creation, and an understanding of the platform’s algorithm. By adhering to these practices, you will effectively expand your reach, engage with your audience, and make the most out of your LinkedIn experience. Read more on how to maximize your engagement from a LinkedIn expert here
In the present digital world, instant messaging is a cornerstone of our daily interactions. To atone for errors or change a little bit in the tone of our WhatsApp messages, the platform has rolled out the message editing feature for up to 15 minutes.
Feature Overview
The feature will allow users to rectify a simple misspelling or add extra context to their sent messages. The functionality is straightforward; by long-pressing on a sent message and choosing ‘Edit’ from the menu, you will be able to amend statements within a generous fifteen-minute window.
“From correcting a simple misspelling to adding extra context to a message, we’re excited to bring you more control over your chats. All you need to do is long-press on a sent message and choose ‘Edit’ from the menu for up to fifteen minutes after,” announced Whatsapp in a blogpost
Instead of sending numerous clarifying messages following an autocorrected typo or a hastily sent message, users will seamlessly edit their original text, ensuring clarity and accuracy in their communication.
Transparency and Privacy
To balance the need for accuracy and openness, the system will mark edited messages with an ‘edited’ label, informing recipients of any modifications. However, to maintain user privacy, the specific edit history will not be displayed. The new feature also respects user security and all personal messages, media, and calls will be protected with end-to-end encryption.
The new update has commenced its global rollout and will reach all users in the forthcoming weeks.
Meta is on the brink of launching its Twitter competitor, an Instagram-based, text-oriented app referred to as ‘Barcelona’ or ‘Project 92’. This app has stirred interest among creators as the Meta team disclosed its features and potential advantages.
Challenging Twitter’s Dominance
Some Twitter users who quit the app after new measures brought by the CEO Elon Musk have been looking for a new home and Meta is keen to take advantage fast. Talks of the new app ‘Barcelona’ have been on the rise with increasing comparison to Twitter.
According to Instagram, the new app will focus on facilitating conversations like Twitter’s chat-based feed. However, the comparative simplicity of Barcelona might be its key differentiator, aligning it closer to an uncluttered chat platform.
Instagram’s user base tends to shift towards Direct Messages (DMs), with the main feed transforming into a discovery platform. Users are progressively distancing themselves from public posting activities, and Meta’s move to release ‘Barcelona’ shows its intent to capitalize on this trend. To warm users to the coming app, Meta recently launched the Broadcast Channels, a feature for one-to-many messaging, and ‘Notes’, allowing users to share conversation prompts in a Stories-like bubble above their Direct inbox.
Pioneering Decentralization
Barcelona Codenamed ‘P92’ signifies Meta’s ambitious foray into building a decentralized network. This feature implies that users on other decentralized apps, such as Mastodon, can search for, follow, and interact with the profiles and content of Barcelona app users.
“Users on apps [like Mastodon] will be able to search for, follow and interact with your profile and your content if you’re public, or if you’re private and approve them as followers. This allows you to reach new audiences with no added work. In addition, creators may be eligible to be recommended to people who don’t yet follow them.” confirmed Meta
This network will enable users to sign in using their Instagram credentials, including their username, effectively syncing their Instagram followers onto the new platform. It will allow text updates of up to 500 characters and the ability to add links, photos, and videos up to 5 minutes in length, providing an Instagram-specific tilt to the app, and distinguishing it from Twitter.
The new app will encourage interaction in a decentralized environment with in-stream replies, likes, and re-posts (analogous to Twitter’s retweets).
In a statement to Platformer earlier, a Meta spokesperson said,
“We’re exploring a standalone decentralized social network for sharing text updates. We believe there’s an opportunity for a separate space where creators and public figures can share timely updates about their interests.”
Building on Existing User Base
Instagram’s daily active users are more than a billion compared to twitters 253 million. To maximize this, Meta aims to make it effortless for these users to transition to the new app. This could lead to a swift migration, creating a Twitter-like stream at an accelerated pace.
However, the success of this new venture might not solely depend on its usability and features. If Barcelona allows users to transfer their Instagram audience seamlessly, it could gain a considerable advantage, creating a viable alternative for those seeking another similar platform.
As Elon Musk, who recently took over Twitter, advised disgruntled users to switch to other platforms, Barcelona could present itself as an appealing choice potentially drawing in advertisers’ attention.
The Future of Social Media Engagement
In social media, adapting to evolving usage trends is crucial for survival and growth. Meta’s new venture reflects its drive to experiment with decentralization, and a more open system to serve users across various fronts.
Meta has reportedly been briefing creators about the app, offering early access to celebrities and high-profile sports figures. As we await the public release of this app, the question remains: Will Barcelona disrupt the status quo, or will it blend into the digital landscape as just another social media platform?
Meta has been constantly coming up with ways to enhance users’ experiences on both Facebook and Instagram. Recently, it announced a set of new features aimed at making promotions more accessible and lead generation more effective.
Meta’s Promotional Ads
Statistics collected by Meta suggest that 85% of shoppers actively seek out promotions before making a purchase. They have therefore released a new format called promotional ads to help people find brand deals and businesses to complete sales.
“Promotional ads can help people find opportunities to save on products and offers from brands they love. Starting in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and India, select advertisers on Facebook will be able to better engage people through various features that make it easier to find, apply, and manage deals that are relevant to them such as seasonal sales, first-time purchase discounts, and holiday promotions, ”announced Meta in a blog post
With promotional ads, Facebook users will be able to click and claim an offer which will automatically apply discounted codes. In cases where they don’t complete the purchase, Users will receive reminders of deals before they end
Enhanced Lead Ads Features
Lead generation is the lifeblood of many businesses, and the platform has a variety of lead generation products. But, Meta has decided to take them up a notch.
Soon, advertisers will have the capability to make their question-and-answer forms dynamic. Based on users’ responses, the subsequent questions will automatically update, providing a more tailored experience.
Moreover, advertisers will be able to overlay Instant Forms on their web pages within Meta’s in-app browser. This enhancement will provide richer context about the business and simplify the submission of user information.
To connect brands and customers, Meta has added a feature for new businesses with pages to add a contact form to their “Contact Us” button. The button will open a seamless conversation with potential customers via Messenger, providing an excellent option for businesses to connect with interested customers before setting up a lead ad campaign.
Apart from the new updates, Meta recently updated its Professional dashboard to include over 20 topics on Creator education, offering insights into essential aspects of content creation, distribution, and monetization on Facebook.
More than 35 videos from seasoned creators have been featured. The educational content is designed to offer advice on various aspects such as making captivating Reels, growing your audience on Live, finding trends, and earning money on Facebook.
Meta’s commitment to staying at the cutting edge of the digital marketing world is evident with its consistent updates. These updates will come in handy for businesses to generate lead information from user interactions. It will interesting to see how much of a change this new feature brings.
TikTok has been revolutionizing the platform and developing strategies to ensure creators’ efforts are rewarded and businesses get a medium to connect with their audiences.
TikTok recently launched the Effect Creator Rewards, an initiative designed to recognize and reward effect house creators. According to TikTok, these creators have been instrumental in sparking trends and shaping culture on the platform. Their innovative effects have garnered widespread engagement and inspired users worldwide to create joyous and engaging content.
Therefore the platform is rewarding their efforts by introducing an initiative that will compensate them for high-performing effects.
“The $6 million dollar fund, available to creators in select regions, will offer payments to creators based on the community’s engagement with their effects. At launch, for every effect that’s used in 500K unique videos within 90 days of being published, a creator will collect $700 USD. For every 100K videos published thereafter within the same 90 days, creators will collect an additional $140, “ said Tiktok in their blog post.
The Effect House beta was introduced to provide designers, developers, and creators with comprehensive tools and resources to construct dynamic Community Effects for the global TikTok community. The subsequent introduction of the Effect Creator Rewards continues the initiative. For creators to confirm their qualifications and more about the program they can check the Effect House website.
Updates to the Creativity Program Beta
In response to feedback from its creative community, TikTok developed the Creativity Program Beta to encourage creators to unleash their creativity further while generating higher revenue potential. The eligibility criteria for this program require creators to be based in Brazil, France, or the US, maintain an account in good standing, and have at least 10,000 followers with a minimum of 100,000 views in the last 30 days.
The Creativity Program Beta now has an updated dashboard with a new formula that provides a higher average gross revenue for qualified video views, giving creators the potential to earn higher rewards. The updated dashboard also offers more insights, including estimated rewards, video performance metrics, and analytics, alongside details on video eligibility.
Artist Impact Program: Nurturing artist brand synergy
As an integral part of the TikTok experience, music and sound have a profound impact on the platform’s community creativity and the ability to spark cultural moments. To help businesses harness the power of sound, TikTok introduced the Commercial Music Library (CML), a global library of over one million pre-cleared songs connecting brands with both emerging and established artists.
Now it has launched the Artist Impact Program, an initiative that will allow artists to monetize their music by enabling businesses to use their sounds in TikTok content. This not only opens up new revenue streams for artists but also provides businesses with fresh avenues for engaging with their audiences.
Partnerships with global music distributors like Believe, DistroKid, and Vydia will fuel the Artist Impact Program, providing artists with the opportunity to tap into advertising budgets from brands featuring them in their TikTok campaigns. These partnerships are helping to drive content creation with trending music, thereby fueling the entire music ecosystem.
Although the trend-setting platform is not in the clear yet with threats to ban in the US, TikTok continues to redefine its platform and discover new ways for creators to monetize, businesses to sell, and users to enjoy good content. It is not clear yet whether its initiatives will push it further into the social media future or the platform will get banned no matter what, but time will tell.
In an unprecedented move, Governor Greg Gianforte has signed into law, legislation prohibiting the operation of the Chinese-owned TikTok app in the state of Montana. The law will be effective from January 1, 2024. Google and Apple’s app stores will be barred from offering the app within the state.
However, no penalties will be imposed on individuals using the app. This is the first instance of a U.S. state implementing a full ban on the popular short video app. In a tweet, Governor Greg Gianforte announced
“To protect Montanan’s personal and private data from the Chinese communist party, I have banned TikTok in Montana”
The objective of this law, according to the governor, is to protect the people of Montana from potential intelligence gathering by China, and violators may face a potential fine of $10000 per day
TikTok CEO’s Congressional Testimony
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew faced a grueling five-hour congressional hearing with Lawmakers questioning him over alleged Chinese influence on the platform, the purported harmful effect on children’s mental health, and the app’s influence on Americans.
Chew continuously denied the claims that the app shares data with the Chinese Communist Party, stating,
“American data is stored on American soil, by an American company, overseen by American personnel,”
When the legislation was passed in the state of Montana, TikTok issued a statement via TikTokComms stating
“Governor Gianforte has signed a bill that infringes on the First Amendment rights of the people of Montana by unlawfully banning TikTok, a platform that empowers hundreds of thousands of people across the state. We want to reassure Montanans that they can continue using TikTok to express themselves, earn a living, and find a community as we continue working to defend the rights of users inside of Montana,”
National Concerns About TikTok
The TikTok ban in the state of Montana reflects national concerns about the short-video platform, which lawmakers from both parties believe holds considerable power over American users, especially children. There were lingering accusations of the app promoting content that encourages eating disorders, illegal drug sales, and sexual exploitation during the hearing.
“We must save our children from big tech companies like yours, who continue to abuse and manipulate them for your own gain,” said Representative Gus Bilirakis, reflecting the sentiments of many lawmakers.
Despite TikTok’s claims of spending over $1.5 billion on data security efforts under “Project Texas”, legislators remain skeptical about its measures to ensure user safety. These ongoing concerns have added a new element to the tensions between Washington and Beijing.
Implications and Reactions
The legislation has brought about varying responses, both domestically and internationally. It is expected to face legal challenges, as many critics, including the ACLU, have deemed it unconstitutional.
“With this ban, Governor Gianforte and the Montana legislature have trampled on the free speech of hundreds of thousands of Montanans who use the app to express themselves, gather information, and run their small businesses in the name of anti-Chinese sentiment,” said Keegan Medrano, policy director at the ACLU of Montana.
Industry group NetChoice’s general counsel, Carl Szabo, also criticized the law, saying,
“The government may not block our ability to access constitutionally protected speech – whether it is in a newspaper, on a website, or via an app.”
On the international front, China’s commerce ministry warned that
“Forcing TikTok’s sale will seriously damage the confidence of investors from all over the world, including China, to invest in the United States.”
While the ban sets a precedent, it remains unclear how other states will respond or whether this action will strengthen the Biden administration’s legal powers to ban TikTok nationwide. Many states have already banned the usage of the app on government devices but will they be willing to take a step further?
As the legal and political battle over TikTok’s operations in the U.S. unfolds, users and observers will be keenly watching. What will happen to individuals whose entire livelihood depends on TikTok? Is there a future for the app in the united states? Will Chinese investors pay any more attention to the US market? It will be interesting to see how this story evolves, and what it might mean for the wider social media landscape.
YouTube has announced its latest updates which include a new analytics card in YouTube Studio, that will provide insights into which content formats are resonating most with viewers. It has also announced a scrubber feature on its short clip formats and more details into the content remixes.
Enhanced ‘Shorts’ Viewing Experience
Adding to the Shorts experience, the platform has introduced a new feature called scrubber on Shorts clips, that will allow viewers to skim through them more quickly. This feature is designed for the modern viewer’s short attention span. The scrubber bar will appear on all Shorts clips lasting 30 seconds or longer and will also automatically appear when shorter clips are paused.
To help creators understand better how audiences are interacting with their Shorts clips, YouTube is also offering more detailed insights into content remixes and remixes of remixes. This data will show how the reach of Shorts content is expanding and provide specific insights into how viewers discover specific creators of Shorts content. This will be available on the web and mobile where traffic source report is found.
The feature offers valuable data that will inform content creators on what types of videos to prioritize to maximize engagement. The hope is that, by demonstrating high engagement with Shorts, creators will be encouraged to experiment with this format, thereby increasing YouTube’s Shorts content volume.
A new Super Thanks decoration has been added to the latest comment card and channel feed in-studio mobile on Android and ios. This will enable creators to distinguish between supper comments and other comments when they view their most recent comments and in the comments tab.
According to Youtube, “Super thanks buyers that received a heart and comment reply were observed to have a higher repurchase rate within three months than those that did not. The goal is to help creators identify and interact with those who have gifted super thanks”
Analytics card and revenue Breakdown
The platform is rolling out a new analytics feature in Youtube studio, that will help creators know which content their audience engages with most in the App. The innovative tool breaks down viewer engagement by duration across traditional videos, Shorts, and Live, offering guidance on the most effective content strategy to boost viewer interaction.
Lastly, YouTube is enhancing its insight into the revenue breakdown screen in YouTube Studio, to give creators a clearer picture of their channel income sources. Previously, YouTube Analytics offered only a single view for all revenue analytics.
However, the platform has restructured the revenue page to include detailed pages with important metrics, allowing creators to delve deeper into each revenue source. Creators will now have access to summaries of all revenue data and select pages for each monetization method.
These updates offer more ways for creators to manage and maximize their content. With the ongoing emphasis on Short form videos on most social media platforms, creators should take note and consider incorporating this format more into their posting strategy and see if it is more palatable to their audience.
Logie streamlines influencer discovery, product distribution, and content performance to drive measurable sales for eCommerce brands. We also equip content creators with the smart tools, brand partnerships, and commission opportunities they need to turn content into income.
