With so many updates coming our way recently we thought it was well worth a blog to list out some of the key updates that might be of interest to our readers! We hope you find these helpful!
The Algorithm announcement
“Instagram doesn’t have one algorithm that oversees what people do and don’t see on the app. We use a variety of algorithms, classifiers, and processes, each with its own purpose. We want to make the most of your time, and we believe that using technology to personalize your experience is the best way to do that.” Instagram
Instagram recently announced that they use a number of parameters to form their algorithm to best personalise each and every users’ experience. These include…
- Post popularity and information, including engagement, time of posting, format, and location.
- Profile activity and relevance to it’s audience
- User behaviour
- Historic interactions between users
“In Feed, the five interactions we look at most closely are how likely you are to spend a few seconds on a post, comment on it, like it, save it, and tap on the profile photo. The more likely you are to take an action, and the more heavily we weigh that action, the higher up you’ll see the post.”
New content recommendations
Instagram reported positive feedback on their ‘suggested posts’ feature, so decided to launch a new test related to those.
In the test, Instagram will mix posts into user’s feeds, with some showing ahead of content from brands and people the user follows.
Instagram is also considering giving users the control to add specific topics of interest for their suggested posts and letting them snooze recommendations for 30 days.
Reels Ads have launched
Instagram Reels have become very popular for many brands, and now Instagram is creating the opportunity to boost Reel reach and engagement even further with ads. This enhanced format will loop and be up to 30 seconds, and the audience can comment, like, view, save and share Reels ads.
“After testing in select countries, today we’re launching Reels ads to the world. Reels is the best place on Instagram to reach people who don’t follow you and a growing global stage where brands and creators can be discovered by anyone. These ads will help businesses reach greater audiences, allowing people to discover inspiring new content from brands and creators.”
Videos will be the focus
The future of Instagram is video!! Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, shared that the social network won’t just be a photo-sharing app anymore and that it will focus more on videos to create better entertainment experience.
“We’re also going to be experimenting with how do we embrace video more broadly — full screen, immersive, entertaining, mobile-first video. You’ll see us do a number of things, or experiment with a number of things in this space over the coming months.” Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram
The next level of social commerce
Facebook have taken eCommerce on social media to the next level, by announcing that Shops are expanding to WhatsApp and Marketplace. The Facebook team are also working on adding ratings and reviews to products in Shops on Instagram.
“One in three shoppers globally say they plan to spend less time in-store even after the pandemic is over, and almost three-quarters say they get shopping ideas from Facebook, Instagram, Messenger or WhatsApp.” Facebook
Your brand can now also personalize the users’ shopping experience with ads based on their shopping preferences. Facebook is also shaping the future of shopping by investing in new visual AR tools on Instagram, which helps users find new products and experience them virtually before purchasing.
The launch of Bulletin
Facebook has launched Bulletin, a new platform to share long-form articles and audio content, all from one place. This set of publishing and subscription tools has been designed to support content creation, monetization, and audience growth for writers.
Bulletin is hosted on a separate site, but its content will appear in the Facebook News Feed and Facebook News sections. Creators will have their brand website in Bulletin, can customize their publication’s name, logo, and colour palette, and use multi-media embeds and other styling options.
Soundmojis come to Messenger
On World Emoji Day, Facebook launched ‘Soundmojis’, these emojis play a short audio clip and are a great engagement tool for chat threads.
“[Soundmojis are] a next-level emoji that lets you send short sound clips in a Messenger chat, ranging from clapping, crickets, drumroll, and evil laughter, to audio clips from your favorite artists like Rebecca Black and your favorite TV shows and movies like Universal Pictures’ F9, NBC and Universal Television’s Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and Netflix and Shondaland’s Bridgerton.”
Facebook Launches Campaign Ideas Generator
Facebook is trying to inspire small businesses by providing them with a campaign ideas tool. The new Campaign Ideas Generator helps brands to develop content for new campaigns by providing them with inspiration, pre-made assets, and other resources.
All you need to do is select your business type and the tool will suggest you campaign ideas and insights customized for your business needs. You can also look into content ideas related to your vertical or a specific upcoming holiday.
Twitter is growing into eCommerce by testing a Shop Module.
Twitter is testing a new feature in the eCommerce area, which allows shoppers to go all the way from discovering new products to purchasing them.
“The Shop Module is a dedicated space at the top of a profile where businesses can showcase their products. When people visit a profile with the Shop Module enabled, they can scroll through the carousel of products and tap through on a single product to learn more and purchase – seamlessly in an in-app browser, without having to leave Twitter.” Twitter
New free courses for digital marketing
Do you want to build or upgrade your digital marketing skills? LinkedIn has two new certification courses that help you learn more about LinkedIn’s ad tools and features. You will also be a proud owner of an official certification that can be attached to your LinkedIn profile.
There are two courses to choose from: Fundamentals Certification (Basic) and Marketing Strategy Certification (Intermediate).
LinkedIn Acquires Jumprope
Jumprope is a platform to share skills and ideas by creating step-by-step video tutorials and then export those videos to every social platform. You can use video, still images, preset formats and overlays.
LinkedIn is expanding in the area of video by acquiring the how-to video app Jumprope. The social network will now provide more on-platform tools for creators and grow LinkedIn Learning for professional skills development.
“We started Jumprope to empower anyone to share their knowledge and passion in an engaging video-based format. But, while 2 million people per month watch Jumpropes on our platform, we realized we could build something so much bigger if we joined LinkedIn. This truly is an opportunity to fulfill the Jumprope vision of reaching a global community.”
~ Jake Poses, Jumprope CEO
CLUBHOUSE
Now open to all users.
Good news — Clubhouse is out of closed beta and open to everyone to tune in to audio chats. The exclusive app created a lot of buzz around marketeers during the past year, and now it’s available for all users.
“Twelve never-boring months later, we’re thrilled to share that Clubhouse is now out of beta, open to everyone, and ready to begin its next chapter. This means we have removed our waitlist system so that anyone can join. If you have a club, you can post your link far and wide. If you are a creator with an audience, you can bring them all on. If you’re hosting a public event, anyone can attend. You can bring close friends, classmates, family members, coworkers, and anyone else you like — on iOS or Android.” Paul, Rohan and the Clubhouse team
Clubhouse also got a brand-new logo and website. Check them out!
For any questions about social media or to learn more about how our team can help you and your business online, get in touch!