Today, we’re coming to you with a different type of post than we normally would.
There’s always some fun social media updates to talk about when you geek out on it like us.
So, we figured today we’d share some of the biggest updates in social media marketing, and what we might be able to expect in the future.
Today’s post will be a bit shorter than usual though.
So let’s get into the news!
Let’s cover some of the most interesting social media updates from June, starting with Instagram.
1. Instagram announces plan to prioritize video content.
It’s safe to say that TikTok and YouTube are giving Instagram a serious run for their money.
You’ll start seeing full-screen recommended videos on your screens in the app, Instagram’s answer to the rising popularity of TikTok.
Facebook’s head of Instagram elaborated by saying:
“We’re also going to be experimenting with how do we embrace video more broadly — full screen, immersive, entertaining, mobile-first video,”
Mosseri said in a video posted on Wednesday that:
“You’ll see us do a number of things, or experiment with a number of things in this space over the coming months.”
Instagram released Reels last August in response to TikTok’s popularity, but even Mosseri recognizes this wasn’t enough.
He said:
“Let’s be honest, there’s some really serious competition right now. TikTok is huge, YouTube is even bigger, and there’s lots of other upstarts as well.”
The days of Instagram as a photo-sharing app are over.
Will the changes make Instagram more or less desirable to the user base, as well as the new users?
And how will these social media updates affect your small business?
Well, we don’t know until they’re here. But, here’s what we suggest to small businesses when it comes to new features and tests on apps.
When a new feature is introduced on a platform you’re using:
a. Spend some time learning about the feature, just experiencing it as a user would.
b. Observe how others are using it, what they’re making, and any differences between that content and the content they put out before.
c. Practice making content with that feature and share it around the office, or with trusted folks who can give you their honest feedback.
d. If you decide to start using the feature (you don’t have to use everything a platform offers), don’t put all your eggs in the new basket.
Don’t stop producing the content that’s working for you in favor of the new style.
For one, there’s a chance Instagram’s tests aren’t favorable, and the feature is abandoned or walked back.
The feature may not be seen positively by users, and if that’s the case, you don’t want to spend time on it.
e. Use any content you make for new features across other features and platforms.
For instance, the IGTV video you made should be shared…
- in your feed,
- in your Instagram Stories for small businesses,
- in a Guide, and
- posted on other platforms outside of Instagram.
In direct response to the popularity of Substack…
…a paid newsletter service for writers and other content creators, Facebook announced Bulletin (in Beta).
They’ve invited creators and subject matter experts to publish content on Bulletin.
Some are free while others are paid subscriptions, and Facebook will consider rolling this out to other creators if it does well.
You can learn more about this social media update and check out available newsletters and creators by browsing the website www.bulletin.com.
In the future, you may be able to use this for your small business.
You can do it either as a free platform or an affordable subscription.
And then share higher-quality content with your biggest fans and most devoted customers.
As the platform develops, we will most likely see how users engage with it.
And if social media updates like this are successful enough to make it available to everyone…
…we’ll follow up with a post to help you use it as part of your Facebook marketing strategy.
3. Pinterest is “TAG Brand Safety Certified”
Pinterest has been awarded the brand safety certification from the Trustworthy Accountability Group (TAG).
TAG is a “global certification body that aims to fight criminal activity and protect brand safety in digital advertising.”
In order to qualify for the award, Pinterest had to meet these 4 criteria:
a. All of their digital advertising agreements have to adhere to TAG’s Brand Safety Principles.
b. 100% of monetizable transactions on the platform are reviewed through “inclusion and exclusion lists,” as defined in their digital advertising agreements.
c. They must have clear documentation of policies and procedures to minimize the risk of ad misplacement. This could include anything from:
- staff,
- tools, and
- technology
…used to review and flag content, to the processes and procedures that are used to identify inclusion and exclusion lists to verify content as brand safe.
d. The brand has a TAG compliance officer and attends TAG annual training.
This is great social media news for brands who are advertising on Pinterest (or who plan to advertise on the platform).
Because it means Pinterest is prioritizing brand and user safety, meaning users will be more likely to click and buy.
And so you can rest well knowing your ads won’t show up next to icky content.
Mike Zaneis, CEO of TAG, said:
“By achieving TAG Brand Safety Certified status, Pinterest has demonstrated its commitment to protecting its partners and users by adopting industry best practices against inappropriate ad placement and other brand safety threats.”
Conclusion
There’s a lot of exciting things going on in the world of social media.
This is just a small selection of social media updates and developments across some of the best social media platforms.
So, let us know if you want more of these posts in the comments!
And if you don’t want to be left behind by your competitors, go and check out our social media marketing services today!
Simply contact us to schedule a meeting with one of our LYFE experts.
