Social Media Monthly

December 2019 Social Media Updates

Alright, we know. We missed a few months. We’re sorry, we’re back, and oh boy, do we have updates!

The Most Important Instagram Updates For 2020 Planning

The best way to prepare for the future is to take a look at the past. These important Instagram updates from 2019 will help you set up for success with your 2020 content planning. Hint: IGTV is king. Authentic, original content trumps posting for likes. ALWAYS handshake your sponsored post!

February: IGTV previews began to play in Instagram Feed, boosting views.

March : ‘Check Out on Instagram’ was launched to make Instagram shopping experiences more seamless.

May : Instagram began hiding likes in Canada.

June : Give your paid partner a handshake! The “‘paid partnership’ tool promised to help influencer content reach larger audiences, including users who don’t follow the content creator. A simple #ad won’t warrant best engagement!

July: The likes continue to disappear! Instagram hides likes in Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Ireland, Italy, and Japan.

September: ‘Paid partnership’ tags were made available for IGTV.

October: Let’s shop! A new ‘product launch sticker’ was introduced to Instagram Stories that would notify followers when to shop, Instagram launches new ‘tap to try on’ ad option, Instagram provided businesses with new customizable Story templates for Facebook, Instagram and Messenger.

Learn more on Social Media Today.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B5qHrvug1V9/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading

Apple Announces Their Most Popular Free Apps for 2019

Yes, TikTok is on the list…

1. YouTube

2. Instagram

3. Snapchat

4. TikTok

5. Messenger

6. Gmail

7. Netflix

8. Facebook

9. Google Maps

10. Amazon

It’s no surprise that YouTube and Instagram rank highest with video content currently being the most successful way to drive engagement across most platforms. Twitter is noticeably absent from the list. Facebook appearing below TikTok and Snapchat is making us squirm. As an influencer, if you’re not on TikTok yet, you should be. It’s not going anywhere. We recommend posting a minimum of 3 TikTok videos a week to build a following. Try jumping on TikTok’s viral challenges!

Source: cnet.com

Twitter Rolls Out Option to Hide Tweet Replies and Schedule Tweets… and New Features to Come!

Hallelujah! Short and simple: If you choose to remove a reply to your tweet, your tweet will get a small page-type icon in the bottom right corner. Any tweeter will have the ability to tap on that icon and get a full list of replies which have been hidden. This was created to keep conversations on track, and remove abusive and/or unnecessary replies. Say bye, bye, bye to Twitter trolls!

For scheduling: This can be done within the tweet composer window in-app. You can now compose and schedule your tweets without an outside platform. Just tap on the three dots menu to the right of the lower functions listing and select ‘Schedule Tweet’. We think you can handle it from there!

Features coming in 2020 (according to Twitter’s VP of Design and Research Dantely Davis:

1. Remove me from this conversation.

2. Don’t allow RT of this tweet.

3. Don’t allow people to @mention me without my permission.

4. Remove this @mention from this conversation.

5. Tweet this only to: hashtag, interest, or these friends.

Source: Twitter Blog and @dantely

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4xjNoQJwN7/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading

A Guide to Facebook’s Creator Studio

Click the link above for a user guide on how to actually access Creator’s Studio. You’ll be glad you did.

Top Pinterest Trends for December

Content including Wellness (cough, #BlogHer20 Health, cough), Style, and Home will get your followers excited in December!

Recommendations from Pinterest:

Wellness: Diffusers are having a moment across the board. Think about how essential oils can play a role in entertaining or a self-care routine, or be customized to celebrate seasons and fit different decor styles.

Style: Forgetting to add a belt to your styled outfits is a waisted opportunity! But seriously, this trending fashion accessory provides an easy way to stand out and reach audiences, and styles range from shoestring to maximum glam.

Home: Stairs provide all the right levels for holiday photos. Share some ideas on how to dress up this hard-working area of the home for decorating and parties—or even a more major renovation.

Pinterest also freshened up their look for iOS and Android, which may change your user experience!

Facebook Will Implement Limits on How Many Ads a Page Can Run in 2020

As explained by Facebook:

“In mid-2020, we are implementing a limit on the number of ads each Page can run at the same time. The ad limits will impact just a small percentage of advertisers, and we plan to share more details about the limits early next year. We’re implementing ad limits because very high ad volume can hinder an advertiser’s performance. With too many ads running at the same time, fewer ads exit the learning phase and more budget is spent before the delivery system can optimize an ad’s performance.”

As noted by Andrew Hutchinson at Social Media Today: “According to Facebook, running too many ads leads to worse overall ad performance. Which could, eventually, reduce overall ad spend because effectiveness is impacted -if more big advertisers start to complain about poor Facebook ad results, that could slow all advertisers in their spend. At least, that appears to be the theory. As noted by Facebook, the change will only impact a small number of brands, so it’s not likely that your business will be affected. Marketers will be able to monitor their Page’s ad volume via the new Ad Volume API, with the change going into effect mid-2020. Expect further details before then. Other changes being implemented in this API update include the removal of several video ad metrics and some updates to the messaging options for businesses.”

Speaking of Facebook ads… they are removing some metrics you should DEFINITELY be aware of! They will be removing:

• 10-Second Video Views.

• Cost per 10-Second Video View.

• Unique 10-Second Video Views.

Facebook has also renamed several video ad metrics to make their names “clearer and more consistent”.

 

 

We know that was a lot, so don’t feel overwhelmed! We post our social media findings and so much more in our facebook community group. We also send updates weekly via our newsletter.

Looking to give your wellness content new year refresh? Attend #BlogHer20 Health, where you can connect with future fitness followers and gain more social savvy insights!

August 2019 Social Media Updates

Sometimes the social media landscape can feel like the wild west, especially when it’s summer time. It’s hot, your Instagram engagement is down, and there are new social media updates constantly being thrown at you that you just don’t understand. Do not fret, my friend! We’re here to weed through the good, the bad, and the ugly (RIP Vine), and let you know the most important social media updates coming your way each month. And of course, we’ll be discussing all things social at #BlogHer19 Creators Summit with speakers and panels from the social giants themselves (hint, hint). 

Instagram Tests Removing Total Number of Likes and Video Views from Posts

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve heard that Instagram is testing removing likes. They are currently running a test that hides the total number of likes and video views for people in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Ireland, Italy, Japan, and New Zealand. Instagram has moved forward with this test as part of a larger concentration on user well-being. You can learn more about this massive change on Social Media Today.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B0BiPwPA4qb/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading

Facebook Just Added Instagram Scheduling to Creator Studio

Content creators, it’s time to celebrate! If you take a look at Facebook’s Creator Studio app, you’ll see a notification (fingers crossed) on the top of your dashboard allowing you to schedule native Instagram posts with their official app. The new Instagram scheduling option has been popping up for users over the last 30 days, so if you don’t have it yet, you should see it soon. If you want to schedule your Instagram posts, you need to have an Instagram business account linked to your Creator Studio dashboard. Check out the The Ultimate Guide to Instagram Creator Studio from our friends at Later for an in-depth, step by step look!

Pin to Win! Top Pinterest Trends for August 2019

It’s no surprise that “vacation mode” is switched “on” for trending Pinterest topics for August, but we were surprised to see “cement” and “cowboy art” are on the rise! While cement is an ingredient in concrete, Pinners tend to use the two words interchangeably. Include keywords for both “concrete” and “cement” in your campaigns to ensure a solid (and profitable) foundation to drive traffic to your website!

Have a Private Group Chat with Instagram’s new ‘Join Chat’ Sticker

Instagram has officially launched their ‘Join Chat’ sticker for Stories, which when tapped allows story followers to request entrance in to a private conversation with the poster. The creator of the story will receive a notification that a viewer has asked to join the chat, giving them the option to approve them as a chat contributor (or not) and bring them into the discussion. This is a great way for influencers and brands to connect more personally with their most engaged followers. We recommend trying it out!

A Shiny New Desktop Experience for Twitter!

The new Twitter for desktop includes a range of updated features, including:

1. More of What’s Happening – They’ve brought over Explore to bring users the same content found in their apps. Expect more live video and local moments personalized for wherever you are in the world. 

2. Easy Access to Features – Bookmarks, Lists, and user Profiles are right up front and have their own spot on the side navigation, making it easier and faster to jump between different tabs.

3. Direct Messages all in One Place – Direct Messages have been expanded so users can see their conversations and send messages all from the same view. 

4. Login/Logout Struggle No More – Whether a user has one profile or a bunch, users are now able to switch between accounts faster, directly from the side navigation.

5. Make Twitter Yours – The love is real for dark mode themes, Dim and Lights Out. Users asked for even more ways to personalize Twitter, so the platform is bringing users different themes and color options, along with two options for dark mode.

You can learn more from the Twitter Blog! (We know, we didn’t know Twitter had a blog either.)

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3z5Bu_gqy5/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading

Don’t Miss an Instagram Stories Mention with this (Potential) New Tool!

Instagram is working on a new “Stories About You” activity section that would list all the Stories a user has been @mentioned or tagged in, separating these notifications from your general notifications stream. Can we get an Amen? With this feature, users should be able to better understand their notifications list, and respond to relevant alerts. This feature has not launched yet, but we’re definitely keeping our eyes out!

Twitter is Testing a New ‘Drag and Drop’ Process to Reorder Images Attached to Tweets

Twitter is working on a new functionality which would allow users to change the order of multiple attached images by simply dragging and dropping them within the tweet. It’s a pretty straight forward, easy fix, but also incredibly useful. Users will gain more control over their tweet presentation to help maximize performance. It’s currently a pain in the butt to arrange your images in the right order as you upload. You forget which one appears where, then you have to post, then delete, then start over. We’re looking forward to this fix!

Want to stay in the know on the reg? We post our social media findings and so much more in our facebook community group and our newsletter. Also, don’t miss your chance to attend #BlogHer19 Creators Summit where you can connect with future followers and talk social shop with 1500+ fellow female bloggers, influencers, and entrepreneurs.

July 2019 Social Media Updates

As we all know, social media is an important driving force for entrepreneurs, influencers, and content creators. With the ever-changing platforms, it is imperative to keep up with new strategies to ensure your business continues to thrive. We’re here to make staying in the know a little easier! Here are our top five social media updates from June. Make sure to apply these in July and attend #BlogHer19 Creators Summit September 18th and 19th in Brooklyn to learn from the experts in social media!

Should you try Instagram’s new Creator Account for Influencers?

It’s no secret that influencers rule Instagram with their sponsored posts. So, Instagram launched a new Creator Account so influencers can have access to similar features to those of an Instagram Business Account. The best part is, it’s super easy to make the switch! If you’re a content creator with over 10,000 followers and have your Facebook Page linked to your Instagram, you can participate! You can pick from a plethora of titles for yourself, including “Blogger” or “Entrepreneur”, see how many followers you gain and lose each day, and which of your fans are online and offline at any given time. Messaging is made simpler with an added tab for more filtering and the new platform assists with shoppable posts for more seamless sponsorships. Is this switch to a Creator Account right for you? Check out these articles from Later and Entrepreneur for more information! 

Say Goodbye to Chunk of your Facebook Business Page Information!

We originally posted about this in The BlogHer Creators Network, which you should definitely be following for more timely social media updates! Consider this article your one month warning on losing a few categories in your “About” section on your Facebook Business Page. Facebook announced that on August 1st, 2019, your company’s Overview, Founders, Biography, Mission, Affiliation, and Personal Interests will be deleted. We recommend moving the relevant information you have in these sections to your page’s “About” or “Products” details.

https://www.instagram.com/p/By7-iMggqcL/

LinkedIn Adds New Features.

LinkedIn is a great resource for making connections and keeping your audience informed about your business. With its new tools, it’s now even easier to make sure your audience engages with your content. One of our new favorite tools is photo tagging, much like Facebook and Instagram. We’re also tracking all of our favorite topics and hashtags on the right side of our feed. We love that these features make the platform seem less business oriented while still remaining professional. You can read about these features and more on Social Media Today.

What to Post on your Instagram Feed vs. Instagram Stories.

If you’re anything like us, you’re probably questioning whether a post should live forever on your Instagram feed, or for 24 hours on your Instagram story. This handy infographic from Animoto makes suggestions based on their findings. We were surprised to see they recommend “sound off” videos living in feed, and more “fleeting” content existing on stories. Also note, you can still archive your feed posts, and add your stories to highlights, so nothing really disappears! We also suggest reading 15 of the Most Important Instagram Trends to Watch Right Now to make sure your Instagram game is on point!

Don’t Overlook Pinterest’s Top Trend for July!

As Pinterest is becoming more and more influencer focused, it’s important to stay up to date on their top trends to help boost on your engagement. Fashion and lifestyle bloggers, this update is for you! Frozen drinks (more specifically, jalapeño frozen margaritas), minimalist bangles, and barely there sandals are all on the rise according to Pinterest. Jump on these trends for your 4th of July content and watch your Pinterest explode (firework pun) with engagement! 

Stay up to date daily on our social media findings by joining our facebook community group and subscribing to our newsletter. Also, don’t forget to get your tickets to #BlogHer19 Creators Summit to network and talk social with 1500+ fellow female bloggers, influencers, and entrepreneurs. 

** This piece will be updated throughout 2019. Last updated on Dec 5, 2019.