Clubhouse Goes Spatial, TikTok Debuts ‘Promote’ & More Social Headlines
The social media wheels never stop turning and this week’s buzziest headlines are proof. TikTok—rather quickly, may we add—unleashed an ad feature for biz accounts, while Clubhouse continues to dominate the audio space with a pair of upgrades that will serve novices and pros alike. And of course, Facebook wouldn’t be Facebook if it weren’t testing a new update. Read on for an overview of the latest social media news.
Promote with TikTok’s Latest Update
Ever make a TikTok video off-the-cuff and think, “hmmm, this is actually a great way to promote my business?” Well, TikTok had the same thought. That’s why they’ve created Promote for biz accounts, an ad feature that allows you to turn an organic video into a bonafide ad without leaving the app. The “cost-effective” option also delivers insights for each video, showing you how it performed and other insights for improving your next one.
So how do you “Promote?” Select any of your videos and click the Promote button in your video settings. You can also start inside the Business Suite section under Settings and Privacy. Or, you can follow TikTok’s step-by-step instructions. Either way, once you’ve selected a video, you’ll be able to set a budget, length of time, audience, and overall goals before going live.
Boost Your Profile With Clubhouse Commons
Okay, so that initial Clubhouse hype may have died down but don’t get it twisted—the audio app is more popular than ever. More specifically, it’s averaging 700K rooms per day (up from 300K in May). If you’re ready to speak up and listen in, the timing couldn’t be better. This week, a handy resource hub called Creator Commons arrived for the newbies who need a Clubhouse 101 lesson.
There are 10 sections that cover everything from explainers on how “rooms” work to monetizing how-tos and much more. We’re especially into “Creator Soundbites,” where you can hear directly from other creators about their own Clubhouse experiences and advice for newcomers.
Plus, a ‘Spatial’ Upgrade
Clubhouse is also rolling out spatial audio, which they describe as “surround sound, but with your own headphones.” This audio upgrade is meant to mimic the “vibrant, human” sound we typically experience in a physical room. In other words, it will be easier to tell voices apart in a room and hopefully, foster a more engaging convo.
According to a Twitter thread from the official Clubhouse account, spatial audio is a work-in-progress. It should work for audience members whether they’re wearing wired or Bluetooth headphones. For now, those on stage can experience this feature with wired headphones—Clubhouse is “working on a fix for Bluetooth headphones.”
Stick Your Swipe-Ups
Say goodbye to the classic Instagram swipe-up feature. According to an update confirmed by Instagram to The Verge, link stickers will take their place, starting on August 30. (Keep in mind, this doesn’t change the qualification for swipe-up privileges—you still need at least 10,000 followers for access.)
Per The Verge:
“The company says it’s retiring the swipe up — a feature that’s spawned its own category of GIFs and a phrase that’s now part of the lexicon — to ‘streamline the stories creation experience’ and offer more ‘creative control,’ given that uses can format the look of stickers and not the swipe up.”
Messenger Reunites With Facebook?!
Back in 2014, Facebook broke up with Messenger. Since then, the two have operated as separate apps. Well, it looks like they’re ready for a reunion. According to Bloomberg, the OG social network is testing a version of the Facebook app that includes the Messenger service. This is just the latest attempt for Facebook to streamline all of its offerings, making it easier for users to navigate and of course, more time spent in the app.
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