Industry Focus for July 22, 2022
Without all the major growth and change to social media platforms the last 15 or so years, we’d all still be rearranging our Top 8 on MySpace or uploading every photo we took to a Facebook album that only our college peers can see.
You could say we’re pretty thankful that Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat, and the rest of the gang are really growing up. These new features are a testament to that – and proof that social media users are expecting more out of what we used to think were simply time-wasting apps.
Now they’re seriously powerful digital marketing tools that your business cannot survive without.
“Twitter Gives All Users the Capacity to ‘Unmention’ Themselves from Any Tweet Discussion,” by Andrew Hutchinson in Social Media Today
Stuck in a tweet thread you don’t want to be a part of? Twitter announced that users can now deactivate their profile links in any discussion. Not only will the username be untagged from original tweets and replies, but no one will be able to mention you again in the chain, and you’ll stop receiving notifications about it. But should brands and businesses use this feature? Our social media management team can help you decide.
-Submitted by Sydney Weeks, Social Media Coordinator
“Instagram Adds New ‘Boost’ Promotion Option for Reels Clips,” by Andrew Hutchinson in Social Media Today
Brands can now amplify their Reels clips on Instagram using a new “Boost” option on eligible Reels. Reels clips must be less than 60 seconds long, have a 9:16 aspect ratio – filmed vertically in a full-screen format – and must not use third-party IP, like copyrighted music, camera filters, or GIFs. They also cannot be boosted if they were shared to Facebook. Ready to create a viral video? Then it’s time to hit that Boost button.
-Submitted by Marilee Rodgers, Social Media Manager
“Instagram Adds New Business Search Tools Within IG Maps,” by Andrew Hutchinson in Social Media Today
Instagram’s new map search feature helps users discover local businesses and learn more about them without ever leaving their favorite social media app. Users can explore nearby tagged locations and filter them by categories, like restaurants, hair salons, coffee shops, and more. Local content makes a big difference in search engine optimization – and we’re betting it’s big on IG, too.
-Submitted by Mya Richardson, Social Media Coordinator
“Facebook Is Changing Its Algorithm to Take On TikTok, Leaked Memo Reveals,” by Alex Heath in the Verge
We bet you thought this was going to be another Andrew Hutchinson article. Surprise! And perhaps an even bigger surprise is learning that Facebook’s algorithm is changing yet again to better compete with the latest social media craze: TikTok. Facebook had previously undergone changes to be more like Snapchat, but this time, Zuck is out for the beloved “clock app.” The leaked internal memo suggests that Meta staff should start ensuring the algorithm recommends posts regardless of their origin, and that they should plan to reunite Facebook and Messenger, which were split into separate apps years ago. How will Facebook’s user base react to these changes? Time will tell.
-Submitted by Corrie Guthmiller, Director of Digital Operations
“Instagram Now Lets You Shop in DMs,” by James Hale in Tubefilter
You can soon slide into a brand’s DMs to place an ecommerce order. The new feature, called “Payments in Chat,” lets creators and businesses take and track orders via direct message and collect payments through Meta Pay. The feature is now live in the United States. We love this new development for e-retailers!
-Submitted by Michaelah Larson, Account Coordinator
Breathe New Life into Your Digital Marketing Strategy Using the Latest Social Apps
Social media platforms let your brand connect with your audience directly – and give them the interactivity and engagement they crave. If you aren’t sure how your business should be using social media – including LinkedIn – iFocus Marketing will create a unique roadmap just for you.
All you have to do is request a no-obligation, totally-free discovery call via our website.
