Social Media Weekend Update December 2, 2017
Welcome to the social media weekend update! I am super excited to be back and sharing with you all the things that happened in social media this past week. My name is Kelly Noble Mirabella and I am your hostess with the mostess for Business as Unusual. Today we will be covering news from Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Instagram to name a few.
Today’s episode is brought to you by Social Media Marketing World 2018. SMMW is THE place to learn about all the latest in social media and digital marketing from the brightest and best minds and influencers. I am thrilled to be attending this amazing conference again in February 2018 and hope to see you there too! Learn more at stellar247.media/smmw18. Okay on to today’s show! Let’s dig in! (Want to learn more about how SMMW changed my career path for the better? Click here to listen to the episode where I tell my story.
Facebook creators app
Instagram Allows Viewers to Request to Join a Live Video Broadcast
According to Instagram’s announcement: “Going live with a friend is now even easier. Starting today, when a friend is live, you can let them know you’d like to join in the fun and hang out live together.” Basically when you are watching a friend’s live you can click the request to join and your friend can choose to have you come on into the live with them.
Read more about the official announcement at https://instagram-press.com/blog/2017/11/21/new-request-to-join-a-friends-live-video/
Instagram Allows Photo Remixes and More Control Over Replays in Direct
Instagram is really working on bringing in those younger demographics with updates like this one. Allowing you to send and receive private messages and change them up (aka remix them) with text, overlays and the pen tool then send them back. This is all done in the DM section so I doubt I will personally use this a ton, except if someone send me something they want me to mark up, but I can see how younger demographics especially will find this fun. Ah to be young again, with all that free time.
Instagram test a regram feature
Okay, this is a feature I am praying they release! I want this built in regram so bad I can taste it. Because right now if you want to regram someone’s image you need to 1. Ask permission (yes do this or risk getting sued) and 2. Use a completely separate third-party app. Let’s go over the pros and cons of this feature if it does go live app-wide
Pro: No more having to ask permission. Just like any other social media network with a share button (think Facebook share and Twitter re-tweet) this will allow users to sidestep the permission and just click share which will take care of attribution and all that jazz.
Pro: Because it is a proper reshare, my guess is the originating page will have better exposure because there will be a more direct link between the repost and their content and page. This will help with page growth as well.
Con: Accounts who do not wish to have their content reshared are SOL. UNLESS Instagram creates some kind of admin control for profile holders to choose whether they want to allow reshares or not (which I think would be a great move on Instagram’s part).
What do you think about this tested feature? Yay or nay? Tweet me your answer @stellar247, comment in the show notes OR call into my Anchor station if you are on anchor (www.anchor.com/stellar247)
Read more on this test at https://thenextweb.com/socialmedia/2017/11/29/instagrams-secretly-testing-regram-button-many-big-new-features/
Instagram ads “picked for you” feature to suggest accounts to follow
Instagram will now be delivering suggestions on who might be a good account for you to follow right in your newsfeed with the “picked for you” feature. I am cool with this update as I am always looking for relevant accounts to follow. Remember following and engaging with others is one of the best things you can do to grow your own account.
YouTube debuted Reels AKA “stories” for creators
It seems every social network these days are jumping on the stories bandwagon. While we can thank Snapchat for creating this medium it does not seem to have any end in site. Case in point, YouTube is debuting their own stories style format called Reels. Via the YouTube announcement “Reels are YouTube’s spin on the popular “stories” format, but designed specifically for YouTube creators. We learned that you want the flexibility to create multiple Reels and have them not expire, so we’ll give you those options. We’re also bringing creator-focused features like linking to YouTube videos and YouTube-y stickers.”
Source: https://youtube-creators.googleblog.com/2017/11/expanding-community-on-youtube.html
Facebook prototypes Messenger Broadcast for businesses
According to TechCrunch Facebook is internally testing a new messenger feature that would allow Businesses to send out message broadcast to Facebook users. It is unclear who will be able to be contacted or if Facebook will charge for further messaging reach but according to TechCrunch: “ it (Facebook) has no plans to change the policy of requiring people to have initiated message threads with businesses before they can message the users with ads or otherwise.” I am personally not overly excited about this as I have seen how much marketers ruin everything and will not look forward to the time when messenger is just a pool of yucky spam. That being said, if Facebook does release a feature like this they may want to consider looking into the laws of the land in accordance with consumer protections and spam (for example in the USA it is required to have an active unsubscribe button in an email broadcast and removal must be done within 10 business days if requested.)
New dimensions for group covers
If you frequent Facebook groups you may have noticed a couple of group covers looking odd lately. That is because Facebook has rolled out a new cover size of 1640 x 856 pixels or a 1.91:1 ratio. So if you are a group admin you may want to get on that. If you plan on using a tool like Canva to update your group cover please note that as of the recording of this broadcast they have not updated the cover dimensions on their templates so you will need to do a custom dimension project.
4k photos come to Facebook messenger
Facebook announced that Messenger users in select countries can now send and receive photos at 4K resolution or up to 4,096 x 4,096. According to Facebook’s announcement “Your photos will also be sent just as quickly before, even at this new, higher resolution.”
Tag a Friend in a Facebook Comment being tested
Facebook testing a new way to tag friends in the comments. Although not at all released to the public, the magical unicorn that is Matt Navara snooped around and found that Facebook is considering a button it the comments that would allow you to easily tag friends (because for some reason people can’t figure out the @ sign??). I just can’t wait to see how many spammers rejoice if this is released…
Periscope expands tipping with super hearts outside of US
According to Techcrunch Twitter (owner of Periscope) announced the Periscope Super Broadcaster program, which allows video stars to earn revenue from their streams through a virtual tipping mechanism, is now available in Canada, Ireland, and the U.K. the program still has quite a few restrictions that make the barrier to entry pretty high so it is yet to be seen how much the program will build Periscope’s user base or app use.
Facebook testing pre-roll ads ahead of watch now videos
Looks like Facebook is testing out a new ad type which gives them even more property to advertise on! Facebook is testing out a pre-video ad which seems to go against Facebook pre-roll policy of years past. While still in the testing phase, if you are thinking pre-roll ads are for you I would HIGHLY suggest you go listen to the AWESOME podcast by Michael Stelzner with Billy Gene where they talk about pre-roll ads on YouTube but this can also be used on Facebook. Brilliant tips in this one: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/youtube-pre-roll-ads-how-to-acquire-customers-with-video/id549899114?i=1000394647375&mt=2
And there you have it! Your social media news for December 2nd 2017!
If you like this episode and want to give me a high five then the best thing you can do is share this with your friends or someone you know that would find it helpful.
I would love to hear from you! If you are listening via Anchor please comment or call in with your thoughts and questions. If you are listening via my podcast tweet to me @stellar247. I would also love to have you join me in my Facebook group where I answer questions, break social media news and give bonus trainings and insights. Check it out at http://stellar247.media/FBGroup
If you are listening via my podcast and you enjoy what you hear please consider giving me a 5-star review. Nothing would give me more joy and make my day than your kind words.
As always I want to thank you for tuning in and have a stellar day!
These notes are from my podcast Business as Unusual. Listen and subscribe to stay in the know and get even more great info and insights on social media, entrepreneurship and online marketing.
iTunes: http://stellar247.media/itunes
Google Play: http://stellar247.media/gplay
