Why Instagram is Hiding Likes & What it Means for Your Business

by admin | May 27, 2019 | SocialEyes

WhenInstagram started, it was meant to be a creative, community-based social platform. It was a way to share your images, micro-blog in the captions, and find your tribe with hashtags. In the last couple of years, we’ve seen the dark side of Instagram emerge. Popularity measured through likes and follows overtook the desire to post authentic content. Self-esteem and self-worth for many users hung in limbo as they waited for the likes to roll in. The mental health of these users declined as they continued to compare themselves to others. Instagram is now trying to change that.

In Canada, Instagram is running a “hidden likes” test. If you post an image, you’ll be able to see how many users “like” your post. However, users cannot see how many likes your post is getting. This removes our ability to compare our posts to others based on likes.

Why is Instagram doing this? What does it mean for influencers, brand ambassadors, and social media companies? It means we need to take a more human approach to the digital space. The constant judgement and comparison on social platforms are causing mental health problems for users, most notably for teenagers. With May being Mental Health Awareness Month, Instagram’s new test couldn’t have come at a better time.

Removing the visibility of likes from posts encourages users to stop deriving self-worth from their social media accounts. It’s crucial that younger, more impressionable users don’t depend on Instagram for their self-esteem. Low self-esteem can lead to anxiety, depression, and more severe mental illnesses. We applaud Instagram for realizing how their features were contributing to the decline in mental health among their younger users.

In terms of businesses and social media companies, we need to shift the metrics we focus on. Likes seemed a critical metric, but they were never the most ideal form of engagement. Comments and direct messages are more valuable. At SocialEyes Communications, we believe in growing your genuine engagement rate.That means creating content that your target customers find true value in. Some posts were known to get more likes, but now it’s time to focus on posts that boost other types of engagement. This is a positive and exciting change for businesses.

Forget comparing your numbers to your competitors. Improve the quality and authenticity of your content to boost engagement, and thus, conversions. What are some ways you can do this? Engage with your followers’ accounts and comment on their posts. Show the love you want to receive. Ask relevant and genuine questions as your CTAs. Interact with the users who answer in your comments. Don’t respond by simply liking their comment; engage and start a conversation. Show the human side of your brand in this digital space.

If you need some help updating your Instagram strategy with the new hidden likes feature, contact us today!

Top 3 Apps We Found and Love

by admin | May 22, 2019 | SocialEyes

It has never been so easy to create and post amazing content. You don’t have to be a graphic designer or a social media manager. Run your social media account like a professional with a few simple but effective apps. Here are three we found recently that we absolutely love! Whether you need help posting consistently or creating images that land, these apps can help.

Apphi

Any social media strategist will tell you there’s an optimal time to post your Instagram stories. For some industries, that’s before and after the workday. For others, it’s on weekends or during lunch breaks. What do you do if the best time to post for your followers isn’t the best time for you? That’s where Apphi comes in. This sleek and easy to use app does something other scheduling apps don’t: it lets you schedule posts and stories. Running multiple Insta accounts? No problem; Apphi lets you decide when your stories will go live foreach account, in one sitting. And, you can do it all from the desktop version or the mobile app. Apphi takes the stress of posting stories in real time away so you can focus on engaging with your followers.  

Mojo

Have you ever wondered how some Instagram accounts get such beautiful images? They must spend hours making graphics, right? Wrong. Most big accounts use graphic design apps like Mojo. With Mojo, you get access to 40 different templates that you can customize and edit to your liking. Choose from 50 different fonts, tons of colours, and share your creation to any platform. The coolest feature on Mojo? You can animate the images or add animated text to your Instagram stories. Make the text or images gradually appear or show up with a bang. Animation makes your stories stand out from the competition and engages your viewers.   

Spark Post

From the creators of Photoshop comes an app that allows you to edit your images and create graphics from your smartphone. No prior knowledge of Photoshop is needed, just download Spark Post and start creating. Spark Post gives you professionally designed templates, filters, and text effects. You can even source free photos within the app to use in your content. Looking to create branded content for your business account? Spark Post allows you to create branded graphics and add them to any post you create. Everything from the colours to the font to the animation is on-brand. Spark Post is used for social posts, YouTube thumbnails, posters, blog headers, memes, and more.

With fantastic apps like these available for download, there’s nothing stopping you from producing flawless content. Create, schedule, and share your customized content from your smartphone. If you’re interested in learning how to take your social media strategies to the next level, contact us today!