When Instagram was created, the coolest features were the filters and frames. You could post “instant” memories to your feed for your friends to see. Today, the platform is increasingly used for business and influence. Hence, the hidden likes test and development of business accounts. If you thought the hidden likes test on Instagram was big, just wait. There are even more interesting tests and developments coming down the pipeline. These two new changes target today’s users: businesses and influencers.
1. Like Separation by Time
The more you know about your audience, the more you can optimize your profile for them. That’s why Instagram Insights tells you when your audience is most active on the app. You can see which days have the highest reach and the age range of your followers. This new change will only improve your ability to learn about your users.
When you want to see how many likes your post has, you click the bolded text beside“Liked by.” With this upcoming feature, you’ll be able to see which likes have come in most recently. Instead of one giant tally of every user that likes your post, you can see who liked it and when. They’ll be separated by “New” and“Earlier” sections. This is immensely beneficial for businesses that want to engage with accounts that engage with them. It can teach you the types of posts certain followers interact with and when. Albeit a small change, it could be huge for social media strategy.Unfollow Counts
2. Unfollow Counts
Instagram provided the platform for a career that has never existed in history: the influencer.High-profile users, like influencers and celebrities, are eligible for Creator Accounts. These accounts come with specific insights that dive deeper than the insights for Business Accounts. One of the new metrics slowly being rolled out are unfollower counts. Until now, you could only see how many followers you gained in a period. By doing some basic math, you could see how many you lost. Now, the Insights Page has a section for your unfollower count based on days, weeks, and months.
This change is super helpful for influencers and their social strategies. In a world where follower counts equal pay checks, understanding when and why you lose followers is crucial. We already know the “follow-unfollow” strategy that affects follower counts. What about the reasons non-business users have for unfollowing? If you can learn more about that, you can potentially grow your follower count exponentially.
Instagram’s updates and changes are exciting and intriguing. They can also be intimidating to those who rely on Instagram for their business’ marketing. If you’re interested in upgrading your Instagram strategy to keep up with the changes, contact us today!
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!
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!
In-Person
Networking- It’s Still as Important as Ever
Social media platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, and
Instagram make it easy to connect to customers and clients. You create posts
that show what your brand is about. Followers relate to or believe in your
brand and reach out to form a connection. Through likes, comments, and direct
messages, a high genuine engagement rate leads to more sales. It’s a flawless
process, right?
Although a strong digital marketing presence is
crucial in today’s business climate, it shouldn’t be your only focus. Studies
show that authentic, in-person networking is as important as a digital
presence. Why is in-person networking so beneficial when we have social media?
Clear communication relies on visual cues. The way you
stand when talking to someone, your eye contact, and the amount you smile
affect their perspective of you. Often, these things allow the person you are
conversing with to fully understand what you’re saying. There’s more clarity
available in person than in text only. Consider the effort Presidents put in to
meet with other leaders in person. Think of the massive industry conferences
that allow you to learn from and socialize with each other. There is immense
value in communicating in person.
Have you ever noticed how much of your competition is
on Instagram? Anyone can start a profile, grow followers, and claim to be an
expert. You get real credibility when people see you in-person demonstrating
your expertise. That could mean giving a speech, leading a workshop, or simply
socializing at a networking event. You can show that you’re the real deal in
person, not just another account with stolen infographics.
In-person networking leads to the people you interact
with remembering you. Do you remember every profile you browsed through on
LinkedIn? Likely not. However, you will remember the conversation you had with
that potential client about their upcoming holiday. They will remember you
because you showed interest in their needs specifically. The connections you
make in-person are far more memorable than digital ones.
Here are some jaw-dropping
stats to prove how necessary in-person networking is to your
business:
Although 59% say they’re using
technology for digital meetings, 84% prefer to meet in-person.
85% believe that in-person
conferences lead to stronger and more meaningful business relationships.
Every dollar that a company spends
on business travel for networking purposes results in $12.50 ROI.
All that being said, you need a healthy mix of both
in-person and digital networking for success. Exclusively focusing on one over
the other will not help you reach your success potential. When you connect with
someone in-person, follow up with them digitally. When you connect with someone
digitally, let them know about an event you’ll be speaking at or attending.
These two mediums complement and support each other. Using them cohesively in
your marketing strategy will yield better results than focusing on one or the
other.
If you need help creating a marketing strategy that
incorporates both in-person and digital elements, contact us today!
Would you like to increase your landing page’s
conversion rate by
80 percent? Simply add a video. It’s that easy.
Video has taken the marketing world by storm in the
last couple of years. 2018 showed us that video marketing isn’t just an element
of a larger marketing strategy, it’s an entire strategy in itself. There are so
many ways you can use video to boost your traffic, conversions, and sales.
The key to making every video you produce successful
is authenticity. Consumers today
want real, raw, and genuine videos. That’s a win-win for businesses. It means
you can spend less on high-quality camera equipment and editing tools, and
still get an increase in followers/customers.
Not sure how to incorporate genuine video marketing
into your business? Here are some proven successful ideas.
Screen Recording
Don’t worry, camera-shy business owners!
Creating a video doesn’t necessarily mean you need to
be in the frame. With screen recording, it’s just your voice, the mouse, and
your screen. Screen recording videos are an effective form of education for
your consumers.
If you sell a product that comes with a learning
curve, use video to teach about it. For example, the graphics generator site,
Canva, regularly produces screen recording videos to show users how to use
their online tools. You can hear the creator’s voice as they explain the
process and see everything they do with the mouse. If you sell digital software
or online tools, screen recording videos are crucial for consumer education.
Live Video
Almost every social media platform has a live video
feature now. You’ve likely seen it on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. Why is
it important for businesses to create live videos? Because consumers today care
about supporting businesses they relate to and believe in. To know if they
relate to your brand’s mission, they need to see the inner workings of your
brand. A nice logo and faceless Instagram profile aren’t enough anymore.
Use live video to talk about the behind-the-scenes
work your business does. Show the problem your business solves. Interview your
employees to give your brand a personality. Talk about the social movements
your business supports. Live video humanizes your business to consumers. That’s
all they really want in a brand, authenticity, and transparency.
Promotional Videos
Are you launching a new product? Opening another
location? Rebranding? These are all cause for an epic promotional video.
Promotional videos are about getting the personality and mood of your brand
across to the viewer. They’re about building interest and excitement. To do so,
you might give a tour of the new location at each phase of the renovation. You
could make daily videos that hint at what the new product is. You could
reintroduce your business, and yourself, with the new branding. When you send
out an email about your promotion, skip the walls of text explaining it. Simply
post one minute of your promotional video with a link to where they can watch
the whole thing. That’s convenient, authentic, and engaging video marketing.
Not sure how to create an epic promotional video or
how to make a screen recording? Nervous about getting on camera for a live
video? We can help! Contact us today for help with your video marketing
strategy.
Influencer Marketing – lots of people are talking about this social media/marketing trend and concept! Is it beneficial? Can it drive results? Will it replace content marketing? Will it replace social media marketing in its entirety? Absolutely not. The truth of the matter is that influencer marketing is dependant on social media marketing and cannot exist without it!
What exactly is Influencer Marketing?
Let’s break it down. As we know, marketing is actionable items used to promote or sell a product or service. Influence is the capability to have a direct effect on something or someone. When we put it together, influencer marketing is practically the promotion of a product/service through individuals who are influential – those who have the capacity to directly impact or effect others.
Influencer marketing is essentially the same as attracting ambassadors to market your products or services to their networks in hopes to drive business. The strategy has been around for a while, however, we are seeing a big shift in how we are thinking about the concept. Think back to Tony the Tiger selling Frosted Flakes. Tony the Tiger was essentially the “influencer” that drove sales. The same can be said for Santa Claus – an influencer that changed the game for Coca Cola. Fast forward to today’s day and age, we have the Kardashian clan representing brands like Calvin Klein or The Rock representing Under Armour. On a smaller scale, there are micro-influencers – those who have large local followers in smaller jurisdictions.
How can you take advantage of this blossoming career and marketing channel? By reaching out to influencers with your products or services. However, etiquette matters. Here are some do’s and don’ts of contacting an influencer.
Do: Have a Full Concept First
Would you show up to a business meeting unprepared? No. Treat your initial contact with an influencer like an important business meeting. You should have your marketing idea fully thought-through. Your goals and expectations should be clear. Present it in a way that is transparent and concise.
Do: Build a Relationship with Them
Although influencer marketing is now a part of the business, most influencers never went to business school. They value authentic connections with brands before making a deal. Before ever pitching your idea, build a rapport. Comment on their posts; start a conversation. Show that you understand their personal brand and what their audience wants. Be human first, marketer second.
Do: Offer Something in Return
Influencers make a living (part time or full) by promoting brands. It’s expected that they will receive some form of payment in return for their promotion. Bigger influencers with highly engaged followers will likely expect payment in cash. But, smaller influencers may be okay with free product or cross-promotion. Never expect free promotion.
Don’t: Get Blinded by Their Numbers
It can be tempting to reach out to influencers with millions of followers. That means they have millions of loyal subscribers who will buy what they say, right? Not always. We already know that many accounts on social media are actually bots and unused accounts. Instead, focus on influencers with high engagement rates. They may only have 10 000 followers, but almost all of those followers care about the influencer’s opinion.
Don’t: Be Too Strict with Your Expectations
Influencers are generally creative people; they curate their images, captions, and personal brand. Allow some room for creativity and flexibility in your marketing plan. You’re choosing an influencer based on their sense of style, confidence, and well, influence. If they want to change up the wording of your copy to better suit their followers, be open to it. They know their audience better than anyone.
Don’t: Only Contact Them on Social Media
Popular influencers have direct message inboxes full of subscriber questions, comments, and requests. While it’s good to send a message this way, it’s best to follow it up with an email. Most influencers will have a business email or management contact for you to reach out to. Use this method of contact, not only their direct messages.
Influencer marketing is the way of the future. More and more businesses and professionals are utilizing the power of influencer marketing. If you need help reaching out to influencers and coming up with a clear marketing strategy, contact us today!
