It’s been a busy month for social media updates
Several of the top social platforms have announced new features to make customer service, marketing, and branding easier for businesses. Here are the seven latest social media updates you need to know.
Twitter expands customer service feature
Twitter is making it a little easier for brands to make sure their followers are aware that they provide customer service through the platform. Businesses are now able to indicate that they provide support, which according to Twitter, will add the information to suggestions when people search for a business, @mention a business, or find a business through a direct message. The new feature also display hours of availability and a more prominent direct message button.
What does this mean for your business? Well, you can tell your followers when you’re more likely to respond to inquiries. Brands have often been criticized if they don’t respond right away, so this allows businesses to be a little more transparent about their customer service practices on social. That way users know when they are more likely to receive the best customer care. It also allows Twitter to know more about brands who are engaging with people in social customer care.
Twitter adds more exceptions to the 140-character limit
Twitter isn’t counting photos, videos, GIFs, polls, and quote retweets as part of the 140-character count anymore, simplifying the character rules on Twitter. This will make sharing content on the platform much easier, allowing for more content to be shared in the same amount of space.
Instagram launches "save as draft" feature
Finally, Instagram has made their “save as draft” feature available to all users, which means users can edit and draft Instagram posts in the app. Users can filter the photo, tag other users, add copy, and the location, then save it to be posted later. While you can’t actually schedule posts through this new feature, it does allow users to prepare posts natively, instead of using third-party scheduling tools.
Instagram tweaks call-to-actions on ads
New updates to Instagram's ad format, trying to increase engagement with users. Updates include a larger CTA button and CTA prompts when visiting a brand's profile. Additionally, Instagram is highlighting the CTA when a user takes an interest in an ad and will have additional details on the CTA. Additionally, if users unmute a video ad, they will be taken to a destination URL.
Instagram has seen a lot of success with their ad platform, with a 45 percent increase of engagement since their last update. These latest updates are a way for Instagram to continue that growth.
Facebook enhances dynamic ads for retailers
Facebook has added new features to their dynamic ads, with the goal of driving in-store traffic for retailers. The updates will allow retailers to upload their store inventory to Facebook, with ad campaigns to be updated to reflected inventory and the viewer’s location. A targeting feature has also been added to help retailers target those who are most likely to visit brick-and-mortar locations.
YouTube
YouTube’s Creator Studio app introduces insights
With YouTube’s Creator Studio app’s introduction of insights, users will now be able to receive personalized updates when major events happen on their channel. These include updates like spikes in views or increased engagement. These insights will help creators really hone in their marketing efforts, letting them take action on their channel in a timely manner. This will help them grow their channel more efficiently and be able to help them engage with fans.
Pinterest makes it easier to promote pins
Pinterest has introduced a new promote button that lets brands promote their existing pin in just nine seconds. By adding to your daily ad budget and verifying the URL, regular pins can be promoted. Brands will only pay for the promoted pin if the visitor clicks through to their website from the pin. This makes it much easier for brands to run ads on Pinterest, especially since they only pay when a conversation happens.
Snapchat
Snapchat rebrands and introduces Spectacles
Snapchat has rebranded its name and will now go by Snap Inc. A major reason for this is that Snap Inc. is planning on expanding their business to become more than just a messaging app. To go along with this mission, and the rebrand, Snap is releasing Spectacles, wearable tech in the form of sunglasses that let users capture short videos from their perspective and then post to the app. Spectacles will come in several trendy colors and feature a 115-degree degree field of view. They will be priced at $129.99 and are expected to be released later in the fall.
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