Welcome to this week's episode of Social Chatter, the longest running social media marketing talk show where we cover the latest social media news from this past week.
As a reminder, each episode of Social Chatter is available as a blog post or video.
For those of you who missed last week's show, you can find it here.
We're also joined by this week's special guest, Lisa Monks.
Let's see what's new in social media this week with your hosts, Christian Karasiewicz and Phil Gerbyshak.
Watch This Week's Social Media Updates
Facebook Privacy and Cambridge Analytica
In Facebook news, they have experienced a lot of backlash from the recent privacy issues concerning Cambridge Analytica.
Why Facebook Privacy and Cambridge Analytica Matters For Your Business
No doubt, you have heard about the latest issues surrounding Facebook and data that was shared with Cambridge Analytica.
If you haven't, you can read about it here.
Basically, back in back in 2014-2015, Professor Kogan and Cambridge Analytica mined data as a developer. It was then sold. That's where the trouble started.
As a business, you know Facebook is going to try and repair any harm done. They depend on your business to use Facebook and to run Facebook Ads - so that they can generate revenue. Any holdups will stunt their future opportunities for growth.
While this seems like a major issue, we feel it will be temporary. What will Facebook have to do to win your trust back?
Facebook Creator Tools and Experiences
Facebook is looking to build out the Creator app and site for creators. To do this, they are launching a series of new tools.
Why New Facebook Creator Tools Matter For Your Business
Facebook is building out Facebook for Creators with the following new tools.
Highlight a creator's top fans
Facebook is going to start to display a badge next to the a creator's top fans.
They plan to use the following criteria to rank fans.
"We'll identify top fans based on how often they comment, share, react or watch a creator's content, as well as the creator's interactions with the fan and other criteria. Fans will opt into this experience, and they can turn off the feature at any time. "
Manage Your Facebook Creators' Presence
A second feature is the ability to manage your Facebook for Creators presence.
You'll soon be able to use automated capabilities to manage your presence. These new content rights management tools will be simplified and much easier to use.
Connecting Advertisers and Creators
Facebook is going to begin rolling out a tool to make it easier for advertisers and creators to connect for branded content opportunities.
As a creator, you will be able to "set up a portfolio highlighting their area of expertise, and advertisers can search and find creators to collaborate on compelling branded content campaigns."
Facebook is also looking at ways for fans to support their creators - think YouTube monetization or Twitch. In exchange for a monthly payment, fans will also be able to get perks such as exclusive content or badges highlighting their status as a supporter.
For those of you who run a business, you'll want to sign-up for the Facebook for Creators program. This way you can get invited to try out these new features for creators.
You can read more about what's coming for Facebook Creators here.
Facebook Lite
Facebook is launching Facebook Lite in developing countries, as well as in the U.S.
Why Facebook Lite Matters For Your Business
Facebook is rolling out Facebook Lite, a stripped down version of Facebook.
It will be available in the United States, Canada, Australia, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland and New Zealand.
Facebook Lite is essentially a stripped down version of Facebook and is geared towards people in countries where they don't have a fast Internet connection. It still allows them the opportunity to use Facebook, but at a reduced capacity.
If your business has customers in some of these countries, you'll now be able to stay connected with them despite their slower Internet speeds.
One thing you can do is survey your customers to see if they find using Facebook is slow in their area. If it is, you can do them a favor and suggest they try Facebook Lite.
You can read more about Facebook Lite here.
Facebook Messenger Group Chat Enhancements
Facebook is also making a number of enhancements to Facebook Messenger Group Chats. These include admin privileges and joinable links.
Why Facebook Messenger Group Chat Enhancements Matter For Your Business
Facebook is adding two new features to Facebook Messenger Group Chats.
- Admin privileges: approve new members before they join a Facebook Group chat
- Joinable links: Create a custom invite link to share with someone
Here is a short video showing how to use admin privileges and joinable links in Facebook Messenger Group chats.
Businesses will find Facebook Messenger Group chat admin privileges and joinable links useful.
Admin privileges is a feature that will work in the background. All you have to do is turn it on if you need it. You will be able to control who can join your Messenger chats.
The second feature, joinable links, are a way to create a custom link to share with others who you want to have join your Messenger Group chat.
Previously, you had to send someone a friend request or check your other Messenger conversations and then add someone. Now you can send someone a link to be added to your Group - if approvals are off.
Now, it will be much easier for you as a business owner, to be able to bring people into a Messenger Group chat.
If you want to know more about these new Messenger enhancements, here.
Instagram Hashtag and Profile Links In Your Bio
In Instagram news, you can now include a hashtag and profile link in your Instagram bio.
Why Hashtag and Profile Links In Your Instagram Bio Matter For Your Business
Instagram is introducing hashtag and profile links in your Instagram bio.
When you include a # or @ sign in your Instagram bio, it will; now become a live link that can "lead to a hashtag page or another profile."
How to Add Hashtag or Profile Links In Your Instagram Bio
- Launch Instagram
- Edit your profile
- Type a # or @ sign in your bio section - Instagram will recommend a hashtag or account
- Hashtags or accounts you select will automatically be added to your Instagram bio
Here is a step-by-step process of how hashtag and profile links work in your Instagram bio.
Business owners will find this particular feature useful. You can now link to your own hashtag if you have oFor example, we use the hashtag, #SocialChatter for our weekly social media talk show and can use this new Instagram feature to see who is talking about our show on Instagram.
If you work for a brand, you can use the new profile link feature to link to another Instagram account that you manage.
You'll also get notified when someone mentions you in their Instagram bio and can choose to remove the link to their profile.
As always, if you want to do more with your Instagram bio beyond adding a hashtag or profile link, don't forget to add more links to your Instagram bio link.
You can read more about Instagram hashtag and profile links in your bio here.
Instagram Stories Get Quote-Style Resharing
Also in Instagram news, they are adding quote-style post resharing to Instagram Stories.
Why Instagram Stories Adding Quote-Style Post Resharing Matters For Your Business
Instagram has always lacked a regram feature. You may soon be getting a native resharing feature in Instagram Stories.
According to this screenshot, you can pick a public, permanent Instagram post. From there, you can tap a button and embed the post in your Instagram Stories.
With a few more taps, you can change the design, move and resize the post in your Stories, adjust the author's tag and more.
When someone is viewing your Instagram Stories, they'll be able to tap on the post to see the original post.
Instagram has also included a setting so that you can disable being "quote-storied" on Instagram.
As a business, we expect this new way to share posts to Instagram Stories to be particularly popular. You can also use this feature to build relationships with other Instagram users since they'll be tagged when you reshare a post in Instagram Stories.
While this feature isn't available yet, now would be a good time to begin to familiarize yourself with how Instagram Stories work.
You can read more about "quote tweet-style" feed post resharing here.
Instagram Expands Shoppable Posts
Instagram has also announced that they are expanding stoppable posts to eight more countries.
Why Expanding Instagram Shoppable Posts Matters For Your Business
Instagram is rolling out shoppable posts to 8 more countries. These include the UK, France, Italy, Germany, Australia, Brazil, Canada and Spain.
As a business, you've had to resort to other ways to sell on Instagram.
Instagram is wanting to make it easier for brands to sell on Instagram. Now you'll be able to tag someone in a post so that they can quickly shop on Instagram.
Here's a short video showing you how to shop on Instagram.
To read more about Instagram expanding shoppable posts here.
LinkedIn Video Filters and Text Styles
In LinkedIn news, they are adding two new ways for you to enhance LinkedIn video with filters and text styles.
Why LinkedIn Video Filters and Text Styles Matter For Your Business
LinkedIn is introducing two new creative tools for you to use when creating LinkedIn videos.
These include:
- Filters: Add "work high five", "side hustle", and "on the air," with additional filters to come.
- Text styles: three styles called FifthAve, Geometrics and Plain, with more to come at a later date.
How to Use LinkedIn Creator Tools
- Launch the LinkedIn mobile app
- Tap on the video icon in the share box
- Record or upload a video
- Add a filter and text style using the icons in the top right
- Drag the elements to reposition them
As a business, you' should find these new LinkedIn creator tools useful. While you're limited in the filters and text styles for now, you can start using them to diversify the types of content that you share on LinkedIn with your customers.
Because LinkedIn is primarily a business-minded platform, you may want to first start off with a daily video where you share a business tip with your customers or talk about new products you just received in inventory or that you are planning to launch to see what kind of engagement you generate from your audience - chances are, the new video filters and text styles will be a hit.
To learn more about new LinkedIn video filters and text options, here.
A Camera-First Twitter Feature
In Twitter news, they are working on a camera-first feature that could threaten Snapchat.
Why A Camera-First Twitter Feature Matters For Your Business
Twitter is working on a camera-first feature that could shift the emphasis on text tweets to video and images.
"The new function would combine location-based photos and videos with Twitter Moments around notable events. Companies could sponsor events or place ads in between tweeted real-time photos and videos."
As a business, how many times have you used the swipe-to-open feature on your mobile devices camera to quickly take a photo or video?
This new camera-first feature would put the emphasis on capturing photos and videos first, which seems to make a lot of sense.
Once you've captured your moment, you can then add text to add additional context to it.
This new Twitter feature could also users back to the Twitter Moments feature.
To read more about a Twitter camera-first feature, here.
Tools
In addition to sharing the latest news from this past week, we also highlighted some great social media tools and apps for you to check out.
True Social Metrics
The first tool that we have discovered this week is called True Social Metrics (web).
True Social Metrics is a social media tool that can make it easy for your business to compare the performance of your social media accounts so that you can determine the most effective social media channels to use for your business.
While it's great to have a presence on all of the major social networks, it is important to focus on the right ones where you're getting the most value.
With True Social Metrics, you can see which channels are performing the best for you. You can also analyze user trends over time, as well as compare your performance to others in your industry.
True Social Metrics works for Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus, WordPress, YouTube, LinkedIn, Tumblr, Instagram, Slideshare, Vimeo and Pinterest.
Prices start at $30 per month for their small business and social media consultants plan. You can try True Social Metrics from the link below.
Try True Social MetricsPinpoint
If you're an iOS user, you can already take screenshots and record your iOS devices screen.
Unfortunately, you're limited on the options you can use to mock-up your screenshots beyond colors and arrows.
The second tool that we have for you this week is called Pinpoint (iOS) and it can help you mock-up your screenshots in more ways.
Here's how Pinpoint works. Simply take a screenshot and then open it in Pinpoint.
From the mobile app, you can draw arrows and boxes to pinpoint important items for your customers.
Pinpoint also includes a handy blur tool so that you can hide sensitive information such as account numbers, addresses and more.
Pinpoint is available as a freemium app. You can unlock additional colors for $4.99.
You can start mocking up your screenshots for customers with Pinpoint from the link below.
Download PinpointWrap-up
That's it for this week's show!
To watch next week's episode of Social Chatter, your weekly social media marketing talk show, tune-in here to find out what's new in social media!
If you have any questions about of the social media news or tools that were mentioned this week, please share them with us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or in the comments below.
