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 with Phil Gerbyshak and Nicole Virant, you can find it here.
We're also joined by this week's special guest, Anh Nguyen.
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
Twitter Timestamps For Live Video
In Twitter news, they are adding a new feature called Twitter timestamps for live video.
Why Twitter TimeStamps Matter For Your Business
Twitter Timestamps will let you select where you want live video to begin.
Previously, if you wanted to tweet a live video, someone had to fast-forward to the specific part they wanted to view.
With Twitter Timestamps, you can set the starting point for your live video and then tweet it, send a direct message or share it with your followers.
Here is a short video showing you how to use Twitter Timestamps for your next live video.
As a business, be sure you take your time setting where you want your live video to begin when you tweet it. This way you jump customers to the right moment in the video and don't waste their time.
Overall, this is a great addition to Twitter and should help improve the quality of the content you are tweeting out.
To read the announcement about Twitter timestamps, here.
LinkedIn Video Ads For B2B
In LinkedIn news, they are launching video ads for B2B and Company Pages.
Why LinkedIn Video Ads For B2B Matter For Your Business
LinkedIn is adding two useful features for people in the B2B space. These include video for sponsored content and Company Pages.
These are new welcomed additions to LinkedIn. Now, you'll be able to better target your content to the right users thanks to new B2B targeting capabilities.
In addition to this new feature, LinkedIn is rolling out organic native video for Company Pages.
If your business has its own Company Page, you can now share first-hand video content to give your customers (and potential customers) a look into your culture, products, news, events and more!
To read more about LinkedIn video ads for sponsored content and video for Company Pages, click here.
Pinterest Adds A Following Tab
In Pinterest news, they are adding a following tab.
Why A Pinterest Following Tab Matters For Your Business
Pinterest is adding a new following tab. This is what it looks like.
With the new "following" tab on Pinterest, you'll be able to see the latest pins from people you follow (in the order they are saved).
As a business, if you're in need of some inspiration, now you'll be able to see recommendations in your home feed or look in the "following" tab to see what others are saving.
To get the Pinterest following tab, be sure you update your Pinterest app to the latest version in your app store.
You can read more about the Pinterest following tab click here.
Facebook Limiting Partner Categories
In Facebook news, they are restricting access to partner categories when running Facebook Ads.
Why Restrictions to Facebook Partner Categories Matter For Your Business
In the wake of Cambridge Analytica, Facebook is restricting access to partner categories.
This is a pretty big deal, as it will affect you as a business if you run Facebook Ads and want to access partner categories, you'll no longer be able to through third-party data.
These partner categories (from Experian and Acxiom), let you target users based on purchase activity to further improve your targeting.
By removing access to this information, it will further reduce the targeting options you'll have as a business to reach the right customers.
To read more about changes to Facebook partner categories, click here.
Facebook Split Testing For Ads
In more Facebook news, Facebook rolled out more options to run A/B testing or split testing for Facebook Ads.
Why Facebook Split Testing Matters For Your Business
Facebook wants to continue to help you with your Facebook Ads (link) http://socialchefs.com/tag/facebook-ads by adding more split testing options.
As a business, you should find creative spit testing useful. What this means is that when you're using the quick creation flow in Facebook Ads Manager, you'll be able to quickly create a/b split tests for your ads.
You can even create split tests for objectives for sales, conversions, application installs, reach, video views, traffic and lead generation.
One additional feature is the ability to duplicate split tests and retain your existing settings. This way you'll be able to create Facebook Ads much faster and run different variations to see which ones are working.
Here is a look at creative split tests in Ads Manager.
To read more about a/b split testing for Facebook, click here.
Facebook Split Testing For Ads
In more Facebook news, Facebook rolled out more options to run A/B testing or split testing for Facebook Ads.
Why Facebook Split Testing Matters For Your Business
Facebook wants to continue to help you with your Facebook Ads (link) http://socialchefs.com/tag/facebook-ads by adding more split testing options.
As a business, you should find creative spit testing useful. What this means is that when you're using the quick creation flow in Facebook Ads Manager, you'll be able to quickly create a/b split tests for your ads.
You can even create split tests for objectives for sales, conversions, application installs, reach, video views, traffic and lead generation.
One additional feature is the ability to duplicate split tests and retain your existing settings. This way you'll be able to create Facebook Ads much faster and run different variations to see which ones are working.
Here is a look at creative split tests in Ads Manager.
To read more about a/b split testing for Facebook, click here.
Facebook Messenger Adds 360 Degree Photos and HD Video
Also this week, Facebook Messenger added 360 degree photos and HD quality video.
Why Facebook Messenger 360 Degree Photos and HD Quality Video Matters For Your Business
Facebook is continuing to make Messenger (link) http://socialchefs.com/tag/facebook-messenger even more powerful by adding two new features - 360 degree photos and HD quality video.
With 360 degree photos and panoramic photos, you can now share your experience directly in Messenger.
Previously, if you wanted to capture 360 degree photos to share, you had to use your device's camera, take a panoramic photo, and then go to Messenger.
Now, you can take these right from Messenger.
In addition to 360 degree photos, you can share HD quality video.
Previously, you were limited to just HD photos. Now, you can send and receive HD quality, 720p videos straight from your devices camera roll in Messenger.
As a business, you'll want to be sure you set your devices camera settings to capture the highest resolution possible. On iOS, you can find these under Settings > Camera > Record Video.
This way you're capturing the best quality video to share with your customers.
To read the announcement about updates to Facebook Messenger, click here.
YouTube Thumbnails In Notifications
In YouTube news, they are adding thumbnails in notifications.
Why YouTube Thumbnails In Notifications Matters For Your Business
YouTube is making it easier for you as a business owner to see which of your notifications are about new subscribers and which ones are comments on specific YouTube videos by introducing thumbnails in notifications.
This is what YouTube thumbnails in notifications look like.
By adding thumbnails to your notifications, you can now quickly identify which video has new comments on it. You can also sort through who are new subscribers versus new engagements that you have received, which can save your business time, while helping ensure you don't miss comments on your videos.
YouTube TruView for Reach Ads
Also this week, YouTube began rolling out TrueView for Reach ads.
With these new YouTube ads, they are priced on a cost per thousand views basis (also called CPM).
Why YouTube TrueView For Reach Matters For Your Business
YouTube has this to say about TrueView for Reach. "Our popular in-stream format built on user choice together with the simplicity of CPM buying,"
Basically, TrueView for Reach is supposed to be a new option between TrueView ads and in-stream 6-second non-skippable bumper ads.
By adding a new option for YouTube ads, your business can now choose the one that best fits, instead of trying to fit your business into one particular model.
To learn more about YouTube true-view skippable short ad formats, here.
Instagram API Restrictions For Developers and Scheduling Tools
In Instagram news, they are restricting access to the Instagram API for developers.
Why Instagram API restrictions Matter For Your Business
Instagram is restricting access to their API for developers and limiting how often others can use their API to collect data about Instagram users.
On the surface, while this seems like it only affects people building tools for Instagram, if you use tools such as Agorapulse, Hootsuite or Buffer, you may be limited in using Instagram within these tools.
Instagram reduced the number of API calls that can be made from 5,000 calls per hour to just 200.
For now, many of your favorite social media tools are working with Instagram to figure out a way to access the Instagram API. As a business, you should prepare yourself for changing your Instagram strategy. This may mean you'll have to manually post your content (for now) until a resolution is found.
You can read more about Instagram API restrictions here.
Snapchat Group Video Chat and Mentions
In Snapchat news, they are adding group video chat and @ mentions.
Why Snapchat Group Video Chat and Mentions Matter For Your Business
Snapchat is adding two useful new features. These are group video chat and @ mentions.
Snapchat group video chat will let you start a group video chat with your favorite Snapchatters.
Group members will be notified when they are invited to join a call. Up to 16 users can participate at one time. If you create a Snapchat group voice chat, you can have 32 users.
When on a Snapchat group video chat, you'll be able to apply many of the face lenses that are available.
In addition, Snapchat is allowing @ mentions in Stories.
What this means is you can now tag someone in Snaps.
When someone is viewing Snaps, they can swipe up to see who is tagged and add those accounts.
This is what you will see when using Snapchat Mentions.
As a business both of these features can be particularly useful. For example, as the owner of your business, you can hold weekly calls with your customers or brainstorming sessions with your employees on Snapchat.
For Snapchat Mentions, you'll be able to identify other Snapchat accounts you may want to connect with. Compared to Instagram, this is a great way to see who your customers might be connected with in their Snaps.
To read more about Snapchat group video chat and mentions, 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.
Videohance
The first tool that we have discovered this week is called Videohance (iOS).
Are you looking for ways to make your videos stand-out from the competition?
Have you considered using a mobile app such as Videohance to apply different effects to your video clips?
With Videohance, you can apply 100+ unique HD effects, adjust the speed of your footage and add camera motion - all from your mobile device.
Videohance is available for $3.99. You can download it from the link below.
Create beautiful videos with VideohanceKnowem
The second tool that we have for you this week is called Knowem (web).
Have you come up with a great name for your business or brand, only to find that the social media channels or domain names you want to use are already taken?
Rather than spend time going to Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and more, you can check them all in one convenient location thanks to Knowem.
With Knowem, you can quickly secure profiles for your business or brand on over 300 of the most popular social media channels. This includes adding your logo, description, website, URL and more.
This way you can quickly claim these essential channels for your business in minutes.
You can try searching for your business or brand on Knowem from the link below.
They offer packages that start at $85, that can save you a lot of time and take some of the guesswork out of launching your business.
Try KnowemWrap-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.
