Welcome to this week's episode of Social Chatter where we cover the latest social media news from this past week.
Each episode of Social Chatter is available as a blog post or video.
Let's see what's new in social media this week with your hosts, Christian Karasiewicz and Nick Rishwain.
We're also joined by special guest, Ross Brand from Livestream Universe.
Watch This Week's Social Media Updates
Snapchat Using Machine Learning In Ad Targeting
In Snapchat news, they are adding news ways to help your business optimize performance for ad targeting using machine learning.
Why Machine Learning For Snapchat Ad Targeting Matters
Instead of guessing when running Snapchat Ads, they are rolling out goal-based bidding.
Here is how this would work on Snapchat.
Advertisers can let Snapchat know when they want to increase swipe-ups.
For example, an advertiser might use this to drive app installs, web views or even movie trailers.
Once you specify your goal, Snapchat can provide a value to help auto-optimize bidding.
This would also help you get your snaps delivered to the right target audience - those who are likely to engage with your Snapchat ads.
This is different with how most ads work on social media.
Instead of focusing on impressions, you are getting to the point with your Snapchat ads and targeting your audience who would be most interested rather than generating a large number of impressions that could end up being pointless.
So far, this approach seems to be working, with Snapchat advertisers who are using goal-based bidding (gbb), seeing a "40 percent improved efficiency in their cost per swipe."
To read more about machine learning from Snapchat, take a look at this article.
Performing Surgery With Snapchat Spectacles
Also in Snapchat news, we came across a video of a Doctor performing surgery using Snapchat Spectacles.
Here are snaps that were recorded using Spectacles during the surgery.
We're excited about all of the possibilities that Snapchat Spectacles has to offer.
Right now, Doctor's are using Spectacles to record 10-second videos during an operation.
Next, we could could see these being useful for athletes. For instance, recording a play during a game.
If you run a retail business, you could show customers around your store.
The possibilities are endless!
So if you aren't a Doctor, just take in how thrilling it would be to be able to provide someone with the experience of being there, even if they are unable to.
To learn more about this amazing video, go here.
A Dedicated Home for Facebook Videos
In Facebook news, they have launched a dedicated video tab.
This is what the new dedicated video tab looks like in the Facebook mobile app.
Why A Dedicated Facebook Video Tab Matters
With Facebook encouraging people and businesses to create more Facebook Live videos, you need a dedicated place to view all of the videos.
Otherwise, your Facebook news feed gets too busy and you miss out on videos you may want to watch.
With a new dedicated video tab, you can quickly access your favorite Facebook Pages to see their latest videos.
There is also a "notifications" area where you can see Facebook Live videos from pages you've liked along with a "suggestions for you" area based on videos your friends are watching.
Here is what these sections look like.
To get the new Facebook video tab, update or download the Facebook app.
Automatic Subtitling for Facebook Page Videos
Another update this week from Facebook was the addition of automatic subtitles for Facebook Page videos.
When you upload a video to your Facebook Page, you will now have the option to upload an SRT file or have Facebook automatically generate captions for your videos for you.
Why Automatic Subtitles for Facebook Page Videos Matters
A lot of times, people are browsing Facebook in a public place.
This means it isn't always appropriate to watch a video with the volume turned up.
By adding the ability for a Facebook Page to automatically generate captions for their videos, this can help increase viewership - even if someone is in a public place because you can also turn on the autoplay video feature as well!
To generate captions for your Facebook Page videos, open your video on Facebook and click the "..." option and select "edit post."
Next, look under the "captions" tab and then click on "generate."
Facebook will begin generating captions for your videos.
Facebook Testing CTA Message Buttons
One last update from Facebook this week comes in the form of CTA message buttons.
Facebook is testing this within comments.
When you go to leave a comment, there is now a "message" button.
When pressed, it will launch the Facebook Messenger app and let you private message user.
Here is what the new call-to-action message button looks like courtesy of user Suzie Nguyen who spotted this in her app.
Why A CTA Message Button In Comments Matters
We think a dedicated CTA message button in comments is a very useful feature.
There are times when you may want to send a private message.
You would have to go to a users profile, tap Messenger and have it launch the app on your mobile device.
Or you could switch from the Facebook mobile app to Messenger yourself, then start a new message.
By adding a dedicated button, you can skip all of those steps and if you have Messenger installed, go directly to it.
As a business owner, this can save you a lot of time.
Hopefully this gets rolled out in the next update of the Facebook mobile app.
Google Linking Brands With YouTube Creators
In YouTube news, Google is now helping link brands with content creators.
Through a program called YouTube Labs, Google can link YouTube video production talent (YouTube content creators) with brands.
Why Google Linking Brands With YouTube Creators Matters
This is pretty big news because it may threaten agencies and influencer networks as result.
Currently, many brands utilize agencies and influencer network programs to connect with a big-time influencer.
With Google throwing their hat into the ring, this cuts out the need to utilize an agency or influencer network.
This should also help reduce the cost as well for brands since they typically have to pay fees to use an agency on-top of an arrangement with a YouTube content creator.
Take a look at a video that was produced using YouTube Labs.
To read more about this announcement, go here.
Tools
In addition to sharing the latest in social media news from this past week, we also highlighted some great tools and apps to check out.
Rebrandly
The first tool we have for you this week is called Rebrandly (Chrome extension).
Have you ever looked at a URL you were sharing and thought to yourself, that's ugly!
With Rebrandly, you can turn URLs you want to share on your social media channels into your own custom domain name in seconds.
Here is a video on how Rebrandly works.
You can sign-up for Rebrandly for free using the link below.
If you need advanced features, such as smart link redirects, A/B testing and more, they also offer a premium plan.
Sign-up for RebrandlyPosyt
The next tool we wanted to share with you is called Posyt (iOS).
Have you ever had an idea for your business, but didn't know who to connect with to get it off the ground?
Rather than let your ideas go unused, Posyt can help!
With Posyt, you share your ideas and their advanced search algorithm will find relevant people to them.
You can then connect with those people and explore getting your next big idea or project off the ground.
Posyt is a free app. You can download it from the link below.
Download PosytGridy Pic for Instagram
The last tool we wanted to share this week is called Gridy Pic for Instagram (iOS).
Have you noticed all of the photos you share on Instagram all look the same?
If you're looking to increase engagement on the content you share on Instagram, you need to vary the types of photos that you post to keep your audience interested.
Gridy pic for Instagram can help you do that - quickly!
Simply upload a photo that you want to share on Instagram and Gridy pic will slice it into a grid.
In just a few seconds, you'll have a new style of photo that you can share on your Instagram channel.
You can download Gridy pic for Instagram from the link below.
Download Gridy Pic for InstagramWrap-up
That's it for this week's episode of Social Chatter.
Be sure to tune-in to our next episode of Social Chatter 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.
