All the latest news and updates from the world of social media.
Staying up to date in the world of Social Media can be a tireless task. In fact, even those of us working in the sector can find it time-consuming to keep up with all the newest features, apps and algorithms.
There are lots of obvious advantages to being ahead of the curve when it comes to the digital universe. Especially if you are a business owner or a marketeer seeking to impress your employer. That being said, we all want to be the one who sends that hilarious meme in the group chat before anyone else. So, we suppose being in the loop benefits us all.
Luckily for you, we won’t make you trawl through swathes of hopeless blogs to find the latest news; we’re serving it up in handy bite-sized portions – Social media tapas for you and your business to enjoy.
What makes us extra excited about this blog is that August happens to have been a brilliant month in the sector. There’s some genius, some madness, and even a little criticism being thrown at everyone’s favourite platform. So, we hope this makes good reading!
So, let’s get into the juicy stuff.
TikTok to test ‘nearby’ feature
For what seems like an eternity now, we’ve been enjoying dancing grandparents, amazing holiday footage and bizarre behaviour from animals, all thanks to TikTok. Meanwhile, the app has appeared to stay true to its users and remain reasonably advert-free, and let’s be honest; even the ads are usually pretty great.
However, recently it was noticed that the platform was seemingly trialling something new. Next to the consistently accurate ‘for you’ and ‘following’ options is a ‘nearby’ option too. Initially posted by one member a number of weeks back, TikTok has since confirmed the strategic move, and from the offset, it seems like a shrewd business approach.
So, what do we think about the move?
Well, from the outside, it looks like a fantastic marketing opportunity from the short-form video giants. One which will likely generate a lot of income and be incredibly beneficial to the businesses on the platform. It’s predicted that the app will reach 1.5 Billion users before the year is over, and Google believes around 40% of younger users prefer TikTok to Instagram, numbers potential advertisers will love to hear.
We think you’ll start to see all of those brilliant restaurant videos and adverts you currently see but with your geo-location taken into account. So, think of it this way, not only will you see videos of delicious food, you’ll see them for the restaurants close to your location.
Social media and Create8
When it comes to producing great social media content, it isn’t half as easy as it sounds. However, if you are struggling for inspiration or simply don’t have the time to produce your content, we’ve got you covered.
Our team of content creators are experts across all social media platforms and various forms of content. They strive to build your brand recognition and create eye-catching content that your audience will love.
If you are looking for support, give us a call.
Instagram to take on BeReal
So, we think it’s about time we asked the question.
‘Has Instagram ever come across a social media platform they didn’t love?’
Yet again, everyone’s ex-favourite platform has decided it wants to try something to rival someone else in the sector, and this time, it’s BeReal.
As the dual-camera option has recently been introduced to the platform, it wasn’t going to be long before they positioned themselves in the BeReal space. Although it is yet to be confirmed by the leaders at Instagram HQ, we are led to believe that IG Candid is in the pipeline.
For us, it seems like a strange move after the backlash they received for trying to copy TikTok and ruining their algorithm for everyone that loved Instagram. That said, it isn’t one we would put past them.
Let’s talk about BeReal
The news above got us thinking… It’s probably time to talk about BeReal. The platform is set to hit the ten million daily active users mark despite having only ten thousand a year ago. The incredible growth shown by the platform is a testament to what they’ve brought to the sector – something novel, seemingly throwaway and most of all, something honest and real.
If the edits, filters and airbrushing of Instagram are the anti-christ of social media, BeReal is a religion. If you’re yet to add the app to your home screen, here’s what you can expect from the makers of the app themselves.
“No filters. No followers. Just friends, sharing with each other. On BeReal, you discover your friends’ real lives and get closer to them.”
All of the traction the app is now generating has us asking whether there will be marketing opportunities for businesses via BeReal.
Well, essentially, BeReal currently forbids formal advertising; in a logical kind of way, it’s against what the app stands for. However, earlier in the year, fast food chain Chipotle joined the platform and shared candid posts, including discount codes for the first 100 people to redeem the code. They were often used up in minutes, as is the power of BeReal right now!
Other brands are also using the platform but are focusing their content on behind-the-scenes footage and insight. Which we still see as a cool brand awareness tool.
Although we love the app for what it is right now, we can’t help but wonder whether the money will come into play further down the line and create a marketing monster as it has with so many other platforms.
Either way, get yourselves on BeReal; it’s easy, honest and good fun.
Want to create Viral Posts for LinkedIn?
In recent months we’ve seen a resurgence in the popularity of LinkedIn. The app previously reserved for CVs and job opportunities has become a space for thought-sharing, and we are all for it.
The last month has seen the trend of the ‘crying CEO’ take over our feeds with some hilarious consequences. Although most of us are laughing, the trend was all about not taking yourself too seriously and turning up the cringe levels on the platform. In fact, if you’ve noticed any viral posts on LinkedIn recently, you’ve probably noticed that most posts seem far too embarrassing to be authentic.
However, as the staged posts are getting tons of engagement and driving more and more traffic to the profiles of CEOs and marketing ‘experts’ they’ve never heard of before, it’s hard not to take note.
That was when we came across an app that has been developed to turn you into a LinkedIn ‘thinkfluencer.’ Hilarious, we know. But, if you can’t beat them, join them! The app gives you the option to input information about what you want to create and what ‘cringe level’ you would like it to achieve.
The funniest thing about the app (which has obviously been developed more for a laugh than long-term success) is its amazing accuracy. This will probably upset the boffins at LinkedIn as the platform attempts to create genuine thought leaders. But you can’t help but laugh at the outcomes.
Let us just point out that not in any way, shape or form do we condone the use of automated creation for social media posts. That said, we found this pretty funny and thought you guys would like to know about it! We suppose how predictable we are as creatures of habit across social media.
August has been an exciting month in the world of social media; with updates, whispers and a slice of humour, we couldn’t really have asked for more. As one of our favourite platforms slips further down our priority list, another has emerged as a favourite, and we feel like a lot of good will come from the switch in ideology.
As mentioned previously, you don’t have to feel as though you’ve missed out if any of this blog is new to you. With the constantly changing environment, it can feel virtually impossible to stay ahead of the social media curve. But you’ve got us, so you don’t need to worry!
At Create8, we are a creative design and branding agency passionate about breaking the norms and building unforgettable projects. Our team of experts are here to elevate all of our clients to levels they thought previously not possible and to generate brand recognition globally. If you are looking for help with your social media management or have another project that you believe we could help with, reach out to us today. We can’t wait to hear all about what you have planned.
Take a look at some more of our blogs for helpful tips, tricks and advice:
- Translating Your Brand to Social Media
- Why Your Socials Need a Tone of Voice
- What to Put On Packaging
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