#MidweekMinute 10/2/19: Trashing the trash talk

Wow… that whisteblower sure does have a lot of Twitter accounts…

No, your Facebook isn’t broken; the previously-announced “Hiding Likes” test has begun on some accounts (all articles claim the test is Australia-only for now, but I have a few friends in the U.S. whose likes have already begun disappearing from public view).

Facebook will also soon allow some creators to add Messenger functionality to the “swipe up” feature in Story ads.

In the farther-off future, Facebook is developing augmented reality glasses that will work in combination with an AR map of real-world environments, as well as a virtual reality gaming space called Horizon.

Instagram is testing the ability to receive (or send!) product launch notifications . They’re also extending use of the Branded Content tag to IGTV videos (but you have to be approved first), and have launched the @creators account to encourage the IG creator community to, well, create.

Someone getting nasty in your DMs (in a way you don’t like)? Twitter’s rolling out new filters for that.

YouTube is now available on Google’s Fire TV streaming device, and has also introduced features for creators to more easily search, moderate, and filter comments.

LinkedIn continues developing its advertising tools, with new enhancements to audience targeting.

Join me on LinkedIn Live and Facebook Live at 4 pm ET for more on all stories.

MORE INFO

View my Flipboard Magazine.

#MidweekMinute 9/18/19: Creators gonna create

You all know you want #slofies of my dog, don’t even front…

LOTS of news about Facebook Creator Studio announced at the International Broadcasting Convention:

• New tools and metrics for Live, Watch Parties, Creator Studio

• Facebook Live “Rehearsal” mode

• Live video trimming

• Live video duration extended from four hours to eight

• Multistream broadcasting (simulcast to different platforms)

• Pre-scheduling to Instagram and IGTV via Creator Studio

• Expanded language options for auto-captioning

• New video metrics for Distribution, Watch Party viewership, and Loyalty

• Enhanced Watch Party branding, metrics, and sharing

Facebook is testing a new Chat post type to launch private group chats, much like the recently-introduced Chat sticker in Instagram Stories.

Facebook’s new Portal TV set-top box device functions as a broadcast system - like Firestick or Roku - as well as a webcam.

YouTube trolls beware: they’re testing a Profile Card feature that will publicly display your comment history.

LinkedIn has introduced Skill Assessment tests in order to support users’ claimed talents with validation badges for those scoring in the top 70th percentile or above.

more info on all stories:

View my Flipboard Magazine.

#MidweekMinute 7/3/19: Ms. Gritmon if ya nasty

I simply cannot imagine what public figure’s Tweets might inspire such a content warning…

Taking its recent advertising anti-discrimination regulations a step further, Facebook will now make advertisements for housing, jobs, and credit searchable by all users, regardless of income, geography, or other targeting features that might be deemed discriminatory.

New Story sticker alert: Instagram has officially added the rumored “Chat” sticker, which adds those who click it into a DM group.

Instagram is also adding ads to the Explore tab, and has rolled out a new profile layout (in case you’re wondering where scroll view went).

Twitter’s got a new layout in beta - and it’s making your Lists easier to access on mobile, just a quick swipe away from your home screen.

Twitter may soon allow you to customize the appearance of the site to your own liking. You’ll be able to better customize content, too; they’re testing an auto-mute feature that will preemptively prevent certain content from appearing on your feed based on accounts you’ve blocked in the past.

If you thought LinkedIn had been showing you more posts in your niches of interest, congrats, you’re correct; the algorithm has shifted to prioritize “people you know, talking about things you care about.”

LinkedIn is also beefing up Company Pages, including your choice of Calls to Action, mobile editing, and the ability to engage with hashtagged conversations as your page entity, and they continue to roll out upgraded advertising functions; the latest news is that audience retargeting is coming soon.

Girlboss is the new online professional network for women supporting women (started, of course, by Nasty Gal founder Sophie Amaruso).

more info on all stories:

View my Flipboard Magazine.

#MidweekMinute 6/5/19: Pinning more IKEA...

BRB, applying to become Tweeter-in-Chief…

Mozilla’s Firefox browser’s latest update includes a tracking blocker (a move already preceded by Apple’s Safari browser), sending Facebook Pixel devotees into a tizzy.

Facebook has been teasing their Bitmoji-esque Avatars since at least 2017, but they’re finally here (well, in the Australian test market, at least) for use in Messenger and comments.

Facebook has stepped up its Video Ad tools, enabling a whole bunch of creator features (including text and stickers), optimized sizes for different uses, the ability to split a video into multiple shorter ads, and - a blessing amidst all these fun features - the ability to save progress while putting this all together.

Facebook’s been testing integrating subscription options into Instant Articles, and is now officially rolling out the feature to all Instant Article publishers.

Facebook Portal has released a smartphone app to integrate with the device’s functions.

Game developers who advertise on Facebook will now have the ability to run rewarded video and playable ads via Audience Network.

Furthering Instagram’s close relationship with the “influencer” industry, brands can now turn influencer posts into “Branded Content” advertisements.

Instagram may be testing an Order sticker, likely a way to further commerce functionality in Stories, as well as further insights as to new vs. old “likes” on posts and account follower/unfollower info.

Twitter will now let you add guests to live video streams - but, just like this recent addition to sibling Periscope, guests are audio-only for now (think of it like a call-in show). Twitter has also acquired artificial intelligence firm Fabula AI to help combat false accounts, spam, “fake news,” and other pitfalls of the platform.

LinkedIn has acquired digital identity firm Drawbridge in a bid to enhance ad targeting functions.

And, just in case there wasn’t enough IKEA presence on Pinterest, the Swedish furnishings giant is now officially moving a shoppable version of its catalog onto the platform.

More info on all stories:

View my Flipboard Magazine.

#MidweekMinute 5/29/19: Feel the rainbow

Sorry, CrossFit fans.

Instagram’s IGTV is now accepting landscape videos as well as the original portrait-orientation videos. Instagram is also working on adding Story functionality to the post creation interface, and will turn your story ring rainbow if you use Pride hashtags during Pride Month (June).

YouTube will begin hiding subscriber counts in August for accounts that have over 1,000 followers, echoing recent announcements from Instagram and Twitter that seek to downplay focus on empty metrics.

More progress on Facebook’s CryptoCurrency: “GlobalCoin” is slated to roll out in 1Q20. Facebook has also added the ability for group admins to give feedback to members who break group rules.

LinkedIn Company Pages now feature a tab providing visibility into all ads that page has run in the past six months, which follows Facebook’s fairly recent addition of same. LinkedIn has also revamped its Sales Navigator platform to place updates front and center, and enhance integrations with other Microsoft software.

MORE INFO ON ALL STORIES:

View my Flipboard Magazine.

#MidweekMinute 5/1/19

Obviously, Facebook’s F8 conference - and the resultant announcements, and IMMEDIATE updates - is the big story this week. I’m even having a special livestream Thursday night with a few experts to go through some of the changes; join us live!

Facebook has announced they’re downplaying the newsfeed in favor of groups and events, making Messenger and direct communications with “close friends” a bigger priority, and upgrading the Dating features that they’ve apparently already had for a year in certain countries (did you even know? I didn’t; I recall announcing that it was coming, but didn’t know it had already happened!).

Facebook has also officially blocked surveys that mine for personal information (which is what got them in all of that privacy hot water to begin with).

Instagram has announced upcoming updates to their Camera feature, the immediate rollout of the Donate button for Stories that I mentioned last week, upgrading its Creator functions for more creative story options, and allowing influencers to sell things directly (more of an affiliate situation than a shop).

Twitter has announced several new live video content partnerships with content creators including Viacom, LiveNation, and the NFL. Not a fan of the new Twitter redesign? It’s all good; you can change it back. Twitter is also creating new tools for users to report misleading election-related posts, starting with India and the European Union - which, IMHO, is хорошая идея.

Meanwhile, LinkedIn is testing a “Services” feature for freelancers, which would help connect them directly to potential clients.

more info on all stories

View my Flipboard Magazine.

#MidweekMinute 4/25/19 (just past midweek...)

Disclaimer: this blog features 95% less scandal than that Wired expose.

Facebook is once again refining (read: changing everything around in) Ads Manager. They’re also testing upvotes and downvotes for comments, a la Reddit.

Facebook is also expanding their 3D image offerings - 3D images can now be added to Stories, Android users can now create and post 3D images, and even desktop users can make 3D images (though it’s a slightly more elaborate process).

Many had originally speculated that AI assistant functionality - much like Amazon’s Alexa, Apple’s Siri, or Google Home - would be part of Facebook’s Portal videochat device… it wasn’t, and isn’t yet, but Facebook has confirmed that they are now developing one. (Any bets on names? Mark? Zuck? Comrade?)

Instagram has rolled out a multiple-choice Quiz sticker for Instagram Stories (a welcome upgrade to the previous “yes or no” surveys), and announced plans to introduce a “Donate” sticker, bringing the ease of Facebook Donations to the Instagram Stories platform.

Instagram is also considering tinkering with possibly hiding “Like” counts on pictures. (But how will we know who’s popular???). This echoes comments from Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, who, in an interview at TED, expressed regret at the platform’s early focus on follower count and likes, and said that he would like to see Twitter move away from followings and more towards interest-based browsing - echoing Facebook and Instagram’s shifts towards “meaningful interaction.”

For now, Twitter is testing updated desktop layouts, has announced the upcoming rollout of a mute replies button and other options to combat abuse, and has acquired Highly, an app that turns article quotes into tweets.

LinkedIn has added the ability to label your “team mates,” to better prioritize updates from your most relevant contacts. They’re also discontinuing their standalone Job Search app, reabsorbing the app’s functionality into the main LinkedIn app, and added a calendar integration feature for Android.

LinkedIn has also revamped its advertising tools, adding Lookalike Audiences, Audience Templates, Interest Targeting, and Bing search data (because Microsoft).

MORE INFO ON ALL STORIES:

View my Flipboard Magazine.

#MidweekMinute: App Tweaks

Now that we’ve all recovered from the FB/Insta/WhatsApp outage (honestly, I didn’t even notice it - I must have been busy on Twitter that day - or even IRL (gasp!)…

Facebook is experimenting with a few changes to the user experience. First up, they’re considering merging the newsfeed and Story feed into a single side-swipe interface (in a continued effort to get you to actually use stories on Facebook). They’re also testing bringing Messenger back into its main Facebook app, instead of forcing you to open the separate Messenger app to read messages on mobile. (That’s not the only change for Messenger - they’re also discontinuing Messenger Scan Codes.)

Instagram, meanwhile, is tinkering with their algorithm to demote content deemed “inappropriate” - sparking debate over what exactly that means. (Fewer belfies?)

Twitter is playing with a whole bunch of app changes in its new twttr experimental app (available by application only); they’re playing with swipe gestures (swipe to like!), improved conversation-thread tools (identifying authors, nesting original tweet context into replies), and creating a “true black” dark mode to save battery on mobile devices.

LinkedIn continues their march away from professionalism and into “social media” by adding reactions (and more photo stickers).

learn more:

View my Flipboard Magazine.

FAQ: Getting active on LinkedIn

How often do you log into LinkedIn?

If you’re still using it as a static resume hub, only logging in to update new information or when you’re looking for work - you’re missing out on a TON of opportunity.

It is NOT the same as Facebook, however…

Or, as my comic counterpart would say: it’s like real-life networking; bring your best business self, and leave the cat pictures at home.

Connecting IRL: #LinkedInLocal White Plains

As discussed on Social last week, #LinkedInLocal is a grassroots global organization, blessed by LinkedIn, that connects people IRL at local networking events. I first attended one in New York City in January 2018, then spoken on a panel in December at an event in Spring Valley, here in Rockland. My friend Pasquale Palumbo, who attended the December event, and I immediately started scheming our own event in Westchester. With the help of our sponsors, TD Bank, we were able to make it happen last night- and will definitely be doing another one sometime in the very near future!

The point of a #LinkedInLocal event is to facilitate networking within our communities; it is not meant to be a major profit-generator for the hosts. We kept our ticket price low - $10 - mainly to cover refreshments, and because attendees are more likely to bail on a free event. Many of these events also host panelists or speakers. Our panelists - Risa Hoag of GMG Public Relations, Daniel Guiney of ZRM Brokerage, and myself - discussed LinkedIn best practices, guided by moderator Joe Ferraro of the One Percent Better podcast.

Some of the key issues discussed included:

Profile Tips

Use all profile options at your disposal; a fully-filled-out profile is to your best advantage! Link to the real pages for companies and schools whenever possible, since that will connect you to their larger communities. Have a professional profile picture. Your headline shouldn’t be your default “Job Title at Company,” but rather what it is you actually DO (a subtle, yet crucial distinction). And for goodness sakes, give your own SEO a boost by using lots of relevant phrases and keywords in your summary!

Using LinkedIn

Engaging with other people’s content, and in discussions that are relevant to you and your industry, is at least as important, if not more so, than putting your own content out there; be sure to dedicate some time each week to at LEAST doing that. Research people who you’re meeting with, would like to meet, or are pitching - it is a priceless resource to gather valuable information on anyone, and it’s free! Also explore alumnae networks whenever possible - if you’re going on a trip, for example, you may be able to find people who went to your school who are in a relevant industry to you who live in that city, which can open you up to great new connections.

Who To Connect With

Arguably the most interesting part of the discussion dealt with who one accepts (or approaches) as a new contact on LinkedIn. Risa prefers to only connect with people she’s met in real life. Dan believes in maximum reach, regardless of existing connection, and reaches out to strangers regularly to add to his overall network. I fell somewhere in between; I rarely send out connection requests unless I have a reason (sometimes it’s they were suggested and are in a relevant industry and share contacts with me, sometimes they’re a speaker at a conference I’m speaking at or attending, but oftentimes it’s because we’ve actually met somewhere IRL), and my stance on acceptance of connection requests is getting slightly stricter now - if we don’t share connections, RELEVANT ones, you’d better be of clear and direct value to my business community.

Me being me, I of course live-streamed our full discussion, which you can watch below.

Many thanks again to our hosts, TD Bank of Rye!

Social: Brian Wallace on #LinkedInLocal

Have you been to a #LinkedInLocal event near you yet?

It’s a grassroots movement - blessed, but not RUN, by LinkedIn - of networking events taking place all over the world.

I first met Rockland native (and current Midwesterner) Brian Wallace of NowSourcing at a #LinkedInLocal event in NYC, and he later brought me into an event closer to me in Spring Valley. In anticipation of my friend Pasquale Palumbo and me hosting our own first #LinkedInLocal White Plains event on Monday, April 1 (with more such events to hopefully follow), I asked for Brian’s take on the LinkedInLocal concept, as well as his top tips for ensuring a great #LinkedInLocal event.

Here are some of Brian’s top tips for throwing your own #LinkedInLocal event:

1 - Get A Great Venue:

Make sure it has good acoustics, spots to network, take pics, video, etc. 
Should have enough space for the size you plan on doing

2 - Have A Great Team:

Helping get speakers / moderators / MC / event space / food / social
Organize the team - make sure they all know their roles and what to say

3 - have enough time to promote:

At least 1 month
Use Eventbrite, but also promote on Linkedin through #linkedinlocal hashtag
Lots of the global linkedinlocal movement will also help - over 800 cities!

4 - deliver value to the audience:

This shouldn't be a crappy leadgen / sales pitch
Know how to explain the value of your LinkedIn network from a social / soft skills side as well as the latest and greatest tech / content trends happening on the platform.

5 - work together:

LinkedInlLocal is a grassroots movement and sometimes there may be multiple groups of people / personalities / locations.  It doesn't have to be a turf battle - work it out and make it the best that can be!

FAQ: Which platforms should I be on?

This is, without a doubt, the question I hear most frequently.

The pressure of being on ALL the platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, WhatsApp, LinkedIn, and whatever else the kids are using these days) is part of what makes social media seem so daunting for many busy small business owners - not to mention casual everyday users!

But don’t worry - you don’t need to be everywhere.

…or, if you’re more of a reader:

PLATFORM FATIGUE

#MidweekMinute 5/16/18: take a break

As stated last week, everyone's all abuzz that Facebook might - MIGHT - be developing their own cryptocurrency. Facebook also still hasn't escaped its data privacy woes: it just banned an additional 200 apps for illegally accessing or utilizing user data. In other, more popular news, Facebook's popular Live feature has unveiled the option of streaming across several pages at once, and is testing a "rewind" tool for live videos. (Cue Cher.) Facebook is also rolling out 3 new Facebook Story features to India first, with the intention to release them to the rest of the world soon thereafter: audio posts, archives, and the ability to save past story footage in your actual Facebook account (rather than on your phone).

Instagram has launched an emoji slider for Story polls, so you can tell us how you REALLY feel. And those ever-curious Instagram code spelunkers have unveiled the existence of an unlaunched "Time Spent" metric that can tell you precisely how much of your time you've spent scrolling through vacay shots

YouTube aims to keep you from frittering away too many hours passively watching by taking a leaf from Netflix's book and asking you periodically if you are still engaged in the platform, or if you need to "take a break" (you can control how long before it asks you in Settings). They're also rolling out a "voice remote" feature for Android.

Snapchat's redesign has been rolled back via yet another redesign, but users still aren't happy, claiming it keeps several of the redesign's least popular features.

Twitter will start identifying and hiding tweets that "detract from the conversation."

LinkedIn attempts to tell you how well your profile information matches what an employer has stated they're looking for before you even apply for a job.

View my Flipboard Magazine.

#MidweekMinute 4/12/18: No advertisers were harmed...

Facebook requires new verification and transparency for those placing political ads; Messenger obtains "un-send" functionality, which corporate apparently already had(!); Facebook is trying tweaks to encourage more people to use Stories; FB & Twitter back the Honest Ads Act, which would bring transparency to ads; Instagram developing Snapcode-esque Nametags; Instagram Story adds background-blurring Focus Mode & stickers for tags; Snapchat debuts ultra-realistic lenses exclusively for iPhoneX, brings the feed algorithm back to semi-chronological order for some users, registers the second edition of Specs with the FCC, & partners with Tegna to broadcast Snaps on the news; Twitter postpones announced tweaks to their API after backlash from third-party apps; LinkedIn confuses some users with a half-baked test of adding hashtags to updates; Pinterest's Propel advertising program & Promote button expand to additional markets.

For more info on all stories:

View my Flipboard Magazine.

#MidweekMinute 4/4/18: Data squeeze

Facebook further diminishes ad targeting options based on user data, including severing ties with third-party app data and getting tougher on email marketing permissions (used for custom audience targeting), and makes it easier to remove yourself from apps & games you've previously approved. Facebook also adds HD video & 360 photos to Messenger, and improves the VR in its Spaces feature. Instagram also restricts third-party app partnerships, and brings GIFs back to stories (which now have auto full screen ads). Snapchat has beat Instagram to the video-chat-party punch, announcing video chats for up to 16 people. Pinterest splits its feed in two: one for exploration and discovery, and one for people you're following. LinkedIn debuts video on company pages & video ads. YouTube debuts short ads with a reach component.

Flipboard is acting wonky this week (Mercury Retrograde!), so the articles are out of order, but here's more info on all stories above & then some:

View my Flipboard Magazine.

#MidweekMinute 3/14/18: Blue checks all around!

Twitter's Jack Dorsey considers verifying ALL actual, human Twitter users, thus changing that little blue check mark from a badge of importance to a mark of authenticity; Facebook pulls data-mining App Lock app, plans to roll out a News for Watch, adds yet another music licensing deal (this time with Warner), rolls out location-based AR experiences, and might be introducing disappearing Messenger massages (a la Snap); Snapchat adds user-generated AR lenses to their filter carousel, adds Instagram-style tagging in stories, and allows branded ads from Explore publishers; Snapchat and Instagram take down GIPHY temporarily after a racist GIF made its way into the library; Instagram's algorithm might be veering more towards the chronological again; Microsoft Pix app scans business cards to automatically add the user to your LinkedIn network; LinkedIn beefs up their business news; Brian Wallace of NowSourcing reports live from his ninth(!) SXSW, which, like social media, has made a noticeable shift from flashiness to actual human interaction & value (I can't wait to go next year!!!).

I'm trying something new this week. Instead of a bunch of links in a blog post, I'm embedding a Flipboard custom magazine into my #MidweekMinute. Let me know if you like this format or the old one better!

View my Flipboard Magazine.

#MidweekMinute: Adding more functions all around

Facebook users can now create a new type of post called Lists, and is making publishers happy with a new Paywall feature and video news on Watch; Instagram Direct adds controls over how quickly message content disappears; Snapchat adds a GIPHY library and tabs to organize content streams; Snapchat teams up with Nike for a special eCommerce launch; Twitter livestreams news & drops Mac app; LinkedIn estimates salaries for job postings and makes scheduling meetings easier.

Facebook Lists

Facebook’s colorful new feature makes public to-do lists a ‘thing’ (The next Web)

Facebook's Lists are its latest attempt to encourage oversharing (Engadget)

New Facebook 'Lists' Feature Lets You Share Your Travel Plans (Conde Nast Traveler)

Facebook Publisher Paywalls & Video News

Facebook to Launch Publisher Paywalls, Video News Section (Billboard)

Facebook tells publishers to take it or leave it (The Verge)

Facebook’s Campbell Brown: “This is not about us trying to make everybody happy” (Nieman Lab)

Instagram Direct

Instagram Direct one-ups Snapchat with replay privacy controls (TechCrunch)

Instagram Direct adds new replay options as it looks to compete with Snapchat’s most popular feature (9 to 5 Mac)

Instagram’s Latest Direct Messaging Feature Challenges Snapchat Again (Tubefilter)

Snapchat Tabs & GIFs

Snapchat taps Giphy to let you add animated GIF stickers to your photos and videos (Venture Beat)

Snapchat now has Giphy integration and will introduce a Tabs function for Stories (The Verge)

Snapchat adds GIF stickers via Giphy, plus new Friends and Discover screen tabs (Tech Crunch)

Snapchat e-commerce

Nike teamed up with Snap and Darkstore to pre-release Air Jordan III ‘Tinker’ shoes on Snapchat (TechCrunch)

Nike’s latest Air Jordan sneaker ‘drop’ showcased the potential of Snapchat commerce (Recode)

Snapchat Opens A Store–And Takes Aim At A Trillion-Dollar Industry (co.design)

Twitter Live News

Twitter to live stream major breaking news (Fox News)

Twitter's Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Live Stream Was Part Of A New Initiative (Buzz Feed)

Twitter Dropping Mac App

Twitter discontinues its Mac desktop app after years of spotty support (The Verge)

Twitter Discontinues Twitter for Mac App (MacRumors)

Twitter shuts down official Twitter for Mac app (Apple Insider)

LinkedIn Scheduler

Linkedin Adds ‘Scheduler’ Feature to Simplify Recruiting Process(Coherent News)

LinkedIn Launches New ‘Scheduler’ Feature for Recruitment Simplicity (HR Technologist)

LinkedIn’s new Scheduler feature automates interview scheduling (MS Power User)

LinkedIn Salary Insights

LinkedIn’s new tool will tell you how much your new job should pay (Social Barrel)

LinkedIn Will Soon Tell Job Seekers How Much Their Desired Role Pays (PSFK)

Presenting with Risa Hoag at Keller Williams

On Thursday, I started my day co-presenting to a room full of realtors with my friend & fellow RBWN board member Risa Hoag of GMG PR. Risa spoke about LinkedIn, followed by my presentation on best practices for the other social media platforms.

Risa's intro, in case you're not aware of her:

Risa's first point was that LinkedIn is NOT a social media tool; it is a showcase for you and your brand, an in-depth research tool, and a lead definer and generator.

With a live computer demo, Risa explained how to make yourself valuable and findable on LinkedIn by creating a robust profile, showcasing your business and expertise, and utilizing your profile as a "living" resume; instead of simply stating where you've worked, you can add skills, testimonials, even media. 

Risa then went into how to use this valuable tool to generate business by building engagement, finding leads, and making "warm" contacts - a familiarity that can be created by leveraging information you've uncovered via your prospect's LinkedIn profile. Did you go to the same school, sit on the same board, or share a common hobby? Bam - you've just turned a cold-call into a warm contact. 

Risa wrapped up with a series of best practices for LinkedIn (click to tweet):

Here's my own lovely intro:

I started my segment of the presentation with something clients always ask me about: which social media platforms to bother with. There is a misconception out there that you need to be everywhere, which puts undue pressure on busy professionals who are already daunted by social media. I walked through some pros and cons of different platforms.

Scroll through my tips below (click to tweet):

Next, I discussed the importance of setting up all profiles as completely as possible.

Once you've got your profiles set up, what do you do with them? I went through some of the basics of social media content strategy. This included some basic branding questions, as well as more platform-specific tips.

Next, I discussed what's been on everyone's mind with social media lately: what is "the algorithm," and why does it mean nobody sees my posts? I explained that you need to not just broadcast content for passive consumption, but rather engage and add value to your audience's feed.

Since one of the most important - and misunderstood! - pieces of content strategy lately is video, I provided several ideas for how realtors can effectively use video as part of their social media posting.

Finally, I ended with a brief overview of how to create targeted ads on social media that provide more bang for the buck. A key part of this, and my most important takeaway: use Ads Manager on Facebook & Instagram - don't boost! Boosting damages your organic reach, and doesn't give you nearly enough audience targeting power. Ads Manager is one of the best tools out there; use it!

Thanks so much to Keller Williams Realty and Citizens Bank for having us in to do this presentation. We look forward to presenting to the Westchester office next!

If you're a realtor (or any type of company, really!) and would like us to bring this presentation to you, please do get in touch.

#MidweekMinute: FB devices & integrations

Facebook gets into home devices & ditches its AI/VA hybrid in beta; Instagram Stories expand to WhatsApp; Ripple follows Bumble in taking on LinkedIn.

Facebook Portal

EXCLUSIVE: Facebook Dives into Home Device Market with Video Chat Product Named "Portal" (Cheddar)

Report: Details emerge on Facebook's planned video chat device (Marketing Dive)

Facebook may be ready to invade your physical world with an outrageously priced video device (Quartz)

Facebook "M" dies in beta

Facebook Is Pulling the Plug on Its Human-Powered M Assistant for Messenger Jan. 19 (Adweek)

Facebook is shutting down its standalone personal assistant “M” (TechCrunch)

Facebook is shutting down M, its personal assistant service that combined humans and AI (The Verge)

Instagram Stories on WhatsApp

Facebook (FB) to Bring Instagram Stories to WhatsApp Status (NASDAQ)

Facebook is reportedly testing Instagram Stories on WhatsApp (Business Insider)

Facebook Rolling Out Instagram Stories For WhatsApp Later This Year (International Business Times)

Ripple networking app

Ex-Tinder employees launch professional networking app Ripple (Mashable)

Ripple, a Tinder spinoff backed by Match, launches app for professional networking (TechCrunch)

Tinder’s New Professional Networking App Wants You to Swipe Left on LinkedIn (Slate)

#MidweekMinute: Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery

Facebook tries to replace Yelp, Foursquare, and - as always - Snapchat. High on the 280-character-limit raise, Twitter's also raising another limit, and hoping you'll trust them to allocate your money. Instagram is testing out a feature that bots have been using for years, and LinkedIn wants the final WORD on your resume.

Facebook Local

Facebook relaunches Events app as Facebook Local, adds bars and food (TechCrunch)

Facebook Local is the social network’s stab at Yelp, Foursquare (Marketing Land)

Facebook Local Relaunches, Makes It Easier To Browse Events, Listings (MediaPost

Facebook Collaborative Stories

Facebook Stories replaces Messenger Day with synced cross-posting (TechCrunch)

Facebook launches collaborative Stories for Groups and Events (TechCrunch)

Facebook is killing Messenger Day and consolidating it with Facebook Stories (The Verge)

Twitter Name Length Now 50 Characters

Twitter bumps display name length up to 50 characters (The Verge)

Twitter expands display name length to 50 character (Engadget)

Twitter, high on 280 characters, more than doubles the length of display names (Mashable)

Twitter $99 Ad Subscriptions Service

Twitter Tempts Small Marketers With a $99-per-Month Ad Subscription (Ad Age)

Twitter’s $99 monthly subscription ad program launches into public beta (TechCrunch)

Twitter launches $99 subscription tool to promote tweets (Engadget)

Instagram Will Let Users Follow Hashtags

Instagram could let you follow hashtags soon (TechCrunch)

Instagram may soon let you follow hashtags (Express Newsline)

Instagram will soon let users follow hashtags in addition to accounts (Digital Trends)

Microsoft and LinkedIn Resume Assistant

Microsoft adds AI-powered LinkedIn resume assistant to Word (Engadget)

Microsoft integrates LinkedIn with Word to help you write a resume (The Verge)

Microsoft and LinkedIn Team Up to Make Writing Your Resume a Lot Easier (and Your Results a Lot Better) (Inc)