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 5/2/18: A twist of F8

Facebook’s Hate Speech-reporting function, still in testing, was set live by accident, for every single post (don’t worry, they’re not going to be quite THAT sensitive in the future); Messenger Bot development is back up and running, and both translation & AR functions are being rolled into the platform; Facebook is also adding dating functionality later this year, and bringing 3D photos and a creepy new photo-environment-mimicking VR Memories feature to the feed; VR Oculus Go headset hopes to bring VR mainstream; virtual home assistant "smart speaker" (think Google Home/Alexa) may launch abroad before the U.S.

Instagram has officially launched group video chats, third-party app integrations with GoPro & Spotify (with more to come), and a new Camera Effects platform which will allow development of custom AR filters, stickers, and other items to customize stories. Rumor has it they're also testing story reactions, slow-mo video, muting of specific users, and a calendar to more easily navigate back posts. The Explore section will now more customized to your interests and more easily navigable by topic. AI will police online bullying by targeting language typically used to harrass users.

Twitter will continue its progression into a news source by promoting news higher in feeds and lumping together tweets around the same news stories.

Snapchat has officially launched their new water-resistant Specs, which feature LED lighting and the new Snappable AR game. Snapchat continues to expand their advertising accessibility by brings Story Ads to the self-service ads platform and taking a leaf from YouTube's book by testing non-skippable 6-second ads. And, of course, they're rolling back elements of the controversial app redesign by moving some features around.

Pinterest expands their usefulness to ALL by filtering beauty pins by skin tone and adding features to help the visually impaired navigate the service.

View my Flipboard Magazine.

#MidweekMinute 4/25/18: Greater transparency for all

Facebook provides new levels of transparency in how they identify controversial content (as does YouTube), and provides greater transparency into their privacy settings (as does Twitter).  In video news, Facebook introduces "Premieres," which streams pre-recorded video as live, and introduces pre-roll ads to a wider variety of videos from smaller creators than before. In advertising developments, Facebook is testing playable game preview ads, adding "loyalty prediction" settings for advertisers to attract fans who are more inclined to be brand-loyal, and people placing political ads on Facebook will need to register and prove their IRL identities. Instagram now allows batch uploads of up to 10 photos/videos to Stories. Snapchat adds a playable filtered selfie game, enters into additional exclusive programming deals with Viacom, and adds tabs to their redesign (but only for some users). Pinterest continues development of cool features to business profiles, introducing dynamic cover images and monthly page views. Reddit wades a little further into the advertising world, expanding its team and courting brand partnerships.

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 3/28/18: Insta listens to the people (not in a creepy way)

The FTC is investigating Facebook's privacy practices, following disclosures by Cambridge Analytica. Mark Zuckerburg took out full-page ads in a few newspapers to apologize to users for the breech, and has announced new restrictions on access to user data, as well as making privacy controls easier to find and to use on the platform. Facebook has apparently kept extensive data on calls and texts by users of Android cellphones, but this may have been with users' permission, via the terms of service for their Messenger app.

Mozilla Firefox has released the Firefox Facebook Container extension, which will allow users to keep their Facebook data isolated from other apps. Facebook has also removed a filter that allowed advertisers to target ads based on user’s expressed relationship preferences, and expanded its push to prioritize local news globally.

Instagram has announced a change to their newsfeed algorithm, bringing it closer to a chronological feed and allowing greater control as to when the feed refreshes. They've also introduced account tags and hashtags in user profiles.

Snapchat is rolling out the new Map Explore feature, which will allow users to track friends who share their location. They've also purchased VR and 3D gaming startup PlayCanvas, and are developing the ability to sign into other apps via Snapchat, raising potential privacy concerns.

(Thanks so much to Instagram expert Jenn Herman for her Instagram insights!)

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 3/7/18: News you can USE!

NEW & IMPROVED #MidweekMinute!!!

This will now be a longer broadcast on Wednesdays, 2 pm ET, where I tell you how you can actually USE the week's big social media headlines. Future weeks will include special guests providing further insight on their platform of expertise.

So, let's get on with this week's news...

Have you downloaded Vero? If so, what the heck do you do with it?; Snap doubles down (literally) on Specs, tests Hands-Free mode & Full Body lenses; Instagram detectives have discovered evidence in the code of untapped Video/Voice Calling and Portrait Mode functionalities; Twitter introduces private Bookmarks feature; Facebook nixes Explore feed (huzzah!), labels Breaking News, introduces pricey & untargeted Facebook Video Ad Buy program (only $250K/month!), advertises to those considering vacations, and tests Voice Clip statuses and Messenger Broadcast feature.

Also? I'm sick. Send soup.

Vero

Vero: Hot Instagram alternative, but will it stick around? (The Sumter Item)

Tiny app’s big surge challenges Instagram (The Register Guard)

The controversial Vero is this week's David Pogue's Rated:App (Yahoo! Finance)

New Snap Specs

Exclusive: Snap to Release New Spectacles This Year (Cheddar)

Snapchat Developing $300 Spectacles Successor, Another Upgraded Model (International Business Times)

Snap reportedly working on new Spectacles, including two-camera version (Tech Crunch)

Snapchat Lost Millions on Spectacles, So Now It’s Gonna Make More (NYMag)

Evan Spiegel Is Doubling Down on Snapchat’s Biggest Failure (Vanity Fair)

Snapchat Hands-Free & Full Body Mode

Snapchat is quietly testing a hands-free mode and new, full-body camera lenses (Mashable)

Instagram Video/Voice Calling

Instagram code reveals unreleased voice and video calling (Tech Crunch)

Instagram Portrait Mode

Instagram’s code reveals a potential portrait camera mode (The Verge)

Report: Instagram developing its own Portrait Mode-like camera feature (9To5Mac)

Instagram has an unlaunched “Portrait” feature hidden inside (Tech Crunch)

Twitter Bookmarks 

Twitter launches Bookmarks, a private way to save tweets (Tech Crunch)

Save Tweets You Want to Read Later With Twitter's New Bookmarks Feature (Lifehacker)

Facebook nixes Explore

News Feed FYI: Ending the Explore Feed Test (Facebook)

Facebook ends its experiment with the alternative ‘explore’ news feed (TechCrunch)

Facebook ends test of split News Feed (Mobile Marketer)

Facebook Breaking News

Facebook swings at Twitter with Breaking News label (Tech Crunch)

Facebook Inc (FB) Takes Swipte At Twitter With New "Breaking" Label (StockNews.com)

Facebook Video Ad Buy Program

Facebook pitches brand-safe video ad buys for $750,000, but lack of control irks buyers (Digiday)

Facebook Trip Consideration

Reach Travelers When They’re Deciding Where to Go with Trip Consideration (Facebook)

Facebook’s New Tool Allows Travel Brands to Shape Vacationers’ Plans From the Start (AdWeek)

Facebook Voice Clips

Micropodcasting? Facebook tries Voice Clip status updates (Tech Crunch)

Facebook Messenger Broadcasts 

Facebook’s next money-maker: Messenger Broadcasts (Tech Crunch)

#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)

#MidweekMinute: Snap, Pinterest & Google expand interactivity

Facebook tests downvote button, develops animation tools for Quill VR app, adds a $10 million community grants program, and extends intellectual property searches and reporting to Instagram content; Instagram adds ability to share Stories, the first native in-app sharing it's introduced yet; Snapchat opens its marketing API to developers, brings its Maps feature off-app to the web, opens custom filter & lens creator tools to the general public (SpaceX even has an AR lens that takes you to the Tesla that's currently in space!), and lures advertisers from other social media platforms (most notably, Instagram) with free ad offers; Pinterest is FINALLY letting you rearrange pins, and has strengthened its visual search capabilities by allowing them to bolster text searches; Google AMPs up the Gmail experience - as well as Google search results - with new integration of Accelerated Mobile Pages and search "stories".

Facebook Downvote Button

Facebook testing Downvote button, but says it’s not a Dislike (9to5MAC)

Facebook confirms test of a downvote button for flagging comments (TechCrunch)

Facebook Announces Animation Tools for Quill VR App

Facebook brings animation tools to its Quill VR painting app (TechCrunch)

Oculus' Quill tool now lets you animate VR (Engadget)

Facebook Introduces Free Animation Tools For Quill (Cartoon Brew)

Facebook Extends Intellectual Property Protection Tools to Instagram

Instagram Now Lets Content Owners Scan for and Block Copyright-Infringing Video

Facebook Extended Its Rights Manager to Instagram (AdWeek)

Facebook Community Grants

Facebook’s plan to build community with hiring and $10M in grants (TechCrunch)

Facebook Offers Grants To Build 'Communities' (Digital News Daily)

Facebook creates $10 million community leadership program (CNet)

Instagram and Sharing Stories

Instagram Unleashes the Ultimate Weapon for Marketers (AdWeek)

Instagram tests its version of the retweet but thru Stories (Marketing Land)

SNAPCHAT OPENS MARKETING API

Snapchat’s Marketing API is now available to all developers (Venture Beat)

Snapchat Is Opening Up Its Marketing Platform to All Ad-Tech Players and Agencies (Ad Week)

Snapchat Courts Creators With New Audience Analytics (The Hollywood Reporter)

Snapchat Snap Maps

Snapchat's Snap Maps is now available online (Mashable)

Snapchat brings Snap Maps to the web in latest push outside of main app (9to5MAC)

Snapchat brings its Snap Map to the web (BGR)

Snapchat Custom Lenses

You can now create your own custom face lenses on Snapchat (The Verge)

Snapchat launches custom filters and lenses for all users from $10 (9to5MAC)

A New VR And AR Snapchat Filter Exists And You Can Do Some Pretty Cool Stuff (LADBIBLE)

Snapchat Lens Portals Lets Users Travel to Elon Musk’s Space Tesla (PressKS)

Snapchat Luring Advertisers with Free Ads 

Snap is trying to lure Instagram advertisers by offering them free ads on Snapchat(ReCode)

Snap is trying to capitalize on its killer earnings by launching a direct assault on Instagram (Business Insider)

Snap offers free credits to brands running vertical video ads on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, elsewhere (MarketingLand)

PINTEREST BOARD EDITS

You can finally reorder pins on Pinterest boards (Wired)

Pinterest now lets you archive your boards and rearrange pins (Venture Beat)

Pinterest iOS app now allows you to rearrange pins, reorder sections, archive boards (9 to 5 Mac)

Pinterest Lens Adds Visual Search

Pinterest will let people use its image-recognizing Lens feature to augment text searches (MarketingLand)

Refine Pinterest's Lens visual searches with text suggestions (Engadget)

Not happy with Pinterest search results? Refine it with text and photo queries (Digital Trends)

YouTube Announces New Sanctions

YouTube will remove ads and downgrade discoverability of channels posting offensive videos (TechCrunch)

Google Brings AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages) to Gmail... 

Bringing the power of AMP to Gmail (Google Keyword Blog)

Gmail will let you browse websites in your email with new AMP support (The Verge)

Google launches AMP for email to bring web-like actionable content to Gmail(Venture Beat)

Google's AMP coming to Gmail to make email more 'interactive' (CNet)

...AND TO SEARCH RESULTS.

AMP stories: Bringing visual storytelling to the open web (Google Developers)

Snapchat-Like Stories Arrive in Google Mobile Search Results (PC Magazine)

Google launches its own version of Snapchat Stories (CNet)

Google plans Snapchat-esque stories for mobile search results (Engadget)

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: better visuals & more advertising power

Facebook is NOT limiting your feed to 25 friends; Facebook's Watch eyes more of a YouTube model; Facebook's audience insights get even creepier; Google Pixel 2 Visual Core enabled for Instagram, Snapchat, and WhatsApp; Snapchat introduces more colorful text options, the ability to mute, and an in-app merchandise store; Instagram Stories has fun with type, introduces longer Story ads, and is still probably working on video chat; Maisie Williams introduces Daisie.

Facebook Friend Limit

Does a New Facebook Algorithm Only Show You 26 Friends? (Snopes)

Facebook limiting status updates in news feed to 25 friends? That's a hoax, pass it on (USA Today)

No, Facebook isn't limiting you to 25 friends' status updates (CNet)

Facebook Expanding Watch

Facebook is talking to advertisers about a more direct assault on YouTube (CNBC)

Facebook Is About to Declare War on YouTube(The Motley Fool)

Facebook may share ad money to lure creators from YouTube (Engadget)

Facebook Estimates Users' Socioeconomic Status

Facebook patent tries to guess users' socioeconomic status (Axios)

Facebook patents technology that would estimate users' socioeconomic status (The Hill)

Google's Pixel 2

The Pixel 2’s Visual Core photo processor now works with Instagram, WhatsApp and Snapchat (TechCrunch)

Google expands Pixel Visual Core’s HDR+ to Instagram, Snapchat, and WhatsApp (9To5)

Google enables Pixel Visual Core for better Instagram, Snapchat, and WhatsApp photos (The Verge)

Google Flips the Switch on Its Pixel Visual Core (Wired)

Snapchat Redesign

Snapchat redesign gets colorful text, while all users can mute specific chats (Digital Trends)

Snapchat slips in features like fonts and do not disturb amidst redesign (TechCrunch)

Snap Store 

Snapchat’s new Snap Store teases in-app commerce potential (TechCrunch)

Snapchat launches in-app merchandise store, opening the potential for mCommerce (Mobile Marketing)

Snapchat opens in-app shopping section with Snap Store(Marketing Land)

Instagram Type Mode

Introducing Type Mode in Stories (Instagram)

Instagram Adds Text-Only Feature to Stories (NY Mag)

Why Can’t I Change My Instagram Story Font? Type Mode Is A Game-Changer (Bustle)

Instagram Carousel Ad Format

Instagram triples length of Story ads with carousel format (Marketing Land)

Instagram’s Carousel ad format is coming to Instagram Stories (TechCrunch)

Instagram Video Chat

Instagram Leak Reveals Radical New Video Feature (Forbes)

Instagram video calling leak hints at major future feature (Slash Gear)

Report: Video chats coming to Instagram (Phone Arena)

Daisie

Actress Maisie Williams to launch Daisie, a social app for talent discovery and collaboration (TechCrunch)

#MidweekMinute: Stories about stories

Big news week! Facebook is upgrading security technology, prioritizing more trustworthy news publishers, adding desktop posting to Stories, and encouraging people to watch videos together (virtually), as well as hitting the road to help businesses with the platform in 30 cities. Instagram Stories adds GIFs, tests text-only stories and a screenshot notification feature, and letting friends know when you were last active. Snapchat Stories are now shareable beyond the platform, and app install ads add more valuable features. Finally, WhatsApp rolls out business access.

Facebook Acquires Confirm

Facebook buys Boston software company that authenticates IDs (Reuters)

Facebook Just Acquired This Company Focused on Authenticating ID Cards (Fortune)

Facebook bought a startup that specializes in verifying government IDs (Recode)

Facebook to Prioritize Trustworthy Publishers

Facebook Asks Users to Judge Trustworthiness of News Sources (Bloomberg)

Facebook To Prioritize 'Trustworthy' Publishers In News Feed (Forbes)

Facebook’s latest News Feed update will prioritize trustworthy publishers (TechCrunch)

Facebook Adds Desktop Posting to Stories

Facebook is testing the ability to create Stories on PC (Engadget)

Facebook won’t retreat from Stories as it adds desktop posting (TechCrunch)

Facebook is testing desktop uploads for Stories to make the feature stick (The Verge)

Facebook Testing Watch Party Feature

Grab the popcorn: Facebook tests Watch Party for sharing videos in Groups (Digital Trends)

Your Facebook Group May Soon Be Able to Host a Watch Part (Ad Week)

Facebook Unveils 'Watch Party', Making Watching Videos a Social Experience (Gadgets NDTV)

Facebook's Community Boost Program

Facebook launches 30-city Community Boost program (CNBC)

The Facebook Community Boost Show Is Set to Hit the Road (AdWeek)

Instagram Story GIFs

Instagram Adds GIFs to Stories and, Yes, It's a Direct Shot at Snapchat (AdAge)

Instagram now supports GIFs in Stories (The Verge)

Giphy builds transparent GIF library for Instagram Stories (TechCrunch)

Instagram Adding Activity Status

Instagram Added Activity Status to Instagram Direct (Ad Week)

Instagram has a shady new feature, but you can disable it (Hello Giggles)

Instagram Text-Only Stories

Instagram tests new ‘Type’ feature for Stories and screenshot alerts (The Next Web)

Instagram Stories is secretly testing a new text feature with fun font options (Mashable)

Instagram's New 'Type' Text Stories Feature Has Snapchat Really Worried (Here's How It Affects You) (Inc.)

Instagram Story Screenshots

Instagram to support text stories and new stories screenshot notification! (WABetaInfo)

Instagram Is Testing a Creep Alert That Will Tell You if Someone Took a Screenshot of Your Story (Slate)

Snapchat Stories Shareable

Snapchat stories can now live outside the app (Wired)

Snapchat’s New Feature Means You Can No Longer Avoid Snapchat (Slate)

Snapchat is going to let you share Stories on Twitter and Facebook, in hopes of sparking new growth (CNBC)

Snapchat Update Features Ads with Deep Links

Snapchat Is Making App Install Ads More Targeted With Deep Links (Ad Week)

Snapchat updates app install ads with quicker deep links, deeper analytics (Marketing Land)

Snapchat 'doubling down' on app install tech to drive ad sales (The Drum)

WhatsApp Launches App for Business

WhatsApp officially launches its app for businesses in select markets (TechCrunch)

WhatsApp officially launches app, profiles for businesses (Marketing Land)

#MidweekMinute: Don't freak out about Facebook

As you've surely heard by now, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has announced a major change to Facebook's infamous algorithm, prioritizing people rather than brands. Facebook's also simplifying the over-cluttered Messenger, and testing a special "Today In" section for local news and events. Snapchat's new redesign (which has been out for a few months) is getting a big thumbs down from users.

Facebook Newsfeed Changes

Facebook Is Deprioritizing Our Stories. Good.(Motherboard)

Facebook promises more community, fewer brand posts in significant shift (MarketingDive)

Facebook edits feeds to bring less news, more sharing (The Seattle Times)

Facebook Messenger

Bloated Facebook Messenger promises to simplify in 2018 (TechCrunch)

Facebook Messenger chief admits the app has gotten too cluttered (The Verge)

Facebook Messenger head says the app is 'too cluttered,' and that a new design is coming (CNBC)

Facebook "Today In"

Facebook is testing a dedicated section for local news (Engadget)

Facebook is testing a new section of the app specifically for local news and events (Recode)

Facebook Is Testing a Separate Destination for Local News in Its Mobile Apps (AdWeek)

Snapchat Redesign

Snapchat’s big redesign bashed in 83% of user reviews (TechCrunch)

Snapchat redesign is hugely unpopular as 83% of reviews are negatives (Social Barrel)

Snapchat redesign meets with unimpressed reviews from early users (Influencer Update)

#MidweekMinute: Suggested stories, business DMs, more Snap

Instagram now recommends stories; Twitter empowers businesses with stronger direct messaging tools; Snapchat expands shareability beyond the app and increases ad strength by disabling immediate skips for some clips.

Instagram Will Recommend Stories

Instagram will now add ‘Recommended’ posts to your feed (TechCrunch)

Instagram is further messing up your feed with ‘recommended’ posts (The Daily Dot)

Instagram Recommends Photos in Your Feed Now, Users Aren’t Happy (Peta Pixel)

Twitter and Direct Messages

Twitter Is Tweaking Its Direct Message Features for Businesses (Ad Week)

Twitter is making it easier for businesses to reach people with Direct Messages (The Verge)

Snapchat and Stories Everywhere 

Snapchat Looking to Publish Content on Third-Party Websites With ‘Stories Everywhere’ (Report) (Variety)

EXCLUSIVE: Snapchat Developing "Stories Everywhere” to Push Content Outside the App and Grow Users (Cheddar)

Snapchat 3-second video ads

Snapchat may force users to watch three seconds of ads before skipping (Ad Age)

Are There Ads On Snapchat? You Might Have To Sit Though 3 Seconds Of Clips Soon (Elite Daily)

#MidweekMinute: Troll Patrol

Facebook introduces new measures to curb unpleasant experiences on the platform, and expands ad capabilities to include WhatsApp integration and greater video options; Twitter flags hate; Snapchat lets you develop your own AR.

New Facebook Snooze Feature

Facebook adds a Snooze button for muting people, groups and Pages for 30 days (TechCrunch)

Facebook Is Making it Way Easier to Ignore Your Annoying Friends (Thrillist)

Facebook's Snooze Button Is a Perfect Addition (Slate)

Facebook Moves to Curb Harassment

Facebook is introducing new tools to help curb harassment (The Verge)

Facebook has new tools to prevent unwanted friend requests and messages (Tech Crunch)

Facebook changes messaging rules to help curtail harassment (CNBC)

Facebook Using Facial Recognition to Alert Users to Posts of Their Photos

Facebook's New Facial Recognition Switch Can Find Photos Of You Across The Social Network(Forbes)

Facebook to notify users when photos of them are uploaded (Reuters)

Facebook to Send an Alert When Someone Uploads a Photo of You  (Fortune)

Facebook Discouraging Engagement Bait Posts

Facebook is clamping down on posts that shamelessly beg for your engagement (TechCrunch)

Facebook To Punish 'Engagement Bait' Posts (Media Post)

Facebook said it will demote posts that beg for likes or comments (CNBC)

Facebook and WhatsApp-linked Ads

Click-to-WhatsApp messaging buttons are now rolling out in Facebook ads (TechCrunch)

Facebook introduces WhatsApp-linked ads (SmartBrief)

Facebook Pushing Longer Ads using NewsFeed and Pre-Roll Ads

Facebook Pushing Videos through its NewsFeed (Reuters)

Facebook tests pre-roll ads, shifts Ad Breaks to longer content (Marketing Dive)

Facebook announces 6-second pre-roll ad test, new mid-roll ad restrictions(MarketingLand)

Twitter Enforcing Anti-Hate Rules

Twitter starts enforcing tougher anti-hate rules (Engadget)

Twitter to put warnings before swastikas, other hate images (Reuters)

Snapchat Launches AR platform Lens Studio

Snapchat launches augmented reality developer platform Lens Studio (TechCrunch)

How To Use Snapchat's Lens Studio To Make Your Own Hilarious 3-D Character(Elite Daily)

Snap releases Lens Studio, a tool for creating your own AR effects (TheVerge)

 

#MidweekMinute: Major Facebook & Snapchat developments

Facebook is testing and introducing tools for Messenger, Donations, and even facial recognition technology; Snapchat has, of course, redesigned itself, but has also introduced object recognition and new AR ad formats.

Facebook Broadcast

Facebook tests tool to make it easier for businesses to send message blasts on Messenger (Marketing Land)

Facebook prototypes Messenger Broadcast for businesses (TechCrunch)

Facebook Donations

Facebook drops fee on donations, will match $50M/year, adds Mentor feature (TechCrunch)

Facebook is dropping its fundraising fees for nonprofits, but not for personal causes (Quartz)

Facebook Selfie Logins

Facebook may ask you to prove you’re not a bot with a selfie (Digital Trends)

Facebook uses selfies as login authentication for suspicious activity (The Verge)

Facebook’s new security measure asks users to upload a photo of their face (BGR)

Facebook Testing Streaks Feature

Facebook is testing a Snapchat ‘streaks’ clone for Messenger (The Daily Dot)

Facebook's latest feature test looks like Snapchat's streaks (Engadget)

Facebook maintains streak of copying Snapchat with new Messenger test (Business Insider)

Snapchat Redesign

Snapchat Remakes Itself, Splitting the Social From the Media (The New York Times)

What Snapchat’s major redesign and algorithmic feed means for marketers (Marketing Land)

Snapchat Redesigns Mobile App to Split Friends From Media (Bloomberg)

Snapchat Photo Recognition Filters

Snapchat now recognizes food, pets, and more when suggesting filters (The Verge)

Snapchat’s newest filters can recognize what’s in your photos (TechCrunch)

Snapchat's latest filters recognize pets and food (Engadget)

Snapchat applies for patent to serve ads by recognizing objects in your snaps (The Verge)

Snapchat's New Advertising Tools

Asos, HBO and BMW pilot Snapchat's new ad formats (Marketing Drive)

Snapchat Brings New Advertising Tools to Aid Revenue Growth (Nasdaq)

Snapchat seeks salvation in long-form and “hands-on” AR ads (TechCrunch)

#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)

#MidweekMinute: chattin' up a storm

Facebook Messenger has rolled out to websites (yes, non-Facebook websites) and Facebook's Slack-competitor, Workplace, now has a chat function. On Twitter, you can now use twice as many characters for your chatter. Snapchat needs a redesign because us olds can't figure it out. Instagram Stories no longer have to be in-the-moment...and you can now properly use Hebrew, Arabic & Farsi on the platform.

Facebook Messenger for Websites:

Facebook introduces a Messenger plugin for business websites (TechCrunch)

Facebook Messenger plugin enables cross-platform customer service (Engadget)

Facebook Will Let Brands Integrate Messenger With Their Websites (Adweek)

Facebook Workplace Chat:

Workplace: One Year Later (Workplaceblog)

Facebook's Workplace, now at 30,000 orgs, adds Chat desktop apps and group video chat (TechCrunch)

Twitter Character Limit:

Twitter Doubles Tweet Limit to 280 Characters (Bloomberg Technology)

Tweeting in 280 Characters? Now You Can Do It, Too (NY Times)

Twitter officially enables 280-character limit for all accounts, including brands (Marketing Land)

Snapchat redesign:

Snap Will Overhaul Its App Just Nine Months After Its IPO (Bloomberg Technology)

Snapchat will overhaul its app to bolster user numbers, as it endures the growing pains of shift to programmatic (The Drum)

A huge redesign is coming to Snapchat (The Verge)

Snap CEO Evan Spiegel is redesigning Snapchat because it’s too hard to use (Recode)

Instagram Stories:

You can now upload content older than 24 hours to Instagram Stories (The Verge)

Instagram continues Snapchat assault, lifts 24 hour limit on Stories clone (9 to 5 Mac)

Instagram now lets you add any photos or videos to your Stories (TechCrunch)

Instagram and Left-to-Right Languages:

Instagram now supports right-to-left languages like Hebrew and Arabic (TechCrunch)

Instagram adds right-to-left language support starting with Arabic, Farsi, and Hebrew (the Verge)

Instagram now supports three right-to-left languages (Engadget)

#MidweekMinute: TWO MINUTES of news this week!

Facebook, as usual, dominates this week's news, as they attempt to bring corded-quality VR to the wireless masses, pizza to the starving gamers playing it, AIM-style away messages to us nostalgic folk, and JOBS to all. LinkedIn continues their "new features every damn week of 2017" streak with sponsored auto-play video ads. Twitter is changing its video ad game with Video Cards that launch a playing video over a clicked link. Back to Facebook, who's finally letting brands create Facebook Stories. But if they don't succeed in stealing the Snap demographic there, it's all good: Facebook has also acquired tbh (don't worry if you don't know what that is), which is the rare anonymous platform that's all about positivity. Snapchat's still very much in the "constantly developing new stuff" game, though: they just announced a partnership with NBCUniversal (& Donut Studios) for new, scripted programming.

Facebook Announces Inexpensive Oculus VR Headset:

Facebook Announces $199 Oculus Go Standalone VR Headset (Variety)

Facebook announces a wireless $200 virtual reality headset (Chicago Tribune)

Facebook unveils "portable" Oculus VR headset (Axios)

How Oculus and Facebook Are Attempting to Make VR Social (DesignNews)

Facebook food ordering:

Facebook's Newest Feature Lets Users Order Food (Refinery 29)

Facebook launches new food-ordering feature (Philly Voice)

Facebook Adds Options For Ordering Food (Forbes)

Facebook's "Order Food" feature officially launches across the US (TechCrunch)

Facebook Status Messages:

Facebook Tests A Return Of The Status Message (BuzzFeed News)

Facebook Goes Retro With Its Test of Text-Only Temporary Profile Status Updates (Adweek)

Facebook Testing Resume Feature, challenging LinkedIn:
 

Facebook is testing a Resume/CV feature--watch your back LinkedIn! (Social Barrel)

Facebook is testing a LinkedIn-like resume feature (Engadget)

Facebook is reportedly testing a new resume / CV feature (Mashable)

LinkedIn autoplay video ads:
 

LinkedIn launches autoplay mobile video ads (Marketing Land)

Video Ads Are Finally Coming to LinkedIn (Adweek)

LinkedIn would like to add autoplay ads to your professional network (Engadget)

LinkedIn is testing autoplaying video ads (betanews)

Twitter Video WEbsite Cards:

Twitter introduces a new video-centric ad format (TechCrunch)

Twitter’s New Ad Unit Pulls a Video Above a Website to Make Click-Throughs More Interactive (Adweek)

Twitter’s new Video Website Card ad format uses video to push link clicks (Marketing Land)

Facebook launches branded Stories:
 

No one uses Facebook Stories, so now they're available for #brands (Engadget)

Facebook Stories open to Pages, bringing brands to the ghost town (TechCrunch)

Facebook acquires tbh:
 

Facebook Acquires Teen App (Reuters)

Facebook acquires anonymous teen compliment app tbh, will let it run (TechCrunch)

How tbh hit #1 by turning anonymity positive (TechCrunch)

Facebook Acquires 'tbh,' an Anonymous App for Teens (Fortune)

Snapchat and NBCUniversal scripted programming:
 

Snapchat and NBCUniversal Are Creating a Digital Content Studio for Scripted Shows (Adweek)

Snapchat & NBC Are Teaming Up For Scripted Shows (Refinery 29)

Snap teams with NBCUniversal in drive for TV shows on Snapchat (CNBC)

Snap and NBCUniversal team up on Snapchat scripted shows (TechCrunch)

#MidweekMinute 10/11/17

Permanent away message for AIM; Facebook guarding against fake news; Shopify bringing eCommerce to Instagram; Instagram Stories and Facebook Stories allow cross-posting; Snapchat introduces user verification and location context cards

More Information

AOL Instant Messenger:

AOL Instant Messenger is shutting down after 20 years (Techcrunch)

Once Its AIM Was True, But Soon AOL's Instant Messenger Will Be No More (NPR)

One Last Away Message (Tumblr)

Facebook and Fake News:

Facebook unveils new “context” tool to help users spot fake news (The Daily Dot)

Facebook tests a feature that provides info on article publishers (Engadget)

Facebook tests augmenting article links with publisher info from Wikipedia (Marketing Land)

Shopify bringing eCommerce to Instagram:

Instagram is expanding shoppable photos to thousands of merchants (The Verge)

Facebook's Instagram Is Turning Into an E-Commerce Platform (The Motley Fool)

Instagram Stories/Facebook Stories:

Instagram Stories launches cross-posting to Facebook Stories (Techcrunch)

You'll soon be able to post Instagram Stories to Facebook Stories (Mashable.com)

Snapchat verified users:

Snapchat tests an 'Official Stories' section for verified accounts (Mashable)

Snapchat is testing a new ‘official’ section for verified users (Alternative Press)

Snapchat context cards for more info on certain locations:

Snapchat's Context Cards Update Adds More Substance To Snaps (Forbes)

Snapchat now lets you hail an Uber and book a restaurant in its app (CNBC)

Snapchat Launches Location-Based ‘Context Cards’ With Uber, Goop, TripAdvisor and Others (Variety)