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Roberto Blake on Creating a Brand, Not Just a Channel
This week we’re talking about building a brand, not just a channel, with YouTube creator and educator Roberto Blake.
BY KIM HANNA
This week we’re talking about building a brand, not just a channel, with YouTube creator and educator Roberto Blake.
In addition to his work on YouTube, Roberto is also a creative entrepreneur, public speaker, and business coach. He's all about educating and motivating creative people with new videos every week on his YouTube channel which has 475,000 subscribers.
His Awesome Creator Academy helps creative entrepreneurs leverage YouTube to grow their audience, increase revenue and develop their businesses and brands.
Check out some of Roberto’s top recommendations on building a personal brand here:
Is it a good or bad idea to go hard on one particular channel as opposed to having a broader footprint?
Roberto has achieved great success on YouTube, but he agrees that it’s important to have a broader footprint.
It's all about having a purpose as to where you should be. For example, Roberto is mainly known as a YouTuber, but he has a very active and engaged Twitter presence as well.
Roberto’s philosophy is “why not?” He says, “If you're already spending three or four hours on your main thing, taking away or adding 15 minutes to your plate to do something else doesn't really impact that...there's not a downside.”
Many people believe that having multiple platforms dilutes your focus. Roberto suggests that there is no downside to posting a few Instagram stories, replying to people on Twitter or things like that. If anything, It can help increase your exposure as people find your brand on other platforms.
Becoming known as a YouTube creator
Roberto did not start building his brand solely through YouTube. In fact, he started as a blogger; in his YouTube videos, he would include his website in his video intros. Roberto made his channel partly to drive traffic to his site.
He’s also active on Twitter and Facebook. This brings us back to Roberto’s earlier point that using multiple platforms does no harm. He says, “I actually probably for years was just as hard on live, streaming every single day on multiple live streaming platforms in the early days of mobile live streaming more than I was even when I was doing daily YouTube content.”
Roberto’s live streams and blogs were largely about his career as a graphic designer and digital artist. His early focus was helping other freelancers and creative professionals. He interviewed other up-and-coming digital artists who would later be featured in various magazines and publications.
As Roberto consistently posted on his blog and did livestreams, he realized that his own brand was growing at quite a rapid rate. From February of 2015 through December of 2015 Roberto grew from 20,000 to about 75,000 subscribers on YouTube!
Differences between a creator, an influencer and a personal brand
You might have seen this question in our #ChatAboutBrand Twitter chat on Tuesday. We thought we’d ask Roberto how he feels about these three distinctions.
Roberto’s definition of a content creator is basically anyone that creates content. They could be an influencer, personal brand, or none of the above.
“A content creator doesn't have to be a content creator in the sense of being a public facing or forward figure,” Roberto explained. “If you produce beats but your voice isn't on the track, you're a content creator. And if you're making money as a musician doing that, you're a content creator. If you're not the face, and you are the editor of something - you're remixing content, but you're not personally in the content - you're still a content creator.”
You can also be an influencer without being a content creator.
“You could be an influencer by virtue of being a politician. You could be an influencer by virtue of being a public figure and a public speaker and having a story. That doesn't make you a content creator.”
A personal brand is a forward-facing figure with a public reputation. Personal brands can also be content creators and/or influencers.
Roberto says these three words are not interchangeable. “Some people can encapsulate multiple buckets. Some of them it's just one bucket, and you can't assume that you've got the others.”
What do you think? Are you a content creator, personal brand, or influencer?
Creating the Brand
When asked why he branded the way that he did, he said, “I built a brand with the understanding that I wanted to build a brand that I could live with. But some people are a caricature of themselves online.”
Roberto’s brand is very authentic. Being authentic is a great way for your followers to feel like they know you a little more. Plus, a part of being authentic is showing that you’re not perfect all the time. To be successful on social media, you do not have to be ‘perfect.’
“I think what people get wrong is they think that they have to be 100% all the time, but that's exhausting, and you're not your best all the time. And so giving people your best sometimes means, ‘OK, it's not going to be exactly how I feel in that moment. “
How to get inspiration
Roberto sheds some great insight into our next question: “What do you do when you're not in the mood to create content, but you have to? How do you find inspiration when you need to create content, and what tools you use that help you out with that?”
Roberto’s saying is, “‘When motivation fails, your discipline won't.” You might not always have an idea for everything, but Roberto always plans everything out. When inspiration comes, he’ll move on that. But he moves more on planning and designing, meaning he’s already mapped out what's going to happen rather than waiting for that inspiration.
Roberto also creates the opportunity to be motivated and inspired. He does that by building the perfect office that will help generate inspiration. He has inspirational quotes everywhere, and posters about patience, ambition, failure, happiness, persistence, and success. Building his office this way makes it a very motivating place to do work!
Find Roberto
Check out Roberto’s YouTube channel at youtube.com/robertoblake. He’s also @RobertoBlake on most social media (he’s most active on Twitter and posts to Instagram stories pretty much daily). And, of course, you can work with Roberto via AwesomeCreatorAcademy.com.
Thank you so much to Roberto Blake for his incredible insight on building a brand, not just a channel! To watch our Let’s Talk About Brand show, join us live on Facebook every Friday at 12 pm.
Content Can Be FUN!
A roundup of the most fun-to-create content of 2019 from a variety of top social media and digital marketing professionals.
Instead of a compilation of strategic tips or 2020 social media predictions, I decided to do an end-of-2019 roundup post on FUN.
A lot of people wouldn’t put “content creation” and “fun” in the same sentence. Content can feel like a chore, one more business task that takes you away from the things you really want to be doing.
But sometimes? It IS fun. And I’ve gathered nearly two dozen of my smart social media friends to talk about what they most enjoyed creating in 2019 and why. Hopefully, there’s a piece of inspiration in here for each of us!
Full roundup video below; individual responses (with links to the actual FUN content in question!) after the jump.
Deonnah Carolus
Summit Web Marketing
Most fun piece of 2019 content:
My 'How to get Approved for Instagram Shopping after you have been Denied' Checklist!! I created a mini course series that goes in depth with it too!
https://www.summitwebmarketing.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Copy-of-Add-a-subheading.pdf
What made it so much fun to create?
That I can help virtually EVERYONE this happens to with this method I uncovered!!
Angus Nelson
angusnelson.com
Most fun piece of 2019 content:
Manhood Matrix graphic:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HPcYDYsVhMNBpRtMR1sjLiCBiwpo_WM-/view?usp=sharing
What made it so much fun to create?
It challenged me to truly think through my philosophy.
Gael Gilliland
The Legacy Recorder
Most fun piece of 2019 content:
What to do when death happens:
https://www.thelegacyrecorder.com/death-dying/grief/what-to-do-when-death-happens
What made it so much fun to create?
It was a tough and unexpectedly joyous conversation that many people have found value in.
Emily Crume
Social Media Examiner
Most fun piece of 2019 content:
A Doodly animated video entitled "5 Reasons to Sponsor an Event."
https://youtu.be/unq8VlQhV9Y
What made it so much fun to create?
I came up with the idea, scripted the story and then recorded the audio and set the animations, music and timing. It required taking the time to learn an explainer video program - but I was able to produce the content all myself!
I have used it on my Compass toolkit page - a page where we host resources that help guide my clients to event success. It was also posted to LinkedIn and had 10x more views in my feed than regular content I repost and share.
Yvonne Heimann
Ask Yvi
Most fun piece of 2019 content:
The Summit Hero:
https://academy.askyvi.com/courses/summithero
What made it so much fun to create?
Collaborating with Mary Fain Brandt is so fun. She is just as enthusiastic and energetic as I am <3
Jennifer Watson
Agora pulse
Most fun piece of 2019 content:
Our weekly live show, Social Pulse Weekly, where we have an expert guest, talk about the latest social media news and have fun trivia. I linked to our finale show below that had 10+ guests and was a great way to wrap up the biggest trends of 2019 and what predictions will be for 2020.
http://facebook.com/Agorapulse/videos/517136252207741
What made it so much fun to create?
This was so much fun to create because we had brilliant guests sharing their knowledge with everyone. Along with that relationships were formed and strengthened from the great conversations between viewers and our guests. We had people join in from around the world, that made the experience priceless. This experience has made me appreciate the power of live video even more than I already did!
Our finale video had 118 live views and has reached, but the best part was the conversations and relationship building that was happening with our viewers and the show guests. So much love and support for everyone, it was truly amazing to see.
Phil Mershon
Social Media Examiner
Most fun piece of 2019 content:
My LinkedIn article about showing up powerfully:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/showing-up-powerfully-10-tips-event-organizers-speakers-phil-mershon/
What made it so much fun to create?
Involving so many friends and then seeing how the community is responding to the idea of showing up powerfully.
Risa Hoag
GMG Public Relations
Most fun piece of 2019 content:
The interview with the 3 businesses for the Nanuet Chamber of Commerce, Coupe Theatre Studio, Gregory Chiropractic and Luxury Kitchen and Bath. The Nanuet Chamber News Show.
https://www.facebook.com/NanuetChamberOfCommerce/videos/445635276166710/
What made it so much fun to create?
Great fun to interview local business people and share their stories with the Rockland community. Also fun to visit their businesses and see them in action.
Kendra Ramirez
Reset Co
Most fun piece of 2019 content:
We did a video series on mindset. My favorite piece in the series is on money mindset.
https://thereset.co/karlee-schultz/
What made it so much fun to create?
It was filmed in a studio that we designed. We did the whole series with no teleprompter or show notes. We are addressing topics around limiting beliefs.
Katie Hornor
SuccessfulOnlineCourses.com
Most fun piece of 2019 content:
Digital Courses: 25 Predictions for 2020
https://bloggingsuccessfully.com/digital-courses-25-predictions-for-2020/
What made it so much fun to create?
Collaborating with other experts to serve our people collectively is a wonderful experience.
Mike Gingerich
Digital Hill and Mike Gingerich Global
Most fun piece of 2019 content:
Group collaboration with Now Marketing Group on the Harsh Truths of Online Marketing
https://blog.nowmarketinggroup.com/harsh-truths-of-online-marketing-marketers-tell-all
What made it so much fun to create?
Jessika had a group chat going and it was great to connect with the group and see all their inputs and thoughts!
Chris Strub
The Giving Day Guy
Most fun piece of 2019 content:
A Facebook Live broadcast that I created on #GiveSTLDay with the St. Louis Community Foundation at Healthworks! Kids Museum:
https://www.facebook.com/stlouisgives/videos/321670001842589/
What made it so much fun to create?
I had no idea what to expect, and neither did the audience. Plus Sean Frederick is a super charismatic and fun kid to work with.
Eddie Garrison
Digital Media Creator Academy
Most fun piece of 2019 content:
I did a Social Media Day Virtual Summit that had over 1,000 viewers. It featured nine fantastic speakers and went for nearly five hours.
What made it so much fun to create?
Doing a Social Media Day event ON Social Media. Hearing everyone speak on what their passion is was the best for me.
We ended up with nearly 10,000 overall views of the Virtual Summit.
Ross Brand
Livestream Universe
Most fun piece of 2019 content:
Facebook Live interview with Eddie Garrison from Podcast Movement:
https://www.facebook.com/ross.brand.509/videos/1328004804040836/
What made it so much fun to create?
iPhone fell in the middle of the interview. It give us a lot to laugh about during and after the broadcast.
Dan Willis
Millennial Motivator
Most fun piece of 2019 content:
I really had a blast creating the first couple episodes of the Successful Failures podcast:
https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9hYzU5Njk0L3BvZGNhc3QvcnNz&episode=OGMyMzc2NzctMDk4My0wODU1LWEyODgtOWI3OTQ1ZmM0NmYy&hl=en-CA&ved=2ahUKEwiXmb2u5q_mAhXRKM0KHYcqAlYQjrkEegQIOBAE&ep=6&at=1576143043022
What made it so much fun to create?
Getting to know the deeper stories behind entrepreneurs is a passion near and dear to my heart! Forgetting the glimmer and celebrity and getting back to real people facing real challenges.
If it helped even one listener to face entrepreneurship with an awareness of the hardships you must overcome in order to succeed it performed beyond expectations!
Jeff Sieh
Manly Pinterest Tips
Most fun piece of 2019 content:
Guy Kawasaki's Remarkable People Podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/guy-kawasakis-remarkable-people/id1483081827
What made it so much fun to create?
I get to listen in on really cool people like Jane Goodall, Steven Wolfram and Martha Stewart.
Denise Alison
Denise Alison Social Media Strategist
Most fun piece of 2019 content:
My #10tips10days series on LinkedIn.
https://denisealison.com/blog/10-tips-10-days-part-1
What made it so much fun to create?
I loved the energy it gave me to challenge myself to create short and 10 valuable pieces of content, 10 days in a row!
The series got over 30k views.
Phil Gerbyshak
Vector Solutions
Most fun piece of 2019 content:
Happy Birthday to Me: Here are 46 things I learned from 46 trips around the sun:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/happy-birthday-me-here-46-things-i-learned-from-trips-phil-gerbyshak/
What made it so much fun to create?
I created it in one sitting in an airplane, and everything I created brought a smile to my face as I thought about when I learned the lesson, how it's impacted me, and even how I continue to use the insight.
Marisa Cali
All The Social
Most fun piece of 2019 content:
The espnW women + sports summit recap. There was tons of social content on Twitter and IG but this summarizes it:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/espnwsummit-reminder-your-why-marisa-cali-1c/
What made it so much fun to create?
The ability to connect with so many of the ideas being said at the summit.
It opened the door for additional opportunities within the sports/womeninsports world; built relationships with key players and furthered the impact I can have in the industry.
Caitlin Jenkins & Amy Tischler
Simply Social Media
Most fun piece of 2019 content:
Our most fun piece of content we created in 2019 was not one piece, but rather a place.
Our work is creating community and nothing bonds a group like throwing sharp objects at a target! We mean hatchet throwing, of course, and it inspired many variations of triumphant images, videos, and boomerangs created by our influencers.
https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/seasonalsunrise/
What made it so much fun to create?
We discovered the secret ingredient for creating fun content is endorphins! Have fun if you want to create fun content!
George Damanis
Up Tempo Social
Most fun piece of 2019 content:
My Perfect Burger blog:
https://www.georgedamanis.com/georgeeatseverywhere/articles/my-perfect-burger
What made it so much fun to create?
Making the burger, eating the burger, and seeing everyone's reaction to it. The biggest compliment I received was a friend telling me the blog made them want to eat a burger for dinner. One friend even went shopping to cook it the night it was published to my website.
Laura Pearman
Laura Pearman Photography
Most fun piece of 2019 content:
My episode on fish and pricing:
https://youtu.be/u9UqGYZ1eJU
What made it so much fun to create?
It marked me Really getting into a fun groove with my channel.
It’s been one of my best this year. All the equivalent ones on this topic are DULL so I’m hoping it will do well over time too.
Madalyn Sklar
#TwitterSmarter
Most fun piece of 2019 content:
Custom GIFs!
https://twitter.com/MadalynSklar/status/1205185759168348161
What made it so much fun to create?
Custom GIFs allow you to show a lot of personality. They're great on Twitter and Facebook.
It generated high engagement with lots of conversations. It's a great way to let your community see the real you.
Amanda Webb
Spiderworking
Most fun piece of 2019 content:
I created a video trailer for an article I had written for Social Media Examiner. It included having a bath in gravy and pretending to do a striptease in my front garden.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B19D_6KCGcS/?igshid=15bvqanpbn59z
What made it so much fun to create?
It was full on creative. I had fun with the ideas, not so much the gravy bath.
My goal was to drive traffic to the article which I did. I also good good engagement across social media platforms. However, previous trailer videos got more link clicks. I think that's because they teased the content more. This video was a complete content piece that didn't require a link click to complete it.
Since you’ve made it this far, I might as well let you know that you can meet almost ALL of these incredible human beings LIVE and IN-PERSON in San Diego this coming March at Social Media Marketing World 2020!
(Yes, that’s an affiliate link - if you buy through it, I’ll buy you a drink in San Diego - swearsies!)
Curious if #SMMW20 is for you? Let’s hop on a phone call or Zoom hangout (yes, really!) and I’ll tell you why it’s BEYOND worth it.
#MidweekMinute 12/4/19: now with extra jazz hands!
Facebook photo exports, reducing ad discrimination; Instagram vibration?; Twitter nested threads, Business Calendar, Brand Surveys & Privacy Center; YouTube culls duds.
Where were you for The Great Thanksgiving Facebook & Instagram Blackout of 2019?…
Facebook is going to start allowing users to transfer their photos more easily to third party partners, starting with Google Photos. The feature is being rolled out to Ireland first, with the rest of the world expected to follow in early 2020.
Facebook’s cracking down even further on preventing discrimination via ad targeting, expanding the rules to include every possible place one could purchase ads on the platform (not just within Ads Manager) and expanding the public ad library to make housing ad targeting more visible.
Instagram’s testing making your phone vibrate when you like a post. This was uncovered by reverse engineer Jane Manchun Wong, who also discovered that Twitter is working on nested replies (like Reddit).
Wondering what to Tweet? The new 2020 @TwitterBusiness Calendar highlights upcoming events and how to Tweet about them.
Twitter has released Twitter Brand Surveys as a way to measure ad recall.
Twitter has also introduced the Twitter Privacy Center, a hub for all privacy-related information, features, and releases.
Don’t freak out if your YouTube subscriber count is down: YouTube is removing closed accounts.
#MidweekMinute 10/2/19: Trashing the trash talk
Facebook tests hiding Likes, swipe up to Messenger in Story ads, and works on AR glasses and a VR gaming space; Instagram product launch notifications, Branded Content in IGTV, and @creators; Twitter DM filters; YouTube comment filters, Google Fire; LinkedIn targets audiences.
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
#MidweekMinute 9/25/19: The Future Is NOW
Facebook suspends apps, kills Group Stories, and wants you to control your phone with your brain (whaa?); Hide Tweets; Instagram restricts body-shaming; YouTube giveth verification, YouTube taketh away, YouTube giveth back; AI video ad placement.
Sorry in advance for all my political Tweets. Let’s not go into that here… on to other social media news!
Facebook has suspended API access for tens of thousands of third-party apps in the continued wake of the Cambridge Analytica data-mining scandal, which prompted Facebook to investigate hundreds of app developers on the platform.
Facebook is discontinuing the seldom-used Group Stories feature tomorrow.
Facebook is acquiring CTRL-labs, a neural learning firm dedicated to translating human brain impulses into digital signals, as part of their Facebook Reality Labs team. The company’s key product is a wristband that will enable you to control electronic devices without touch. (Yes, we officially live in the future.)
Instagram has announced viewing restrictions on weight loss & cosmetic procedure content for users under age 18, and advertising restrictions for how such products are promoted in general.
Twitter’s Hide Replies feature, previously testing in Canada, is now active in the U.S. and Japan. This feature is designed to hopefully help discussions on the platform from getting too ugly (as they are wont to do).
YouTube announced - and then rescinded - major changes to its creator verification system, which would have rescinded verification badges from many creators based on updated criteria. YouTube will re-launch its verification program in late October for accounts not already verified.
YouTube and Google have announced Video Reach ad campaigns, which will enable advertisers to upload numerous types of video ads under a single campaign and allow Google’s AI to optimally distribute them in accordance with viewer insights.
Join me on LinkedIn Live at 4 pm ET for discussion of all stories!
MORE INFO ON ALL STORIES:
#MidweekMinute 9/18/19: Creators gonna create
Major Facebook Creator Studio announcements (including Instagram scheduling!); Facebook Chat posts; Portal TV; YouTube profile cards out trolls; LinkedIn skill verification.
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:
#MidweekMinute 9/11/19: "Likes" ain't nothing but a number...
Facebook Dating, location security options, possible like-count-hiding test; YouTube hides follower counts; Facebook and Instagram in-ad checkout; “Private” Instagram posts not so private; no more text-to-tweet (for now); Twitter Agency Playbook.
Politics and vulgarity aside, one important user lesson on social media is to know who you’re dealing with.
(#TeamChrissy)
Moving on to more universally applicable social media news…
Let’s be real; you’re going to Facebook-stalk your online date anyway (I MySpace-stalked mine, back in 2006!). Why not just find them on Facebook Dating to begin with?
Facebook is tightening up location security on mobile, allowing for greater nuance and defaulting to whatever the user’s most restrictive settings are (device settings and app settings are often at different levels) unless otherwise specified.
Facebook’s also considering a test to hide like counts on posts, following a similar test by Instagram still in progress. YouTube has also recently removed follower counts from accounts with over 1,000 followers.
Facebook and Instagram are stepping up their ecommerce game, working on in-ad checkout functionality on Facebook and the ability to turn an organic shopping post on Instagram into an ad.
Watch those “private” Instagram posts - they’re apparently easy to access and share via web browser. (Whoopsies!)
If you’ve been posting your Tweets via text, you’re out of luck for a bit - Twitter is temporarily suspending that function after CEO Jack Dorsey was hacked via a SIM card swap.
Twitter doesn’t want to be a mystery to you; they want you to succeed (and thus keep using them). Hence their latest Agency Playbook, full of basic - yet key - tips on what’s proven to provide the most engagement on the platform. Helpful, right?
MORE INFO ON ALL STORIES:
#MidweekMinute 7/10/19: Monetization and anti-bully-ization
Facebook pays creators (and skims a little off the top); Instagram anti-bullying action; IG engagement down.
I hope Tom from MySpace has a blast at the White House Social Media Summit… 🙄
Facebook has made several video-monetization-related announcements this week: new video ad placement options, better tools for creators to manage monetization, tweaks to the beta subscription program (including Facebook now taking a cut of that revenue from creators), and enhanced tools for matching up brands and collaborators.
Instagram ups its anti-bullying functions by warning you if a comment could be considered inflammatory (like a digital conscience!) and allowing you to restrict certain users from seeing your content.
Business users report a significant decline in Instagram engagement rates (perhaps a lot of that engagement was coming from bullies?…).
Join me on LinkedIn Live every Wednesday at 4 pm ET for a fuller explanation of each of these stories and what they mean for you.
LinkedIn Live Replay:
(opens in new window)
More on all stories:
FAQ: Consolidating video traffic
Should you upload your video to each platform independently?
Should I upload my video to one platform and then just link to it from the rest - or should I upload my video natively to each platform?
As with most things: this depends on your goals.
If you’re mainly focusing on building an audience on one platform over the others, and you want to consolidate all your views in one spot (for example, you’re trying to build your Facebook audience, thus views on your Facebook post would do you the most good), go ahead and link or embed the video when promoting it elsewhere.
However, that technique won’t get the most reach - and, therefore, won’t get as many overall views. Platforms give strong preference to videos loaded natively to their platform. So, if what you’re going for is as many eyeballs as possible on your content, load it up to each platform separately.
Make sense? Good.
#MidweekMinute 5/29/19: Feel the rainbow
IGTV landscape videos; Story post creation button; rainbow Story rings for #Pride; YouTube hiding subscriber counts; Facebook’s “GlobalCoin”; group admin feedback; LinkedIn ad visibility; Sales Navigator updates.
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:
FAQ: Video length
Is “more” always more when it comes to video?
There’s a ton of advice out there on best practices for video length on various platforms. Here are some quick stats by platform:
Facebook (pre-recorded): 2 minutes
Facebook Live: at least 10 minutes; 15 minutes is a sweet spot
Instagram: 30 seconds
Twitter: 30-45 seconds
YouTube: 2 minutes
But stats are just that: stats. My advice is ALWAYS to explore what your own audience responds to, what works best to tell your content’s story, and, above all, what you actually want to do.
#MidweekMinute 5/16/18: take a break
Facebook cryptocurrency (maybe); FB bans 200 data-trolling apps; FB Live multi-stream & rewind; India-first FB Story features; Instagram emoji slider & unreleased "Time Spent" metric; YouTube "take a break" feature & Android voice remote; Snapchat re-redesign; Twitter troll traps; LinkedIn sizes you up.
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.
#MidweekMinute 4/4/18: Data squeeze
Facebook tightens ad targeting restrictions, adds HD video & 360 photos to Messenger, & improves Spaces VR; Instagram also restricts third-party app partnerships, brings GIFs back to stories, & makes story ads full-screen; Snapchat announces 16-person video chats; Pinterest splits discovery from following; LinkedIn debuts B2B video; YouTube short reach ads.
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:
#MidweekMinute (sorry, no video!)
Facebook metrics, news subscriptions, jobs, facial recognition opt-out, & streaming music rumor; Facebook Messenger friend adds & chat plug-in; Twitter limits automated tweets; YouTube adds tagging, captioning, & chat replay.
Facebook simplifies ad metrics, encourages local news subscriptions, posts local job offerings across the socioeconomic spectrum, allows users to opt-out of facial recognition, & considers entering streaming music market; Facebook Messenger allows users to add friends during calls & creates a customer chat plug-in for business; Twitter limits automated tweets from multiple accounts; YouTube adds location tagging, automatic captioning, & chat replay.
(No video this week, since I was too preoccupied at #SMMW18 to pull it together!)
Facebook Simplifying Metrics for Ad Performance
Facebook says it’s clarifying its ad metrics (Tech Crunch)
Facebook is removing 20 outdated, redundant ad metrics; adding methodology labels (Marketing Land)
Facebook Facial Recognition Includes Opt-Out Option
Facebook's New Face Recognition Features: What We Do (and Mostly Don't) Know (Gizmodo)
Facebook is starting to tell more users about facial recognition (the Verge)
Facebook Boosting Local News Publishers
Facebook program aims to boost local news subscriptions (Engadget)
Facebook launches a local news accelerator for publishers (Tech Crunch)
Facebook is dead serious about getting you reading more local news (MIT Technology Review)
Facebook Launches Job Postings
Facebook rolls out job posts to become the blue-collar LinkedIn (Tech Crunch)
Facebook May Enter Streaming Music Market
Facebook Could Be Preparing to Enter the Streaming Music Market (Fox Business)
Facebook Messenger Allows Adding People During Calls, Adds Customer Chat Plugin
Facebook Messenger now lets you easily turn one-on-one video calls into group calls (9TO5Mac)
Facebook Messenger now lets you add friends during calls without stopping the party (The Next Web)
Facebook Messenger now lets you add more people to in-progress calls (Tech Crunch)
Facebook Messenger Adds Customer Chat Plugin For Businesses (ZD Net)
Twitter Limits Automated Tweets
Twitter bars tactics used by 'bots' to spread false stories (Reuters)
Twitter cracks down on automated tweets (The Hill)
YouTube Adds Chat Replay, Automatic Captions, Location Tagging
YouTube Live gains automatic captions, chat replay and more (TechCrunch)
YouTube Live gets automatic English captions, live chat replays, and more (Venture Beat)
YouTube Goes Local With Location Tagging for Uploads and Live Streams (Variety)
#MidweekMinute: better visuals & more advertising power
Facebook friend limits, Watch revamp, and audience insights; Google Pixel 2 Visual Core expands to apps; Snapchat text options, mute, and Snap Store; Instagram Stories type, Story ads, and video chat rumors; welcome Daisie.
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
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
#MidweekMinute: New YouTube & LinkedIn developments; new follows on FB & Insta
New YouTube & LinkedIn developments; new follows on FB & Insta
YouTube introduces video sharing & messaging for app, and new ad formats for TV. LinkedIn continues to aggressively develop its capacity as a business tool, providing services beyond interpersonal connections. Facebook hasn't let you go live via Camera for some reason, but it will now... oh, and Donald Trump is also releasing his "Real News" show on that platform, too (I've got your FB news right here...). Finally, Apple is finally using Instagram to showcase photos taken on iPhones (which sounds an awful lot like my account, but I digress).
YouTube:
YouTube roll out in-app video sharing and messaging to users worldwide (TechCrunch)
YouTube's Fastest-Growing Audience Is In the Living Room and Advertisers Want in (Advertising Age)
LinkedIn:
Facebook:
Facebook tests ‘going live’ from Facebook Camera, Live Stories like Instagram (TechCrunch)
Facebook begins testing ‘going live’ from its camera (Your Story)
Trump fights fake news with 'Real News' on Facebook (CNet)
Trump's 'real news' Facebook videos alarm media (Washington Examiner)
Instagram:
Apple Just Launched its First Instagram Account (Time)
Apple finally joins Instagram with account highlighting photos taking with iPhone (Independent)
Apple launches official Instagram account to show off iPhone photographers' work (The Verge)
Social - Live from the Little Blue Bus!
Katie Marchese and her husband Mario (aka Mario the Magician) have been in the full-time magic biz for a decade - and have nurtured an engaged community of fans. Broadcast live from their Little Blue Bus (parked at their home in their Nyack, NY), Katie discusses her approach to social media, personal branding, and online community.
Katie Marchese and her husband Mario (aka Mario the Magician) have been in the full-time magic biz for a decade - and have nurtured an engaged community of fans. Broadcast live from their Little Blue Bus (parked at their home in their Nyack, NY), Katie discusses her approach to social media, personal branding, and online community.
Key takeaways from Katie:
- "In the beginning, we thought we had to do everything... the 'brand' started when we started to really focus."
- "Community...that's what's been more valuable to us than anything."
- "We started getting more feedback when we started giving more of ourselves."
- "Facebook is great for really getting people in on a storyline, and then people will continue to follow it."
- "It doesn't matter if you have 10,000 followers or 300 followers; it's the quality of what you're feeding them."
- "Nobody wants to feel like they're being sold to."
- "If we're going to do the social media thing, let's have it be SOCIAL, 'cause that's what it's supposed to be."
- "What we post is very curated, so you're seeing what we want you to see."
- "We're sharing our beliefs and inviting people to be a part of the stuff that we're doing, and it's super fulfilling."
- "People expect a certain style from you, and then they're more interested to follow it because there's something that's continuing from photo to photo."
- "Through the photos we want people to feel that, even if they're not seeing a snippet of the actual show, we want them to get that vibe."
- "Instagram is unique because you can really go out there in the community and get new relationships... it's a great way to build a community organically based on things that you're really drawn to and interested in."
- "Pick the mediums that you really enjoy, and do that the most; it'll be more interesting to you, and you'll get the most feedback. For us, Facebook & Instagram are our two faves."
- "It's totally changed things for us that we don't have to send flyers to Boulder, Colorado or wherever we're going; we can use targeted advertising and sell our tickets that way, and it feels like we've created a community before we've even arrived in these cities...it feels like more of a relationship than us just showing up somewhere, doing a show & then leaving."
- "Definitely Facebook Live is where it's at right now... it's a way that people are engaging right now, at the moment...I think that's what people crave right now."
- "I feel like when people see a moving image, they're more engaged; I get a lot more feedback from those posts than just a static post."
- "You can't get too invested in one strategy, because it's going to change in a few months or in a year, so you kind of have to be flexible and just keep figuring it out...my advice is just to play around, keep trying new things."
Check out Mario & Katie's YouTube series, My Magic Family, below!