FAQ: Followers

Those adorable “lifestyle influencers,” big-name experts, toy-opening kids (seriously, what is that about?), and even shady internet marketers make it seem so easy:

Getting TONS of followers.

Understandably, someone sufficiently committed to business growth as to hire a social media strategist wants to know how they can accomplish those dazzling numbers themselves. Here’s my two cents on why they might be chasing the wrong thing - and the way to get the right thing.

(Hint: it does not involve purchasing followers!)

And in case you prefer to have knowledge dropped on you in a more visual format:

FAQ by anonymous

(It’s by me. I’m “anonymous” in this case. StripGenerator’s registration is broken.)

Social returns, with two of my faves!

It’s back!

In case you’re new here: I had a weekly FB Live show, Social, that started in April 2017. I relaunched it in mid-2018 as a pre-recorded show focusing on local small business owners… then dropped off after 5 episodes. Now I’m bringing it back in its original format: live, Fridays at 12 noon ET, with a variety of guests from across the social media spectrum.

My first guests of the relaunch were my fabulous friends Julie & Jen of DepICT Media in Wichita, Kansas.

Julie and Jen may look familiar: they’ve been on the show before, and I on theirs (twice!). They were also part of Road to Social, a group road trip in June 2018 centered around several Social Media Day events (including #SMDayICT, which they helped organize).

They are wonderful, they are brilliant, they are great on video, and they know their s#!t when it comes to social media.

Much like Christine Gritmon Inc. does in the Hudson Valley, DepICT Media focuses on the needs of small, local businesses in the Wichita area. A year after “Facebookpocalypse,” people are STILL talking about the algorithm shift, so we decided we’d talk about how the new algorithm actually opens up more opportunities for small business than it shuts down.

Businesses have gotten spoiled. Social media provided unprecedented access to consumers - and businesses got way too comfortable broadcasting with no obligation to actually interact with their public. The great thing about this, as it pertains to the algorithm shift, is that businesses who want to “set it and forget it” will fall by the wayside when it comes to organic reach, and those business who are willing to utilize social media to facilitate, rather than replace, direct interaction with consumers will more easily stand out among the crowd.

Be human. Show your personality! Show that there are actual humans managing your social media accounts (and your business!) rather than corporate talking heads spouting out sales pitches. Having a unique voice (even an unpolished one!) will help you stand out from not only your direct competitors, but also from larger brands, which often aren’t able to be as flexible with showing off their “human side.”

Community-building means more than collecting “likes.” Vanity metrics mean nothing; it’s not how many people are watching, it’s whom, and what they’re doing next. You want the right people engaging with your brand, interested in what you offer, and hopefully buying. The way to do this is by investing in creating a sense of community amongst your followers - whether by using groups, or simply emphasizing your local cred and charm - and making them feel like they’re a part of something, rather than just being another faceless transaction.

Finally, we learned that my husband really likes Wendy’s.

Check out our conversation below:

Please join me again on Friday, January 11 at 12 noon ET, when I’ll be speaking with Filomena Fanelli of Impact PR & Communications about using social media & earned media to establish thought leadership.

#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 5/9/18: taking care of business

Facebook appoints new head of blockchain development, opening the door for potential cryptocurrency integrations or even creation; Avatars, spotted in Android app code, look a lot like Snapchat's Bitmoji, and could allow for a greater range of emotive reactions; dating service won't have ads; a possible ad-free subscription model is being tested; and image and object recognition AI has been using Instagram photos for training.

Twitter is working on secure, encrypted DMs.

Instagram has introduced powerful new business tools including integrated ecommerce and business messaging tools with direct calls to action; Android app may soon allow Song Stickers within Stories; new dedicated beauty partnership unit.

WhatsApp integrates Facebook & Instagram video viewability within the app, including picture-in-picture functionality.

Pinterest announces Hootsuite integration.

View my Flipboard Magazine.

#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 4/18/18: Putting the FACE in Facebook (& Snapchat!)

Facebook gets into legal trouble over facial recognition technology. Snapchat doubles down further on facial technology by opening up lens creation to all, and enabling ecommerce. Facebook Stories get AR drawing tools. Instagram lets you download your full history. LinkedIn adds GIFs for some reason.

Special guestpert: the ever-fabulous, always-on-the-move Chris Strub!!!

We had technical difficulties, so today's video is in TWO parts:

Part 1 of 2:

Part 2 of 2:

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 3/28/18: 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 3/21/18: Brought to you by Big Data!

Facebook gets broiled over Cambridge Analytics data abuses, announces new subscription-model monetization tools for content creators, opens Instant Games to developers, and introduces Express Wi-Fi app for remote locations; Twitter tests putting breaking news at the tops of users' feeds, tests a Snapchat-esque "camera-first" feature for Moments, introduces business advertising subscriptions, and joins Facebook & Google in banning cryptocurrency ads (as does, newly, Snapchat); Instagram adds story sharing, expands shoppable posts internationally, and denies chronological feed rumors; LinkedIn adds video filters and "Request Referral" button; Pinterest expands shopping ads availability; YouTube expands livestreaming to desktop and adds picture-in-picture functionality.

For more on these stories, see my Flipboard:

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 (sorry, no video!)

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 Simplifies Metrics After Data-Reporting Issues, Advertiser Confusion (The Wall Street Journal)

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’s vaguely worded face recognition “announcement” coincided with a legal setback (Fast Comppany)

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: 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: Instagram Scheduling is here!!!

Instagram Scheduling is finally here (for select third-party apps only), and is maybe testing video chat (maybe). Twitter introduces Sponsored Moments and improves video sharing. Snapchat greatly expands Bitmoji options, so your mini-me can truly be a mini-you. Finally, Facebook prioritizes local stories (even as it deprioritizes stories in general), ups the ante on privacy, tests tipping for gamers, and bans cryptocurrency advertising.

Instagram Scheduling

Now You Can Schedule Posts with the Instagram Graph API (Instagram)

Instagram is finally adding a scheduling feature, sort of (The Verge)

Instagram now allows businesses to schedule their posts (TechCrunch)

Instagram Video Call Rumor

Instagram is going to implement video calls (WABetaInfo)

Instagram Video Calling Feature Leaks, Said to Be in Internal Testing (Gadgets360)

Instagram won’t comment on rumored video calling feature (TechCrunch)

Twitter Sponsored Moments

How sponsored Moments connect publishers and brands (Twitter)

Twitter is selling a new kind of ad: Sponsored Moments (Recode)

Twitter starts selling sponsorships of individual publishers’ Moments (Marketing Land)

Twitter Video-Sharing Tool

Twitter Is Working on a Snapchat-Style Video Sharing Tool (Bloomberg Technology)

Twitter Is Said to Work on Snapchat-Style Tool for Video Sharing (AdAge)

Twitter aims to boost video sharing (Business Insider)

Snapchat Bitmoji Deluxe

Snapchat enhances Bitmoji with 1.9 septillion avatar options (TechCrunch)

Snapchat takes Bitmoji deluxe with hundreds of new customization options (The Verge)

Bitmoji Deluxe Has More Options That'll Make Your Snapchat Mini-Me Identical To You (Elite Daily)

Facebook Prioritizing Local Stories

News Feed FYI: More Local News on Facebook (Facebook)

Facebook will prioritize local stories in your News Feed (Engadget)

Facebook will start prioritizing local news in user feeds (TechCrunch)

Facebook Creates Privacy Center to Comply with EU GDPR Regulations

Facebook to launch privacy center ahead of GDPR deadline (Martech)

Facebook to roll out new privacy tools ahead of EU law (CNet)

Facebook to hand privacy controls to users ahead of EU law (Reuters)

Facebook to roll out global privacy settings hub — thanks to GDPR (TechCrunch)

Facebook Testing Tipping for Live Game Streamers

Facebook lets you tip game live streamers $3+ (TechCrunch)

Facebook Tests Tip Jar for Video Game Streamers, Launches Gaming Creator Program (Variety)

Facebook launches new program to lure Twitch-style game streamers (The Verge)

Facebook Bans Cryptocurrency Ads

New Ads Policy: Improving Integrity and Security of Financial Product and Services Ads (Facebook)

Facebook Is Banning All Ads Promoting Cryptocurrencies (Fortune)

Facebook bans ads for bitcoin, other cryptocurrencies (CNet)

#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)