Whether you’re looking to update your social media strategy, or you just want to sound ‘down with the kids’ at your next client meeting, here are the latest developments you need to know in the world of social media.
1. Instagram has launched a “Join Chat” feature in Stories
Instagram’s new feature will allow users to invite viewers of their Instagram Story into a chat. It’s a little bit like a chat room from the 1990’s, but better. And on your mobile. And without having to listen to a dial-up tone first.
To get your followers into your ‘chat room’, add the ‘Join Chat’ sticker to a Story, which will connect viewers (who click on the sticker) to a private discussion, hosted in your Instagram messages.
For businesses, Instagram Chat provides a great way of building strong relationships with your customers, whilst cultivating a community with your followers, where you can share exclusive content, and answer questions about your products and services in a way that feels much more personal than via a post or comments interaction.
2. The best eCommerce marketing right now is on Instagram
Instagram is always looking for new ways to maximise its revenue opportunities for eCommerce business use. Business profiles, Shopping Tags and purchasing products without leaving the Instagram app are all great movements towards this.
The most popular and effective way of using Instagram for your business is through Instagram Stories. With over 500 million active users a day, Instagram Stories should be your go-to strategy.
And this format is getting customers talking. 62% of businesses say a Story prompted a direct message from a customer, building on their brand’s relationships with its customers, while 72% of businesses have received a new customer through their businesses Instagram account.
3. Podcasts are a big thing in media
1.6 million Australians now download audio or video podcasts in an average four weeks and 69% of people agreed that a podcast made them aware of new products or services.
Podcasts are the most underused, yet powerful media channels in marketing and with increased spending on Podcasts on the rise, it might be useful to act now before this space gets too saturated.
4. Live Streaming can help your business
Live streaming has big potential for businesses, helping customers and followers feel closer to a brand and boosting engagement, as followers want to watch in realtime. Livestreams draw 6x more engagement that on-demand videos.
Live streaming is currently available on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and LinkedIn. Facebook is currently the most used platform for Live Streaming. With 2.3 billion monthly active users, your live content is more likely to be shared on Facebook.
Try live streaming to showcase products, give demos, exclusive interviews, workplace tours and Q&A’s, all whilst being able to interact directly with potential customers.
5. Marketing strategy for LinkedIn
Unlike Instagram and Facebook where video content is thriving, video content seems to be lacking on LinkedIn, but those that have good video content definitely have engagement to show it is useful to have on this platform.
Secondly, posting employee profiles to market the company itself, showing off the talent working for the company and including quotes and a candid photo of the employee makes the reader feel included and wanting to know more about the employee and the company they work for.
Similarly, when a big company like Amazon spotlights an employee on LinkedIn to showcase the company on a personal level despite the size of the company, this helps to offer similar authenticity to when Instagram influencers provide for smaller brands.
Stephanie Fisher, Managing Director, Naked Media
