August 1st Edition

? Platform Updates:

• Instagram Announces All Feed Videos Under 15 Minutes Will Now Be Reels - Link
• ICYMI: Adam Mosseri, Head of Instagram, recently revealed that all video posts would become Instagram Reels.
• Twitter is testing a Status feature – Link
• Some users are reporting that they can now post Twitter statuses, which lets them tag posts like they’re retro MySpace moods. Some of these statuses include “Spoiler alert,” “Shower thoughts,” “Picture of the day” and, for some reason, the very redundant “Current status.”
• Meta Plans to Double the Amount of AI-Recommended Content in User Feeds - Link
• The goal of pushing recommendations is to grow the Reels functionality, which is the company’s fastest-growing element based on user engagement.
• Instagram’s Chief Explains the Latest Changes in the App Following User Backlash - Link
• After the Kardashians shared their support for a campaign which calls for Instagram to ‘stop trying to be TikTok’, in response to its latest algorithm and feed changes, today, Instagram chief Adam Mosseri has posted a reply, in which he explains several aspects of concern among the IG community.
• TikTok Shares New Insights into Key Engagement and Retention Behaviors in the App [Infographics] - Link
• …the rapid speed of TikTok’s short clips, along with its finely tuned algorithm, has changed user attention spans, which means that if you’re not aligning with this shift, you’ll eventually lose out.
• Meta Launches New Video Series to Explore the Coming Opportunities of the Metaverse - Link
• Meta’s looking to provide more perspective on the coming metaverse shift via a new video series, hosted by Keke Palmer, in which Palmer explores Meta’s evolving VR worlds and opportunities.
• Twitter Shares New Insights into the Rise of Health and Wellness Discussion via Tweet [Infographic] - Link
• Wellness-related topics have seen big increases in engagement of late, according to the latest trend report from the app.
• TikTok Publishes New Guide on the Effective Use of Audio for Marketing Campaigns - Link
• Most video platforms have advised that you should create videos for ‘sound off environments’, in order to maximize viewership potential, but TikTok actually advises the opposite.
• Facebook owner Meta reports first ever revenue drop - Link
• Meta Platforms Inc META.O issued a gloomy forecast after recording its first ever quarterly decline in revenue, with recession fears and competitive pressures weighing on its digital ads sales.
• TikTok and the Fall of the Social-Media Giants - Link
• Facebook is trying to copy TikTok, but this strategy may well signal the end of these legacy platforms.
• YouTube creators can now quickly make Shorts from their long-form videos - Link
• Old-school YouTube creators now have an easy way into TikTok-like Shorts.

-------------------- Industry Highlights:

• Nike awards $1 billion media account to PMG and Initiative - Link
• PMG will handle North American media duties as well as global digital capabilities, while Initiative will handle integrated media globally.
• BeReal and brands—how marketers are using the anti-Instagram - Link
• Chipotle, PacSun and Trident Gum are among the brands experimenting with the latest internet craze.
• 20 Key Insights from TopRank’s 2022 B2B Influencer Marketing Report [Infographic] - Link
• Insightful TopRank B2B Influencer Marketing infographic & you can also check out TopRank’s full 2022 B2B Influencer Marketing Report here.
• Best Marketing Campaigns of the Week - AdForum - Link
• Recent Ad Campaign highlights from around the world.
• KFC Spain taps into niche TikTok trend with oddball 3D animation - Link
• Comments are full of praise for this advertising approach.
• The Story of ‘Liquid Death” - Liquid Death: Water That Punches Above Its Weight | Ramen Profitable - Link
• Liquid Death’s magic isn’t just about good marketing; it’s also about doing good. Recyclable cans are infinitely better for the environment than plastic bottles, and 10% of the company’s profits go towards cleaning up oceans. Watch to learn more about how Cessario got his sustainable product in stores on #RamenProfitable.

-------------------- Social Trends:

• The Global State of Digital Trends 2022 (July Update) | Hootsuite - Link
• Updated Digital 2022 Report from Hootsuite and We Are Social.
• The brands who could be taking the biggest risks over their abortion stances - Link
• Recent data from a YouGov/CBS poll reveals that US consumers tend to side with brands that think women should have access to abortion. A majority of US adults (59%) disapprove of the Supreme court overturning Roe v. Wade, rising to 67% among women (vs. 51% of men).
• Italian Sandwich Maker Goes Viral on TikTok - Sparking Debate & Parodies - Link
• Recipe-Reviewer with Attitude ‘ChefReactions’ Is All Over Our ForYou Page - Link
• In Wake of “Choco-Taco” Discontinuation, People are Getting Creative to Preserve It - Link, Link
• The Evolution of Instagram by Matt Buechele - Link
• Verified creator breaks down the many changes Instagram has experienced over the years in a humorous way - highlighting the shortcomings of its current formula.
• Shows current trend of Creator & consumer distaste of Instagram’s current formats.

-------------------- Content Creator Updates:

• Instagram Reels Best Practices Leak - Link
• Creator leakes & reacts to the “Best Practices” sheet sent to creators as Instagram transitions all video to Reels.
• Meta Publishes New Guide on How to Get Started with Reels, and How to Improve Reels Performance - Link
• Instagram has published a new, 12-page explainer guide on ‘How to Create a Reel’, which covers all the basics, and provides some handy pointers to help creators & brands get started.
• Meta Launches Music Revenue Sharing Program, Enabling Creators to Add Licensed Music to their Content - Link
• Meta’s looking to help creators use a wider variety of music in their video clips, while also offering another revenue stream for musicians, via a new Music Revenue Sharing program

-------------------- Other Engaging Posts of the Week:

• Brand Mash-Up Art by Tsuneo Sanda, 1985 - Link
• ‘Great Fizz’ Concept Art Board & Organization Reel - Link
• Entertaining Soprano-Referencing HBO Ad feat. James Gandolfini [2013] - Link
• Influencer Brock Johnson gives simple breakdown of ‘Best Kind of Content for Engagement’ per content-type - Link