Social Media Trends and New Features Monthly Report | August 2024
Empowered Digital Marketing
Our mission is to inspire creativity, community, and value creation through digital marketing.
?Welcome To The August Social Media Trends Report
Want to stay on top of the latest trends? Welcome to the Monthly Empowered Social Media Trends Report! We’ll help you choose the trends that matter most to your business. We analyze social media data all month and deliver a report at the end of the month so you can get ahead.
But first...
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Now on to the monthly trends…
Text-In-Photo Update
Instagram has introduced a new feature that lets users add text to photos right from the post editor. This move eliminates the need to use third-party apps, and enhances the SEO potential of each post. With Instagram's ability to read text within photos, users can improve their content discoverability. Additionally, the update allows the layering of photos as stickers on another image, offering the ability to reshape these as desired. Source: The Verge
Song-on-Profile Feature
Echoing early Myspace vibes, Instagram has rolled out a new feature allowing users to add a song to their profile. Positioned in the bio area, the selected song can be played or paused by profile viewers, adding a personalized audio element to user profiles. This Myspace-like addition does not autoplay, differentiating it from its inspirational predecessor. Users can select a 30-second clip from any track in Instagram's licensed music library. Source: The Verge
New Channel Tagging Feature
Instagram has introduced a new feature enabling users to tag Channels during the post upload process. This addition facilitates direct content sharing into channel feeds, simplifying the process of updating broadcast chats and potentially maximizing engagement. Launched in February last year, Instagram's Channels provide a one-to-many broadcasting option for creators to connect with fans via IG DMs. With steady growth in user adoption, the new Channel tagging feature could be a useful tool for creators to streamline content sharing and increase their reach. Source: Social Media Today
New Friend Map Feature Being Tested
Instagram is live testing its "Friend Map" feature, allowing friends to view each other's location and journey through tagged posts and Stories. Also, users can add Notes to any location, offering insights based on their experiences. Considering privacy concerns, Instagram ensures that the Friend Map will only be shared with those on a user’s “Close Friends” list or mutual follows. The feature aims to enhance the app’s social aspect, facilitate real-life meet-ups, and cater to younger users, despite inherent privacy risks. Source: Social Media Today
Shifting Focus to Views
Instagram is changing its analytics, now prioritizing "views" over traditional followers and likes as the primary metric across all content formats. Instagram Chief, Adam Mosseri, has been encouraging creators to focus more on reach, as this ultimately reflects what creators want. The reformation includes labeling 'Reels plays' to "Views", making "Views" the main metric for photos, carousels, and stories, and replacing various other metrics in Insights with a "Views" icon. This change reflects evolving user behavior, as more than 50% of posts viewed in the Instagram feed are algorithmically recommended, and not from profiles that users follow. Source: Social Media Today
Instagram Carousel Update
Instagram users can now include up to 20 photos or videos in a single carousel post, a significant increase from the previous limit of 10. Since its rollout in 2017, the carousel function has gradually incorporated additional features such as song pairing and collaborative posts. The latest change aligns Instagram more closely with TikTok, which allows posts of up to 35 photos, and potentially paves the way for users to tell longer stories through the carousel format. This boost in frame capacity, along with variable presentation formats for images, provides users with a richer medium for sharing their content. Sources: Social Media Today / The Verge
Profile Grid Revamp
Instagram is testing a new vertical grid display on user profiles, replacing the traditional square-shaped post thumbnails with longer stills. This new format, already visible on some profiles, is more video-friendly and aligns particularly well with the formatting of Reels. Instagram Chief Adam Mosseri explained that most of the content uploaded today is vertical, making the shift to a vertical grid a logical next step. While this update could significantly impact profile presentation strategies, it also reflects a broader move by Instagram to align its platform with the growing trend of video content. Source: Social Media Today
A Reminder to Back Up Content
Instagram users recently received notifications indicating that due to a technical issue, certain Stories had been permanently deleted from the app's archives and couldn't be restored. Although Meta, Instagram's parent company, has rectified the issue, the number of affected users hasn't been disclosed. Instagram Stories, often personalized with music, gifs, filters, and interactive features, serve as a casual and less permanent form of posting. This incident underscores the importance of backing up photos, videos, and other media outside of apps to safeguard important memories. Source: CNN
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No More Detailing Targeting Exclusions
Meta has made a significant change to its ad campaign structure by eliminating detailed targeting exclusions. Their research shows that ad campaigns perform better without these exclusions, improving median cost per conversion by 22.6% when removed. Despite misunderstandings and a premature announcement, it has been confirmed that these exclusions are no longer available for new campaigns. Existing campaigns using these exclusions will remain unaffected until January 31, 2025. Meta reassures advertisers that other exclusion options will still be available, including custom audience exclusions and audience controls in account-level advertising settings. Source: Social Media Today
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? Threads
Rapid User Growth
Threads has reached a significant milestone of 200 million monthly active users just over a year since its launch. Recently, the app has experienced considerable growth momentum, adding 25 million active users in the last month alone, almost tripling its prior growth rate. Major events, such as the U.S. election and the Olympics, have potentially contributed to an increase in real-time discussion on Threads. Despite being at around 40% of the competitor, X's audience, the users' growing interest and active participation on Threads indicate the platform's potential to capture a significant portion of online attention in the future. Source: Social Media Today
Advanced Threads Features
Threads is introducing new web features, designed to help creators and businesses understand their content performance and simplify planning. These features include Insights, offering an array of metrics on content performance and follower demographics, and the ability to save and manage multiple drafts of Threads posts, allowing for better content planning. Additionally, Threads will test a scheduling feature, enabling users to time their posts strategically. Initially, these features will be available on the web, with possible mobile versions to be explored later. Source: Meta
Custom Feeds and Media Tab
Threads has introduced two new features, a custom feed option and a "Media" tab on user profiles, aimed at aligning its functionality with that of other social media platforms. The "Media" tab allows users to easily access all image and video content shared by a specific profile. The custom feed feature prompts users to create personalized feeds based on their interests, by choosing keywords or profiles. Despite Instagram Chief, Adam Mosseri’s belief that these features won't significantly boost engagement, they potentially offer users a more tailored and interactive experience, thereby contributing to Threads' user growth and engagement objectives. Source: Social Media Today
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LinkedIn Boosts Video Content with In-Feed Carousels
LinkedIn is enhancing its emphasis on video content by introducing in-feed carousels of video clips. These carousels provide a side-scrolling display of videos, algorithmically matched to each user based on their in-app activity and profile details. On selecting a clip, users are taken to LinkedIn’s full-screen video feed in vertical format. With video being the fastest-growing content type on LinkedIn, this update aims to promote its burgeoning library of user-generated video content, especially among younger audiences. Source: Social Media Today
Sponsored Newsletters
LinkedIn, noticing the growing popularity of newsletters on its platform, is introducing sponsored newsletters to extend the reach of long-form content. Brands can now sponsor any user-generated newsletter, upon approval, or any newsletter published on their Company Page as a single image ad through LinkedIn's Campaign Manager. This new feature allows brands to promote their newsletters to a wider audience via paid boosts, hence connecting with a larger audience who find value in such content. The move is part of LinkedIn's ongoing efforts to provide more promotional options for brands by harnessing the rising engagement with newsletters on its platform. Source: LinkedIn
Boost Authenticity with Page Verification
LinkedIn is introducing verification badges for company pages to enhance authenticity and foster trust. The verification badge will be displayed next to the organization's name on its LinkedIn page, confirming that it's the official organization's page. The verification process considers multiple factors including accuracy of data points on the page, active page admin presence, and compliance with LinkedIn's policies. Although initially available to a limited number of companies, anyone can submit a request to join a waitlist for potential future verification, contributing to LinkedIn's commitment to meaningful and trustworthy interactions. Source: LinkedIn
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? TikTok
Holiday Marketing Guide for 2024
TikTok has released a new guide focused on holiday marketing in the EU. The guide offers a variety of tips, usage insights, and data to assist marketers in crafting their holiday outreach strategies. Covering key areas like when TikTok users are most actively seeking seasonal inspiration, what gifts they're interested in this season, and how to make the most of the post-Christmas shopping period known as "Q5", the guide provides invaluable information for marketers. As the holiday season approaches, these insights could prove essential for reaching the right consumers at the right time. Source: Social Media Today
TikTok Unveils New App Center for SMBs
TikTok has unveiled a new App Center aimed at helping small businesses boost their performance on the platform. The App Center features an assortment of TikTok-endorsed tools built by third-party developers. TikTok has described these tools as "lightweight solutions" that can assist small brands in their journey from ideation to publishing and reporting. The majority of the apps also offer free trials, enabling businesses to test them out before committing to a program. This initiative could be a significant aid for small to medium businesses looking to enhance their TikTok presence. Source: Social Media Today
Group Chats and Stickers to Boost Direct Messaging
TikTok is enhancing its direct messaging features by introducing group chats and stickers. Users can now create chat groups for up to 32 participants, and also add stickers to their messages, including video stickers made from TikTok clips. These user-created sticker sets can be shared within the app, providing a new outlet for creative expression. While this shift towards having more social interaction within the app may not be readily adopted by all users, it points to TikTok's ongoing efforts to evolve from a pure entertainment platform to a more comprehensive social tool. Source: Social Media Today TikTok Partners with Amazon for Streamlined In-App Purchases In a move to boost in-app purchases, TikTok has rolled out a new integration with Amazon. The partnership enables TikTok users to make Amazon purchases directly within the TikTok app, eliminating the need to switch to the Amazon app or website. Once users link their TikTok and Amazon accounts, they will be able to view real-time pricing, Prime eligibility, and delivery estimates within TikTok listings. TikTok's latest initiative underlines the platform's commitment to optimizing its potential as an avenue for social commerce, while also providing a more seamless and engaging shopping experience for users. Source: Social Media Today
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? X
Debunking Claims of Massive Decline in X's User Base
Despite recent speculation around a significant drop in X's usage following controversial comments by owner Elon Musk, available external data contradicts these assertions. Analysts from both Sensor Tower and SimilarWeb report usual fluctuations in engagement but no significant decline. Also, a recent interview on X Spaces by Musk with Donald Trump has reportedly brought record active user seconds. While X's active user count remains around 250 million since November 2022, signs suggest existing users are spending more time on the platform. It's worth noting, however, that the platform's relevance can be threatened by migrations of active users or creators, given that only 20% of X's users ever post or engage with posts. Source: Social Media Today
Long-Form Post Creation via Third-Party Apps
X has updated its API to allow third-party apps to support post creation of up to 4,000 characters, expanding the publishing possibilities for users. Introduced in line with the expanded posting limits announced in early 2021, the new feature enables X Premium subscribers to add much more content than the original 280 character limit. This move forms part of X's "everything app" vision, which aims to increase in-stream functionalities. The capability to make payments and build additional financial tools is also in the pipeline. Despite these changes, long-form X Articles, which allow up to 100,000 characters, remain unavailable for creation via third-party apps for the time being. Source: Social Media Today
New Reply Sorting Options for Posts
X has officially rolled out new reply sorting options after several months of testing, providing users with a more tailored engagement experience. Users can now sort post replies by "Trending," "Most Recent," or "Most Liked," allowing them to customize their experience and focus on the most engaging discussions. This development is particularly significant for creators participating in X's Creator Ad Revenue Share program. The introduction of reply sorting equips them with a better understanding of which posts provoke responses and how they can strategize accordingly. Source: Social Media Today
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? YouTube
Expanded Shopify Collaboration In a bid to compete with TikTok Shop, YouTube has broadened its partnership with Shopify to include more brands in its YouTube Shopping affiliate program. This expansion enables creators to tag thousands of new brands in their shopping videos, a significant leap from the current few hundred. The program, open to all eligible Shopify Plus and Advanced merchants in the U.S., offers creators a revenue-earning avenue and provides brands with a new customer outreach platform. To further simplify the process, YouTube is also launching a Chrome extension that allows creators to save products for future tagging in videos. Last year, YouTube reported over 30 billion hours of shopping-related video views, indicating a 25% increase in watch time for shopping-assisting content. Source: TechCrunch
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Thanks for reading our August trends report!
-The Empowered Team
Social Media Manager at kamja choob | ?? ???????
2 个月Thank you for your sharing??
Managing Director (Information Technology Consultant) & at TIM Technology Services Ltd and an Author.
2 个月Thank you for the update.
Freelance Graphic Designer | Adobe Certified Associate in Graphic Design
2 个月Thanks for sharing