Twitter updates character limit, Facebook offers continuous live streaming, and more exciting news!

Social Media News for the Week of June 2

Facebook Live Continuous Streaming

Facebook Live recently rolled out continuous live video support, allowing users to post non-stop, long-form broadcasts.  The only drawback for creators is the fact they won’t be able to permanently save and share videos.  With this latest enhancement, video creators can post persistent live streams, such as nature feeds, popular landmark and location feeds, or any other creative long-term feeds.  Previous live streams could only last up to 90 minutes, but Facebook’s latest update gives users a variety of options when it comes to sharing longer events.  For dealerships, this update offers several ways to creatively reach shoppers and connect with their affinity for live video.  Consider continuous live feeds of events or even in-shop views of your top techs as they work.  By reaching consumers via video, you’ll show you’re up-to-the-minute with tech, as well as willing to connect in ways that interest them.

Snapchat Non-Emoji Stickers

If you’ve played around on Snapchat lately, you may have noticed the new non-emoji stickers that are now available for users to add to photos and videos.  Now, snaps can be customized even further with these stickers by clicking on the square button at the top of the screen.  While the newest stickers occupy the entire first screen, standard emojis are still available by swiping the screen sideways.  For dealerships looking for new and fun ways to connect with consumers, don’t discount Snapchat.  With over 100 million daily active users, there are plenty of people to connect with.  Consider creating a daily story or sending exclusive event invites via Snapchat to reach your loyal followers.  You’ll build a rapport with social-savvy consumers, and you’ll gain fans over time.

Changes to Twitter’s 140-Character Limit

It’s finally happening!  Twitter is making updates to its 140-character limit and allowing users to make the most of the characters they use.  Twitter is promising to simplify Tweets in the coming months so that users can say even more in the space they’re given.  @names in replies and media attachments, like photos and GIFs, will no longer be counted as valuable character space—freeing up more space for characters.  Additionally, Twitter will be enabling a Retweet button so users can Retweet and Quote their own Tweets when they want to share new insights or when they feel great Tweets have gone unnoticed.  Twitter is also simplifying the .@ convention, which is currently used to widely broadcast Tweets; now, Tweets that begin with a username will be widely broadcast without having to use the symbol.  Dealerships, stick close to Twitter as you work on expanding your social presence.  It’s a great platform for sharing and keeping up with what consumers are saying about your brand.  And remember to interact regularly; 77% of Twitter users feel more positive about brands that reply to their Tweets!

Facebook Engagement Graphs

Facebook recently introduced engagement graphs for Facebook Live, showing users where the most engaging points in videos occur.  With more and more viewers watching live video after the fact, users find it helpful to be able to skip to parts of videos that are the most action-packed, engaging, or entertaining.  With engagement graphs in play, viewers can see exactly which parts of videos have garnered the most engagement—and they can skip to those parts.  An experiment in content consumption, this tool offers the potential to change both the way video is filmed and viewed.  By taking viewer reactions into consideration, users can create content that’s targeted to specifically please their audiences.  Dealerships, don’t let live streaming pass you by.  Remember, it doesn’t have to be cine-magic quality when you’re posting to your social platforms; instead, opt for in-the-moment, authentic takes of dealership events or behind-the-scenes sneak peeks.  You’ll create a strong connection with today’s consumers by embracing the growing video trend.

Periscope Permanent Save

Periscope promised users the ability to save broadcasts beyond the 24-hour mark—and it has delivered on that promise.  Now, broadcasts willpermanently save by default, a feature users have been waiting for in order to have more control over their broadcasts.  Users are still able to delete broadcasts whenever they wish—at any time, or even during broadcasts.  And those who want to revert to the 24-hour deletion setting can reconfigure their settings to accommodate for that as well.  Dealerships, check into Periscope if you’re looking for a quick way to broadcast to your followers in real time.  Not only will you be interacting via the most popular live-streaming app, but you’ll be building personal relationships and creating connections with your brand by participating in the live-streaming craze your consumers love.

Tip of the Week – Offer Captivating Content

If your dealership is working to build its social presence, you know it’s important to offer great content to engage your followers.  But how do you successfully come up with great content that pulls in your audience, helps to grow your online platform, and brings people into your dealership?

Below are 5 easy things you can do to ensure you offer content that keeps consumers coming back to you:

1. Know your audience. It’s important to deliver what your audience expects; so don’t talk about grocery shopping when your audience expects you to share automotive knowledge.  You’re an expert in your industry, and your online followers will look to you for valuable insights.  When you share your knowledge and experience, you’ll build a solid reputation for your dealership.

1. Selling isn’t content. Steer clear of selling when you’re interacting and building your social media platform.  Your followers appreciate the latest updates, insights, and news—and the more you focus on sharing valuable information consumers find helpful and engaging, the more long-term relationships you’ll build.

1. Borrow great content. You don’t have to lock yourself away in a room and write essays every day; instead, look to those you trust to offer great industry insights—and then share what they share.  Be sure to properly attribute their work and link to articles you find interesting.  You’ll be seen as a reliable source who is able to recognize industry thought leaders, and you’ll build trust by sharing a variety of content.

1. Create value. When you offer something of value for shoppers, they will continue to return to you.  This is true on your showroom floor, and it’s true with the content you offer.  Consider offering valuable vehicle tips, practical buying or financing tips, or maintenance schedules and reminders—and regularly mix them in with other engaging content.

1. Make it interactive. Today’s consumers are interactive, they’re in a hurry, and they are hungry for information.  Altogether, these things bring us to the conclusion that interactive content is desirable content.  Consider changing things up and offering infographics, Q&As, short videos, interviews with industry experts, charts and graphs, and other visual, interactive content.  When you take the time to make your content appealing and user-friendly, you’ll likely get a much better reaction—and improved interaction—from your audience.

All in all, creating content for your online platforms doesn’t have to be rocket science.  You can easily share compelling content that keeps your consumers interested in what you have to say—and you don’t have to spend days locked away in a room in order to create it.  Simply keep your audience in mind, change things up on the regular, and keep your topics relevant and interesting.  Simplify every time you get the chance!  It will make your life easier, and your readers will appreciate you for it.