This Week on Social - Slide into Stories, Retro is Making a Comeback, Make Better TikTok Ads

Each week, the marketing team at The Goat Agency pull together the latest news from the social space in a weekly social media news round-up. ??????

This week we look at the next generation of sliding into DM's - sliding into Stories, Snap has some old-school app updates for its users, TikTok wants to help you make the most out of your TikTok ads, and so much more...

Don't Miss This Week's Headlines!

(1/5) Slide into my IG Stories ??

Instagram’s giving us yet another reason to slide into Stories - this time with public comments that everyone can see!?

Instagram is testing a new feature where users can leave comments on Stories that are visible to everyone who views them. This adds a fresh layer of interaction, turning Stories into mini discussion hubs.

With users shifting more of their interactions to DMs and Stories, Instagram’s been looking for ways to bring those conversations back into the public eye. Comments on Stories are just the latest move to keep the engagement flowing in-app.

Teen users, who are super active on Instagram, are driving the success of new features like Notes. Instagram’s banking on Story comments to keep this younger crowd even more engaged and interacting publicly.

For those of you who aren't keen on the update, don't worry, there’s an option to turn off Story comments.

(2/5) Stop Trying to make Retro Happen ??

Snapchat is bringing back some retro updates to the platform...

Remember those comic-strip avatars that took over Facebook in 2013? They’re making a comeback on Snapchat with a new twist. Users can now enjoy Bitmoji Stories featuring their 3D avatars, bringing a fresh, personalized touch to the nostalgia.

Snapchat’s jumping on the music bandwagon, adding lyric stickers to Snaps. This move might just be a strategic play to capture music lovers if TikTok faces restrictions in the U.S.

Snapchat+ subscribers can now set custom ringtones for their friends. Yes, you heard that right—ringtones are back! This feature is a fun nod to the early 2000s when ringtones were all the rage.

(3/5) 'Irrational Love' with Heinz ??

Heinz is back and double dipping into their sauciest campaign yet—“Irrational Love” is here to steal your heart (and maybe your ketchup).

Heinz is extending its “Irrational Love” campaign, their first-ever global masterbrand platform. This campaign leans into wild, fan-driven stories, turning consumer love for Heinz into creative ads. Think fancy restaurants and ketchup heists—yes, it’s that extra.

This campaign isn’t just for laughs; it’s driving serious results. Since launching, Heinz has seen a 12% rise in global net sales and a 22% increase in away-from-home sales. The creative storytelling is clearly paying off.

Heinz isn’t stopping at just a few ads. They’re pushing this campaign across major platforms—TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat, you name it—with paid media to reach even more fans. They’re also adding a content series profiling their own employees, adding a personal touch to the brand narrative.

Originally launched in four markets, Heinz is expanding “Irrational Love” to 24 more by the end of the year. The campaign’s success is set to fuel further growth, solidifying Heinz’s position as the king of condiments.

(4/5) Make Your TikTok Ads Work Harder ??

TikTok’s latest infographic dives deep into measuring?actual?sales outcomes from your ads—not just those vanity metrics like likes and comments. We're talking ROI you can take to the bank.

The platform’s new tools offer more precise ways to connect your ad spend to real-world results. Think offline conversions, in-app purchases, and more, giving you a clearer picture of your campaign’s impact.

With the holiday season right around the corner, now’s the time to tighten up your tracking game. TikTok’s tools can help you maximize your ad spend when it matters most.

(5/5) Influencer vs Brand-led Paid Media: Which is More Effective? ??

Paid advertising is one of the most powerful marketing tools ever.

At its core, this marketing channel enables businesses to display their ads to specific audiences. These lucrative spots are won by bidding on real-time auctions across different networks and platforms – wherever they want their ads to appear.?

Today’s argument is the effectiveness of ads powered by influencers versus the effectiveness of ads run with brand-owned assets.

Stick with us as we outline the basis for which strategy works best for your brand and how you can use the two together to drive the best results.?

Read our blog: Influencer vs Brand-led Paid Media: Which is More Effective?

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And that’s all for this week, but don’t forget to follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram for real-time announcements of all our new blog content !