Social media companies regularly roll out new features and updates, resulting in an ever-changing landscape. As a marketer, it's crucial to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and changes to stay ahead of the competition and engage with your audience effectively.
The task can be daunting, but by staying on top of social media trends, you can leverage new tools and strategies to reach your target audience and build your brand online.
Let's check out the latest feature updates on two of the most popular social media platforms, TikTok and Instagram, and what it means for marketers and influencers so far in 2023.
Diving Into Instagram’s Latest Updates
1. Adding multiple links to your profile
The ability to add up to five clickable links in a user's bio section has changed the game for businesses and influencers alike. This update allows brands to promote multiple links while keeping their bio organised and uncluttered. Influencers working with several brands can now easily promote each of their sponsored products. This feature allows for more creativity and engagement in bios, letting brands showcase their personality. That's right–it could potentially mean no more Linktree for marketers!
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2. Editing Reels all in one place
Get ready to take your Instagram game to the next level with the latest feature that allows you to edit video clips, audio, stickers, and text all in one place. No more hassle of switching between different apps or tools to perfect your Reels, as this update has made it a breeze to create eye-catching and engaging content that your followers will love. And with the lowered barrier to entry, more people are hopping on the reels bandwagon, which means more opportunities for you to grow your following and increase your reach. It’s a golden opportunity for brands to leverage Reels and create fun, creative, and engaging content that connects with existing and potential followers.
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3. Save and collaborate with others for inspiration and references
Ever wonder how you can save a post and share it with your friends on Instagram? It's available already! This means you can now organise and share your favourite posts, all in one place. This feature is a game-changer for businesses and influencers alike, as it enables teams to collaborate and share ideas for campaigns, strategies, and product development. With collab collections, you can curate and share posts from other creators for references that align with your brand or aesthetic and keep your saved posts folder tidy and easy to navigate.
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Catching Up on TikTok’s Latest Features
1. Personalised Effects for brands and creators
Since its inception last year, the Effects feature in TikTok has garnered lots of attention for creators, marketers and brands–and for good reasons. With various advanced effects available, creators can now make their videos A LOT more engaging and fun. Need an idea or inspiration on how Effects can help? Read more here. But the real excitement lies in the fact that brands can now create personalised branded effects on TikTok. And Pepsi has already set the bar high with effects of its own. Branded effects are not only a great way to promote products or services but also an excellent tool to establish a strong visual identity on the app.
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Pros?
- It would be very appealing to Gen Z, especially those with a creative side looking into making an impact in their content.
- Brands looking into enhancing their branding would potentially benefit from this feature too since a well-rounded TikTok campaign should include personalised and branded sound Effects with ad boosting.
Hurdles?
- Making your own Effect could cost a lot to run such a campaign and might only be affordable for big brands.
- Only certain TikTok influencers have the experience and skills to incorporate Effects tastefully into their content, which means that brands would have to carefully pick the right ones to maximise the potential of these Effects.
2. Revamp your brand's sound with TikTok Sounds for Business
TikTok's latest feature, Sounds for Business, has been causing a stir on the platform in just two months since its launch. Brands now have access to ten custom sounds, usable in organic and paid content to showcase products, reach new audiences, and engage with communities. Since their debut, Sounds for Business has secured a spot in the top 1% of sounds in terms of creates, views, likes, and shares on the Commercial Music Library, indicating how popular and effective this feature has become.
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What's remarkable about Sounds for Business is that these sounds are pre-approved for commercial use on TikTok. As a result, businesses don't have to worry about navigating the lengthy and often convoluted licensing process. This feature provides a straightforward, budget-friendly way for businesses of all sizes to produce exciting content that stands out!
Whether you're a small start-up or a large corporation, Sounds for Business is an ideal and economical tool to help you connect with your target audience and expand your reach on TikTok. TikTok is continuously enhancing its capabilities and suite of services to cater to marketers and advertisers from all sectors.
In today's fast-paced digital world, staying on these latest features and updates is essential for businesses and creators looking to succeed online. As we look ahead to 2023, TikTok and Instagram are at the forefront with exciting new features and formats on the horizon.
So why not take advantage of these features and incorporate them into your social media strategy?