Category: Social Media News

End-of-the-Month Social Media News Recap

Posted on by marley

Hey there creator community~

For those of you who missed our weekly “Social Media News” updates, we are excited to announce that we will be continuing them at the end of each month!

Youtube Shorts Increases Music Library

Earlier this month, YouTube released a new selection of music and audio options for YouTube Shorts! Users can now click on the “Remix” button on any music clip, which will take them to the Shorts Creative Suite where the four different Shorts Remix options wil be available. These new options are making Shorts an increasingly viable competitor against TikTok, especially with TikTok losing access to audio giles from Universal Music just this month as well. 

Threads Experiments with New Features In-Stream

As Threads continues to compete with other social media platforms, mainly X—formerly known as Twitter, the new Meta platform has began testing new features including

  • Post drafts where users can save content they are not ready to post
  • In-app camera option

Both of these features are common amongst other platforms and will likely impact the way creators share and schedule content on Threads, potentially making it a more popular option.

If you would like to be among the first in the know, follow our Instagram @peoplefirstcreatorcommunity for weekly social media updates every Friday~

Social Media News: TikTok Tips for Halloween Content

Posted on by marley

This spooky season TikTok created new and engaging in-app Halloween features for content creators to utilize, including a variety of new AR effects and spookily visual tools. These make-up-inspired effects range from Halloween-inspired looks to looks inspired by Halloween and horror movies. 

Additionally, on October 12th, TikTok announced a “Spooky Halloween” challenge! Users who utilize the in-app Effects to create the most creative and original spooky effects will be eligible to win up to $2,500. 

TikTok has also planned several hashtags for creators from different communities and niches to utilize when posting Halloween content this year:

• #Halloween

• #TikTokHalloween

• #HalloweenMakeup

• #HalloweenCostume

• #PumpkinSeason

• #SpookyTreats

• #HalloweenDecor

• #BooBasket

• #HorrorBookTok

• #spookybooks

Using these hashtags and AR effects are just two ways to boost engagement for our TikTok creator this Halloween! So if you are looking to step up your TikTok game this spooky season, be sure to utilize TikTok’s tips for Halloween content~

Social Media News: Instagram Introduces New Share Option

Posted on by marley

Attention Instagram Users – we have an exciting new Instagram feature for you to try out:

In the beginning of October, Instagram rolled out a new way to share Stories: sharing a Story with multiple group lists at once. In addition to the “Close Friends” list, users will be able to create other group lists and share content with all selected groups. 

This new feature will allow users to add up to 250 users to a group, forming new audiences and different communities. 

There has been a general trend across social media platforms towards less public content and more content discovery/discourse within online communities. As such,  Instagram is continuing to find new ways to make the user’s experience more personal, such as this shared Story option that gives users more agency with whom they are sharing content, allowing for more engagement across users. 

For more social media news, be sure to check out our Instagram @peoplefirstcreatorcommunity or stay tuned for the next blog next Friday!

Social Media News: Facebook Introduces Multiple Users Profiles

Posted on by marley

Attention Facebook users…

Earlier this month, Meta launched a new Facebook feature that allows users to create multiple profiles on one account. Not only will this feature allow users to explore different communities in an easier and more efficient way, it also allows them to share authentic content with a dedicated audience.

Creators will be able to create up to four additional personal profiles on the platform, each with a unique username, friends lists, and feed, which will allow for privacy and separation between each profile. 

For a long time now, Facebook has been searching for ways to motivate users to create their own content in the communities that matter to them. This feature, which took over a year to make, is expected to make creators feel more comfortable posting content for a specific network of users.

So if you have wanted to post for paid partnership opportunities in the past but, for some reason, felt uncomfortable doing so on your personal Facebook, be sure to make the most of the multiple profiles feature!

Social Media News: YouTube Introduces Playables

Posted on by marley

Last week, YouTube began testing Playables for a selection of users.

Playables will allow users to play games in-app from a “Playables” section. According to YouTube, “Playables are played directly on YouTube on both desktop and mobile devices. If you’re part of this experiment, you’ll see a section on YouTube called “Playables” that will appear alongside other content on the home feed. We’re testing this with a limited number of users to start.”

Additionally, users will be allowed to save their Playables game history. 

Social Media News: X Brings New DM Reply Feature and More

Posted on by marley

Attention X Users! 

Many changes are coming to the platform! In fact, a new feature was released yesterday, August 31, where users are now able to swipe right on any direct message in chat to send a direct reply. Although users can still reply in chat, this feature will allow creators to reply to messages faster and more efficiently. 

Some other features that should be released on Androids, IOS, and even the web in the near future include video and audio calls on the platform.

These features will likely amount to more users using the DM feature as it will be a great way to find partnerships and collaboration opportunities along with engaging with members of your audience.

Be sure to follow our blog to keep up to date with all of X’s latest features!

Social Media News: YouTube’s Advice for Shorts

Posted on by marley

Attention YouTube Users! If you’re looking to build content and reach a wider audience base on the platform, be sure to make the most of YouTube Shorts.

The release of YouTube Shorts back in September 2020 revolutionized content on YouTube. With over 50 billion daily views in-app, the short-form clips continue to rise in popularity, making it a great platform for creators to build content.

To successfully build content and reach a wider audience case using YouTube Shorts, it’s important to understand its algorithm. Because the Shorts algorithm is different from the regular YouTube algorithm, YouTube encourages creators to think about the audience within the creative process. In other words, creators should focus on engagement elements as Shorts have a broader reach. 

Additionally, YouTube explains that the use of hashtags can increase engagement on the Shorts platform by increasing reach due to user searches. Interestingly, the method of deleting and re-uploading videos to gain more engagement is discouraged as the algorithm may flag the post as spam. 

YouTube Shorts are definitely here to stay as the feature will soon be integrating AI elements as well, so be sure to familiarize yourself with the Shorts algorithm and not just the regular YouTube algorithm!

Social Media News: Instagram Tests New Collaborative Post Feature

Posted on by marley

Attention Instagram Users! This month, Instagram began testing a new collaborative post feature that will allow creators to add their images and videos to an existing post, allowing users a new way to collaborate with other creators and share their unique perspectives and content.

Once this feature is enabled, viewers can submit additions to a creator’s original post for consideration. These image and video submissions will need to be approved by the creator who owns the post.

This feature, like Instagram’s new “Add Yours” button on Stories feature, encourages collaboration between users and creates a “curated” group experience on the platform. 

We at People First are excited to see how this feature impacts brand partnerships and accounts as brands can now ask creators to add their content to the brand’s original post!

It’s important to note that this feature is currently still in testing with no official release date confirmed. 

That being said, be sure to keep up with our weekly blogs to gain the latest social media news and updates.

Social Media News: YouTube Rolls Out New Video Linking Feature for Shorts

Posted on by marley

If you are a creator that creates YouTube Shorts, keep reading…

YouTube recently announced a new feature that allows creators to hyperlink a full-length video directly into their Shorts clip! This new feature, available on YouTube Studio, will display the YouTube link of choice in the Shorts description, allowing both creators and viewers access to the full-length YouTube video.

This feature can benefit creators in numerous ways:

  • Effectively drive traffic from Shorts to YouTube videos
  • Create consistent audience engagement and growth by linking Shorts and YouTube videos

So be sure to keep an eye out for this new feature, which should be available to all creators in the coming month!

If you are interested in learning more about YouTube’s new feature, check out this article.

Social Media News: YouTube to Discontinue Stories Next Month

Posted on by marley

To our creators who use YouTube Stories, we have some unfortunate news…

Starting June 26, 2023, YouTube will no longer allow YouTube Stories. First introduced in 2018, these stories became a new, quick way for users to share updates with their audience. While this feature is essential for other social media platforms such as Snapchat and Instagram, YouTube has decided to discontinue this feature. 

The platform maintains that there are numerous ways for creators to share content and connect with audiences—Shorts, Community posts, Long-form, and Live—making Stories a less important, and less used feature.

So if you are a creator who uses YouTube to share content and connect with audiences, be sure to check out Shorts, which are the platform’s fast-growing content format, and Community Posts, which tend to generate higher engagement and interaction rates than Stories.

Social Media News: Twitter’s New CEO

Posted on by marley

It’s no secret that Twitter has undergone significant changes after Elon Musk became its’ executive chair and CTO. With many of his decisions, such as cutting over 80% of Twitter’s staff, receiving major backlash and criticism, we are curious to see how online users will respond to the new CEO, Linda Yaccarino.

As the current head of advertising at NBCUniversal, Yaccarino is expected to use her prior experiences in building out the platform’s ad business and streaming service ‘Peacock’ to carry out Musk’s vision of transforming Twitter into a viable alternative for traditional news outlets. Additionally, Yaccarino’s background and expertise will likely accelerate Musk’s goal of promoting video content and shifting away from text content on the infamous app. 

It seems that Musk has found a CEO who can transform his hopes for the platform into a reality. So what will this look like for users? 

We can expect to see a rise in video content and an emphasis on Twitter as a legitimate source for the latest news coverage. There will likely be a push towards full programs, rather than highlights, on the app as well.

With the ability to bring massive changes to the platform, both team-wise and content-wise, we at the People First Social Club are excited to see what Yaccarino has in store for Twitter. To stay up-to-date on these changes, and other social media news, be sure to follow our social media and blog!

Social Media News: Introducing Barcelona – Meta’s “Twitter”

Posted on by marley

It’s official… Meta will be releasing a Twitter-style application! 

With the rising discontent surrounding the changes to Twitter after Elon Musks’ acquisition of the platform, we are excited to see how users will react to ‘Barcelona,’ which Meta describes as a “standalone decentralized social network for sharing text updates”. 

Though Barcelona is still in the works, we can expect that the platform will give into the rising popularity of private messaging, similar to the new Channels feature on Instagram. Advertised as the “Instagram for your thoughts,” it seems as though the focus is on text, rather than images.

Additionally, Meta is streamlining the process of cross-platform social media use by allowing users to log into their Barcelona account using their Instagram credentials, something Meta users are already familiar with. 

With Meta’s ownership of both Facebook and Instagram, the creation of Barcelona could lead to major changes in the social media landscape. Be sure to follow our socials and stay up to date on our blog to learn more about Barcelona!

Social Media News: Instagram Increases Link Quantity in Bio

Posted on by marley

In mid-April of 2023, Instagram released a new feature that allows Instagram users to add up to five unique links to their in-app bio!

According to Instagram, this update is intended to “make it easier for creators and other users to highlight their passions, bring awareness to causes they care about, promote brands they love, showcase their personal business, and more”.

While the links will continue to be displayed in the same location, aka in the last line of the Instagram user’s bio, it will now also include the number of links available. When the first link is clicked, the other links, a maximum of five, will appear at the bottom of the screen. 

So what does this mean for our creators? This can be a great way for microinfluencers and content creators to promote their other social media channels or digital platforms to merge and strengthen their audience bases. Additionally, it can impact brands’/organizations’ campaigns by allowing creators to add links to petitions and other resources in their bio without limiting themselves to one link. 

If you are interested in adding new links to your Instagram profile… click ‘Edit profile’ → ‘Links’ → ‘Add external link’. 

Be sure to organize your links as you want them to appear in the app! 

Creator Tip: When to Post on Instagram…

Posted on by marley

It’s been a while since we posted tips and tricks for our creators to produce high-quality content and reach a large audience. In this week’s blog, we discuss posting times on Instagram and why they matter.

According to the online blog, “Later,” the best time to post on Instagram in 2023 is 4:00 AM when calculated local time across time zones, with the best day to post is Monday. 

This recommended posting time may vary depending on your goal as a creator.

  • If your goal as a creator is to generate higher engagement on metrics such as likes and comments, the best time to post is in the morning. 
  • However, if your focus as a creator is on videography and you utilize Reels, the best time to post is, again, at 4:00 AM and the best day to post is Monday.

The rule of thumb is to post earlier so you beat the competition and increase the likelihood of your content ending up on users’ feeds. 

Here is an in-depth list of the best times to post on Instagram during the week: 

  • Monday: 5:00 AM
  • Tuesday: 7:00 AM
  • Wednesday: 3:00 AM
  • Thursday: 3:00 AM
  • Friday: 7:00 AM
  • Saturday: 1:00 AM
  • Sunday: 1:00 AM

Feel free to download or screenshot this image to optimize your Instagram posting schedule:

For more information, check out the full article by clicking here.

Social Media News: Twitter Blue Updates

Posted on by marley

Beginning this month, Twitter will be removing legacy verified checkmarks in an effort to retire the legacy verified program. Individuals will have to sign up for Twitter Blue to keep their blue checkmark. 

The introduction of Twitter Blue leaves verified users with an important decision: lose their verified status or pay a monthly fee of $8 to keep their verified status. 

In addition to the verified blue checkmark, Twitter Blue comes with additional benefits making it a great option for users who are looking to reach a larger in-app audience. These benefits include: 

  • Participate in Twitter polls
  • Ability to edit tweets
  • Upload longer videos
  • Write longer tweets
  • Access priority display in tweet reply changes
  • Only tweets from verified accounts will appear in you ‘For You’ feed

There are currently three verification options:

  • Blue checkmark for individuals 
  • Gold checkmarks for Organizations
  • Gray checkmarks for Government Organizations

The prices for the three verification options vary. If you are interested in growing your Twitter base, be sure to check out Twitter Blue and the other verification options. 

To learn more about Twitter Blue, check out the following article: Should You Pay for a Checkmark on Twitter, for Yourself or Your Business?

Social Media News: Introducing Meta Verified

Posted on by marley

Similar to the Twitter Blue Subscription package, the Meta Verified Program, has a big concern: the ability to buy a blue tick to seem influential could potentially decrease the exclusivity of having a blue tick or “verified” status.

However, it does seem to be beneficial for Twitter as the platform generates a monthly revenue of $2.4 million from Twitter Blue subscriptions alone. As Met continues to experience staff cuts and revenue drops, the addition of a verified subscription could be a way for them to generate additional revenue.

Here’s what we know about Meta Verified so far:

  • Meta is not creating increased reach for Meta Verified profiles. This means purchasing this exclusive feature will not promote your content more than a creator without it. 
  • Creators will need to sign up separately on each platform to get a checkmark on each platform. Creators who purchase Meta Verified on both applications will be paying $23.98/month or $287.76/year. 
  • Once creators verify their identity with photo ID, they can sign uo and receive access to:
    • A verification tick on Facebook or Instagram
    • Account protection against impersonation
    • Account support from Meta’s team
    • Exclusive stickers for Facebook and Instagram Stories and Reels
    • 100 Stars a month to spend in-app a month on Facebook

Show your interest in the Meta Verified program by signing up through Instagram or Facebook. The program is available in the US.

Social Media News: TikTok Feed Refresh

Posted on by marley

Have you been refreshing your TikTok fyp waiting for something fun and fresh? Then we have some good news for you: TikTok is releasing a new “Refresh” feature.

This feature will allow users to “refresh” their TIkTok feeds, essentially resetting algorithmic recommendations and starting their account from the beginning. This feature also includes new measures to avoid repetition in-app and limit exposure to sensitive or harmful content. 

This feature has been in the works for the last couple of months and brings many benefits to both creators and users, such as allowing individuals to decide the kind of experience they want. 

So if you’ve ever fallen down a niche TikTok hole and disliked how the algorithm of your For You Page changed, this feature is for you!

Social Media News: Introducing TikTok ‘Series’

Posted on by marley

As social media platforms scramble to find new, creative ways to pay creators for their content, TikTok has introduced their new feature: ‘Series’

A new way for creators to monetize their content, TikTok Series enables creators to create collections of videos for private audiences at varying rates. According to TikTok representatives, “one Series can include up to 80 videos, each up to 20 minutes long, giving people a new, longer format to watch their favorite creators and content”. 

Similar to Youtube’s Partner Program, TikTok Series provide creators with increased flexibility with regard to the type of content they create. 

So who really benefits from the new feature? High performing creators who are given the freedom to be paid for posting exclusive content from their most dedicated followers. Additionally, iit boosts the revenue potential of TikTok as a whole. 

The TikTok Series feature is currently only available to select creators but will likely be available to all in the coming months – so stay tuned!

Social Media News: Instagram ‘Channels’ Coming Soon…

Posted on by marley

Attention Instagram Users! 

Instagram will be introducing a new feature—Channels—where users will be able to join group chats to remain updated on specific topics, niches, creators, and more. 

With the purpose of creating more private spaces for users to message, Channels can be accessed through the Instagram Direct chat list. Although users cannot add comments or new messages into the feed, they can read and react to messages that are posted in the chat. This contrasts Instagrams traditional ‘public’ posting such as in-feed or Story posts. Additionally, Channels will support images, text, polls, reactions, and even collaborations.

Channels will be a new way for creators and brands to engage with their users so if you are interested in joining, be sure to request early access to the feature!

Social Media News: Instagram Implements Gifts for Reels

Posted on by People First

Attention Instagram Users! 

On February 8th, Instagram announced that they will now allow all eligible U.S. based Reels creators to receive virtual gifts from their audience. How?

All through the click of a new button on their clips! Reels viewers will be able to purchase virtual gifts through Meta’s in-app currency—Stars—to gift creators. These virtual gifts are a way for users to express their appreciation for their favorite creators as the virtual gifts translate into more revenue for the creator, which they can access through the Professional Dashboard. 

If you are a creator who utilizes Reels, be sure to check out the virtual gifts update!

Social Media News: Twitter Removes Co-Tweet Functionality

Posted on by People First

Attention Twitter Users!

Back in July of 2022, Twitter released co-tweets which allowed up to two users to collaborate on shared messages and partner together to promote a product or brand. This feature is similar to TikTok’s popular Duets feature and Meta’s collaborative Instagram feature, where multiple creators can collaborate on the same post. 

Unfortunately, this feature is no longer available as of February 1st, 2023. Additionally, all co-tweets will be reverted to retweets at the beginning of March. This change is likely due to the fact that co-tweets were never fully integrated into the app. 

The brightside is that we can see how Twitter is constantly innovating and expanding its features to meet the needs of the Twitter community. As such, we are excited to see what Twitter has in store for the coming months!

Social Media News: 2023 Vision for Creators on Instagram

Posted on by People First

Attention Instagram Users! Have you been feeling like Instagram is turning into TikTok? If so, you’re not the only one. With Instagram’s focus on reels and videos in the past, many users have complained that Instagram does not feel like “Instagram” anymore.

This month, Adam Mosseri, Chief of Instagram, has announced that Instagram will return to their origins and re-focus on photos in 2023. Perhaps they heard and took into account what many loyal Instagram users have been saying in the past as they are now looking to balance the volume of photos and videos. 

However, it’s important to note that Instagram will be more likely to follow-through on this change if photos continue to generate usage. So if you are a creator who prefers images over videos, be sure to upload loads of photos and engage with others photos as well!

Social Media News: Instagram Introduces New “Quiet” Feature

Posted on by People First

Attention Instagram Users! Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the amount of content shown on your Instagram feed? Better yet, have you ever felt irritated by the amount of notifications you receive after posting your content?

If so, be sure to update your Instagram app as Instagram is now increasing the ways users can personalize their in-app experience — by providing creators with features to take breaks or manage the content shown on the application.

Instagram’s newest feature, aka the Quiet Mode, turns off all notifications, adds a signifier to your profile status, and an automatic response in your DM’s if messaged. 

Although the Quiet Mode feature is available to all users, it specifically targets our teenage Instagram users and content creators as it prompts teens to manage their Instagram usage late at night. By allowing users to “sign off” and pause notifications, it allows for a more positive user experience among younger users!

Check out this article for more information on Instagram’s new Quiet Mode feature!

Social Media News: TikTok Posting Tips

Posted on by People First

Attention TikTok Users! If you are hoping to increase your follower count and engagement rates, here are some new tips you can try out this year:

  1. Create content that aligns with organic posts in users feeds.

TikToks should grab user’s attention and give users a reason to keep watching. As such, you should create eye-catching posts that also blend into the user’s For You Page. 

  1. Create a strong hook for your post.

Hooks are “narrative-aligned clips that are repeatable and engaging.” Some examples of popular hooks are: 

  • I wish someone had told me about this sooner…
  • If you aren’t using [product/service], you’re missing out
  • 3 reasons why [product/service] is the best [problem to be solved]
  1. Create clips to bring your post to life.

Be sure to create visually interesting edits and creative formats to grab the user’s attention. Additionally, be sure to show real people in your clips! 

BTW, A great app to create and edit TikToks is CapCut.

  1. Captions and Hashtags

When inserting video captions, be sure to keep them short—around five words in total! As for hashtags, be sure to keep them specific so they reach a target audience.

FYI, TikTok has a Hashtags pag in the app where you can see popular hashtag topics emerging in a real-time trends display!

To read more tips on how you can up your TikTok game in 2023, click here.

Social Media News: YouTube Shorts Monetization

Posted on by People First

Youtube is finally beginning their new revenue share program this February 1st! This new program, originally announced in September of 2022, will create revenue from advertisements displayed between Shorts clips from eligible creators on the Youtube app! 

What does this mean for our creators? That the revenue and payouts creators receive will not be capped in the same ways that creator funds are. In other words, payouts creators receive are expected to be greater!

Creators with over 1,000 subscribers who receive over 10 million Shorts views in 90-day periods will be eligible to apply for a cut of the Shorts ad revenue.

Social Media News: Twitter Now Allowing Political and Cause-Based Ads?

Posted on by People First

Attention Twitter Users! As many of you many know, Twitter banned all political advertising on their platform three years ago because the former CEO, Jack Dorsey, believed internet advertising could negatively “influence votes to affect the lives of millions”. However, earlier this week, Twitter announced that they will ease up on their political and cause-based advertising restrictions with the hope of facilitating public discourse on important topics. The new and improved political and cause-based advertising politics will align with TV regulations. 

In addition to creating a new avenue for campaign promotion and allowing political-based advertisements, this change will provide content creators and influencers on Twitter with the opportunity to advertise on behalf of political and cause-based organizations! 

We at the People First Social Club are excited to see how this change will benefit both People First creators and clients!

Social Media News: Twitter Re-launches Swipeable Feed Alternatives… Again?

Posted on by People First

Attention Twitter Users! Many new additions are set to come in 2023 after business mogul Elon Musk purchased Twitter in 2022. While Musk claims these additions are upgrades that will attract users to the platform, many believe that they are “variations of past Twitter experiments.” 

The latest addition is a swipeable feed alternative that allows users to switch between recommended and followed tweets/trends/topics. This update was implemented last March and quickly abandoned as users made it clear that they preferred the original Twitter feed. 

Although this alternative may have failed before, it has the potential to succeed as the swipeable feed is intended to expand content diversity and tweet discovery. Perhaps this time around, Twitter users will find the AI-based tweet recommendations in the swipeable feed more engaging and entertaining!

Social Media News: Instagram Releases 2022 Recap Reels

Posted on by People First

Attention Instagram Users! Instagram has finally hopped on the trend with the introduction of their new 2022 Recap Reels. This “end-of-the-year” recap feature has been a prominent trend amongst various social media platforms and apps such as Spotify, BeReal, and Snapchat. 

Specific to Instagram’s recap Reel is the added feature of a celebrity narration. Here’s what the update looks like:

  • On each user’s Instagram feed, they are prompted to ‘Create Your 2022 Recap Reel’.
  • The user is then walked through the Recap creation process using a narration template that features celebrities and influencers such as DJ Khaled, Bad Bunny, and Badshah. 
  • Instagram’s recap Reels allow brands and creators to share a message or solidify a brand identity for the year – so be sure to take advantage of the templates!

The 2022 Recap Reel templates will be available until early 2023. Once posted, the recap Reel will remain in the front center of the user’s Reel tab~

Social Media News: It’s ⚠️Time to BeReal ⚠️ On Instagram

Posted on by People First

Attention Instagram Users! Have you all heard of the app BeReal? 

BeReal is considered an “authentic alternative to mainstream social media platforms” due to its signature once-a-day, untouched posts. Although BeReal was launched in 2019, it has blown up in recent years! As a result, Meta has recently implemented “Candid Stories” on Instagram—a feature that can only be used once a day and captures two simultaneous images using the front and rear cameras—similar to BeReal. 

This is just one of the many updates that Meta plans to implement on Instagram in the coming months! Expect changes such as a new Note feature and “Group Profiles” as well. So what do these changes mean for our creators?

It simply means that there are new ways to engage with audiences on Instagram, with an emphasis on interacting in smaller groups. To read more about Candid Stories and future Instagram updates, check out the full article by clicking here.

Social Media News: Music Rights in Branded Social Media Content

Posted on by marley

Hey creators, are you planning on using music in your branded social media content?

If so, please keep in mind that music labels regulate the use of unlicensed music in branded social media posts! In fact, many major labels have created teams to find and remove unlicensed use of copyrighted music. This is because brands are not allowed to use copyrighted music tracks in short-term videos without specific permissions. 

As such, if you have participated in a social media trend and have had content removed, especially on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, it could be a result of the music choice! 

To learn more, check out the full article here.

Social Media News: Twitter Expands Content Recommendations

Posted on by People First

Attention Twitter Users! Have you noticed more content from creators you don’t follow appearing on your Twitter feed?

That is because Twitter has increased the amount of Tweet recommendations provided for users. This means that creators will see more Tweets highlighting relevant content – even if they do not follow one another. Factors that affect the relevant content include:

  • Interests based on Tweet activity
  • Topics you follow
  • Tweets you’ve engaged with
  • Tweets people in your networked liked
  • People followed by people you follow

How does this impact you all? This new and improved algorithm aims to connect the right audiences with the right content. As such, the algorithm expands the exposure potential for content creators and keeps top influencers on the app.

To learn more about Twitter’s content recommendations, click here to read the full article.

Social Media News: Coding Trainings on LinkedIn with GitHub

Posted on by People First

Are you interested in improving your brand?

Look no further! Earlier this week, LinkedIn launched its educational partnership with GitHub, which provides training resources for software development and marketing skills. 

These LinkedIn Learning courses will be FREE through GitHub Codespaces until February 28th, 2023 – making it a perfect opportunity for anyone interested in learning some new skills when the New Year rolls around!

Learning how to create and maintain digital spaces helps creators expand both their digital marketing knowledge and audience base! In addition, it helps creators enter the tech world through tech-specific roles. The combination of the 50 new LinkedIn learning courses and the 20 coding language options make this an amazing opportunity for both micro influencers and content creators!

If you are interested in gaining the skills to build platforms for your brand, be sure to check out the video below:

Social Media News: The Future of Video Storytelling

Posted on by marley

We’re back with more social media news to keep you informed. In case you missed it, Instagram recently published a guide on how to boost your marketing strategies on the platform. According to the social media program, Reels are “the future of video storytelling on Instagram”. The new feature already takes up 20% of the time people spend on Instagram. 

Incorporating Reels into your content can help drive engagement, reach, and relevance. When filming Reels, keep in mind that some of the most successful ones on Instagram are entertaining, relatable, and digestible. Get creative! Utilize visual effects and bite sized text to help hold the attention of viewers. 

Do you happen to sell products of your own? Half of Instagram users surveyed use Instagram Shop weekly. The platform advises that product tags are what drives product discovery by users. Make sure to tag frequently across various formats to maximize shoppable moments for your followers.

Social Media News: Pinterest = the New Instagram?

Posted on by marley

The social media app Pinterest, which was founded in 2010, allows its users to create images, videos and digital scrapbook style collections. In the era of pinterest, other popular social media sites that existed were all text-based websites such as Twitter, Facebook and Reddit. Although Pinterest had launched a video feature back in 2016, it was far behind Facebook and Youtube in terms of monetizing their video and advertisements. However, the future is Pinterest! As of early August, Pinterest’s stock has raised over 21%, with the news of their new CEO Bill Randy. Randy has plans to grow Pinterest into a market leading advertiser, as it holds a unique position of growth in an image-based platform, as Instagram is moving forward with more video-based content.

See you all on Pinterest!

Social Media News: All Instagram Videos Will Become Reels

Posted on by marley

Hey there, creators!

Does it feel overwhelming trying to keep up with all of the current industry news and trends? We understand that it can be difficult to stay informed when the world of social media is constantly changing with the needs of users and new technologies. That’s why our team at People First is dedicated to giving you weekly updates in our newsletter.

This week, Meta announced that video posts shorter than fifteen minutes will be automatically shared as Reels on Instagram. Videos posted to the platform prior to this update will remain as videos and won’t be changed to Reels. 

With this change, a significant amount of video content shared on Instagram will be filtered into the Reels algorithm. As more users begin to watch more Reels, your content could start to receive more engagement!

Instagram is also adding new tools for users to create their Reels such as: 

  • Remix for photos
  • Additional Reels templates
  • Add your clip to the end of the video

Social Media News: TikTok tests “nearby” feature

Posted on by marley

TikTok is the app of the moment, with projections that it’ll reach 1.5 billion users before the year ends. To keep up with demand, the app has been testing new features for its users. After being spotted by users, TikTok has confirmed that it has been testing a new content feed that would show content posted by users in your current location. This has the potential to put more of the spotlight on local content creators and could help boost exposure! A dedicated local feed could also give users access to nearby user communities.

This new nearby content feed could also be a good opportunity for brands and businesses to advertise themselves. For example, if your For You page always shows restaurant recommendations, your nearby page would show you local restaurants. 

Details about the new nearby content feed are fairly limited, with the test only being conducted with a small group of users in Southeast Asia. TikTok also recently added a location tagging option for posts, and it’s not yet certain if posts displayed in the nearby feed will be automatically added based on where a users’ profile is located, or if location tags need to be included.

Social Media News: Posting on TikTok 101

Posted on by marley

Hey there Creators! 

Have you ever recorded and edited amazing high-quality content for a TikTok Video? Has this content significantly lessened in quality when you go to post on Tiktok? 

If this has happened to you, then not to worry. This is a seemingly easy fix. Instagram has many hidden tips and tricks when it comes to uploading high quality content. By following these next few steps you can always ensure the best quality for all your instagram photos and videos.

For Android and IOS:

  1. On the Instagram app, go to the home page where you can view your own profile.
  2. Click the three dashes in the upper right corner of your profile page, and then click settings.
  3. From here you can go to account -> Data Usage, or you can simply search for Data usage in the search bar
  4. Then there will be two options: You can click the toggle button next to “High Quality Uploads” so the button turns blue upon activation.
  5. Now you’re all ready! The uploads will be of higher quality regardless if you’re using cellular or WiFi connectivity.

Social Media News

Posted on by marley

Hey there creators! 

We have some exciting new updates from the social media world, for all creators and influencers that we are thrilled to share!

Youtube is adding a new feature to it’s studio editing trim. This feature is designed to allow users to cut segments from longer video uploads into shorter clips. This will enable finer grain time editing, as well as making it easier to edit in the youtube studio app itself. This update will be available for all youtube studio editing users, by the end of the first week of August!

Our Tip or Trick of the week: 

As of lately, all Instagram users are noticing a shortage of likes and engagements, on still media posts. Any static feed image posts are not being shown in feed as much anymore. This is because Instagram is continuing to push out their reels feature, and wanting more users to create video content in reels. The best thing to do is use this new algorithm, to your advantage, and start posting more reels! The more Reels you post, the Instagram algorithm will push out to more users on its platform. While posting reels you also have the option to not share it in feed, so it won’t be shared to all your followers, but it will be pushed throughout all of Instagram, which will increase your account engagement, and bring in new viewers to see your account. It is best to start posting reels now, and take advantage of the new algorithm, so you can boost your account as much as possible!

Social Media News

Posted on by marley

Hey there creators! 

We have some exciting new updates from the social media world, for all creators and influencers that we are thrilled to share!

Lets start with some news! 

Tiktok has now made it so that Social Media Managers can schedule posting TikTok’s in their favorite social media management tools!  

TikTok has added a new set of social media management platforms to its Marketing Partners Program, with Hootsuite and several other platforms, which will let creators and managers organize, schedule and publish content to TikTok from your platform of choice. With this new feature, managers will now be able to not only manage their content, but will also be able to track profile and video metrics in real time and better understand audiences and engagement. 

You will also be able to track real time conversations happening in the comments section, and respond to your tik tok community. 

Our Tip or Trick of the week: As a creator if you are having trouble gaining an audience, it may be because you need to specify your niche. Show the world what interests you, teach your followers about this specific interest, and keep it consistent! The more consistently you post your niche, the more likely you will have an audience come to your page, and learn about everything you have to say. Remember: No matter how big or small, a niche is a niche, and has the power to make a difference!

Creator Tip: Reels Play Bonus

Posted on by marley

In 2020, Instagram released Instagram Reels, which has changed the way many people create, discover, and share short, entertaining videos online today. But now, Instagram wants to give back to the people who made Instagram Reels such a success, by introducing the Reels Play Bonus!

For years, partnering with brands or affiliate marketing groups were some of the only ways to get paid for creating Reels. However, things are starting to look different. Due to the popularity of Reels, Meta is in the midst of finding new ways to pay creators for their work. 

For instance, there are embedded advertisements available for creators that have more than 10,000 followers in over 50 countries. These overlay ads give creators 55% of the rewards. 

Another exciting feature is creators will be able to receive “stars” on their Reels from viewers. Each “star” received is an equivalent to a cent in earned revenue.

There’s currently another new way for creators to receive payment for their content from Meta. The company has recently announced the Reels Bonus Play Program. This program provides a “bonus” revenue outside of the Instagram creator fund to creators and influencers whose Reels get at least 1,000 views over a 30 day period. The Reels Play Bonus pays can pay creators as much as up to $35,000 per month, however, it’s an invite-only feature. 

After the Reels Play Bonus is accessible to you, the opportunity is available to you for 30 days. As a creator, you have the option to choose any number of Reels to count toward the Reels Play Bonus earnings during those 30 days. Your bonus payout will be determined by the performance of your Reels.