Tag: Engagement

Creator Tips: Your Guide to Pre-cleared Sounds for TikTok and Meta

Posted on by marley

Are you looking for new ways to improve your social media content or to increase your engagement? Try adding sounds for your next post on TikTok, Facebook, or Instagram! The simple act of adding background music, whether it be a trending song or popular audio intensifies the impact of the video and can lead to increased engagement. What’s more, is that using music that is already authorized by the platform will prevent any issues related to copyright infringement and minimize the likelihood of your post being removed or muted. This is super important for content creators — since sponsored content may not contain sounds that are ineligible for commercial use.

Here are some guidelines and useful tips for using authorized sounds for TikTok and Meta Platforms, Facebook and Instagram. 

For TikTok:

  • When uploading or recording a video on TikTok, you will have the option to add sounds to your videos.
    • If you’re recording a new video, you can add sounds by tapping the Music Note located at the right of your screen. 
    • If you’re uploading a saved video, click “Add Sounds” at the top of your screen to browse the audio collection. 
  • Note that some sounds displayed on this page may not be available for commercial use, so be sure to select “Commercial Sounds” in the dropdown menu. All of the sound options will be commercial sounds and therefore OK to use in sponsored content. 
  • You can also find viral sounds in the TikTok viral playlist.
  • Click here to access TikTok’s pre-cleared audio library.
    • In this audio library, you’ll be able to browse trending songs under the trending sounds, but stick to using songs marked “Approved for business use”

For Facebook/Instagram:

  • Click here to access Meta’s pre-cleared audio library.
    • Note: you will need a Facebook account.
  • You will have to manually search for the song on Instagram.
  • You will be able to filter search results based on various categories including genre, mood, duration, and more. 
  • Once you find a sound you’d like to use, input it into the app!
  • Although there is no direct way to view all trending sounds, these sounds will have an arrow pointing in the top right direction.

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: 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: 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: 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.

Creator Tip: Social Media 101

Posted on by marley

We at People First are fortunate to work with thousands of people from all over the country to join our campaigns and raise their voice. However, content creation looks different for everyone, which is why we’ve put together a list of tips for new and experienced content creators to make your social media pages better than ever ! 

These tips are a great way not only to build a bond with your community and increase engagement, but help make your experience working with People First as seamless as possible. Feel free to take what resonates with you!

  • Tip 1: Get With the Trends
    • Be in-touch with current trends and hashtags. Join the movement by contributing your own take, or putting a spin on someone else’s work. 
    • Being real is in! We want you to have fun with your content, so don’t be afraid to be yourself. Creating content that reflects your personality is what social media is all about!
    • Be careful that the trend you’re hopping onto isn’t something that’s going to be seen as harmful or offensive. People First, and many of the brands we work with, are reluctant to work with anyone that uses offensive language or imagery. 
  • Tip 2: Monitor Your Own Performance
    • Utilize engagement tracking services to see what works well for your audience and what does not. See if you can find any patterns about what’s working, and what pieces can be improved. 
    • Be transparent. Pivoting your approach to content creation is normal, and being transparent about this will allow for you to create trust between you and your community.
  • Tip 3: Post Consistently
    • If you’re in the process of growing your following, we recommend posting to Instagram at least 3x a week, along with regular stories highlighting smaller pieces.
    • For TikTok, we recommend posting twice a week and capitalizing off of existing trends and audios. These are most likely to be recognized and pick up more engagement!
  • Tip 4: Vary Your Content
    • Positing consistently is great for those looking to expand their audience, but failing to vary your content can lead to people following off. 
    • We encourage you to space out your sponsorship deals, to fill those gaps with organic pieces. This allows for your followers to see a more genuine and authentic side to you, without being bombarded with paid partnerships. 
  • Tip 5: Be Proud of Honest Engagement
    • When working on paid social media partnerships, it’s extremely important that your audience, and the engagements you receive, are from real social media users. 
    • Why? Fake followers, likes, and comments are not a true measure of success and they will make clients hesitant to work with you. And yes – they are very easy to spot. 
    • Believe in the power of the micro influencer! Content creators with smaller audiences tend to have better relationships with their following, which lends to better engagement rates overall. Here at People First, we take this into consideration when determining a suggested rate for partnerships, so that you can be compensated fairly in light of a smaller follower base, 

Creator Tip: Make Your Instagram Account Public!

Posted on by marley

Do you know that feeling when your friend DMs you a funny Instagram post, but you can’t see it because the account is private?

Getting around this can be such a hassle, which is why we suggest that you make your Instagram account public. Opening up your account to the public allows potential followers to scroll through your content, share it with their friends, or even be featured on the Explore page.

This leads to even more eyes and engagements with each of your posts!

Here at People First, did you know that it’s actually required to make your account public before partnering with us? Our team of organizers want to ensure that your account is a match for the partnership, which is why we ask that you turn this feature on before applying. 

Not sure if your Instagram account is public or not? No worries. 

  1. Open up the Instagram app.
  2. Go to your profile. In the top right corner, open your settings.
  3. Click on privacy settings.
  4. At the top, there’s a button that shows you whether or not your account is private. If it’s currently set to private, switch your account to public.

That’s all there is to it!