The digital marketing world is ever-evolving, and staying updated is not just a choice—it’s a necessity for marketers. As we close out August 2023 and look to September, we wanted to cover some recent developments, from Google’s algorithm shakeups to TikTok’s venture into text-only content and Instagram’s collaborative posting feature. Dive into our comprehensive roundup to ensure you’re ahead of the curve.
Whether you’re a seasoned marketer, a budding entrepreneur, or simply a digital enthusiast, these insights are tailored to keep you informed and prepared for the changing digital landscape. Let’s unpack some of the month’s highlights.
Threads’ Continued Growth and New Features
In a recent announcement, Adam Mosseri, the CEO of Instagram, unveiled a series of exciting social media marketing updates for the Threads app. For those unfamiliar, Threads was conceptualized as a platform to facilitate more intimate, text-centric conversations. This recent overhaul seems primed to elevate user engagement and functionality, making the app even more dynamic. Here’s a brief rundown of what’s new:
- Sharing Made Simple: Users can seamlessly share their favorite threads on Instagram Direct Messages. This is made possible with the new “Send on Instagram” option.
- Favorites At A Glance: For the Threads enthusiasts, a brand-new feature enables a recap of all the threads they’ve liked. Simply head to profile settings and tap on ‘Your Likes’.
- Sort To Surf: Want to see who you followed recently or revisit some old favorites? Now, users can easily sort the list of accounts they follow, either by the latest addition or the earliest.
- Accessibility For All: In a thoughtful move towards inclusivity, users can now add custom alt-text to images and videos, making content more accessible for all.
- Verification Made Easy: Threads’ nod to decentralized social networks is evident with its support for rel=me links. This allows users to seamlessly verify their identity on platforms such as Mastodon.
- Mentioning Just Got Better: A shoutout to Mark Zuckerberg for highlighting this one – there’s a spanking new mention button on Threads profiles. This intuitive feature lets users mention someone swiftly in a new Threads post or simply type in the ‘@’ symbol for suggestions.
While these updates are technologically forward-thinking, they are rooted in user feedback. Instagram’s focus on enhancing the user experience, paired with giving more content control, translates to a plethora of opportunities for brands and business owners.
This augmented flexibility means increased engagement, richer personalization, and robust identity verification tools. Threads’ users are not just passive consumers; their feedback is highly valued, and they play an instrumental role in shaping the app’s journey, ensuring it remains at the pinnacle of engaging social experiences.
Google’s August Core Algorithm Update
Google is no stranger to tinkering with its algorithm, but its recent SEO announcement has the digital world abuzz. In its second major core update of 2023, Google aims to refine and improve search results, potentially influencing page rankings across the web.
At its essence, a Google core update is a broad recalibration of the search giant’s algorithms and systems. These updates don’t just tweak the status quo; they can profoundly affect how web pages stack up in search rankings. The catch, however, is the indeterminacy of these changes. Google has gone on record to state that these core updates do not target specific pages or sites. The focus, rather, is on enhancing how their system evaluates and ranks content.
In a bid to keep the community informed, Google took to Twitter on August 22nd to break the news of the ongoing rollout. They’ve assured the public that their ranking release history page will be updated once this massive rollout concludes – a process that might stretch for a fortnight.
What does this mean for webmasters and content creators? While it’s natural to be anxious about possible dips in page performance, Google offers a glimmer of hope. The tech behemoth underscores the importance of churning out high-quality, user-centric content. This, they believe, is the golden ticket to optimal site performance in the post-update world.
However, there’s a caveat: pages that experience a drop post-update might witness a revival once the rollout concludes. But this is by no means a guarantee. It reinforces the ethos Google has always championed – content quality and user experience reign supreme.
Expanded Collaborative Posting on Instagram
Instagram never stops innovating, and its recent feature expansion is testament to that. In its newest update, the social media giant has broadened and expanded the scope of ‘collaborative posting’.
Collaborative posting empowers users to contribute photos and videos to a shared post. Of course, this happens only when the feature is actively enabled. The original creator retains editorial control, getting the final say on whether the contributed content gets the green light. Think of it as a dynamic, community-driven photo album or story!
Why is this a big deal? It’s a golden opportunity for brands and influencers to enhance user-generated content. By allowing followers to chip in, it not only drives engagement but also fosters a sense of community and inclusiveness. Imagine running a campaign where followers can pitch in their experiences, or having fans share moments from an event directly onto your post. It’s direct, interactive, and authentic.
TikTok Adds Text Posts
Perhaps to compete with Threads and Twitter, TikTok is expanding beyond its video-dominated platform. The new feature? Text-only posts.
TikTok’s newest update allows its vast creator community to craft posts using just text. This move adds another dimension to the primarily video-centric app. Functionally similar to Instagram Reels, TikTok’s text posts enable users to upload plain text against a backdrop, offering a quick-read as users flick through their feed. It’s a refreshing change from the video deluge, as TikTok puts it, providing users “more ways to express themselves beyond video.”
This isn’t TikTok’s maiden voyage into non-video territory. Remember the ‘Photo Mode’ introduced last year? It enabled users to curate a slideshow with photos, accompanied by captions extending up to 2,200 characters. This text-only feature can be seen as an evolution of the Photo Mode – just sans images.
Here’s how you do it:
- Open the TikTok application.
- Navigate to the Camera page.
- You’ll be presented with three options: photo, video, and text.
- Select ‘Text.’
- Craft your message.
- As you head to the Post page, myriad customization options are at your disposal: incorporating sound, tagging locations, activating comments, permitting duets, embellishing with stickers, selecting background hues, and more.
In the broader digital spectrum, TikTok’s move is not isolated. Earlier, Meta made headlines with ‘Threads,’ touted as a potential Twitter rival. With a jovial and light-hearted aura, Threads saw a meteoric rise, racking up 100 million signups within its inaugural week. Although the app’s traction has seen a dip – thanks to feature limitations compared to Twitter – its initial success indicates the digital community’s appetite for text-based platforms, especially in light of Twitter’s transition post its acquisition by Tesla’s Elon Musk.
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