Faila Masengi’s Post

⚠️ Instagram's algorithm reset Is a wake-up call for brands Meta is letting Instagram users hit reset on their algorithms, giving them a fresh start to curate their feeds. For users, this is great news - less irrelevant noise, more content they actually want. But for brands, if your content strategy isn’t laser-focused, you’ll be left shouting into the void. Here’s the deal: Meta’s algorithms are about to get a lot smarter - because users are telling them what they want to see. If you’ve been relying on broad, feel-good messaging or scattering your content themes, you’re risking everything. The algorithm needs clarity, and you’re the one who has to provide it. 👉 Your content strategy needs to grow up Let’s be real: sustainability is important, but it’s not enough to hang your entire content strategy on. Are you talking more about the impact you want to make than the problem your product solves? Because here’s the thing: not everyone interested in sustainability wants your product. And if you’ve trained Instagram to think your account is about “nature advocacy” rather than, say, “great skincare for sensitive skin,” you’re in trouble. 👉 Want proof? Check the ‘Inspiration’ tab In Instagram’s Professional Dashboard, head to the “Inspiration” tab. If you regularly share Reels, you’ll see other accounts and videos Instagram considers similar to yours. That’s the algorithm telling you exactly how it’s categorising your content. Don’t like what you see? Time to rethink your game plan. Here’s what to do... 1️⃣ Lead with product benefits. Your reusable water bottle isn’t just good for the planet - it keeps drinks ice-cold for 24 hours and fits in every cupholder. That’s what people care about. Talk about that first. 2️⃣ Get consistent. Algorithms love patterns. If your content is all over the place, Instagram doesn’t know what box to put you in. Pick a theme and stick to it. 3️⃣ Make sustainability secondary. Yes, your values matter. But they’re the supporting act, not the headliner. Show how your product makes your customer’s life better - then mention the planet. 👉 Why now? The algorithm reset isn’t just a feature - it’s an opportunity. With more people curating their feeds, there’s a better chance for your content to reach fresh eyes. But only if you’re showing up in the right interest categories. One brand we worked with was stuck in the wrong loop - posting founder stories about their values. We pivoted to short, product-first Reels showcasing real customer benefits. The result? A 185% jump in engagement, a 3% boost in order value, and a 5% rise in returning customers. That’s the power of focus. 👉 Bottom line The days of casting a wide net are over. Meta’s reset is your chance to tighten up, refine your strategy, and make the algorithm your ally. Focus on what your product achieves for people. Stop trying to please everyone. The right audience is out there. But you’ve got to give Instagram the right signals to find them.

@DentsuCreativeUS's social strategists got the inside scoop on everything from Pinterest’s breakout trends for the #newyear ✨ to TikTok’s latest viral moments.     Dive into this week’s #What'sTrending newsletter below ! ⬇️ 

3 social media habits I stick to, which make me a better business owner: What we're able to create is directly tied to what we consume. Why do I believe this so strongly? I was 14 when the first iPhone came out 📱 Perhaps it's growing up in that millennial grey area that's cooked this belief into me... Young enough to be considered a 'digital native'; old enough to have a Computer Room and remember the 'noise' of the internet! 🖥️ Experiencing the almost insidious creep that 24/7 media has made from our computer, to laptop, to our phones, has made me hyperaware of how this incredible, connective technology can also feel increasingly 'infiltrating'. Working in the media for so long, too, made me consistently question the value, purpose, and ethics of whatever 'thing' I was creating that week, and how the audience would consume it. So I can't help but bring these own thoughts and practices into my work today. 1) Create first 💡 Before I go down a rabbit hole of reels, posts and cat videos, I make sure that I'm prioritising my own creative practices. Otherwise before you know it, 2 hours have gone by, and the comparison monster has crept in. Reframing it as a treat feels SO much better. 2) Use it as an inspiration spot 🤩 Yes, I can watch a 1 hour video essay on the Stanley Cup trend. Yes, I can like my best friend's new baby photos. I can ALSO reframe my social apps, and start to use them more like Pinterest. Every time I go on the gram, I'm saving and organising the posts that light me up, which could give me a boost of inspiration in the future. I also have a saved screenshots folder on my desktop for anything else I see. 3) Make the apps hard to use 🚫 You saw this one coming, right? I'm taking this one right from James Clear's Atomic Habits. As he says, if you want to stop a habit, make it “invisible,” “unattractive,” “difficult,” and “unsatisfying". That's why my social media apps are hidden on my home screen, and all have a time limit. Creating feels so much more fun and easeful with these in place. What have you found work for you, to help create more consciously? #personalbranding #brandstorytelling #consciouscommunication #solopreneurs #contentcreationtips #authenticmarketing

This article just blew my mind 🤯 I do not typically write this kind of content but I am inspired. Five thoughts: 1. The article itself is backed up by the experience of reading it. It makes it's own points brilliantly in the UX. Weather it's digital or IRL, the message is clear. Marketing is about the EXPERIENCES you can provide. Stop trying to funnel the ocean of consumers and dive in. 2. Even though this article is about how Gen Z behaves in the market place, the cat is out of the bag for all of us. When is the last time you blindly trusted what a company had to say about the company? Amazon is a mess. We don't even trust our own eyes without doing research (looking at you royal PR). Users want to see the good, the bad, and the ugly in order to trust their expectation of a product. They're engaging in the comment section, looking for user generated content, and prioritizing value and loyalty over luxury and convenience. 3. Youtube (57%) being the most popular place to learn about new brands was a surprise to me, but if you combine it with Tiktok (53%) it's clear that video is Queen Z and they trust their personalized algorithm to fetch the latest and greatest and filter the junk. 4. I was raised by a master of the thrift store, the resurgence of which parallels the modern consumer mindset. Many of my millennial friends get overwhelmed with the "diamond in the rough" nature of thrift shopping but thrift store enthusiasts understand that the goal is not to know what you want going in the door, but to stay curious and explore until you discover something that inspires you. I light up when someone wants to go to the thrift store with me, not because of the anticipation of what I am going to buy- i often walk away without buying anything- but because the experience of thrift shopping is the best part. 5. What makes me feel real in an ever increasing digital world? Conversation. Authenticity. Community. Anyone see the Freaknik doc? Remember the rim shop that became the beating heart of the community? One person said "it was a rim shop that barely sold rims" but they were sitting in an interview 30 years later talking about the community that was built there. Loyalty is built from the user experience post purchase, making sure the user feels a part of something because they've bought in, that they're connected to the world in a meaningful way. If you have made it this far, let's connect. What are your thoughts on the modern consumer mindset?

The marketing funnel has changed (breaking news). I love to say that if you are not showing up on people’s screens you are out of the map, but HOW you show up is a whole other situation… Ads can be aggressive and impersonal, trying to push sales on a brand new audience can be intimidating, choosing the right platform for your audience can be a challenge. BUT, understanding and engaging with Gen Z has never been more critical for brands. This article shows that 71% of Gen Z are always open to discovering new brands, and their discovery methods are changing. They primarily learn about new brands, products, and services through YouTube (57%), TikTok (53%), and Instagram (44%). Over 2 in 5 Americans use TikTok as a search engine. Nearly 1 in 10 Gen Zers are more likely to rely on TikTok than Google as a search engine. Trust is also crucial for this generation. A significant 70% of Gen Z only trust a brand after conducting their own research, and 56% believe that brands often lie about their products/services. But one of the most interesting insights is that for Gen Z, simply selling a product isn’t enough. 54% say that their favorite brands are the ones that make them feel like they’re part of a community. This is why having a fun and up to date social media/digital presence is so important, is not always about conversions and following the corporate branding kit, sometimes is just about talking about Taylor Swift, the new Hailey Bieber phone case, girl math, etc.

Very demure, very… over it! It's time to talk about the ‘Very Demure, Very Mindful' trend and why brands need to stop trying to milk it. This social media trend kicked off in early August with TikTok creator Jools Lebron using the phrase to humorously critique workplace expectations and societal norms. It quickly caught on! But here’s the thing - it's now been 6 weeks, which is an eternity in social media time. I am still seeing new brand posts about it, especially with 'Gen Z intern writes video script' content. Jumping on trends late can do more harm than good. A few might still find it funny, but many will see it as inauthentic or cringe-worthy. So, before you hop on the next viral wave, consider these tips: 💡Act quickly: Trends have a short shelf life. If you’re not in within the first 2-3 weeks, it’s often too late. 💡Be authentic: Only participate if it aligns with your brand voice and values. Don’t force it. 💡Know your audience: Understand if the trend resonates with your followers or if it might alienate them. 💡Add value: Don’t just copy the trend - add your own spin that offers value or a unique perspective. Remember, it’s better to skip a trend than to hop on too late and look out of touch! What's the best or worst usage of this trend that you've seen?

In today’s saturated digital landscape, the challenge for brands to capture and retain consumer attention is greater than ever. On platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, content floods users' feeds at an unprecedented rate, with the average viewer’s attention span dwindling to just a few seconds. Statistically, videos that capture interest in the first 3 seconds are significantly more likely to be watched to completion. At Ochre Spirits, we understand that traditional product showcases, like simple 360-degree bottle views, no longer resonate with Millennial and Gen Z consumers. These demographics seek authentic, compelling narratives that capture the essence of the brand beyond the physical product. That's why we focus on creating content that tells a story, engages emotionally, and offers value beyond a mere visual of our bottles. Our latest video on LinkedIn isn’t just about showing our products; it’s an invitation to experience the rich, intricate flavors and the artisanal craftsmanship that define Ochre Spirits. We're not just selling spirits; we're offering an experience, a taste of innovation, and a sip of the extraordinary. Investing in such content is not merely a marketing cost; it's a crucial investment in building lasting connections with our audience, ensuring our message not only reaches but resonates and inspires.

🌟 New Pinterest Insights: How Brands Can Connect with Gen Z 🌟 According to Pinterest's latest report, Gen Z makes up 42% of their monthly user base and is more engaged than other generations, using the platform to search and save at higher rates. Gen Z is turning to Pinterest to discover ideas that resonate with their lifestyle and interests. Brands should focus their efforts on creating engaging visual content that builds long-term connections. As users are inspired to save and revisit your Pins, over time those connections turn into brand loyalty and conversions. Make sure Gen Z knows where to turn when they're searching for relevant inspiration, tips, or products down the line. If your brand has struggled to keep up with Gen Z's evolving tastes and fast-paced trends, don't ignore Pinterest's tools like Pinterest Predicts. For detailed strategies, check out the full Pinterest report: https://lnkd.in/gT_QG_8p #GenZMarketing #DigitalMarketing #SocialMediaStrategy #BrandEngagement #Pinterest

How do you react to trends? Is the manner by which you ride a trend, uhm, Demure? For the uninitiated: Have your Gen-Z co-workers started saying that they’re eating their desk salads in a way that’s “very demure, very mindful,” and you have no idea what they’re talking about? P L A Y T H E V I D E O (I hid the thumbnail on purpose 😁 ) Best celebrity response ever. I don't know what you do for a laugh every day, I have a few Go-Tos. Play to see a legendary response: https://lnkd.in/d44iWndi Joking aside: Demure fever has swept TikTok and it seems to have flowed over to other social media platforms--much more than the short-lived Beef and Broccoli fashion statement and less dancey than The Cha-Cha Slide Challenge. I find myself in the middle of many conversations about trends and this is what I’ve learned: 🍣 : Timing is Everything. Leveraging popular culture in digital marketing campaigns can help brands reach a wider audience, create more engaging content, and build brand awareness. 🍣 : Be picky. Don’t embrace every Tom, Dick and Hardy idea. Jumping on every trend can be like a Shiny Syndrome infection, though, and can end up with lack-lustre comms. When you’re in deep with your brand, you can often go with your gut and create copy on the fly. Check first though. Epic fails have come from rushing to be first to echo a trend, without researching etymology. If you’re even a tad unsure how it will land with your audience, It’s important to research the origin of the trend to avoid a confusing message. 🍣 : Awareness and Subtlety Popular culture is important for brand and marketing professionals. Awareness is a valuable currency. Subtle execution helps us contextualize without losing our true north for what makes great copy, and what a stunning creative looks and feels like. 🍣: Pop culture not only exposes us to new ideas and beliefs, but also allows us to explore and validate our identity. Demurely or otherwise. What do you think?