Simply Social Newsletter

Shoppers could soon claim discounts directly from your ads on Meta

Facebook's latest update aids shoppers in finding seasonal deals while testing new lead generation features. Users in the US, UK, Canada, and India can now receive automatic discounts at checkout after interacting with sponsored content related to the promotion. 

Additionally, reminders will be sent to users who haven't completed their purchases before the deal expires. Lead Ads are also being enhanced with a dynamic question flow that adapts based on user responses. In the near future, brands will be able to incorporate Instant Forms on their business web pages within Facebook's in-app browser. Lastly, the new Facebook Page enables businesses to include a contact form through a call-to-action button, allowing visitors to share their contact information via Messenger.

What does this mean for my brand?

Meta's promotions update simplifies the process of claiming relevant offers, including seasonal sales, first-time purchase discounts, and holiday promotions. Lead Ads forms now automatically update to provide prospective customers with the most relevant information. 

The Instant Forms update allows people to browse a website for more details and conveniently submit contact information using Meta's autofill feature. Additionally, contact forms serve as a free option for users to gather leads before initiating a lead ad campaign.

More news on when Meta’s Twitter rival, Barcelona, could launch

A text-based Meta app, initially discovered in development by app researcher Alessandro Paluzzi, is now rumoured to be launching next month under the working title Barcelona.

According to reports, Meta has been sharing exclusive details about the app with selected creators and granting early access to certain public figures.

Barcelona is said to be a decentralized app, marking Meta's first venture into constructing a network of this nature.

What does this mean for my brand?

The Barcelona app will offer the convenience of signing in with your Instagram credentials and syncing your Instagram followers, along with your verified blue tick, to expand your presence on the platform. Like Twitter, Barcelona allows you to share text updates of up to 500 characters, including links, photos, and videos up to five minutes long.

Interacting with others' content is made easy as you can like, repost, and reply to their updates. Being a decentralized app, Barcelona enables users from platforms like Mastodon to discover and explore your public profile, facilitating the expansion of your reach to new audiences, as stated by Meta.

AR Ads on Meta are expanding to two major products

Meta has introduced new advertising options to leverage the popularity of augmented reality (AR) and Reels.

AR Ads are currently being tested on Instagram Reels and Facebook Stories, in addition to their existing availability on Facebook Feed, Instagram Feed, and Instagram Stories. Meta is enhancing Reels ads by introducing larger call-to-action buttons and product carousels.

To improve insight into Reels ads performance, Meta has partnered with third-party ad measurement platforms Double Verify, IAS, and MOAT. These new advertising options will be gradually released in the upcoming months.

What does this mean for my brand?

These updates expand brand possibilities in capitalizing on the rising popularity of Reels and AR. By utilizing AR, brands can effectively target younger users, as evidenced by Sephora's testing of AR Reels ads, where over 50% of the ad's total audience consisted of Gen Z viewers. Reels ads now feature enhanced call-to-action buttons, including an ad thumbnail, headline, and additional business details such as the website URL. This provides valuable information to potential buyers and encourages clicks.

Moreover, the introduction of product carousels enables audiences to browse multiple products within the Reel they are viewing, eliminating the need to navigate away.

Twitter verification might not be as expensive as you think

Twitter's Verified Organisations program, as mentioned by Elon Musk, will introduce a more affordable tier designed specifically for small businesses.

Similar to Twitter Blue, Verified Organisations offers a gold tick badge and all the benefits of the premium subscription. Additionally, subscribers can add employees, associated characters, or mascots as affiliates.

The current subscription cost of $1000 USD per month, along with additional fees per affiliate, has posed a challenge for small businesses. However, Musk has announced that a cheaper tier will be available soon.

What does this mean for my brand?

While the upcoming low-cost option for small businesses on Twitter's Verified Organisations program is expected to be more affordable, it remains unclear how exactly "small business" will be defined.

It is important to note that with a lower cost, there may be a reduction in available benefits compared to the current offerings of Verified Organisations.

Upon the initial launch of the program, concerns were raised about the potential exacerbation of the disparity between big brands and small businesses on Twitter, potentially hindering the latter's visibility on the platform.

This new development aims to level the playing field, but further updates will provide more clarity. Stay tuned for more information.