Simply Social Newsletter

Threads adds a new highly-requested feature, but ads aren’t arriving on the platform yet!

Threads has recently added a highly requested new feature. The feature lets users search for keywords, rather than just usernames. What does this mean for your brand, you may ask?

This means, users can find what content they are looking for, much quicker and easier. This is transforming Threads into almost a Twitter alternative. Although Zuckerberg has mentioned that ads will not arrive on the platform until it hits 1 billion users, and this may be quite a wait, this means the future of marketing could be on Threads. With users being able to search for content they’re interested in, brands may be able to target their ads towards their audience on Threads, when ads eventually arrive.

Brands and social media marketing agencies should definitely stay tuned and keep an eye on the platform, to see when ads are arriving. This could really take off as a marketing strategy and grow brand names in the future.

The latest algorithm is your best friend! Building a brand worth talking about means being original!

Some assume that you should target your brand to a very wide audience, and try to relate to everyone. However, everyone doesn’t have to get it, and being as original as possible - even if it means being a bit quirky - is the best way to go! The right audience will understand your brand, and this will lead to ultimately more brand loyalty and recognition. With extremely effective algorithms of today, trust that media platforms will target your content towards the right audience! Your uniqueness is your biggest strength!

A lot of popular brands don’t mind not being liked by everyone. Instead, they focus on the people which resonate most with the brand’s values. The brand creates content and targets it specifically toward them. They have been extremely successful in taking this approach.

Allow your brand to be original! 

Instagram polls and question stickers are working wonders for content creation! Involve your audience in the process of strategy planning

Testing the waters first is always best! Getting feedback and improving content from there, rather than going head first into content creation without any audience input, is a smart way of generating content which resonates with your target audience. 

For example, if your brand is taking part in a festival, or an event, it’s best to post a story perhaps with content filmed early at the event, asking the audience what else they’d like to see. This way, you don’t waste days creating content, for example a reel, with elements of the event that the audience aren’t interested in. Get their feedback early and go from there - it’s almost foolproof!

Simply guessing what your audience wants to see is never 100% accurate. Why not ask them for yourself and involve them in the process? This is just as important to the audience as it is to your brand. As a brand follower, you want to be entertained, and genuinely excited for what’s to come. Keep your audience intrigued and waiting for more!

Instagram algorithm update to benefit smaller creators and original content

Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, shared news about some key algorithm updates the platform will be rolling out over the next few months on how content will be ranked. These changes are meant to level the playing field for all creators, giving everyone a fairer shot at reaching new audiences by ‘rewarding’ original content on Instagram. 

What should I expect to see?

• A ranking that will give smaller creators more distribution, showcasing the top performing set of content to even wider audiences.
• Replacing reposts with original content in recommendations.
• Adding labels to reposted content, linking to the original creator.
• Removing content aggregators from recommendations.

3 tips to optimise your old video content

Don’t give up on content that isn’t getting as much attention or has lower engagement than the rest - you can bring your old content to life and attract new viewers with a few simple tweaks:

• Update the Title and Description: Your video's title and description are the first things people see when they come across your content. Use the right words to describe what you’re showing, and add relevant keywords so people can find it. Try to avoid using clickbait titles that overpromise and underdeliver, as they can drive up bounce rates and decrease viewing time.
• Design a New Thumbnail: Make sure your thumbnail is eye-catching and visually appealing to give viewers a clear idea of what your video is about. 
• Add Custom Timestamps: If your video covers multiple topics or has distinct sections, Break your video into parts and tell people where to find them. This makes it easier for them to watch what they want and can improve its search ranking for specific keywords. 

While these tips are mainly tailored to YouTube’s algorithm, the first two can be applied to other video platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, and even Facebook reels!