Welcome back to Spark Social Report by Spark Growth, your weekly source for social media updates! This week, Twitter expanded the character count to 4,000 characters with a Twitter Blue subscription, Instagram has removed live shopping, and TikTok has improved features for promoting posts. Continue reading for more updates across social media from this week!
Digital Marketing Insights
TikTok updated its insight tool by adding over 7,000 new data sets to provide more information for brands or advertisers. Check out the tool to filter for your specific audience. Here are some interesting statistics we found:
- TikTok in-feed ads are 23% more memorable than TV ads.
- 45% of users feel more connected to a brand when they provide new information or teaches them something.
- 28% of users believe TikTok inspires more impulse purchases than other platforms.
Use the tool by clicking here!
Say Goodbye to Live Stream Shopping
Live stream shopping on Instagram is being shut down on March 16, 2023. The feature allowed creators to tag products when live streaming as a way to monetize their content. This is popular in China but wasn’t as successful in the U.S. markets, so Instagram is moving on from the initiative to cut costs.
Updated Instagram Ad Transparency
Have you ever wondered why you’re seeing an ad on social media? Meta is updating its “Why am I seeing this ad?” tool to make it easier to understand how machine learning is used for ad recommendations. Updates include new examples and summarizations of topics to connect to relevant ads. Click here to learn more!
Broadcast Your Thoughts Using New Instagram Channels
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On his Instagram Story, Mark Zuckerberg announced a new feature called “Channels.” This is a broadcast chat feature that lets creators share public messages with their followers. On Channels, you can send text, images, polls, and reactions. Currently, only U.S. creators can make a Channel and followers can react or participate in polls. This feature could open up more opportunities as new elements are released and creators start finding effective ways to use the feature.
Virtual Gifts on Reels
The season of virtual gifting has come early this year. Instagram announced that all eligible U.S. creators could accept virtual gifts on Reels. Users can purchase a currency called “Stars,” which can be used to send gifts. Creators will receive a share of the revenue. This feature has been successful on TikTok and introduces a new way for creators to make money on the app!
Updated Features for Twitter Blue Subscribers
more words more words more words more words more words more words more words more words more words more words more words more words more words more words more words more words more words more words more words more words more words more words more words more words more words more…
— X (@X) February 8, 2023
Twitter Blue numbers aren’t as high as the company would like. New incentives have been announced recently to get more users to sign up.
First, Twitter Blue subscribers now get even more freedom with longer Tweets. Tweets up to 4,000 characters with Twitter Blue U.S. Without the subscription, users’ Tweets remain at 280 characters max. Twitter has always been known for its short character count so it will be interesting to see how Blue subscribers use this feature and if it changes some strategies on the platform.
Blue access is now expanded to new regions like Saudi Arabia, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, and Spain.
Blue subscribers are also eligible for ad revenue share for ads that appear in the creators’ reply threads. Essentially, users with interesting Tweets will be compensated for creating a discussion.
TikTok
New Promote Ad Tools
TikTok has added new features to its in-app advertising tool, Promote. First off, there are two new ad goals — promote profile visits or more messages — and these can also be used as CTAs in the ad. Secondly, brands can promote creator content such as a collaboration. Lastly, targeting based on audience location has been added. Check out TikTok for more details!
YouTube
Reply to Comments with a Short
A new element for YouTube Shorts enables users to reply to a comment with a Short. This feature is used often on TikTok and will most likely be just as successful on YouTube. Another update from YouTube has added a “join channel” button while watching Shorts, allowing users to easily subscribe to a channel membership.
Idea Pins Just Got Longer
Pinterest has expanded the length of Idea Pins to five minutes. Previously, users could only post up to 60 seconds so this is a significant extension. This could open up Pinterest to a new set of content types as creators can expand what they post.
New Status Features
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WhatsApp has launched new updates for Status, its story-like feature.
- New settings to update your privacy choices for each status post so you can change who can view your status.
- Voice status allows users to record and share voice messages for up to 30 seconds.
- Reply to a status with reactions by swiping up and choosing an emoji.
- Status profile ring is shown around a user’s profile picture when there is a new update.
- Post a link on status with a visual link preview.
The features are being rolled out globally and will be available in the coming weeks.
Features in Testing to Look Out For
TweetDeck, the Tweet management platform, could soon become a Twitter Blue exclusive feature, according to code found by Twitter Takeover News. You may be able to search your Twitter likes, bookmarks, and lists, sort your replies, and make timeline lists, as a Twitter developer is currently working on these features.
Instagram is testing a memory story feature that prompts users to re-share old posts that are archived. Meta could be exploring a paid checkmark subscription for Instagram and Facebook to follow Twitter’s inactivates.
TikTok
TikTok is working on a paywall video feature that would allow creators to charge users to watch a video for any amount they choose.
YouTube
YouTube is testing the ability to post up to four images in poll posts on the Community tab. This is being tested on Android, desktop, and iOS.
That wraps up the latest social media updates for this week! Be sure to check us out on Twitter for more digital marketing trends and news.
Interested in learning more about how social media marketing can grow your brand? Click the button below to connect with our team. Let’s discuss how we can help you reach your business objectives!
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