Weekly Resources: An overview of Instagram features
Are you wondering which Instagram features will work best for your business?
Learn more about them in one of this week’s resources I’ve found for you.
Click on each title to read the article.
(1) The Ultimate Guide to Instagram Features: Stories, Feed, IGTV, Reels
Content Marketing Institute
This is a helpful overview of the main features on Instagram. Start with your “feed” and then add other features (Stories, IGTV, or Reels) that work best for your business.
Your Feed is where visuals and text are important: “Words also have a key role in the feed. Instagram followers pay attention because of the images, but they stay because of the captions.”
Stories‘ appeal: “The fleeting, ephemeral nature invites a lighter approach…” and is a feature that can humanize your brand.
IGTV is for longer-form videos (in a vertical format) and has as its biggest competitor YouTube (which display videos in a landscape format).
The newest feature is Reels, Instagram’s competitor to TikTok, which means the target audience is usually Millenials and Gen Z. You’ll need pretty strong video content here, compared to the short videos shared on your Feed or in Stories.
Check out the full article and then let me know if you have questions 🙂
(2) End of Facebook Notes winds down Zuckerberg’s biggest flip-flop
Mark Schaefer
This update is going to be a big deal if you were using Facebook Notes to post and share content on your Page or Profile.
You may be seeing the message below if you’ve clicked on the “Notes” tab on your Page or Profile:
For many business owners, the Notes feature was a way to create long-form content in lieu of or in addition to your blog posts (since original content on Facebook historically received greater reach than sharing links to outside websites – like your blog).
If you were using the Notes feature in this way, what do you do now? It looks like you’ll really need to create your own website for your original content.
And in the bigger scheme of things, having control over your own website for original content is safer than relying on a social media platform.
If you’re thinking about creating your own website, there are some very affordable (and free) options available.
I’ve used WordPress and worked with web designers for some of our small business clients with a bigger budget, but check out this resource from CNET if your budget is smaller:
Best website builder for 2020: Squarespace, Wix and more compared
Contact me if you have any questions or want to strategize your website/blog.
(3) New Report Finds Snapchat, TikTok Outpace Instagram in Teen Popularity
Social Media Today
This survey found some interesting results: teens chose Snapchat and TikTok as their favorite Apps, but actual usage still puts Instagram in the lead.
(4) The Top Facebook Updates You Need to Know: September 2020
Hootsuite blog
The Hootsuite blog shares a helpful monthly wrap up that highlights top changes on Facebook.
(5) Facebook Announces New Mental Health Resource Center
Facebook News
Mental health issues are more challenging during the pandemic (and/or the direct result of it), so Facebook is putting together a new hub of helpful resources for users.
(6) Best Social Media Platforms for Business
Constant Contact
You can use this helpful Infographic as a starting point for your social media strategy when determining which of the major social platforms to spend your time and money on.
Have questions about any of the resources shared here? Or do you want to talk about a social media strategy for your small business or brand?
Contact me for a free consultation and I look forward to connecting with you!
