Tips, Tricks and Hacks to Elevate Your Social Media

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, as a small business owner and entrepreneur, we know you have better things on your to-do list than to stare at social media and try to figure out the best way to maximize impact using the latest updates on all of the platforms.

That’s why if you’re behind on what’s new and trending on social and need a quick recap so you can get back to doing what you love — running your business — you’re in luck. We’re sharing the newest tips, tricks and hacks that you can use to elevate your social media presence without doing hours of your own research.

1. Keep your text and important content within the square when filming and editing Instagram Reels. There’s nothing worse than when you’re scrolling on Instagram and come across a Reel that you’re interested in only to start watching and can’t understand the message of the video because the text has been cut off on your feed.

This is truly one of the most important items to keep in mind when creating Reels for your own business.

Here’s a simple hack to make sure your text always shows on the feed: When adding text natively in Instagram, drag it around on the video to position it where you’d like. As you pull it close to the edges, you’ll notice that faint lines appear showing you where the cut off is. This means that if your text or another important element of the video is beyond this line, it won’t show when people watch the video on the feed.

2. Focus on numbers that matter. People often ask us what numbers really matter on social media.

Here’s a simple breakdown of reach versus impressions.

Reach is the unique number of people who lay eyes on your content.

So if your reach is 5,000, that means 5,000 different people saw what you posted.

Whereas impressions are the number of times that your content was displayed, regardless of who it was displayed to.

Impressions will always be higher than reach for this reason because there’s a chance that if someone is interested in something you posted, they may revisit a post more than once.

All of these views, though they’re the same set of eyes, count impressions. So — for example — there’s a chance that if your impressions are 5,000, that could mean that only 3,000 different people saw your post.

3. Modify the link sticker in Instagram Stories to ensure people click on it.

Do you have the link sticker? The word is that Instagram has rolled out link stickers in stories to accounts of all sizes. But how do you get that sticker clicked on?

Just adding the sticker simply doesn’t cut it.

Amp up the appeal of the link sticker feature by adding a strong call to action! You can even add a text overlay OVER the sticker — for example, “Click here for Free Shipping!” — and the click functionality still works.

4. Create promotional and evergreen content to use on TikTok and Instagram Reels. Trending content is always the preferred route to use on TikTok and Instagram Reels, but don’t let a lack of time stop you from posting on these channels all together.

We recommend filming promotional or evergreen content whenever you have spare time so that you can have this banked up for times in which you may get too busy to really put the time into creating trending content.

Always prioritize the trends when posting, but if you haven’t posted in two weeks because you simply don’t have the resources to jump on the trends, you can still post some form of a short form video which is still favored for organic reach.

5. Use emojis in email subjects. Let’s face it, our inboxes are all overflowing with emails we don’t have the time to read on a daily basis. Including an emoji in the subject line adds a “pop” of interest that differentiates your email from the hundreds of others!

This one small hack - using an emoji — will likely cause readers to stop the scroll and click on the one that grabs their attention… yours!

6. Check your filtered message requests on Instagram. We talk to a lot of business owners who aren’t aware that Instagram messages go to two places in their inbox. The first is obviously in the “All” folder that automatically appears when you open messages, however, a number of messages also get filtered into “Requests.”

To see the filtered messages that you’ve missed, click on “Requests” in the top right corner of your messages after “All” and “Room” to ensure you’re not missing anything from potential customers.

7. Get niche with your hashtags. Gone are the days of using generic hashtags to grow on social media. These generic tags have billions of posts attached to them and likely aren’t even curated enough to attract your target client.

That’s why we recommend using niche hashtags to help reach the people you truly want to reach.

For example, If your business sells skincare supplements, use a tailored hashtag like #skincaresupplements which on Instagram only has about 8,000 posts rather than just #supplements which has more than nine million posts. This is an effective way to really reach your ideal customer.

8. Update your profile image on social media networks.

How often should you update your profile pic? If it’s a picture of you, once a year is ample. While you may be tempted to show off the newest, most flattering photo of you, profile pictures are part of your branding and… consistency is key in branding.

So, when the temptation to update your profile pic hits, limit that change to once a year so that consumers keep seeing the easily recognizable profile pic they’ve come to know and love. If your profile pic is a logo, no need to change.

So there you have it — our November 2021 update on all things social media. If reading this list just left you feeling even more overwhelmed about your lack of time to dedicate to social, we’ve got you!

Contact us for a quick chat about how we can help you take your social to the next level.

Scary Social Media Facts

Navigating the world of social media can be overwhelming, frustrating and at times, frankly quite scary. If you’re looking for a good scare this spooky season, look no further. We’re sharing a number of social media facts that though frightening, aren’t meant to leave you trembling. Instead, we want to remind you that behind every scary statistic is an opportunity for your brand to grow and excel on social media.

Whether you’re a business owner, entrepreneur or social media manager, if you’re ready to take your social media to the next level, we’re sharing some scary social media facts and how you can use them to boost your brand’s social presence below.

1. TikTok users spend an average of 52 minutes per day on the platform, opening it up 8 times. (via Wallaroo Media) You can no longer afford to not be on TikTok, plain and simple. The platform is no longer only for teens dancing, it has become a serious player in the social media game and is allowing brands to reach potential customers organically. Plus, it has the power to make waves for your brand like it did for Aerie whose viral leggings sold out more than six times and had a wait list of 156,000 people. Or what about Neogen, whose viral pore moose sold out in four hours and had a 26,000-person waitlist. Or what about EOS, whose viral shaving cream amassed more than 15 million views and 4 million likes. The point is, if you’re not on TikTok, what are you waiting for?

2. 92% of videos on social media are consumed without sound. (via Invideo) This is why it is CRUCIAL that you always include captions for your videos. Whether it’s word for word using an app or simply a shortened synopsis of what you’re talking about, including copy in videos ensures the message you’re communicating is actually being heard… or in this case, read.

3. Video posts on social media get 48% more views on average. (via Invideo) If you’ve been avoiding Reels, TikToks and other forms of video on social media like the plague, this is your sign to give them a try. Even platforms that don’t necessarily peg themselves as “video” platforms are giving priority to both short and long form video on their users’ feeds. Organic reach and engagement are just waiting to be gained, so what do you have to lose?

4. More than 72% of the United States population is on Facebook. (via World Population Review) We hear it all too often when speaking with clients new and old, “Facebook is dead, it’s not important for my business.” But the numbers don’t lie and this couldn’t be further from the truth. Facebook is still a platform that offers huge reach to every age, location and demographic around. Plus, given that it’s one of the most popular networks that still offers in post linking capabilities, it’s a great place to get bang for your advertising buck.

5. On average, Instagram posts contain 10.7 hashtags. (via Oberlo) However, Instagram has recently come forward and said that using between 10-20 hashtags will not help with additional distribution. In fact, the platform has recommended that users stick to using between 3-5 niche specific hashtags to broaden discoverability. AKA the platform wants you to work smarter not harder.

So… did any of the above statistics scare you into considering a pivot for your social strategy? We hope they were able to breakdown any stereotypical views that you may have had regarding specific social platforms and types of content. However, if you now know you need to make a pivot but aren’t quite sure what that pivot should be, never fear. Contact us for a quick chat about how we can help you take your social to the next level.

7 Ways to Build a Community on Social Media

For many, social media feels like a race for likes, reach and overall engagement. What started as a way to stay connected, find your tribe and build a community has become a numbers game. Or is it?

Here’s a secret, the brands that are best succeeding on social media aren’t playing the numbers game, they’re allowing social media to do what it was designed for… building community.

If you’re ready to find meaning in your brand’s social again, you’re in luck. We’re sharing some of the top ways you can build a community and in turn create brand loyalty below.

1. Engage with your followers. People want their voices to be heard. Whether it’s by a brand or their favorite blogger, if your followers are putting in the effort to engage, engage back. Don’t let comments go unanswered, DMs go unresponded to or tagged content go unliked. Your followers will notice whether you’re actually interested in them as customers or whether your brand’s only desire is to make a quick sale. Make people feel heard.

2. Post with purpose. People don’t want to follow brands that only post about their products. Consider the benefits you can provide to your followers on social aside from product promotions and mix that in. Engaging content that your followers will find relatable and helpful to their daily lives is much more meaningful in building a loyal community than daily promotional posts.

3. Hold Q & A sessions in your stories. Whether these Q & As are hosted by the founder or the marketing manager, giving followers the opportunity to have their questions answered in real time can go a long way in building brand loyalty. Not only will it help your community feel more connected to your brand, but it can also give you a chance to respond to your most frequently asked questions, publicly.

4. Engage with similar or like-minded brands. Meaningful engagement goes far beyond simply responding to the interactions that you receive on your profile. Sharing the love and hyping up other similar or like-minded brands whose values align with yours can help to expand your community even further. Once you’ve forged relationships with said brands, the opportunities to team up and support one another will only grow.

5. Recognize recurring fans. If you’ve got a follower or followers who continuously take the time to comment on your posts, respond to your stories or message your brand, take the time to recognize them. Thank them for being such a loyal fan; it’ll go a long way.

6. Host meaningful giveaways. There’s no easier way to show your followers that you appreciate them than by adding meaningful giveaways into your social media calendar. Whether it’s after a successful product launch, during the holidays or just on a random weekday, hosting a giveaway is a simple way to give back to those that continue to support your brand.

7. Reshare user-generated content. Everyone loves a little free publicity. If your followers are taking the time to create beautiful content and tagging you in it, reshare it to your stories or even your static feed. Doing so gives your brand the chance to share additional content that you didn’t pay to create and also allows followers to feel seen.

Have you used any of these strategies to build a close-knit community on your social media? Do tell!

Or, if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the thought of creating a loyal brand following, contact us for a quick chat about how we can help you take your social to the next level.

4 New Social Media Features You Need to Know About

Social media is an ever-changing changing landscape. From new app updates to new apps in general, keeping up with what’s hot before it’s not can be exhausting. That’s why this month, we’ve done the hard work for you. We’re sharing four new social media features that you need to know about and implement for your business.

1. TikTok… It's not just for dancing anymore!

We've been shouting from the rooftops for ages that TikTok is the ideal place for brands to go viral, connect with audiences and build loyal followings. Now to top it all off, it's also a place for brands to sell products.

A new partnership with Shopify will allow brands with Shopify stores to add a shopping tab to their TikTok profile. Read all about it here.

2. Brands work hard to get to 10,000 followers so they can add the coveted swipe up link to their Instagram stories.

But have you ever noticed that the swipe up link doesn't really seem optimal for click throughs? You have to add a text overlay or swipe up sticker for followers to notice that your story includes the swipe up link and it's, frankly, easy to miss.

A new Instagram swipe up sticker hopes to change all of this by making embedded links in Instagram stories more obvious to the end user. This month, Instagram announced that it is removing the swipe up functionality and adding it to stories as a sticker instead.

3. Did you know that Facebook Reels was even a thing?

In an effort to slow down TikTok's growth and keep their competition at arm’s length, Facebook is embracing Reels. Facebook Reels will enable users to create and share Instagram Reels within the main Facebook app.

Once a reel is shared to Facebook, that reel will be displayed with the user's Instagram profile. This may provide some relief to brands who are finding growth more challenging than ever on Instagram and Facebook.

4. 60 Second reels are officially on Instagram!

In a not very surprising move, Instagram announced in July that 60 second reels are here for all users. Have you noticed?

We haven't seen a large number of longer reels but we have noticed that many of our clients have not yet gotten the benefit of this increase duration despite the Instagram announcement. Do you have 60 second reels yet? If so, what do you plan to do with them?

Have you seen success implementing any of these new features on your brand’s social? Do tell!

Or have you found a new social media feature that’s been changing the game for your brand? Spill the tea. There’s nothing we love like putting new apps and app features to the true test.

And if just one glance at this blog has you overwhelmed with how you’ll learn yet another new update, we’ve got you covered. Contact us for a quick chat about how we can help you take your social to the next level.

5 Reasons TikTok Marketing Matters to Your Business in 2021

TikTok has combined the growth of the mobile internet with the power of artificial intelligence -- found in TikTok's For You Page #fyp -- which is revolutionizing how consumers receive information on social media. That's why TikTok is one of the fastest-growing social media platforms in the world... and one you can't afford to ignore.

In short: TikTok is far more than lip syncing and dancing. So, does it matter to marketers? YES! In 2021 most marketers can benefit from investing in a TikTok presence. Here's why...

1. Reach Gen Z: TikTok is used primarily by people between the ages of 16 and 24. Specifically, more than 60% of TikTok users are comprised of Generation Z, which refers to users born after 1996.

2. Reach other generations and consumers in other counties: No, TikTok isn't just for Gen Z. In fact, nearly 38% of TikTok’s users within the US are over 30. TikTok allows businesses to gain massive exposure on a minimal budget. Plus, thanks to the expansive reach of this platform in countries outside of the US, TikTok is an affordable and accessible way to reach consumers across the globe.

3. Engagement: Tired of bemoaning your brand's shrinking engagement rates on Instagram? We hear you! What has happened to Instagram engagement over the past couple years is reminiscent of what happened to Facebook engagement back in about 2014. Marketers saw organic engagement plummet as Facebook made it clear that paid reach was the wave of the future. On the contrary, engagement rates are exceptionally high on TikTok. According to Influencer Marketing Hub, TikTok beats all other platforms when it comes to engagement levels across accounts of all sizes.

4. Go Viral: Going viral on TikTok appears to be easier than it is on other networks. Perhaps because of TikTok's unprecedented artificial intelligence which puts the right kind of content in front of the right kind of users. What does this mean? It means that TikTok has mastered showing users the type of content they are going to want to consume. This is gold for your brand.

5. For You Page: As mentioned above, one of the things we love most about TikTok as marketers is the amazing capability of their artificial intelligence to find the exact consumer you are looking for. Unlike other social networks where consumers often start on the social network by looking at posts from people they follow, most consumers start on TikTok's "For You" page... this is an ideal opportunity to get in front of people who don't follow you. The "For You" page is not posts from people you follow rather it is a collection of videos that TikTok thinks may interest you; hence the name "For You."

Thanks to the "For You" page, this video we created was seen by almost 500k people and since the video was about aging, most of those people were 40 or older. In other words, TikTok's artificial intelligence targeted this video towards not only consumers who would find it interesting but also somehow managed to target users above 40 on an app that's often said to be only for young people. Are you starting to see why we love the power of this artificial intelligence?

Or this video we created which managed to find its way to 200,000 people who live in a small part of the US - Northwest Indiana.

And our team member, Katie Kelly, has successfully used her TikTok to reach a hugely targeted group of consumers who love Aldi... yes, Aldi grocery stores... amassing a following of 72,000 Aldi enthusiasts as of July 2021.

Ready to get your brand on TikTok? We got you. Contact us for a quick chat about how we can help you drive revenue and exposure through this fast growing app.

5 Free Ways to Level Up Your Digital Marketing

In an increasingly digital, pay-for-play world, finding free ways to continue leveling up your business on social media can be a challenge. But just because it’s a challenge, doesn’t mean it’s impossible to do. Today, we’re sharing five free ways that you can level up your business’ digital marketing without spending a dime.

#1 & #2: Instagram Reels versus Stories

So what’s the difference between Reels and Stories, and how should you use them differently to grow your business? Reels are currently the best discovery tool on Instagram. If you've seen organic engagement plummet on Instagram, Reels can help. If you’re doing it right, compared to Stories you should be seeing exponentially more reach on Reels. Think of Reels as a discovery tool and Stories as a behind the scenes for your current followers. But don't underestimate the power of the Stories group. They are often buyers!

Reels Tips:

1. Hashtag Analytics: Instagram only recognizes hashtags in the caption, so if you want to see your hashtag analytics, put them in the caption.

2. Use music when possible.

3. Don’t have music? There are many apps you can use to get it for free. We like to use Videoleap or InShot.

4. Use text overlays and stickers — sparingly.

Stories Tips:

1. Tell a story.

2. Be casual -- don’t overthink it.

3. Layer hashtags and locations for added exposure.

4. Use polls and other interactive story stickers.

5. Reshare static feed posts to your Stories.

#3 Facebook Ads

Here’s the 411 on how to use them and how much to spend. 

1. Facebook reach is abysmal for most business pages so your entire Facebook strategy should likely center around using ads.

2. There is a common misconception that you shouldn't boost posts. This simply isn't true! However, what is a boost? A boosted post is simply an ad created from a post you’ve already shared on your Facebook page. Putting dollars behind an already created post can help to increase engagement and reach new audiences.

3. Targeting is the most important part of any ad campaign. Think location, age and interests. A tip we love from Neil Patel is to use the “who else would know formula.” 

4. Create video ads that look like they were created by a customer. The thought here is that people like viewing products and services from the point of view of the customer, so creating an ad that appears in this way will increase exposure.

5. Use the Facebook Ad Library to get more information about ads that you’ve seen.

#4 Email Marketing

Your email list is essential to your business and it’s crucial to make sure you keep growing it rather than focusing exclusively on social media. Here’s why…

1. You RENT social media; you own email and text lists.

2. For every one dollar spent on email, the average return is $42. Time to get aggressive about growing your list. For example, use:

   • Content upgrades

   • Gated content

   • Free shipping 

   • Product discounts

   • Contests

   • Pre-sale notifications

   • Social media -- and flipping the funnel ALWAYS.

3. Social media: When it comes to using social to grow your email list, Facebook is most effective with Instagram coming in at a close number two. When is the last time you posted something on social to generate email subscriptions; make this a STANDARD part of your social strategy.

#5 Calls to Action

ALL marketing materials should have a purpose and a related call to action. A strong CTA has to make sense for the network it's on which means you need different calls to action for different networks. This is one of the reasons, especially when we're talking about social media, that you don't just auto post the same content to each network. Always think about the engagement ladder, especially when it comes to social. A strong graphic or image grabs the consumer's attention, a well-written caption keeps their attention further and the grand finale is the call to action which invites the consumer to easily do what you want them to do.

Now that we’ve shared some ways you can level up your digital marketing for free, it’s likely that you’re questioning where should you begin these efforts. Here are our top recommendations in order of importance…

1. TikTok

2. Instagram | Focus on Reels with less emphasis on the platform as a whole

3. Pinterest

4. YouTube

5. Facebook | Invest in ads, but otherwise simply maintain the platform

6. Twitter

7. LinkedIn | Crucial for some industries

8. Clubhouse | Work to build this network up 

Are Social Media Holidays Dead?

In marketing, there's something called white space analysis. This means turning your attention to innovative content that's outside the box of what you would typically post. In a creative capacity, it's finding something to fit into the white space. It's not obvious. It's not expected. That's what makes it incredible. This is an ideal way to tap into opportunities and to go above and beyond what you see your competitors doing.

That's where social media holidays come in. There's nothing like finding an unconventional opportunity for your brand to maximize engagement. Need further convincing? Look at how Volkswagen found an opportunity on May 4 -- also known as Star Wars Day -- to innovatively market their brand.

Image via Volkswagen.

Now you're ready for inspiration, aren't you? Here's how to get started...

1. Plan: Naturally it all starts with a plan. Quarterly or even annually look at social media holidays and determine if there are opportunities your brand can embrace.

   We love nationaltoday.com, holidayinsights.com and foodimentary.com as all three serve as incredible resources for finding popular social media holidays as well as up-and-coming social media celebrations.

2. Brainstorm: Now, it's time to find outside of the box ways to jump in on the soon to be trending hashtags.

   Need help with compelling ideas? Contact us! Executing amazing social media campaigns for brands of all sizes is our passion. But, in case you want to get started on your own… The whole idea is to look for opportunities that seem as if they don't fit. That's where the genius happens like Volkswagen proved above. A cookie company posting on national cookie day is hardly innovative. But when Airbnb partnered with NASDAQ to "ring the bell," they brought to life exactly what it means to think outside the box. Watch and learn HERE. Feeling motivated? Great, because it's time to execute! And that, our friends, is step three.

3. Execute! Here's what to know about execution.

   Do use all relevant hashtags including any iteration of suggested hashtags. Also, do consider posting in advance of the big day or at least very early in the morning as changing social media algorithms impact when consumers will see your most recent posts. There's nothing worse than good news the day after the fact! And finally, do call on the experts. After all, you've got a business to run and our business is bringing your brand to life on social media. Contact us here; let's work together.

Website Basics: What You Need VS. What You Don't

Spring cleaning season has arrived, and if you’re looking for the perfect place to start with your business, we recommend your website. Today we’re talking smart navigation, social media handles, social media integration, fonts and more! Whether you are a new brand or a legacy brand, your website and its ease of use for consumers can mean the difference between landing a lifelong customer and losing a sale. Discover our top website basics tips below.

• Keep your target audience in mind. Change your perspective and pretend that you’re visiting your website for the first time as a user. Explore the different pages with fresh eyes to help you create a user-friendly website.

• Ensure your website is optimized for mobile devices. According to Orbelo, 55.56% of all web traffic comes through mobile phones. Make sure your website is not only mobile compatible, but optimized to perform on smartphones and tablets. You can check your website here.

• Incorporate social media handles. Encourage users to follow your brand on social media by creating highly visible social media icons above the fold. And most importantly, make sure they all actually connect to said network.

• Integrate social media. Technically speaking, “social media integration is the act of using social media accounts as an extension of your marketing strategy.” A few of our favorite ways to do so are by adding social sharing links to your blog posts, integrating the actual social feeds onto the website, using email campaigns to remind consumers of social channels and incorporating a branded hashtag to showcase a feed of posts from your followers and fans.

• Navigation should be simple to find and use. Due to the fact that navigation has a huge impact on traffic and conversions, it’s crucial to keep it on the same place on every page. Additionally, ensure that everything on your website is easily searchable. Readers shouldn’t have to spend more than a few seconds to find something.

• Consider the visual aesthetics:

  • Layout: When websites are cluttered, the viewer doesn't know where to direct their attention. But when it’s a well-organized layout, your viewer is guided directly where you want them to go. So consider where it is you’d like them to end up and organize your website accordingly.

  • Color scheme: Colors not only have strong psychological impact, but using too many will make your website design clash. The general design rule of thumb says to not use more than three colors, unless working with a brand palette in which case you might be able to use more.

  • Text placement: Don’t clutter your design with text. Break up long-form content on the website into readable chunks and don’t be afraid to use spacious design to do so.

  • Fonts: Just like color, less is more when it comes to fonts. Three is the ideal number which includes one for main headings, another for sub-headings, and the third for body text.

  • Images: Photos should be used sparingly to make an impact. After all, not only are images essentially unreadable by search engines, but large images can also delay your site’s loading time.

How to Successfully Launch Your Social Channels

So you’ve started your business, and you’re ready to drive revenue on social. But wait, before you rush into spending your hard earned money on social media advertising, it’s important that you take the time to launch your social channels thoughtfully and with purpose. We’re sharing our top tips for doing so below.

• Decide which networks you have the bandwidth to not only post on but to also create and manage a social community. Begin by identifying the audience you intend to reach and figure out which networks you can find them on.

• Next, create matching usernames. This is a crucial step because you want to be able to ensure that your audience can easily find you across all platforms. We recommend this website to help you verify that your brand name is available: namechk.com.

• This one may seem obvious but when it comes to your password — make them 12 to 16 characters long, don’t reuse them and store them in a safe spot for future reference.

• Have a basic bio, profile picture and header image ready to go for all networks, however, be open to customizing them as appropriate for each. Include hashtags in your bios except for Twitter where you don't really need one unless it’s branded.

• Decide what type of account you want for the networks you’re launching on. For example, Facebook has personal and business pages, as well as groups. Instagram on the other hand has personal accounts, business accounts and creator accounts. Take the time before setting them up to decide which is best for your brand.

• Write your social playbook. Think about items such as:

  • Does your brand refer to itself as “we” or “I”?

  • Are any words off-limits?

  • Will your brand opine on things like politics and religion? 

  • Will you respond to comments and if so, how often? 

  • How will your brand handle negative comments? Complaints? Customer service requests? 

  • What is your brand’s personality on social?

• Determine what success looks like on each network. We’d recommend starting with one measurable goal for each network.

• Create a social media strategy and plan out your content calendar for at least four weeks. The more ahead that you get, the less likely you are to skip posting because you just “don’t know what to post.”

• Have a plan for marketing your social accounts themselves. Think about ad spends, contests, subscriber emails, video content, etc.

• Invest time in creating valuable, compelling content before you start trying to build followers. Why would anyone follow you if there's nothing on your social accounts yet? Expect consumers to want to see valuable posts in order to hit the follow button.

• Automate like crazy, but humanize with your community management. Create a personal connection with those who engage.

Your social media accounts should be an extension of your brand. In following the above tips, your brand is sure to succeed in sharing meaningful content, creating engaging conversations and developing a loyal following.

Our Top Instagram Reels Tips

If you’re not using Instagram Reels, this is the sign you’ve been waiting for — DO IT! Not only are Instagram Reels available to everyone, but they boost organic reach and discovery which is followed by a higher engagement rate, and as a result, you’ll receive new followers. Within a short span of time, some Instagram Reels videos have already garnered more than 8 million views and a 13% higher engagement rate than other forms of content on Instagram. Check out our top Instagram Reels tips below.

• Watch what’s trending and put your own unique spin on it.

• Develop a strategy for your Instagram Reels and batch shoot content to save yourself time.

• Use a ring light and a tripod to make filming both seamless and more professional.

• Our favorite app for editing Instagram Reels and building out transitions is InShot.

• When choosing music for your Instagram Reels, make sure you’re following copyright guidelines.

• Have fun with filters.

• Add dynamic text that comes and goes for further explanation within your Instagram Reels for those that watch with the sound off. And when doing so — think square! If you plan on sharing your Reel on your profile, you’ll need to think inside the Instagram square because once it’s posted to your profile, the video will be cut into a square.

• When in doubt, save in drafts for additional editing.

• After finalizing your Instagram Reel, always save the video to your camera roll so you can repurpose the content on your social networks of choice.

• In terms of posting to Instagram, only add a cover photo if it’s a graphic overlay that explains what your Instagram Reel is about. Otherwise, the last thing you want to do is add a stock photo that will make it blend in with the rest of the content on your grid.

• Captions count. Don’t disregard a caption because the video takes centerstage... remember you are publishing this to your feed, too!

• On the same note, don’t forget to include hashtags with Instagram Reels.

• Stats indicate that between 3 and 4 pm is the best time range to post.

• Finally, don’t forget to share all of your Instagram Reels to stories for optimal reach.

Creating Instagram Guides

Have you ever wanted to give your followers an extensive list of tips and tricks or an in-depth how-to guide right on Instagram? Now you can! Cue Instagram Guides — the latest edition to everyone’s favorite platform. By curating these lists, you’re offering additional information that will hopefully inspire them to share your tips with their followers.

Whether you’re creating Instagram Guides as catalogs of your products, showcasing your business location through UGC, or providing tips and educational posts to your audience, there are so many creative ways you can use Instagram Guides to benefit both you and your followers. Wondering how to get started? We’re sharing the steps to do so below…

Steps to Create an Instagram Guide:

1. From your Instagram profile, tap on the + icon in the upper-right corner and select ‘Guide’ from the ‘Create New’ menu.

2. Next, choose the type of Instagram Guide you want to create and select your content from three options: Places, Products, or Posts. Note that guides only select content from feed posts and do not include Instagram Stories.

3. Tap ‘Next’ to the format page to set up the details for your guide. You must add a title for each Instagram Guide, and you will also have the option to change the cover photo for your guide. Although most Instagram posts are formatted to a 1:1 square, the guide cover is a 3:4 portrait size that crops your image accordingly.

4. To add more posts to the guide at this point, tap on the + ‘Add Posts’ option at the bottom of the formatting page.

5. You can rearrange or delete posts in your Instagram Guide, by tapping on the three-dot icon in the upper-right corner. Choose ‘Remove from Guide ‘to remove that individual post, or tap ‘Reorder Posts’ to drag and rearrange the posts.

6. Preview your Instagram Guide by hitting ‘Preview’ below the cover image before selecting ‘Share.”

7. Once you share your first Instagram guide, the Guide icon will appear on your profile.

Yes, it’s really that simple! In a perfect world, we would recommend that you plan out your Instagram Guides out before posting individual posts. Ready to get started? We’re sharing some sample ways that brands can use Instagram Guides below:

1. Gift guides

2. Collaborations with other brands

3. Partner spotlights

4. Recipes 

5. Places to go 

6. DIY tips

7. Influencer lists 

8. Product tutorials

9. FAQs 

10. Meet the team

11. Testimonials

12. Industry news

Images via The Verge.

How to Target and Analyze Facebook and Instagram Ad Performance?

When it comes to advertising, your dollars go further on social media. Point blank. But if you’re new to backing your brand financially on social, knowing how to get the best bang for your buck can feel overwhelming. We’re answering your most asked questions and breaking down the basics of how you can truly target and analyze your Facebook ad performance.

How does the connection between Facebook and Instagram matter when it comes to social ads?

Instagram audience profiles are built into Facebook’s data. So Facebook and Instagram share the data they collect about you with each other and with advertisers on their platforms.

What are the benefit of Instagram’s in-stream ads?

The best part about Instagram in-stream ads is that they aren’t intrusive to the average user. However, as a brand that’s a catch 22 because you may also see likes and engagement without conversions if you’re not careful. Think about how many times you just double-tapped on whatever you found in your feed without looking closely at what ad you’re tapping on.

What about Instagram stories? 

400 million people use Instagram stories every day and a third of the MOST VIEWED stories are from brands and businesses. So yes, Instagram stories ads can definitely convert. Here’s what we recommend…

• You can create a 15-second video ad with Facebook‘s creative hub or ads manager.

• A photo ad will play for five seconds whereas a video ad will play for 15 seconds — so choose wisely.

• Carousel ads allow companies to feature three to five pieces of photo or video content in a row.

• For stories, ads should be short and to the point with an easy to understand call to action.

Dollar for dollar looking at Instagram vs Facebook ads, where will your money go the furthest? 

We say Facebook ads. So does, WebFX, who says that the average cost per send for Facebook is less than $1 with Instagram coming in at $4. Here’s a tip: if your audience is on Facebook at all, you will probably pay less to reach them with an ad on Facebook. And while people love to say that Facebook skews older, Facebook actually reaches consumers of all ages. A younger demographic is on both Facebook and Instagram while an older demographic may only be on Facebook.

Where can I see all of the data on my Instagram ads above what I can see on Instagram insights?

You can get even more data than it is available on Instagram insights by going to Facebook Ads Manager to view the information for ads you’ve run on Instagram

How do I know if my ads are successful?

Do not judge by likes or comments, especially on Instagram. Vanity metrics are on the outs, it’s time we focused on what really matters like the number of targeted consumers your ads reach and how that reach converts to revenue.

How to Build a Social Media Calendar

Are you determined to make 2021 the year you finally take control of your brand’s social media calendar? While building out a social media calendar may seem intimidating at first due to the amount of time and energy that will initially need to be invested, doing so will greatly ease your burden and save you ample time in the long run.

Find out the steps we recommend, as well as our top tips, to mastering your social media calendar in the new year.

Step One: Figure out what is the goal of your social media marketing on each network. 

Step Two: Determine the types of content that will help you reach that goal.

Step Three: Decide how often to post and on which networks.

Step Four: Now, it’s time to plan.

Step Five: Implement your social media calendar flawlessly with scheduling tools. 

Now that you have actionable steps to take in order to build out your social media calendar, find out how to perfect your strategy with our top tips below…

Tip One: Don’t try to reinvent the wheel each week. The less complicated you make it, the more likely you are to stick to it. Choose weekly content buckets for your social media calendar and use them as a guided outline when creating posts each week.

Tip Two: When creating your weekly schedule, also source relevant, trending hashtags to match your content so you’re not in a rush to find them in the moment when you go to post each day.

Tip Three: Look at previous content from the past month or even the same time last year to see what type of content is resonating best with your audience. Use this as a guide and continue to implement this type of content into your social media calendar. For example, look at which holiday content performed best last year and emulate it.

Tip Four: When planning out your social media calendar, look ahead for upcoming social holidays and determine how you can work them into your content.

Tip Five: Include giveaways in your upcoming social media calendar. Planning these out in advance now only ensures that if you’re looking to partner with other brands that you can fit into their schedule, but it also allows you to schedule them around upcoming holidays.

Tip Six: Check out the social media accounts of brands that you admire both in and out of your industry. Consider why you gravitate toward their accounts. What are they doing well? What isn’t working for them? Do they evoke a certain feeling or portray a certain message that you want your followers to see or feel when they visit your social channels? 

Tip Seven: Automate your social media calendar when and where possible. If you don’t have the bandwidth to manually publish during your account’s optimal hours, look into scheduling software. This ensures you’re staying consistent with your content calendar and showing up for your audience. 

• Planoly - Free scheduling for 1 Instagram account, but you need to have a Facebook Business page connected

• Hootsuite - Free scheduling of up to 30 posts per month 

• UNUM - Allows you to plan out your content with images and copy, but you manually publish. This is a great option if you want to batch create your content but still prefer to publish the posts manually.

Social Advertising: How, When and Where to Spend Your Ad Dollars

It started on Facebook and spread to Instagram… the slow but steady downfall of organic reach on social. The more time goes on, the harder it becomes to get your content in front of people’s eyes for free.

But WAIT! Before you go deleting your brand’s social media accounts and thinking it’s not worth your time, think again. Social advertising is one of the most inexpensive and effective places to invest your brand’s marketing budget.

According to Disruptive Advertising, it’s even more affordable than Google AdWords, especially when ad campaigns are given a high relevance score, which means Facebook believes your ad is a good fit for your target audience, resulting in a lower cost per click.

We’re breaking down how, when and where you should consider spending your advertising dollars below:

Have a strategy behind every ad. Consider the following… who is my target? Will they be a cold audience or a warm audience? IE, do they already know my brand or am I introducing them to my brand? Which stage of the funnel are they in exactly? What is the goal of the campaign? Do I want leads, brand awareness, site traffic, sales, or something else? Don’t create an ad without a strategy.

Choose your ad’s objective for Facebook VS Instagram. Is your goal brand awareness? Reach? Website traffic? Engagement? App installs? Video views? Lead generation? Messages? Conversions? Catalog sales? Store visits? Decide what it is and create your ad based on that goal.

Decide what the goal of your call to action is. Does your call to action drive people to your profile, messages or website? Are you looking to grow followers and engagement or boost revenue?

Select your ad’s format. Consider what will perform best for each specific ad. It could be a single image, a video, a carousel or both. This also includes deciding where you want your ad to be displayed whether this is on the static feed, in stories or in messenger.

Get specific with target audiences. Create specific audiences and target based on locations, interests, age and gender. You should start creating your ad campaign with a strong idea of who you want to target—flesh that out beforehand.

Set a budget and use it efficiently. For clients on our most affordable packages, we set a monthly budget of $100 and boost every single post with roughly $2 to $5 per day. And just that small of an investment can really POWER UP your reach and results.

Evaluate whether your goals were met. What are your impression and reach? How many saves and shares did you have? How much revenue did you capture? What’s your cost per acquisition.

Double down on posts that perform well. Don’t be afraid to put more money behind a post once you see that it is performing well. On the flip side, monitor ads that aren’t performing and tweak them accordingly or even stop them, if need be.

If your ad is rejected, figure out why. You can appeal posts that were not originally approved if you build a strong case. If you win, your post will be boosted ASAP.

Do You Have a Digital Contingency Plan? How Brick and Mortars Need to Stay Ready for Online Sales.

If there’s anything we’ve learned over the past eight months, it’s that as business owners we need to be prepared for the unexpected. For brick and mortars especially, this time has taught us that having a digital contingency plan shouldn’t be a distant goal but rather one to focus on now… and FAST. However if you haven’t, there’s no better time than the present to create one.

A good digital contingency plan looks different for every business because it should be customized to your business. Can you charge for a virtual experience? Consulting? Zoom calls? Can you shoot new collections or launches with a socially distanced shoot? Can you offer curbside pick up or local delivery? Can you shorten your shipping time and offer free shipping? Can you use a social contest to get your social media followers involved and reward them for engagement?

Discover our top tips for creating your digital contingency plan below.

Embrace video:  Use Instagram Reels to land yourself on the Explore tab and gain new followers. You can use this feature to launch new collections, do try on sessions, show behind the scenes, sneak peeks, live interviews and more.

Keep inventory stocked: Make sure you have the inventory to make shopping easy and hassle-free for the end-user.

Cross-promote and co-create: Team up with a like-minded business for collabs to drive more traffic, engagement and followers.

Stay active on social: Don’t send the wrong message to your followers by leaving them wondering if you are open for business or not. Be quick on the draw with your DMs and comments to ensure your audience feels heard.

Create a content calendar: Stick to a set posting calendar. Frequency matters!

Use hashtags: Include a mix of custom and general in both your bio and posts to promote social sharing. You don't know what's working if you don't examine the data, so swipe up to your insights and see how many non-followers your posts are bringing to your feed. We like the Command App for further insights.

Include a call to action: Every social post should have a call to action. Tell your customers what it is that you want them to do.

Give back and talk about it: Serving your community in any way? Tell us about it. Use donate stickers in your stories and add a link to your bio so your audience can join in on your efforts.

Do YOU: Do not copy your competitors. Figure out what differentiates you and own it with every post.

When to Consider Outsourcing Your Social Media & Digital Marketing to an Agency

Ahh, it’s the age-old question our agency receives on a regular basis… “How do I know when I should consider outsourcing my digital marketing to an agency?” We might be biased, but if you ask us it’s likely we’ll respond that there’s no better time than the present. Truly though, we know for small businesses and brands, figuring out when to take the deep dive and really designate a chunk of your marketing budget toward hiring an agency can be a challenge. So below, you’ll find a list of questions you should consider asking yourself before making the decision…

Question 1: Is your social converting? Are you reaching the goals you set out for yourself or brand?

• If you have a well-documented brand voice, a good social media agency will be able to send you example copies for your approval until you feel at ease that they get it.

• If you’re still trying to find your brand voice and are at the beginning stages of this strategy, now isn’t exactly the best time to outsource your social media management.

• If you’re going to outsource anything, hire a social media consultant to help define your brand voice for social media and then take it from there.

Question 2: How much time do I have to devote to it?

• Social media is about more than throwing up a photo on your Instagram with a witty caption and an emoji. Ask yourself if you have time to do the following…

  • Develop an in-depth content strategy and calendar.

  • Track brand mentions.

  • Monitor community management.

  • Create social advertising and monitor it.

  • Keep up with constant content creation: both written and visual.

  • Review analytics and measure success.

Question 3: Do I know how to engage with my audience?

• In order to develop an effective social media marketing campaign, it’s crucial that you know who your target audience is and where they’re most active online.

• Additionally, it’s also important that you have a good understanding of who your competitors are and what they’re doing to draw in customers that should be yours.

Question 4: Do I have an established brand voice?

• Before you take the plunge into social, it’s important that you know and define your brand’s voice and personality.

• In getting to know your brand’s voice, it’s also equally as important that you know what calls to action will lead to the highest return on investment for your brand.

• Have you tapped into what’s trending in your industry so that your brand appears relevant and in the know?

Question 5: Do I have content or do I need content?

• If you’re struggling to figure out what content to post… it’s time, simple as that.

Question 6: Can I afford to outsource?

• Define what kind of outsourcing your brand needs.

• Make sure you understand how long the contract is.

• Figure out if you also have the budget for social media subscriptions and social media advertising, as both are crucial to the success of your partnership.

• Decide if on top of the budget, you also have the time. Working with an agency requires time on calls, time to review and edit content and time to analyze reports.

If you have the time, budget, and experience to create an in-house team or become one, then do so. It’s often much more costly to hire a full-time team with benefits versus outsourcing to an agency.