Social media has always been a useful marketing tool. But, like anything over time, change happens. In the last few months, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook all rolled out new features that are changing the social media game. Here's what you need to know.
Twitter's algorithmic feed
Twitter introduced a new algorithm that closely resembles the Facebook feed. Meaning, like Facebook, the posts at the top of your feed aren't necessarily the latest. When you open Twitter after being away, its algorithm will determine what tweets are most relevant to you and display them at the top of your feed. This feature is trying to keep Twitter users from missing out on the popular tweets they actually care about.
PR is all about keeping up with social trends and staying relevant. With this feature, you see the most pertinent content at the top of your feed without having to sift through any clutter.
Instagram's profile management and updated algorithm
The moment we've been waiting for is finally here: Instagram now has a feature that takes the pain out of managing multiple accounts. Since its launch in 2010, Instagram has only allowed users to log in with one set of credentials at a time. This meant that managing your personal and work accounts was a tedious process. With its new multi-account feature, you can now float seamlessly between accounts and share more at the touch of a button.
Instagram also recent announced that they are launching a new algorithm. Following Twitter and Facebook's lead, Instagram will reorder photos and videos on users' feeds based on their interests. With this new algorithm, you are less likely to miss out on the posts you want to see.
Facebook takes ¢likes' to a whole new level
With the rise of emojis, companies are finding more creative ways to integrate them into social media. Enter Facebook's new addition to the Like button. Not only can users ¢like' posts, but they can also choose from one of five additional reactions: love, haha, wow, sad and angry. This new feature provides a whole new way for people to truly engage with posts. It also means that marketers can now refine their social media content along the way based on peoples' reactions.
For example, if you are getting ¢loves' instead of ¢likes,' your posts are clearly on the right track. If you are attempting to use humor as a marketing strategy, but aren't receiving many ¢hahas,' then maybe it is best to adjust your approach and try something new. Are these reactions necessary for marketers to measure audience engagement? Maybe not, but they are helpful in providing instant feedback to evaluate how content is being received.
Do you love these new features, or hate them? Let us know in the comments below. If you're feeling unsure about your own social media strategy, download our free audit below!