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✨ NEW & NOTEWORTHY YouTube Shorts adds music video remixing as UMG goes silent on TikTok, which means creators can still use songs that are no longer on TikTok. 🎵 Instagram is now limiting the number of hashtags that some users can add to their posts, with 5 being the maximum you can include within a single update. 🏷️ Instagram is working on carousels within Reels, enabling users to post multiple videos and/or still images in a single Reels post. 🎞️ TikTok announces platform trend data integration with Adobe Express, with Express users now able to add the assistant as an add-on within the app. 📊 TikTok is testing an exclusive ‘Sub Space’ where LIVE creators can interact with subscribers. 🚀 Twitter/X has now officially announced its new “Creator Targeting” ad option, which will enable brands to sponsor selected creator content in the app. 📒 X is looking to further integrate its new “Grok” chatbot tool, by adding new Grok-generated descriptions of trending topics to the Explore page in the app. 🔧 LinkedIn has launched a new Media Planning API, aimed at agency partners, which will provide data sourced from LinkedIn, including user insights. 👀 #socialmedia #update #instagram #x #linkedin #tiktok #digitalmedia

Happy Friday! Check out the latest social media updates and creator economy news this week 👇 🎶 UMG’s music catalog is returning to TikTok after the two companies came to a new agreement ✨ Instagram has launched four new stickers for Stories; Add Yours Music, Frames, Reveal, and Cutout 💸 Meta is offering bonuses of up to $10,000 to select creators for posting on Threads 🚀 Instagram is introducing an update to its Reels algorithm to boost the reach of smaller creators 🥑 Alix Earle is the new face of JOE & THE JUICE’s breakfast campaign ❌ In an effort to reduce accounts that repost content, Instagram will be replacing reposted Reels with the original Reel in Recommendations, and penalizing accounts that continuously post content flagged as unoriginal 👾 LinkedIn has launched three competitive in-app games where you can see your high score, different leaderboards, and who in your networks has also played ⏰ Instagram is testing the ability to choose which 15 seconds of your Reel will be shown when you share it to your Story 📲 Instagram is working on a Clear Mode for Reels 🤖 TikTok has added new AI stickers for videos and Photo Mode posts

You know what's more memorable than a TikTok ad? Pretty much everything. But let's pretend for a moment that you actually want people to remember your ad because you're a masochist. The secret sauce? Sound. Yes, sound. Not that insipid background noise you usually get, but actual, engaging sound. Shocking, right? ✅ Use catchy music. It's TikTok, not a funeral. Nobody wants to see an ad with a monotone voice droning on. ✅ Incorporate trending sounds. If it’s viral, it’s probably worth including. ✅ Sync your visuals with the audio. People love a good lip-sync, even if it's an ad. ✅ Keep it short. If it’s longer than a sneeze, people will scroll past. ✅ Test different sounds. What works for one ad might not work for another. It’s called experimentation, not rocket science. ❌ Don’t use copyrighted music without permission. Unless you fancy a lawsuit. ❌ Don’t blast the volume. We’re trying to get their attention, not burst their eardrums. ❌ Don’t ignore captions. Some people watch on mute, and, believe it or not, they deserve your attention too. ❌ Don’t be monotonous. If people wanted to be bored, they’d watch paint dry (and/or watch Instagram Reels). ❌ Don’t skip the analysis. Check what’s working and what isn’t. No one ever got ahead by sticking their head in the sand. What crazy or brilliant sound tactics have you tried in your TikTok ads? #TikTokAds #SocialMediaMarketing #SoundOn

1,000 Reels, Millions of Ears Imagine your song soundtracking 1000 Reels, each expertly crafted by a master editor. That's the power you unlock when you tap into the magic of niche Instagram creators. We're talking specialists who weave trending web series and movie clips into captivating stories – stories that captivate a massive audience. Here's what happens when you promote your new song to 1,000 of these creators, each averaging 100,000 Reel views: Exponential Reach: With millions of potential viewers, your song could skyrocket to viral fame. Authentic Engagement: Creators breathe life into your music, fostering genuine connections with their audience. Trendsetting Power: These masters of the format know how to tap into trending visuals, propelling your song to the forefront of the cultural conversation. Stop blasting generic ads. Start a targeted music revolution. We've handpicked 1,000 Instagram accounts, boasting average Reel views ranging from 100k to a 1 million. With a single contact through us, you can promote your song on these powerful platforms. Comment below or DM us to get started! P.S. Spots are limited, so don't miss out!

It's that time of the week again! Get your weekly round up of the top social media news with Five on Fire on Friday 👇 Hottest stories this week 🔥 🎵 YouTube Adds Option to Save Music from Shorts YouTube will now enable creators to save music from the Shorts feed, so that you can reuse Shorts audio in different applications. Now, you’ll be able to “Save Music” direct from the Shorts UI, which will then add that audio to your chosen sounds folder. https://lnkd.in/gC5nGNPB 🔗 X Is Testing an Option to Block Links in Your Post Replies X doesn’t want its users to click on referral links, and head away from its site, which is why it’s already downgraded the reach of posts with links, changed the way that link previews are displayed in stream, and added native long-form posting options as a replacement. X is experimenting with a new option that would enable users to stop people from adding links to post replies in the app. 📷 Instagram Expands Notes to Reels and Feed Posts Instagram has announced another expansion of its Notes messaging feature, with users now able to leave Notes on both Reels and feed posts in the app. Followers are now able to add a note from the messaging menu, providing another way to interact with friends. https://lnkd.in/dKbGqrbN https://lnkd.in/gRJ38qVV 📱 Instagram Tests Making the Messaging Icon the Main Focus Over time, more and more engagement on Instagram is shifting to DMs, which Instagram is now trying to lean into with new features like Notes, that are aligned with more private sharing. And it’s also experimenting with an even more significant change in this respect, with some users now seeing a new messaging icon in the lower function bar in the app. Some users are seeing the messaging and post creation icons switched in the main UI, with the ‘+’ creation button moved to the top right, and the messaging paper plane highlighted at the centre of the lower function panel. https://lnkd.in/gKat_B5V 🎥 X Tests Auto Advance Mode for Video Viewing X is testing a new option that would enable users to keep X videos flowing through, without having to manually swipe to the next clip. As you can see in this example, shared by X News Daily, X is testing out a new “Auto Advance” option for video playback, which, as it sounds, would automatically switch to the next video upload in-stream at the end of each clip. https://lnkd.in/d9PZ36uY

🚀 Stay in the loop with our monthly social media updates! 📲 Here's what's been buzzing lately: ➡️ YouTube Ads New Music Remix Options for Shorts. 🎶 Missed out on tracks from Universal Music? No worries! YouTube's got you covered with new music remix options for Shorts. Tap the "Remix" button on any music video clip to create your own rendition right in the app! Get ready to unleash your creativity. ➡️Threads is testing a new option to save posts. 🔜 Threads is testing a new "Save" option, making it easier to bookmark your favorite posts. Keep an eye out for this handy feature in the 3 dots menu. Your saved posts will be readily accessible from your profile menu. (Psst... it's still in the testing phase, so not everyone might see it just yet!) ➡️ TikTok's New Search Shortcut 🔎 Discover TikTok content with ease! TikTok now prompts users to download a dedicated search shortcut, simplifying your browsing experience. Could this be the start of TikTok's journey towards becoming a shopping destination? 🛍️ #StayTuned ➡️ Instagram's Custom Stickers from Still Images: 🤯 Spice up your IG Stories & Reels with custom, branded stickers! Now you can create cutout stickers from any static image posted on IG. Simply activate the feature from the 3 dots menu, let IG identify the focus entity in the image, and voila! Your custom sticker is ready to shine. ✨ ➡️ TikTok's Improved Text Size Options: 👏 Say goodbye to squinting! TikTok rolls out new text size options for improved accessibility. Easily adjust your text size within the app settings and enjoy a more comfortable viewing experience. It's the little things that make a big difference! 📝 Don't miss out on the latest social media trends - keep following for more updates! 💫 #SocialMediaUpdates #StayConnected #socialmediaagency #socialmedia #marketing #socialmediatrends

Social media updates you *need* to know ⬇️ As always, there has been a lot of changes in the world of social media recently, here’s a quick update to keep you in the loop! 👉🏼 Instagram will be rewarding and prioritising original content, by replacing aggregators and reposted content 👉🏼 Instagram have announced a change to reels that will improve reach for smaller creators, and the algorithm will amplify recommendations to creator-led content 👉🏼 Instagram has confirmed that ‘notes’ will soon be displayed on user profiles. We’re wondering if this could be rolled out to business accounts in the future! 👉🏼 There are rumours of TikTok using AI to clone your voice! This could be a game changer for voiceovers. 👉🏼 TikTok have reunited with Universal, creators will once again have access to a larger music library 👉🏼 We're seeing a higher % of clicks when a link is provided in a DM, as opposed to links in bio What do you think, have you spotted anything new? Comment below and let us know 👀 #digitalmarketing #onlinemarketing #socialmediamarketing #socialmedia #socialupdates #marketingdigital #herefordshiremarketing #marketingagency #socialmediatips

SoundCloud I think in app advertising goes a long way it works well on instagram and could work robustly with the discovery feed Something along the lines of a relative artists sound like by the algorithm and things of that nature I’m waiting on it and it would go a long ways beyond even bought streams It’ll put money towards organic listeners guaranteed and add revenue too the platform As a #successfulsoundcloud rapper singer I’d enjoy it throughly I choose too use established apps for maintanence reasons and other concerns However as a power user this would go a great way too get you heard and in front of your niche audience based on who you listen too for example It could like instagram take my plays too the hundreds of thousands per song and the next level Next survey I’ll be glad amongst the others asked too talk more on it (I do not work for SoundCloud directly or internally I am a power user of the application and only work as a surveyor and also a user voice) (An example also email me #soundcloud I’ve filled out 6 of these for various amounts and can’t find the email too follow up also I do sign NDAs being a public person I can also understand that and keep things too myself “sealed lip for business reasons” or “working o something’s and that’s it” type of talk fyi)

YouTube is to social media what Brandy is to the music industry: always consistent and inspiring others. Anyone deep in the social space knows TikTok isn’t the first to try to go down the YT route. It’s why FB introduced video. IG tried it with IGTV and horribly fumbled the ball (which I wrote about for AdWeek once upon a time). “Turning a TikTok on its side relies on getting viewers to do the same,” the article says. This is a moot observation. Even Gen Alpha is comfortable with horizontal content. My niece, 6 years old, watches kidz vidz on YouTube horizontally. These videos are on TVs, iPads, and/or iPhones which always displays the content horizontally. This orientation shouldn’t concern any marketer from a consumer behavior standpoint. One of the biggest concerns, though? How social media is becoming the act of dipping a red Solo cup in a bathtub full of ratchet jungle juice. Who knows what you’re gonna get. 😮💨

🚨 Is TikTok Facing a Major Setback? 🚨 At the start of this week, we look at how TikTok is welcoming a new avenue for direct social media sales. However, there is recent bombshell news that hasn’t been discussed much and could mean that it might be over for TikTok marketing just as it's begun to cement. Universal Music, one of the three major music labels has pulled out of the platform, meaning approximately 80% of the music on there is gone. Music is such a big part of the way users engage with the platform, and is a huge way that trends kick off there, so to have such a colossal portion of it taken away could lead to drastic changes to its user base and future marketing opportunities. To quote an article from the Guardian, "TikTok themselves says that engagement time has cratered, confirming that users want to hear big songs and participate in their associated trends." Users might come off the app and go to alternative short-form video tools like Instagram Reels or YouTube Shorts, so the key takeaway is to not put all your eggs in one basket. When you're uploading on TikTok, also upload your short-form videos on these platforms. #TikTok #DigitalMarketing #SocialMediaMarketing #TikTokInsights