#instagram algorithm update 2023

[anaquariusfox]

I spent the evening looking into this AI shit and made a wee informative post of the information I found and thought all artists would be interested and maybe help yall?

edit: forgot to mention Glaze and Nightshade to alter/disrupt AI from taking your work into their machines. You can use these and post and it will apparently mess up the AI and it wont take your content into it's machine!

edit: ArtStation is not AI free! So make sure to read that when signing up if you do! (this post is also on twt)

[Image descriptions: A series of infographics titled: “Opt Out AI: [Social Media] and what I found.” The title image shows a drawing of a person holding up a stack of papers where the first says, ‘Terms of Service’ and the rest have logos for various social media sites and are falling onto the floor. Long transcriptions follow.

Instagram/Meta (I have to assume Facebook).

Hard for all users to locate the “opt out” options. The option has been known to move locations.

You have to click the opt out link to submit a request to opt out of the AI scraping. *You have to submit screenshots of your work/face/content you posted to the app, is curretnly being used in AI. If you do not have this, they will deny you.

Users are saying after being rejected, are being “meta blocked”

People’s requests are being accepted but they still have doubts that their content won’t be taken anyways.

Twitter/X

As of August 2023, Twitter’s ToS update:

“Twitter has the right to use any content that users post on its platform to train its AI models, and that users grant Twitter a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to do so.”

There isn’t much to say. They’re doing the same thing Instagram is doing (to my understanding) and we can’t even opt out.

Tumblr

They also take your data and content and sell it to AI models.

But you’re in luck!

It is very simply to opt out (Wow. Thank Gods)

Opt out on Desktop: click on your blog > blog settings > scroll til you see visibility options and it’ll be the last option to toggle

Out out of Mobile: click your blog > scroll then click visibility > toggle opt out option

TikTok

I took time skim their ToS and under “How We Use Your Information” and towards the end of the long list: “To train and improve our technology, such as our machine learning models and algorithms.”

Regarding data collected; they will only not sell your data when “where restricted by applicable law”. That is not many countries. You can refuse/disable some cookies by going into settings > ads > turn off targeted ads.

I couldn’t find much in AI besides “our machine learning models” which I think is the same thing.

What to do?

In this age of the internet, it’s scary! But you have options and can pick which are best for you!

Accepting these platforms collection of not only your artwork, but your face! And not only your faces but the faces of those in your photos. Your friends and family. Some of those family members are children! Some of those faces are minors! I shudder to think what darker purposes those faces could be used for.

Opt out where you can! Be mindful and know the content you are posting is at risk of being loaded to AI if unable to opt out.

Fully delete (not archive) your content/accounts with these platforms. I know it takes up to 90 days for instagram to “delete” your information. And even keep it for “legal” purposes like legal prevention.

Use lesser known social media platforms! Some examples are; Signal, Mastodon, Diaspora, et. As well as art platforms: Artfol, Cara, ArtStation, etc.

The last drawing shows the same person as the title saying, ‘I am, by no means, a ToS autistic! So feel free to share any relatable information to these topics via reply or qrt!

I just wanted to share the information I found while searching for my own answers cause I’m sure people have the same questions as me.’ \End description] (thank you @a-captions-blog!)

[ferrstappen]

max the extra wag l Max Verstappen

a/n: this is so bad im sorry but it just came to my mind! I hope to post the second part of the Lando break up series tomorrow, hopefully after he gets on the podium!!!!

pairing: Max Verstappen x female reader

genre: fluff

FIND THE REST OF MAX THE WAG SERIES HERE

summary: you can't keep up with all the drama outside the track, but your boyfriend keeps you updated.

It's not like you didn't check social media or that your algorithm didn't show you edits of your boyfriend driving, trauma dumping, looking cute and hot as always, but after a couple of weeks being exploited as an intern, you didn't really have the time to keep up with the usual gossip from Max's work.

Monaco GP, 2023

It was great to be home. The best of the Monaco Grand Prix was that you could sleep on your own bed, you and Max could walk back home hand in hand, stopping to buy things you may need: sweets to fill your purse to binge while sitting on the garage, the special herbal blend Max liked to have before going to bed, condoms because the last box was almost empty.

Adored and precious routine. almost.

You had to admit Monaco made you a little more nervous, not only because of the narrow streets, but a lot of important, well-known people were all over the place, and Max was the center of it all. Even after years of relationship, you still felt nervous when he looked at your with glowing eyes.

This is my girlfriend, (y/n). She has this great internship because she's the best of her class. I'm sure you've met before.

When all that was over, you chatted a bit with known photographers from the paddock, and right when you were speaking to one of them, you noticed the special white and red look of Charles Leclerc, walking hand in hand with a girl.

It didn't catch your attention immediately, but when you were back home, comfortably sitting on your bed reading an article for work while Max viewed the photographs of the day, the image sneaked in your thoughts.

"You didn't tell me about Charles and Charlotte!" you released the statement a bit harsher than expected, Max's eyebrows furrowing.

"Tell you what?" Max was confused and his face showed it, it was funny.

"Charles Leclerc? Charlotte Siné? Sounds familiar?" you said playfully rolling your eyes.

"I know who they are, schat, but I don't know the thing I was supposed to tell you about? They broke up months ago, they even announced it on instagram, although it was completely unnecessary if you ask me," The last sentence painted a smile on your face, recognizing the change of the tone of his voice, posture and facial expressions, he was ready to gossip.

"But I saw them walking together today! They were walking towards the Ferrari garage, they were holding hands and everything!"

Right in that moment, you observed how his expression changed before realizing a chuckle, his loud and gorgeous laugh that instantly made your insides flutter because it came from his stomach, his lungs; the purest laugh, your favorite.

"She is his new girlfriend, babe," Max told you and your jaw dropped. "Checo said the same thing to me and Daniel when they walked in together for the first time, Checo was sure it was Charlotte until Charles introduced us before the press conference," Now he was in full gossip mode: sitting straighter, phone left behind, blue eyes open wide.

"I'm speechless," you told him, repeating what you saw in the morning over and over again, but your feelings suddenly deviated from surprise to betrayal, playfully hitting Max's thigh. "Honey, why didn't you tell me that sooner?!"

Barcelona GP, 2023

Today you entered the paddock alone, coming straight from the hotel room after landing just an hour ago. You were sad to miss Friday, but your boss said it was vital for you to be in the office on Friday, insisting the meetings couldn't be held on Zoom.

You knew it was because he's a Mercedes fan and hoped Max would be distracted without having you there.

As if. your presence wasn't very vital during the weekend and you were well aware of it.

Admiring the amount of fans cheering for their favorite drivers, a sea of red Ferrari merchandising and flags, you walked by the Ferrari garage to greet Carlos, letting him know you (and Max) were cheering for him to get P2.

P1 belonged to your boyfriend, always.

Quickly scanning the drivers lounge you noticed the Sainz family, very close to each other, Carlos Sainz Sr. listening to everything the engineers were saying about his son's strategy and car.

But something was missing, and it was easy to notice because every friend and family of Carlos was there.

With that idea roaming, you reached your destination, grabbing a sugar free Red Bull before finding your boyfriend with his suit hanging from his hips, tightly hugging him from his waist while carefully extending your neck to meet his lips.

Max was required to stay longer on the track, Christian letting him know they added a meeting to discuss strategy because of the changing wether.

This left you with almost an hour to kill; your head resting on his thighs as he carefully juggling.

"Max, have you heard anything from the party last week? after the gp?" this got Max's attention, already knowing you had a piece of information.

"I know Lando almost hooked up with a girl from Latin America, from Chile I think? but nothing happened because his brother was staying on his flat. Charles and... ex girlfriend 2.0? made it official. Checo didn't go anywhere because last year still haunts him..." Max was mentally remembering every piece of information he'd heard during the week. "Oh, and I think Carlos was with a girl that wasn't his girlfriend? Christian said they didn't do anything, but Max Fewtrell said they left together,"

"Interesting because you know who's not in the Ferrari garage? at his home race? Isa," You told Max, which caused him to drop the colorful balls he was juggling.

"No! So it's true? he cheated?" He whisper shouted.

"Maybe they've been broken up for some time, now that I think about it I haven't seen her since testing?"

Neither Max nor you heard when someone walked in, calling for Max. Because now Max's head was resting on your legs as your fingers caressed his hair, his hands moving around as he came up with a possible theory, tying loose ends and trying to remember anything he'd heard.

The subject was forgotten once you arrived to the hotel room; lights off, eyes almost closing, but Max gasped when he remembered something Alonso mentioned during a press conference, apparently after hearing Lance talking with Esteban.

"Lance said Esteban and his girlfriend are over, do you think it's true?" Max asked you, and this brought up another thing.

"Did you hear anything about Lance cheating or whatever at his sister's wedding?" now you asked him, bodies coming closer to each other.

Now sleep was long forgotten and the only important thing was the gossipy whispers, the loud giggle leaving Max's lips when something sounded too ridiculous, and the security of knowing you'd never be the subject of those rumors.

[hiveworks]

Hiveworks x InkBlot Partnership & Interview with CEO Jay Brown

June 2023

Hiveworks is proud to announce our partnership with InkBlot! InkBlot is a new queer-run and artist-made social platform for creators and their audiences, with similar vibes to DeviantArt or Pixiv.

We are so excited to help an emerging platform by providing advertising support, working together to help the webcomic community grow with one of the things we do best.

We asked InkBlot CEO Jay Brown to talk with us more about InkBlot, its origins and its future.

. 🦋🐝.

How did the idea for InkBlot originate?

InkBlot started on a call with some friends of mine. I was upset and talking about how social media at that time (and unfortunately still even now) had been suppressing creators. Instagram was my biggest source for my other company selling my designs and merch. It still is, but the reach is minimal and nothing compared to how it was 4 years ago. Then, on top of that, DeviantArt hadn't been listening to its user base about an update they were rolling out. As a person that doesn't like to talk about it but be about it, I set to work making wireframes and getting ideas for InkBlot, building the prototype at my kitchen counter.

We're seeing a cultural shift in how people interact with social media. How would you describe InkBlot's place in the future digital landscape?

InkBlot is certainly a social space for creators and lovers of the arts, and I think I like to really emphasize that it is a community space. It is first and foremost a space that will cater to a specific community and the supporters of that community. It is NOT Twitter. We will never be like Twitter, nor do we want to. There are estimated to be about 16 million people around the world that take part in the creative arts. This doesn’t include music, writing, animation, or comics (source? Trust me– jk Global Art Market). So with that being said, InkBlot exists for a large group of people, mainly artists, but also slowly expanding into other areas like music, voice acting, writing. That’s why we refer to users as creatives/creators, and I quite frankly don’t think it matters if we cater to a niche. This niche is huge and life is one big canvas. In this day and age, the internet is very hostile to creators, especially ones that cannot keep up with the algorithms that consume and churn ‘content’ at paces faster than creatives can make them. InkBlot is here to slow things down, have people enjoy the process and connect with others that do the same.

What is missing from artists' online experience that InkBlot aims to fulfill?

Community. The creative community has been shattered into so many different parts of the internet. We have taken residence in places that weren't made for us and still don’t even think of us. We are stronger together, and InkBlot is here to make a permanent home that is built by and owned by the community.

From an adult artist perspective, InkBlot's content guidelines are pretty clear and generous compared to other content hosting sites. What motivated this decision?

There is really nothing more important than keeping every part of the community. This includes the NSFW/adult spaces. The content guidelines are shaped to still allow for the freedom of the arts. You cannot say you are a space for the community, yet completely cut out a part of it. So many spaces have forced out the NSFW community and with it has also scorched the LGBTQIA+ community. There is something deeper here about this, but I won't write an essay. In short, it is important to keep all parts of the community regardless if it's SFW or NSFW.

Hiveworks is also a queer-run, artist-made organization, with a focus on webcomics. What is your perspective on the value of queer spaces online, particularly for creatives?

It is super important. In a world where queer folks are constantly ‘up for debate’ and our existence is a ‘political ticket’, we need to have a space online for ourselves. It is so very important to have a safe space in a world that constantly tries to erase us. Spaces like Hiveworks and InkBlot give people hope. It gives people a chance to connect with other queer creators and find that they aren’t alone. Making media that is queer is more important than ever right now. Even if it is just one person, it can save someone.

Speaking of comics, do you have a favorite comic (print or digital) or a recently read recommendation?

I am a big fan of Novae by KaiJu, Lies Within by Lacey & Golden Shrike by doeprince

For people who want to see InkBlot grow, what is the best way for them to support you?

The biggest thing is getting the word out about InkBlot and USING IT! Use it, even if it’s just once or twice a week. We need to know what people want to see, how it differs from what people use now, or if we should make it similar to those other tools. Of course, we are user-funded so supporting us through our Kofi or on-site premium works, too! Lastly, give us patience! Rome wasn’t built in a day.

PS: Bee on the lookout! InkBlot users will notice that Hiveworks creators on the site have a little bee badge to help make identifying your fave creators easier!

Badge artist: Ray Armstrong

[bluemooniegif]

wanna donate to a palestinian relief fund, but don't have any money? me too! I have a solution:

I regularly earn between $100-$250 AUD a month with youtube's monetisation program. I don't need this money to live: I've always worked a regular job and just uploaded for fun

so I'm in a position where I have 59 monetised videos, and no need to keep any of the money. the last time I used only a portion of my monthly revenue to buy 2 7-day esims, and donate leftover cash to Care for Gaza

this time, I won't be keeping anything! but I need your help to make sure I earn as much as possible! this is my estimated revenue, right now:

so, what can we do to boost it?

first: watch each video without skipping ads. the longer the video, the more ads, and the more it will earn

second: try not to watch anything multiple times in a row! this shouldn't be a huge issue, but it is known to affect views

third: avoid these videos (unless ur super keen ig slkdjafj) because they're NOT monetised and won't earn anything:

fourth: remember to comment and share the other videos so they're boosted by the algorithm! this will help other people find them, which will bring in more revenue (if you can, comment something about the video topic to make it less sus)

and finally, these are the longest videos on my channel:

My Year in Media: 2023 Wrap-up (1 hour 12 minutes)

Costume Design in Bungou Stray Dogs: Coat Theory and Beyond (39 minutes)

Dazai Osamu: a Reflection of No Longer Human (32 minutes)

there is NO expectation for you to subscribe or even interact with me when this is over! I will continually update everything on my Twitter and Instagram for full accountability. if you have a specific fund in mind that you'd like me to donate to, let me know!

[cindylouwho-2]

RECENT SEO & MARKETING NEWS FOR ECOMMERCE, March 2024

Welcome to my roundup of SEO and marketing news and useful resources for ecommerce businesses, March edition. There is a lot going on with Google, and some really strong marketing pieces this time around, so let's get right to it.

SEO: GOOGLE & OTHER SEARCH ENGINES 

Google launched both a core algorithm update and spam updates on March 5, with the spam update ending on the 20th. Core updates now include the Helpful Content algorithm. In early observations, Etsy and Reddit both picked up visibility in the UK. 

The Helpful Content algorithm updates late last year destroyed a lot of sites’ Google traffic. Avoid the things they had in common.  You can read the full study here. 

Ecommerce sites were some of the biggest losers in Google visibility in 2023, with Amazon, Walmart, eBay, Etsy, Target and Best Buy in the top 10 of sites whose Google appearances slipped. 

New to Google SEO? They’ve revamped their SEO starter guide for people like you. And if you are more advanced and want to learn how to optimize your website product pages, this is a good overview. 

This lengthy article on backlinks for ecommerce websites covers pretty much all the angles, including the really difficult ones. 

Reminder that if you want to rank on Google for a search term, you need to look at what is already ranking, and make decisions based on that content. [video and transcript] This works for most search engines, not just Google. 

Yes, Google crawls “high quality” content more often. I used to refer to this as Google thinking the page is “interesting”, so I guess I will need to change my wording...

While Google sends the most traffic to websites, people spend a lot more of their online time elsewhere. Market where people are, not just where your stats say they came from. 

Sadly, Google has stopped providing caches of website pages in its search results. While you can still see the caches of some pages by using the Google search Cache:[page link] as in cache:https://cindylouwho-2.tumblr.com that will eventually stop working as well. Bing still provides caches, but unfortunately both it and the Wayback Machine do not crawl often enough to give really recent results most of the time. 

Missed Google news in February? Here’s your update. And just in case you are really behind, here is January. 

Not Google

Unsure if your website has enough good backlinks? Bing Webmaster Tools will now tell you if you don’t. 

Yandex - the top search engine in Russia - was sold by its Dutch ownership group to a consortium in Russia. 

SOCIAL MEDIA - All Aspects, By Site

General

A US study of social media use found that the most popular site was YouTube, with 83% of adults using it. Two-thirds of American adults use Facebook, while TikTok is up to ⅓ of the US population. 

Because they do change periodically, here are the latest image and video sizes recommended for the top social media platforms. [infographic]

Bluesky is now open to everyone - it was previously invite-only. 

Facebook (includes relevant general news from Meta)

Meta has introduced several changes to its Ad options, applying to Facebook and Instagram. 

Meta had a great 4th quarter in 2023, with revenue, users, and earnings per share up. “Fast-growing upstarts Temu and Shein, which originated in China, have been pouring money into ads on Facebook and Instagram. Li said on Thursday that revenue from China-based advertisers accounted for 10% of sales for the year and 5 percentage points of growth.”

Instagram

An updated post on Instagram's algorithm and how it works. 

Instagram is still beta testing longer Reels for some users. 

If your account is a brand account, you can now run ads on Instagram with coupon codes right in them. (Some Facebook users can already do this.)

LinkedIn

Among other recent changes on LinkedIn, the algorithm is now looking to boost important content longer than just the first day or two after publication. 

Pinterest

Pinterest has its own stats package, called Pinterest Analytics, but only for “Business” accounts. They show how many people clicked on the outgoing links, how many people saw your pin on their screen, and much more. Here’s everything you need to know. 

Reddit

Reddit successfully launched on the stock market this past week, but questions remain about how this will change the site. 

Google is paying Reddit to scrape its content through the API instead of from the web. 

Snapchat

Snap was a little later than most tech companies doing layoffs recently, waiting until February 5 to let 10% off staff go. 

Threads

Threads is so new that the algorithm is bound to change a lot in the next year, but for right now, here is how it works. 

TikTok

There is an overwhelming amount of info out there on the US attempt to either ban TikTok or force its sale, and much of it is incomplete, so I will let you Google to your heart’s content if you want to learn more. If you are relying on TikTok to drive sales, this would be a good time to make sure you diversify your promotional strategy. 

You can now track trending terms on TikTok through the Creator Search Insights section. “Creator Search Insights will highlight frequently searched topics, which creators can organize by category (for example, tourism, sports, science) or tailor to their content type with the “For You” option. Additionally, creators can filter for “content gap” topics, which are highly searched but have relatively few videos on TikTok covering them.“

TikTok may be testing a photo app, which would obviously compete with Instagram. 

Twitter

What? Twitter may have lied about its Super Bowl ad performance? I’m so not shocked. 

Tumblr

Tumblr will be selling data access to AI companies. 

YouTube

This is a pretty decent article on YouTube SEO. 

(CONTENT) MARKETING (includes blogging, emails, and strategies) 

Small and micro-businesses need an email list. An email list is:  

portable (unlike most social media followers or marketplace buyers) 

is available to almost everyone, as we all need at least one email address if we are online

less susceptible to the whims of algorithms (unlike SEO, marketplaces, social etc.)  

I keep seeing people argue that no one opens emails, but the chart in the article above is proof that is still wrong. (My blog email list averages close to a 70% open rate, depending on the topic and the time I send it. My jewellery email list - which I hardly ever send to - still has an over 30% open rate. My click rates are well above the industry averages, usually 30 to 40% of all recipients for the blog list. These are much better numbers than social, and astronomically better than my clickthrough rate on Google and other search engines.)

Gmail and Yahoo both changed how they handle bulk emails such as newsletters in February. Here’s what you need to know on the basics, including authenticating yourself so your email gets through. 

Find out how to get people to read all the way to the end of your content. 

Get ready for April marketing with 5 topical ideas. National Handmade Day is April 6. 

We should all think twice before deciding to use AI to create content. “Circa 2024, generative AI does not produce new ideas or even develop its own conclusions. Rather, it regurgitates information that it has indexed.” Not convinced? Here’s another article. “AI-generated content represents the literal “average of everything online.”

ONLINE ADVERTISING (EXCEPT INDIVIDUAL SOCIAL MEDIA AND ECOMMERCE SITES) 

Google Ads can now be tracked in Google Analytics 4. 

Both Google Ads and Microsoft Advertising were up in the 4th quarter of 2023. 

STATS, DATA, TRACKING 

Google Analytics 4 tracks organic traffic differently than the previous version. Here’s how to figure it out. 

BUSINESS & CONSUMER TRENDS, STATS & REPORTS; SOCIOLOGY & PSYCHOLOGY, CUSTOMER SERVICE 

I’ve probably posted this specific article before, but it is worth another read: how to communicate with customers.  For example, “Mirroring your customer’s tone lets them know you’re on their side. If a customer is formal, for example, hold back on the LOLs. If they’re more casual, relax your tone.”

According to a US study, Generation Z is skewing the traditional marketing funnel. “Per Archrival’s data, 77 per cent of Gen Zs and 79 per cent of millennials in the US are actively seeking style inspiration at least monthly, with almost half of those looking for style inspiration on social media. When asked where they learn about new brands, products and experiences, video reigns supreme: YouTube is the most popular platform with Gen Zs, followed by TikTok, then Instagram.”

Trend alert: bag charms are back. 

IMAGES, VIDEO, GRAPHIC DESIGN, & FREE ONLINE TOOLS

Almost all of these 12 video tools are free, and some can be used on your phone. 

MISCELLANEOUS

This is an older piece, but it checks out: IKEA Hacks for Craft Show Displays. A few of these could be done with non-IKEA items. 

Want to stay up-to-date on a nearly daily basis? Follow me on Bluesky or on LinkedIn, or become a member of my Patreon.

[arlnlms]

Is blogging still relevant in the age of TikToks and Instagram?

Blogging, what even is that? For some, especially Gen Z, it might sound like a relic of the past (around the early 2000s?), where people spilt their thoughts in long-form posts instead of short clips, something our millennial friends (Gen X) were into back in the day. Or maybe it just feels a little… outdated?

To answer the question of what a blog is, it's simply a kind of website that is updated frequently and offers information on a particular subject. When blogs first came into existence, they were essentially just online diaries where users could record entries about their everyday activities. Since then, they have changed and evolved into a vital platform for information sharing and updates between individuals and companies. It's a great place to get information, insight, and practical guidance (Weiner 2024).

So now for the main question, "Is blogging still relevant in the age of Tiktok and Instagram?". Well, it depends. 

Okay, let's all admit to the fact that attention spans nowadays are shorter than ever. We're all guilty of endlessly scrolling through TikTok or Instagram, trapped in the algorithm dishing out entertainment that doesn't require too much brainpower to comprehend. It's an integral part of our lives now. It's easy to assume that blogging might have lost its spark in this fast-paced, dopamine-driven world (I can't believe I thought of that).

Or so we thought...

The reality is that blogs are different because they're not designed for instant satisfaction. Instead, I feel like they offer depth in certain aspects. I feel like blogs allow for distinction, context, and a real understanding of a topic. It's where people can go to slow down and dive deep into topics or issues they're curious about. And that's where the value lies. Sure, you're not going to get that viral moment with a blog like how you would on Tiktok or Instagram, but that's kind of the point, no?

When people want a quick laugh or to catch up on the latest trend, they head to TikTok. But when they're looking for something more significant, like detailed information, how-tos, or even just a good, thought-provoking read, people are turning to blogs. But, Instagram is also a form of blogging platform as it also started alongside the blogging era (Corrine 2021). Some people still use it in the same style as a blog but that appeared to not work out well because Instagram does not allow clickable links in captions. Although you can say something like "link in bio," it is not the same as actually clicking on the link (Corrine 2021).

Community

TikTok and Instagram are great for instant interaction. Sure, one will always find their community through these 2 famous social media platform. Because the materials on these platforms is easily shared and frequently becomes viral, communities can grow rapidly. But the connection often feels fleeting, just temporary (Lang 2023).

Blogging, on the other hand, builds a sense of community in a different way. People visit blogs because they're invested in the content, and that naturally creates a more engaged, loyal audience. It's less about trends and more about shared interests. The readers who visit these blogs often return because they feel a deeper connection to the content creator and the discussions being had.

From the way I look at it, I think it's a 50/50 split because not everybody is a blog enthusiast. For some users, TikTok and Instagram offer a quicker, more visually stimulating experience. Others, on the other hand, who value detailed information and enduring knowledge will favour blogs. Every platform has a specific function, and the "best" community will vary depending on the level of community interaction one is seeking.

Searchability

Now let's divert the question to searchability. We can't deny that blogs might come up first rather than a Tiktok video or Instagram reel when one types in questions like "budget-friendly laptop for students" or "recipes for broke uni students" into a search engine.

Although, based on my experience, blogs may be very useful for some when it comes to searches like that, especially like recipes, or product reviews that need more than 1 minute where the reader might want a detailed breakdown or comparison, like, for example, comparing the specs of an iPhone 16 with the Google Pixel 9. However, when it comes to being a person like me that needs quick visual demonstration going back to that short attention span thing (because somehow i can't visualise instructions by reading), then that's where Tiktok and Instagram might come in handy. I'm sure many from my generation would agree to this and appreciate that 30 second Tiktok tutorial because we want something quick. So, it all comes down to a person's preference in the end.

So,

At the end of the day, blogs provide depth and lasting value that TikTok and Instagram lack in a sense. So, rather than competing, they actually complement each other. These days, the main goals of blogs should be to provide insightful content and resolve readers' issues (Corrine 2021). Despite its seeming old-school, blogging is nevertheless still booming.

List of references

Weiner, A. (2024, July 16). What is a blog? Definition, types, benefits and why you need one. Wix Blog. https://www.wix.com/blog/what-is-a-blog

Corinne. (2024, June 12). Is blogging dead? The rise of Instagram and TikTok. Skinnedcartree. https://skinnedcartree.com/2021/04/is-blogging-dead-the-rise-of-instagram-and-tiktok.html

Lang, K. (2023, August 30). What Does it Mean to Build a Community on Social Media? (And Why You Should). Buffer: All-you-need Social Media Toolkit for Small Businesses. https://buffer.com/resources/social-media-community/

[itswavelengths]

Threading the Needle

Less than a single day after launch over 30 million people have joined Threads, Instagram's version of Twitter. The app is very much a minimum-viable-product copycat of Elon Musk's bird site, but their version of an MVP is still significantly more feature-rich and ready for prime-time than most other recent challengers to the throne.

The big advantage here is the use of Instagram's social graph to boost Threads signups on day one. The onboarding flow is as easy as "tap on your Instagram profile, tap on a second button to follow everyone you already follow over there, and you're done" which takes about fifteen seconds and is a significantly simpler experience than Bluesky which requires a highly coveted invite code or Mastodon which requires a whole separate blog post to explain. I think most users will discover pretty quickly that the people you followed for their photos or life updates are absolutely not the same people you want short-form text updates from... but how much does that really matter to Mark Zuckerberg who gets to boast Threads is well on its way to being the fastest growing social app of all time? Whatever gets you on board, baybee!

The app's single home feed is currently algorithm-heavy, mixing very few posts from people you follow in with a majority of posts from random users, celebrities, and brands platform-wide. The ratio is clearly way off here, and users have been loudly clamoring for a change. Adam Mosseri, Instagram and Threads' lead within Meta, has already publicly stated a feed of people you follow is incoming. Beyond that there are a lot of basic social networking features that are surprisingly absent from Threads at launch: Hashtags, usable search, post editing, post translation, alt-text on images — the group of features Mosseri has described as "on the list" feels exponentially huge. You have to wonder what the priorities will be and how long it will take to see some of these features come to the platform. Threads has a huge advantage out of the gate by tapping into Instagram's userbase of over two billion people, but retaining those users by listening to community feedback is going to be as challenging as building the app in the first place.

So it's worth keeping in mind Instagram's track record here. It's 2023 and Instagram still doesn't have an iPad app because it's "just not a big enough group of people to be a priority." Meta, one of the largest tech companies in the world, can't allocate any of their resources towards creating a high quality tablet experience for their app built around sharing and viewing photo and video? It's nonsensical! If the entire iPad userbase doesn't represent "a big enough group" to make a dedicated experience worthwhile, what does that say about accessibility features or other niche-but-important requests?

Assuming the state of Threads as it stands today will remain the same for an extended period of time, I see the app taking on a different life from just being "new Twitter." At launch, Twitter featured a reverse-chronological feed with no algorithmic intrusion, making it a great news delivery mechanism if you followed the right people. Those first few months and years of the service established the norms and future of how Twitter and the social web at large evolved. Third-party apps like Tweetie invented the pull-to-refresh interaction we see in every app on every device today. Users of Twitter began implementing hashtags as a way to more easily find like-minded community members via search, a feature which eventually became core functionality for the experience. But it all started with the launch product and timely updates from friends and proto-influencers. Twitter as a product has never really strayed too far from everyone's initial impression (despite Elon's best efforts).

By comparison, Threads is establishing its own norms in lieu of the aforementioned missing features. Brands are scrambling to figure out the right post-cadence and tone. Is posting breaking news moot in the face of an algorithmic feed? If your Threads and Instagram followers are the same, will posting images to a text-based platform feel redundant? These are questions which will be answered without intervention from Mosseri and team, and instead be dictated by the early adopters and community members who find hacky ways to actualize new methods of interaction with the toolset that is currently available in 1.0.

Am I excited that Mark Zuckerberg's Twitter has the best shot at being "the next big thing" given the many viable alternatives? Absolutely not! But there's no denying that Threads will be a hit despite Meta's track record for lying, stealing, and knowingly upending society. In the face of this, the internet-obsessed kid inside of me who loved to text 40404 to tweet in 2007 is excited to witness the birth and evolution of something that is accidentally unique because of what's missing instead of mind-numbingly samey because of what's already there.

I'm brendonbigley on Threads.

Catch you later!

[altermediaa]

Behind The Screens: Llewel Taperla's Journey as &CO's Social Media Manager

Llewel Taperla is a student at Mapua Malayan Colleges Laguna and also works as social media manager for the band &CO for about 2 years now. Despite being in college, he is dedicated to maintaining the band's online presence with his professionalism. Beyond social media, he serves as the band's representative, communicating with potential clients and stakeholders, contributing to the band's outreach and effective engagement in the industry.

“I am essentially a functioning one-man army at the moment”. He said in an interview. Llewel is a hands-on creative when it comes to &CO. he takes pictures of their live performances, managing promotional materials (pubmats), and actively maintaining the band's social media presence.

Llewel stays informed about social media trends by employing various approaches. He consistently uses reliable platforms like TikTok and Instagram dedicated to social media marketing and content creation. This helps them stay updated on the latest updates, algorithmic shifts, and emerging features across platforms.

Live gigs are one of the most important things right now for the band and Llewel as their social media manager. He is the man behind the stage, putting it together to make everything possible. These events allow them to engage with a diverse audience and showcase their talent on the center stage. Notably, the band has had the privilege of participating in school events alongside renowned artists like Zild, Cup of Joe, Rob Deniel, and other well-known personality of the music industry here in the Philippines.

To sum it all up, we asked one last question to Llewel about what his future visions would be for the band in the music industry. Llewel stated, “As the social media manager of &CO, my vision for the band is to be recognized by the people, to see my band rise up like the big leagues, to perform with a fanbase, and to be seen in a large crowd and on stage.” Recently, they launched &Co's debut single, "Di Na Pwede" that was released on December 14, 2023. This is just the beginning of &Co's musical journey with Llewel Taperla. and we're thrilled to see what the future holds.

[nightcat2609]

I just have to get this off my chest lmao: what I wanna say about Owl City's latest album Coco Moon, released on March 24, 2023.

If you see this post and haven't listened to Coco Moon yet, here's the Spotify link. The album's also on Youtube, Youtube Music if you have that, Apple Music and iTunes.

and on Bandcamp, you can also purchase the album there for as low as $1 (name your price basically) and iirc you can also get the studio master versions there.

On February 10, 2023 Adam posted this long but lovely post. It's also on his official Twitter and Instagram pages. I'm gonna quote some lines from this post along the way

First of all, this album has been a revelation. The five or so years of waiting for a new album since 2018 has been truly worth it. Adam didn't dissappoint me as usual and forever may it continue.

"Some songs on “Coco Moon” are metaphorical in a story kind of way. I like to read books because books take me places. When I pick up a book, I leave planet Earth. I wrote a few songs inspired by this." Ah a fellow book lover, I love the way books and stories can take us anytime and anywhere even for just a few moments

"And then some songs on “Coco Moon” are odd. Meaning, some have unusual structures, some don’t make a lot of sense, a few are extremely wordy, others are a little too long." Maybe this is me getting old but I love the long and wordy songs on Coco Moon, Adam truly has a gift with words and storytelling. It'll be a welcome surprise if any Coco Moon songs go viral since online virality these days tends to favor short songs, not that's it's a bad thing. just a sign of the times I guess.

"Creative oddity is beautiful to me so I embraced it." this is the Adam I know and love since I heard Fireflies on the radio back in 2009. And true to these lyrics from "Fiji Water" from his Cinematic album:

"And I'd say "Hey, there is more to me than meets the eye

Let me be who I wanna be"

And I'd say "Hey, I'm an oddity and that's alright

Let me fly and follow my dreams"

"The point is that “Coco Moon” is a very Owl City album. It is quirky. It is odd. It is unapologetically myself. I made an album that is exactly the way it was supposed to be, not an album that popular culture, or algorithms, or analytics, or anyone else on planet Earth told me to make. I wrote me. Average, ordinary, weird me."

Imo nobody in pop music these is doing it quite like Owl City. It makes for more unique and progressive vibes. And as a reminder because of some songs in Coco Moon with a Christian undertone, Adam's Christian faith has been a part of him since day one. At the very least, we should respect that and let him cook.

"CS Lewis said to Tolkien, “If they won’t write the kinds of books we want to read, we shall have to write them ourselves.��" - I feel this on a deep level since at this rate I have to write some the stories I wanna read.

"I started by imagining an album I wanted to listen to. The result is “Coco Moon.” I’m so grateful and honored to be able to share it with you soon."

After finally hearing all of Coco Moon this week, it's been an honor in return to listen to a masterpiece of an album. Adam has come a long way from being a kid in a small town, dreaming about seeing the world, to who he is today, experiencing the good, the bad, and the ugly of life. And he's even found the love of his life along the way! I'm so happy for him and Abbey. They deserve everything good in this world. Thank you very much good sir Adam.

Right now I need to listen to the album some more times to pick favorites. I'll update this post when I've made my picks.

[hazzzzzzman]

` Is blogging still relevant in today's age of TikTok and Instagram? ' Let's talk about it

Let's start by understanding what is exactly `blogging'.

'blogging' refers to when users create blog posts which are then published on a website (Indeed editorial team 2023). The blogs are usually long in terms of content and are focused on a specific topic. Blogs can be used for personal interest or professionally that highlight niche or specific topics whether in the form of articles or media that are posted for the community to read.

Let's discuss how blog is used why it is popular and how does it fare at different times. Firstly blog content is often updated which means its information is always up to date. Secondly, Blogs encourage engagement amongst communities who have a common interest in specific topics being said blogs allow more conversations and interaction than a typical website does (Duermyer 2022). This implies that communication can be maintained with the audience. Blogging helps to accelerate audiences when they are interested in such topics. Since blogging is all about long-form content it is known that blog content can be beneficial for marketing purposes and is well-known for enhancing or increasing search engine optimization (SEO) ( Blogger 2021). Finally, blogging is crucial when it comes to marketing and SEO as mentioned, examples are how blogs help create brand visibility. Another benefit would be how blogs can help grow brand awareness and build loyal and trust as the ability to discuss matters such as information, feedback, and advice is provided ( Hines 2022).

TikTok? Instagram?

Instagram launched in 2010 and has been reported to have gained around 3 million users in just 4 and half months after its launch. It was initially available to Apple users but in 2012 it was released for Android OS and thus gained 50 million users within the month of that release (Big 3 Media 2021). As time goes by Instagram offers appealing marketing tools as well as monetization such as sponsored posts and advertising which makes it an attractive social media platform.

Instagram or any other similar social media is easier to start than blogging as it requires a short-content form, provides excellent networking features, and tends to move faster than blogging. Throughout the year Instagram has been finding methods that are comparable to its competitors such as Snapchat or TikTok to sustain its core users in terms of retaining short-span attention and better communication forms (Big 3 Media 2021).

TikTok on the other hand is a uniquely different platform and is very opposite of how blogging works. TikTok is in a short-form video format with users who can add sounds and make videos of various contents that adhere to the restrictions and rules.

What is the history of TikTok and who uses it?

TikTok Was created by a Chinese company called Bytedance in 2016 and is named Douyin in China but is known as TikTok in other countries.

TikTok is focused on providing micro-entertainment and distractions for the market. The application also applies an algorithm in terms of whether users like that video thus making it appear more frequently in their 'for you' page. Educational and business-oriented content is also emerging and popular in the use of TikTok besides entertainment ( Daniel 2022).

Statistics!!!

TikTok had more than 3 billion downloads and more than 1 billion monthly users as of January 2022.

The most downloaded app internationally in 2020 and 2021 was TikTok.

TikTok users are mostly between the ages of 16 and 24 (60%)

The average age of TikTok's global viewership is under 34.

With users in more than 150 countries, the TikTok app is accessible worldwide.

On average, users of the TikTok app spend 52 minutes per day using it.

CONCLUSIONS?

Now is blogging dead and is no longer relevant with the appearing social media of right now especially popular ones like Instagram?

The answer is a definite

NO

In a nutshell, blogging is still relevant throughout the year until now. Report shows that blogs are on of many forms of content used within content strategy (Singla 2023). In fact it is the second most used form of primary content with videos being the first. Blogging platforms begin to evolve and move forward just as other social media platform to keep up with their competitors social platforms. Blogs will be everlasting in the unforeseen future as the format really emphasized on engagement and retention. According to Singla, statistics on blogs percentage usage shows out of estimated 1.7 billion websites out in the world, roughly 600 millions are in the shape of blogs. Thus we can say Blogs are still relevant even in this age where other social media platforms are popular.

My personal take

I think that blogs is uniquely different compare to other formats of content of social media. The idea of discussing a specific or niche topic in the form of long-content really brings out the passion or interest in communities or users. As the possibility to share or discuss information among selves brings out even more connectivity and networking for the audiences of blogs. Blogs are sure to last a while and continue to be effective in terms of gaining insights, information or marketing purposes.

LIST OF REFERENCES

Big 3 Media, 2021, A brief history of Instagram and its rise to popularity, Big 3 Media, viewed 30 September 2023, <https://www.big3.sg/blog/a-brief-history-of-instagram-and-its-rise-to-popularity>

CreativeEdge, 2021, Blogging vs social media: What's the difference and why blogging is beneficial, CreativeEdge, viewed 30 September 2023, <https://creativeedgemediagroup.com/blogging-vs-social-media-whats-the-difference-and-why-blogging-is-beneficial/>

Duermyer, R 2022, What is blogging?, Thebalance, viewed 30 September 2023, <https://www.thebalancemoney.com/blogging-what-is-it-1794405>

Hines, K 2022, 6 reasons why blogging is important for marketing and SEO, SearchEngineJournal, viewed 30 Septembet 2023, <https://www.searchenginejournal.com/7-reasons-why-blogging-is-still-important-in-2012/39225/>

Indeed Editorial Team 2023, What is blogging?(with definition, advantage and tips), Indeed, viewed 30 September 2023, <https://in.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/what-is-blogging>

Julson, E 2023, Blog vs social media :which one is the best?, The Unconventional RD, viewed 30 September 2023, <https://www.theunconventionalrd.com/social-media-vs-blogging/>

Singla, A 2023, Is blogging still worth it in 2023?(7 questions answered), Master blogging, viewed 1 October 2023, <https://masterblogging.com/is-blogging-still-worth-it/>

[marketinghub101]

Guide to Hiring the Top Social Media Marketing Agency in Egypt

Social media presents a tremendous opportunity for businesses in Egypt to engage with customers and promote their brand. Partnering with the right social media marketing agency provides access to strategies and expertise that can greatly expand your reach and conversions. This guide will explore how to select the best agency for your social media marketing needs in the Egyptian market.

Benefits of a Social Media Marketing Agency in Egypt:

Rather than attempting social media marketing internally, experienced agencies provide the following advantages:

Deep knowledge of each platform’s unique algorithms and best practices.

Ability to implement and manage comprehensive strategies across platforms.

Expertise creating engaging Arabic and English content that resonates in the local market.

Tracking and analytics skills to demonstrate campaign ROI.

Staying current on new social media trends, features, and innovations.

With a top agency handling your social media presence, you benefit from proven expertise while focusing your energy on running your business.

Choosing the Best Social Media Agency in Egypt:

When researching social media marketing agencies in Egypt, keep the following criteria in mind:

Case Studies & Reviews - Review results achieved for companies in your industry.

Multilingual Skills - Seek fluency in both Arabic and English content.

Analytical Abilities - The agency should have strong data analysis skills.

Local Market Knowledge - Ensure they understand Egyptian culture and consumers.

Communication and Reporting - Require consistent campaign updates and insights.

Platform Expertise - Look for demonstrated expertise across key platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.

Cost Structure - Avoid vague pricing or hidden fees.

Top Social Media Marketing Agencies in Egypt:

Based on extensive industry experience and results for Egyptian brands, these agencies stand out:

Digital Brandria - Award-winning agency skilled at increasing Egyptian brand awareness.

Green Mind Agency - Delivers proven social media results for businesses in Egypt.

Icon Creations - Specializes in social media for startups and small businesses.

Rekoya - Multilingual social media experts located in Cairo.

Conclusion:

A strategic partnership with the right social media marketing agency provides the expertise and resources to achieve social media success in Egypt. As you evaluate options, prioritize case studies, multilingual abilities, analytical skills, and local market experience. With an optimized social presence, your brand can effectively engage consumers and drive conversions across Egypt.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the average monthly cost of social media marketing services in Egypt?

A: Expect to invest around 10,000 to 30,000 EGP per month for a comprehensive agency contract.

Q: How long does it take to see results from social media marketing in Egypt?

A: Most brands begin to see engagement and awareness improvements within 1 to 2 months. Measurable conversions may take 3 to 6+ months.

Q: Which social platforms should we prioritize for Egypt marketing?

A: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and LinkedIn tend to provide the highest returns for most Egyptian brands.

Q: How can agencies prove their social media expertise in Egypt?

A: Case studies, client reviews, platform certifications, analytics reporting, and multilingual content creation skills demonstrate expertise.

Q: Is social media marketing suitable for B2B companies in Egypt?

A: Yes, a tailored strategy connecting with customers, employees, and industry influencers can build brand awareness and trust. Here is A Video From LYFE Marketing Youtube Channel talks about 12 B2B Marketing Strategies For 2023 Watch This Video for more information !

[chloejwohnston]

How Instagram's algorithm REALLY works | Instagram algorithm update 2023

[isabellasdigitalcommunities]

BODY MODIFICATION AND PORN CHIC

Body modification has become a popular trend on social media platforms, its not only individuals sharing their tattoos and piercing to share self-identity but its also plastic surgery and procedures that alter ones body shape. Microcelebrities and influencers that are not disclosing body modification on their social media pages are setting up women to think they have to achieve these unattainable beauty standards. 

Tiktoker and OnlyFans creator Mikaela Testa is a common example of influencers being transparent about their cosmetic procedures. She has admitted to fillers and botox in her face and how she dissolved them once she felt more comfortable with herself. However, she has frequently backtracked on body modification surgeries like the Brazilian butt lift which has angered her followers and made them lose trust in her simply because she won't be transparent (Prajwal 2022). This has led lots of young women to self-esteem issues, thinking that they naturally have to have the curves of Mikaela Testa when it's just not naturally possible.

Drenten et al. (2018) discusses how Instagram has become a significant space for influencers to engage in sexualised self-presentation in order to gain fame and monetise their online presence. They argue that this phenomenon is influenced by the pornographic aesthetic prevalent in contemporary culture, often referred to as "porn chic". By objectifying one's sexualised self, through poses and highlighting certain body parts such as the lips or breasts, this helps gain the attention of users which leads to a higher following or more clicks, and thus profitable commercial success. Social media users, particularly on Instagram are unknowingly engaging in unpaid labour and engaging in personal marketing to help influencers develop their brand and compete visibility which is synonymous with obtaining status and influence (Marwick 2013).

Dorfman et al.'s study into plastic surgery-related hashtags on Instagram found that a more than 1million posts used 21 different hashtags related to plastic surgery. This shows that not only are there influencer and microcelebrities out there not disclosing their cosmetic procedures, there are plenty more other people that are showing off what they have had done, normalising modifying one's body for vanity.

References-

Duffy  BE and Meisner, C 2022. “Platform governance at the margins: Social media creators’ experiences with algorithmic (in)visibility,” Media, Culture & Society, vol. 45, no. 2, pp. 285-304

Marwick, A.E 2013, Status Update: celebrity, publicity, and branding in the social media age, Yale University Press, New Haven

Prajwal, P 2022, OnlyFans Star Mikaela Testa goes back and forth on plastic surgery claims, HollywoodMask, viewed 10 April 2023, <https://hollywoodmask.com/p/mikaela-testa-plastic-surgery.html>

[clicktotstechnologies]

What Are The Best Social Media Marketing Platforms In 2024

Discover the top 13 social media marketing platforms of 2024. Explore features, benefits, and strategies to enhance your online presence and engagement.

What is social media?

Social media refers to a broad category of websites and applications designed for communication, community engagement, interaction, content sharing, and collaboration. People use these platforms to connect with friends, family, and diverse communities, staying in touch and engaging with others online. To maximize their online presence, businesses often develop strategies for social media marketing that leverage these platforms to effectively reach and engage their target audience.

Importance of social media marketing tools:

Communication and Connection

Information and News

Brand Awareness and Marketing

Community Building

Education and Learning

Entertainment

 Influence and Advocacy

 Economic Impact

The impact of social media cannot be overlooked, as it plays a crucial role in transforming our communication practices, educational approaches, and interpersonal interactions in a world that is becoming increasingly digital.

Best social media marketing agency:

Social media is crucial for businesses today, with over 3 billion users globally. At Clicktots Technologies, our social media marketing agency help you tap into this vast potential and achieve your marketing goals.

Best 13 social media marketing platforms in 2024:

Facebook

Facebook is the largest social networking site, with over 3.049 billion monthly users, accounting for about 37% of the global population. Its messaging app, Facebook Messenger, has 931 million active users. Over 200 million businesses, primarily small ones, utilize Facebook tools, and more than 7 million advertisers use Facebook Ads Manager. As one of the fastest growing social media platforms, Facebook supports various content formats, including text, images, videos, and Stories. The Facebook algorithm favors content that generates meaningful interactions, especially among family and friends.

Instagram

With 2.04 billion active users, Instagram is a leading visual social networking platform ideal for showcasing products and services through photos, videos, Stories, Reels, and live videos. Brands can benefit from creating an Instagram business profile, which offers detailed analytics and post-scheduling through third-party tools. Instagram also encourages user-generated content, as users often share and tag brands. Like Facebook, Instagram’s algorithm prioritizes engagement, so focusing on interaction can help grow your following.

YouTube

YouTube, with 2.7 billion active users, is a leading video-sharing platform where users watch a billion hours of content daily. It's the second-largest social media app and often regarded as the second-largest search engine, following its parent company Google. For businesses using video marketing, integrating YouTube into your strategy is essential. To optimize your presence, create a YouTube channel for your brand and focus on YouTube SEO and understanding the YouTube algorithm to enhance video discoverability.

WhatsApp

WhatsApp, with around 3 billion active users across over 180 countries, started as a messaging app for personal communication. Since launching WhatsApp Business in 2018, it has become a key platform for brands, with over 200 million monthly active users as of June 2023. The app supports customer service and updates through WhatsApp Business for small businesses and the WhatsApp Business API for enterprises. Its widespread use makes it a valuable channel for customer service.

X

X (formerly known as Twitter) has 6.1 billion monthly active users. The platform is known for its focus on real-time information, allowing users to post updates in 280 characters. It's popular for sharing news, entertainment, sports, and politics. Many brands use X for customer service, with over 80% of social customer service requests occurring on the platform. Salesforce even calls it the “New 1-800 Number for Customer Service.” For newcomers, understanding the X algorithm and strategies for growing your following can be beneficial.

Pinterest

Pinterest, with 581 million monthly active users, is ideal for discovering inspiration and new ideas. User’s “pin” images linked to websites, product pages, and blog posts, making it a powerful tool for driving traffic. Pinterest users are seven times more likely to buy products they've pinned. Popular topics include fashion, beauty, home, garden, and DIY. For businesses and creators in these niches, Pinterest is a valuable platform for content sharing. New users can explore strategies for getting started and growing their following on Pinterest.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn, with around 310 million monthly active users, has transformed from a job search engine into a professional networking platform. It now serves as a hub for industry experts to share content, network, and build their personal brands. Businesses use LinkedIn to establish thought leadership, attract top talent, and engage with potential customers, while creators build their personal brands. For those looking to grow their presence on LinkedIn, understanding the platform's algorithm can be crucial.

Quora

Quora, with 400 million monthly active users, is a Q&A platform where information on various topics is shared and ranked based on views, votes, and reviews. Brands can create a Quora page, leverage employee advocates to answer industry-related questions, and use Quora's ad platform to promote their business. Given that 63% of users research major online purchases on Quora, it's an effective channel for reaching customers who are actively seeking products or services.

Tumblr

Tumblr has 135 million monthly active users and hosts around 594.6 million blogs. Users create 8.6 million posts daily, sharing a wide range of content formats including text, photos, videos, GIFs, audio clips, and links. The platform is known for its microblogging features and extensive range of topics and interests. Additionally, Tumblr allows for blog design customization, making it a popular choice for users who want to use their Tumblr account as a personal or business website.

Reddit

Reddit, with 430 million monthly active users, sees significant traffic, with 5.46 billion visits in the past three months (May and June). The platform features diverse Subreddits (dedicated forums) for almost any interest. Brands can engage by participating in relevant Subreddits, such as r/beauty for a beauty brand, though self-promotion is often restricted. Engaging in discussions, answering questions, and sharing valuable content can help build a presence. Additionally, Reddit is a useful source for content ideas and offers advertising opportunities.

Snapchat

As of August 2024, Snapchat boasts over 850 million monthly active users, reflecting a 10% increase in daily active users due to new features. The platform remains popular for sharing photos and short videos (snaps), and it popularized the vertical video format that other apps like Instagram, have adopted. While Instagram Stories has impacted Snapchat’s growth and reduced its appeal for some marketers, 69% of U.S. teens still use Snapchat. If your target audience is predominantly teenagers, Snapchat is worth considering. For more information, you might explore guides on Snapchat or compare it with Instagram for brand use.

Telegram

Telegram, with 950 million monthly active users, is a free messaging app that supports multiple devices and unlimited media sizes. Its key feature is end-to-end encryption for chats, groups, and media, which has attracted users concerned about privacy, especially after WhatsApp's policy changes. Brands can leverage Telegram by using chatbots, broadcasting messages via channels (with up to 200,000 members), and offering customer support.

Threads by Instagram

Threads, Instagram's alternative to Twitter, has over 200 million monthly active users and about 33 million daily active users. The app saw a rapid initial uptake, reaching 100 million sign-ups within days of its 2023 launch. Although initial interest waned, Threads has introduced new features to maintain user engagement. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is optimistic about its future, suggesting the app has a strong potential to reach 1 billion users in the coming years.

Social Media Marketing Agency in Chennai:

In today’s digital world, most popular social media platforms are key for boosting brand visibility. Clicktots, the leading social media marketing agency in Chennai, excels in leveraging platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn to transform how businesses connect with their audience.

Conclusion:

Leveraging these social media platforms in India strategically can help businesses achieve greater visibility, engage with diverse audiences, and drive growth in the dynamic Indian market.

[cindylouwho-2]

RECENT ECOMMERCE NEWS, RESOURCES AND STUDIES, EARLY JULY 2023

As expected when I posted the recent Etsy and SEO news update in June, I didn't get much time during my road trip to work on the other portion. So here it is, covering ecommerce sites, social media, content marketing and lots of other things small and microbusinesses might need to know.

I've also updated my Tumblr theme to make it easier to read and more accessible overall. Please let me know what you think!

Finally, the next update will be out in a few weeks, and will contain everything together in one post again. If you don't want to wait for it, follow me on Twitter or on LinkedIn for more timely news.

SOCIAL MEDIA - All Aspects, By Site

Facebook (includes relevant general news from Meta)

You can now pay for a verified Meta account, and unlike Twitter, they actually verify your ID. 

Speaking of Twitter, Meta’s copycat app Threads took off rapidly, hitting over 100 million signups in the first week. 

If you have a Facebook or Instagram Shop, note that many countries will need to use Meta’s checkout as of April 24 2023.  While the US is one of those countries, the following places will not have to change anything at this moment: “Australia, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, U.K. and Ukraine”.

Wonder how Facebook ranks posts these days? Search Engine Land covered the topic for you. 

Meta is pulling all news content in Canada after a new law passed that makes platforms pay media sources for their content. Google followed. 

LinkedIn

LinkedIn recently changed its algorithm, and is giving more weight to people you follow, and to “knowledge and advice”.

Make sure you are using LinkedIn content analytics to see how your posts are performing. The company released some tips on how to get more views and interaction on your ads and posts. 

Pinterest

Pinterest is introducing Amazon ads that lead directly to Amazon so browsers can buy there. This is expected to take a few years to fully roll out. 

The Shuffles feature is particularly popular with Generation Z women. 

Reddit

Yes, you can use Reddit to promote your business, but it is tricky. “It’s perfectly fine to be a Redditor with a website; it’s not okay to be a website with a Reddit account.”

TikTok

TikTok is selling its own products through the app, called “Trendy Beat", although this is only happening in the UK so far. The items seemed to be based on trending videos. 

TIkTok is the latest to test searching by image, in its Shop feature. 

Twitter

The Twitter algorithm now promotes Elon Musk’s tweets above all others. Yes, really. 

YouTube

YouTube ended Stories on June 26, but plans on doing more with Shorts in the future. 

ECOMMERCE NEWS, IDEAS, TRENDS (minus social media)

General

Handmade alternative marketplace Artisans Cooperative has settled on its organisational structure now that they are moving forward with incorporating the co-op, and enrolling new members. Check their blog for all announcements on their plans. 

A new California initiative involves both ecommerce and brick and mortar businesses to help track down stolen items. Each site agrees to “assign staff and tools—dedicate webpage, online portal, or point of contact—to address concerns of theft that come in from retails or law enforcement, and to monitor listings “to affirmatively prevent and detect” organized crime.”

50% of online shopping trips start at Amazon, amazingly enough. Google comes in second. After peaking last year, TikTok’s share of product searches has dropped. 

Many merchants are reconsidering their return policies, and even free shipping. 

Amazon

Some Amazon sellers had huge issues with verifying their information to comply with the INFORM Act. The deadline for completing verification was July 7, after which Amazon will place a hold on all payments. 

Amazon will now charge US buyers for returns to UPS stores. 

Many backpacks made for adults were removed from Amazon automatically, and sellers were told they needed to show proof the packs had met children’s safety standards. 

BigCommerce

BigCommerce has followed Shopify in raising fees for the same amount, although existing users didn’t see the increase until June 1. As with Shopify, site owners can keep their current rate by opting for the annual package. 

eBay

If you are worried about eBay showing your home address to prospective buyers (due to the INFORM Act), you can apply for an exception. 

Ebay international shipping is available to US-based stores now, but there are a lot of complaints. Other recent eBay announcements and plans are discussed here in coverage of the summer Seller Update. 

Sales on eBay continue to drop, as do buyers. Here’s coverage of the 4th quarter report written for sellers, and the 1st quarter 2023.

eBay is now offering Canadian collectible sellers a new “Expedited Lite” Canada Post rate that costs as little as $5.85 to send 200 grams from Toronto to Yellowknife. Tracking and $100 insurance are included. [Attention other platforms - Canadians need these cheap rates!]

Poshmark

Poshmark now operates in the United Kingdom. 

Poshmark joined the vast majority of large ecommerce sites in the past year by laying off employees, although the reported numbers were just 2% of the workforce. 

Shopify 

After making big moves to enter the fulfillment market, Shopify sold off the logistics network to Flexport, which it will continue to work with, as well as owning 13% of Flexport’s stock. 

Shopify is resisting a Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) request for 6 years of tax records for 121,000 stores. Note that the CRA must get a judge to approve such a request, which they filed for in April 2023. 

Shopify managed to beat the market estimates for the 4th quarter 2022, but predicts growth will continue to slow

There are ways to make your Shopify site more accessible for various disabilities; for some larger merchants, this is a legal requirement.

All Other Marketplaces

Bonanza is trying to improve its shipping label options, with the first step being decreasing the cost of USPS labels. It also now has a synced eBay importer, and is expanding its loan program to more sellers. 

Michael's has finally opened its maker supply online marketplace to third-party sellers. While this initial group of merchants was invited, the company is now accepting applications from experienced ecommerce merchants. Fees are a flat 15% commission, so no monthly subscriptions, listing fees or even payment processing fees (apparently). There is also a Shipstation integration. This could be a good channel for high-volume supply sellers who make/design their own products, especially if they work in a niche Michael’s doesn’t already service. Note that their makers website that would compete directly with Etsy is now taking a waitlist. 

Kohl’s opened a third-party marketplace, which includes their loyalty program benefits for buyers. 

All Other Website Builders

Squarespace bought Google Domains, but Google is still a domain registrar, and this should not affect your Google rankings. 

Payment Processing

Apple is very late to the buy-now-pay-later game, introducing Apple Pay Later for some users. 

Shipping

There is a UPS strike looming; the union contract expires August 1. This could not only affect businesses who ship products via UPS, but also those of us who order supplies etc. 

Also note that the port workers in British Columbia are on strike as of July 1. “Analysts have said a strike could have a significant impact on worldwide shipping and the Canadian economy. According to the Maritime Employers Association's website, its members contribute $2.7 billion to the national GDP and handled roughly 16 per cent of Canada's total traded goods worth $180 billion in 2020.”

Chinese ecommerce businesses could lose their US tariff exemption, which allows companies in China to ship to the US cheaply. The bill is not yet law. 

USPS raised stamp prices and combined several services into the new USPS Ground Advantage plan, as of July 9.

(CONTENT) MARKETING (includes blogging, emails, and strategies) 

Is your small business making some common content marketing mistakes? 5 frequent errors and their solutions. 

Email welcome pages are a good way to increase sales from your list. “Imagine a shopper subscribes and is sent immediately to a page that, first, shares the discount code and, second, includes a short (30-second) welcome video that explains how to apply the code — without having to check email.”

ONLINE ADVERTISING (NOT SOCIAL MEDIA OR ECOMMERCE SITES)

Advertising through “retail media” (such as Amazon) will probably be greater than television ad revenue by 2028. “Retailers from Amazon, Walmart and Target to grocers such as Carrefour, Ahold Delhaize, Tesco and Sainsbury's are working aggressively to attract big advertisers to their websites” which could constitute more than 15% of all advertising spend by 2028.

Google’s Merchant Center will be getting easier to use next year, with the introduction of Merchant Center Next. Looks like complicated product feeds will be a thing of the past. 

Google Ads users are encouraged to import the conversion info from Google Analytics 4, to potentially improve ad performance. 

STATS, DATA, TRACKING 

Many sites are incorrectly reporting visits as direct when they actually come from sources such as social media; here’s a study showing how that can break down. 

Google’s latest instructions for migrating from Google’s Universal Analytics to Google Analytics 4 even includes videos. If you don’t like Google’s explanation, here is another good tutorial [video and transcript] And here is a detailed outline of how to track organic search traffic in GA4, and how to set up site search.  Don’t worry if you haven’t migrated your account yet - although it will not collect new data starting some time after July 1, 2023, Google will transition the account to GA4 for you, and will also let you download your old Universal Analytics data for the next year. If you didn’t update to GA4 yourself, you are in the majority of website owners. 

Once you do start with GA4, make sure to connect with the Search Console and activate reports. There are also some reports you cannot get with GA4, but this article explains what you can come close to replicating from the old version. 

You can now move all of your Google Search Console data into Google’s BigQuery, which is great for really large sites. If you struggle to digest the info provided by Google Search Console, then you might be interested in a few integrations to make things easier. Some are even free! 

BUSINESS & CONSUMER TRENDS, STATS & REPORTS; SOCIOLOGY & PSYCHOLOGY, CUSTOMER SERVICE 

How to answer common buyer questions to make purchasing easier (and more likely!)

Generation Z (born from 1997 to 2012) uses social media differently than other age groups, and that affects how you can market to them. Check out the different values and behaviours they have as a group. 

Many sole proprietorships struggle with how to deal with demanding customers. Maybe you should fire them instead? [Twitter thread] Example: “Bad Clients are “un-leveragable”. You cannot

Learn from them

Use them as references

Earn a good margin to fuel your biz

Factor the intangibles when calculating your ROI. Not everything that counts can be counted.”

Consumers are always changing how they shop and buy; here’s some data from the end of last year, explaining that buying through social media is slowly growing, among other points. Also, “42% of consumers have chosen a product based on it being made by a small business in the last three months, up 8% from May 2022.” Hubspot also released more data on the social media angle of the research, giving reasons why some buyers are still hesitant. 

US ecommerce sales were up 3% in the first 3 months of 2023. The total was $272.6 billion.

IMAGES, VIDEO, GRAPHIC DESIGN, & FREE ONLINE TOOLS

Need new icons for your website? Here are 20 free sets. 

And here are some free web design tools, although you should note many use AI. 

[fabioperes]

What’s Ulaanbaatar Really Like? Capital City of Mongolia 🇲🇳 Улаанбаатар I spend a few days touring Ulaanbaatar (Улаанбаатар), the capital city of Mongolia. ► If you enjoyed this video, please hit the like button above as this really helps me. ► Due to YouTube's ever-changing algorithm, please also turn on notifications and hit the bell sign, selecting 'All Notifications'. Otherwise you won't get updates. ► Leave a comment below and let me know your thoughts - I reply to almost all comments left in the first 48 hours. My Social Media ► Website ►►► https://ift.tt/ayLWUr0 ► Instagram ►►► https://ift.tt/LOS8zfM ► TikTok ►►► https://ift.tt/iPQmar3 ► Facebook ►►► https://ift.tt/RspeCow ► Sign up to Airbnb and get up to $42 off your first booking ► https://ift.tt/maJLe8q? ► Get Month-by-Month Travel Insurance ► https://ift.tt/tCluv3Z I'm Jason, a full-time British Travel Vlogger and YouTuber who's been to 61 countries. I've been travelling around the world full-time since 2017. I have travel series' from many of the world's best (and least) known destinations. I filmed the first vlogs on my channel in the summer of 2016 after spending a year living in China. A proper solo trip around Eastern Europe followed after graduating from University in the summer of 2017, taking me to Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, North Macedonia and Kosovo. This marked the start of my efforts to turn vlogging into a full-time job. After that European trip I explored much of Asia: visiting India, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Pakistan, the Philippines, South Korea and Kazakhstan. I have also travelled to North Africa and the Middle East fairly extensively over the last five years, filming videos in Turkey, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Israel and Palestine. I've travelled to North America just once as a YouTuber, visiting Mexico in 2021. Though I have been to both the USA and Canada, this was as a child on family holidays. In 2022, I took my first trip to Sub Saharan Africa, visiting Kenya and Tanzania, before heading to the Middle East, stopping in Dubai and Lebanon. Europe followed, covering both the Greek and Turkish sides of Cyprus, and afterwards going back to Italy for the second time to cover Milan and Sicily. I then visited the Caribbean for the first time, covering the Dominican Republic, before heading to both Brussels and Amsterdam, then covering Taiwan and the Philippines in Asia. I finished off the year with a trip around Morocco. I started my travels in 2023 by finally visiting Paris, taking the Eurostar from London. I then headed over to Qatar for a few days, before heading to Asia, with videos following from India, Singapore, Taiwan, Japan and Mongolia. #mongolia #ulaanbaatar #travel via YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vb0uaRbBlCs