Social Media Updates Through April 25th
With spring here in the States, we see a lot of flowers spring forth, trees blooming, and a number of new social media updates that marketers should be aware of! Ready to look at social media updates? Let’s dive in…
Lots have been happening this past month on Facebook. Here are some of the top ones…
Facebook Changing News Feed Algorithms
Again?!? Yes, Facebook is changing its News Feed algorithms again. This is always a scary time for marketers but one we will need to adapt to. This time the update is aimed at promoting more trustworthy news sources and stopping the spread of ‘problematic’ content. The update will also include a NEW metric called Click-Gap which will determine how to rank certain posts.
Why It Matters
It’s always good to be aware of new algorithm changes as they could impact the reach of your posts. It should not be an issue for marketers who are offering valuable content.
Facebook Tests News Feed Stories Format
Do you enjoy looking at Stories? This is a growing area where more people are spending increasing time. Do you prefer the swipe of stories or the scroll of the News Feed? Facebook is in the testing stages of combining the News Feed into the Stories format so that it scrolls horizontally rather than vertically!
Why It Matters
Businesses could take a hit with this new format as it will be a significant change and disruption for users accustomed to the news feed as it is today. Businesses would still create content the same way, but Facebook Ads could be hurt due to users being more likely to swipe through the ads rather then it going through the scroll. In the end, this would allow Facebook to gain more ad dollars out of the new format if an Ad user is paying for impressions.
No clear indicator they will make this shift nor how this will impact things. The key is to be aware and be ready to have to adapt, learn, and make some changes. It’s the name of the game with Facebook! It’s a reminder that we are visitors on their land and they can do what they want.
Facebook Updates Ads Manager
Previously known as Facebook Ad Archive, this is now the Facebook Ad Library. The Facebook Ad Library compiles the Page’s active ads and information on the ads so that people can see the ads all in one place.
Why It Matters
The Facebook Ad Library is to help people learn more about the ads a Page is running to discern if they are legit and it offers greater transparency. This feature is more for ads relating to politics and issues but is still important for businesses to know about. The feature can also help your business scout out Facebook ads others are running and give ideas to how you want to proceed.
New Options for 3-D photos
3-D photos were released last year but haven’t gained much momentum. 3-D photos offer a unique visual option which is likely to pick up more. Now Facebook has released a new way people can share these 3-D images; through Stories.
Why It Matters
To capture people’s attention, it is important to have visual content and 3-D image is a great tool to add to your social media marketing tool belt. Adding 3-D images to stories adds visual attraction and a current and personal touch.
Facebook Page Video Crossposting
Similar to crossposting Facebook Live videos, Facebook has a new feature that allows you to crosspost uploaded videos directly to multiple Pages.
Why It Matters
Do you have multiple Facebook Pages? Now with Facebook’s new crossposting feature you can easily post uploaded video to multiple Pages at once. This can help save time and allow you to repurpose content from one Page to another.
Ok, that’s a Facebook-focused rundown this week on some of the important updates in social media. We’ll widen the angle again in two weeks to cover updates to other platforms. If you found this post of value but are not subscribed to get them in your inbox, consider signing up for blog updates in the sign-up box on this page! (mobile below, desktop to the right!)
