Facebook and YouTube: Social Media Updates for week ending 4/7
All Facebook Profiles and Pages Can Now Livestream 360-Degree Video
Facebook is adding updates to Livestream faster than you can say, Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!
Now anyone with the right camera can stream 360 videos to their Facebook page or profile.
Bottomline
If you run events or are an outdoor adventure brand, this would work for you. These videos are interesting and engaging. #hashtag the video with the location and you’re sure to pick up some new likes.
Facebook Testing New Option to Allow Pages to Post in Groups
This is the update we’ve all been waiting for … your page will be able to post to your group!
Bottomline
This will be an amazing tool for brands if Facebook mainstreams this option. Now your group will associate your brand with the brand page, not a person. Even if your page admins change your readers will not lose any trust in the brand because there’s no break in who they see as a page admin.
The only issue is if a Group allows a Page to join a Group. Then you could have a spam fest.
Facebook Tests a Second News Feed Represented by a Rocket Icon
This is only on the Facebook mobile app. This new news feed includes posts, articles, photos and videos from sources you haven’t followed.
Bottomline
It’s an easy way to explore content you haven’t connected with before. Facebook wants to make it easier for you to follow news and topics not just people, brands, and businesses.
Facebook Profile Pic May Now Appear as a Circle
This is a beta test for Android users. In newsfeeds and on the timeline your profile pic may appear as a circle.
Bottomline
You may need to change our your logo if it doesn’t fit the circle format.
YouTube
Removing 30 Second Unskippable Ads in 2018
To improve the user experience for both the watcher and the producer, YouTube is completely removing 30-second unskippable ads in 2018.
Unskippable ads less than 30 seconds will remain. I don’t know about you but I find all unskippable ads annoying.
Bottomline
There still will be an ad at the beginning of your YouTube video, it just won’t be 30 seconds. So go ahead and make 29-second ads to your heart’s content.
As always, you’ve got to stay up on the latest to take advantage of new opportunities in social media! What stands out to you the most?
