Last week we shared how you can amplify your brand in a saturated digital environment. Now, we’ve outlined exactly what you need to know to make buying easier and selling faster with WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook’s newest tools.

Carts: A New WhatsApp Feature

WhatsApp’s newest shopping feature makes buying easier and selling faster. With carts, customers can browse a catalog, select multiple products and send in one message their full order to the business. Businesses can better keep track of orders, manage requests from customers and close sales. Carts are now live around the world, just in time for the holiday season. 

What does this mean for Gainesville Businesses? If you haven’t used WhatsApp as a selling option for your business, now is the time to start! Your target customers are shopping more and more through chats, and the new carts feature allows your business to streamline its buying and selling process. 

Instagram Adds Timers to Stories

Instagram’s new timer feature will change how users tap through and engage with Stories forever. The app is testing new timer listings beneath Stories bubbles so users can see how much longer a Story will last until it disappears. 

What does this mean for Gainesville Businesses? This new countdown feature could boost engagement for all businesses who use Stories. The timer could prompt more people to see what they might miss before the timer runs out. If you’ve never tapped into using Instagram Stories for your business page, start now. 

Kustomer to Join Facebook

A new partnership between Facebook and a top-rated CRM will give businesses access to the best-in-class tools that deliver excellent service and support. Kustomer is an omnichannel CRM platform that allows businesses to see customer conversations from various channels in one single-screen view. 

What does this mean for Gainesville Businesses? Businesses can now integrate Facebook messaging services such as Messenger and WhatsApp with the CRM service, Kustomer, to maximize the time and quality of interactions with customers and minimize repetitive tasks. 

Ok, now what?

Now that you’re up to date with the latest industry news, it’s time to invest in a team that specializes in all things social media and digital marketing. We can help! Liquid Creative is a full-service marketing agency ready to help your business operate to its fullest potential without missing a beat.

Last week we shared how consumers can find you faster, without even following you. Now, we’ve outlined exactly what you need to know to amplify your brand, foster brand awareness and boost customer satisfaction with Instagram’s newest features.

New Branded Content Capabilities: Instagram

Instagram’s new content capabilities will help businesses create, share and amplify their branded content faster than ever before.

A Branded Content tag is now available for use in Reels and will be available in Live in the coming weeks. Creators can now use Reels for their branded content deals and provide full transparency to viewers with the Branded Content tag. Along with the new tag, advertisers can now create Branded Content ads without the need for creators to post organically to Instagram first. Advertisers can send requests for Ad Creation access, and creators can approve the ad within seconds inside the app. Branded Content ads in Stories can now include tappable elements, such as @mentions, location and hashtags to create a more native and authentic Stories experience. Product tags are also able to be promoted within ads now.

What does this mean for Gainesville Businesses? If you haven’t started using Instagram’s new capabilities to amplify your brand, now is the time to start.

New FAQ Features: Instagram

Instagram’s newest feature now gives businesses the capability to provide immediate customer service. When customers look to submit a message query, the new FAQ feature is displayed on a business’s Direct feed with quick, tappable Q and A options. As of now, businesses can set up four questions that will display on a customer’s initial message interaction.

What does this mean for Gainesville Businesses? While you’re sending customers through your business’s marketing funnel on Instagram, you can use the new FAQ feature to answer buyer questions. By using this new feature, you can provide a quick and effective customer service experience.

Ok, now what?

Now that you’re up to date with the latest industry news, it’s time to invest in a team that specializes in all things social media and digital marketing. We can help! Liquid Creative is a full-service marketing agency ready to help your business operate to its fullest potential without missing a beat.

 

Last week we touched on how consumer behavior changes will impact how businesses market in 2021. Now, we’ll dive into how Instagram, Twitter and Google’s new features can help consumers find exactly who they’re looking for, you.

Expanding Instagram Guides

Instagram has expanded its Guides feature so consumers can find you faster, without even following you. Guides are used by creators and businesses on Instagram to share recommendations, tips and other content with consumers. You can view a Guide by visiting the profile of participating creators or by visiting the Explore tab. Now, you can use Guides to share themed content on your profile, share on Stories and in DMs and use Product Guides to be featured in Instagram Shop, the new shopping destination inside the app.

What does this mean for Gainesville Businesses? If you haven’t dabbled with Instagram Guides, now is the time to release a Guide and showcase your products. With these additional features, brands are opened up to new opportunities in presenting and sharing their products.

Introducing Twitter Fleets

Twitter hopped on the Stories bandwagon and rolled out Fleets, a new way to share “fleeting thoughts”, to all users this past Tuesday. Similar to Instagram Stories, Fleets are located at the top of the screen inside the app. Users can write text, share a tweet and post a photo or video that will disappear in 24 hours.

What does this mean for Gainesville Businesses? While you’re marketing your business on Twitter, use Fleets to join the conversation and provide another way for users to engage with your content and see how your community starts to grow.

New Metrics for Google Search

Google announced new metrics to improve users’ results in keyword searches coming May 2021. These new metrics, called “page experience signals,” can be found in your business’s Google Search Console, labeled as Core Web Vitals. The metrics include loading performance, interactivity, and visual stability. They will also be included with the following search signals Google uses: mobile-friendliness, safe-browsing, HTTPS-security and intrusive interstitial guidelines.

What does this mean for Gainesville Businesses? If you’re looking to improve your search engine rankings, you may want to look beyond keyword optimization. Having a visually appealing and easy-to-navigate website is a growing trend in the SEO and web development community to improve user experience. Make sure you have your business’s website set up in Google Search Console and use this helpful guide to determine if your website has high or low performing page experience signals.

Ok, now what?

Now that you’re up to date with the latest industry news, it’s time to invest in a team that specializes in all things social media and digital marketing. We can help! Liquid Creative is a full-service marketing agency ready to help your business operate to its fullest potential without missing a beat.

With 2021 right around the corner, Gainesville businesses need to know how consumer behavior is changing. Facebook, TikTok and Instagram have provided new features to maximize user interest and boost customer satisfaction. Here are some new trends to try out so you can celebrate success in the new year here:

Facebook Adds Motion Effects to Still Images

Facebook has introduced a new eye-catching and engaging tool to pull consumers in and get them to stop scrolling and engage with your posts . A motion ‘effects’ feature is now available when creating a post. This adds movement to still images with either a slide, flash or highlight option to choose from. With users gravitating more toward moving content, such as video, as opposed to still images, Facebook has given businesses a tool to maximize user interest.

Photo Source

What does this mean for Gainesville Businesses?

While you are marketing your business on Facebook, try using motion ‘effects’ and see how the engagement from your consumers amplifies. 

Supporting Nonprofits on TikTok

Social responsibility will shape how brands position themselves on social media in 2021. According to more than 70 marketing experts and influencers surveyed by the social media analysis firm Talkwalker and software company Hubspot, audiences are more socially conscious and are paying more attention to which companies support global issues. To stay socially aware, TikTok has added a feature for users to display a nonprofit organization they wish to support publicly on their profile. 

What does this mean for Gainesville Businesses?

You can now openly share which nonprofit organizations you support and stay on track with one of 2021’s top industry trends of being socially conscious. If your business isn’t openly discussing how it’s supporting the global issues happening today, now is the time to use your voice and make an impact.

New Reels and Shopping Tabs: Instagram

To keep up with the explosion of video content and online shopping following the pandemic, Instagram has added the Reels tab and Shop tab to make it easier for buyers to discover brands all around the world. The Reels tab makes discovering short, fun videos more accessible, while the Shops tab provides a better way for users to find products they love.

 

What does this mean for Gainesville Businesses?

Instagram Reels is another avenue to sell your product and drive sales.  The trend to shop online is only going to increase, so in 2021, users will continue to shop online and be drawn to engaging video content.

Ok, now what?

Now that you’re up to date with the latest industry news, it’s time to invest in a team that specializes in all things social media and digital marketing. We can help! Liquid Creative is a full-service marketing agency ready to help your business operate to its fullest potential without missing a beat.

Youtube, TikTok and WhatsApp have announced new features to help businesses make greater connections, drive sales and improve customer satisfaction in the coming months. Their new features include: 

Short Clips on Youtube 

Shortly following the September 14th TikTok country wide ban in India, Youtube launched “Shorts”.  It’s a new short-form video experience that will be coming soon to all regions. The feature allows creators and artists to shoot and immediately upload a 15-second or less video using their mobile phones. Clips will be discoverable on the front page of the Youtube app through a side-scrolling display of clips called “Shorts Shelf.” A shortcut button will also be added to the app for easy access viewing. 

What does this mean for Gainesville Businesses?

While we’re waiting for the day Youtube Shorts will be available to all users in America, it’s important to be informed so your business can be prepared with it goes live. Youtube’s Creator Insider channel encourages brands to add #Shorts to the title of your clips to increase your chances of appearing on the Shorts shelf. They caution creators to remember that not all viewers will be subscribers, so creators should keep their videos, as the title implies, short, clear and highly visual. All clips will also be available as standard Youtube videos so it will be pertinent to think about what content will fit into your broader content channel and what type of content should stay solely on Shorts. 

TikTok Partners with Shopify

TikTok isn’t just for the influencers and teens. Businesses of all sizes use TikTok to create content and make real connections with people. On October 27, TikTok announced a new eCommerce option to help businesses make direct income from their work. Shopify merchants can run promotions on TikTok so users can discover new products through advertisements posted in the app.

What does this mean for Gainesville Businesses?

TikTok has provided a new way to help merchants on Shopify connect with their TikTok community. More than 1 million businesses can now be discovered, unlock their creativity, and optimize their marketing campaigns. If you are a Spotify merchant, you can use TikTok as a powerful tool to expand your reach and drive sales. 

The Future of Business Messaging

WhatsApp Business accounts are messaged by more than 175 million people every day. The app has helped businesses provide customer service in a simple and convenient way. On October 22, Facebook announced its new efforts to improve WhatsApp to make messaging the best way for consumers and businesses to connect. In the coming months, WhatsApp users will be able to see available products and make purchases directly from the chat without ever leaving the app. Businesses will also be able to manage their WhatsApp messages through Facebook’s hosting services. 

What does this mean for Gainesville Businesses?

Businesses should be aware of when each feature will be available on WhatsApp in the next few months. By using the new WhatsApp features, you can sell products, manage inventory and quickly respond to customer inquiries for ultimate customer satisfaction.

Ok, now what?

Now that you’re up to date with the latest industry news, it’s time to invest in a team that specializes in all things social media and digital marketing. We can help! Liquid Creative is a full-service marketing agency ready to help your business operate to its fullest potential without missing a beat. 

In the upcoming weeks, Google and Facebook will be implementing changes that will affect millions of businesses. Their new changes include: 

Google Policy Change

Starting on Monday, advertisers on Google who promote housing, employment, and credit products and services will no longer be able to target people based on personal attributes, including gender, age, parental status, marital status, and ZIP code. Google is implementing this policy in an effort to create more equal opportunities for everyone regardless of your background. 

What does this mean for Gainesville businesses?

If you are selling real estate, promoting employment opportunities or credit lending, your Google ad targeting will be very limited. You’ll be able to target a location generally, for example, the entire city of Gainesville, but you will not be able to target a specific zip code within Gainesville.

Google Bans Election-Themed Ads 

Google announced on Friday that they will ban ads on all their platforms, including YouTube, that relate to any concept regarding the federal and state elections after November 3. This is to prevent any false advertising after the election, which Google predicts will have a delay in results. 

What does this mean for Gainesville businesses?

With local elections, campaigns in the area should keep this new policy in mind and make sure to stop all campaign ads on Google by November 3. Google is expecting a 48 hour delay in reviewing ad creative once the ban is implemented, so it’s important to ensure all new creative is implemented prior to the election.

Facebook and Instagram Say Goodbye to WordPress Embeds

Starting on October 24, unauthenticated Facebook and Youtube embeds on WordPress sites will break due to an upcoming API update. 

What does this mean for Gainesville businesses?

If you have embedded content from Facebook and Instagram on your WordPress site, you are affected by this change. Your embedded content will soon be broken. To solve this issue, you must meet Facebook’s new requirements to be a publisher with a Facebook developer account, have a registered Facebook app in Live Mode, an Access Token and have the Embed Product added to the app.

Shopping Inside Youtube

Millions of creators on Youtube provide links to the products featured in their videos. However, viewers have never been able to buy a featured product without being redirected to another site. To make shopping easier, Google confirmed its plan to add new Youtube shopping features. Every product seen on Youtube could be for sale soon on the network itself with a simple “Buy now” button next to all unboxing and review videos. The new feature is currently under testing with select Youtube channels. Viewers are directly purchasing tagged products through Canadian Shopify inside Youtube.

What does this mean for Gainesville businesses?

Youtube Shopping will soon be another way customers can easily find your products. If you have been contemplating starting a channel for your business or have considered partnering with Youtube creators, now is the time to do it! Youtube will be the next big shopping destination, are you ready for it?

Ok, now what?

Now that you’re up to date with the latest industry news, it’s time to invest in a team that specializes in all things social media and digital marketing. We can help! We are a full-service marketing agency ready to help your business operate to its fullest potential without missing a beat.

Instagram celebrated its 10-year anniversary on October 6! To give thanks to the millions of users around the world, Instagram announced new features to improve the user experience and the consumer buying process. Their new features include: 

Messenger Meets Instagram

Over a billion people use the Facebook Messenger app to have conversations, share content and virtually hangout with friends and family. Businesses use Messenger often to provide customer service by answering questions and scheduling appointments. Users can now have the same Messenger experience within the Instagram app without ever needing to exit the app. Users, buyers and business owners can now stay connected in an easier, more efficient way. 

Tabs for Reels and Simple Shopping

On IGTV and Reels, users can now find and purchase products they love in video content immediately. When viewing a video, any of the products linked by the creator can be added to their shopping bag and purchased with the click of a button. 

Anti-Bullying Commenting

To kick off Bullying Prevention Month, Instagram wanted to reduce the occurrence of negative interactions through comments. Businesses can now see the additional measures taken by the app to hide potentially offensive comments and delete comments that violate their Community Guidelines. 

What does this mean for Gainesville Businesses?

As a business, it’s important to stay connected with your audience in every way possible. By updating your Instagram account and using the new built-in Messenger feature, you can provide the ultimate customer service experience. 

Instagram has a new way for Gainesville creators and small businesses to sell products easier. Begin publishing video content to your business’s IGTV and Reels so you can add another option for customers to easily find your products. 

Businesses can now use the anti-bullying feature to prevent negative and offensive comments from appearing on their feed. Businesses can continue to provide a safe community that promotes engagement between their followers and prevents bullying.

Ok, now what?

Now that you’re up to date with the latest industry news, it’s time to invest in a team that specializes in all things social media. We can help! We are a full-service marketing agency ready to help your business operate to its fullest potential.