The Marketing Remix (feat. FB Feeds, Reels, & Twitter Spaces)
This week, our favorite social platforms are giving their products some new spins. Facebook is giving users more control over their feeds, Instagram is channeling TikTok as it launches its Reel Remix feature, and Twitter is in the process of expanding accessibility to Spaces.
Not Vibing To The Algo-Rhythm? The Feed Filter Bar Might Help
After one too many dystopian stories of social media evolving into mind control, Facebook is giving users more options to control how they interact on the platform. This includes limiting who can comment on posts, more information about why posts are suggested, and the Feed Filter Bar. We’re particularly interested in that last feature, which allows users to determine what they see on their feeds. Giving users this level of control reminds us of Facebook’s early days when we weren’t beholden to the algorithm.
The Feed Filter Bar allows users to sort by Favorites and Most Recent, both of which replace the algorithmically-ranked News Feed. Favorites is another new feature from Facebook – it allows users to select 30 profiles or pages that they’d like to see the most from. Posts from a user’s Favorites will automatically appear higher in their feed or they can be seen by switching to Favorites in the Feed Filter Bar. The other option, Most Recent, gives everyone a fair shake by showing all posts in chronological order.
What does this mean for Gainesville Businesses?
This feature feels like a breath of fresh air. As social media users, you’re going to see more from the people and pages you follow/favorite. As business owners, you’ll know that the algorithm isn’t the sole decider of who sees your content. Your most devoted followers can add you to their Favorites and view your content first, while others who kick the algorithm to the curb will see what you post at peak engagement times!
Instagram Reels Get A Remix! …But This Track Sounds Familiar
We love hearing what two different artists can do with the same beat or the same lyrics. (In fact, we’ve seen just that with TikTok Duets between musicians.) But at what point do we have to acknowledge that one version of the song is better? As Instagram continues to add features to Reels, we’re seeing TikTok imitations over and over again.
The latest remix? Remixes. Instagram’s new feature allows you to film a video next to a previous Reel, using its original audio and adding your own as desired. It’s as simple as tapping the three dots at the top of a recent Reel post, filming, and posting your contribution!
This is another way for creators to interact and make great content together. As we evaluate where to spend our energy and engage with our audience, it’s worth acknowledging the elephant in the room: Reel Remixes sounds a lot like TikTok Duets.
It’s clear that Instagram is directly competing with TikTok after seeing TikTok’s success. However, releasing copycat features one by one feels like a slow reinvention of the wheel. To be a true competitor in short-form mobile content, we’re looking for how Instagram can take this medium to the next level. Without unique additions to the original, is it a remix or just copyright infringement?
What does this mean for Gainesville Businesses?
If you’re looking to expand your audience, Remixing a Reel is a way to tap into another creator’s following. They might even end up liking your Remix and looking into other ways to collaborate with you! Find an influencer in your area or related to your industry and see if there are ways that you could add to their recent Reels. You can also create a new Reel with the intention of being remixed. Pose a question, interact with the right side of your screen, or provide audio that someone can build off! And if you’re going through the effort on Instagram, we’d highly recommend posting your content to TikTok as well. It’s an easy way to start building your audience on the platform and reaching more people.
