QUICK BITES

💌 Instagram Tests New DM-Focused Layout

Instagram is experimenting with a new app layout that prioritizes DMs and Stories. In this test, the messaging icon moves to the center of the app, highlighting the growing importance of direct communication. Connecting with your followers through DMs is a great way to personalize communication, share exclusive content, and quickly reply to feedback. 

🎶 Reels Got A Major Music Upgrade

Instagram now lets you add up to 20 audio tracks to a reel, a feature already popular on TikTok. This gives you more creative freedom to craft engaging and dynamic content. Use this update to enhance your storytelling, showcase products, and captivate your audience!

📽 Pinterest Boards Become Interactive Videos

Pinterest now lets you transform your curated collections into captivating videos. Perfect for stylists, beauty gurus, and travel enthusiasts, this new feature lets you showcase your aesthetic magic and drive traffic back to your Pinterest boards.

BRAND BUILDING

Mastering Instagram Settings for Maximum Visibility

By fine-tuning these often-overlooked features, you can significantly boost your post visibility and engagement.  

Account Status: Your Reputation Guardian

If you believe your content isn’t being shown, first ensure your content aligns with Instagram's community guidelines. Next, regularly go to Settings> Account Status> Removed Content to check for flagged content. If a post is flagged, remove it promptly to maintain your account's good standing. If you believe you have not violated the community guidelines, you can appeal the decision. 

Media Quality: Showcase Your Best Work

Upgrade your video uploads to the highest quality for a polished, professional look. Remember, Instagram compresses videos by default, so you’ll need to adjust this setting manually. To access this setting, click “More options” when uploading a video from your mobile app, then toggle on “Upload at highest quality.” 

Accessibility: Content for All 

Enable auto-generated captions and enter custom alt text to improve accessibility for followers that are deaf or visually impaired and use assistive technology. For Reels, you can toggle on “Enable closed captions” at the same time you change the media quality setting under “More settings” when uploading a video from your mobile app.

To enter alt text on an image, click “Advanced settings” and scroll down to “Accessibility.”

Taking the time to enable captions and write an alt text also provides SEO benefits by giving search engines more context about your visual content.

TOOL TIME

Why I ❤ Instagram’s Professional Dashboard

For businesses on Instagram, you have access to a professional dashboard that’s chock full of insights. At the top of your dashboard, you’ll see an overall snapshot of followers, reach, and engagement. 

Under Tools, you also have access to:

• Achievements: Milestones with fun badges to keep you motivated. 

• Inspiration: Find content ideas similar to what you've posted before to help spark new ideas. You can also find trending audio for Reels and suggested accounts to follow here. 

• Ad Tools: Create and manage your paid ads here. 

• Branded Content: This is where creators manage the content that they’re compensated for (in either money or free products). 

• Saved Replies: Allows you to set up saved replies and shortcuts to improve your response time when communicating with followers.

JOIN THE SOCIAL CLUB

One of the most common questions I get about The Social Club is, “If everyone is using The Social Club, won’t all our posts look the same?”

Nope❗

The very first step when you join is to customize your calendar. You’ll enter products and services you sell, and write a description about what your company does and your ideal client. We use this information to customize your captions every day!

Plus, each post comes with 5+ Canva templates to pick from to customize with your brand colors, fonts, and photos.

So no two posts from The Social Club will ever be the same!

PS — If you’d rather full-service social media management, let’s chat! Book a discovery call today ☎️