Instagram is expanding its music engagement options by allowing users to add song lyrics to their Reels clips. This feature, which is already available for Stories, will enable users to enhance their Reels with dynamic text overlays that match the rhythm of the music. To utilize this new feature, simply select the “Lyrics” option after adding a music track to your Reel. You’ll then be able to choose from a variety of fonts and colors for the lyrics, as well as highlight specific sections to emphasize key messages or themes. The integration of song lyrics into Reels is a clear indication of I ..read more

Instagram is testing a new “Nearby” feed that would show users public content from people and businesses in their area. The feature was first spotted by app researcher Alessandro Paluzzi and is currently in limited testing. The Nearby feed would be located in the Explore tab and would show a mix of Stories and Reels from users and businesses within a certain radius of the user’s location. Users would be able to filter the feed by category, such as food, shopping, or entertainment. The Nearby feed could be a valuable tool for users to discover new places and businesses in their area. It could a ..read more

Instagram is testing a new feature that allows users to create polls in the comments section of their feed posts and Reels clips (you can already run polls in DMs). This feature is currently only available to a select group of users, but Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri has said that it will be rolling out to everyone soon. #Instagram is working on the ability to add polls in the comments section pic.twitter.com/UGXP39Eksl — Alessandro Paluzzi (@alex193a) April 21, 2023 Polls are a popular way to engage with followers and gather feedback. They can be used to ask questions about anything, fro ..read more

Google is adding emoji reactions to Gmail, giving users a quick and easy way to respond to emails without having to type a full response. To use emoji reactions, users simply need to click on the smiley face icon below a message and select an emoji from the menu. They can also click on an emoji that has already been used by another recipient to add their own reaction. (credit: https://blog.google/products/gmail/gmail-emoji-reactions)   As explained by Google: “Starting this month, those with personal Gmail accounts will see a smiley face icon appear below their messages on mobile a ..read more

Using hashtags for social media marketing is nothing new, but I wanted to provide a one-stop guide that will explain how to build your brand’s awareness by implementing hashtags strategically and appropriately. The Strength of the Hashtag The hashtag’s impact took the world of social media by storm. Once known as the “pound sign,” or associated with a tic tac toe game, the hashtag has been transformed into a global symbol that connects unique communities together by using a single word or phrase. Hashing Out Epic Content Marketing and related content is typically the responsibility of externa ..read more

Many business owners shy away from writing their own press releases, but it is not as complicated as it may seem. Yes, there are some best practices to follow, but these techniques will be covered in this guide to help business owners to learn how to write their first press release. Creating a story that a journalist would find interesting is not as hard as some people would think. Using writing techniques for the mass media, a business owner engages with the highest-regarded publications. A few tips for this include writing in an active voice and keeping the content simple and short. A great ..read more

The world of marketing is changing. Direct Marketing is becoming more and more popular as a way to reach your customers in the most effective manner possible. There are many benefits to using this marketing strategy, including reaching potential clients with minimal cost and without having to compete on price. However, you may not know how exactly to get started with direct marketing or what it entails. Read on for helpful advice from an experienced business owner who has been successfully using Direct Marketing for years!   What is direct marketing?   Direct Marketing is when a com ..read more

Ask any marketer how they feel when news of a new social media algorithm starts circulating. It’s almost as bad as the red circle of death on the Xbox to video gamers. But there’s good news, there’s a simple, and effective way around the algorithm that may even boost your business more than before! The social media algorithms are designed to highlight the best and most relevant content. Now, what is a great way to determine if content is relevant? Engagement! Influencers are spectacular at creating engagement and developing community around your business and if this is an avenue that you haven ..read more

You’ve done it, you’ve created profiles for all of your social media channels, created some designs, and now it’s time to start posting content. But before you jump into the deep end, let’s make sure that you’re working smarter and not harder. The following is a list of the top 5 mistakes people make when creating content for social media. 1. Posting things that have absolutely nothing to do with your business. It’s one thing to throw in the occasional burst of humor to grab your audience’s attention. BUT, if that’s the only thing you are posting about, you may want to rethink your strategy. P ..read more

One social media platform that people don’t general think of using as a marketing tool is LinkedIn. And they’re missing out on a HUMONGOUS opportunity! The people who are using LinkedIn likely are using it incorrectly. I see it all the time. Posting your latest blog post and hoping for leads, or posting a simple update without optimizing your post. That’s where I come in. We’re going to take a look at some tips to change that. I’ve got your back. But before we dive into the holy grail of LinkedIn engagement tips, let’s have a chat about why engagement even matters on LinkedIn. The 411 on Linke ..read more