Wondering how to engage your social media audience and make them stop in their feed to view your content? Create engaging video. As you focus on your brand’s social media strategy development for the new year, ensure that video is part of your content mix. Read on for a few reasons why.   It drives online purchases. A recent study by Brightcove shows that 85% of millennials have purchased a product after watching a video. That’s no surprise, given the amount of time consumers spend on their mobile devices each day. When your goal is to drive online purchases for your brand, think of how ..read more

Pinterest began testing video ads that take up the entire width of a user’s mobile device – Promoted Video at max width – in early June. This week, the ad unit debuted to all advertisers on the platform. In their release, Pinterest advised on best practices for Promoted Video at max width to help brands and businesses get the most out of their advertising dollars. After sifting through this information, we’re breaking down what you need to know about Promoted Video at max width and what this update means for Pinterest marketers. Stick To Mobile First and foremost, it’s important to note that t ..read more

For a long time, YouTube was the go-to space for finding, posting, and discovering videos. When monetization rolled around on YouTube, it was certainly the most sought after social channel to make money from video content. However, with the launch of new tools on Facebook and Instagram aimed to help influencers grow their audiences and get more business, many are wondering if YouTube will be able to keep influencers engaged. In late January, YouTube made changes to their monetization criteria, making it difficult for creators with less modest followings to make money. The updates, which placed ..read more

Instagram hit the social media community with some major news this week. At an event in San Francisco, the photo and video-sharing app announced the launch of its newest innovation – IGTV. This new feature, which lives within Instagram and also as a standalone app, is optimized for long-form, mobile-friendly video content. If you’re wondering what exactly the deal is with this new video platform and how your brand might be able to leverage it, look no further. So, what is IGTV anyway? IGTV is different from its parent app in a few ways. Primarily, its content is meant to satisfy mobile-first v ..read more

How do you know when it is, and when it isn’t, appropriate to use video content for you brand? Unfortunately, the answer isn’t as obvious as we might like. While it may seem like abiding by the more is better rule for video content is foolproof, we’re here to provide a somewhat different and more nuanced explanation of how to approach the use of video for your brand. Essentially, don’t do video for the sake of doing video. Do video to convey something that can only be conveyed through video. For Video’s Sake We’re certainly not trying to claim that video is never the correct medium for your br ..read more

Watch out, YouTube, Facebook is pulling no punches! Facebook is not only expanding their video platform, Facebook Watch, they are also dominating in the branded video space. Facebook Watch In 2017, Facebook launched a video platform called ‘Facebook Watch’ which is a hub for longer-form video content including shows that Facebook licensed or funded itself. Recently, Facebook announced they are looking to expand the platform to individual content creators increasing the amount of long-form content that can Facebook sell ads against. Similar to how YouTube operates, Facebook would create a syst ..read more

If you’ve been on any social media platform within the last week, you’ve probably seen many posts surrounding Mother’s Day. For this holiday, many of the industry’s biggest brands have a great reason to participate in marketing to moms, daughters, fathers and more. According to the National Retail Federation, Americans were expected to spend more than ever on Mother’s Day this year as they shower moms with everything from jewelry to special outings at favorite restaurants. Total spending is expected to reach $23.6 billon – the highest in the survey’s 14-year history, topping last year’s previo ..read more

When you think of live video, Facebook may be the first platform that comes to mind. They’ve certainly made the biggest push for it over the past year or so. But, there are plenty of other platforms that are worth considering. Twitter, Instagram, Periscope, and now even YouTube are all getting in on the live video feature. Each platform comes with their own unique features and capabilities, so it’s important to carefully consider which one would best fit your goals and your brand. Paid Promotion This is a big one. Organic content can only get you so far, and the ability to promote your live v ..read more

Running a sweepstakes for your brand can be a great way to reward your loyal fans and find new ones. Doing a live video sweepstakes on Facebook is a new playing field and we think one that shouldn’t be ignored. We’ve already touched on Facebook Live and tips on how to make sure yours goes off without a hitch, but what about running a sweepstakes during a live video? Sound like a great idea? We think so and here are a few things to make sure that your giveaway will not only be engaging for your audience, but also how to make sure you are being legally compliant with how you run one. Plan Out Yo ..read more

Facebook Live, one of the most exciting, engaging social media tools available, is captivating both people and brands alike. From live makeup tutorials to live product reveals to live movie premieres, the potential for this Facebook tool is nearly limitless. It’s no longer a question of “if” your brand should use this feature, but “how”. Like all social media tools and mediums, Facebook Live has several best practices which, if adhered to, will enhance the potential for your live video to reach a larger audience. Here are 5 helpful tips to help you plan your next successful live stream ..read more