The low down on social media….bells, whistles and all!

Are you getting the most you can out of your social media pages? We reveal all with a little Social-101...

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29 March 2021 | 5 Minute(s) to read



If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed when it comes to the world of social media – don’t worry, we get it. Over the past decade, social media has taken the world by storm; developing and evolving in more ways than we ever thought possible.

The good news? You’re not alone - others feel it, too. 

Our job? Well, we’re here to help guide you through a little social 101. We’ll strip it right back and show you all the different bells and whistles to our most commonly used social media platforms; Facebook and Instagram.

We’ll touch on answering questions such as, “What are the different facets to social media?” and “How can I utilise these social media features in my business? plus, “How can I mix it up from just another boring old post?”

Coffee in hand? Alright, let’s go.

 

Posts

Let’s start with our truuuuusty old friend the “post”. The first, and most commonly used feature for business.

Get crafty with your images, or get witty with your captions. Businesses today, commonly use a post to tell a story, send an update, showcase a product or share a video.  Have a think – how can you use posts for your business?

 

Stories

 

 

Stories are a slightly newer feature and can be found across both Instagram and Facebook. 

I don’t know about you but when it was first introduced, I wasn’t entirely convinced. I mean, what an odd feature - why would people want to go to the bother of uploading something to share that was only going to vanish a short 24 hours later? 

Boy, how I was wrong. Facebook and Instagram stories have developed to be the most popular feature across social platforms and are changing the way we consume media. 

These full screen, vertical videos and images appear outside of our news feed, and are another way to communicate with your audience. They’re available to view on mobile only and disappear after 24-hours. 

But what’s so good about them?

  • Because of their magical vanishing act, stories give users a sense of FOMO (Fear-Of-Missing-Out). Users are often left with a need to come back for more, increasing your chances as a business of being seen if you keep this form of communication regular.
  • There’s plenty of features and functions available that help keep your users engaged when using stories. Create a poll, or ‘ask us a question’ - put the ball in the viewers court and create a two-way relationship.
  • It’s a perfect channel to showcase timely content. In retail? Stories are a flash sale’s best friend!
  • They keep content fresh and regular and put simply, there’s just something a little more organic about them.

 

Shop

If you’re an e-commerce business, listen up as this could be THE perfect addition to your social media strategy.

Instagram shopping is like reaching through the phone and dragging the viewer straight through to your store. According to Instagram, 70% of shopping enthusiasts turn to Instagram for inspiration and 87% of people say that influencers have inspired them to make a purchase. Pretty impressive stats hey?

Utilise this in-app shop experience and connect your customers with your products at a simple click of a button. Marketing to our tech-crazy (and little bit lazy), Gen Z consumer just got a whole lot easier.


Facebook Events

An old feature but a goody with huge benefits. 

Perfect for, and commonly used amongst businesses for sales events such as pop-ups or flash sales, launch parties, fundraisers and more.

Build your event, promote it. Reach an audience bigger than your following through boosting your event to a targeted audience. The event page will keep attendees informed and engaged and provide a forum for people to reach you and to share memories.

Recipe for event success? We think so.


Facebook Live

Facebook Live was launched in 2016, bringing a slice of real life to the social platform. This popular-used function allows users to share live video feeds with the world, promoting users to capture, live and breathe real life moments.

Whether you’re sharing live footage of an event, or taking your users through a real life experience in store - Facebook Live allows businesses to interact and engage with their audience on new levels like never before. 

 

Instagram Reels

If you’re wanting to create some fun and engaging video content – IG reels are your guy! The latest function to hit Instagram has seriously similar aspects to Tik-Tok. Instagram Reel allows users to record and stream 15-30 second videos which are teamed up with music of their choice. They can be found smack bang in the middle on the nav bar and intertwined amongst your ‘explore’ page.

It’s often forgotten about but this special feature of Instagram provides you with a forum to connect with users in a new, light-hearted and fun, playful way.

 

I hope that’s got you thinking about how you can utilise social media for your business - in more ways than one.  

If you’re still feeling a little lost and think your social media could do with a little shake up – get in touch, our team of social experts would love to help.

Contact us