It's been a busy Spring and Summer in the world of online marketing. Here is what's new with tools like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
CC-License: CC BY
Photo: Markus Spiske / raumrot.com
Google's Mobile-Friendly Update
The upcoming Panda update is a hot topic for SEOs but many publishers are still assessing whether the April 2015 mobile-friendly update is affecting their visibility in search results. https://moz.com/google-algorithm-change
The answer is yes. Maybe not right now, but as the mobile-friendly updates unfold this will affect you. I recommend moving forward on plans to make your website responsive.
Facebook is constantly changing the algorithm that determines what users see in their News Feed. The latest changes are rolling out across the US and include a way for users to choose the friends and Pages they want to “See First”. As reach declines for Pages, this new setting will help publishers who are offering desireable content but hurt those who don't have the time or content to compete for attention. I recommend reviewing your content marketing strategy.
Twitter has a new feature that lets you show (and celebrate) your birthday, which is obviously a feature prompted by existing user behaviour. July 12 was Malala Yousafzai's birthday and political leaders and citizens around the globe wished her happy birthday on Twitter. I recommend mentioning this to authors and updating profiles if your business is also celebrating a major anniversary.
Instagram photos are now stored at 1080×1080 vs 640×640 so there's speculation about a new release. Basically images are looking better on mobile. I recommend checking the photo settings on your mobile to ensure you are snapping shots at this larger size.
Pinterest is rolling out buyable pins on the home feed, on boards and in search results. They also improved search features. I recommend exploring these ad options if you have a strong following and US market.
Snapchat launched native video ads. Meerkat, for live streaming video seems to be the new, popular kid on the block. Recent updates include better Facebook integration and Cameo, which allows users to invite viewers to take over the live stream for 60 seconds at a time. I recommend examining if you have the capacity to add video marketing to the mix.
