Here’s the thing about Instagram growth advice – there’s a lot of noise out there. Between conflicting strategies, outdated tactics, and the occasional suggestion to post 24 times daily whilst mastering every trending dance, it’s no wonder businesses feel overwhelmed.

But here’s some brilliant news: Instagram just dropped their official guidance on follower growth, complete with actual data from their platform.  We’ve spent the last 24 hours diving deep into their insights (because that’s what passes for a wild Tuesday in our world), and what we discovered will either revolutionise your approach or make you realise you’ve been overthinking this whole Instagram thing. Quite possibly both.

The Big Reveal: It’s Not What You Think

Here’s the kicker that made us spit out our Diet Coke – Instagram’s data shows creators posting 10 or more Reels per month see the biggest follower growth rates. Not three reels when inspiration strikes. Not “quality over quantity” (though we’ll get to that). Ten reels minimum.

But before businesses start panicking about their content calendars, let’s dig into what this actually means and why it matters more than perfectly curated feed aesthetics.

There Are Many Ways to Grow (But Some Work Better Than Others)

Instagram’s being refreshingly honest here – follower growth depends entirely on what business goals are and what type of content companies and their audiences actually enjoy. Revolutionary concept, we know.

Love video? Creating engaging Reels is genuinely the best way to reach new audiences. The algorithm pushes video content harder than static posts, and there’s actual data to back this up now.

Prefer static content? Carousels are your friend. They get multiple opportunities for visibility because Instagram treats each swipe as a separate engagement signal. Clever, right?

Why Reels work so well: They show up in both the Reels tab and the Explore page, giving businesses twice the chance of someone stumbling across their content. Boooom.

The Most Asked Question (And the Answer That Changes Everything)

“What’s the best way to grow followers on Instagram?” – apparently Instagram gets asked this a LOT.

Whether you’re a small business, social marketer, or content creator trying to figure out why engagement looks like a flatline, here’s what companies need to know:

It’s not about perfect content. It’s about consistent, engaging content that audiences actually want to see. The algorithm rewards reliability over virality every single time.

Video vs Photo: The Great Content Debate

Are photos your expression language? Then stick with them, but be strategic about it. Consistently sharing feed posts or carousels helps businesses engage with their audience, which boosts the distribution of content across the platform.

Here’s the clever bit: Carousels get what Instagram calls “multiple opportunities” to be seen and engaged with. If someone doesn’t scroll through all the cards in a carousel the first time, Instagram might show it again later (starting with the media that hasn’t been seen). It’s like getting a second chance at making a first impression.

The Truth About Engagement vs Reach

Right, this is where it gets interesting.

Engagement leads to reach, not the other way around.

It’s in Instagram’s interest to connect people with content they enjoy. Engagement signals like likes and comments tell the algorithm when determining how content gets distributed to people who don’t follow businesses yet.

Creating engaging content and genuinely interacting with followers in the comments section can help companies get more reach overall. Not rocket science, but apparently it needed spelling out.

The Engagement Content Formula That Actually Works

Instagram’s dropped some gold here about what makes content engaging:

• Make content relatable and humorous – people share things that make them laugh or nod along
• Create content that engages audiences so they want to DM, comment, or reshare on stories
• Add a hook in the first five seconds of Reels to keep people watching (this one’s massive)
• Keep track of what content drives the most engagement so businesses know what’s working

That last point is crucial – most companies create content based on what they think will work rather than what actually does work for their specific audience.

How Many Reels Should Businesses Actually Post?

Here’s where Instagram’s data gets really specific, and it might surprise businesses.

To grow followers, the frequency companies post new Reels is just one factor of many, but they’ve found that creators with the greatest net follower growth rates post, on average, 10 or more Reels per month.

Before businesses panic about creating 24 pieces of video content monthly, remember this: creators continue to grow even when they produce more than 10 Reels per month. Creating content is a marathon, not a sprint. Don’t let short-term goals get in the way of sustainable practices.

Consistency Is the Key (Whatever That Looks Like for Each Business)

This bit made us want to text every business owner who’s ever stressed about posting schedules – Instagram’s own advice is refreshingly human.

It’s important for companies to experiment with different approaches to find what works best for them. If making a Reel takes up too much time, but carousels are more manageable, then do what’s most sustainable.

The trick is consistency, whatever that looks like in each business’s world.

Different Recommendation Systems (The Bit Nobody Talks About)

Instagram has different recommendation systems for different places on the platform. The Explore page works differently from the Reels tab, which works differently from the main feed.

Each engagement ranking differs depending on where someone discovers content and how they interact with it on the platform.

Want to learn more about engagement ranking across Instagram? They’ve got a proper deep dive in their blog post about it (link in their bio, naturally).

Your key takeaways

After reading through all of Instagram’s guidance, here’s what actually matters for businesses:

1. Post at least 10 Reels per month if growing followers is the priority
2. Hook viewers in the first five seconds of any video content
3. Use carousels strategically for multiple engagement opportunities
4. Focus on engagement over reach – comments and shares matter more than views
5. Be consistent with whatever content format works for the business schedule
6. Track what actually works for specific audiences, not what works for others
7. Make content relatable rather than perfect

The Bottom Line

Instagram’s official guidance boils down to this: businesses should stop overthinking it, start being consistent, and create content that genuinely connects with their audience. The algorithm isn’t some mysterious beast – it’s designed to show people content they’ll engage with.

Whether companies post 24 times a month or stick to a more manageable schedule for them, the key is showing up regularly with content audiences actually want to see. Not content businesses think they should want. Not content that looks pretty. Content that makes people stop scrolling and actually give a sh*t.

Now it’s time for businesses to stop reading about Instagram strategy and go create something that matters to their people. They’re waiting for it.

So Instagram’s been busy this week. Three new features dropped, and while the platform’s clearly playing catch-up with everyone else, there are some genuinely clever bits worth your attention.

The reposts feature finally lets you share content properly (only took them about 24 years longer than X (or Twitter as it will forever be known at 24 fingers HQ). The location map is Instagram’s attempt at Snap Map and the Friends tab shows you what your mates are actually engaging with behind the scenes.

Here’s what each one actually does and why you might want to use it in your business.

Instagram Finally Gets Reposts (Welcome to 2019)

After years of watching every other platform offer native reposting, Instagram has finally caught up. You can now repost public reels and feed posts directly, complete with proper attribution to the original creator.

How it works: Tap the repost icon on any public content, add an optional note, and it appears on your profile in a dedicated “Reposts” tab. The original creator gets full credit, and the content may be recommended to your followers.

The business angle: This is brilliant for content curation. Instead of screenshotting industry insights or awkwardly tagging creators in comments, you can now properly share relevant content that aligns with your brand values. Your repost tab becomes a curated gallery of your professional interests.

Smart implementation: Don’t become the social media equivalent of that friend who shares every meme. Be selective. Repost content that genuinely adds value to your audience and reflects your brand expertise. Quality over quantity, always.

Location Sharing: Instagram’s Answer to Snap Map

Instagram has launched its own version of location sharing with the new Map feature. Users can opt in to share their last active location with selected friends, and discover location-based content from people they follow.

The reality check: This isn’t a business discovery tool. It’s designed for personal connections – sharing your location with people you mutually follow (actual friends, not business followers). The feature is opt-in only and currently US-exclusive, with global rollout coming soon.

Indirect business potential: When customers visit your location and tag themselves, their friends might see that content on the map for 24 hours. It’s authentic social proof rather than direct marketing – genuine customer moments that build credibility.

Privacy controls: Users can choose exactly who sees their location (friends, close friends, selected people, or no one), exclude specific places from sharing, and turn off location sharing at any time. Parents have full control over teen accounts.

Friends Tab: See What Your Mates Are Actually Engaging With

The new Friends tab in Reels shows public content that your friends (people you mutually follow) have liked or commented on. Think of it as Instagram’s version of social proof in action.

What this means: You can now see which reels your actual friends find engaging enough to interact with. This creates natural conversation starters and gives insight into what resonates with your immediate network.

Professional applications: For business accounts, this offers informal market research within your professional network. You can observe which business content your connections engage with and use these insights to inform your own content strategy.

Privacy options: You can hide your own likes and comments from appearing in others’ Friends tabs, or mute activity bubbles from specific people you follow. The feature started rolling out earlier this year and is now available globally.

The Bigger Picture: What Instagram Is Actually Doing

These updates signal Instagram’s shift away from pure content consumption toward more authentic social connection. The platform is prioritising features that encourage genuine interaction between people who actually know each other.

For businesses, this means moving away from broadcast-style social media toward community-focused approaches. The brands that succeed will use these tools to enhance relationships rather than just push content.

Quick Implementation Guide

Week 1: Test the repost feature with one piece of industry content that genuinely adds value to your audience. See how your followers respond.

Week 2: If you’re location-based, encourage customers to tag your location naturally. Don’t force it – authentic check-ins work better than prompted ones.

Week 3: Use the Friends tab to understand what content resonates with your friends within professional network. Note patterns in engagement without overthinking it.

Week 4: Review what’s working and adjust accordingly. These features work best when integrated naturally into your existing strategy.

The Bottom Line

None of these features will magically transform your Instagram overnight, but they do offer practical ways to enhance authentic connection and content curation. The key is using them strategically rather than just because they exist.

Instagram is clearly trying to compete with features that have worked well on other platforms (Snap Map, X Twitter reposts, etc.) while adding their own privacy controls and user experience tweaks.

For businesses, success will come from understanding that these are relationship-building tools rather than direct marketing weapons. Use them to enhance genuine connections, and they’ll serve you well.

Need a hand crafting an Instagram strategy that drives real results, not just likes?

“How often should I post on social media in 2023?” That is the billion-dollar question.

If we had a pound for every time we’d been asked that question we’d be…well, we’d probably still be looking after people’s social media. Because that’s what we love doing.

But anyway, we digress: if we had a pound for every time we were asked, “How often should I post on social media in 2023?”, we’d probably have the billion dollars required to know the answer.

However, knowing the answer isn’t as simple as us telling you to post three times a week, on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Nor is it as simple as us advising that our clients post every day. It’s much more nuanced than that. Here’s why:

Social media isn’t one size fits all 

If you’ve come here looking for a magic figure for how often you should be posting on social media, we’re sorry, because you’re likely to be disappointed. Yes, we could tell you to post once a day on Instagram, and three times a day on Twitter, but we’d be doing you a disservice.

Firstly, as a small business, would you even have enough content to post that regularly? If the answer to that question is no, then the answer to how often to post is less frequently than this. The frequency that you post needs to be able to match your content creation capacity, and when you run a small business and are CEO, head of marketing, the accounts department, HR, and the chief cook and bottle washer to boot, we appreciate that you may not have the time to create content 24/7.

Quality over Quantity

Going hand in hand with posting frequency, there’s a reason that content is always king: it’s much better to put out good quality content twice or three times a week than putting out post after post which doesn’t hit the spot because it’s of inferior quality. If you’re posting just for the sake of it, then you’re actually likely to lose followers through the use of poor quality content.

Remember to keep your target audience in mind at all times when creating content, and follow your brand’s guidelines: keep your tone of voice consistent, use your brand’s colours throughout, choose high quality images and perhaps an infographic or two.

Consider the type of content you’re posting

Key for 2023 is choosing the right type of content in order to reach your goals. Different types of content will give different end results.

• Want to build your engagement and your community? Use Instagram Stories.
• Looking to connect with other B2B brands? Choose LinkedIn.
• Ready to see your followers grow? Instagram Reels, carousel posts and TikTok are great for reaching new audiences.
• Want to drive conversions? Make use of User Generated Content.

Knowing what your social media goals are will help you determine what type of content to use*, and this will then lead you to how often you post.

For example, Stories can be used every day, and more than once a day, as they’re great for behind-the-scenes and getting to know your audience. But Instagram Reels take time and a lot of effort (and sometimes, a swear word or two) and so you may wish to use these more sparingly, maybe once a week. Getting to know what works for you and what works towards your goals will help you to decide when to post, and what.

*And then the social media experts like us creep in and whisper “and actually, you should really be posting a mixture of all of the above, at regular intervals, to really make the most of your platforms.” It’s a juggling act. It really is. But that’s where your friendly social media agency steps in. Get in contact with us if you’d like to hear more about that.

Keep it consistent

Above all else, keeping it consistent on your social media is the best thing you can do. If you only have enough content to post twice a week? Then make sure you do post twice a week, every week. This way, you won’t upset the algorithms too much, and your followers will get to know when to expect content from you.

Need more help with how often to post on social media in 2023? Get in touch with 24 fingers

We get it. We really do. It’s difficult to know how often to post to keep your brand in your followers’ minds, and how not to be the brand equivalent of that annoying person that you can track their every move via their Facebook posts because they share EVERYTHING.

And this is where 24 fingers steps in: we can help you to create good quality, consistent content. We will know which types of content will help you to reach your social media goals. And we can even help you to manage your feeds and post consistently.

Get in contact today and we’ll help you with how often to post on social media in 2023.

Facebook and Instagram are up to their antics AGAIN. As a business owner, it can be hard to keep up with the ever-changing information circling the web. Don’t panic though, 24fingers are here to break it down so you can see if NFTs are right for your business.

Crypto coin has really made their mark in the last few years. NFTs are the latest example of digital crypto assets making headlines. In May NFTs began making an appearance to select users and these “digital collectibles” doesn’t appear to be going away any time soon. It may surprise you that NFTs have been around longer than you think. The first NFT was minted on May 13, 2014, by Kevin Mccoy and has since led to many weird and wonderful NFTs on the market. Even Charmin is getting in on the trend with work dubbed as “the world’s first Non-Fungible Toilet Paper”. Bids have reached over $2,000 simply for the fact it is an NFT. Bids are so competitive, that we are getting traumatic flashbacks to the great toilet roll shortage of 2020 (What a time to be alive?).

It has recently been reported that Mark Zuckerberg CEO of Meta created has promoted the sale of his own Little League Baseball card to celebrate NFTs reaching 100 countries around the globe. But that begs the question why do people collect? Some may begin collections for sentimental reasons such as childhood nostalgia, some may have an affinity to a certain music genre or sports team for pleasure and enjoyment and some may simply appreciate the recognition and the community it creates. Whatever the reason for starting a collection, many collectors find tremendous satisfaction when finding a new treasure. Instagram is all about community and building an NFT community could be just the thing you need to spark engagement with your following.

What is an NFT?

So what the F is an NFT? NFT stands for “non-fungible token” it is a special digital asset that cannot be copied. It is possible to trade NFTs but a lot of fans enjoy the thrill of the chase when collecting and prefer to keep them. They are made using the process of minting and you will require a Meta mask wallet to make your first investment. One way to create your own NFT without programming knowledge is to use a service like OpenSea or NFT showroom. If this isn’t your style it is also possible with a little bit of coding to do it manually.

Popular NFT use

NFTs are the best way of securing digital provenance. Many creators are hopping on the trend such as digital artists, sports teams, game designers, and musical artists. The rise of blockchain and digital assets has created an enormous shift in personal branding. NFTs help artists monetize in a whole new way. What is even better are the new experiences and privileges – front row concert tickets anyone? Artists such as Kings of Leon have already offered this money and can’t buy experiences. Who doesn’t love a good perk? After all, no one wants to experience FOMO.

One of the main benefits of NFTs for digital creators is the ability to track ownership and originality. This feature has saved many artists the hassle and headache of fighting expensive legal battles. This exciting new market appears to be far more profitable with a boost in revenue from 10% to 90% adding an increased value.

Here at 24fingers, we will be keeping a close eye on this new trend. If you have something that you think could smash it on the NFT market slide into our contact page.

Calling all Insta Kings and Queens 🤳

The platform has recently announced the introduction of their new algorithm, where users will be able to view their feed in chronological order… deja vu or what?! Don’t panic though, although we might be going back in time, if users aren’t a fan of this change, they’ll still be able to view their feed based on the content algorithm.

This, unlike chronological order, takes into consideration the relationship between the brand and the user, looking at repeated interactions with certain users. Whether that be in the form of a comment, follow or even a cheeky DM… Instagram knows your audience much better than you think! In fact, most social media platforms do… the power of the internet, eh?

Adapting and overcoming…

You may be unsure on how to respond to this change, perhaps why you have found yourself here. Two words: Embrace it – brands big and small may feel intimidated by the thought of being buried under the algorithm, so you are not alone.

Just remember though, if there weren’t positives to it, Instagram wouldn’t do it. ‘Embracing continued evolution’ is at the heart of their platform and, they intend to, I quote, ‘create an immersive and inclusive experience for our community.’ With so many users switching up the way they view their feed, many brands which have been struggling to beat the algorithm are now dusting off their ‘Insta-shoes’ and coming back better than ever.

 3 top tips to give your Instagram a new leash of life ⭐

Consistency: Stick to posting on your feed at least 2-3 times a week. The more you post, the more chance you have of people discovering you. Lets be real, who wants to follow an account that posts once every blue moon?!

Captions: Eye catchy captions are crucial in attracting your target audience. Encourage them to interact with your post, like asking a question they can answer in the comments, this increases the level of engagement within your posts, making Instagram want to show your content more.

Hashtags: Find a balance between using hashtags that will ensure you land on the correct explore pages, and ones that won’t drown out your content by heaps of other posts. Remember you can use up to 30 – so milk it.

What’s the need for yet ANOTHER change?

This change is crucial for brands to re engage with followers and therefore maximises their opportunity to appeal to their target audience, what’s not to love? BUT… if the thought of having to adapt to yet another change to Instagram is keeping you awake at night, amongst many of life’s other worries, then please don’t hesitate to contact one of our team at 24 fingers. We always have at least one finger spare to help you, specialising in making sure your content attracts your target market. With a little bit of magic, you can get the best out of your Instagram and watch your brand grow more and more.

In celebration of emoji day, Emojipedia have released sample images of new emoji designs hopefully to be approved in September of this year. 31 emojis are up for approval which is significantly less than previous years (2020 had a grand total of 334 emojis released that year). Are the designers getting lazy or are we simply running out of fruits that don’t have an emoji yet?

The new collection includes emojis that no one knew were in demand with one twitter user referring to the new ginger root emoji as ’the weird branch thing’. However, we finally have an emoji for a high five. The new hand emoji referred to as rightward and leftward pushing hands (in all skin tones) can be used together to create a high five, which means no more using the prayer emoji to celebrate with your friends. High five to that. 

The small list of new additions also includes the long awaited plain pink heart, which has been highly requested since the start of emojis themselves and people online are very excited. However, we will remain unsure on how easy it will be to slip in the new donkey emoji into a conversation, but we’re sure people will find a way to give it a new meaning much like the beloved eggplant (ahem). 

Emoji 15.0 is planned to be released on major platforms by the end of 2022, Google being one of the first, and then on the other platforms by October 2023. Most of the drafted emojis, if not all of them, will be released onto our screens such as a jellyfish, a hand fan, a flute – just more random objects we can throw around in a text that don’t make total sense, but makes it more fun.  

For Instagram OGs, the recent announcement of a return to a chronological feed if we so choose it sounded like music to their reels. However, if you’ve not been around on everyone’s favourite photo and video sharing app since the beginning, you may well be wondering what all the fuss is about. Furthermore, following the announcement at the start of the year of the option to switch to a chronological feed if users wanted to view posts in that way, there was a lot of talk about what this would mean in practical terms, particularly for brands.

If you’re wondering just how the option to switch between feeds will work for you, here’s what brands need to know about the chronological Instagram feed:

How does the chronological Instagram feed work?

Before you get too excited about Instagram going back to its roots, you need to know that the default setting for everyone’s home feeds will still be the algorithm based feed. This means that for the most part,nothing much will change in the first instance. At the very least, until people get the feel for switching between feeds regularly. Your followers will still see you in their feeds if the algorithm deems your content relevant to them.

As an addition to this, you will also have the option to switch to either a chronological feed or a ‘favourite’ feed. This can be done by tapping on the Instagram logo in the top left hand corner.

And what does every change to the social media platform represent? Different options and different opportunities for brands.

Will the new Instagram feed options benefit my brand?

Many brands have welcomed the return of the chronological Instagram feed. And although we’ve said above that on first glance, it’ll look like not a lot has changed, there are definitely some opportunities to be had.

For starters, if people are switching to their chronological feeds regularly, then it’s likely that they’ll be seeing accounts in this feed that they haven’t seen for a long time; feeds which had previously been buried by the algorithm. This may mean that you’re suddenly re-exposed to followers who haven’t seen your content for a while: the perfect opportunity, therefore, to re-engage with these accounts.

Furthermore, if you’re chosen to feature in someone’s favourite feed, you’ll be reaching your absolute target audience: these people have chosen to have you in their feed, and so they’ll regularly be updated with your news, products and services.

Anything else that brands should know about the new Instagram feeds?

If you’re worried about yet another change to Instagram, just when you’d got your head around the thought of potentially having to dance around for Reels and baring your soul on Stories, fear not: yes it’s true that you may lose the odd follower – if you haven’t shown up in people’s feeds for a while thus far, it may be that you’re no longer relevant to them – but don’t stress yourself out over this too much; unengaged followers are not your target market.

If you embrace it – as you have every other Instagram change to date – then you may just find that the app works even more in your favour than it did previously. Content has always been king, and never more so than in this time of personalised feeds. Accounts that add value will find themselves in their followers’ favourites in no time.

Not quite ready to step back in time? Let 24 fingers help you with everything chronological Instagram feed

If you’re not quite ready to embrace the future of Instagram, which is, erm, based on the past, then get in contact with 24 fingers. We have all the fingers you need to help manage those feeds. From the algorithm through to the chronological Instagram feed, we can help your brand to make the most of the platform.

We can hardly believe it’s time to look ahead to the social media trends of 2022 as 2021 draws to a close. It’s been a busy 12 months, from lockdowns at the start and Freedom Day in the middle, to Omicron at the end. 

During it all, countless small and medium-sized businesses hitched a ride on the e-commerce rocket, fuelled – of course – by social media. 

That trend, at least, doesn’t look set to change any time soon, as over 50% of customers in a recent survey said they wanted local businesses to use social media more, with 58% keen to hear about offers via their favourite platforms. 

That’s great news for business owners, but what else can we expect for the coming 12 months? Let’s take a look at what we think will be the social media trends for 2022… 

Social selling – what is it and does it work?

Social selling is a buzz phrase for good, old-fashioned customer service, and it’s all about building a relationship and trust with your customers. 

Social selling is a growth sector, particularly for businesses or entrepreneurs looking to elevate their brand presence, and Instagram is the social selling marketplace. 

If you’re planning to launch a new business in 2022, it’s crucial you connect your online store and your social media presence to create an unrivalled marketing tool. Talk to us about how to become a master social media marketer.  

Craft your content to entice and excite potential customers, then engage personally with them to create a rapport and watch those conversions skyrocket. 

Make it easy for customers to communicate online 

We’ve all lost minutes (in some cases hours) of our lives hanging around on customer service phone lines while trying not to listen to the worst muzak in the world. 

E-commerce has the potential to change all that. In 2022, consumers will be looking for direct, online communication methods for support and after-sales service. 

It’s up to you to make it as easy as possible for your clients to get in touch, whether via a WhatsApp number, sliding into your DMs on Twitter, or messaging you on Facebook. 

Ensure your customer experience is as stress-free as possible and, if it’s appropriate, don’t forget to add a dash of fun. 

TikTok: one of the biggest social media trends for 2022

In the past couple of years, we’ve watched TikTok blossom from a teenager’s toy to becoming a fully fledged business platform. It’s added profiles, ads and a creator marketplace. 

Search demand for TikTok grew by 173% in 2021, compared to 22% for Instagram Reels and a 33% slump for Stories. 

A recent survey found 24% of respondents thought TikTok was the most effective for reaching their business goals, a massive 700% increase on 2020 figures. If you don’t have a TikTok presence, make 2022 the year you get one. 

Short videos will be king in 2022

The king is dead, long live the king. If YouTube is the home of the longer-form video, 2022 will see the rise and rise of bite-sized video content popping up across a range of platforms. 

While ephemeral content – ahem – such as Twitter Fleets and LinkedIn Stories came and went in 2021, TikTok’s popularity fed consumer appetite for video snippets that were smart, eye-catching and informative. 

With almost 40% of businesses preferring short-form videos too, the stage is set for a boom in the ad form. Start brainstorming now for ideas or read on for more social media trends for 2022. 

Take social media trends for 2022 and make them yours 

Social media is awash with all kinds of content, and nothing makes us smile more than when we come across something really smart or original. 

That’s why, in 2022, keeping an eye on what’s trending on social media will be crucial for entrepreneurs and business owners, because they’re brilliant bandwagons to jump on. 

If a trend lighting up social media fits with your brand message, what better excuse to hop on and use it to amplify your business? It’s a fuss-free way to generate potentially viral content. 

Should I pay for social media ads?

It’s a very good question, and something we can help with if you’re not quite sure. Business-to-business (B2B) ads are a potential growth area for paid social media ads in 2022, and Facebook is still the daddy when it comes to getting the best return on investment. 

Partner up with an influencer in 2022

Relationships are the glue that binds society together and it’s no different in business. The pandemic years have demonstrated that the UK’s small and medium sized businesses are a resilient, innovative bunch, and even more so when we join forces. 

In 2022, that trend will expand as increasing numbers of businesses partner up with influencers to spread their brand message to the widest possible audience. 

For example, teaming up with a top TikTokker could open up a whole new customer base, or partnering with a local Instgrammer with a solid following could boost your brand no end. 

The creative and revenue possibilities are endless, and you don’t even have to pay for a Kardashian (thank goodness). 

So there you have it – our pick of the social media trends for 2022. As always, we’ll keep our fingers on all the platforms’ pulses. In the meantime, all that remains is for us to raise a glass and wish everyone a happy and prosperous New Year. 

We’re 24 fingers, a digital marketing agency and a proud member of the Brentwood Chamber of Commerce, Excel Business Networking Group, the Trusted Business Community, the Organisation for Responsible Businesses and the Rotary Club of Brentwood à Becket. We help companies who are all fingers and thumbs with their social media grow their business and brand. Book your free strategy call here.

You know the saying “always the bridesmaid, never the bride”? We wonder if Instagram feels a little like that at the moment. Just when it was enjoying a moment in the social media sun with the announcement of a slew of new features, including the ability to post from the desktop (HURRAH and we’ll get to that in a bit), along comes parent company Facebook to elbow it back into the shade. 

Congratulations – it’s a Meta! If you’ve no idea what we’re talking about, pull up a chair: Facebook ain’t Facebook any more – it’s rebranded to Meta, complete with a wibbly wobbly new logo that has no end and no beginning. 

Announcing @Meta — the Facebook company’s new name. Meta is helping to build the metaverse, a place where we’ll play and connect in 3D. Welcome to the next chapter of social connection. pic.twitter.com/ywSJPLsCoD

— Meta (@Meta) October 28, 2021

But don’t panic, the social media platform itself is still going to be called Facebook, but new corporate moniker Meta will be the stepping stone into a wider digital ecosphere. As Mark Zuckerberg explained in a founder’s letter: “The next platform will be even more immersive – an embodied internet where you’re in the experience, not just looking at it. 

“You’ll be able to do almost anything you can imagine – get together with friends and family, work, learn, play, shop, create – as well as completely new experiences that don’t really fit how we think about computers or phones today.”

According to Zuckerberg, we’re all going to be zooming about as holograms, from working in the office and ripping it up at a concert, to catching up with friends and family. “This will open up more opportunity no matter where you live,” he wrote. “You’ll be able to spend more time on what matters to you, cut down time in traffic, and reduce your carbon footprint.”

While we’ll have to wait and see what all of that really means for us ordinary mortals, let’s get back to Instagram. For years, many people have grumbled about only being able to access their Instagram feed but not post anything, and now the boffins have finally done something about it. 

The new capability is one of several goodies unveiled by the platform that have been created to boost creativity (and, no doubt give TikTok a run for its money). For example, Instagram has made it easier to co-author posts and Reels with other users under the Collab feature. 

There are also changes to the fundraiser prompts so you can launch one directly through Instagram and make it easier for people to donate. 

And there’s more. Reels is going to get some music features, such as Superbeat, which adds video effects based on a song beat, while 3D lyrics brings up the words in tune with the melody.

If you need a helping hand getting to grips with Instagram’s new features, get in touch and we’ll get you posting like a pro. 

We’re 24 fingers, a digital marketing agency and a proud member of the 42 Club, Brentwood Chamber of Commerce, Excel Business Networking Group, the Trusted Business Community, the Organisation for Responsible Businesses and the Rotary Club of Brentwood à Becket. We help companies who are all fingers and thumbs with their social media grow their business and brand. Book your free strategy call here.

Can you imagine what life would be like if every acquaintance you’d ever made turned up at your front door, demanding you listen to the latest thing they had to say? Quite apart from the catastrophic impact it would have on our biscuit stash, it would be madness at 24 fingers’ towers. 

Yet that’s what happens on social media every single time you hop onto a platform. Your feed is inundated with stuff: everything from group discussions to new items – not to mention ads, ads, everywhere. 

But how much of it is actually relevant or of interest to viewers? You probably scroll past a reasonable chunk of posts – and the same is true for every other person on the platform, which means businesses have to work their socks off to be seen. 

Luckily, the clever chaps at Instagram are working on a solution, dubbed Favorites. 

This feature would allow you to ‘favourite’ (we’re really not sure it should be used as a verb, but there you go) up to 30 accounts, prioritising their posts above all others, lifting them from the swirling mass chucked up by Instagram’s algorithm. 

Facebook, which owns Instagram, has something similar called Close Friends, and both features could prove to be both interesting and handy for business owners looking to make sure their brand cuts through all that noise. 

It would help bring potential customers’ attention to products and services they’re interested in buying, and also make feeds clearer and easier to browse. 

Before we all get too excited and start looking for the Favourites label, Facebook said: “This feature is an internal prototype that’s still in development and not testing externally.” 

We’ve heard that one before, but we reckon if word about Favourites has leaked out, chances are it’s not that far from being tested, even on a small scale. 

As always, we’ll keep our finger firmly on the pulse of social media’s shenanigans, and when we hear more, you’ll be the first to know. 

We’re 24 fingers, a digital marketing agency and a proud member of the 42 Club, Brentwood Chamber of Commerce, Excel Business Networking Group, the Trusted Business Community, the Organisation for Responsible Businesses and the Rotary Club of Brentwood à Becket. We help companies who are all fingers and thumbs with their social media grow their business and brand. Book your free strategy call here.