Facebook, ever on the lookout for ways to help entrepreneurs of all sizes get a leg up, has come up with a nifty solution for anyone whose marketing tank of inspiration has run dry: the Campaign Ideas Generator.

It might sound a bit Star Trek, but trust us, you will definitely want to boldly go down this black hole.

The boffins at the social media platform said the Generator “provides campaign ideas, pre-made assets and resources that are specific to your small business needs”.

In the Queen’s English, that means access to a host of templates, depending on the business you’re in. All you have to do is click on the corresponding sector – though not everyone is represented – and click on the ‘get campaign ideas’ button.

That brings up three tabs: Campaign Ideas, serving up a slew of ad format ideas, including images and layouts, Data and Insights, which showcases the filters you can use to target your campaign, while Resources offers extra goodies such as case studies.

There’s also what Facebook calls an Organic Post Pack, that includes a variety of post templates for your Facebook page, just in case you’re still in need of a bit more inspo.

Some business owners might look at this feature as a bit Borg – everyone’s assimilated and using the same stuff – but we think it’s actually very nifty, especially when it comes to making sure your brand is coordinated and consistent.

It also gives busy entrepreneurs a bit of breathing space, allowing them to put together an ad campaign that looks good and will reap rewards, without taking up too much of their valuable time and resources. We’re with Jean-Luc Picard and say: make it so.

If you’re feeling a bit “she can’t take any more cap’n!” when it comes to your social media marketing, give us a call and we’ll get you moving at warp speed.

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.

Never let it be said we don’t appreciate the value of choice here at 24 fingers (just ask Emma about shoes) but – and we can barely believe we’re about to say this – there are times when having too many options is bad, especially when it comes to using social media platforms for marketing your brand.  

When it comes to advertising your business, it pays to be precise. There are lots of platforms that entrepreneurs can use to showcase their wares or services. However, like butter scraped over too much bread, trying to hit them all can be exhausting and do your bottom line no favours. Instead, try the following: 

Where are your people?

Any small business needs a marketing strategy and underpinning every single part of it is a deep knowledge of your customer. As well as their needs and pain points, you must also know which social media platform they spend their time on. 

If your market is Gen Z, then you should be hitting Instagram with both marketing barrels, because that’s where 73% of them hang out. On the other hand, 78% of baby boomers prefer Facebook. Target your marketing accordingly and you’ll save time, money and reap the sales rewards. 

How’s that content coming along then?

It’s all very well knowing where your ideal customers are if you don’t know what content they’re consuming. Do your younger audience members on Instagram want to wade through a blog post about the latest news in your sector, or will your older, Facebook-loving clients be keen on a funky video backed by a hard house soundtrack?

Alternatively, you can ask for feedback: 

• Look at your metrics to see who is consuming which content and on what platform
• Poll your customers and social media visitors to find out what they want to see/read
• Talk to your customers as they interact with you – direct questions work

Pick your platform carefully

So, you’ve established your ideal customer and found out what they want. Now all you have to do is match it to the appropriate platform – simples. 

One of the best starting points is a social media site you’re either familiar with or have had a positive experience with in the past. Use it as a test bed to try new ideas, then use your customer feedback to see how well this content performs on other outlets. 

A Facebook video could work well on YouTube and Instagram, for example, while a link to a blog post could engage on Linkedin and Twitter. Play around and see what happens. 

Act on your results

The great thing about social media is, even if you’re only operating on one or two platforms, they come with insightful analysis so you can see for yourself what’s happening with your content. 

Use those figures to more accurately target your audiences with content you know they’ll lap up and enjoy, and planning your next ad campaign will be a breeze, because you’ll know exactly where you need to be. 

If you’re still feeling more scattergun than surgical tool, drop us a line and we’ll help sharpen up that focus. 

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.

If social media was a soap, we think it would be Dallas: impossibly wealthy warring clans constantly trying to get the upper hand on each other (though maybe without all the big hair and shoulderpads). That’s certainly the case with Facebook, which has unveiled some of its new tools for the future, after Apple’s latest move on data privacy.

In case you haven’t been watching, (we’ve all been a bit distracted by Gareth Southgate’s lads – come ON England) Apple is working on a little something called App Tracking Transparency, which makes all app data tracking an opt-in choice for consumers.

Facebook doesn’t like it, but rather than cat-fighting in a fountain or stepping out of the shower and saying it’s all a dream, it’s decided to go with the flow and get creative.

Dan Levy, VP Ads & Business Products said in a blog post that Facebook is trialling an option in News Feeds that allows users to tap to browse content from businesses on topics such as beauty, fitness, or clothing, as well as “explore content from related businesses”.

The platform is also looking to improve where adverts are placed, based on the content users are watching – so if you’re hooked on a travel video, you’ll see ads for hotels.

More importantly for small businesses, Facebook is working on a new badge specifically for us micro heroes that will be visible under the main ad field. It aims to capitalise on consumer demand to support smaller, local brands. Amen to that, we say.

Levy said there are also changes afoot for Facebook Marketplace, as shop and product listings are set to be expanded using the topic/business discovery feeds, and that Shops listings will be extended to Marketplace.

Alongside all that, Facebook Pay tools will be enhanced to make the buying process as seamless as possible.

It might not be as dastardly as JR, but you can’t take your eyes off Facebook for long, as it can sometimes make big changes walloping brands that have come to depend on a particular level of referral traffic or business from its tools.

And when it happens, we’ll be the first to let you 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.

There was a time, not so long ago, when watching live telly was a national pastime, from Saturday morning kids’ shows to special episodes of EastEnders. Knowing it was being broadcast as we watched was thrilling – and hilarious if something went wrong. 

The rise of the internet and smartphones has put the power of live broadcasting into everyone’s hands, and while there’s less chance of an elephant having a poo on our living room floors (Ed’s note: poor John Noakes), the content being created by entrepreneurs and influencers can be every bit as compelling. 

It’s no surprise that Instagram also offers live streaming on its platform, alongside Facebook and YouTube. But is Instagram Live of any use to business owners? Absolutely. Allow us to explain…

Lights…

If you’re planning to plunge into the livestreaming world using Instagram, it’s easy peasy. First swipe right from your feed to open the Stories Camera. Then tap ‘Live’, followed by ‘Start Live Video’. Easy peasy. 

The trickier part is making sure your video is one worth watching, so let’s rewind a little. First of all, do your homework – has anyone else posted videos about the subject, product or service you plan to cover? If not – great. But if they have, can you put a must-see spin on it that will turn viewers into customers?  

Camera…

Next, get in touch with your ideal audience. All the world may be a stage and us mere players on it, but nobody wants to speak to an empty house. Use the countdown sticker in Instagram Stories or post on your Instagram Feed to give your followers a heads up. 

Timing is everything too, so check your analytics to ensure you’ll be grabbing your target audience at the moment when they’re most receptive (and willing to buy).

Action!

You can also partner up with a creator or business collaborator, or even a follower for your Instagram Live if you’re not keen on flying solo for your video debut (though remember what happened to The Supremes…). The ‘Using Live With’ button is a great way to build anticipation and even engage a wider audience before you’ve even uttered a single word. 

When you finally push the button and go live, you can interact with your viewers using a Q&A, either by taking questions during the stream or via the Questions sticker in Instagram Stories. Having a few in the bank before you get going is a great way to avoid any awkward pauses. Audiences prefer longer live streams, so aim for at least 10 minutes. 

Stick to the script

Chances are your viewers will be receptive and friendly, but to make sure the entire process is a positive community experience, don’t forget to turn on the comment moderation button. 

Open Instagram settings, scroll down to Privacy and then choose Comments. Here, you can filter out replies containing specific words or phrases, or use the Manual Filter to select your own words or phrases that you don’t want to pop up onscreen. 

Cut! That’s a wrap

When you’ve finished your Instagram Live, don’t forget to promote it in your Stories, where it will remain for 24 hours before being automatically deleted. 

You can, of course, hang on to your magnum opus for longer, by downloading it from Instagram TV (IGTV). It’s a good idea to watch your videos back and critique them as objectively as possible. Which bits did viewers respond to the most, and what made them turn them off? You can use that information while planning your next video. 

If you’re still gripped by stage fright, don’t worry. Drop us a line and we’ll soon have you ready for your close up, Mr DeMille… 

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. If you’re feeling all fingers and thumbs with your online marketing, use our hands (and hearts and minds) to get extra digits on your bottom line. Book your free strategy call here. 

Imagine a world in which the messages you receive on Facebook also appear in WhatsApp, or Instagram. Simultaneously. We’re not fans of jargon at 24 fingers (we prefer to keep it simple and straight) but that’s our kind of synergy – and the boffins at Facebook are working its socks off to make it a reality, after a 2019 promise made by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to unite the three apps. 

It emerged earlier this month that Instagram was quietly testing a system that would allow Messenger communications to appear in users’ Instagram Direct inboxes. The news comes hot on the heels of Facebook Shops, which links businesses’ Facebook and Instagram pages. 

The feature is nowhere near ready for any sort of consumer roll out, judging by Instagram’s tweeted response to Alessandro Paluzzi’s screenshot, shared by Matt Navarra. “As we’ve mentioned before, we’re working on making our messaging services work across our apps. This is an early prototype, which we aren’t testing externally”, the platform replied. 

🤔 https://t.co/5dwjcZYDxZ

— Matt Navarra (@MattNavarra) June 3, 2020

Facebook has kept the development work on this feature on the down-low, possibly with good reason. For it to work, the inbox of every user signing up for the service would have to be replicated within each app, and that’s no small amount of tech heavy lifting, even for Facebook’s engineers. 

Zuckerberg’s grand plan does face a few other hurdles, too, most notably the thorny issue of guaranteeing end-to-end encryption, and US regulator’s concerns about Facebook’s monopoly of a messaging service with more than two billion users.

That said, if they can get it to fly, that seamless interconnection between Instagram, Messenger and WhatsApp will be a boon for marketers, making it even easier to manage direct communication with customers. We say watch this space… 

If you’re struggling to grasp the latest social media trends, talk to us at 24 fingers and we’ll give you the word on the street.

Getting to grips with social media and figuring out how it can best support businesses is our raison d’etre (or why we get out of bed) at 24 fingers. As much as we love our work, it’s always handy when the big platforms give us a peek into how they function, and TikTok is the latest to pull back the curtain.  In a recent blog post, the video-sharing site revealed how the TikTok algorithm generates personalised content for users’ For You feeds, as well as some of the benefits and downsides of its system. Settle back to find out more. 

TikTok‘s recommendation system is built on several key drivers, including – but not limited to – device and account settings, user interactions and video information. The social media platform begins with an initial feed that is created with each new account, based on selected categories of interest and which is refined through subsequent interactions.  

So, if you only watched and shared entire videos about Essex-based donkey owners, that would form the majority of the personalised content served up by TikTok’s algorithm. 

Every time you interact with the platform, whether it’s to view a video, follow someone else, or dismiss content that is of no interest, the algorithm learns more about your interests. It also applies to hashtags, sounds, effects and trending topics on the Discover tab – they all enable TikTok’s algorithm to constantly personalise the For You feed.  

“Developing and maintaining TikTok’s recommendation system is a continuous process as we work to refine accuracy, adjust models and reassess the factors and weights that contribute to recommendations based on feedback from users, research and data”, the post said. 

For many business owners, using hashtags and trends is vital to getting the best from the platform but the blog post also revealed how they can avoid falling foul of the TikTok algorithm. 

“The For You feed generally won’t show two videos in a row made with the same sound or by the same creator,” the post warned. “We also don’t recommend duplicated content, content you’ve already seen before, or any content that’s considered spam”. 

Interestingly, as well as driving personalisation, TikTok is also working to avoid what it calls “filter bubbles” – recommendations that limit a users’ exposure to content outside their particular interest. The algorithm’s feathering in of content from elsewhere could offer creative business owners a chance to get their products in front of new customers.

So, what’s the key to getting the best out of the TikTok algorithm? In a nutshell: regularly post quality, original content that surfs a trend before it becomes yesterday’s news.

Still not sure where to start? Drop us a line at 24 fingers and we’ll wax up our boogie boards. 

God loves a tryer, so they say, and they don’t come much bigger than Google. It’s dominated the world of search so completely, it’s hard for any single company to even think about giving it a run for its money. But Pinterest is giving it a damn good try. 

It’s evolved from its early incarnation of a pin-board site into a sophisticated, smart platform that has more than earned its e-commerce stripes, turning engaging and eye-catching content into shoppable products for discerning customers and bringing marketers flocking to its door. 

Understandably, Google isn’t taking the competition lying down and has launched Keen, a web and Android app that offers users a “place to grow and share your interests with loved ones”, according to a blog post from its creator, CJ Adams. 

“You say what you want to spend more time on, and then curate content from the web and people you trust to help make that happen,” Adams wrote. “You make a ‘keen’ which can be about any topic, whether it’s baking delicious bread at home (Ed’s note: sourdough, anyone?), getting into birding or researching typography. Keen lets you curate the content you love, share your collection with others and find new content based on what you have saved.”

If you’re thinking it sounds a LOT like Pinterest, we’d say you’d be right, but there is a little more clout to Keen. It draws on the might of Google Search and the latest in machine learning to identify content related to users’ interests – something that could potentially be very useful for marketers. 

Keen isn’t the first crack Google has taken at Pinterest, in fact it’s been rolling out tools and features mimicking the platform for almost two years. Whether it’s genuinely hit on something this time around only time will tell, but we’ll definitely be keeping a close eye on this new kid on the social media block. 

Are you a devoted Pinterest lover looking to hook up with more social media platforms? Drop us a line at 24 fingers and let us play Cupid.  

“Nothing is so painful to the human mind as a great and sudden change”, quipped Frankenstein author Mary Shelley. As life ever-so-slowly returns to normal after the Covid-19 outbreak, we know exactly what she means.

Lockdown has forced business owners big and small to think fast and on their feet: whether it’s moving from an office-based operation to working from home, or switching to online rather than in-person sales.

One of the many bits of fall-out from all this disruption is a change in the way people pay for goods, most notably the big move away from cash.

A Mastercard survey has revealed half of consumers will use coins and notes less often, even after the pandemic eases, while 70% said they would permanently stick with digital payments.

The survey also said e-commerce made up a record 33% of total UK retail sales in April and May – that’s a little bit of good news worth slapping all over your social media.

“Amidst an incredibly challenging time for individuals, for communities and for businesses, we’re seeing sparks of change brought upon by the growth of digitally-savvy consumers and businesses embracing technology that will enable a swifter, more secure future”, said Jorn Lambert, Mastercard Digital Solutions executive VP.

We at 24 fingers think he’s right on the money.

Businesses offering seamless, easy-to-use digital payments (and there are lots to choose from) can hop on the coattails of this trend by making it a focal point of their social media marketing strategy.

Why not create a poll in your next email newsletter asking customers to rate your digital payments experience, then use that data to either make some changes, or show off your satisfaction levels on social media.

If that sounds a little intimidating, don’t worry. Chat to us at 24 fingers and we’ll help you master marketing your digital payments solutions like a boss.

We’ve learned a lot about ourselves during lockdown, from our capacity to deal with enormous amounts of disruption to how many biscuits can legitimately accompany a single mug of tea. The curve has been vertical, to say the least. 

This strange time has also forced many businesses to really embrace digital technology, including video conferencing. Moments of peering into the screen and muttering “is it on yet?” swiftly gave way to us hosting or attending meetings involving several colleagues and using Zoom or Skype like the bosses we are.

So if everyone’s doing it, how do you make yourself stand out from the video conferencing crowd? 

Know your technology

As with all new bits of kit, it’s always wise to give them the once-over before diving in and  video conferencing software is no different. Get to know your way around the platform before joining or hosting any meetings, and make sure all pop-up or notification bleeps, bloops and blarts are firmly turned off. 

Also, invest in a good set of earphones (preferably ones that won’t make you look like Mickey Mouse) with a robust microphone but test its levels first to avoid potential embarrassment… 

Just farted on a zoom call and it lit my name up.

I’ve been betrayed

— Scarlet Châppell (@ScarletChappell) June 20, 2020

Location, location, location

Not all of us have a dedicated office space to conduct meetings (and anyone who saw that adorable BBC interview with Professor Robert Kelly knows the value of a locked door), so choosing a calm, quiet location for your meeting is crucial. 

Position yourself against an interesting background with good lighting. Bookcases are a popular choice but if you don’t want your clients/colleagues to know you’re a Danielle Steele nut, then a plain wall will do. Make sure that pile of laundry is shoved well out of shot before you go live. 

Wear it well

By now, working from home should – 24 fingers crossed – should be close to normal, so slobbing about in pyjamas won’t even be on your radar. But if you’re video conferencing a potential new client or the meeting is more formal than a colleagues’ get-together, make sure you reflect that with a smart outfit. 

As long as you’re 100% certain you won’t be required to stand up or move around, chances are you can get away with wearing whatever you like below the camera. 

Chit chat…

Although you’re probably miles from each other, don’t forget the pleasantries when people join the conversation. Getting the ball rolling with a little bit of small talk – especially when socialising face to face is a bit of a luxury at the moment – goes a long way when building relationships. 

…but don’t hog the airwaves

That said, it’s easy for us to be on transmit rather than receive, so it’s important to stay focused on the point of the meeting and not waffle on. If you’re hosting the meeting, then have a series of bullet points to hand so you don’t wander off-topic. Mute yourself before you wreck yaself.

Make sure everyone gets a chance to have their say and that everyone is respectful and keeps schtum when someone else is talking. Enthusiasm is great, but a noisy babble where no one can get a word in edgeways is off-putting and could put people off future meetings. Sad face. 

If the thought of video conferencing has you pulling your virtual hair out, talk to us at 24 fingers and we’ll have you ready for your close-up before you can say “lights, camera, action”. 

We all know data is the new gold in this digital age, and many people are – quite rightly – more protective of their personal information than ever. In 2018, EU implemented the General Data Protection Regulation (better known as GDPR), legislation that required businesses to secure users’ permission to collect their data online for marketing purposes – and nothing else.

GDPR demands that: “consent of the data subject means any freely given, specific, informed, and unambiguous indication of the data subject’s wishes by which he or she, by a statement or by a clear affirmative action, signifies agreement to the processing of personal data relating to him or her.”

Dontcha just love legalspeak? If that sounds like gobbledygook, fear not – here are our 10 tips to mastering GDPR compliance when marketing.

Unbundled
When requesting consent, it MUST be separate from your other terms and conditions. Businesses or marketers can no longer make it a prerequisite to signing up for a service. Check boxes or sliders work equally as well.

Active
Blank, opt-in boxes or a similar unambiguous method in which the choice is equally prominent must be used, so users actively elect to give consent. Pre-ticked, opt-in boxes are no longer valid under GDPR.

Clear
The request for consent must be phrased or written in a way that’s easy to understand. Confusing or vague demands will not pass muster.

Granular
Additional choices, known as granular options, must be offered when possible, so customers can give their consent to all the separate ways you intend to use their data. You can offer a list of options with check boxes, and ALWAYS include the ability to say no.

Named
The name of your company, as well as any third party whose consent you’re asking on behalf of, must be clearly given, so customers are fully informed about who is accessing their data.

Easy to withdraw
Consent must be easy to withdraw and customers should be made aware of how to do this. Always have the unsubscribe button in plain sight.

Documented
A record of what each person has consented to, what they were told, and when and how they consented must be kept.

Data minimisation
Make auditing and erasing the data you no longer need a part of the day-to-day or month-to-month operations, and keep only what you need for your business to function.

Ongoing compliance
GDPR is not a one-shot deal. As your business evolves and new systems are added, you’ll need to examine what impact they have on customers and ensure your firm remains compliant.

Confidence is key
Despite all the scary talk when it first emerged, GDPR isn’t something for businesses to be frightened of. In fact, it’s actually helped build trust with customers, as 62% are more willing to share their data if GDPR is explained to them, according to Digital Marketing Association.

If you’re still concerned about getting GDPR right, don’t worry – talk to us at 24 fingers and we’ll get you on the right regulatory track tout de suite.