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Twitter launches 24-hour Fleets, jumping on the short-term content bandwagon

Scheenagh Harrington — Thu, 26 Nov 2020 15:16:54 +0000

Nothing stands still in the social media world for long, that’s part of the reason we love it so much – there’s rarely a dull moment. But, just when you thought the trend of here-today-gone-tomorrow content was done with, along comes Twitter with its oddly named Fleets.

A squished-up version of ‘fleeting moments’, Fleets last just 24 hours, and are to Twitter what Stories are to LinkedIn and Instagram and, more recently, Vanish mode is to Messenger and Instagram. Or what they all are to Snapchat.

Confused? Let us explain. The boffins at Twitter wanted to give new or shy users the chance to dip a toe in the platform’s conversational waters, without getting bogged down in likes and retweets.

With us so far? Jolly good. Now, this is where Fleets come in. Users can post text, or reactions to tweets with the tweet attached, as well as photos and videos, all of which can be personalised with snazzy backgrounds or fonts.

Here’s where you can go a bit cross-eyed if you don’t pay attention. You can reply to Fleets by sending a private Direct Message, but only if you follow the person you’re contacting and they follow you OR if the person you want to reply to has their Direct Messages set to open.

“We’ve learned that some people feel more comfortable joining conversations on Twitter with this ephemeral format, so what they’re saying lives just for a moment in time,” wrote Joshua Harris, director of design, and Sam Haveson, product manager, in a blog.

We’ll have to wait and see if Fleets bring a host of new blood to the platform, but the feature certainly has got its work cut out for it with the sudden rush of short-term competition. Tell us which are your favourites and we’ll tell you ours…

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 and the Organisation for Responsible Businesses. 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.

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Facebook unveils Vanish mode for Instagram and Messenger

Scheenagh Harrington — Fri, 20 Nov 2020 08:47:11 +0000

In October, Egyptian archeologists made headlines around the world after they uncovered more than 100 perfectly preserved ancient sarcophaguses, buried over 2,500 years ago.

History lovers may be drooling at the discovery, but when it comes to making things that last, social media seems to be heading in the opposite direction. Take Facebook, for instance, and its new Vanish mode.

Developed for its Messenger and Instagram platforms, it allows users to write messages that automatically delete after they have been read and the recipient has left the chat.

“We designed Vanish mode with safety and choice in mind, so you control your experience,” said Bridget Pujals, Messenger Product Manager, and Manik Singh, Instagram Product Manager.

The tool, which is scheduled to come to Europe after its US debut, can be activated by swiping up on a smartphone in an existing chat thread. To go back to the original messaging mode, simply swipe up again.

One feature we particularly like is if anyone takes a screenshot of a chat in Vanish mode, users are automatically notified. Stalkers, take note.

Messenger and Instagram aren’t the only ones jumping on Snapchat’s here-today-gone-tomorrow concept. Facebook recently enabled WhatsApp messages to disappear after seven days, LinkedIn launched Stories, as it aims to shed its stuffy image, while Twitter’s Fleets, which the platform said “help start conversations” also last for just 24 hours.

Our takeaway: ‘time’ to make your first impression count,

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How to use LinkedIn’s new Stories feature to boost your business

Scheenagh Harrington — Wed, 21 Oct 2020 12:01:48 +0000

What do you get if you blend the glamour of Instagram with TikTok’s snappy video stylings and Snapchat’s ephemeral (content that disappears after a short time) nature? The answer is LinkedIn Stories.

It’s a new feature that allows users to post less formal images with customisable stickers or 20-second videos that are viewable for 24 hours, and we reckon it’s a long-overdue breath of fresh air for the business-based platform.

It’s a great place for businesses and professionals to connect or spotlight their CVs and or show off their services, but it’s always lacked a bit of personality. The global roll-out of LinkedIn Stories could well put an end to that stuffed-shirt image.

LinkedIn calls Stories content “lightweight conversations related to your work-life”, but we like to think of it as the businessman undoing his tie or a female entrepreneur kicking off those killer heels. Brands have been quick to try it out, too.

Christian Dior Culture used Stories posts to offer a behind-the-scenes look at September’s Paris Fashion Week, while others have used it to reveal competition winners or host Q&As. Job seekers and experts can also use the feature to post temporary content.

As with TikTok, the trick with LinkedIn Stories is to be true to yourself and your brand to increase your engagement. “We believe Stories can become an integral part of brands’ communication strategies,” said Tom Pepper, head of marketing solutions UK, Ireland and Israel at LinkedIn.

“My advice to any brands looking to experiment with Stories is just do it. The great thing about Stories is that they don’t have to be slick or overproduced, as long as they are authentic and match your brand and audience.”

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Using TikTok for Business: Why the Fastest-Growing Social Media Platform Isn’t Just for Teenagers

Scheenagh Harrington — Fri, 08 May 2020 14:07:23 +0000

It’s a familiar story for parents of tweens and teenagers. You don’t see them for hours, their mobile’s gone missing and all you can hear are strange shufflings and strangled cries from their bedroom. You know what’s happening. They know what’s happening. But everyone’s too embarrassed to say anything.

Then, one day it finally happens: you walk in and plume de ma tante, you catch them in the middle of making a video. Of course we’re talking about the latest social media sensation, TikTok.

TikTok, for those who aren’t the proud/perplexed owners of an aforementioned yoof, was launched in 2016 by Chinese firm Bytedance and is home to millions of 15-second video clips. Imagine the lovechild of Vine, Twitter and Instagram and you’ll get a fairly close idea of what it looks like. But can it be used for business? Oh you betcha…

Getting to know you

We advise treating a new social media platform like a house you’re thinking of buying – have a good nosy in every nook and cranny you can find. Then, once you’ve set up your profile you can start creating content, whether it’s the standard 15-second clip or stringing a bunch together for a 60-second video, and begin building your all-important audience. Don’t be shy now…

TikTok’s super user-friendly and while it might be dominated (at the moment) by hoodie-sporting Generation Zedders, even those who are a bit longer in the tooth can quickly get to grips with its clever tools that will have you creating smart, entertaining content in a jiffy (or giffy depending on how you pronounce it).

Hashtags aren’t just for Instagram

TikTok’s handy Discover page lists the current most popular hashtags, so piggybacking trends is as easy as terrifying a teen by asking them to do the washing up.

You can also use hashtags to attract audiences to your products or business. They’re a great way to invite other TikTok users to post videos of themselves lip-synching to a song that has strong links to your campaign

Ads you say?

There’s always a possibility that you’ll stumble across your teenager chucking out some shapes to the latest Britney Spears/One Direction/Bon Jovi hit (Ed’s note: gone old school, I see) while scrolling through TikTok, but you’ll also be pleased to hear the platform supports four kinds of ads.

Infeed native content will be familiar if you’ve used Snapchat or Instagram story ads. TikTok’s are full screen, skippable and should last between nine and 15 seconds. Brand takeovers do what they say on the tin: they let a brand create images, GIFs, and videos for the day, and links to landing pages or to hashtag challenges can also be embedded in the app.

Hashtag takeovers are similar but potentially more exciting, as you can offer an end goal or prize for anyone taking part and who doesn’t love a good giveaway? Finally, there are branded lenses: think Snapchat or Instagram filters that are good for a giggle.

Keep it casual

If Instagram is the Kim Kardashian of social media, all contoured cheekbones and cling-filmed hips to project an image of smoothed perfection, then TikTok is a bestubbled, beer-bellied bricklayer showing off an unhealthy inch of builder’s bum. Entertaining it very may well be, but polished it is NOT.

But that’s okay, particularly for business owners and here are three great reasons:

TikTok can show customers a side of you or your business they rarely/never see
You can use entertaining TikTok template videos, such as Yup/No to explode a myth or underscore a truth
TikTok videos can be a practice ground for more sophisticated ads on other platforms – it’s a place where failing can actually be helpful

Don’t forget, you can share your TikTok content on other platforms, so a 15-second video that probably took very little effort to create, can earn you views, likes, shares and potential new customers across the rest of social media.

So there you have it. What your teenager gets up to in the privacy of their sock-and-pant filled pit could give you another, fun way to market your business. Just knock LOUDLY before you go in and ask for tips, okay..?

Want to know more about using TikTok for business? Come talk to us at 24 fingers. Bustin’ a move to Lady Gaga optional.

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‘Tis the season… for social media

Yvette Murrell — Fri, 09 Dec 2016 13:15:58 +0000

December is in full swing and the festive countdown is officially on but it’s not just the elves that have been busy this week. This Social Snippets is filled with generosity, festive games and presents – plus even a sprinkling of relationship drama. We don’t know about you, but it sure sounds like Christmas to us…

Instagram sure is feeling generous

We must have been good this year, as Instagram have *finally* made some new updates to the app that we have been begging for what seems like an eternity. You’ll now be able to…

Turn off comments for individual posts for the first time
Remove followers without blocking them
Reply to individual comments without having to retype @
Like comments
Pinch zoom photos

Can you believe it? It’s like all our Christmases have come at once.

Tree-ts from Pizza Express

Earlier this year, Facebook announced that it was rolling out a new function called ‘Messenger Codes’ (very similar to Snapchat’s ‘Snapcodes’) but we hadn’t seen much use of it, until now. Whilst out at lunch this week, we noticed that Pizza Express had Messenger codes at each table with a rather inviting ‘Scan Me’ message.

Once scanned through the Messenger app, you are immediately in conversation with Pizza Express chat bot and encouraged to play their festive game, #ShakeTheTree, for the chance to win pizza-related prizes.

Unfortunately, we didn’t win this time. But we can definitely expect to see more from companies in 2017, as they begin using the services to answer enquiries, send out useful info, or just to play a few more games with us. Garlic dough bauble, anyone?

Twitter has mixed feelings

If Twitter had to define its relationship status with president-elect Donald Trump, it would say ‘it’s complicated’.

Twitter CEO, Jack Dorsey, was recently asked how he felt about Trump’s mark on the social platform and “complicated” was his exact response. Speaking at the Code of Commerce conference in California, he also went on to highlight the positive role Twitter played in the recent election, and pointed out the safeguards put in place for users around bullying, harassment and hate speech. You can read the full discussion here.

Social media brings hope

On a more serious note, a statement was released last night on behalf of major online media companies – Facebook, Microsoft, Twitter and YouTube announcing their commitment to tackling terrorism content.

“We hope this collaboration will lead to greater efficiency as we continue to enforce our policies to help curb the pressing global issue of terrorist content online,” the statement announced. The companies will be joining forces so they can develop technology to identify extremism together, and ultimately put a stop to it spreading. That gets 24 thumbs up from us.

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Time to Face the Truth

Yvette Murrell — Fri, 18 Nov 2016 11:32:15 +0000

We may be living in a tough time right now, but it looks like the big social platforms are attempting to take a stand and improve social media for the better. Find out how in this week’s edition of Social Snippets.

Time to Face the Truth

Mark Zuckerberg has made a promise to end fake news on Facebook. The social media platform has been under a great deal of criticism – particularly over the recent US election – for allowing fake, misleading and untruthful news articles to be promoted and circulated on it’s site. In a statement made on a Facebook post (naturally), Zuckerberg shared some post-election thoughts:

“Our goal is to show people the content they will find most meaningful, and people want accurate news. We have already launched work enabling our community to flag hoaxes and fake news, and there is more we can do here. We have made progress, and we will continue to work on this to improve further.

This is an area where I believe we must proceed very carefully though. Identifying the “truth” is complicated. While some hoaxes can be completely debunked, a greater amount of content, including from mainstream sources, often gets the basic idea right but some details wrong or omitted. An even greater volume of stories express an opinion that many will disagree with and flag as incorrect even when factual. I am confident we can find ways for our community to tell us what content is most meaningful, but I believe we must be extremely cautious about becoming arbiters of truth ourselves.”

You can read the full post here.

Spread love, not hate

Only lovebirds tweeting here.

Following on a similar form to Instagram, Twitter has now added a function that will allow users to block certain words or phrases from their notifications. Not only will this help high profile users cut down the number of notifications they may receive, but will help users avoid hateful from trolls.

Whilst avoiding the matter rather than tackling it head on isn’t the best way of dealing with negativity and bullying online, at least Twitter are making a step in the right direction.

If you want to mute certain words yourself, simply head to your Twitter settings, select ‘Notifications’ and then ‘Muted words’. You can mute one word, phrase, @username or hashtag at a time.

Snapchat’s goes Squared-Eyed

Foursquared-eyed, that is. Snapchat has just completed a deal with local ‘search-and-discovery’ app, Foursquare. By using location information from the app, Snapchat will now be able to deliver much more specific advertisements depending on where you are in the world.

This is great news for smaller businesses looking to take advantage of the geofilters on Snapchat, as they will now narrow down to even more precise areas – reportedly as small as a specific building.

LinkedIn may seize business in Russia

Russia may be notoriously known for its spies, but it seems that they are more concerned with who is spying on them at the moment. The Russian court has made a decision to potentially ban LinkedIn from being used within the country, over issues concerning data protection.

The controversial ruling comes and LinkedIn failed to comply with law to protect Russian citizen’s personal data, as the it’s servers are held outside the country. Following the ruling, a spokesperson for LinkedIn said:

“The Russian court’s decision has the potential to deny access to LinkedIn for the millions of members we have in Russia and the companies that use LinkedIn to grow their businesses. We remain interested in a meeting with Roskomnadzor to discuss their data localization request,” it said.

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Snap back to reality

Yvette Murrell — Fri, 11 Nov 2016 12:52:36 +0000

With the presidential election taking over our lives both on- and off-line, you may have missed out on some important social updates. A lot has happened this week, not least of all Snap trying to change the world as we know it….

Snap back to reality

Snap has introduced some new filters… although this time, they’re not for your face. Yes, Snap have now given us an augmented reality on their app. There are currently seven new filters to play with, based on firm favourites such as the golden butterflies and some new ones too. No doubt there will be more to come, but these ones are rocking our world already, IRL.

https://24fingers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/video-1478864386_rotated.mp4

The Instagram Story continues…

Like some kind of digital plot-twist, Instagram Stories sprung a surprise update on us this week. And boy, is it a good one. In a statement, Instagram revealed that Stories will now include a ‘Boomerang mode’ and the ability to include @ mentions. They’ll also begin testing links inside Stories of verified accounts too – something that is still not possible on normal Instagram posts.

Snap’s new spectacles are now for sale. Roll up, roll up…

After recently announcing that they were going into the eyewear business, Snap have now released their new product. But you won’t be able to pick these up anywhere, instead they are being sold via interactive vending machines called ‘Snapbots’.

So far only one Snapbot has been found at Venice Beach but more are due to pop up over the coming weeks. Insiders have revealed that the machine has a video screen on the outside that allows customers to preview the glasses on their face before purchasing. They won’t be around for long though, so you better try and *snap* one up before it disappears. Heh.

A GIFt from WhatsApp

Yes, that’s right. In what seems like an overdue update, WhatsApp messenger now allows GIFs to be sent over message. Before now, the files would only appear as still images which was pretty annoying considering how widely they are used on other social platforms. Combine this with the new eclectic range of emojis, we need never use actual words again. Excuse me whilst I inundate my contact list with some absolute gems…

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China gets emotional about Emojis

Yvette Murrell — Fri, 21 Oct 2016 12:58:40 +0000

We’ve got a few *stories* to tell you about some Snapchat copycats in this week’s edition of Social Snippets.

China calls for stricter Emoji regulations

Emojis have become part of our everyday life (can you remember the last WhatsApp conversation you had that didn’t include them?) but it seems that their use is still facing resistance in China. This week, the Chinese state press called for regulation on Emojis – reportedly due to inappropriate interpretations (we’re looking at you, aubergine emoji).

However, a spokeswoman for WeChat (China’s equivalent to WhatApp) defended the Emoji regulations they already have in place, stating that ‘the stickers that are submitted to WeChat are examined through manual review to ensure their compliance with national policy and our platform’s operating rules’. Stickers and Emojis are currently downloaded 20 million times per day on the app.

Facebook creates ‘Messenger Day’

What’s with all the storytelling updates? Facebook are launching a new feature that is *literally* identical to Snapchat and Instagram Stories. ‘Messenger Day’, as it has been named, allows users to post pictures and videos on Messenger for your friends to see, before – you guessed it – disappearing after 24 hours. The new function also has a range of customisation options including filters, stickers and the ability to draw in different colours over the images.

It’s not available in the UK just yet, but it has been found in Poland and Australia. That news may seem odd but it’s actually a pretty smart move from Facebook – they are targeting countries where Messenger is used far more than Snapchat, in the hope that the new feature will be taken up over its competitors.

Explore more with Instagram Stories

Instagram have had a clever new update, following the initial success of Instagram Stories.

Up until now, Instagram Stories have appeared at the top of user’s newsfeeds but will now also show at the top of the ‘Explore’ tab. There, you’ll be able to see popular stories from people you don’t already follow. The update will give Instagram an added edge over storytelling originators, Snapchat, as it aims to increase the number of people viewing Stories content everyday – a figure that is currently at 100 million. Speaking of Snapchat…

Snapchat changes the way it pays

It seems that Snapchat are making some serious moves ahead of their IPO next year, as they’ve begun changing the way they works with advertisers that supply content for its “Discover” section. They want to start paying a flat fee upfront instead of sharing ad revenue, like they do at the moment.

This means that companies will get a fixed sum when they supply content. They’ll have a guaranteed income but the changes may also limit how much they could earn from their adverts.

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Facebook Marketplace launches

Yvette Murrell — Fri, 07 Oct 2016 10:14:03 +0000

With so much going on online all the time, it can be hard to keep up or even know what’s worth paying attention to. But don’t worry, because 24 fingers has done the hard work for you.

Meet Facebook Marketplace, Facebook Secret Conversations and Snapchat bidding.

Can we tell you a secret?

Well, yes, we can actually – thanks to Facebook’s new feature. It recently upped its private messaging game by introducing ‘Secret Conversations’. The new add-on to the Messenger app allows users to securely share messages that no one else – not even Facebook – can access. Participants of secret conversations can also set how long their messages are shown for (from as little as 5 seconds) before disappearing into thin air.

The update is similar to Facebook-owned WhatsApp’s encrypted messages, as well as the new Google Allo which has an ‘Incognito’ messaging function.

Facebook opens up its Marketplace

For years, many Facebook pages have been set up by local communities for buying and selling goods, but now the social network has created its very own handy service. Much like community sites such as Gumtree and Shpock, Facebook Marketplace allows users to upload images of items to sell, or search for items to buy within their local area.

The new function is conveniently embedded within the Facebook app and it is already off to a great start. However, that’s not to say that its first day didn’t go without a few hiccups (that led to an issued apology). Illegal activity was reported by several users who found drugs, guns and even baby hedgehogs for sale.

Did you like her addiction?

A rather important social experience has been going on the past few weeks, with many of us not even realising. 25-year-old French model, Louise Delage, started an Instagram account with its first post on 5th August 2016 – quickly racking up an impressive 50,000 followers.

More than 150 posts followed, featuring the chic model posing in enviable settings around the world, appearing to be having the time of her life. But what a lot of people didn’t notice was that alcoholic drinks featured in every. Single. Image. The last post revealed (in French) that the account was fake and that its message was to highlight what signs of addiction you may be missing on social media. Powerful stuff.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecRheslTlwE

Snapchat bidding has begun

After changing its name to Snap Inc. to encompass the ever-expanding brand ventures, the social company has now begun to use bidding-style software algorithms to sell some of its advertising spaces. Big brands including the likes of McDonald’s have already started to purchase ad space this way, similar to how Facebook, Instagram and Twitter have been doing for some time now.

The post Facebook Marketplace launches first appeared on 24 fingers.

The post Facebook Marketplace launches appeared first on 24 fingers.

Snapchat rebrands to Snap Inc

Yvette Murrell — Fri, 30 Sep 2016 13:46:53 +0000

From Snapchat spectacles to Trump making a spectacle of himself (for a change), find out this week’s social news, right here…

Looking Snappy

Step aside Google, there’s some new shades in town. Snapchat (or should we now say, Snap Inc.) have announced that they will be launching smart sunglasses this autumn. The “Spectacles”, as they’re called, have a tiny camera which can record video clips up to 30 seconds in length, which can be shared immediately on Snapchat.

The glasses have been priced at $130 (around £100) and connect to mobile devices by using either Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Able to be used hands-free, the spectacles will record video clips, allowing their followers to see the world – quite literally – through their eyes. Snap Inc. CEO, Evan Spiegel, told Wall Street Journal that the product is a work in progress. “It’s about us figuring out if it fits into people’s lives and seeing how they like it”.

The Live Debate

For the first time, following the success of the NFL game, the first presidential debates were streamed live on Twitter in full HD. Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton went head to head in a long and heated debate on Monday. There were a few mixed reactions to the stream, with some saying having the live tweet conversations alongside the video was a bit distracting, but overall the debate racked up the most views ever (over 80 million) and reports showed that there were more than 17 million tweets involving 2.7 million people.

If you missed any tweets, fear not, we’ve picked out some of the best here.

Twitter to be bought out by… Disney?

Rumours of a Twitter buy-out have been circulating for a while now, with Google and Salesforce being front runners for the bid. Yet now, reports suggest that Disney could also be a contender. The idea that they are a potential buyer might sound like an unlikely tale – however you might not have known that co-founder and current CEO, Jack Dorsey, has been on Disney’s board since 2013. We wonder if Larry would get a Disney makeover if this dream really did come true?

Selena Gomez reaches 100m followers on Instagram

From Disney princess to pop princess – Selena Gomez is now the most followed account on Instagram (beating the likes of Kim Kardashian, Taylor Swift and even Instagram themselves). She also holds the title for most-liked Instagram photo – which is pretty good going for someone who hasn’t posted a pic in over 6 weeks.

The singer has been taking some time out away from the spotlight recently for health concerns, but her loyal fan base have been helping her out on social with the hashtag, #GetSelenaTo100M. Which was nice.

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