The world of social media never stands still, not for one second. It’s part of the reason we love it, but the speed of change can take some business owners by surprise. Take the international launch of Instagram Reels ads, for instance. 

Reels has only been around since August 2020, but it’s already expanded to include features including Insights, Remix and Live, all so it can keep up with rival platforms (we’re looking at you TikTok). 

It migth all be enough to make your head spin but the addition of ads to Reels is a sweet opportunity for business owners to widen their audience and expand their reach. 

Instagram Reels ads look just like any other post, so they’re looping videos, full screen and run for up to 30 seconds. The slight difference is they will have a “sponsored” tag below the advertiser’s account name, so anyone viewing it will be aware it’s an ad. 

The global launch follows testing in Australia, India, Brazil and Germany, and there may be tweaks as it goes along, as Instagram’s Adam Mosseri said the firm was not 100% happy with the format. Luckily for them, we’re always on our toes at 24 fingers and ready for the next change social media throws at us. 

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.

We know many business owners wear several hats, from HR to PR and back again and there are some days that really ought to be four times as long, so everything gets done. Fear not, under-pressure damsels in business distress. Like a knight in slimline silver armour, Linkedin’s new features are coming to your rescue and promise will make life a bit easier. 

We’re big believers in every little helping, so let’s take a closer look at the goodies (Ed’s note: don’t you mean the Goode stuff? #badumtush)

Supercharge your posts

Taking a shameless leaf straight out of Facebook’s um… book, Linkedin will now allow you to boost a high-performing post to really supercharge your social media post’s engagement. 

It might sound like a cue for a song, but Linkedin says all you need are a “click of a button and a few payment details”, it’s a quick and effective way to expand a post’s reach without having to learn any new marketing tools. Nice. 

Amplify event promotion and measure the results

If the past year or so has taught us anything, it’s that many of us are more comfortable in front of the camera and crowds than ever before. 

If you’re among the businesses using group and community meetings or events as part of your marketing strategy, Linkedin’s Event Ad feature will help promote your event to a new audience, highlighting key details such as date, time, and how to join. 

It will also let members know if a mutual connection will be attending, so watch out for talking at the back. 

That’s smart enough on its own, but Linkedin’s new features also include an Event Analytics tool that offers insights into the reach, engagement, and companies behind event attendees, crucial information for tailoring or targeting future events. 

LinkedIn Live gets a boost

Business owners looking to get in on the livestreaming trend went crazy for Linkedin’s Live feature, which saw a more-than 400% YoY increase in the past 12 months or so. 

The chaps at the business platform have taken note and unveiled Custom Streaming, a nifty feature that allows members to use the broadcast tools they are most comfortable with, whether that’s Zoom, WebEx or OBS. If Microsoft Teams is your bag, that’s on its way too. 

Measure performance on the Go

Linkedin has finally realised many business owners aren’t chained to their computers 24/7 and can get out and about from time to time. 

With that in mind, they’ve launched Mobile Page Analytics, sending all the visitor, follower and content insights, including organic and boosted metrics, normally accessible on your desktop, straight to your phone. 

If you’re still struggling to get to grips with Linkedin’s new features, give us a shout and we’ll soon have you LinkedIn-ing 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.

Just when you think you’ve got to grips with the latest video-sharing technology on the web, they go all Etch-a-Sketch on us and give everything a good shake, this month’s being the launch of Instagram Remix. The social media platforms have been falling over themselves to copy each others’ services, from Linkedin finally realising video is A Good Thing, to TikTok’s nifty Duet feature. It’s the latter that prompted Instagram to give its Reels tool, which is barely out of short trousers, an overhaul leading to – drum roll please – the Remix video editing feature. 

Re-re-re-remix 🤩

Now you can use the Remix feature in Reels to create your own reel next to one that already exists 🎭

Whether you’re capturing your reaction, responding to friends or bringing your own magic to trends, Remix is another way to collab on Instagram ✨ pic.twitter.com/eU8x74Q3yf

— Instagram (@instagram) March 31, 2021

It gives Instagram users the chance to create and post their reaction to a Reel, and while it might have a lot of comedic value, it’s also got great potential for business. 

Picture the scene: a small or medium-sized company posts its reaction to content from a bigger company, which then goes viral, bringing customers to their door and putting their brand on everyone’s lips. Talk about lights, camera, action… 

You can Remix any Reel, as long as the original poster has enabled access. The great thing is, the feature can be turned on and off, either by using the Privacy Settings, which would affect all Reels, or after you share each individual video.

To Remix a Reel, choose the video you want to react to and tap the three dots. “Remix This Reel” should appear if the original Instagram poster has enabled the feature. 

Record or upload your new Reel, which should appear on the right side of the screen. Now’s the time to merrily edit and get creative, adding stickers, a voiceover or change the soundtrack. When you’re happy with your content, write a caption and choose your video settings, then share – easy peasy. 

We reckon Remix Reels could give TikTok’s Duets a run for its money, but we’ll keep you posted. In the meantime, it’s time for our close-up… 

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.

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.”

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.

We’ve all become a lot more savvy with video technology in recent weeks thanks to lockdown, from Zooming clients or colleagues to posting Facebook Lives and chatting with relatives via Facetime or Skype. But now things are gradually easing, why not take that new-found skill and try a webinar?

For business owners video – particularly webinars – are a powerful and inexpensive tool that can enhance your brand voice, establish you as a thought leader, and bring your products or services to a new audience. They do take a bit of planning and organisation though, so sit back and soak up our step-by-step guide to hosting a successful webinar. 

Which platform?

First and foremost, where will your webinar happen? There are so many to choose from right now, from Zoom to Google Hangouts and WebinarJam. Take some time to familiarise yourself with a few, and find one that’s totally right for you. 

What content?

Grab your marketing calendar and identify what issues or subjects you haven’t covered with other forms of communication, then assess if you can come up with content that will plug these gaps or engage specific groups. Have an optimum time slot in mind that will attract the biggest audience. After that, it’s time to get creative. 

Give yourself several weeks to assemble the content for your webinar and determine if topics you’re planning to explore have been covered recently, or whether there’s a trend you can capitalise on. When you’re fully prepped, the invitations can go out (don’t forget those follow-ups) and you can start actively promoting the event. 

Testing, testing, testing…

At least a day before your scheduled webinar, check all your pre-recorded pieces are good to go, any poll questions are done (and the answers), and all your equipment has been thoroughly tested, including your internet connection. Then it’s time for a complete dress rehearsal – conduct the entire webinar as if it was the live version, keeping an eye on time and sorting out any technical hiccups as they go without swearing…  

The big day

On the day of the webinar itself, make sure you’re suited and booted, with hair whipped into shape and make-up if you need it. Ensure sure your voice is good and warmed up and we’d say avoid eating too much just before, but have some water to hand. Make sure your internet connection is solid, the light is good, your background is clear and do a full battery and headphone check. Finally, check the camera, which needs to be at eye level if possible, is switched ON. Line up those pre-recorded segments and then smile as you go live. 

The aftermath

It’s always good to examine the pros and cons of any webinar, to see what worked and where you could make improvements. Download a recording and try to analyse it objectively. Further editing and post-production can help create valuable snippets for social media to enhance your brand or business. Don’t forget to share both the webinar or clips with the people who took part, as well as the wider social media public. 

Fancy running your own webinar but still not confident about taking that first step? Chat to us at 24 fingers and we’ll help you dive right in.

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. 

“Life moves pretty fast”, said Ferris Bueller in the 1986 John Hughes comedy, and crikey do we know what he means. Facebook’s ongoing integration of its messaging apps has us all on our toes, but just when we think the paint’s dry on one new feature, along comes another. Facebook is reportedly testing – on a very small scale, mind – a new plans sticker feature that could be linked to its Rooms feature. If you haven’t heard of it before, it enables video calls from Messenger or Facebook, and hosts can invite anyone to join in, even if they don’t have a Facebook account. It also rhymes with another videconferencing service… 

According to Facebook, Rooms can be started and shared in its News Feed, Groups and Events, and the company has plans to expand it to Instagram and WhatsApp, so watch this space. 

But back to the plans stickers. You can use them to post details of a scheduled get-together on Instagram and Facebook and tell your Stories viewers how they can join the meeting.

New feature “plans” for online hangout… @wongmjane @MattNavarra ??? pic.twitter.com/GL3eb50hbB

— FDT (@fdt_vision) June 3, 2020

We at 24 fingers are always up for a get-together, but we also think Facebook’s new plans sticker feature could be a really cool way to showcase webinars or product announcements particularly when we’re spending more time online than ever before. Here’s hoping the tests go well and the feature hits our screens asap. 

Want to get the best out of the latest social media tools but not sure where to start? Talk to us at 24 fingers and we’ll make everything crystal. 

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”. 

As a business owner, time is as precious a commodity as money, and combining both to the best effect when creating ads can sometimes feel like trying to turn water into wine. To make sure you end up with a lip-smacking Chablis rather than a vin de table you wouldn’t use as petrol, here’s our top 10 creative apps to make your content sparkle, as recommended by Facebook. 

Ripl

They say: Layer animated templates on top of photos

We say: This creative app not only makes videos from your own photos (so you get the shot you actually want), it’s customisable, can be linked to all your social media accounts and enables scheduled posting. What’s not to love?

Videoshop

They say: Combine photos and videos, experiment with stop- motion, resize and edit videos

We say: Embrace your inner Steven Spielberg with this smart editing tool. Add your own soundtrack or sound effects, include subtitles or merge several videos into one, and then share them across your social media contacts. 

Unfold

They say: Create stories with multiple photos

We say: If you want to give your ads and videos a sophisticated edge, then look no further. Unfold offers a range of cool templates and curated fonts. There are filters and effects too, but think Vogue rather than Snapchat. 

Mojo

They say: Create stories from video templates

We say: It’s the only one on our list that’s NOT Android compatible, but the easy-to-download, customisable creative app comes with more than 50 templates and text styles. They’re updated every month, so your content will always have a fresh feel. Like the others, you can share your creations to all social media platforms. 

Adobe Spark Post

They say: Transform photos with design and animation templates

We say: Even if you’ve never held a video camera in your life, you can make smart ads using your own photos or animated stickers from GIPHY. There’s a range of customisation options available, so you can play around and find the effect that best suits your business. Boooooom.

Adobe Photoshop Mix

They say: Cut and combine images

We say: Once you’ve mastered Spark Post, this is probably your next step. You can cut out and mash-up bits of different images, as well as blend layers and apply looks, whether you’re using an Apple or Android device. Excitingly, the app also integrates with Adobe Creative Cloud, giving you access to tools including Photoshop and Lightroom. 

Boomerang

They say: Create short looping videos

We say: There is so much fun to be had with this Instagram app, once you get started you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it. Simply film a moving object or take a video selfie, then hit one button and the software does the rest: creating a mini looped video from 10 photos that you can share on Facebook and Instagram. 

Plotaverse

They say: Add motion to still images

We say: WOW. There’s no other word for the stunning effects this app can help you create. It’s all about stopping social media users in their scrolling tracks with the hypnotic movements in ads using this app. If you’re looking for something completely different, this is it. 

Quik

They say: Animate your photos to music

We say: Well isn’t this nifty? You can combine up to 75 of your own images or video clips with your favourite tunes (or over 100 free songs from the app) and voila – instant shareable content. It’s customisable with text overlays, you can choose from 23 themes and it automatically turns on the audio when it hears voices. Smart. 

Facebook Ads Manager

They say: An all-in-one tool for advertisers of any experience level. 

We say: So, you’ve made your content, but now what? If you’re looking to run a campaign across Facebook, Instagram, Messenger or Audience Network, then this is a good place to start. There’s help with everything from creating ad campaigns to monitoring how they’re faring.

But don’t worry. If it all looks a bit complicated, book a discovery call with us at 24 fingers and we’ll guide you every step of the way. 

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:

1. TikTok can show customers a side of you or your business they rarely/never see
2. You can use entertaining TikTok template videos, such as Yup/No to explode a myth or underscore a truth
3. 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.