Brian Meert's Blog, page 69

What Are TikTok’s Advertising Objectives?

JUN. 11, 2020

Mimi Thian / Unsplash

TikTik isn’t only a video hub on which gen Zs (and a new wave of millennials) create and share dance videos. It’s also an advertising platform, on which big brands such as Universal and Guess find their target audience.

Like all the other social media platforms, TikTok has its own Ads Manager type of website, where advertisers can create and run TikTok ads. There, you can choose your budget, upload your creatives, and select an advertising objective. 

TikTok currently offers three objectives, each serving a different purpose. 

Conversions

The conversions objective drives desired actions on your website, whether that’s to fill out a form, sign up for a newsletter, or purchase your products. To use this objective, you need a website link (where you want users to be redirected) and a working TikTok pixel. 

With this objective, you can choose to target a Custom Audience, a group that has previously taken an action on your business; for example, people who added items to their carts before abandoning. 

Traffic

The traffic objective drives people to a destination, whether that’s to your website, online form, or app install page. Traffic and conversions may sound similar, but they have completely different goals. Conversions aim to achieve as many specific actions on your website, such as a purchase, whereas traffic aims to only bring as many people as possible to your chosen destination. 

Currently, you can only drive users to two destinations using the traffic objective: your website or your app. Like the conversions objective, you can also target a Custom Audience; for example, people who visited your destination in the past. 

App Installs

TikTok’s app installs objective drives users to install your app. Once clicked, the ad will redirect TikTokers to the landing page to download. You can only use this objective if you added your app to Event Manager, one of the pages within TikTok’s advertising dashboards. There, you will find all of your apps and website pixels. You can access Event Manager by clicking “Library” then “Events.”

Unfortunately, you need a third-party tracking service to track app installs. TikTok specifically asks that you use one of its tracking partners, such as Appsflyer, Adbrix, or Branch.

How to Choose the Right Objectives

It’s important to choose the right objectives to get the results you want. Before creating an ad, think about what you want your target audience to do after seeing your ad. If you want your target audience to read your latest blog post, then the traffic objective is your best option. If you want users to buy your product, then the conversions objective is the ideal choice. If you choose the wrong objective, you will end up paying for results you didn’t want. 

Where to Find TikTok’s Advertising Objectives 

You can find TikTok’s advertising objectives in the ad-creation process of its self-serve ad platform. To find it, follow these steps.

Step 1: Log in to your TikTok ad account then click “Campaign.”

Step 2: Click “Create” under “Campaign.”

Step 3: Choose your budget and scroll to “Advertising Objective.”

The list of TikTok’s objectives appears in the Campaign level.

By Anne Felicitas

The post What Are TikTok’s Advertising Objectives? appeared first on AdvertiseMint.

Why Social Selling Is an Important Business Strategy

JUN. 10, 2020

Priscilla Du Preez / Unsplash

In the past, when people wanted to know more about a product or service, they asked family and friends for suggestions. They would even visit or call several businesses to talk to representatives.

Today, much of customers’ pre-purchase activities are happening online. People post on social media to ask their connections for recommendations or to reach out to a company’s team. Some people, for example, use Facebook’s Recommendations feature to receive suggestions from friends. 

They check out reviews and ratings, too. In Bright Local’s 2019 survey, 82 percent of respondents said they read the online reviews of local businesses. Among them, 97 percent also read companies’ responses to reviews.

Social Media: An Essential Sales Tool

Social media functions and features — ratings, reviews, shares, tags, hashtags, and comments — are helping customers find service providers, evaluate products, and stay updated on their favorite brands. Apple, for example, used its Facebook page cover to promote its latest product.

Businesses with an active social media presence are able to generate more leads and sell to customers in multiple platforms. Moreover, reviews and ratings are supplying the social proof they need to build trust and improve their customer pipeline.

What Is Social Selling?

Social selling is the process of leveraging social media to find, understand, and establish trust with your ideal customers so you can hit your business goals. The power of social selling lies in its being “social,” which indicates a pleasant exchange, not a one-sided form of communication. Businesses that spam their followers and potential leads or marketers who are only focused on making a sale are bound to turn off prospects.

Many businesses are already engaging in some level of social selling. If you have a Facebook page, LinkedIn profile, or accounts on Twitter, Pinterest, or Instagram, then you have begun establishing a social media presence. 

Why Social Selling Is a Must-Have for Your Business

You may have some reservations about social media’s potential impact on your company’s marketing and sales performance. Here are six key reasons why you should incorporate social selling into your strategy.

Your Customers and Prospects Are Engaging in Social Buying

When customers need a solution, they usually don’t approach a salesperson at once. They do their own research instead, browsing the internet for answers and gathering input from their network.

Aside from your website, potential customers also check your social media accounts. They use reviews and posts to assess your company’s reliability or expertise.  A strong social media presence is especially helpful for new or small businesses that are still growing their reputation and reach. 

Keep in mind that social media platforms are search engines, too. If you’re using another company’s SEO services, be sure to discuss how you can maximize social media to improve your SEO.

Social Selling Gives Your Sales Team an Edge over the Competition

More than 70 percent of sales professionals are already using Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and other social selling tools. Training your sales team to maximize social media gives them a competitive edge over your competitors. It keeps them updated on technologies and strategies for getting more qualified leads, engaging with prospects, and closing more deals. 

Social Selling Can Boost Your Sales Team’s Results 

In an internal study, LinkedIn found that sales representatives with a high social selling index have 45 percent more sales opportunities. Fifty-one percent are more likely to reach their quota, and 78 percent outsell those who are not utilizing social media.

You Can Get More Leads in Less Time

Social selling tools make it easier for sales teams to find and target people who fit your company’s buyer personas. In a 2016 CSO Insights study, 39 percent of respondents said that social selling tools decreased their contact research time. A third (33 percent) said it increased their leads and improved lead conversion rates by 24 percent. 

With even more people engaging with social media these days, those numbers would have only gone up. 

You Can Build an Online Reputation 

Social media allows your satisfied customers to leave reviews and ratings. These positive feedback can help convince prospects that your company is trustworthy. Additionally, social media allows your team to quickly address questions about your product or respond to complaints before they can hurt your reputation. Southwest Airlines, for example, uses its Facebook page to respond to customers’ problems in the comments section. 

You Can Get Higher Sales Revenue

Social selling can increase your profit in several ways. Positive reviews and high customer ratings can help you attract more buyers. In addition, posting promotions on your social media pages, sharing links to your products or online stores, and running well-targeted ads enable you to put your offers in front of more prospects. 

At the same time, nurturing your relationship with your leads and customers builds trust. Consumer trust can improve conversion rates and brand loyalty. It may even earn your sales team several referrals or introductions to mutual connections.

How to Include Social Selling in Your Marketing Strategy

Because social selling requires an investment of time, money, and human resources, you want to make sure you’re doing it right so you can hit your business goals and recover your investment. Here’s how to include social selling into your marketing strategy. 

Set Goals and Measure Your ROI

Link your social selling goals to your company’s business objectives. Identify how you can maximize social selling to reach or even surpass these objectives. Aside from direct sales, brainstorm ways to use social media to educate your prospects, demonstrate your knowledge in your field, and provide more value.

When measuring your ROI, go beyond social media’s contribution to your profit. Include indicators like having more followers or subscribers, increased engagements, or higher gated content downloads. 

Create a Social Selling Strategy

Limiting your posts to promotional content about your products will not help you develop a stronger relationship with your leads. Your prospects need to know how your company can help solve their problems or improve their lives. Start by trying to know more about your ideal clients: their pain points, interests, aspirations, and behavior. Practice social listening and list down their issues, suggestions, and struggles. 

Next, improve your social media profiles so prospects can easily find you online. Include links to your website or other social media pages, so customers can follow you on their preferred platforms. Put yourself in your leads’ shoes and ask yourself what other information they may want to see on your page. Make it easy for them to find useful tips or links to your FAQ page, as well as your product pricing, order form, or a link to your online store. 

Aside from organically growing your social media accounts, you can boost your following and reach by running paid ads. With social media’s targeting options, you can have the ad shown to people in a specific age group, income, location, occupation, interest, and other criteria. 

Top 5 Social Selling Strategies

Now that you know the basics, follow the five tips below to level up your social selling skills.

Practice Social Listening

This is how HubSpot defines social listening:

The monitoring of your brand’s social media channels for any customer feedback and direct mentions of your brand or discussions regarding specific keywords, topics, competitors, or industries, followed by an analysis to gain insights and act on those opportunities.”

During your research, find out what your customers are saying about your company. When they leave positive reviews, thank them. If they report issues, apologize and use this as an opportunity to turn an unsatisfied customer into a happy customer. For example, if they are disappointed with the product’s quality, guide them through the return or refund process.

Be sure to monitor queries, too. Find out what questions your prospective customers are asking about your products, competitors, or industry.

Always Provide Value

Social media platforms give your business plenty of opportunities to provide value. For instance, your sales team can jump in conversations to offer actionable insights or personalized solutions. Take Louis Vuitton, for example, whose team uses Twitter as a customer service platform. 

You can also publish a helpful blog, infographic, or video that addresses your customers’ pain points. Be sure to use relevant hashtags in your posts to make it easier for your target audience to find your message.  

By consistently providing value, your business will eventually be recognized as reliable. Your target audience will follow you and may even start leaving questions on your page, giving you a chance to educate them or overcome their reservations about buying from you.

Share Success Stories

Aside from providing valuable information, you can strengthen trust by sharing your customers’ success stories on social media. Add credibility by including more details about the customer, such as his or her image, full name, position, and company. You can either share an excerpt from the customer’s story or publish it as part of an interview or case study. 

Aside from sharing how your customers succeeded with your company’s help, mention some strategies or best practices that your prospects can also replicate. This way, you don’t just talk about a current customer’s wins. You’re also showing your future customers how they can enjoy the same success. 

Establish Yourself as an Expert or a Trustworthy Brand

Build credibility using both your expertise and your customers’ reviews. Aside from publishing relevant content on your website, create articles on LinkedIn or write a guest post on leading blogs in your industry, sharing the link on social media. Red Stag Fulfillment, for example, promoted its employee’s guest post on its social media account. 

Maximize social platforms’ features to provide social proof. Encourage customers to leave a review on your Facebook page or a recommendation on your LinkedIn profile.

Nurture Your Target Clients

Understand that your prospects may not be ready to buy from you just yet. Keep providing helpful information on social media. Use social tools like LinkedIn Sales Navigator, Twitter lists, and Hootsuite’s social listening feature to monitor discussions and organize your lead-nurturing efforts. 

Continue to engage by liking posts, participating in relevant discussions, and crafting insightful content. Encourage people to leave a question or comment on your posts and respond to them. Show them that you’re not just on the platform to sell, but you genuinely want to help. SEO Reseller, for example, provides webinars to customers, helping them reach their revenue goals. 

Final Words

Social selling goes beyond creating social media accounts and promoting your business. It’s about building relationships with your current and future customers. And as with any relationship, you must listen, respond, participate in conversations, and provide value.

Done right, social selling benefits both your customers and your brand. Your clients get to have a positive experience with your company, and your business enjoys higher revenues and continues to attract new and repeat customers.

By Vincent Sevilla

The post Why Social Selling Is an Important Business Strategy appeared first on AdvertiseMint.

How to Enable Dark Mode on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and More

JUN. 9, 2020

Daniel Korpai / Unsplash

There’s nothing more annoying than being blinded by an app’s bright, piercing display when opened in the dark of night. How can you stop this assault on your eyes once and for all?

Thank goodness for dark mode, which allows you to change your apps’ theme from light to dark, protecting your sensitive eyes from irritation. Dark mode is currently available on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Messenger. Here’s how you turn them on. 

How to Turn On Dark Mode on Facebook

Although dark mode is not yet available on the Facebook app, it’s currently an option for users with the redesigned version of Facebook desktop. Still a beta test, the new Facebook is not yet available to everyone — so don’t despair if you don’t have it right now. 

For those who do have the new Facebook, follow this step.

Step 1: Click the upside-down triangle from the upper-right corner of your screen then click “Dark Mode.”

Easy, no? Also, a tip: If you have the redesigned Facebook, and you would much rather have your old Facebook back, you can switch between new and old by clicking the same aforementioned upside-down triangle then clicking “Switch to Classic Facebook.”

How to Turn On Dark Mode on Instagram

Although not yet a feature on Instagram, you can force dark mode on the app by changing your phone’s display settings. This tutorial is for Android devices (Samsung Galaxy S8, specifically). 

Step 1: Go to your settings and click “Display.”







Step 2: Click “Night Mode.”

Not only does your phone switch to night mode but also your Instagram app. Behold:

How to Turn On Dark Mode on Twitter

Twitter has had a dark mode long before Facebook and Instagram. Follow these steps to turn it on using your mobile phone. 

Step 1: Click your Twitter profile picture. 








Step 2: Click “Settings and privacy.”








Step 3: Under “General,” click “Display and sound.”








Step 4: Under “Display,” click “Dark Mode.”








Step 5: Set your preference. 

Twitter has more sophisticated options than Facebook and Instagram. You can choose from the following:

On: Instantly turn on dark mode. It will remain enabled until you turn it off. Automatic at sunset: Dark mode will turn on at sunset and turn off during the day. Dim: When dark mode is enabled, your display will have a dark gray theme. Lights Out: When dark mode is enabled, your display will have a black theme.



How to Turn On Dark Mode on Messenger

Enabling dark mode on Messenger is easy. Follow these steps. 

Step 1: Click your Messenger profile picture.







Step 2: Click “Dark Mode.”

Et voilà!

How to Turn On Dark Mode on WhatsApp

Dark mode is also available on the Facebook-owned messaging platform, WhatsApp. 

Step 1: From your profile, click the three-dotted icon from the upper-right corner of your screen. 








Step 2: Click “Settings.”








Step 3: Click “Chats”








Step 4: Click “Theme”








Step 5: Click “Dark.”








How to Turn On Dark Mode on YouTube

Of course, you can’t forget about YouTube.

Step 1: From YouTube’s home page, click your account icon. 







Step 2: Click “Settings.”







Step 3: Click “General.”







Step 4: Click “Dark Theme.”

For far too long our eyes have burned from our apps’ searing displays. White is the preferred theme for a clean look, but it sure doesn’t do our optic nerves any favors when we’re opening our apps late at night. 

By Anne Felicitas

The post How to Enable Dark Mode on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and More appeared first on AdvertiseMint.

How to Enable Dark Mode on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Messenger

JUN. 9, 2020

Daniel Korpai / Unsplash

There’s nothing more annoying than being blinded by an app’s bright, piercing display when opened in the dark of night. How can you stop this assault on your eyes once and for all?

Thank goodness for dark mode, which allows you to change your apps’ theme from light to dark, protecting your sensitive eyes from irritation. Dark mode is currently available on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Messenger. Here’s how you turn them on. 

How to Turn On Dark Mode on Facebook

Although dark mode is not yet available on the Facebook app, it’s currently an option for users with the redesigned version of Facebook desktop. Still a beta test, the new Facebook is not yet available to everyone — so don’t despair if you don’t have it right now. 

For those who do have the new Facebook, follow this step.

Step 1: Click the upside-down triangle from the upper-right corner of your screen then click “Dark Mode.”

Easy, no? Also, a tip: If you have the redesigned Facebook, and you would much rather have your old Facebook back, you can switch between new and old by clicking the same aforementioned upside-down triangle then clicking “Switch to Classic Facebook.”

How to Turn On Dark Mode on Instagram

Although not yet a feature on Instagram, you can force dark mode on the app by changing your phone’s display settings. This tutorial is for Android devices (Samsung Galaxy S8, specifically). 

Step 1: Go to your settings and click “Display.”







Step 2: Click “Night Mode.”

Not only does your phone switch to night mode but also your Instagram app. Behold:

How to Turn On Dark Mode on Twitter

Twitter has had a dark mode long before Facebook and Instagram. Follow these steps to turn it on using your mobile phone. 

Step 1: Click your Twitter profile picture. 








Step 2: Click “Settings and privacy.”








Step 3: Under “General,” click “Display and sound.”








Step 4: Under “Display,” click “Dark Mode.”








Step 5: Set your preference. 

Twitter has more sophisticated options than Facebook and Instagram. You can choose from the following:

On: Instantly turn on dark mode. It will remain enabled until you turn it off. Automatic at sunset: Dark mode will turn on at sunset and turn off during the day. Dim: When dark mode is enabled, your display will have a dark gray theme. Lights Out: When dark mode is enabled, your display will have a black theme.



How to Turn On Dark Mode on Messenger

Enabling dark mode on Messenger is easy. Follow these steps. 

Step 1: Click your Messenger profile picture.







Step 2: Click “Dark Mode.”

Et voilà!

For far too long our eyes have burned from our apps’ searing displays. White is the preferred theme for a clean look, but it sure doesn’t do our optic nerves any favors when we’re opening our apps late at night. 

By Anne Felicitas

The post How to Enable Dark Mode on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Messenger appeared first on AdvertiseMint.

How to Set Up Facebook Pay on Facebook and Messenger

JUN. 8, 2020

Anastasiia Ostapovych / Unsplash

Facebook Pay is a feature that allows you to make purchases from the social media company’s family of apps without being redirected to a different landing page. You can, for example, send payments to your Messenger contacts. You can also purchase digital gift cards from businesses’ pages. When you make transactions using Facebook Pay, you will not incur any processing fees.

This feature is currently rolling out to Facebook and Messenger users in the U.S. and internationally in the future. The social media company also plans to roll this out to WhatsApp and Instagram.

Transactions via Facebook Pay are secure and protected. It has the following:

An anti-fraud feature that monitors suspicious activityData encryption that protects your payment informationBiometrics and pin options for added security



How to Set Up Facebook Pay on Facebook

Step 1: Click the three-lined icon from the upper-right corner of the screen. 

Step 2: Click “Settings & Privacy” then “Settings.”

Step 3: Under your account settings, click “Facebook Pay.”

Step 4: Click “Add Credit or Debit Card” or “Add PayPal.”

Provide your account information then save. Your transaction history, including payments made via Messenger, appears underneath your payment method.

How to Set Up Facebook Pay on Messenger

Step 1: Click your profile picture on Messenger. 

Step 2: Scroll down to “Facebook Pay.”

Step 3: Click “Add new debit card or PayPal” then enter payment information.

You can find your Payment history under your payment information. Using Facebook Pay on Messenger, you can send money to contacts or request payments. All transactions occur within the Messenger conversation between you and the recipient. All payments are automatically deducted or added to your account.

By Anne Felicitas

The post How to Set Up Facebook Pay on Facebook and Messenger appeared first on AdvertiseMint.

AdvertiseMint Stands Against Racism

JUN. 5, 2020

One of our core company principles is to help businesses grow. After the murder of George Floyd at the hands of a white police officer, it is time for us to continue growing by standing with our fellow Americans to help, support, educate, and create a world that is safe for everyone.

We stand against racism. We stand for inclusion. We stand to treat all individuals equally. We stand with Black families, communities, and team members. 

You are seen. You are heard. You are loved. We support you and stand by your side.

We encourage everyone to help create a world free of racism.

Brian Meert, CEO of AdvertiseMint

Join Us in Taking Action Today




Donate to a bail fund.Support local Black-owned businesses. Donate, sign petitions, or contact local governments.Help expand voting access to Black communities.Learn how to support the movement if you can’t join the protest. Support the NAACP. Donate to the National Police Accountability Project.Learn to be anti racist by reading these books.Learn to be an ally to the Black community. Learn about the repercussions of slavery.Fund therapy sessions for Black women and girls.

The post AdvertiseMint Stands Against Racism appeared first on AdvertiseMint.

The Pros and Cons of Instagram Pods

JUN. 4, 2020

A Rival IQ study published in 2019 showed that except for higher education, engagement rates dropped from a median of 1.73% to 1.60% across all industries. With engagement rates in a slow decline, it’s tempting to join Instagram pods, which offer a fast and easy way to increase likes, comments, and follows. 

Photo courtesy of Rival IQ

Should you or shouldn’t you? Some marketers may vehemently advise against joining Instagram pods while others may encourage you to participate with caution. Here, we’ll explore the benefits and drawbacks of joining these controversial groups to help you in your decision.

Instagram Pods, Explained

Instagram pods are social media groups or private chats that allow you to participate in like-for-like, comment-for-comment, or follow-for-follow activities. You share an Instagram post to the group, and members will like or comment in exchange for the same type of engagement. Often, these groups have a strict no-mooching policy: If you join the group to receive, you must give in return. Otherwise, you will be booted off the platform.

Instagram pods operate in secret through private message groups and Facebook groups. Usually popular, they attract hundreds of members. The IG Engagement Space group, for example, has 31,000 members to date. 

Attitude Toward Instagram Pods

Although thousands of Instagrammers use engagement pods, not all Instagram users see them as beneficial. President and Founder of Quinn Social Media Management Roberto Quinn, for example, doesn’t find pods to be helpful:

Personally, I’ve not found pods to be particularly helpful. Large pods help certain posts receive an influx of engagement but from my experience, it’s rare to see a significant increase in follower count. By nature, they’re also incredibly impersonal, which makes the engagement noticeably impersonal.”

However, Quinn does recognize that certain pods, particularly smaller ones, can be helpful to small businesses. 

Niche pods, or smaller pods, I’ve found to be great for small business accounts or niche markets. A great example would be a group of local businesses banding together to support one another’s efforts through social media.”

Of course, there are other ways to grow your Instagram account. Quinn prefers building authentic relationships. 

I’m not saying that pods can’t work for you, but that perhaps the time and energy could be better allocated. Spend the time researching, finding like-minded accounts, and developing real relationships. Not only will your engagement be richer, you may end up finding great people to collaborate and grow with.”

The Pros of Joining Instagram Pods

Of course, it’s important to weigh the benefits of Instagram pods before deciding whether you should or shouldn’t join. These are the benefits.

1. You Can Rapidly Increase Engagement

Joining Instagram pods is an effective way to increase your engagement. With strict no-mooching rules enforced, people are required to reciprocate. 

2. You Can Increase Your Followers

Instagram pods also allow users to participate in follow-for-follow threads, in which members follow participating members’ accounts. This activity will help you quickly gain followers. 

3. You Can Appear on the Discover Feed

Rapidly gaining a heavy influx of engagement will propel your post to Instagram’s Discover feed. A spot on Discover increases your reach and provides potential for gaining followers and engagement. 

4. You Can Gain Loyal Followers

It’s possible that some of the hundreds of members that visit your account will turn into loyal followers. That is, of course, if they enjoy the content you post.

5. You Can Gain Strong Support

As Quinn previously mentioned, some pods can be beneficial to certain accounts. Niche pods, in particular, can provide value to small businesses. According to Quinn, it’s possible to create strong support and lasting relationships with the people you’ve interacted with. 

6. You Can Make Connections

Participants of Instagram pods are often eager to grow their accounts. You can build connections, even proposing collaborations with fellow pod members. 

The Cons of Joining Instagram Pods

It’s also important to weigh the drawbacks of Instagram pods before joining. Here are some downsides to consider. 

1. Not Everyone Reciprocates

Although Instagram pods have a strict no-mooching rule, not all admins enforce it. Many Instagram pods have thousands of participants, so it can be difficult to catch violators. Some pods do have call-out threads that list the names of violators, who are consequently booted off the group. 

2. You Can Never Leave

Maintaining the same level of engagement requires you to stay. When you leave your pod, your engagement will drop significantly, which may be jarring to followers. After all, it’s strange to see your engagement go from the hundreds to double digits.

3. Most Followers Won’t Engage with Your Posts

Although Instagram pods create follow-for-follow threads, most of the followers you gain won’t engage with your content since they followed out of obligation, not because they enjoy your content.

4. Participation Is Too Time Consuming

You are required to reciprocate the efforts of every member who engages with your post. Depending on the size of the pod, you may sometimes need to engage with a hundred posts, which takes up a considerable amount of your time.

5. Pods Are Against Instagram’s Policy

Because the platform values authenticity, Instagram has made efforts in curbing inauthentic behavior, including purchasing fake followers and engagement. Joining Instagram pods is no exception. Although pod members are savvy enough to circumvent the system, gaining fake engagement and followers does come with risks.  

6. You’re Forced to Like Bad Content

Since reciprocation is required, you will sometimes be forced to like or comment on bad content. This may be difficult if you’re, for example, forced to like a post with sentiments that you don’t believe in, with messages that you find offensive. 

7. You Won’t Receive Quality Engagement

Since members are commenting artificially, you won’t receive thoughtful engagement. Roberto Quinn says it well:

Too many businesses and individuals want to receive timely and quality engagement, but they don’t put in the work to provide quality engagement. What you’re left with are accounts full of ‘OMG great post, love it!’ The biggest thing to remember is that everyone in these pods are there to, first and foremost, serve themselves.”

Instagram Pods: Should You or Shouldn’t You?

Instagram pods have their benefits and drawbacks. Before joining, weigh the pros and cons. Take into account your long-term goals and schedule when making a decision. Different people will give you different advice — it’s up to you to decide. 

By Anne Felicitas

The post The Pros and Cons of Instagram Pods appeared first on AdvertiseMint.

How to Mass Delete Old Facebook Posts

JUN. 3, 2020

Ujesh / Unsplash

You might have heard this warning before: Be careful what you post on the internet. This ominous message doesn’t stem from paranoia. The world wide web serves as a permanent record of your online behavior, so you best be cautious. How many times have you heard of politicians or celebrities being slammed for an old video, image, or Tweet that didn’t age well? Exactly. 

You likely have old, embarrassing Facebook posts that you’re eager to obliterate from the face of the earth. Fortunately, the social media company recently rolled out a feature that allows you to delete or archive posts from the past. Using the filter tool, you can easily retrieve and eliminate posts from as early as 2008 — no need to painstakingly scroll through your Timeline, hunting down those pesky drunken status updates from 2012. 

Although currently available only in the app, Facebook will release the new feature to desktop in the future. Here’s how to delete old Facebook posts. 

Step 1: Click the three-lined icon from the upper-right corner of your screen. Click “Settings & Privacy.”

Step 2: Click “Settings.”

Step 3: Scroll down to “Your Facebook Information” and click “Activity Log.”

Step 4: Click “Manage Activity.”

Step 5: Click “Your Posts.”

Step 6: Click “Filter” to filter your posts by category, people, or date.

Category: Filter by posts, text updates, check ins, photos, videos, or posts from other apps. 

People: Filter by posts in which specific people are tagged or posts by other people in which you are tagged.

Date: Filter by date range. 

Step 7: Select embarrassing posts to either delete or archive. 

Deleted posts will stay in your trash for 30 days. Afterward, they will be removed forever. When you archive a post, it will no longer be visible to your friends, but it will still be accessible to you. You can find all of your archived posts in the Archive tab of Manage Activity. 

There you have it, folks. An easy way to — finally — mass delete old, embarrassing posts on Facebook.

What Else Is New with Facebook?

Facebook is constantly adding to and improving its products. In case you missed a few of the updates, here’s a recap to keep you up to speed. 

Facebook Desktop Redesign

That’s right. The social media company is testing its new design for desktop. A change announced at the 2019 F8 conference, the new Facebook features larger font, rearranged tabs, dark mode, and a more sterilized look, abandoning its signature Facebook blue for a white theme. The new design is still in beta, so not all users have access. Users who do have access can switch to Facebook classic. 

Facebook Shops

Facebook also rolled out Facebook Shops, a feature in the app that allows you to sell products without redirecting customers outside of Facebook. This feature is also available on Instagram.

New Workplace Features

Facebook’s office counterpart, Workplace, is releasing new features that help employees work efficiently. In an email announcement to AdvertiseMint, Facebook announced that Workplace now has integration with tools such as Google Drive and Dropbox, roles, new controls for Groups, and safety tools. 

Virtual Dates

A new feature in Facebook Dating allows you to go on a virtual date via video chat. Chats don’t contain participants’ last names to protect their privacy. Participants are also required to send a video request to go on a “second date.”

WhatsApp Group Call

Facebook-owned WhatsApp is rolling out a feature that allows you to video chat with up to eight participants. 

Messenger Rooms

Messenger Rooms is a Zoomesque feature that allows you to video chat with a large group from your desktop or mobile device. Much like Zoom, you set up a room ahead of time and send people the link from which they can join. Yes, even people who don’t have a Facebook account can join the call.

Online Events

Online Events allows you to create, organize, and schedule Messenger Room and Facebook Live events. It’s just like the regular Events feature on Facebook but used specifically for gatherings you’re hosting on Messenger Room or Facebook. However, with this feature you can charge guests to attend. 

By Anne Felicitas

The post How to Mass Delete Old Facebook Posts appeared first on AdvertiseMint.

Facebook’s Redesign Is Here. This Is What It Looks Like

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JUN. 1, 2020

At last year’s 2019 F8 conference, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg dropped a big bomb: Facebook is abandoning its signature blue theme in favor of a more sterilized look. It seems that this redesign is coming to users’ web browsers soon. 

Facebook is currently testing the new website, and its appearance can be a little shocking to long-term users accustomed to the old design. The new Facebook is just as Zuckerberg described: the theme is white rather than blue, with certain features rearranged to make friends central to the experience. 

The New Home Page

In the new design, Stories appear above the What’s On Your Mind bar. This is likely an attempt to bring more focus to the feature, which hasn’t gained the popularity that its counterpart, Instagram Stories, gets. The new design also puts the focus on Facebook Watch, Marketplace, Friends, and Instant Games, which appear as tabs on top of the Stories carousel. 

The new Facebook also has a reshuffled left column, with Friends, Messenger, and Groups appearing first, then shortcuts (recently visited pages) second. This reshuffling is in line with the focus on friends, since the first four tabs help users connect with their contacts. Of course, in tune with the times, the COVID-19 Information Center appears on top of these tabs, although once the pandemic is over, it will likely be removed.

Interestingly, the new right column features ads first, birthday alerts second, then contacts third. Prioritizing ads is likely an attempt to bring more attention to Right Column Ads, which can be easily overlooked by users whose eyes are trained on their feeds. 

Hello, Dark Mode

Dark mode is a nice addition to the new design. This feature turns the background from white to black, for a more comfortable viewing at night. 

You can turn dark mode on and off on Facebook by clicking the upside-down triangle on the upper right corner of the screen, and clicking on “Dark Mode.”

When the new design has rolled out to you, you will also get the option to switch to dark mode. Again, you can change your settings any time. 

Switching to the Old Facebook

If you find the new Facebook to be an abhorrent mess, you can switch back to the old design by clicking on the upside-down button from the right corner and clicking “Switch to Classic Facebook.” Since the design is a test, not an official roll out, you will be asked to provide feedback on why you decided to switch to the old design.

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It’s unclear whether the classic design will always be available, but it’s entirely possible that once the new look rolls out to everyone, Facebook will slowly phase out its old interface. 

What Else Is New with Facebook?

Facebook has a penchant for rolling out updates nearly every month, so of course the redesign isn’t the only change it has in store. Last week Facebook rolled out Shops to its app and to Instagram. This new feature allows merchants to sell their products on the Facebook and Instagram apps. (Users can purchase without being redirected to a website or landing page.)

Image courtesy of Facebook

In a Facebook Live broadcast in April, Zuckerberg announced a slew of features coming to users, including Virtual Dates, a feature on Facebook Dating; end-to-end encrypted, eight-participant group call on WhatsApp; Video Rooms, a rival to Zoom; and Online Events, which allow hosts to charge users per session. 

By Anne Felicitas

The post Facebook’s Redesign Is Here. This Is What It Looks Like appeared first on AdvertiseMint.

12 Ways to Become TikTok Famous

MAY 23, 2020

Aaron Weiss / Unsplash

So you started a TikTok. Welcome to the club! Still, picking up a new hobby during this lonely and boring time of quarantine isn’t enough for you. No, you want stardom. You want to be TikTok famous. 

You can gain a large following on TikTok and become popular enough to be considered a TikTok influencer, earning hundreds — even thousands — per post. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Before you can claim your fame (and influencer money), you must first learn how to become TikTok famous by getting more views, likes, and follows. Here’s how you do that.  

Record with Trending Audio or Song

Audio tracks are the heart of TikTok videos. Most of the TikToks you see feature users lip-synching to a popular song, dancing to a trending tune, or acting out skits to viral audio. Although the app offers a repertoire of sounds that you can use for your recording, you will reach a wider audience and increase engagement by creating a video that features a popular song or audio. For example, Actor Adam Rose’s “The Woah” track went viral, spawning more than 36,000 copycat videos. The Weekend’s song, “Blinding Lights,” also went viral. 

Use Trending Hashtags

TikTok hashtags increase your videos’ reach. However, it’s important to choose the right hashtags. Any ol’ hashtag won’t do: It should be relevant to your video. If you’re posting a “Say So” dance, include #saysochallenge. If you’re posting a comedy skit, use #funny. Look at the hashtags creators are using for the same video. If you’re posting a hair tutorial, find the top-performing videos for that niche and copy the hashtags.

Hijack Popular Hashtags

You should also hijack trending hashtags, even if they’re not quite related to your video. With this strategy, you can catapult your video to TikTok’s Trending feed.

This Marilyn Monroe dance, set to the tune of “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend,” includes several unrelated trending hashtags: #shareyourplaylist, #dancechallenge, #keepingitbusy, and #bringitback. Although the video has nothing to do with sharing a playlist or dance challenges, it garnered more than 8,000 views — impressive for an account that averages 200. The account also received more than 200 followers after publication.

Sure, including relevant hashtags may be important, but hijacking trending hashtags can significantly increase your reach and engagement.

Recreate Trending TikToks

TikTok is all about trends. That’s why you’ll find multiple videos of the same kind appearing on your “For You” page. When a video goes viral, TikTok users quickly post recreations. If you want to get noticed, you have to hop on trends. You will gain more likes by posting videos that have proven to be a hit with TikTok audiences.

Often, specific skits and dances go viral, but so do audio and popular songs. The song and choreography to “Say So,” for example, was a huge success on the app. At the time of writing, the total views for the hashtags #sayso and #saysochallenge are 778 and 246 million, respectively. If you see a song, dance, or skit gaining traction, create your own version. 

Duet or Collaborate with a Famous TikToker

Collaborating with famous TikTokers is the fastest way to gain fame. You will reach not only your loyal subjects but also the fans of that famous user. If you’re collaborating with someone who has two million followers, you gain access to two million pairs of eyes. This may be the fastest method, but it’s certainly the most difficult. Of course, not everyone knows an influencer with two million followers. Start small and expand your network. Even a TikToker with 1,000 followers is valuable. 

If you have absolutely zero connections, create a duet. Duets are available to everyone, even to TikTok users whom you don’t follow (if that’s the privacy setting you choose). When collaborating, tag the creator and use the appropriate hashtags to increase your reach. 

Stay Consistent with Your Theme

Users will follow you because your content aligns with their interests.
Choose a theme and stay consistent. If you’re passionate about dancing, post dance videos. If you’re a professional chef, post cooking tutorials. TikTok user Christian Delgrosso, for example, posts exclusively funny skits.

Don’t stray from your theme too often — you may lose your followers. Of course, you can still explore other themes, as long as you remain consistent. If your feed is too eclectic, you won’t get the loyal followers you need.

Don’t Sacrifice Video Quality

TikTok videos are nothing like the Instagram Stories you see. While Instagram videos are an intimate behind-the-scenes style of authentic content, TikToks are highly produced, often featuring special effects and complex edits. If you want to stand out on the platform, you have to be uncompromising with aesthetics — make sure everything looks good before you post, even if this means recording several takes before settling with the final video you want to publish.

Camera quality matters — grainy videos won’t succeed on the platform — and so do lighting and audio. Make sure you record in a well lit area, and make sure the audio you use is loud, crisp, and clear. Make no mistake — users have no problem leaving derisive comments on your videos if they see something sub par. See the user’s comment below as evidence.

Participate in Hashtag Challenges

Occasionally, a brand will create a hashtag challenge. TikTokers participate  by creating a video that responds to the challenge and using the brand’s special hashtag for the occasion. A recent campaign is the #scoobydoochallenge, in which users mimicked the Scooby Doo dance. By the end of the campaign, the hashtag garnered seven million views. Joining hashtag challenges can improve your reach. If the contest managers enjoyed your video, they may even feature you. 

Create an Original Track

Although TikTokers mimic dances and skits to the same music and audio, many users also record original sound. A classic example is the “Bored in the House” song, created by TikTok user @curtisroach. The song went viral, garnering 5.5 million likes and 27.5 thousand comments at the time of this writing. Curtis Roach gained so much popularity that TikTok verified his account. TikTokers will share and use original tracks that they love. With enough traction, your track can go viral and remain on the app’s Trending feed for weeks.

Post Regularly

TikTokers are less likely to follow a dead account. Seeking entertainment, they expect a steady stream of videos to appear on their feeds. Post regularly to keep your followers interested. TikTok is rich with content. It will be easy for you to ideate, create, and publish short videos each day. 

Comment on Popular Videos

If you want to increase your followers, comment on popular videos. Since these videos garner thousands —  even millions —  of views, your comment can attract the eyes of several TikTokers who might be interested in visiting your profile. If they like what they see, they may even follow your account or engage with your videos. 

Share TikToks on Instagram 

TikTok allows you to post your videos to Instagram Stories. This is a great way to expand your reach and move followers to your account. TikToks posted on Instagram contain your handle, so followers can visit your profile. 

There are so many ways to gain fame on TikTok, but keep in mind that you won’t become a sensation overnight. Develop great content, cater to your audience, and have patience. Those followers will come. 

By Anne Felicitas

The post 12 Ways to Become TikTok Famous appeared first on AdvertiseMint.