Brian Meert's Blog, page 73

The List of COVID-19 Ads and Posts Banned by Facebook

MAR. 25, 2020

Kelly Sikkema / Unsplash

COVID-19 is changing people’s lifestyles. Many have been staying at home for days to avoid the spread of the virus. Companies have ordered their employees to work from home. Hiring departments have forgone recruiting new talent. Businesses have lost customers.

Facebook’s evolving policies are also on the list of changes precipitated by the pandemic. To protect its users, the social media company has banned certain ads and posts from the platform. Here is the list. 

Posts and Ads with False Claims about COVID-19

Facebook has struggled with misinformation over the past several years, beginning with the fake Russian ads targeting the US presidential election back in 2016. Facebook responded by adding more banned items to its list. 

Now Facebook will remove content that spreads misinformation about COVID-19, including conspiracy theories and false claims about cures and preventative methods. One pervasive myth claimed that consuming alcohol reduced the risk of catching the virus. Some people have even been profiting from the pandemic by selling fake cures. 

Facebook is working with third-party fact checkers to remove misinformation about COVID-19. Once fact checkers identify a post as false, Facebook will limit its distribution on the platform. Facebook will also notify users who shared the article that it has been labeled as false. 

Ads and Listings for Face Masks

Facebook is temporarily banning listings and ads for medical face masks, whether those listings appear on a seller’s Timeline, in buy-and-sell groups, or in Marketplace. This change is likely a response to the price gouging that runs rampant within online platforms, including Amazon and Ebay. 

Facebook, too, has to contend with price gouging, and its efforts against this unethical practice seems to be paying off. A search for “face masks” in Marketplace reaps zero results.

A search for “face masks” in Marketplace reaps zero results.

Because medical masks are in short supply, this precious resource must be reserved for medical professionals, the ill, and people caring for the sick. Price gouging and hoarding compromise the safety of the community, so it’s no surprise Facebook is imposing a ban on this product.

Ads Exploiting COVID-19 for Financial Gain

With nations across the globe scrambling to decrease the spread of COVID-19, people are panicked. During times of great fear and uncertainty come those who seek financial opportunities.

Facebook is now banning ads that use COVID-19 as a way to increase financial gain; for example, ads that incite panic or urgency while presenting its products or services as a solution. The ads of retailers selling face masks, for instance, will not be approved if they guarantee the masks to prevent the spread of the virus or if they claim the masks to be the only one of its kind left.

Although Facebook did not state how it will monitor ads for exploitative practices, it will likely flag ads containing the words “COVID-19” or “coronavirus.”

Ads and Listings for Hand Sanitizers, Disinfecting Wipes, and Test Kits

Facebook is banning ads and commerce listings for hand sanitizers, disinfecting wipes, and COVID-19 test kits, whether those listings appear on Facebook groups, Timelines, or Marketplace. The ban is likely a direct result of price gouging. Items such as toilet paper, face masks, hand sanitizers, and disinfecting wipes are particularly attractive to people who price gouge. 

A Marketplace seller price-gouging hand sanitizer.



What Happens If You Were Mistakenly Reported

Facebook relies on content reviewers and technology to keep its platform safe for users. However, with COVID-19 forcing workers to stay at home, Facebook ordered its reviewers to work remotely. With a reduced workforce and an increased reliance on automated systems, content and ad reviews will be slow — Facebook admits that mistakes will happen during the process.

If your content or ad was flagged for any of the aforementioned reasons — price gouging; misinformation; or the mention of face masks, hand sanitizers, or disinfecting wipes — your appeal for a second review will be denied due to a reduced workforce.

According to Facebook:

Normally when we remove content, we offer the person who posted it the option to request that we review the content again if they think we made a mistake. Now, given our reduced workforce, we’ll give people the option to tell us that they disagree with our decision and we’ll monitor that feedback to improve our accuracy, but we likely won’t review content a second time.”

To follow the changes Facebook is implementing due to COVID-19, visit Facebook Newsroom. 

By Anne Felicitas

The post The List of COVID-19 Ads and Posts Banned by Facebook appeared first on AdvertiseMint.

How to Make Money as an Influencer Despite COVID-19 Disruptions

MAR. 24, 2020

Hipster Mum / Unsplasj

With orders to stay at home and practice social distancing, businesses across different industries are taking a hit. Restaurants and bars have been ordered to close. Events, such as Coachella and the 2020 Olympics, have been postponed. Businesses are shrinking, sending some Americans home without work. 

The influencer industry has also been affected by COVID-19. Travel influencers, in particular, are experiencing the consequences caused by the pandemic. In a Business Insider report, influencers talk about sponsorship decline due to the outbreak. According to these influencers, sponsorship deals and events have been canceled. One influencer who experienced these changes is Oneika Raymond (@oneikatraveller on Instagram) and Lauren Bullen (@gypsea_lust).

“I think a lot of people in the travel industry are holding their breath,” said Raymond to Business Insider. “Companies are reluctant to take on anything new and therefore that is impacting the income of creators.”

To make matters worse, cost per post on social media is predicted to decrease if the pandemic ushers nations into a recession, at least according to influencer marketing agency Izea in the same Business Insider report. Looking back at the previous recession, Izea found that the average cost of sponsored posts fell by 62.7% between 2008 and 2010. 

Toshiko Shek, content creator and photographer

There is also worry that more brands will stop production in shoots, eliminating the services of influencers. Content creator and photographer Toshiko Shek (@itsnotheritsme on Instagram) shares her thoughts on the effects of the pandemic with AdvertiseMint.

“I think everyone will be affected, but that hasn’t happened yet,” says Shek, who still receives steady work from her projects, which she has been doing from home. “I know brands stopped production in terms of photoshoots, so that means eventually they won’t be uploading new products to their sites. When there’s no products, then you don’t need influencers to promote.” 

How to Make Money as an Influencer During COVID-19 Outbreak

Travel and events may have been canceled, but there are still ways to maintain a livelihood as an influencer, especially since many of them have been working from home long before the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Host Classes

With the government mandate to stay home, people have more free time than ever. They can only binge-watch so many movies and scroll through so many TikTok dance crazes. They are bored, looking for new ways to amuse themselves at home. 

Now is the best time for your followers to pick up a new hobby. You can host classes online, charging a fee for each small course. As an influencer, you’re an expert of your craft, whether that’s in traveling, parenting, cooking, photography, or content creation — that’s what people follow you for. 

You can create courses using an online platform, such as Udemy, Teachable, Thinkific, or Skillshare. If you’re inexperienced in building courses, you can visit YouTube for complete tutorials, such as Ferdy Korpershoek’s 40-minute guide that will help you create classes on Udemy.

Sign Up for Affiliate Marketing

Followers trust your expertise and your recommendations. Why not use your power of influence to grow your affiliate marketing business? As an affiliate marketer, you will promote products on your social media accounts, directing followers to an affiliate link that takes them to the page where they can purchase your products. For each sale, you earn commission. 

Granted, affiliate marketing is made more difficult by social media platforms like Instagram, where links in captions are not clickable. A problem like this demands creative solutions. Ask followers to message you for the affiliate link. Alternatively, include your link in your bio. Surely, you can conceive of better workarounds than those two. 

Raise Funds on Patreon

Many influencers have succeeded from creating original entertainment content. Baby Ariel is an example, who boasts 9.5 million followers on Instagram and 31.3 million on TikTok at the time of writing. According to Marketing Hub’s TikTok Money Calculator, Baby Ariel can earn between $18,297 to $30,496 per post. 

Create entertaining content and request funding from fans on Patreon. Many content creators use that platform, including people’s favorite YouTube guy group, The Try Guys. On Patreon you can also create membership subscriptions, offering exclusive content to fans. 

Do Your Own Shoots

Because brands likely won’t be calling you in to the studio for photoshoots, you’ll have to create your own shoots at home. Many influencers have been doing this for years, using their space, decor, and props as backdrops. Although you can solicit the help of your spouse, roommate, or family member, you can also use a handy tripod to take your photos. Set your camera to “timer” or purchase a remote control shutter release.

It is also recommended that you purchase a lighting kit if natural lighting is unavailable, which is often the case indoors. 

Sell E-products

E-products, or digital products, are easy to create and easy to sell. They can be e-books, guides, reports, studies, organizational templates, or lookbooks. You can create, produce, market, and sell these products online, across the globe, without the hassle of shipping and handling. For example, you can create a lookbook using your own photos in InDesign. If you don’t have experience with Photoshop or InDesign, you can hire a designer on Upwork or Fiverr. 

Start a Podcast

Creating a Podcast has dual benefits. Not only will you be marketing your personal brand, but you will also be making money from each episode. Charge subscribers a small fee to download and listen. 

Create a podcast based on your expertise. Julie Solomon, a digital marketer and PR professional, focuses mainly on helping influencers hone their craft. Focus your podcast on a niche or topic you know well. If you’re experienced in fashion, talk about fashion. If in health and wellness, give tips on how to live a healthier lifestyle. 

Of course, many podcasts feature guests. However, social distancing is one of the greatest weapons against the spread of COVID-19. Instead of bringing guests into your home, schedule video calls. 

Accept Sponsored Blog Posts

Many travel influencers keep a blog. If you also have an active blog with a high-ranking domain, accept sponsored guest posts. Marketers often reach out to bloggers whose platforms they deem beneficial to their SEO efforts. These marketers will pay you a fee to create an original article for your website, with a link to their own.

However, keep your sponsored blogs to an appropriate amount. Your blog should have a healthy mix of non-sponsored and sponsored content. Otherwise, your readers may catch on and lose trust in your brand. 

The COVID-19 outbreak has upended the lives of many, and the influencer business is only one among several industries affected by the pandemic. With people staying home, consuming more online content, now is the best time to redirect your efforts to digital.

By Anne Felicias

The post How to Make Money as an Influencer Despite COVID-19 Disruptions appeared first on AdvertiseMint.

How to Work Remotely During the COVID-19 Pandemic

MAR. 24, 2020

Luke Peters / Unsplash

The COVID-19 pandemic has made it a requirement for many workers to leave the office indefinitely and work remotely. If you’ve never worked from home before or you’ve only spent the rare sick day or blizzard working from home, switching to full-time remote work is a considerable change. By following best practices, you can continue to perform your job, contribute to your company, and connect with your team.

Commit to the Initiatives Required for Remote Work

When the entire team works remotely, new and different protocols are put in place. Everyone has to understand the protocols, how to enact them and what’s expected of them. Initiatives may include

A communication tool that shows each person’s availability and status, like SlackQuick morning check-ins with the boss to let him or her know you’re presentRegularly scheduled team calls through a video service like ZoomShared calendars or project workflows using a tool like AsanaTime tracking via a tool like Toggl that lets employers see how long you’ve spent on different tasks

When employees have to use a new tool, training may be required. Also, there should be guidance on expectations for each tool. For example, how available should the team be on Slack? Should the status be “away” when doing deep work on a project? 

Focus As Though You’re at the Office



Austin Distel / Unsplash

Being at home means you’re surrounded by distractions and household responsibilities all day long. You still have to stick to a work schedule, though, which requires a lot of discipline. Keep your routine the same as when you worked in an office and make sure you have a dedicated workspace free of distractions. Get up, shower, and get ready round the time you normally do. Get coffee before starting your day — stick to the rituals you have before work.

Also, if you have to “go to work” before making the bed and washing the dishes, then do it — you wouldn’t show up late to the office, so you can’t show up late to your at-home worspace, either. The best option is to set up a spare room as an office where you can concentrate during work mode and leave behind during off hours.

Make Your Office Conducive to Productivity

Squeezing your workspace into a corner of the basement isn’t a good idea, just like working in a tiny office with poor lighting wouldn’t be healthy in the workplace. Your home office has to support your focus, mood, and productivity. Here are a few tips to get the basics right:

Your desk and chair should be at the right height to prevent eye and back strain.Create a space that’s well lit with natural lighting if possible. You can also purchase a lamp that mimics natural light.If you have a window with a beautiful view, that’s great, but if not, put a couple of motivational or joyful images within your line of sight.You should be able to charge your electronics as you’re using them. Otherwise, you’ll have to take a break from work every time your laptop battery runs out.Replicate the setup you have at work, such as dual monitors, cold water always within reach, a fan to drown out noise. Whatever makes you feel comfortable at work will also help you work from home.

Even if you’re limited when it comes to where you can set up office space, it has to be supportive of work — if the area is depressing or uncomfortable, you won’t get enough done.

Practice Professional Video Meeting Etiquette



Hutomo Abrianto / Unsplash

Holding a meeting via video is different from having in-person meetings. You look right into the camera the entire time, and everyone else can see and hear you and your surroundings for the duration of the meeting. Since you’re home, a lot is going on that doesn’t happen at the office: Dogs are barking, children are laughing, an Amazon delivery is being dropped off. Here’s how to cut down the noise:

Make sure the setting is quiet. Shut the door, close the windows, and tell whomever you live with to please keep it down for the next hour.Your backdrop should be neutral and professional instead of busy and distracting. Don’t set up in your child’s room with stuffed animals in the background. Don’t set up in front of the hallway either, where people may be coming in and out.Silence your phone to prevent phone calls and notifications from interrupting your meeting. Mute your microphone when you’re not speaking to prevent background noise from disrupting your call.Wear headphones: You will hear everyone better, and your colleagues will hear you more clearly, too.Don’t look in a million places, shift in your seat or fidget too often during the meeting.

Also, managers should reconsider holding video meetings first thing in the morning, especially on Mondays. Even if that’s the norm at work, assume that some people are going to adopt a more flexible routine when working from home. While they may be focused and ready to work, they may not be 100% presentable at 8:30 a.m. 

Final Thoughts



Neonbrand / Unsplash

Even if you’ve never worked from home, remote work is not a new concept. There are a lot of people who have been working remotely for years, and they can offer all sorts of insight, tips, and tricks. If you struggle with a particular aspect of working from home, chances are people faced with the same struggle have found a solution you can apply. Having to unexpectedly work from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic means everyone will experience a learning curve. Assess what isn’t working well, discuss it with your employer or team, and then try a new tactic.

By Lindsay Pietroluongo

The post How to Work Remotely During the COVID-19 Pandemic appeared first on AdvertiseMint.

How to Protect Yourself from COVID-19 at Work

MAR. 23, 2020

Damir Kopezhanov / Unsplash

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), avoiding exposure to COVID-19 is the best way to protect yourself from the virus. This may mean practicing social distancing or self-quarantine, avoiding crowded areas, or working from home.  

Of course, not everyone has the luxury of doing remote work. Unlike Facebook’s content reviewers who were sent home because of the pandemic, some people are required to be on site, including health care professionals, retail clerks, and restaurant employees.

You can protect yourself from COVID-19 at work. To understand these methods, you must first understand how COVID-19 spreads. 

According to the CDC, COVID-19 mainly spreads from person to person. You can catch the virus if you’re in close contact with people who are less than six feet away. You can also catch it through respiratory droplets produced from coughing or sneezing. If someone coughs or sneezes in your direction, those respiratory droplets may land in your mouth or nose or inhaled into your lungs. 

The CDC explains it well in this one-minute video:

How to Protect Yourself from COVID-19

Again, your best chance of protection is to stay at home. However, if you’re required to work on site, follow these best practices to protect yourself from COVID-19.

Avoid the Elevator

Because the CDC advises you to stay six feet away from people, you must avoid crowded public areas, including the restaurant where you grab lunch with your colleagues, the cafe where you buy your afternoon coffee, the subway that takes you to work, and the elevator, where strangers are packed like sardines. This may be difficult to do if you work on the 20th floor of your office building. If you can handle the walk, take the stairs. Not only will you avoid close contact with strangers, but you will also get your daily exercise. Remember: Exercise strengthens your immune system. 

Turn All Meetings Virtual

Most meetings can be done virtually. If you can avoid contact with a client or business partner, take that chance. You will be protecting both of your health. 

When meeting virtually, make sure to choose reliable video-calling software. Many companies use Zoom for conference calls because of its convenient features, including the ability to add virtual backgrounds and the ability to create group calls. You can learn how to use Zoom in just 20 minutes using Dusty Porter’s tutorial:

Also, check the strength of your WiFi network. No one wants to watch you buffer and freeze throughout the meeting. 

Don’t Shake Hands

Although the person whose hand you shook looks perfectly healthy, that person may still carry the virus unbeknownst to her. According to the CDC, people who carry the virus don’t display symptoms until after 2 to 14 days. To protect yourself, avoid physical contact, including handshakes. This may be difficult to do in the United States, where professionalism dictates we shake the hands of our colleagues or business associates. However, there are alternatives. Some have resorted to touching elbows or ankles. Some even prefer the polite smile and wave. Some are lobbying for the resurrection of the 18th century bow and curtsey. 

via GIPHY

Ditch the handshake. At a time like this, decorum can take a back seat. 

Scrub Under Your Fingernails

Washing your hands may be important, but to protect yourself from COVID-19, wash your hands thoroughly with soap for at least 20 seconds while scrubbing the back of your hand and under your fingernails. The CDC explains why this is important:

Remember what your mother taught you as a child: Wash before eating. But take it a step further. The CDC recommends washing after being in a public place, blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If you cough, sneeze, or blow your nose into a tissue, immediately throw it away after use. 

Hand sanitizers are not replacements to soap and water. Wash your hands if you can. If a hand-washing station is not available, then use hand sanitizers that contain 60% alcohol. Make sure to cover all surface areas. Rub your hands together until dry. 

Stop Touching Your Face

Scientists have marveled at this behavior. Despite their efforts, people seem unable to keep their hands away from their faces, whether that’s rubbing their eyes, resting their chins on their open palms, or running the back of their hands across their noses.

To protect yourself from COVID-19, keep your hands away from your face. If you shook hands with a person carrying the virus and rubbed your eye afterward, you can catch COVID-19. 

According to some health experts, touching your face is a technique used to soothe when you’re distressed. If you’re feeling stressed, keep your hand busy with a stress ball or fidget spinner. You can also wear a bandana as a barrier between your face and hand. Don’t use a face mask unless you’re sick or caring for the sick. 

How to Protect Others from COVID-19

The fight against COVID-19 requires community effort. You must protect yourself to protect others. You must protect others to protect the community. There are several ways you can protect your neighbors from COVID-19. 

Don’t Wear Face Masks

If you are well and healthy, don’t wear a face mask—there is no need. In fact, it causes more problems for the community. Because face masks are in low supply, you must reserve this precious resource for the sick and the people caring for them. If our doctors and nurses get ill, hospitals will become overwhelmed, resulting in fewer patients receiving the care they need. Remember, the fight against the virus requires community effort. Protect your healthcare professionals to protect the community and yourself.

If you’re ill, only then can you wear a face mask. Even more important, stay at home and regularly disinfect the surfaces you touch. 

Stay Home 



Gaelle Marcel / Unsplash

Stay home, especially if you’re feeling unwell. Encourage others to stay home if they feel ill, even if that illness is a minor cold. According to the CDC, Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. If you feel ill, call your doctor—don’t go to the hospital, where health care professionals may be experiencing an influx of patients sick with the virus. Call first and follow the advice of your doctor. Don’t return to work until your temperature is below 100.4 degrees for at least 24 hours.

If you have difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, persistent pain or pressure in chest, bluish lips or face, or difficulty getting out of bed, seek medical attention. 

Avoid Items from the Office Kitchen

Many workplaces include a kitchen where employees share utensils, plates, and mugs. Ditch those provisions and bring your own. The CDC advises against sharing personal items, including drinks, food, utensils, and towels. Bring your customized coffee mug to the office, and leave it out of the kitchen to prevent colleagues from using it. Bring your own plates and silverware and wash them at home. 

Disinfect Your Desk

The CDC also recommends disinfecting surfaces that you frequently touch, including tables, doorknobs, and keyboards. Disinfect your desk and the items that you frequently use. In doing so, you’re destroying the virus living on those surfaces. 

With people panic-buying all of the hand sanitizers and Clorox wipes, grocery stores and online merchants are in low supply. As as an alternative, you can concoct a bleach solution, containing five tablespoons of bleach per gallon of water or four teaspoons of bleach per quart of water, says the CDC. Make sure to ventilate the room when disinfecting. You can also disinfect with solutions containing 70% alcohol.

Cover Your Mouth When Coughing or Sneezing



Brittany Colette / Unsplash

This may be common sense to most people, but you’d be surprised by the number of individuals who don’t cover their mouths when they cough or sneeze. To protect others from COVID-19, sneeze or cough into your bent elbow. Absolutely don’t cough into your hand. You can easily transmit the virus to the person you shake hands with or touch. If not on your elbow, sneeze or cough into a tissue, which you must throw away immediately. For extra precaution, wash your hands afterward. 

Not all are informed of the ways they can protect themselves and others from COVID-19. At the office, hang up posters with instructions on how to prevent the spread of this virus. Refer to the CDC for reliable and accurate information.

By Anne Felicitas

The post How to Protect Yourself from COVID-19 at Work appeared first on AdvertiseMint.

Delays in Facebook Ad Review Due to COVID-19

MAR. 19, 2020

Macau Photo Agency / Unsplash

Delays in ad review are nothing new. However, if you’re experiencing longer delays than usual, it might be because of COVID-19.

With the virus spreading within communities, the world seems to have come to a standstill. People are staying in, practicing social distancing and self-quarantine. Businesses are closing down or reducing hours. Event companies are canceling gatherings. Employees are ordered to work from home.

Facebook, too, is ordering employees to stay at home, including all contract workers who review organic content and ads. This announcement was posted on the social media company’s blog post:

As we announced on Monday, we’re working with our partners to send home all contract workers who perform content review, until further notice. Since this includes people who review ads and monetized content, we wanted to share more about what this means for advertisers, publishers, and creators that use our tools.”

Because Facebook relies on both human reviewers and technology to screen through ads and posts, sending contract workers home impacts the efficiency of the ad approval process. According to Facebook, this will result in 

Delayed review for ads and commerce listingsAn increase in ads being incorrectly disapprovedDelayed or reduced appeals Limited availability of Facebook in-stream adsLower Facebook in-stream ad delivery

A message on Ads Manager also warns advertisers of delays.

The message reads:

Due to coronavirus (COVID-19), ad reviews are taking longer than usual. Ad delivery may also be delayed. Our Help Center has the most up-to-date information including best practices.”

In an effort to help those who have been affected by COVID-19, Facebook is donating $100 million to small businesses in cash and ad credit. The initiative, called Facebook Small Business Program, is available to more than 30 countries where the social media company operates and 30,000 small businesses. Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg announced the program on her Facebook post. 

With COVID-19 declared as a national emergency by the World Health Organization back in January, nations across the globe have taken extra precaution, including the United States. Governors across the US have mandated establishments—restaurants, bars, event venues—to close down their doors. Some cities are even in lockdown, including San Francisco and New York. 

By Anne Felicitas

The post Delays in Facebook Ad Review Due to COVID-19 appeared first on AdvertiseMint.

Facebook Creates $100 Million Grant for Businesses Affected by COVID-19

MAR. 19, 2020

Alev Takil / Unsplash

COVID-19 has upended the lives of many, both in the United States and internationally. As the virus spreads rapidly among communities, people have been advised to stay at home and avoid social interaction.

This, as a result, has affected businesses in several industries: restaurants are closing temporarily while public events have been cancelled or postponed. With much of the country self-quarantining, many small businesses suffer from the lack of foot traffic. 

Earlier this week, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg announced in a Facebook post that the social media company is investing $100 million in an initiative called Facebook Small Business Grants Program. 

We’ve listened to small businesses to understand how we can best help them. We’ve heard loud and clear that financial support could enable them to keep the lights on and pay people who can’t come to work. That’s why today I’m announcing that Facebook is investing $100 million to help 30,000 small businesses in over 30 countries where our employees live and work.”

According to Sandberg, the program will allocate financial support and ad credits to 30,000 small businesses across the globe. The more than 30 countries where Facebook operates are eligible. 

Interested business owners can visit the program’s website for more information. Although the program is not yet accepting applications, anyone can sign up to receive updates.

According to the website, the program’s main goal is to provide aid to businesses affected by COVID-19:

We know that your business may be experiencing disruptions resulting from the global outbreak of COVID-19. We’ve heard that a little financial support can go a long way, so we are offering $100M in cash grants and ad credits to help during this challenging time.”

Facebook will share more details about the program as they become available.

By Anne Felicitas

The post Facebook Creates $100 Million Grant for Businesses Affected by COVID-19 appeared first on AdvertiseMint.

A Beginner’s Guide to Snapchat Marketing

MAR. 16, 2020

Thought Catalog / Unsplash

Brands that target young consumers, specifically teens and young adults, should consider adding Snapchat to their marketing plans. Snapchat’s core audience is made up of millennials (born between 1980 and 1994) and generation Zs (born between 1995 and 2015). Ninety percent of people between the ages of 13 and 24 use Snapchat, and 75% are between 13 and 34. 

By the end of 2019, Snapchat’s daily active users reached 218 million. According to a study from Snapchat and Nielsen, Snapchat advertising is seven times more efficient than TV at reaching a brand’s audience. 

There are many different ways companies can target audiences using Snapchat marketing and ads. For example, brands should consider engaging audiences during live events. Snapchat found that more than 60% of users created Snaps during an NCAA March Madness game and that the same percentage looked at game-related Snaps.

Here’s what you need to know to get started with Snapchat marketing.

How Do You Get Your Business on Snapchat?

Getting your business up and running on Snapchat is easy. First, you’ll create a business Snapchat account. This requires some extra information that you don’t need for a regular account, such as your business name, location, and currency. You’ll be able to create ad campaigns with a business account, too. This video by Snapchat for Business walks you through the process of creating an account.

What Are the Different Types of Ads on Snapchat?

You’re in control of Snapchat ads, which means you can run an ad with a budget of any size. You’ll set your budget, including daily spend and lifetime limits. Snapchat has several ad options to choose from, including

AR Lenses: Create a unique and interactive experience with an AR lens.Commercials: Create a six-second video, which users can’t skip.Filters: Create a branded filter that users can place on their photos.Collection Ads: Show off several of your products and let users tap to shop and buy. Collection Ads are mixed with Snaps so users come upon them as they browse.Snap Ads: Send Snapchat users to your app, website, or video. Snap Ads are mixed in with users’ Snaps.Story Ads: Sponsor a tile on the Discover page, where users go to see what’s new.

Here’s an example of how Sour Patch Kids used an AR lens to promote its product:

Sour Patch Kids / Twitter

Here’s a custom filter that Starbucks created, which users can add to their Snap:

Starbucks / Snapchat

Although you can’t sell directly through Snapchat, Collection Ads are the best option for e-commerce brands and retailers. You can add four different products to an ad, along with links to product-detail pages. 

New Ways to Enhance Your Snapchat Ads

Here are a few more ad options that have been recently added:

Custom Audiences for Mobile Apps: Create a re-engagement campaign or lookalike audience based on actions taken in your app.Swipe to Call or Text: Single image and video ads can include a call or text attachment that lets users swipe to instantly get in touch with you.Vertical Videos: Snapchat recently added the option to convert videos to a vertical format. If you have a horizontal video, you can easily change it to a vertical format to meet Snapchat’s requirements and use the video in an ad.

If you want to see some of Snapchat’s ads in action, check out Snapchat for Business’s one-minute overview:

3 Snapchat Marketing Strategies

How do you appeal to Snapchat’s demographic and give your brand a boost at the same time? Here are three Snapchat marketing strategies to consider.

Offer Coupon Codes

Savvy brands know that one of the best ways to land new leads and customers is to give something away, like a freebie or discount. On Snapchat, though, users are playful, and they want to interact with others (brands included) in a fun way. 

Instead of exchanging a coupon code for an email address, think outside the box. For example, offer coupon codes to people who send Snaps of themselves using your product. You’ll get user-generated content to use on your own account (with permission), and they’ll get a discount on their next purchase. Plus, you can track coupon-code usage to determine the effectiveness of the campaign.

Create Hype

If your brand has something exciting it’s about to reveal, use Snapchat to create hype and build anticipation. In the days and weeks leading up to the launch, release short videos that tease the reveal.

You can do the same if you’re hosting an event in the near future. Use Snapchat to show how you’re preparing for the event — what the setup looks like, how you’re choosing your outfit, what you eat the morning of, etc.

Here’s an example of creating hype: the NBA using Snapchat to build anticipation for the Clippers vs. Lakers game.

NBA / Snapchat


Connect with an Influencer

Snapchat attracts a specific audience of millennials and gen Zs, which the platform’s influencers also target. By partnering with Snapchat influencers, you can reach your core demographic in a deeper way. On Snapchat, an even exchange is best — the influencer you partner with will consider you an influencer, too, so create a campaign where you both share each other’s content.

In the Teen Vogue First series, celebrity influencers talk about their first crushes, kisses, and heartbreaks. In this one, Nina Dobrev, star of the Vampire Diaries series, discusses her first boyfriend:

Teen Vogue / Snapchat


Final Thoughts

Snapchat caters to a specific audience of teens and young adults under 40. Even if a majority of your audience doesn’t fall into those age groups, you can still add Snapchat to your marketing strategy. Off-the-cuff Snaps work well on the platform, and there’s no need to create a perfectly produced video to post. Combined with ad options, you can reach your audience on Snapchat and use other platforms to cater to the rest.

By Lindsay Pietroluongo

The post A Beginner’s Guide to Snapchat Marketing appeared first on AdvertiseMint.

How to Make Money on TikTok

MAR. 12, 2020

via GIPHY

People are making money on TikTok, some are even landing record deals—and you want a slice of that pie. 

If regular TikTok teens can find fame on the video-sharing app, so could you. You’re likely wondering, How much do TikTok earners make, exactly? That’s a valid question, and I’m glad you asked. You want to know whether the amount you make is worth the effort, after all. Let’s take a look at how much people make on TikTok.

How Much TikTok Earners Make

TikTok influencers are perhaps the people who receive the most monetary benefit on the platform. They have a large following, which attracts partnerships with brands. Using Influence Marketing Hub’s TikTok Money Calculator, you can find how much each TikTok user makes from brand partnerships. The calculator provides an estimate based on users’ number of followers and engagement.

If you’re blessed with 30 million followers, you can earn between $18,000 to $30,000 per post. That’s a pretty sweet deal. An influencer like Baby Ariel could make that much. 

If you have one million followers, you can earn between $700 to $1,000 per post. Not as large an amount, but still very decent. 

If you have 200,000 followers, you can earn $100 to $200 per post. 

If you have 2,000 followers, you can make $5 to $9 per post. Some brands may even offer free products as compensation. 

Keep in mind, the estimate is based on follower and engagement numbers. Compensation is usually agreed upon with a brand, before moving forward with your partnership. 

Of course, you may not have the following needed for sponsorship. Alternatively, you can earn money through virtual gifts on TikTok, which you can cash in for real money. For this option, the maximum you can withdraw per day is $1,000. Still not a bad sum. 

The 2 Ways to Make Money on TikTok

Now that you know you can make money on TikTok, it’s time to learn the different ways of profiting off the platform. 

Earn TikTok Virtual Items from Live Videos

Earlier I mentioned one method of earning money on TikTok: cashing in virtual gifts. You can only earn virtual gifts by broadcasting a live video, a capability available only to those with 1,000 followers. If users are particularly pleased with your video, they may send gifts as tips. Each gift is worth a certain number of coins. 

Panda: 5 coins

Italian Hand: 5 coins

Love Bang: 25 coins

Sun Cream: 50 coins

Rainbow Puke: 100 coins

Concert: 500 coins

I’m Very Rich: 1,000 coins

Drama Queen: 5,000 coins

Users have to purchase these coins with real money. They then use these coins to purchase gifts to give to other TikTok users. 

The gifts you receive can be converted into diamonds, which you can cash in. Diamonds are worth 50% the value of coins: one-hundred coins equal 50 diamonds; 50 coins equal 25 diamonds. Each diamond is worth $0.5. If you have 100 diamonds, you can cash in for $50. However, TikTok also retains 50% of what you earn, so if you earned $50 worth of diamonds, you only keep $25. 

You can withdraw your money only once you’ve reached $100, and you can’t withdraw more than $1,000 a day. You also need a verified Paypal account, to which TikTok will process the payment within 15 days.

Calculating the value of coins to diamonds to cash can be quite confusing. YouTuber Davison of Davison Video explains it well:

Collaborate with Brands as an Influencer

You can also make money on TikTok by becoming an influencer. Don’t worry, you don’t need one million followers to score brand partnerships. There are four influencer types that you can fall into.

If you have more than one million followers, you could become a mega influencer. Mega influencers are usually celebrities who use their social media presence to seal deals with major brands. Kim Kardashian and Kylie Jenner are examples. Baby Ariel is also considered a mega TikTok influencer for having 30.5 million followers to date.

@babyariel / TikTok

If you have 40,000 to 1 million followers, you could become a macro influencer, like @iamjustinvibes.

@iamjustinvibes / TikTok

If you have 1,000 to 40,000 followers, you could be a micro influencer, like @xthuyle. 

@xthuyle / TikTok

If you have less than 1,000 followers, you could be a nano influencer, like @itsmeveraa.

@itsmeveraa / TikTok

As previously mentioned, influencers, depending on their following and engagement numbers, can earn thousands of dollars per post. If your number of followers aren’t at the influencer levels…well, you better start growing it now.

By Anne Felicitas

The post How to Make Money on TikTok appeared first on AdvertiseMint.

How to Get Authorized to Run Political Ads on Facebook, Plus Tips

MAR. 10, 2020

Brandon Mowinkel / Unsplash

One of the best ways to maximize your exposure is to run political ads on Facebook. With billions of users around the world, Facebook is a place where politicians speak to their constituents. If you plan to run political ads, you will need to get authorization first.

Facebook advertising is filled with rules. With many politicians entering the social platform, the social media company must ensure that everyone goes through the authorization process. Here’s how you get authorized to run political ads on Facebook. 

Getting Authorization to Run Facebook Political Ads

You have to prove that you are who you say you are. To preserve the integrity of U.S. elections and to prevent the 2016 election interference from happening again, Facebook wants to ensure that the people running political ads are the candidates themselves.

Step 1: Submit Information for Verification

Page admins, as well as ad account admins, will be required to submit a copy of at least one government-issued form of ID to Facebook for verification. They must also disclose a residential mailing address.

Step 2: Enter the Unique Access Code

Facebook will mail a unique code to the residential mailing address that you provided. Once received, you will enter the code on Facebook.

Step 3: Disclose Financial Details

You will need to provide details about the person responsible for funding the ads, whether the funds are coming from a political party or whether it is self-funded. This information helps the general public understand how the campaign is receiving money. 

If you need more help with getting authorization, check out Strategic Marketing Group’s 8-minute tutorial:

A History of Facebook Political Ad Authorization

Facebook implemented its new authorization process back in May 2018. The company provided a timeline for US advertisers only, with plans to introduce the authorization process to other countries in the future.

The new authorization process prevents the misuse of Facebook for political purposes during elections. Since the public discovered that Russian troll accounts distributed politically divisive ads during the 2016 US presidential election, Facebook has been revealing other ways its platform has been misused for political purposes, such as in the Cambridge Analytica scandal. In response, Facebook has been announcing new ways it plans to crack down on misuse and improve transparency across pages and ads.

The first step of the authorization process took off on May 7, 2018, when Facebook required authorized advertisers to label their ads. This meant all ads included a “This is a political ad” label, which advertisers must use to let users know their ad contains political content. Here’s a timeline of the changes in political advertising on Facebook.

May 22: Political Ads Archive Available to the Public

Political ad archives became available to the public on May 22. Ads in this archive contain a “paid for by” disclaimer.

May 22: Political Ads Must Have Labels

Advertisers must adhere to all of Facebook’s authorization requirements and include labels on political ads that clearly and transparently indicate that they are political ads.

May 22: Political Ad Labels Become Visible to the Public

If an ad that contains political content did not have the label, Facebook disapproved it and moved it to the archive.

May 22: Political Ads Become Publicly Visible in the Archive

Ads in this archive are searchable until seven years after creation, at which point they will be removed from the archive.

June 4: Facebook Continues to Review Active Ads

Facebook conducted an ongoing review to ensure that ads meet the new standards. If advertisers’ ads did not comply, they were expected to recreate them accordingly. Until the ads are changed to meet the new standards, they simply were disapproved and moved to the political ad archive.

Tips on Running Political Ad Campaigns on Facebook and Instagram

The number of users on social media has grown exponentially. As of October 2019, there were more than 2.4 billion users on Facebook and another 1 billion on Instagram. When you are promoting your political standing to a large number of individuals, it only makes sense to do so on Facebook and its sister platform, Instagram.

Step 1: Establish a Disclaimer

If you’re going to run an ad on Facebook that focuses on politics or social issues, you must create a disclaimer. Facebook will only approve disclaimers if they

Accurately represent the person responsible for the adDon’t include any profanityDon’t include URLs or acronymsDon’t wrongfully imply that the ad was funded by FacebookDon’t wrongfully imply that a foreign leader paid for the adDon’t duplicate the language Facebook provides about who the ad was paid for 

Facebook will need to approve your disclosure before you can run your ad. If Facebook rejects your disclaimer, you can refer to the advertising policies, make edits, and submit it for review again.

Step 2: Create Your Ad Based on the Competition

Facebook provides access to the Ad Library, where previously and currently active ads appear. When running your political ad campaign, you will want to remain competitive with your opponents. The Ad Library is searchable, allowing you to see the other politicians who are advertising on Facebook. You can view all active ads to see the amount spent, the number of impressions, and the age, gender, and location of individuals seeing the ad.

Facebook Ad Library


Step 3: Choose Ad Placement

You will want to choose your ad placement carefully. There are more options than ever, including feeds, in-stream videos, and Stories. The right column won’t provide disclosures, so you will want to stay away from placing ads there. Further, you can choose to run Sponsored Messages within Facebook Messenger once you have been approved for political ads.

Tips on Using Custom Audiences for Facebook Political Ads

As a politician, you now have more than one audience that you want to attract. It’s not just about Republicans versus Democrats. Some audiences will vary based on their beliefs, their geographic location, and their stance on particular issues. Thus, you will want to use the tools Facebook provides to customize your audiences.

Step 1: Establish the Criteria

Facebook allows you to define a broad or narrow audience, according to the follow criteria:

LocationDemographicsInterestsBehaviorConnection

These options ensure that you can build your audience based on who may have already liked one of your opponents in the political arena, who may have liked specific pages, and who may fit specific demographics.

Step 2: Monitor Analytics

Facebook provides you with the opportunity to see how many people are interacting with your ad. In the event that you’re not getting the reach that you desire, you can make changes to your campaign to improve performance.

Analyzing analytics reports on Ads Manager can be confusing. For more help, check out Oberlo’s tutorial:

Using Facebook to Enhance Your Message

You may have a number of messages that you want to launch throughout your political campaign. Facebook provides you with the ability to run as many concurrent ads as you desire. Each ad can target a different audience that you can customize. Further, you can monitor the performance of your ads and make necessary adjustments.

With the tools Facebook provides, you have the ability to reach a large number of individuals. If you want to run political ads on Facebook, you must first get authorization. Facebook can be one of the easiest ways to get your name in front of potential voters so that you don’t have to rely solely on televised debates and local meet-and-greets to share your take on issues.

By Chris Winters and Anna Hubbel

The post How to Get Authorized to Run Political Ads on Facebook, Plus Tips appeared first on AdvertiseMint.

You May Be Able to Post Facebook Stories to Instagram Soon

MAR. 9, 2020

Facebook is currently testing a feature that allows you to post your Stories to Instagram.

The test was uncovered by reverse software engineer Jane Manchun Wong, who has revealed hidden social media tests numerous times in the past. In the screenshot she shared to Twitter, the option to post to Instagram appears under the “Privacy” tab, located on the lower-left corner of the screen while creating Facebook Stories.

Facebook is working on cross-posting Stories to Instagram pic.twitter.com/uH2w3VVnSe

— Jane Manchun Wong (@wongmjane) March 9, 2020

This test has been confirmed by one of Facebook’s representatives, says TechCrunch, who first reported on the story.

Instagram currently has an option to post Stories to Facebook, but this is the first time a vice-versa feature has been tested. With the option to post Stories to both Facebook and Instagram, users can save time by ditching the extra steps of exiting out of the app and moving to another when cross-posting content.

It’s no secret that Facebook Stories isn’t as popular as Instagram Stories. While the latter feature seems to generate content in perpetuity, Facebook Stories is almost like a ghost town, with only a handful of users posting. This new feature is no doubt an attempt to increase use of Facebook Stories. 

Facebook is also likely hoping to draw more Instagram users to its platform. Despite its 2.4 billion monthly active users, the social media platform isn’t as popular as it used to be during the height of its existence, back in the middle 2000s. With Instagram now receiving all of the attention, Facebook is getting desperate—and it shows. 

When you visit your Facebook account, you will notice that your notifications now include alerts about people’s activities, whether that’s posting a new image or publishing a new post. This small change seems like a way to encourage users to engage with content on Facebook’s platform. 

This test could increase efficiency in cross-posting content and the use of Facebook Stories. But do users care enough about Facebook Stories to use this new feature? 

By Anne Felicitas

The post You May Be Able to Post Facebook Stories to Instagram Soon appeared first on AdvertiseMint.