Top 10 August 2021 Social Media Updates
The month of August was jam-packed with social media updates. In continuation of our ongoing series, we’re highlighting changes that will have the most impact on your B2B or consumer-facing brand.
The average adult engages with around 6 social media platforms on a regular basis. Think about where your audience is spending their time online — is your brand active enough on those platforms? Are you staying up-to-date and taking advantage of new features? Keep these questions in mind when approaching any changes to your digital strategy.
The Latest Changes
Here’s what we think should be on your radar this fall. Need help staying on top of your social media accounts? Let’s talk about how Smirk can help.
- In an effort to boost Story interactions, Instagram is removing “swipe-up” links and replacing them with Link Stickers
- Users can now search for audio specifically in the Search tab
- Brands can promote their product listings on the Shop tab within the app
- The platform rolled out a few major design and layout changes, including a new branded font, high-contast colors, and new sign-in options via Apple and Google ID
- Twitter Support announced several new DM updates, including new reaction and navigation shortcuts
TikTok
- TikTok rolls out new platform and ad expansions with TikTok Stories, longer video options and a ‘Promote’ ad option
- Personal accounts with service listings enabled now have the ability to receive reviews and ratings
YouTube
- YouTube Studio continues rolling out updates, including Dark Mode, a new “Mentions” tab and real-time insights accessible from mobile
- The new ‘Hashtag Autocomplete Suggestions’ option will offer insights into hashtag usage and tailored recommendations based on search
- Reddit tests a new video feed similar to TikTok
Where Do You Stand?
Although we’ve highlighted several social media platforms, it’s important to remember that your brand doesn’t have to be equally active on all of them. Each one targets specific demographics with specific interests and, ultimately, serves a different purpose.
A successful digital presence requires you to think strategically about where your target audience spends their time and what content they’re looking for. What are you saying on social that resonates with your key prospects? What are you missing?
Our team can make strategic recommendations tailored to your brand and unique business goals through a comprehensive Digital Audit — they’re even delivered presentation-ready for key stakeholders. Schedule a call with Smirk to learn more about Digital Audits as a standalone service or to kick off an ongoing partnership.
