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2017-10-20
Marketing

These 8 new updates will help you get the best out of your social media

When it comes to social media, great news are always welcomed. Taking up the opportunity for improvement, platforms are constantly coming up with new tools and features to upgrade user experience.

Being creatures of habits, keeping up with the pace of every new change can seem rather consuming, but integrating new practices can save time, upgrade efficiency or inject a dose of fun in the process. Here is a round-up of our latest favourite new features to optimize your Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat usage.

1. Twitter expands character count.

The micro-blogging platform announced on their website a plan to expand the iconic 140 character counts to double up to 280. For now, the new feature is only available to a small random number of representative users before a widespread launch. In the same vein, numerical countdown for characters, currently showing up near the end will be replaced by a circle filling from 20 left. The new character count allows you in-depth replies with customers, brands or personal user, share multiple links, tweet in several languages or pack-up emojis in your tweets.

Swipe right for more pictures!
280 characters twitter

2. Instagram Poll

One of the most exciting updates coming our way, Instagram just introduce the Poll feature. You can now ask fellow users from their opinion through your Stories simply by adding Poll the sticker and follow up with the action in real time. For results, swipe up on your story see the results, the viewers and compile who voted for which option. It’s better to save up that information before it disappears after 24 hours! This is a great way to get direct feedback from your community by asking yes and no questions or probing their preferences.

Instagram polls

3. Snapchat’s link feature

Snapchat now allows users to include a website link in their Story. To do so, use the paperclip option before sending your story. To view to link, swipe up and the page will open in the app’s browser. Previously, the link feature was only available for ad formats and Discover content but it can now be used for personal usage. Instagram currently uses a similar feature, but only for business profile. Take advantage of this component to redirect to your new video from your channel, your new blog post, or any news you wish to share.

4. Instagram comment thread

Instagram now allows you to keep organized conversations with threaded comments instead of the previous chronological posts. Just like on Facebook, you can directly reply to users underneath their comments. You can now have a quick and efficient direct interaction on your posts.

5.Facebook redesign and adds new camera features

Recently, the Facebook app news feed introduced a few UX changes: the comment section has got a makeover to resemble chat bubbles, more colour contrast was introduced, and profile pictures are now displayed in a circle.

Among others handy updates, the camera unveiled a new GIF format functioning like Boomerang that you can share publicly or on Messenger. You can also stream directly from your camera instead of proceeding through the Live option on your News Feed.

6. Instagram Stories for Desktop

Instagram's very popular Stories feature was until now only available on mobile... Think again! Instagram just launched stories for desktop where you can visualize people's stories straight from your computer! Note that you cannot upload content on your stories from your desktop just yet.

7. Instagram Stories for Desktop

The galleries feature allows you to have more than one video or photo on a single post. Previously, albums had to use a square format, but they can now contain photos and videos of various formats of your choice in the same post. Show your best work using creative compositions, for example by creating diptyques or tryptiques inviting users to swipe and view more.

8. Monitor Instagram Engagement From Facebook

A Facebook page or profile can now receive notifications when a comment has been published on its Instagram profile. It is also possible to manage these comments straight from the Facebook interface and on your desktop!

As it goes,we are looking forward to assess the impact these new changes will have as they are being implemented. It is a great opportunity to analyze users and audience behaviour, usage and habits in order to optimize strategies.

About

Republik is a social impact creative agency. Its purpose is to give meaning to the growth of brands, through the Creation of Social Capital™. It is the first B-Corp certified agency in Quebec and was named Best for the World in the "Employee" category in 2019, in addition to being a signatory of the United Nations Global Compact and a member of the Global Compact Network of Canada.