Picking up from where we left off last week, we’ll be shining a spotlight on what’s trending across social media and the recent updates from the biggest platforms.
❤️ ’em or 😠 ’em, Emojis today are embedded in all modes of communication and they have taken over as the de facto language in the world of social media, with over 90% of the world’s 3.2 billion Internet users regularly sending them to each other, so much so that in 2015, Oxford Dictionaries, the world’s leading arbiter of English-language usage, declared 😂 as their word of the year!
The primary function of Emojis are not to replace traditional language but to fill in the emotional cues that are otherwise missing from typed conversations. It allows you to express emotions easily without having to type in how you feel or may react at that given time. Their popularity has been so immense that they’ve crossed over to the traditional side of things with the Roads and Transport Authority reportedly installing smart traffic signs near schools in Dubai that show a personalised Emoji based on your current speed.
Storytelling is key when it comes to engaging and shareable content
Content is surely King when it comes to social media, but content for content’s sake serves no value. Consumers today want to be spoken to naturally like they would with their friends and content needs to connect with them and not just be overtly promotional.
Storytelling is a fundamental human activity and we all love to hear and share stories. Great content is inherently shareable and engaging and tells a story, it’s not dull and lifeless and trying to sell something to consumers.
Instagram Stories get more immersive with Facebook’s Canvas Ad Format
Instagram’s popular stories are all set to get a lot more immersive with the creative Canvas ad format by Facebook. Advertisers can now show off their brand in full-screen with interactive images, videos, and links, right in their stories.
Officially announced on their blog, here’s Instagram’s take on it, “With the ability to utilize Facebook’s fast-loading full-screen Canvas format in Instagram Stories, marketers are able to use the creative versatility of Canvas to tell compelling brand and product stories. This seamless extension of the full-screen experience allows advertisers to capture the attention of customers with just a single ad.”
Say goodbye to annoying status updates with Facebook’s new ‘Snooze’ button
Annoyed at your acquaintance’s constant vacation updates? Had enough of your colleague’s cat pics? Facebook feels you and is reportedly testing a new Snooze feature allowing you to temporarily stop seeing updates from specific contacts.
For the latest developments in social, be sure to check #SocialSpeak every week!
