The Social Media Friday Four is back, and it’s time to go through what’s new in the social world!
As of this week, LinkedIn users now have access to two new features – Virtual Events and a polling tool. Instagram also introduced updates, increasing users’ comment management capabilities and introducing a new sticker for stories.
Let’s jump in ⬇️.
LinkedIn Introduces Virtual Events
Have you been using LinkedIn Events? Perhaps LinkedIn Live? Did you wish that somehow, some way, these two features could integrate more cohesively? Look no further, because LinkedIn’s new Virtual Events feature is about to make your wishes come true.
This new feature, introduced by LinkedIn last week, will help users to bridge the gap between LinkedIn Events and LinkedIn Live. The goal of this new platform is for users with LinkedIn Live capabilities to host and broadcast events all on LinkedIn. While it is not an entire integration of the Events and Live features, it will facilitate the use of both together.
The tool could prove to be highly useful, especially as many conferences and events move online. With the option to host private or public events, and the ability for both personal and company accounts to create events, LinkedIn Virtual Events has the ability to make life online just a little bit easier.
LinkedIn Rolls Out New Polling Feature
More on the LinkedIn front! The platform is taking further steps to encourage user engagement on their channel, with the introduction of a new polling feature. They’re a little late to the party with poll integration, but this will be an excellent new way to get feedback from your professional network.
The feature allows members to get quick and easy input from their connections, with the ability to run polls ranging from one-day up to two-weeks, with the option of including four answer choices. LinkedIn states that the feature will be rolled out gradually, both on the desktop and mobile versions of the platform, and users in the U.S. are already able to experiment with the new function.
While the feature can be highly useful, users should be cautioned: polls often require context. Polls can be posted within updates, which might make for a more contextualized and useful employment of the tool. As long as you keep this in mind, have some fun with the new feature and poll away!
Instagram Introduces Comment and Tagging Management Tools
Instagram is now giving users even more control over who will be able to engage with them on the platform, addressing some concerns surrounding negativity, while also allowing users to highlight positive interactions. This week, Instagram rolled out two new features: bulk comment management capabilities, as well as tag and mention controls.
The new comment filtration tool will enable users on the mobile app to delete up to 25 comments at a time. However, the feature hasn’t been extended to the desktop version of the app, and some speculate that it may be restricted to those who designate their profiles as business or creator accounts. Nevertheless, those who have access to the new tool will be able to set the tone for what types of conduct their account supports, and what kinds they do not.
The unveiling of this tool accompanied Instagram’s introduction of new tagging and mention controls for account posts and stories. Now, users can block other accounts from tagging them in posts or mentioning them in stories without blocking those accounts altogether. However, Instagram marketing expert Tyler McCall says businesses should try to remain as open and accessible as possible – meaning this tool may be less useful for those trying to significantly expand their audience.
Still, the first of these two new tools will prove useful in helping businesses establish a consistent, cohesive, and positive brand feel and dialogue on Instagram.
Instagram Debuts “Support Small Businesses” Sticker
Businesses on Instagram have even more reason to be excited this week! Instagram just created and made available a new “Support Small Businesses” sticker for stories. This joins a number of other stickers Instagram has created during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the “Stay Home” and “Thank You” stickers.
When posted in a story, the sticker features the three most recent pictures from the small business’s profile page. When a user clicks on the sticker, a mini-profile pop-up will appear with the option to visit the full company profile. The sticker makes it easy for users scrolling through stories to see which small businesses their friends or colleagues love, and seamlessly leads them to that business’s profile and boosting their brand exposure.
The sticker allows businesses to advocate for themselves on their stories, and also makes it easier for general users of the app to encourage support for businesses they love. In other words, this new feature provides a great opportunity for you to interact with your community and to also support local small businesses! Be sure to re-share the stories where you’re tagged alongside this sticker, and thank your client or follower for their mention of you.
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