I had a lovely May thankfully, got a lot done this month, catching up with work and friends and generally feeling a lot better now the weather has been improving, I hope you have been good as well. As of this month I am no longer sending my social media round up to my email list, it just wasn't getting the opens that it used to and certainly not like other posts I was sending. That may change in the future but its the best thing to do for now.
Let's get started:
Earlier last month Meta announced they are updating and expanding their Ads on Reels, making it possible for more creators to earn money for their engaging reels. These changes impact public Facebook Pages (whether Classic or New Pages Experience) and also personal Facebook profiles switched to Professional Mode.
Summary of the news from Mari Smith:
"Ads on FB Reels Test Expansion: More creators have been invited to join the updated Facebook test, including many of the creators who previously participated in the Facebook Reels Play bonus program. (Well, at least that's good news, right?!)
Evolving Payout Model: We’re starting to test a new payout model that pays creators based on the performance of their public reels, not the earnings of ads on their reels. This means creators can focus on creating engaging content while we optimize the ad experience for advertisers and people. (Seems more fair, yes?)
Instagram Test: Instagram will begin to test Ads on Instagram Reels with a similar performance-based payout model among a small group of creators and advertisers in select markets. (I'm sure many folks are eager for this to roll out)."
Will your shop be closing? Meta announces some striking changes that may impact your business from August this year!
New features include new controls that help make the videos people see on Facebook more relevant to the individual viewer. You'll be able to customize what reels you want to see more or less of, so videos on your Feed and in Facebook Watch are more relevant to you. They've added Reels to the top of Facebook Watch to make it easier to find reels from our video destination on Facebook. You’ll now be able to scroll seamlessly between reels and longer videos when watching content from creators on Facebook.
You can get very valuable tips and guidelines for your ads here.
Announcements made by LinkedIn last month
I've been enjoying Canva for a number of years now and with the new inclusion of AI it's going to make content creation even easier! If you're fed up of handing this over to someone else and want to flex your creative muscles then check out all it can offer you now, with this new tool. Read the blog from Lifehacker.
In it's latest update Twitter has decided to add a new feature that will allow calls and encrypted messaging. In a shift from the norm, Twitter is now emulating Meta capabilities but with Elon at the helm I've no doubt that he see's the sense in doing this.
If you've been on the waitlist, you need wait no more! Bard AI launched last month and already has increased capability on it's competitors. With all the kinks being ironed out by the others, its heartening to see Bard is taking away the lessons and making use of them. I've not tried it yet so cannot comment fully as yet on it.
Google Business Profile has been the "discovery" platform for a number of years. However, being discovered is not the same as a working for and obtaining a lead. When I first read this blog through, I knew it it would very beneficial to share here and after just re-reading it again, I stand by that!
As I'm sure you're aware that Reels are making a more pronounced effort to get in front of people, well unsurprisingly, so is YouTube. Their own "shorts" are having a bit of an epiphany and they are working in three things:
1) to include AI into their video reach campaigns.
2) to introduce the YouTube Select Run of Shorts lineup. This means your ad will show up next to trending and popular videos in a feed.
3) to continuously share Shorts and long-form videos that will fuel engagement and discovery of each other and help viewers are moving seamlessly between the two.
Last year Google announced that Universal Analytics (UA) was being sunsetted on the 1st of July 2023. This means you need to move over to Google Analytics 4 (GA4) as soon as possible to allow data to be collected in the interim months. They can work in tandem in the intervening period, while you get more familiar with the new process. It does look quite different and needs to be navigated in a whole new way. Learn more about the changes in this blog from Hubspot.
If you're looking for a more one on one style of training to create a strategy for your social media and overall digital marketing and would like to know how to do this by yourself for your own business or for the company you work for, then you maybe interested in doing this training that I offer.
I help you create it at a pace you set, filling in the gaps in your knowledge along the way. You'll be given work to do between the sessions that you can manage and that won't be overly disruptive to your everyday workload.
This will give you accountability and you can contact me anytime during the training if you have any questions that crop up between sessions.
Are you on track for your goals and targets so far? If not, then maybe you should contact me. I have set aside some regular time slots to offer this training and it can run either in 1 month, 6 weeks or even 12 weeks if you prefer! I can give you the dates to fit around both our schedules from day one so you know this in advance. If you would like to learn more about what this covers, then visit this page.
This course has been currently accepted by 5 Local Enterprise Office Areas as suitable for the Trading Online Voucher but you can also get this training directly. Check out all the lovely testimonials I have received regarding this course.
.png)
From January 2023 I started running a monthly subscription of 30 minute per week Business Strategy Pods. These pods are one on one and are strategy and accountability weekly sessions that are pre booked by you at times that work around your own schedule.
You will first complete a pre qualifying form so I know where you're starting from and we shall then speak weekly and have a private 1:1 Facebook Group that keeps you pushing forward and getting stuff done.
How they work:
Podcast 174 - Retargeting Campaigns with ben Lund
Podcast 175 - Stop Giving Your Time Away for Free
Podcast 176 - Marketing your discount codes and special offers
Podcast 177 - PPC with Meriem Nacer
Podcast 178 - What's new in Social Media?
Esther and I are delighted to announce that we have now opened a Etsy Store and you can pick up merchandise and useful downloads that will help you learn and better understand your marketing!
Visit the shop today and every month for new downloads!
I hope you find this months round up useful and look forward to bringing you more updates in a few weeks time. If you need anything in the meantime, don't hesitate to contact me.
Working with clients Nationwide from base in Mullingar.
