Staying up to date with trends and new releases in the social media and search engine marketing realm is a top priority at Wordy Girl Creative.
New features are often celebrated, but sometimes they’re a cause for pause. As Jeff Goldblum said in Jurassic Park, “[They] were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should.”
As Facebook continues its takeover, the company recently announced a $50 Million investment into the Metaverse. This was a timely announcement in our socially distanced culture. TikTok unleashed the Creator Marketplace, a spot for content creators to become influencers and brand ambassadors. Twitter began testing professional profiles in April. Does anyone really Tweet anymore? Meanwhile, I’m suddenly 30 and wondering why Gen Z dresses and poses the way they do on Instagram.
Here’s my deep dive into the ever-evolving social media landscape:
Facebook’s Metaverse Plans Unveiled
“Facebook will invest $50 million to help develop the so-called Metaverse more responsibly,” per a company blog post on September 27. The company has begun defining the vague term “Metaverse” as “a cross-device digital world where people can explore and communicate with others they’re not physically with.”
Picture Virtual Reality coffee dates with a Facebook friend you haven’t seen since college. The more I dive into the recent press release, the more I picture scenes from Black Mirror.
At first glance, this concept sounds like a lofty, unlikely goal on Zuckerberg’s end. But consider the technology currently in place. Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality are extremely accessible and affordable now. Tie this concept with the long-standing plethora of interactive video games. The same technology that allows players across the globe to connect, chat and fight zombies in virtual worlds can be applied to the social media realm. All it takes is time and money, and the social giant lacks neither.
From a business standpoint, will we be paying for Metaverse “locations” in 10 years? A virtual Davinci’s and Callahan’s? Time will tell.
I think I’ll sit this one out and keep hugging my friends in real life as long as I can.
TikTok Enters the Business Landscape
At the TikTok World event in September, the company shared new tools and concepts on how it plans to monetize its billion-plus audience.
The app’s Creator Marketplace connects brands with creators, unleashing opportunities for both businesses and the new generation of TikTok experts. This is one of the first opportunities to “apply” to be an influencer. Back in the days of Vine, we watched the funniest and coolest Vine creators get invited by companies to use products in their videos. Suddenly, the Modern
Influencer was born. Now, TikTok has created a robust virtual space to connect these savvy creators with the businesses that need their services most.
Personally, I do not offer TikTok services or use the platform. From a business standpoint, it’s exciting to see that a new generation of social media gurus can be found and hired easily within the app. Before you make this investment, ask your marketing team if your target audience is on TikTok.
Twitter Gets a New Professional Wardrobe
After purchasing Revue (my favorite newsletter software) last year, the News, Weather, Sports platform continues to step into the professional realm.
Twitter’s new feature allows businesses and bloggers to choose the About, Shop, and Newsletter modules. This allows them to label their profile and publish business ads.
The company also announced “future efforts around shopping,” perhaps implying they will join the Instagram and Facebook Shop world – allowing retailers to tag products on their page with online shops for a seamless browsing and buying experience.
Apply for a business profile at business.twitter.com.
Instagram Gets Chatty
Facebook purchased WhatsApp in 2014 for roughly $19 Billion, according to Forbes. The texting app seems to finally be growing in popularity.
When recently booking a reservation, I chatted with the hostess via WhatsApp to find the best available time. Talk about easy and efficient modern customer service!
Taking business use to the next level, Facebook/Instagram have been sending alerts, asking users to connect their WhatsApp accounts to their business pages. In September, Instagram announced a new WhatsApp button for professional accounts.
Why not use Instagram chat instead? I’m not sure, but I won’t turn down another avenue for connecting with customers. Try it out by adding a WhatsApp business number under your profile settings. You can even create ads with a WhatsApp call to action!
What new social media developments are you most excited about? We’d love to hear from you on Facebook or the blog.
Until next time.
Cheers,
Wordy Girl
