Why Should You Try Out Those New Social Media Features?
Spin Creative • December 22, 2020
It seems like there’s a new social media feature emerging every day. For consumers, these changes are often exciting, but for marketers, it can feel like just one more thing to keep up with.
Although exploring and testing the ever-changing landscape of social media features takes time and energy, it’s often worth it for brands looking to bolster their social media presence. New features often come with a big promotional boost from the platform, leading to more viewers. And, if the feature is a good fit for your brand, it might provide an easy way to diversify your content marketing efforts even more.
Here’s a closer look at why brands should at least consider adopting these new features to their social media strategies.
Take advantage of the promotion boost
When social media platforms roll out new features, they want as many users to learn about and use them as possible. This usually means that they begin to promote content made with the new features more or in new ways, leading to higher engagement.
Take, for example, Instagram’s new Reels feature. Instagram Reels are 15-second video clips often set to music. After debuting Reels, users found that they were seeing Reels in their feeds more often and that their Reels content received more views and engagement. The platform has even begun rolling out a Reels navigation button, making it easier for users to explore Reels content specifically.
For brands, this kind of promotion can make a big impact on visibility and engagement. Early adopters of Reels or similar features had the potential to benefit immensely from the priority placement their content received (and all for free!).
New features offer new opportunities
New social media features are also exciting because they offer brands new avenues for content creation. Every time a new feature is added, marketers have new ways of creating and sharing content
that are different from what they’re currently using. With each feature you use, you expand your brand’s potential to be discovered by new and existing customers.
Savvy social media marketers will analyze the potential of these new features to find ways to share more valuable content. It’s possible that you’ll find a new type of content that can expand your reach and deepen your engagement with a particular audience segment. You might even find that these features make it easier to share content you’ve wanted to create but that didn’t make sense without a handy tool or easy promotion.
Make sure new features align with your goals
Not all social media features will be right for all brands. However, brands should at least take time to consider how a new feature might fit into their content strategy before deciding against it. If you don’t, you could be missing out on a huge opportunity to grow your social media presence.
When considering a new feature, pay attention to which features your customers are using or are most likely to use. In the case of Instagram Reels, the new feature is targeted to younger users. If you’re trying to appeal to older or business-minded users, it might not be the right choice for you.
Additionally, consider what types of content make sense for your brand. You could use Reels or another new feature to make short videos, but is the content really the right fit? Is the content you’re creating valuable, or are you creating it just to use the feature? If the new content doesn’t align with your goals or doesn’t produce good outcomes, your efforts are better placed elsewhere.
Staying on top of a social media strategy can be challenging. Working with a creative partner can help. Say hello
to Spin Creative to learn more!
About Us
Spin Creative is a video production company and creative agency helping marketers create winning video and creative strategies that engage, inspire and activate targeted audiences. Spin is headquartered in Seattle with offices in San Francisco and London, serving brands around the globe.
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