14 Feb 14 Social Media Features We Love
By Bobbie Anne Williams, Marketing Assistant
In honor of the month of love, we wanted to highlight 14 social media features we LOVE and hope you will too after you check them out.
1. Native Scheduling
First up, native scheduling! Every social media company would prefer that you use the features they provide you instead of bringing in a third-party. That’s why platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter created scheduling features for you to use for free. No need to use a third-party application.
For Facebook and Instagram, we guided you through Creator Studio here. For Twitter, you can schedule your tweet in the same place you create them. For all scheduling, you’ll want to do this on a desktop.
2. LinkedIn Stories
LinkedIn might be late to the game, but they have recently introduced their own version of short form content that vanishes after 24 hours. In Facebook and Instagram, this is called a “story.” With simple options such as text and stickers, we love LinkedIn’s version because it is easy to use and receives great organic views. Get a preview of LinkedIn Stories here.
3. Instagram Reels
Are you creating content for Instagram Reels? We love the integration of Reels in the Instagram app! Reels is a competitive feature to the app TikTok which focuses on short video clips. One setback of this new feature is that the popular music options are not available to all business accounts. This can be frustrating for those who want to join in the fun of lip-synching which has made the feature so appealing. So here are a few alternative options that you can use without music. You can see our Reel here.
- Use original audio to share tips and tricks
- Tell a story through animation
- Add voiceover to a video. Great for showing a how-to demo such as creating a recipe or styling an outfit.
4. Instagram Story Polls
In our opinion, Instagram has the best stories feature. One fun go-to is the Polls sticker. You can use this as a way to engage your audience, let them in on your decision making, or see which products they like more than others. As with all stories, they are only available for 24 hours, so be sure to share the results of your poll before the story disappears.
5. Fleets
Twitter has joined other social media platforms in creating their own version of stories called Fleets. Fleets are unique because you can share your Fleet as a Tweet after posting. Fleets haven’t caught on as quickly as other platforms yet, which is good news for you. This allows you to be at the front of the line when creating content for your Fleets.
6. Facebook Playlists
Are your Facebook videos organized? One Facebook feature we love is playlists! Playlists let you organize videos into groups based on common themes or topics.
To create a playlist in Creator Studio:
1. Go to Creator Studio and click the Content Library tab
2. Click Playlists
3. Click New Playlist
4. Follow the prompts to add your title, description, and cover image
5. Click Add Video to select the videos from your content library you want included in that playlist
To add a new video to an existing playlist, click Add to Playlist when uploading the video in the video composer.
7. Facebook Events
Don’t cancel any more events for your business. The time for virtual events is at its peak and Facebook is making it even easier for you. The online event feature they offer is better than ever and it’s free to use. You can:
- Host
- Go live
- Invite guests
- Create a schedule
- Sell tickets without a third party
- And communicate with attendees…
All in one place!
8. Insights
Data nerds, this one is for you. Business accounts on most social media platforms come with an arsenal of super tools called Insights, free of charge. Unfortunately, each platform measures its analytics differently, so they won’t be an apples to apples comparison to each other, but you will be able to see how each individual account is performing and compare audiences. Insights help answer questions such as:
Where are your followers from?
What age demographic are they?
What type of post gets the best engagement?
9. Twitter Topics
We’re showing some more love to Twitter with Twitter Topics. Topics help you research your industry and become integrated into the community. Find popular Topics to follow in the “Topics” tab in your profile menu. Search Topics there, or follow suggested Topics in your timeline.
For example, if you are a retailer you may want to follow topics that pertain to retail sales, retail news, and changes within the retail landscape. This will help you stay up to date with what is happening in your industry and pivot marketing!
10. Sharing Instagram Posts
Instagram, unlike other platforms, does not have a share post option. However, you do have the option to share a post to your Instagram story. We love this because it keeps the platform uncluttered while still allowing you to support the accounts and content you like.
11. Facebook Marketplace
How does free marketing sound? Good? We thought so…
Facebook Marketplace will suggest products to users based on location. That means having Facebook Marketplace features active on your Page could score you free marketing and potential customers. 2021 is predicted to continue favoring online shopping so be sure to set yourself up for success by being accessible to your customers where they are spending their time – online.
Learn more about Facebook Marketplace for businesses here:
facebook.com/marketplace/learn-more/business
12. LinkedIn Hashtags
Let’s show LinkedIn a little more love here. From a LinkedIn business page, you are allowed to add up to 3 hashtag topics that matter to your page from the Admin portal. You can see and respond to trending posts from the hashtag feed. As a social media marketing agency, we’ve selected #advertising, #marketing, and #social media to follow.
13. Location Features
We couldn’t let this blog end without mentioning location features. Adding a location to a post or story can organically boost your discoverability. You can choose your location to be as broad as the state or city you’re in, or as specific as the business you’re at. Encouraging your followers to use your business location in their posts is a bonus for organic growth too!
14. Link Preview
When posting a link to Facebook and LinkedIn, such as a blog like this, you’ll see a link preview. This is very helpful in enticing readers to click and read. Be sure to include a featured photo and double-check links before posting.
We hope these features are helpful for you and your team. If you have questions about how to use any of these features listed feel free to reach out to me directly at bobbieanne@germono.com and we can set up a time to meet and discuss your needs. We always offer complimentary 30 minute consultations.
