More productivity? Better communication? Coworkers staying connected? This is music to business owners’ ears. Workplace by Facebook is a new feature that lets your team connect on a whole new level, and we’re breaking down four of its features you need to try out below.
Our Picks for Royalty-Free Stock Images and Video
We’ve all been there — you find the perfect image for your social post, go to upload it and then find out it’s plastered with copyrights, royalties and more. It’s safe to say that finding stock images and video you can *actually* use can be a struggle. Check out our favorite websites below that are free and easy to use.
What You Need to Know About Facebook Shops
First it was brick-and-mortar stores, then online shops and now Facebook. Not only are people becoming more likely to shop on their phones and tablets, but they’re also spending a good portion of their day checking in on social media. So, combining the two to create Facebook Shops makes sense. If you’re new to adding the shop section to your business’ page, here’s what you need to know.
Easy Steps to Creating a Content Calendar
Promoting your business on social media can seem simple — post a photo, add a hashtag or two and call it a day. But, there’s a lot more that goes into it. From strategic messages to content that resonates with a target audience we’ve pulled together four tips that will help you reach your business goals.
3 Steps to Leveraging Positive Reviews on Social
Whether it’s a tweet, Facebook review or snapping a photo on Instagram, fans will be the first to share their (sometimes brutally honest) opinions about a brand on social media. And a fan’s opinion can sometimes trump the brand’s, so a nice word from a third party can go a long way. We’ve pulled together three steps if you want to leverage that review.
3 Ways to Find the Right Social Influencers
To the rest of the world, an influencer is a celebrity who endorses a product, or who pops up on a commercial for a popular product. But in the digital world, it’s all about social influencers — real people, with real influence in their field. It’s a marketing tactic that’s still relatively new and not always easy to execute. Why? Because choosing experts that matter in your field or to your business can be a challenge. We’ve pulled together three ways you can find the influencers who matter in your business.
LinkedIn vs. Facebook Job Postings: What You Need to Know
Facebook recently rolled out a new feature that allows businesses to post job openings and people to search and apply for jobs right from their favorite social media. Are we surprised? Not really, it was about the only thing you couldn’t do on Facebook, so we had to see this one coming. The question is: Will this new feature totally replace LinkedIn? Here’s what you need to know.
4 Tips to Creating an Effective Instagram Story
Ever since Instagram launched their Story feature in 2016, brands and influencers have been all in, but like any other social trend, there’s a learning curve to posting the perfect Story. Unlike a normal social post, an Instagram Story only lives 24-hours and then it's gone, so we've pulled together four tips on how to make your next Story count.
Beyond the Booth: Social Media for Trade Shows
4 Steps to Getting Social Right on Packaging
When is the last time you called a 1-800 number? How about tweeted or posted? Social media is a key way consumers communicate today and also how they interact with brands, but many companies are missing the opportunity on their product packaging. We've compiled four easy strategies to consider when incorporating social in product design.
Live from Social: 4 Live Video Platforms to Test
By now, you probably know that live video is taking over social media. It was one of the largest trends of 2016 and will continue to grow, at least until the next trend takes hold (which in the world of social could be seven days). To help you wrap your head around the world of live-streaming, we take a look at four platforms you may want to consider.
January’s Latest in Digital: Spirits at CES Edition
3 Good Social Media Habits to Try in the New Year
December’s Latest in Digital: Spirits Edition
A couple of months ago, we shared our favorite ways that the spirits industry is toying around with the digital world, and now, we have a whole new batch for you. From Instagram Stories to Chatbots, these four digital campaigns are worth checking out.
2017: 4 Social Trends on the Rise
Each year comes with a new batch of social media trends and experiments. In 2016 we saw one channel shamelessly copying another’s platform and users finding new ways to better engage on old channels. In just a couple of weeks, it will be a new year with brand new trends. Here’s what we’re predicting will be hot on social media in 2017:
Facebook’s New Feature Will Help Boost In-Store Sales
5 Tips to Improve Organic Facebook Engagement
4 Common LinkedIn Advertising Pitfalls and How to Solve Them
Advertising on LinkedIn is something that both B2C and B2B companies are doing. Why? Because it’s the world’s largest professional network and the knowledge you can gain from advertising with them is nearly infinite. However, a successful LinkedIn campaign isn’t as easy as a click of the button. One common pitfall when advertising on LinkedIn is using the wrong targeting strategies. Read on to find out four common targeting struggles on LinkedIn and how you can fix them for your next campaign.
The Latest in Digital: Spirits Edition
Digital marketing continues to grow, and the spirits industry is also getting on board with caution. While it can be a bit tricky (i.e. following people who are definitely over 21, promoting responsible drinking… the list goes on), it can be seriously beneficial when done correctly. Check out these four ways spirits are making a splash in digital.
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Johnnie Walker + Amazon Echo: Johnnie Walker has a new best friend, and her name is Alexa. They’ve teamed up with Amazon Echo so you can discover your whisky IQ or find a blend that works for your taste and budget, all without even leaving the couch. Welcome to the future, y’all.
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Budweiser + Lyft: A big part of digital efforts for spirits is promoting safe transportation, and Budweiser is taking it to the next level. They’ve partnered with Lyft to offer a coupon code on their social media so that fans can get home safely for free. 80,000 rides will be offered by the end of 2016. Props to Budweiser!
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Malibu + Snapchat: Venturing to Snapchat has been a scary thought for liquor brands, with a large chunk of users being under the age of 21. However, they’ve have started to dip their toes in the water by sponsoring filters. Earlier this year, Malibu created a Memorial Day filter complete with a cocktail and text stating, “For 21 plus. Drink responsibly.” As the Snapchat audiences grows up, we’ll be seeing a whole lot more of where this came from.
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Jim Beam + Virtual Reality: Last year, Jim Beam used virtual reality to promote their Devil’s Cut Bourbon, taking consumers on a virtual bourbon roller coaster ride. After they take off the headset, the virtual shot glass becomes a real shot glass. It’s time to sample bourbon, the 21st century way.
What spirits brands have you seen making serious digital moves? Chat with us in the comments below.
The Battle of the Stories: Instagram vs. Snapchat
First Snapchat, now Instagram. It’s safe to say that 24-hour stories are the name of the social game these days. So which one do you use? What’s the difference? How do you even use them? No worries. We’re here to give you some insight so you’ll not only be a pro at Stories, but know why you should be using these platforms for your business.
The “Story” Process
Aside from clicking on a different app from the home screen of your phone, the process of creating and sharing a story is very similar.
For Snapchat, you simply open the app, snap a picture or video and add it to your Story. Of course, before you click send, you’ll want to select a duration for the picture and add a caption or drawing. Oh, and you can’t forget about that dog filter and a bitmoji if you want to make it elaborate. Once you’ve added it, you can view your Story and others by swiping left.
Instagram Stories on the other hand, are newer and will feel different and similar all at once. In order to create your Story, click the plus button in the top right corner to access your camera. Here, you can either take a picture or add a photo from your Camera Roll from the past 24 hours. After you’ve chosen your photo or video, add a caption or drawing and add it to your Story. Yes, it’s that easy… and alike. Now, take a look at the top of the home screen on each app. That’s where you’ll find your Story and well as others.
So What’s the Difference?
Besides the silly filters and a handful of geotags, Instagram made their Story feature almost identical to Snapchat’s. The main difference? One Business Insider article says that it’s all about content creation creation versus content consumption. When you open Snapchat, you’re prompted with your camera, basically screaming at you to snap a photo of what’s happening right at that moment. When you open Instagram, other Stories are nicely aligned at the top, just asking to be opened, so you’re more likely to open those first before venturing to create one of your own.
Why You Should Use Stories
Whether you choose to go with the original 24-hour creator, Snapchat, or opt for the new kid on the block, Instagram, we suggest choosing at least one. They give your brand the opportunity to offer a behind-the-scenes view of the company — something that fans crave. Show your polished side of the company on the traditional feed, and give the behind-the-scenes angle on your Story. As with anything in social it is best to test and learn. If you see higher fan interaction and engagment incorporate more stories into your content strategy. Which platform will you choose? Let’s have a discussion in the comments below.