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Instagram Tests Reels Button on Lower Function Bar in Some Regions

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instagram tests reels button on lower function bar in some regions

This is interesting.

Last week, when Instagram released its TikTok-inspired Reels functionality into more regions, amid ongoing speculation about the future of TikTok in the US, tech analyst Josh Constine noted that one of the key flaws of Reels, at launch, is that there’s no front page presence for the functionality, making it more difficult to find Reels content.

If Instagram really wants to build a TikTok rival, it probably needs to consider the immediacy of the TikTok feed, which opens up on an auto-playing video stream when you start the app.

And it seems that Instagram is aware of the same. 

Today, several German Instagram users have reported seeing a new layout in Instagram, which put a new Reels button on the bottom function bar, and moves the Discover magnifying glass to the top, next to the Direct tab.

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Instagram layout update

You can see the updated format in these screenshots, posted by user @AJ_Malakai on Twitter (and shared by social media expert Matt Navarra) – the play button with a circle is the new Reels stream, with the Discover button up top.

That would give the Reels feed a lot more focus, which could make it a more significant element. Even if, as Constine also notes in his tweet, Instagram’s Reels algorithm isn’t on par with the TikTok stream, just yet.

TikTok’s algorithm is seen as a key element in the app’s success, with the focus of the app shifted to content, not contacts. All of the videos posted to TikTok can be seen by anyone, unless a user chooses to make their account private. So in variance to Instagram, where only your friends will see your posts, the main TikTok feed can be populated by a wider range of clips that align with your interests.

Given the privacy parameters already established within Instagram, it can’t really replicate that experience with Reels, unless it looks to showcase all publicly posted Reels in their own tab. Which is still not the same, as it won’t open to Reels content, like TikTok does. But it’s closer. That appears to be what Instagram’s going with in this test.

Initial responses to Reels in general, however, suggest that the option still has a way to go to truly rival TikTok.

The New York Times today posted a scathing review of the option, with well-known industry journalist Taylor Lorenz writing:

I can definitively say Reels is the worst feature I’ve ever used.”

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Lorenz specifically criticized the functionality of the option, noting that:

[Reels is] confusing, frustrating and impossible to navigate. It’s like Instagram took all the current functionality on Stories (a tool to publish montages of photos and videos with added filters, text and music clips), and jammed them into a separate, new complicated interface for no reason.”

Most responses on Twitter seem to mirror the same – Reels is okay, but it’s not TikTok. So if TikTok does eventually avoid a ban in the US, it’ll likely retain its audience, even with Instagram making its big push.

Could a new tab for Reels on the main screen change that? Maybe. Maybe, by giving Reels more exposure, more creators will be enticed to try it – but based on early responses, it probably has a few other issues to work out, and it probably, really, makes Instagram a little too bloated, as myself and others have suggested.

So far, the new layout only appears to be being tested in Germany, where Reels was launched back in June. We’ve asked Instagram for more info, and we’ll update this post if/when we hear back.

Socialmediatoday.com

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Snapchat Explores New Messaging Retention Feature: A Game-Changer or Risky Move?

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Snapchat Explores New Messaging Retention Feature: A Game-Changer or Risky Move?

In a recent announcement, Snapchat revealed a groundbreaking update that challenges its traditional design ethos. The platform is experimenting with an option that allows users to defy the 24-hour auto-delete rule, a feature synonymous with Snapchat’s ephemeral messaging model.

The proposed change aims to introduce a “Never delete” option in messaging retention settings, aligning Snapchat more closely with conventional messaging apps. While this move may blur Snapchat’s distinctive selling point, Snap appears convinced of its necessity.

According to Snap, the decision stems from user feedback and a commitment to innovation based on user needs. The company aims to provide greater flexibility and control over conversations, catering to the preferences of its community.

Currently undergoing trials in select markets, the new feature empowers users to adjust retention settings on a conversation-by-conversation basis. Flexibility remains paramount, with participants able to modify settings within chats and receive in-chat notifications to ensure transparency.

Snapchat underscores that the default auto-delete feature will persist, reinforcing its design philosophy centered on ephemerality. However, with the app gaining traction as a primary messaging platform, the option offers users a means to preserve longer chat histories.

The update marks a pivotal moment for Snapchat, renowned for its disappearing message premise, especially popular among younger demographics. Retaining this focus has been pivotal to Snapchat’s identity, but the shift suggests a broader strategy aimed at diversifying its user base.

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This strategy may appeal particularly to older demographics, potentially extending Snapchat’s relevance as users age. By emulating features of conventional messaging platforms, Snapchat seeks to enhance its appeal and broaden its reach.

Yet, the introduction of message retention poses questions about Snapchat’s uniqueness. While addressing user demands, the risk of diluting Snapchat’s distinctiveness looms large.

As Snapchat ventures into uncharted territory, the outcome of this experiment remains uncertain. Will message retention propel Snapchat to new heights, or will it compromise the platform’s uniqueness?

Only time will tell.

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Catering to specific audience boosts your business, says accountant turned coach

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Catering to specific audience boosts your business, says accountant turned coach

While it is tempting to try to appeal to a broad audience, the founder of alcohol-free coaching service Just the Tonic, Sandra Parker, believes the best thing you can do for your business is focus on your niche. Here’s how she did just that.

When running a business, reaching out to as many clients as possible can be tempting. But it also risks making your marketing “too generic,” warns Sandra Parker, the founder of Just The Tonic Coaching.

“From the very start of my business, I knew exactly who I could help and who I couldn’t,” Parker told My Biggest Lessons.

Parker struggled with alcohol dependence as a young professional. Today, her business targets high-achieving individuals who face challenges similar to those she had early in her career.

“I understand their frustrations, I understand their fears, and I understand their coping mechanisms and the stories they’re telling themselves,” Parker said. “Because of that, I’m able to market very effectively, to speak in a language that they understand, and am able to reach them.” 

“I believe that it’s really important that you know exactly who your customer or your client is, and you target them, and you resist the temptation to make your marketing too generic to try and reach everyone,” she explained.

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“If you speak specifically to your target clients, you will reach them, and I believe that’s the way that you’re going to be more successful.

Watch the video for more of Sandra Parker’s biggest lessons.

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Instagram Tests Live-Stream Games to Enhance Engagement

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Instagram Tests Live-Stream Games to Enhance Engagement

Instagram’s testing out some new options to help spice up your live-streams in the app, with some live broadcasters now able to select a game that they can play with viewers in-stream.

As you can see in these example screens, posted by Ahmed Ghanem, some creators now have the option to play either “This or That”, a question and answer prompt that you can share with your viewers, or “Trivia”, to generate more engagement within your IG live-streams.

That could be a simple way to spark more conversation and interaction, which could then lead into further engagement opportunities from your live audience.

Meta’s been exploring more ways to make live-streaming a bigger consideration for IG creators, with a view to live-streams potentially catching on with more users.

That includes the gradual expansion of its “Stars” live-stream donation program, giving more creators in more regions a means to accept donations from live-stream viewers, while back in December, Instagram also added some new options to make it easier to go live using third-party tools via desktop PCs.

Live streaming has been a major shift in China, where shopping live-streams, in particular, have led to massive opportunities for streaming platforms. They haven’t caught on in the same way in Western regions, but as TikTok and YouTube look to push live-stream adoption, there is still a chance that they will become a much bigger element in future.

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Which is why IG is also trying to stay in touch, and add more ways for its creators to engage via streams. Live-stream games is another element within this, which could make this a better community-building, and potentially sales-driving option.

We’ve asked Instagram for more information on this test, and we’ll update this post if/when we hear back.

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