SOCIAL
LinkedIn Adds Live-Streaming for Company Pages and New ‘Invite to Follow’ Options
Almost a year after first launching its native live-streaming option to selected users, LinkedIn is now expanding LinkedIn Live to company pages, while its also officially adding a new option to invite personal first-degree connections to follow a business page that you manage.
The most significant update here is the expansion of LinkedIn Live – as per LinkedIn:
“LinkedIn Live has helped members and organizations foster dialogues with their communities. That’s why brands have seen 7X more reactions and 24X more comments vs. standard video posts on LinkedIn. […] As part of our continued investment, we’re delighted to bring LinkedIn Live to Pages so that organizations can leverage sight, sound and motion to humanize their brand’s voice on LinkedIn.”
Up till now, LinkedIn Live has only been available in the US, but now, LinkedIn is expanding the functionality to, theoretically, any company page – though page managers will still need to apply for access.
The expansion makes sense – in addition to the above engagement stats for live videos on LinkedIn, LinkedIn users are also 20x more likely to share a video on the platform than any other type of post.
And LinkedIn has already seen some interesting uses of its streaming tool:
Given the performance of video content on the platform, it makes sense for brands to consider how they might be able to incorporate LinkedIn live-streaming into their approach – maybe for events, product launches, etc. If there’s a fit, you can apply for access to LinkedIn Live here.
LinkedIn also says that it will soon support video streaming via third-party tools, including Restream, Wirecast and Socialive.
In addition to this, LinkedIn has also officially announced that it’s bringing back the option for company page admins to invite their first-degree connections to follow their page.
“You’ve shared that one of the biggest pain points of building a brand is increasing your numbers of engaged and relevant followers. With ‘Invite to Follow’, you can now invite first-degree Profile connections to follow your organization’s Page and grow your organization’s audience.”
The revamped option was actually spotted by social media expert Matt Navarra back in November, and since then, it’s gone back and forth in terms of whether it’s available to certain company pages or not at any given time. Just recently, LinkedIn informed me that the option was undergoing some improvements based on user feedback, which meant that some admins would no longer be able to see it.
Now, it seems like everyone will get access – though there are some qualifiers on its usage:
- Only page admins with fewer than 500 connections are able to invite all their connections via a ‘Select all’ option. Admins with more than 500 connections need to manually select who they want to invite.
- Only company pages with fewer than 100,000 followers can invite members to follow via the option
- If an admin has less than 3 connections, they won’t have the option available
- Only one invite per member can be sent
- Page admins can only invite 50 new people per day
LinkedIn also notes that members can opt-out of receiving any Page invitations at any time via their Network settings.
And lastly, LinkedIn is also making it easier to share content from your company page via your personal LinkedIn profile with a new toggle option to choose which entity you’re posting from.
That’ll no doubt lead to more slip-ups, with people unintentionally posting personal updates from their company page, and vice versa, but it could come in handy for those looking to maintain active company and personal profiles concurrently.
While none of these updates is ground-breaking, as such – there are no major functional leaps or big system improvements – each of these changes could have significant impacts, and could make it easier for you to build your LinkedIn presence.
LinkedIn says that all of these updates are rolling out from this week, so if you’re not seeing them yet, you will shortly (except in the case of LinkedIn Live, for which you need to apply for access).
SOCIAL
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.
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.
SOCIAL
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.”Â
“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.
“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.
SOCIAL
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.
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.
10 WordPress Influencers to Follow in 2024 – WordPress.com News
8 Best WordPress Migration Services (Compared)
Feeling Stuck: What to Do When You Don’t Know What to Do
Google Image Search Adds Pixel Level Object Segmentation Animation
A History of Google AdWords and Google Ads: Revolutionizing Digital Advertising & Marketing Since 2000
More Google March 2024 Core Update Ranking Volatility
Competitor Monitoring: 7 ways to keep watch on the competition
31 Ready-to-Go Mother’s Day Messages for Social Media, Email, & More
Thrive Architect vs Divi vs Elementor
How To Adapt Your SEO and Content Strategies for SGE and AI Experiences
-
WORDPRESS6 days ago10 WordPress Influencers to Follow in 2024 – WordPress.com News
-
WORDPRESS7 days ago8 Best WordPress Migration Services (Compared)
-
MARKETING6 days agoFeeling Stuck: What to Do When You Don’t Know What to Do
-
SEARCHENGINES6 days agoGoogle Image Search Adds Pixel Level Object Segmentation Animation
-
PPC5 days agoA History of Google AdWords and Google Ads: Revolutionizing Digital Advertising & Marketing Since 2000
-
SEARCHENGINES5 days agoMore Google March 2024 Core Update Ranking Volatility
-
PPC5 days agoCompetitor Monitoring: 7 ways to keep watch on the competition
-
PPC5 days ago31 Ready-to-Go Mother’s Day Messages for Social Media, Email, & More
