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Twitter Adds New Option to Pin Tweets Within Communities

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Twitter Adds New Option to Pin Tweets Within Communities

Twitter has added a new way to spark more engagement within Communities, with the ability for Community admins to now pin tweets at the top of a Community tab.

As you can see in this example, Twitter Community mods will now have a new ‘Pin to Community Timeline’ option on any Community tweet, which will then keep that tweet at the top of the Community feed, essentially serving as a conversation prompt or notice.

As explained by Twitter:

“Some Tweets deserve the spotlight, which is why mods and admins can now pin their Community Tweets on web. This feature was highly requested and we’re excited to see how you use it. Coming soon — the ability for mods and admins to pin their Community Tweets on iOS and Android!

The option could help to spark more focused engagement within your Twitter communities – though whether Twitter’s more enclosed Communities option actually fits on the service at all is another question.

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This far, Communities don’t seem to be taking off, with most communities seeing limited engagement. Part of the reason for that is likely the variance in approach – Twitter has always been about the ‘public square’, enabling everyone to have their say on the latest topics and tweets. Communities goes the opposite direction, in limiting that discussion, which, as we’ve seen on Facebook, can have some benefits. But does it work on Twitter, where most users are looking to share their thoughts with all of their followers?

To be clear, there definitely is room for such, with some users already creating alternate Twitter handles for different topics – so if you’re into, say, UFC and you work in digital marketing, you can then have a separate feed and audience for your topical tweets in each, so you don’t end up spamming each community with stuff that they don’t care about.

Communities provides a means to address this – though Twitter does have other, more practical solutions that seem to better align with Twitter’s ultimate use case, as opposed to seeking to change user behaviors, and limit their conversation reach.

Twitter Facets mock-up

This option, called ‘Facets’, which Twitter shared a preview of last July, would enable users to tweet about different topics from the one profile, with their followers then able to select which elements and tweets that they care about, or don’t.

The added complexity here is that you would need to categorize each tweet as you post it, and that extra friction in the process may be why Twitter has chosen not to push ahead with the project as yet. But the concept does seem more aligned with Twitter’s actual use case than Communities, which sections off parts of tweet discussion from general view.

Do Twitter users really want to limit their tweet reach for the sake of more intimate discussions, especially when they’ve already built a following, in most cases, based on their key topic areas?

Only Twitter itself knows for sure – and for what it’s worth, Twitter’s Communities team has told me that they are happy with the progress that they’re making with the option. But it hasn’t shared any official usage stats as yet, or numbers on Community membership and engagement.

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As such, right now, it comes down to your perspective, and the value that you’re driving from your Twitter Communities. Pinned tweets could help to spark a little more interaction in this respect, and for those that are enjoying the option, it could be a valuable addition – while for branded communities, it could also be another way to boost awareness of new products and initiatives within these more exclusive chats.

We’ll have to wait and see whether Communities survives the Elon Musk transition, and whether it remains a valuable element of the broader tweet experience.

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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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