The ad boycott against Facebook was supposed to be a drumbeat signaling change; a steady, crescendoing chorus of dissenters whose buying power was so strong that their absence would be noted and would bring true change to Facebook.

“There hasn’t been a lot of change,” said Katherine Doble, the president of INGAGE Biz, a digital marketing firm that helps small and medium-sized businesses. “Companies are finding themselves in a Catch-22. Some might silently transition back, they might be feeling the impact of diminished sales and lower traffic.”

“Facebook and Instagram ads are huge in the sense of, that’s where you’re going to find your target audience,” she said. “Especially when it comes to businesses that don’t have recognizable names. When you’re an REI, and you’re looking for hunting supplies, you know you’re looking for REI. But when you’re a beginner, you’re really reliant...

The face of Facebook advertising is about to change. With Apple’s rollout of iOS14 in September, Facebook issued a short statement to advertisers letting them know that their formerly hyper-targeted ads, as facilitated by the Facebook Audience Network platform, might not work anymore. As first reported by Axios, this will likely have a huge impact on the advertising industry, of which Facebook plays a huge part in the U.S. But while this may be bad for the advertisers and for Facebook, this could be a win for users’ privacy.

“Companies will have to get more strategic,” said Katherine Doble, the president of INGAGE Biz, a marketing and advertising firm. “This will really impact those who were using Facebook as a means to determine their audience.”

“We’re so used to seeing ads, that we probably won’t realize if they’ve changed or not,” Doble said. “The companies...

You may have wondered about this thing called TikTok that everyone is talking about. If you haven’t yet started using TikTok for your brand, you might want to reconsider. With more than 2 billion downloads, TikTok is quickly becoming a marketing tool with real teeth. 

What is TikTok?

TikTok is a social media platform that allows users to create and share short videos. It was initially intended for the dance-loving GenZ teens audience but has quickly become widely popular among celebrities, influencers, and many essential brands. Users spend approximately 52 minutes per day on TikTok, that’s a lot of exposure for your brand!

What Makes TikTok Different?

The first thing that makes this social media platform different is that it is actually fun to use. The social media drenched masses are hungry for something new, and TikTok delivers. 

The first successful users of TikTok focused on dance trends and lip-synced challenges. Although this type of content still...

Studies show that 90% of Instagram users follow at least one brand, and most Instagram followers use it to find brands and to shop for products. Since its inception, Instagram has grown into a marketing giant earning the highest engagement rate of all social media platforms. 

Instagram offers companies Instagram Ads, Business Accounts, and even Instagram TV, along with dozens of other tools to increase your brand awareness and organically grow your followers. In just eight quick steps, you can begin using Instagram to expand your reach and stake your claim to some serious marketing influence on the platform.

1 - Research the Best Days/Times to Post

There are dozens of helpful charts online that show you the days and times when the peak number of users are online and engaging on Instagram. Always post each week consistently, so your followers begin to expect your great content.

2 - Create Great Content That is Interesting to Your Audience

Know your audience inside and out. What...

Instagram sprung onto the scene with a very simple concept of sharing photos and videos. Since its inception, Instagram has grown into one of the most popular social media platforms in the world, and it is a critical asset for any business’s marketing strategy. 

Instagram’s features are continually changing and upgrading, so it can be confusing to stay on top of what’s new. To get the most out of Instagram, here are the most important features you need to know about.

Instagram Live

One of the most useful features of Instagram is Instagram Live, where you can live stream video content to your audience. You can also turn on commenting or reactions to gain real-time feedback. Live video allows you to authentically connect with your followers and be real. Some good reasons to use Instagram Live are:

• You can broadcast live video for a close-up and personal connection.
• Save your video to Instagram Stories, so if any followers missed it, they can replay.
• Pin your...

Since 2019, Instagram Checkout has been in beta testing. It will soon be released to the public and could become your new, best marketing tool, turning followers into instant customers! 

What is Instagram Checkout

Instagram Checkout is an add-on feature allowing users to purchase products without ever leaving the app. Customers can click on a product to see details; then, with one additional tap, they can enter their personal information, pay, and purchase. Instagram Checkout was initially tested using 26 brands, including (Zara, Revolve, Warby Parker, and Nike). Brands who are currently using Checkout love the potential of it.

Instagram Checkout is not currently open to all brands yet, and it is only available in the U.S. Most likely, once it is released to the public, it will also be expanded to other countries.

How Can My Business Benefit from Instagram Checkout?

Once it is rolled out, Instagram Checkout will have tons of features for small, medium, and large businesses. The...

With so many professionals working from home these days as a result of forced quarantine, security is a top priority. If social media is part of your marketing strategy, use these tips to stay safe, and secure your Facebook account during this heavier than normal usage period.

Use a Strong Password and Never Share Your Login

Facebook urges users to always use a strong password made up of a complex combination of letters, numbers, and symbols (alternating case). Be careful not to use a password that can be easily guessed or has any details from your life (your pet’s name, kids’ birthdates, etc.). 

Never use the same password on other websites and do not share your Facebook or Instagram login with anyone else. Change your password often to stay extra safe.

Turn on Two-Factor Authentication

Two-factor authentication helps to keep your Facebook account safe by texting or emailing a code so that only you can log in and make changes. Whenever two-factor authentication is...

In response to the Coronavirus pandemic, Facebook has added a new feature to help businesses communicate with their customers about changes in the delivery of services, hours, or availability. 

Businesses with temporary changes such as restaurants that cannot serve food in-house can use this feature to let their customers know they are still open for takeout or delivery. Other companies who have changed their services to online options can also broadcast the message on their Facebook page with this new setting.

How to Set Up Temporary Changes to Hours or Services

To make the change on your business Facebook page, go to Page Settings > Page Info > Hours and select “Temporary Service Changes.” You can then choose “Temporarily Closed” or select “Open with Service Changes.” With this selection, you can choose options such as: 

• Online Services.
• Delivery.
• Pickup.
• Other Changes.

Those businesses that use Other Changes can post things...

Did you know that Instagram Stories are a fantastic way to connect with your audience and keep them interested? Not only that, but Instagram Stories can help boost sales and improve brand awareness.

Here is a quick guide to get you started using Instagram Stories for your business.

What Are Instagram Stories?

Launched in 2016, Stories have become a major factor in Instagram’s popularity, overtaking post feeds by a lot. The platform enjoys more than 500 million users per day, making Stories a great way to connect with an existing audience and to grow an even larger one. Stories are essentially slides and videos that expire after 24 hours. 

Boosting Engagement with Instagram Stories Stickers and Live

As Instagram has evolved, the developers have added new features to Stories to make it easier to start conversations, get live feedback and gauge reactions while promoting your brand, and sharing ideas in a fun, authentic way.

Stickers & One-Click Polls

Instagram Stories...

Part of any good social media marketing strategy includes keeping tabs on where you stand, and Instagram’s Insights feature makes this job that much easier. However, sifting through the data is not always easy or intuitive. Let’s take the complexity out of it by focusing on these top Instagram metrics you should be tracking.

1 - Saves

With Instagram’s decision to try hiding likes, saves, is the new metric to watch. By tapping the bookmark button in the bottom right, users can save a post to review later. Saving indicates a keen interest in the content. Knowing what posts earned a “save” will help you drive your content strategy. To generate even more attention, you can remind followers to save your post in the caption. 

2 - Reach

Reach is another critical metric you should be tracking. With social media platforms changing the rules all the time, reach is a constant that will help you gauge how many people you are reaching. Reach refers to the...