September has been a busy month for social media platforms, with some exciting updates that marketers, influencers, and everyday users should pay attention to. From Instagram’s new story interactions to Meta’s holiday ad updates, these changes impact how brands will engage with their audience going forward. Let’s dive into last month’s biggest updates!
Instagram Now Allows Public Comments on Stories
Users can now leave public comments directly on Instagram stories. Before, the only option was to send a private message, but now, public comments can be posted and are visible for the story’s 24-hour duration.
What This Means for You:
For brands, this opens new opportunities for engagement. You can now ask questions in stories and gather feedback that’s visible to everyone, fostering a more communal and interactive experience. This can help spark conversations and increase your visibility. Plus, public comments can create a sense of urgency since they disappear with the story!
Meta Rolls Out New Holiday Ad Features
Meta (Facebook and Instagram’s parent company) is rolling out several holiday-focused ad features just in time for the biggest shopping season of the year. New tools include easier-to-apply discount codes, enhanced reminder ads to nudge shoppers, and in-store shopping promotions to drive traffic into brick-and-mortar locations.
What This Means for You:
Brands can now simplify their customers’ shopping experience by offering discount codes directly in ads, which should increase conversion rates. Enhanced reminder ads will help keep your products top-of-mind as customers make holiday shopping decisions, while in-store promotions can boost local foot traffic. This is the perfect opportunity to fine-tune your end-of-year sales strategy!
Fine-Tune Your TikTok “For You” Page
TikTok is giving users more control over their “For You” page with a new slider tool. This feature, now available in settings, lets you prioritise content based on your interests—whether that’s dance, cooking, fitness, or current events.
What This Means for You:
For brands and creators, this means you’ll need to ensure your content is optimised for the categories your audience follows. Now more than ever, producing highly relevant and engaging content for your target market is crucial, as users will fine-tune their feed to match their personal interests. Take advantage of this by diving deeper into niche topics to attract more relevant audiences!
LinkedIn’s New “Explore More” Feature
LinkedIn has launched the “Explore More” feature, allowing users to discover related content or dive deeper into posts from the same creator. This new tool offers a more seamless browsing experience by grouping together similar posts and encouraging engagement.
What This Means for You:
If you’re a brand or professional on LinkedIn, this is great news. It gives your content more opportunities to be discovered, especially if users engage with a post that’s related to your industry. More visibility on LinkedIn means more chances to showcase thought leadership, share success stories, and connect with professionals in your field.
YouTube Expands Access to AI Assistant
YouTube is rolling out access to its AI chatbot, making it available to a larger group of users. This assistant can answer queries in video comments, providing quick and easy responses, enhancing user engagement, and helping creators better manage a flood of interactions.
What This Means for You:
For brands with an active YouTube presence, the AI assistant can streamline customer service and engagement. Instead of spending hours responding to comments or leaving questions unanswered, this tool helps you provide instant feedback to viewers.
Instagram Brings Back “Emoji Pong”
Instagram is adding a fun twist to stories and DMs by revamping its popular “Emoji Pong” game, along with 38 new stickers for stories and reels. Users can DM an emoji to a friend, challenging them to play in a friendly game of Pong—emoji style.
What This Means for You:
This fun, interactive feature is perfect for direct engagement with your followers. Brands can use this game to launch interactive campaigns or challenges, boosting user-generated content and fostering a stronger sense of community. Plus, the new stickers offer even more ways to spice up your stories and reels, keeping your content fresh and engaging.
To Wrap Up
September’s social media updates are all about driving engagement, simplifying the shopping experience, and giving users more control over the content they see. As brands and creators, it’s crucial to stay on top of these trends to leverage the best tools and features for connecting with your audience. Whether you’re looking to ramp up holiday sales or increase community interaction, these updates offer exciting ways to get ahead in the social media game.
Stay tuned for next month’s roundup, and if you need help navigating these changes, reach out to CDA!
