Digital Marketing News 04/12/2022 – 04/18/2022

Social

Twitter Tests Out New Unmention Option to Let Users Remove Themselves from Conversations

Twitter launches initial live testing that enables users to remove themselves from chats.

Twitter announced the initial live test of the new Unmention option.

Unmentioning yourself from the chat will:

• Untag your username from the original tweet and replies

• Not allow other users to mention you again within the same reply chain

• No longer notify you about updates to the conversation

• Turn your username as an ordinary text form in the initial tweets you were involved in, but you won't be an active part of the exchange

This new unmentioning option lets users avoid attacks in the app and remove themselves from conversations that aren't comfortable. Essentially, it's like the Remove Tag from Photo option, but for chats. 

Twitter also added the option to mute keywords and users and control who can reply to your tweet.

With these tools, the intention is to improve the Twitter experience, referred to at various times by various people as the Cesspit of Hate. Part of the reason why some people are hesitant to join Twitter discussions is because they stand the risk of being targeted.

While these new features won't erase these habits in the app, it gives users more control over their experience.

Social

NFTs are coming to Facebook and Instagram

Like it or not, NFTs are coming to Meta platforms with what seems to be its own NFT ecosystem.

From the report of The Financial Times, "According to one memo shared internally last week, Meta plans to launch a pilot for posting and sharing NFTs on Facebook in mid-May. This will be "quickly followed" by testing of a feature that will allow membership of Facebook groups based on NFT ownership and another for minting - a term for creating - NFTs. NFTs may be monetised via "fees and/or ads" in the future, according to another internal document. Facebook declined to comment."

It seems that Facebook will be looking to facilitate dedicated NFT communities and become more of a home destination for certain holders and their discussions.

FT's report also states, Facebook's financial arm, Meta Financial Technologies, has been exploring the creation of a virtual currency for the metaverse, which employees internally have dubbed ""Zuck Bucks"", according to several people familiar with the efforts. […] According to company memos and people close to the plans, Meta is also looking into the creation of so-called ""social tokens"" or ""reputation tokens"", which could be issued as rewards for meaningful contributions in Facebook groups, for example.""

So expanding on digital transactions, Meta's also considering how it can facilitate in-app transactions with its own, internal digital currency, which wouldn't have real-world value, as such, but would enable users to buy up virtual items for their digital selves.

Roblox and Fortnite have similar systems, with kids going crazy for Robux and V-Bucks to buy character skins, weapon variants, dance moves, etc.

While NFTs do have a potential for visual art, the underlying principle of buying and selling digital goods does indeed have merit. Meta's looking to further align with that aspect instead of one of the greatest examples in cartoons being bought for millions of dollars in some cases.

Social

Instagram Publishes a Guide for SMBs to Highlight Key Marketing Opportunities 

Instagram published a new guide for small businesses, providing an overview of key marketing tips to succeed in the platform.

Instagram has put together an8-page overview to boost your brand presence in the app, in partnership with Natália Camargo of eyewear brand Estilo 4 olho, Trinity Mouzon Wofford, the CEO of Brooklyn-based health and beauty brand Golde, and Mimi Striplin of jewelry, clothing and accessories brand The Tiny Tassel. 

This new SMB guide entitled Grow and Scale Your Business is split into three elements, Drive Awareness and Build Community, Get Your Next Customer, and Exciting Customers and Increasing Sales.

Most tips are focused on functionalities in the platform that you may not be aware of. While it may be basic for those experienced with Instagram marketing, it's free and it's a good reminder of the features you have yet to explore.

Social

Twitter Working on an Edit Button

Twitter confirms working on an edit button, one of the most requested features in the platform.

Elon Musk, the company's biggest shareholder and latest board member is looking to use his newfound sway to make tweet editing a reality.

4 million people have voted in his poll, with 73.6% of them in favor of an edit button.

At a later date, Twitter confirmed that they are working on an edit feature since 2021, thought it says that Musk's poll has nothing to do with the project.

As noted, Twitter has long resisted calls for an edit button, with Dorsey citing concerns around users changing retweeted messages after the fact.

Twitter says that it will begin testing the edit button with Twitter Blue subscribers "in the coming months."

Search

Google Lens Can Now Combine Images and Text for Better Searches

Google Lens introduces Multisearch, a new way to let users use added context for an image search.

Multisearch lets you add text as context for an image you're searching with Google Lens, so you can add additional information about something you might be able to see but hard to describe.

Adding context is as simple as snapping a picture in Lens (or uploading your own screenshot) and then tapping the "+" button to add text like "tutorial" or "green" to narrow down your search.

Multi search is just one implementation of Google's new Multitask Unified Model (MUM) technology it introduced at Google I/O 2021. MUM, according to Google, "understands" information better across different types (like images, text, or video) and other languages.

Social

Instagram Updates Reels Editing Tools for More Convenient Editing Functions

Instagram recently updated the editing process within Reels to make it easier to trim and rearrange video clips within the Reels composer.

The new editing flow enables users to more easily edit each clip by tapping on the thumbnail and cutting down the specific segment you want to trim to.

It's a good, simple update, and with more people looking to create short video clips, it will help facilitate more customized creation, and get more people creating more interesting, engaging Reels clips.

Check out this new updated Reels editing flow in the latest version of the app. 

What you can do next

• Review the SMB guide from Instagram if it's one of your primary marketing channels.

• Are you pro or anti-NFTs? Start thinking about how your brand will react to this news once it arrives.

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