This month started off strong and surprisingly busy for me. There's been some humbling moments over the last few weeks as well, that has helped remind me that anyone can make stupid mistakes and even have some serious consequences but it's not how you create these situations, its how you overcome them that counts.
I've met some courageous business owners who have shown strength and fortitude and have also shown true forgiveness and understanding too. Told you it's been a busy month!
Let's get started:
This superb blog from Social Media Today is both useful and to the point. OK it's got a lot to read in it but there's no mumbo jumbo and I agree with all of it! Loved the detail about the algorithm and how it works. Well worth the read.
It's horribly overused but it's a true account of how Facebook should really be used. Creating a community is the BEST way forward for your business on Facebook and frankly on all other platforms too. People buy from people and the more you engage and include them - the greater chance you have of converting them. In this blog out mid January and written by Mike Stelzner he explains how to start and use Facebook groups to build your own community. If you already have a group these tips can help to reinvigorate your group as well.
Its been an awful long time coming but Mari Smith told us the below last month that Meta Business Suite will be taking over at some stage, no date as yet. So if you're not quite there yet, move over!
With MBS, you can:
View activity & notifications for your FB Page & IG business accounts.
Access Instagram & manage account permissions.
Use all the Inbox features for FB, Messenger and IG business accounts + create automated responses.
Create & publish/schedule posts, reels and stories.
View insights.
Create ads.
Access creator tools.
Keep track of monetization.
Protect your original content with Rights Manager.
Access Commerce Manager, if relevant
Access Facebook Gaming, if relevant.
and more...
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It seems that someone has been getting in the ear of Instagram and reminding them that they are a photo sharing app first and foremost. This new update means that although Reels has been moved from the prime position, its still there, some where... Now you'll see the Compose button there instead. Do you think this will indeed encourage more people to put up pictures? It will definitely by less intimidating!
The sounds shocking doesn't it but its still available and you can still set up and indeed manage your current shop. It doesn't really explain in this recent release exactly where its going but its quite a change to the navigation wouldn't you agree.
I guess I had to write about this seeing as EVERYONE and his dog is using it! I however have only JUST in the last week got it myself. It's a tool to help you ask and answer questions, write blogs and one client of mine even asks it suggestions for meals to put on at his pub that week. So until I learn more about it myself, I'll leave this blog about it from the owners themselves. Takes about 13 minutes to read!!
Back in December 2022, Canva announced they had an AI that could help with copywriting. It was largely ignored unfortunately, heck I missed it too! However now that ChatGPT has been taking the work by storm its worth noting that this is ALSO available. Many Canva aficionado's will love this tool and all the other wee little updates they have done in Canva Docs. Learn more about these in this update on Canva.
In a nutshell they have updated their accessibility for videos and job names, added alt text to campaigns, improved job search and product search, as you know now have post scheduling and now finally - looked at updating and improving their content analytics. Read this blog in Search Engine Journal about the updates in detail.
They have a page that you'll find all sorts of helpful resources. These include how to update your profile to even applying for jobs. Check out this link for more details: https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin
This was the heading from last year and I guess you know he didn't, ah well. Let's see what else he's got up to shall we?
In their release notes they shared that they are working toward more community alignment as well. They are giving more powers to community admins and improving DM's as well. Check the release notes for further updates and changes.
Loved this summary written by Forbes this month. It's highlighting all the changes made since October 2022 and the Musk-ification of Twitter. Oo have I started a new word? Probably not in fairness. Check out the blog here for all updates.
The algorithm for these platforms are always a bit of a mystery but now TikTok have revealed theirs. It's nothing too mind bending I can assure you but a handy to know kind of thing. There are other updates in this blog but less useful for business, have a read though.
YouTube runs a Partner Programme (YPP) for creators and starting from next month (February) you may be able to earn more from your "shorts". You need to meet a specific criteria in order to participate. Learn more about this in greater detail by visiting this link.
As we're all getting more and more data driven every year, YouTube are aiding content creators with more accurate tools. These previously were not available on these platforms and I think a lot to do with this was there was literally no interest before.
Now though I'm seeing a far more informed clientele who are aware of what they can do on he other platforms and YouTube have had to adopt the same attitude. Check out the full details in this blog post from Search Engine Journal.
Now you can edit and update your Google Business Profile in Search and on Maps on your phone and on your laptop too. You can get messages, create updates and post and add call to action buttons in your posts. Read this blog from Embed Social.
Last year Google announced that Universal Analytics (UA) was being sunsetted on the 1st of July 2023. This means you need to move over to Google Analytics 4 (GA4) as soon as possible to allow data to be collected in the interim months. They can work in tandem in the intervening period, while you get more familiar with the new process. It does look quite different and needs to be navigated in a whole new way. Learn more about the changes in this blog from Hubspot.
The Story of STOMP: The Background and Beginnings Pt 1 by Melanie Boylan.
Smart Messaging for Brand Photography Expert: Case Study by Sue Moore
If you're looking for a more one on one style of training to create a strategy for your social media and overall digital marketing and would like to know how to do this by yourself for your own business or for the company you work for, then you maybe interested in doing this training that I offer.
I help you create it at a pace you set, filling in the gaps in your knowledge along the way. You'll be given work to do between the sessions that you can manage and that won't be overly disruptive to your everyday workload.
This will give you accountability and you can contact me anytime during the training if you have any questions that crop up between sessions.
Are you on track for your goals and targets so far? If not, then maybe you should contact me. I have set aside some regular time slots to offer this training and it can run either in 1 month, 6 weeks or even 12 weeks if you prefer! I can give you the dates to fit around both our schedules from day one so you know this in advance. If you would like to learn more about what this covers, then visit this page.
This course has been currently accepted by 5 Local Enterprise Office Areas as suitable for the Trading Online Voucher but you can also get this training directly. Check out all the lovely testimonials I have received regarding this course.
From January 2023 I am running a monthly subscription of 30 minute per week Business Strategy Pods. These pods are one on one and are strategy and accountability weekly sessions that are pre booked by you at times that work around your own schedule.
You will first complete a pre qualifying form so I know where you're starting from and we shall then speak weekly and have a private 1:1 Facebook Group that keeps you pushing forward and getting stuff done.
How they work:
What do you need help with? Creating Goals, starting or finishing a project, creating an event, writing a book, marketing?
Book weekly dates for the next month that we can talk straight into my calendar.
Pay the monthly fee - visit the webpage
You will then receive an email from me with a link to the Facebook group and we shall meet either in person at my office if you're local or via zoom, the choice is yours.
Podcast 157 - 2023 Predictions
Podcast 158 - Getting Sh*t Done
Podcast 159 - How to Measure ROI of Social Media with Amanda Webb
Podcast 160 - Marketing Only Works When You...
Podcast 161 - Marketing Doesn't Work When You...
After a steady start to the new year and starting my STOMP Story - I hope you'll enjoy the next couple of months of posts as I expose a little more about me and my business.
I hope you find this months round up useful and look forward to bringing you more updates in a few weeks time. If you need anything n the meantime, don't hesitate to contact me.
Working with clients Nationwide from base in Mullingar.
