A comprehensive guide of all up-to-date (as of February 2024) image specs for Instagram, X, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Snapchat, YouTube, and TikTok. It also includes tips on aspect ratios and file types.

This interview with marketers from a renowned copywriting agency discusses strategies for crafting compelling social media captions. The interviewees stress the significance of authenticity, clarity, and relatability in engaging audiences and building brand credibility. Brands can create more impactful and memorable content by focusing on genuine communication and avoiding overly sales-oriented or artificial language.

When you tap on a hashtag in Instagram, you’ll now see the full search results for that topic as you would see in explore. By providing access to these additional elements, Instagram is aiming to improve profile discovery, as opposed to only highlighting content. The new feature will ideally expand user search behaviors by linking them through to the various elements. It could also put more emphasis on ensuring that your target keywords are included in your profile in order to maximize discovery in the Accounts display.

No one wants to be ‘influenced’ when they’re scrolling through social media. People want to be spoken to, inspired, educated, and entertained. It’s the creators and communities people choose to engage with, not the big brands or big influencers. The beauty in creator marketing is when brands hand the control over to the creator themselves and see how they interpret it. Brand guidelines shouldn’t completely be cast aside though. Creator briefs are still relevant and should serve as “freedom within a framework”.

The “Plus 20% Content Strategy” advises marketers to improve social media engagement by analyzing content performance and adjusting strategies incrementally. By focusing on content that exceeds the median by 20% and doubling down on its production while cutting underperforming content, marketers can enhance engagement gradually.

Social media marketing has evolved to prioritize entertainment over interaction. This was heavily influenced by TikTok's emphasis on public posting and content consumption time. Today's social media algorithms also prioritize entertaining content over divisive or argumentative posts. This shift has led to a decline in engagement and interaction on platforms like FB and IG, despite increased time spent on AI-commended content.

Pixar tailors unique voices and tones for each social media platform it uses to engage specific demographics effectively. On Threads, it adopts a trendy, experimental tone, while TikTok content is aimed at Gen Z with trend-heavy, ‘TikTokish' content. X is used for company updates and trends targeting millennials. Its Instagram account features polished content for a broader audience, and its Facebook focuses on global millennials. This approach increased overall engagement by 47% and resulted in a 126% increase in followers aged 13-25.

Brands struggle on TikTok due to several key factors: reluctance to embrace unconventional or "ugly" content that resonates with the platform's audience, failure to engage through compelling hooks and in-app styles that disguise branded content, and a lack of strategic posting that prioritizes quality over quantity. Successful TikTok strategies involve leveraging capcut filters, meme-style content, and real-life moments, deviating from traditional brand presentations to capture user attention effectively. Planning content as a social calendar without thoughtful engagement strategies can lead to TikTok penalizing brands by limiting their reach.

Creators can now display key metrics to brand accounts on Instagram, including total follower count, accounts reached, and accounts engaged over the past 30 days. This allows brands to directly message interested creators or explore similar ones based on the insights provided.

Instagram Notes, a feature designed for sharing short updates with mutual followers, has seen significant growth among younger users. For marketers, this feature offers an advantage by placing your messages in a prime spot within the Instagram inbox, enhancing content visibility. Brands can foster deeper connections with their audiences by creatively utilizing Instagram Notes for alerts, teasers, and exclusive content.

Publer is a social media management tool that allows marketers to manage online content with ease. Its features include post scheduling, performance tracking, content recycling, and link in bio pages. The tool integrates with all major social platforms as well as YouTube, WordPress, and more.

77% of marketers plan to increase trend-based social media content over the next year. 9 in 10 creators find trend-based content outperforms non-trend-based alternatives. Over a third of creators and 18% of consumers say trend-based content drives more conversions. Trend-based content enhances reach, follower numbers, and engagement. Nearly 89% of creators are being approached to create more trend-based content often centered around storytelling trends.

The top TikTok brands by earned media value are Amazon, NBA, NFL, Sephora, and Fortnite. 55% of TikTok users are more likely to trust brands recommended by creators compared to ads. Consumers are more likely to buy a product when a creator continually shares their experiences with it, highlighting the value for brands to establish long-term agreements with creators.

Snapchat users often start their shopping journey on social channels. 88% of Snapchatters love to shop, 85% discover new products through social ads, and 87% frequently recommend products to friends and family. Snapchatters also significantly influence their networks, with 72% seeking recommendations before purchases. Studies show Snapchatters' purchases are a reflection of their personal style, with 90% agreeing their shopping choices express their identity.

Brands with higher creator retention rates, where at least 25% of creators post about the brand in consecutive 12-month periods, perform better. User engagement on TikTok is high, with users 1.2X more likely to watch brand content and message brands compared to other platforms. Authenticity is crucial - 41% of users find creator content authentic and 55% trust brands more when endorsed by creators. Ads featuring creators related to a brand's vertical are 1.5X more effective.

Treat the cover slide like a movie poster or YouTube thumbnail — it's the thing that makes your audience want to swipe and learn more. For the middle slides, don't jam pack each one with paragraphs or a lot of text. Make your carousel flow like a conversation would, using each slide in the same way you'd take a breath or break when talking. Text placement also matters, so write out your content first, and design it after. The final slide should summarize the key points into a clear takeaway.

A breakdown of how brands like Jacquemus, Aritzia, and Mush use objects and visuals to break the norms seen on social media. Jacquemus plays around with attention-grabbing images, videos, and lettering in its IG carousels. Aritzia promoted its sale with a video of a girl shopping with a life-size shopping bag as big as her.

Readers will finish reading a carousel if the content provides them with clear and easy instructions on how to do something quickly. In your carousels, focus on one topic, use more visuals to limit the amount of words, and leverage arrows, bread crumbs, and titles. This post includes a framework to follow.

Meta's ad algorithm tends to favor static ads. To combine both static images and videos in one Meta ad, start by using an image as your primary format. Customize video-first placements, such as Reels and Stories, by replacing the creative with a 9x16 video. This ensures that static ads will appear in most placements, while video versions will be shown where viewers expect videos. This setup allows you to optimize for both formats without creating multiple ads.

Molly-Mae Hague, British influencer, unveiled her new womenswear brand Maebe this week. Rumors about the brand spread on TikTok before the official announcement. Instead of ignoring them, Molly-Mae and her team engaged with the speculation, fueling curiosity. They tailored content for specific platforms, creating a BTS video for Instagram and a more casual, shorter version for TikTok. In their TikTok announcement, they played into an inside joke with fans who had been investigating the brand online. They kept their initial announcement simple, letting fan discussions and anticipation build organically.

Creating engaging social media content is essential for increasing audience interaction and growing your online presence. The key to capturing attention lies in the opening words of your posts, commonly referred to as "hooks." These hooks can significantly influence whether followers stop scrolling to engage with your content or simply pass it by. A well-crafted hook serves as the first impression of your post, enticing readers to delve deeper into your message. For instance, a stylist might start an Instagram Reel with an intriguing statement about a fall trend, immediately piquing curiosity. Similarly, an entrepreneur might share a captivating anecdote about a successful sales meeting, prompting followers to click for more details. The effectiveness of these hooks hinges on their ability to create intrigue and promise valuable content. To write compelling social media hooks, a structured approach can be beneficial. The process begins with selecting a topic that resonates with your audience. Understanding what excites your followers is crucial, which can be achieved by analyzing past posts, observing competitors, or exploring popular discussions in relevant online communities. Once a topic is chosen, the next step is to determine the angle of your hook. This could involve sparking curiosity, promising a story, or leveraging psychological techniques to draw readers in. For example, open loops create suspense by hinting at information that will be revealed later, while the bandwagon effect encourages participation by highlighting trends or popular actions. Storytelling is another powerful technique, as humans are naturally drawn to narratives. A hook that promises an interesting story can captivate an audience, especially if it relates to their experiences or interests. Additionally, social proof can enhance credibility, encouraging readers to engage based on the actions of others. Contrarian statements can also be effective, as they challenge conventional wisdom and provoke thought. However, it’s important to approach these carefully to avoid alienating your audience. Lastly, tapping into the fear of missing out (FOMO) can compel followers to engage, especially when sharing time-sensitive information or valuable insights. After crafting your hook, it’s advisable to write multiple versions to identify the most effective one. Using power words and keeping the hook concise can enhance its impact. Following the hook, the rest of the post should deliver on the promise made, ideally concluding with a clear call to action that guides readers on what to do next. Analyzing the performance of your posts is crucial for continuous improvement. By examining which hooks resonate most with your audience, you can refine your approach and experiment with different styles. This iterative process will help you better understand your audience's preferences and enhance your social media strategy over time. In summary, mastering the art of writing social media hooks involves understanding your audience, selecting engaging topics, and employing various psychological techniques to capture attention. By implementing these strategies, you can create content that not only attracts engagement but also fosters growth in your online community.

Pretty Little Marketer recently celebrated reaching 100,000 followers on Instagram, a milestone that was achieved through dedication and strategic efforts. The post shared by Pretty Little Marketer expressed excitement and gratitude, highlighting the emotional journey that accompanied this achievement, including the challenges faced along the way. In the post, the author offered insights into the strategies that contributed to building their audience over the years, aiming to provide helpful tips for others looking to grow their own social media presence. The response from the community was overwhelmingly positive, with numerous comments congratulating the achievement and sharing encouragement. Many users expressed their aspirations to reach similar milestones, while others emphasized the importance of authenticity and consistency in social media marketing. The engagement on the post included various reactions and supportive messages from fellow marketers and content creators, showcasing a sense of community and shared goals within the industry. Comments highlighted the significance of engaging with the audience and maintaining a clear strategy to foster growth and connection. In addition to celebrating the milestone, Pretty Little Marketer has been actively sharing resources and insights related to social media marketing, including membership opportunities for those in the field. They have introduced initiatives like the PLM Insiders Club, which offers webinars, exclusive resources, and community engagement opportunities for social media professionals. Overall, the content reflects a vibrant community of marketers who are eager to learn from each other and celebrate successes, while also emphasizing the importance of strategic planning and audience engagement in achieving social media growth.