Social Media News June 2021

June 2, 2021

Pinterest launches Idea Pins​ 

 

Pinterest has decided to not call their Stories, Stories anymore. Instead, the platform is introducing “Idea Pins” which are the new Story Pins. The feature is available to all users with a business account in the US, UK, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Austria and Switzerland.​ 

 According to Andrew Hutchinson from SocialMediaToday, the new format looks pretty similar to stories in other apps. Stories are also shown as highlighted profile bubbles at the top of the feed and display Idea Pins from users you follow or those that Pinterest thinks you may like. ​ 

 Idea Pins are short-form videos that can be up to 60 seconds long and you can add up to 20 frames. Pinterest is also adding new creative tools to edit the clips, like stickers and music options. Of course, it’s possible to tag other creators by using their username and there are also theme tags. Besides that, creators can use a “ghost mode” which enables them to overlay the previous frame. Since many creators will use Idea Pins to show people e.g. recipes or products, they can include “detail pages” where viewers can find additional information. 

 Pinterest will boost Idea Pins by highlighting creators to users with similar interest. It is also possible to export the Pins and share them on other platforms. ​​ 

 Right now, Pinterest is also working on product tags and a new analytic tool to get some insights about the performance of Idea Pins. ​ 

 

Recommendation:​ 

 The feature could be offering new engagement opportunities on the platform, especially since Pinterest wants to promote it. It is definitely worth experimenting with it and check out how similar brands are using the feature. 

 

Facebook launches live stream shopping events 

 

Facebook is introducing its “Live Shopping Fridays” which is another step towards eCommerce. Every Friday until July 16th, users can enjoy shoppable live videos from beauty and fashion brands. People get the chance to directly ask questions about the product and make purchases in-stream. ​ 

 The live streams will be available on the brand’s Facebook pages or via the Shop tab. If you want to buy something you can just click on the product featured in the stream. According to Facebook, each Friday three brands will talk about a common theme: Glow Up, New Fashion Finds and Self Care Spotlight. ​ 

 

Glow Up – May 21, June 11 and July 2 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM PT/3:00 PM – 4:30 PM PT​ 

 New Fashion Finds – May 28, June 18 and July 9 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM PT/3:00 PM – 4:30 PM PT​ 

 Self Care Spotlight – June 4, June 25 and July 16 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM PT/3:00 PM – 4:30 PM PT 

 

Brands like Sephora, Abercrombie & Fitch, Bobbi Brown and Clinique will take part. They will each offer experts who will showcase the products. ​ 

 According to Andrew Hutchinson from SocialMediaToday, Facebook is still working on rolling out Facebook and Instagram Shops worldwide and also on integrating Facebook Pay. But they are clearly working on expanding eCommerce on their platforms. The live streams offer a simple, engaging way to encourage shopping behavior. For brands, this can be an easy way to connect with their customers. It is also a chance to provide new entertaining content, answer questions and handle the purchase process through convenient checkout with Shops. It’ll be interesting to see how much engagement the broadcasts will bring in these early stages. 

 

Instagram is testing link sticker 

 

Instagram is testing a new sticker function at the moment – the link sticker. According to Jens Wiese from allfacebook.de, the sticker offers the same function as the swipe up in Stories. So, if you click on it the embedded link will open. The disadvantage of the swipe up is that only accounts with 10.000 followers or with a verification can use it. It is not clear yet how it will work with the sticker. But it is time for an alternative since the swipe up sticker has lost its edge and seems quite spammy by now. ​ 

 We will see how the test goes and if Instagram is officially introducing the link sticker soon. Keep your eyes open! 

 

Tiktok introduces lead generation ads 

 

TikTok is a platform where brands creatively interact with their communities. Now, TikTok is introducing a new solution which makes contact with customers even easier. ​ 

 According to TikTok for Business, with the new “lead generation ads”, companies can now easily reach potential customers and thus drive conversions. Companies can include information about advertised products, services, or offers that are relevant, appealing, and interesting to their target audience in their In-Feed Ads. Users have the opportunity to use a form and enter information such as name, e-mail address or telephone number to signal their interest and receive further information. Companies can create fully customizable messages for different customer segments. Generated leads can then be downloaded manually or, if integrated through a company’s CRM system, activated immediately. The protection of personal data is a top priority for TikTok. Personal information is only accessible to the respective advertiser. Also, users can leave the form at any time if they want to. ​ 

 

Author:

Johanna Leffers