A Month in Beauty: May 2023

May 23rd, 2023 by

Welcome back to another beauty roundup! Every month we round up our favourite ads, campaigns, trends, and creators from the social media beauty industry. 

So, who’s been busy in the beauty world this month? 

Trend spotlight

Loose powder transition

The trend taking over TikTok this month is a makeup transition involving loose powder. Beauty creators start with bare faces, blow the powder towards the camera, and seamlessly transition to a glamorous makeup look. The trend is used in conjunction with the filter BLUSSY, giving a luminescent glow.

@brynnemarieeee

dont blink

♬ original sound – Labrinth

@jilliannicolesmith

Replying to @Morgan Holian ok i had to try this

♬ original sound – Labrinth

Brand Spotlight

H&M

H&M is taking a deep drive into the cosmetics world with new stores. Opening in Oslo, alongside a beauty flagship store, H&M hopes to bring a new and upgraded in-store experience to customers, offering H&M own-brand cosmetics, as well as exclusive ranges from cult favourite Huda Beauty.

Collab spotlight

Clinique x Kate Spade

Clinique has teamed up with Kate Spade for a lip gloss collaboration, tapping into TikTok’s Black Honey lip colour obsession and the early 2000s nostalgia that’s sweeping through Gen Z audiences. TikTok and Instagram will be the main marketing channels for the collab by both Clinique and Kate Spade—so keep your eyes peeled for the launch in early June. 

Creator spotlight

Chloe Roberts

Chloe is a fashion and beauty creator who uses TikTok to share her “makeup obsessed world.” She regularly shares GRWM videos, product and tool trials and tutorials, as well as skincare routines. With a number of viral makeup videos under her name, she has amassed over 175.4K followers on TikTok.

@chloelouiseroberts

Crocodile world was actually a blast 🐊 #grwm #suprise

♬ original sound – Chloe Roberts

@chloelouiseroberts

Replying to @Megan THE MAKEUP TUT you’ve all requested 🫶🏼🫶🏼 #makeup #beauty

♬ original sound – Chloe Roberts

Content spotlight

Glossier G Suite Lip Cremes

Glossier partnered with lifestyle and makeup gurus to promote its new G Suit Lip Cremes. The brand used a diverse range of creators to showcase the products on different skintones. Creators mentioned the demi-matte finish and how comfortable the product was to wear. All Glossier sponsored content is accompanied with #GlossierPartner.

@thetennillelife

Okay babes, I’m officially IN LOVE with the new G Suit lip cremes x @glossier  GlossierPartner Just look at these gorgeous colors! 😍 The application is everything – so luxurious and buttery-smooth and they don’t stain your lips! Now the hard part, which color is your fave? 💋

♬ Lo-Fi hip hop that feels melancholy(968938) – Mikrostatik

@jaeldorotan

OKAYYY, which shade stole your heart?? Literally in love with the @glossier G Suit collection 💘 it’s in the formulation that I absolutely love, a velvety, demi-matte cream finish with high colour payoff. Dab or swipe, it’s up to you! #glossierpartner #glossier #glossiercheck #glossiermakeup #glossiergsuit #gsuit #lips #makeup

♬ I Think I Like When It Rains – WILLIS

YSL Beauty x Yasmin Finney

Following Yasmin Finney’s announcement as the newest (and first ever trans and UK) YSL Beauty ambassador, YSL sponsored creators to recreate the look Yasmin wore in her YSL beauty photoshoot. All content tagged YSL Beauty on TikTok, and used the “Paid partnership” toggle.

@sophie.floyd

recreating this beautiful @YSL Beauty Yasmin Finney look. ♥️ #makeup #ad

♬ Drop the Look – Chloe Caillet

@sarahnewsfx

Recreating the @YSL Beauty x Yasmin Finney Makeup🖤 Products- All hours foundation MW2, Touché Éclat 62W, Couture Blush 06, Colour Couture Clutch Eyeshadow Palette Desert Nude (coming soon!), Crushliner 1, Lash Clash Mascara, Rouge Pur Couture The Bold Lipstick 1971 #ad #makeup #beauty

♬ original sound – Sarah New

Lancôme: #TeintIdoleUltrawear

To announce the launch of the reformulated Teint Idole Ultrawear foundation, Lancôme sponsored beauty creators to create quick review videos of the product. Offering application tips, and discussing the product’s formula and 45 shades, videos were accompanied by the hashtag #TeintIdoleUltrawear, which has received over 254M views to date.

@estare

ad • NEW @Lancôme #teintidoleultrawear Foundation! Available in 45 shades, find yours #makeup #lancome #beautytok

♬ original sound – estare

@leilanikeaa

AD | @Lancôme have reformulated their #teintidoleultrawear iconic foundation! 😍✨#makeup

♬ original sound – Leila Nikea

Jo Malone: Sofia Richie Grainge 

Jo Malone was quick to the post in nabbing TikTok’s new idol: Sofia Richie Grainge. Sofia joined TikTok in late April, and took over the platform showing her wedding, appealing to the younger generation. Jo Malone partnered with Sofia to find her signature scent, positioning the brand as accessible and desirable to younger audiences.

@jomalonelondon

We partnered with @Sofia Richie Grainge to find her #JoMaloneLondon signature scent, which scents would you wear? #SofiaRichieGrainge

♬ original sound – Jo Malone London

Maybelline New York: Superstay Vinyl Liquid Lip

Promoting its Superstay Vinyl Liquid Lipstick, Maybelline used lifestyle and beauty creators to post wear tests to their own channels. These videos were creative, with one influencer who is known for TikTok pickle taste tests trialling the product against a pickle, and another pair of influencers showing the same shade on different skintones.

@ash_holme

Lippy 1 – 0 Basilisk @Maybelline New York Superstay Vinyl Ink doesn’t budge & still glossy! Wearing shade fearless #vinylink #makeupdecoded #maybelline #ad

♬ original sound – ASH

@wendyandmay1

We haven’t been this pleasantly surprised by a drug store lippie for a while!!! – @Maybelline New York Fearless Superstay Vinyl Liquid Lip IB @jazzi manalo 💄 @Monica Ravichandran ✨ #colourtheory #wendyandmay #maybellinesuperstay #maybellinevinylink #colourtheorymakeup

♬ original sound – spedupaudiossss

Our influencer marketing agency and social agency are located worldwide, with our agency network based in the USA, UK, UAE and China.

If you want to receive our industry insights, visit our influencer marketing & social media blogs here.

Socially Powerful

Posted in Industry Trends, Marketing News, News

An In-Depth Guide to Instagram Story Ideas in 2023

May 23rd, 2023 by

You might be thinking ‘what’s the point in Instagram Stories if they only last 24 hours?’, but in internet time, that’s plenty. Finding Instagram Story ideas to fill those 24 hours can be tough. 

You must also remember that 500 million Instagram users access this feature every day, with 58% stating that they’re more interested in a brand after viewing their Stories. That makes them pretty worthwhile in our books. 

Instagram Stories have the capacity to be more real and raw with the content they share, compared to Instagram posts, with unedited, in-the-moment pictures and videos often prioritised. However, only sharing this content to your Stories can soon become rather repetitive and boring for your audience. If you want to keep them engaged, you’ll need to start getting creative and planning ahead. 

With Pride month fast approaching, it is wise to plan your Instagram Story ideas in advance so that they remain engaging, fresh and interactive throughout the month of June. Content planning can be a tedious task, but recruiting the help of an Instagram marketing agency can make it a lot easier. Industry experts can plan a month-long content calendar filled with exciting Instagram Story ideas to spotlight your allyship for the coming month. 

Wanting fresh Instagram Story content? 

Read on!

Instagram Story ideas for increasing follower engagement

Conduct a poll

The great thing about polls is that they can be about anything you want them to be about. Not only this, but they serve as a way of getting more content ideas and feedback from your audience without being overly pushy for answers. 

Say you own a press-on nail business. You can poll your audience on their design choices, purchasing considerations and wearability expectations. The social media marketer for this press-on nail business could even use the Poll feature to discover that a percentage of their audience don’t know how to apply their own nails; creating the opportunity for a future Instagram Story dedicated to teaching others how to apply their own press-on nails.

Host a Q&A

A Q&A allows your audience to get to know your team better. 

Here are just a few of the benefits:

  1. You can quickly and directly connect with your audience in a low-effort way
  2. Based on the questions you get, you can create an FAQs highlight that will live on your profile and help all future visitors 
  3. You will discover information gaps between you and your audience

Spotlight your customers

Spotlighting your customers is a great way to kill two birds with one stone. While maintaining a relationship with an existing customer, you are also attracting new ones by leveraging social proof that your product or service is enjoyable. In turn, this will increase your credibility and serve as a testimonial for your brand.

Quiz your followers!

Everyone loves a quiz, making this Instagram Story feature one of the most fun and engaging ways to interact with your followers through your Stories. Alongside this, Instagram quizzes can also offer interesting insights. 

This Pride month, if it is relevant to your brand, consider opting for a quiz that tests your audience’s knowledge on the history of Pride month.

Re-post user-generated content

If you are struggling with Instagram Story ideas, reposting UGC is an easy, yet effective way to overcome this challenge. Pride month is all about lifting others up and celebrating differences, so be mindful of those whose content you share.

Ways to set yourself up for UGC success are:

  1. Start a hashtag and encourage your followers to incorporate it into any content they share about your brand
  2. Search relevant hashtags to find posts that are related to your brand without directly tagging you

Host a giveaway

Who doesn’t love a freebie?

Hosting a giveaway is a great way to increase your reach and this Pride month is all about that! They act as incentives for others to share your content with their own network of followers, strengthening their loyalty to you. 

When hosting a giveaway, make sure you create an in-feed Post featuring all of its details and entry requirements. This way, whenever you promote it on your Story (which you can do multiple times), users will be able to access it and enter at any time.

Cool Instagram Story ideas for products/services

Share testimonials and reviews

As mentioned earlier, testimonials are a great way to improve your brand’s credibility. 

When you find a favourable review you can turn it into an aesthetically pleasing Story. Once the 24 hours are up, consider adding it to a Story Highlight for future visitors to read. 

Top Tip: create a testimonial/review template that you can simply pop your customer’s review into each time and share with ease. 

Highlight your products/services 

Every now and then you’ll want to promote your products/services in Stories. This keeps things fresh and reminds your followers of what you have to offer. 

Say you have a sale going on over on your website, posting a Story of the sale items on your Story and making use of the Shopping Sticker is a great way to drive traffic to that product and generate sales.

Announce discounts and special deals

Discounts and special deals are a win-win. People love them, and your brand generates more sales. That is why you’ll want to share this information with your audience via Stories. From here, you can share a link to your website, creating a seamless shopping experience. 

These Instagram Story ideas in particular should be loud and entice the viewer to click through, so make use of all of the animated stickers and colourful fonts that Instagram has to offer. 

Instagram Story ideas for educational content

Pride month is all about educating others, whether that’s on the history of Pride, social media advocates to follow or stories about famous members of the LGBTQ+ community. 

If this is your goal this June, then consider doing the following:

Share community news

With an array of Pride-related activities and events taking place throughout the month of June, consider sharing the information with your audience via your Stories. Being a reliable source of information will build trust with your audience. On a similar note, sharing your opinion on Pride-related news this month could make you a thought leader in the LGBTQ+ space. 

Post tutorials

Valuable, short tutorials add value to your audience. For this to work, your tutorial must be to-the-point and include bold visuals to keep your audience swiping right.

If you’re a beauty brand, consider sharing a one-Story graphic on potential makeup looks your audience could rock at their next Pride parade. Something as simple as this makes it easily digestible and shareable! 

There you have it – a detailed list of Instagram Story ideas to make sure you never run out of content this June!

FAQs

How do you make a catchy Story on Instagram?

To attract attention, get creative! Include Emojis, Stickers, colourful fonts and fun language that includes CTAs.

How can I increase my Story views?

  1. Add an engagement-driving Sticker (ie, a Poll, Emoji Slider or Quiz)
  2. Add an extra Story at the end of the day 
  3. Share exclusive content on Stories (for brands this could be a 24-hour discount code and for creators a personal story)

What is the current Instagram Story trend?

The ‘Add Yours’ Sticker creates a public thread in Stories. You can customise the prompt (such as ‘show me a picture of your pet’) and wait to see who responds to it with a picture on their Story. For brands, this is a great way to encourage UGC.

How do I make my Instagram Stories interesting?

To hold your audience’s attention you can:

  1. Start a ‘this or that’ game on your Story
  2. Show how something is made
  3. Share a buying guide
  4. Create fun graphics with useful tips
  5. Create a fun quiz
  6. Start a trend using the ‘Add Yours’ Sticker
  7. Participate in a Story trend

Our influencer marketing agency and social agency are located worldwide, with our agency network based in the USA, UK, UAE and China.

If you want to receive our industry insights, visit our influencer marketing & social media blogs here.

Socially Powerful

Posted in Marketing News, News, Social Media Platforms

The Snapchat Renaissance of 2023

May 23rd, 2023 by

Snapchat slipped off the map slightly in the past few years, but new Snapchat updates have given the platform a new lease of life. 

With Snapchat updates including new monetisation features for Snap creators, a brand new AI bestie, larger options for discovery and sharing, and more interactive marketing features, Snapchat is set to become a dream for users, brands and creators. 

Snapchat Updates: Engagement insights

As of 2023, Snapchat has over 383 million active users, and over 350 million Spotlight users, which is also showing a 170% uplift in annual viewership. 

The audience is still skewed towards younger audiences, with the majority aged between 18 and 24, but this can climb up to 35. 

But what are the updates the platform has implemented to keep this number climbing, and more importantly, will they work?

Snapchat Updates: Creator

Creator monetisation: Crystals

Snapchat’s update for creator monetisation has made the platform become a creator favourite, attracting some of social’s biggest names. Snapchat’s Snap Stars revenue stream reportedly splits revenue 50/50—a significantly more lucrative split than other platforms offer. 

Creators within Snap Stars are paid in Crystals—the exchange rate works out to $1 to 10 Crystals, and can be paid out once a creator has earned over 1,000 Crystals (or $100). 

Snapchat also allows Stars to earn through gifts. This is where users essentially tip their favourite creators by sending sticker-like or filter gifts, to even more expensive items like Bitmoji outfits and Lenses. Users need to purchase Snap Tokens in order to send virtual gifts.

Stories Revenue Share Program

Creators with over 50K followers, 25M views, or 12 hours of view time are eligible for Snapchat’s Stories Revenue Share Program. Creators within the program can place ads within their Stories, generating recurring revenue. 

The Program allows users over 18 to share their Story content with friends and a wider audience from one account, and even schedule Stories to go live at any time. Scheduled Stories is particularly useful given Snapchat’s new feature of tagging locations. 

Snapchat Updates: New features 

My AI

One of Snapchat’s newest features is MyAI—an artificial intelligence bestie for Snapchatters. The tool can hold a conversation, help you find gift ideas, answer trivia, and more. Users can start a chat with the bot just as they would with a real friend. 

Snapchatters can even bring their AI into group chat conversations by @’ing them, and asking questions on behalf of the group. 

The bot was initially only available to Snap+ subscribers, but has since rolled out to all users. The bot has gone viral on multiple other social platforms for people posting funny conversations, but also for safety concerns. 

The AI bot is still learning and developing, and runs on a custom version of AI tech provided by ChatGPT’s maker OpenAI. The bot can often switch from responsible adult to mischievous friend within the same conversation.

After Dark

After Dark is Snapchat’s edited version of BeReal. It’s where users can make and send content to their friends after 8PM, but recipients can only view the content after posting their own Story. The feature was added to allow users to create a space to “relive last night’s escapades.” 

This feature can not only be used by Snapchatter, but brands. Brands could post exclusive After Dark discount codes and deals to their most loyal fans. 

Snapchat Updates: Marketing opportunities 

AR Enterprises Services (ARES)

ARES allows brands to use AR tech to enhance brand experiences for users through the Shopping Suite. Through the Shopping Suite, users can access three AR elements; the 3D Viewer, AR Try-On, and the Fit Finder. Tools available within the Shopping Suite work in tandem to provide bespoke virtual shopping experiences for brands and users. 

Snapchat has been at the forefront of AR tech since its conception. ARES has made third-party integrations seamless, offering a fluid shopping experience to users that brands can leverage. AR tech makes shopping interactive and fun for users.

Our influencer marketing agency and social agency are located worldwide, with our agency network based in the USA, UK, UAE and China.

If you want to find industry insights, visit our influencer marketing and social media blogs here.

@ Socially Powerful

Posted in Industry Trends, Influencer News, Marketing News, News, Social Media Marketing News, Social Media Platforms

The Top Gaming Companies Levelling Up the Industry’s Marketing Efforts

May 17th, 2023 by

The gaming industry has come a long way in recent decades. With the rise in esports popularity, the birth of multiple new streaming platforms and the desire for community now more than ever, the gaming industry is booming, with a few top gaming companies leading the way. 

With an anticipated projected revenue of $365 billion for 2023, much of the industry’s success is synonymous with tech breakthroughs, new business strategies and cleverly-crafted marketing campaigns for launches. 

The rise in gaming marketing agencies is a major contributor to modern-day gaming companies being able to push the creative boundaries when it comes to launches and this blog will pay tribute to the noteworthy campaigns rolled out over the years. 

Keep reading to discover the top gaming companies that have contributed to the immense success of the gaming industry thus far!

The top gaming companies dominating the scene 

Riot Games – K/DA for League of Legends

To promote the League of Legends World Championship in 2018, Riot Games created K/DA, a virtual K-pop group consisting of four themed versions of League of Legends characters, Ahri, Akali, Evelynn and Kia’Sa. 

Voiced by (G)I-dle members, Soyeon and Miyeon, Madison Beer and Jaira Burns, the group was unveiled at the world championships with an augmented reality live performance. Since the campaign’s launch, the performance video has amassed 58M views, and the Pop/Stars music video has reached 551M views. Both videos acted as great adverts for the game, while forming its own fandom, gaining Riot Games more leads than ever before. 

To many, creating an entire K-pop group to promote something might seem far fetched. However, it is definitely worth looking into creating music videos to promote your latest game launch, at least. If the song is good/catchy, it will automatically gain traction and convert solid leads over time.

Bungie – Believe for Halo 3 

Believe is considered to be Halo 3’s most successful ad campaign, featuring a string of video advertisements with the tagline ‘Believe’, beginning September 11th 2007. 

The videos were estimated to cost around $10 million to create and were directed by Rupert Sanders, a legend in the video game advertising industry. A massive diorama spanning 1,200 square feet and 12 feet tall was used to film a single battle scene from the game, with handcrafted human and Covenant figures represented at one-twelfth scale. Halo 3 fans could pan the length of the diorama on the Believe website. 

Over 10,000 retail stores across the US held midnight launch parties for Halo’s release, along with multiple others across the globe. Within the first 24 hours of its release, the game made $170 million in US sales alone, generating the most amount of money than any other American entertainment property up to that point. By 2008, Halo had sold 8.1 million units worldwide and, to date, has sold in excess of 14.5 million copies. 

If you are to take anything from the success of Halo’s Believe campaign, it should be to spend more time on your ad ideas and try to connect them with fundamental human emotions.

Sega – Sega does what Nintendon’t 

To promote the Mega Drive in the early 1990s, Sega sought to battle Nintendo’s market leader position, attaching the slogan “Sega (or Genesis in North America) does what Nintendon’t” to a video ad that highlighted the features of its new gaming console. Take a look:

At the time, Sega knew that all school children and teenagers wanted to be part of the Genesis group, and used emotional, logical and ethical appeal to connect to this. As a result, Sega’s sales amounted to double of its competitor, Nintendo, for four holiday seasons after the ad was released. 

We understand that assigning celebrities to feature in your campaign ads is a little excessive, particularly for small companies, however, regardless of size, all companies can adopt the key aspect of Sega’s ad – highlighting your product features.

Ubisoft – My Life as an NPC for Assassin’s Creed

Ubisoft’s My Life as an NPC campaign is proof that humour is often a great way to drive results. In this social campaign, dozens of NPCs took over Ubisoft’s Facebook and Instagram accounts to share what their life looks like in the game. Here’s an example of the sort of things they produced:

Even if your games don’t have the virality that Assassin’s Creed does, you can still use this quirky, funny and offbeat approach to promote them on social media. Instagram Reels, short videos, social media takeovers etc are all a great way to popularise your game and make it relatable to new and old players alike.

Tips for creating gaming ads

Connect with users through a story

You may have noticed that most of the examples we have shared employ some kind of storytelling in one way or another. The reason for this? Players like to choose games that run a different story from their own. It allows them to escape to another world to de-stress, be entertained or join a new community of like minded players. 

Gaming marketers like to pair their compelling stories with impactful visuals. Check out Playstation’s Double Life advert:

Know your players’ motivations

As a gaming marketer, you should know exactly why people are choosing to play your game. 

For example, if you are promoting a cosy game with stand-out design elements and encourages problem solving, you are most likely looking for casual gamers with interests in design and decor. Taking it one step further, you’ll soon realise that the main motivations for puzzle gamers are thinking, relaxing, passing time and exercising cognitive skills. You should be targeting people with these interests.

Advertise in-game

The best place to market games is within already existing ones. A lot of mobile games nowadays give players the option to watch an ad for more advantages in that game. This is a great way to be seen by more relevant players, increasing your likelihood of more downloads. 

In-game ads are also great for brand awareness. While the largest franchises of games might not be available to smaller businesses, you can target various free-to-play titles instead.

Our influencer marketing agency and social agency are located worldwide, with our agency network based in the USA, UK, UAE and China.

If you want to find industry insights, visit our influencer marketing and social media blogs here.

@ Socially Powerful

Posted in Industry Trends, News

Influencer Sessions: Get to Know @rahmaxali

May 17th, 2023 by

We spoke to lifestyle, travel and beauty influencer Rahma (@____rahma on Instagram, and @rahmaxali on TikTok), to discuss making a hobby a career, changes in the influencer marketing space, and balancing online and offline. 

Check out the full blog below! 

Tell us about your background and how you started to build your following. 

My background is actually in Biology, I never considered myself to be creative whatsoever. I went on a girl’s trip to Malta in my last year of uni, and vlogged to capture the moment for myself and during the editing process, I had a sudden urge to give YouTube a try. Editing really allowed me to express a creative side I never knew I had and for a long time creating content was just a hobby.

When vlogging, do you tend to plan your days around what you want your next vlog to be about, or plan your vlogs around whatever you are doing that day? 

When vlogging no two days are the same. If I know I’m doing something exciting I plan my days around the vlog, however I’m quite spontaneous and like to vlog what I’m up to day to day.

@rahmaxali

Wedding glam 🧕🏾🫶🏾✨@Morphe 2 @Lancôme @Charlotte Tilbury @e.l.f. Cosmetics @elfcosmetics @maccosmetics @Sephora UK @MorpheOfficial @Rose Inc @NARS Cosmetics @BourjoisParis @COSRX Official @Supergoop #somalitiktok #hijabitiktok #hijabi #somali #muslimtiktok #dirac

♬ original sound – Rahma Ali

Which platforms do you predominantly use? Which is your favourite? 

I enjoy each platform for its unique reasons. YouTube will always have a place in my heart as it’s where my journey as a creator began. TikTok is fast-paced and the algorithm always introduces me to new things, whilst Instagram is quite aesthetic and allows you to keep up with what your friends and family are up to on Stories.

What type of content do you create, and which type works best for your audience? 

I create a lot of vlogs. I enjoy travelling and YouTube allows me to share my experiences and connect with new people.

How would you define “influencer marketing”? 

Influencer marketing is a form of social media marketing. Creators all have different interests so they are placed between a brand/product and their audience. Usually, a creator will align with what they are sharing with their audience which is a great way to share beneficial products and services. I have often been more inclined to try products recommended by influencers if I enjoy their other content.

@rahmaxali

Date/Timir Cake 🫶🏾✨ #ramdanseries #ramdanbaking #bakingrecipe #datecake #timircake #muslimtiktok #somalitiktok #ramdanmubarak

♬ original sound – ᴍᴏʜᴀ__ᴛʏᴘɪɴɢ🖤✨🎵

 

Have you worked with brands before? How do you decide which brands to work with? 

I have worked with quite a few brands, and if I enjoy the product/service that a brand is selling I decide to work with them. However, if I have no interest I would rather wait for offers that align with me and my audience.

How do you think influencer marketing will change over the next 12 months? 

Of course, influencer marketing will drastically change in the next 12 months. The space is always changing with new trends, platforms and software features, such as short-form videos becoming more prevalent in our consumption. I’m sure a new social media platform will come along and draw all of our attention soon.

How has influencer marketing changed since you began working within social media?

When I first started creating content, TikTok wasn’t around. There has also been a huge shift in brands working with micro-influencers. I believe everyone has influence and sometimes you trust what your friends recommend without needing a huge platform. Also, social norms are changing, you don’t have to look a certain way or come from a specific background, anyone can create content.

Instagram capture from Rahma Ali's account

Do you use any software to help create and edit your content? 

I use my phone a large amount of the time, it’s always in my hands and the cameras are becoming better by the day! For vlogs I use my Canon G7X Mark 2; I’ve actually been using the same camera for 3 years and it hasn’t let me down and I use iMovie to edit. I learnt how to edit from scratch with my first vlog and learn new techniques all the time through YouTube.

How do you balance your online and offline lives? 

The easiest way to balance your life on and offline is to be yourself, you won’t feel the pressure of having to present yourself in a certain way, and you don’t always have to be done-up or funny, be genuine and you’ll attract an audience that appreciates you for you.

Which influencers inspire you? 

At the moment I’m inspired by fitness creators, it’s an aspect of my life I’m working on so I take inspiration from workouts, recipes and exercise classes such as Pilates. I gave Pilates a try last week despite being fairly unathletic and it was such a good decision, sometimes you have to step out of your comfort zone to get new experiences.

Where would you like to take your career as an influencer? 

It’s less about where I’d like to take my career and more about where I’d like my career to take me. I enjoy going with the flow but I’d love to spend more time travelling in 2023.

Our influencer marketing agency and social agency are located worldwide, with our agency network based in the USA, UK, UAE and China.

If you want to find industry insights, visit our influencer marketing and social media blogs here. For our previous Influencer Session, click here!

@ Socially Powerful

Posted in Influencer News, News

Using Instagram Reels Hashtags to Increase Engagement During Pride Month

May 16th, 2023 by

It’s no secret that social media content is becoming more and more saturated, making it increasingly more difficult for brands and creators alike to stand out from their competitors. 

Luckily, through extensive social listening and years of trial and error, we now know which variables affect growth and engagement online and can tune into these to help you take your marketing efforts this Pride month, up a notch.

Instagram is a frontrunner when it comes to achieving exceptional social media marketing results. Its more recent introduction of Reels has made it even easier for more brands and creators to elevate their content and widen their reach. Just like usual hashtag strategies, a careful selection of Instagram Reels hashtags can ensure that this content is seen by the right people and engaged with sufficiently. The Instagram Reels algorithm also highly favours hashtags that are intentionally set and follow the basic rules when it comes to hashtag best practices. Click here for more information on how you can use the Instagram Reels algorithm to your advantage.

If you are unsure where to begin with your Instagram Reels hashtags strategies, then hiring the help of an Instagram marketing agency is the best way to alleviate your worries. The agency experts will handpick trending hashtags to help elevate and circulate your content. However, if you are ready to take on the challenge alone, then keep reading for all you need to know about maximising your Pride month marketing efforts using Instagram Reels hashtags.

Let’s begin!

Top trending Instagram Reels hashtags 

The top 30 trending hashtags for your Reels are:

  1. #reels
  2. #reelsinstagram
  3. #reelsvideo
  4. #reelitfeelit
  5. #reelsindia
  6. #holareels
  7. #reelsbrasil
  8. #reelsteady
  9. #outfitoftheday
  10. #reelseat
  11. #instagramreels
  12. #viralvideos
  13. #reelsinsta
  14. #reelsofinstagram
  15. #k
  16. #music
  17. #reelsportswear
  18. #reelshutter
  19. #bhfyp
  20. #outfitinspiration
  21. #disney
  22. #tiktokindia
  23. #videooftheday
  24. #instareel
  25. #streetwearstyle
  26. #foryoupage
  27. #fyp
  28. #instafeeds
  29. #indianreels

Consider mixing some of the top trending Pride hashtags into your caption to maximise your reach:

  1. #pride
  2. #gay
  3. #LGBT
  4. #love
  5. #loveislove
  6. #LGBTQ
  7. #instagay
  8. #gayboy
  9. #pridemonth
  10. #gaypride

How to find Instagram Reels hashtags to incorporate into your captions

Search

Instagram’s search function is known to benefit creators and brands in more ways than one. 

To conduct hashtag research, simply type your keyword into the search bar and click on the ‘Tags’ tab. From here, you will see the most popular hashtags used in relation to your keyword, with the number of posts containing that hashtag next to it. 

For example:

Instagram Reels hashtags search example for clothing

Competitor research

Without blatantly copying them, it is wise to look to your competitors when putting together your list of Instagram Reels hashtags. You are most likely aware of the top performing brands and creators within your industry, so take a look at their top performing Reels and make note of the hashtags used and in what way they are being used. 

Other social networks 

Taking trending hashtags from other social networks – particularly TikTok – that haven’t yet caught on over on Reels is a great way to skyrocket content to the top of the trending list.

Social listening

Making use of social listening tools is vital if you want valuable information about what your target audience wants from your brand. What’s great is that this data can be applied to hashtags too. 

Top trending Instagram Reels hashtags according to industry

Fitness Instagram Reels hashtags 

  1. #fitness 
  2. #fitnessmotivation
  3. #fitnessreels
  4. #health
  5. #lifestyle
  6. #gymlife
  7. #muscle
  8. #instagood
  9. #gymmotivation
  10. #beastmode

Travel hashtags 

  1. #travelling
  2. #travelblogger
  3. #traveling
  4. #travel
  5. #travelmore
  6. #travelbug
  7. #traveldiary
  8. #instatravel
  9. #travelholic
  10. #travelers 

Food hashtags 

  1. #mealsandreels
  2. #foodgasm
  3. #yum
  4. #eat
  5. #foodpics
  6. #dinner
  7. #foodpic
  8. #lunch
  9. #foodphotography
  10. #breakfast

Fashion hashtags

  1. #fashion
  2. #fashionstyle
  3. #fashionmodel
  4. #fashionweek
  5. #fashiongram
  6. #style
  7. #styleblogger
  8. #styleblog
  9. #makeupforever
  10. #beautytips

Funny hashtags 

  1. #funny
  2. #memes
  3. #funnymemes
  4. #dailydose
  5. #memestagram
  6. #funnyreels
  7. #funnymeme
  8. #funnyvideo
  9. #comedyreels
  10. #lol

Our influencer marketing agency and social agency are located worldwide, with our agency network based in the USA, UK, UAE and China.

If you want to find industry insights, visit our influencer marketing and social media blogs here.

@ Socially Powerful

Posted in Marketing News, News, Social Media Marketing News, Social Media Platforms

What is Bluesky and should Twitter be worried?

May 15th, 2023 by

You might not have heard of Bluesky yet, but you most definitely will have soon. 

Bluesky is the new Twitter-alternative that is backed by ex-Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey. Currently invite-only, Bluesky is still in its beta era, but has around 50,000 users, but over 375,000 app downloads. Some people are so desperate to get on the platform, invites have been popping up on eBay, with some going for $999.

But what’s fuelling consumer interest in this new platform? 

What is Bluesky?

Bluesky is a decentralised social platform that’s been developed in parallel with Twitter, and backed by Jack Dorsey. The platform has a user interface and experience very similar to Twitter, minus a few features. 

The platform operates with an open-source framework that’s built in-house, meaning those outside the company have transparency into how the platform is built and what new developments are coming. 

Bluesky is essentially a bare-bones Twitter. You can create a post (users have dubbed this “Skeeting” of 256 characters (and include photos). These can then be replied to, retweeted, liked, reported, shared via iOS to other apps, or copied as text. 

Users can search for and follow other users, and view their posts in the Home timeline. Within the “What’s Hot” timeline, users are shown engaging posts selected by an algorithm. 

Bluesky profiles constrain the typical features—a profile picture, background, bio, and follower and following counts. The profiles have two viewing sections—posts, and posts and replies. At present, users are unable to DM others on the platform. 

Is it here to stay?

Since Elon took over Twitter, there have been multiple platforms to come and threaten Twitter’s crown—namely Mastodon—but none have really lasted the test of time. They briefly became popular, and then slipped back into the background, mainly due to complicated user experiences. 

It’s definitely too early to say whether Bluesky will continue to grow and become a real threat to Twitter. Due to the users on the platform currently (journalists, politicians, and die-hard social celebs), the platform hasn’t really been able to establish its personality, per se. 

Most new platforms nowadays need something to draw people in—seeing the opinions of others isn’t necessarily enough. 

The most appealing part of the platform currently is the ability to have a social interaction that feels like a conversation. With new Twitter developments that only boost verified accounts, the average user doesn’t receive the potential reach they once would have. This has resulted in many users feeling like they’re speaking to an empty void. 

A potential risk Bluesky faces is the same as Clubhouse. Clubhouse—if you remember—was the invite-only audio platform that took off in 2021. Its popularity was insane for the first few months. But it became inundated with people creating too-similar content, and it lost its spark. Bluesky will need to make sure it has something to make itself stand out from other platforms and Twitter to keep people interested. 

Bluesky is an under-developed Twitter, so it still allows users to genuinely connect with others. However, Bluesky is likely to run into the same issues Twitter has over the years, but hopefully these can be smoothed out whilst it’s still in its beta-era.

Our influencer marketing agency and social agency are located worldwide, with our agency network based in the USA, UK, UAE and China.

If you want to find industry insights, visit our influencer marketing and social media blogs here.

@ Socially Powerful

Posted in News

The Most Followed TikTok Accounts Advocating For LGBTQ+ Rights

May 15th, 2023 by

Pride month is fast approaching. There are multiple ways brands can get involved and display their allyship during the month of June. 

Being an ally of the LGBTQ+ community is not only a decent thing to do, but also opens your brand up to a new, invaluable audience. As we know, new audiences equal higher chances at driving engagement, increasing brand awareness and gaining more followers. 

Too many brands have had a brush with performative advocacy in the past, so we’re here to put them onto the most followed TikTok accounts advocating for LGBTQ+ rights in the hope that they can learn something and turn their inauthenticity into allyship. Recruiting the help of a TikTok marketing agency is always a great idea, should this be your first Pride campaign, as they will know how to keep things professional and authentic. 

Without further ado, here are the top 22 most followed TikTok accounts and LGBTQ+ advocates taking TikTok by storm.

The top 22 most followed TikTok accounts advocating for LGBTQ+ rights

@queeeerchameleon

Queer Chameleon is a pocket of the internet where cartoon chameleons talk about their experience as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. Using a mix of audio from other queer creators and original audio, each video touches on a unique aspect of the LGBTQ+ community.

@queeeerchameleon

👁️👄👁️ #lesbiansoftiktok #lesbian #lesbianpride #lgbtq #lgbtqia

♬ original sound – mylesweberjoker

@alokvmenon

Poet, comedian, speaker and author Alok is a trailblazer in the LGBTQ+ community. Along with calling for degendering fashion, they fiercely advocate for the visibility and acceptance of members of the queer community. Head to Alok’s account for motivational speeches and outfit inspo!

@alokvmenon

To all the #queer #trans and #nonbinary people in the world I am so proud of you. Thank you for having the courage to be yourself. #purpose #life #healing #dissociation

♬ original sound – alokvmenon

@esme.louisee

Have you ever wondered about the origins of the chastity belt? Or what dirty talk sounded like in the 1700s? If so, you need to check out Esme on TikTok. The Australian Ph.D candidate is best known for her ‘Kinky History’ lecture series in which she discusses history through a lens that highlights the queer experience.

@esme.louisee

Queer icon, activated 🌈🤺 #KinkyHistory #JulieDAubigny #History #LearnOnTikTok #QueerHistory

♬ Pirate orchestra for events and games – RYOpianoforte

The Old Gays

What started as a reaction series for Grindr’s YouTube channel, is now a beloved four tet advocating for LGBTQ+ rights by sharing their experiences growing up queer in a time when it was unacceptable. The Old Gays, Robert, Bill, Jessay and Mick, make entertaining and educational content on their TikTok account for their 10.8M followers, always ensuring a touch of comedy is sprinkled throughout.

@oldgays

Men in black 😎 #transformation

♬ suono originale – Carman

@sethsanker

Seth is one of the #femboys pioneering the fashion de-gendering movement. They excel at connecting fashion with current trends and advocates for more skirts to be worn by all genders. We would be lying if we said we weren’t jealous of their hair too…

@sethsanker

Reaaallllyyy leaning into my daddy era with a bit of Blokecore this summer. Thanks @Major League Soccer and @LA Galaxy for the dope Pride jersey! #blokecore #fashion #lgbtq #pride

♬ Jiggle Jiggle – Duke & Jones & Louis Theroux

@camerongraggg

Cameron has found the perfect approach to mixing entertainment with educational content that discusses microaggressions and transgender issues in 2023! We couldn’t not include them in our list of LGBTQ influencers!

@camerongraggg

Like mind your business #fyp #trans

♬ nosey nelly – Tik Toker

@kissyduerre

Kissy is at the forefront of reminding others that queer youth matter, are valuable and are not just a trend. Her educational content uses trending audio on TikTok to reach wider audiences, with acceptance and love being at the core of everything she creates. Follow Kissy if you need that motivational pep talk!

@kissyduerre

We need to stop with compliments at the expense of degrading another person/woman. It only perpetuates toxic beauty standards, hate, and distorted self-esteem and body image. @Dylan Mulvaney sending you my love and soldier on sis! #transisbeautiful #learnontiktok #beyou

♬ original sound – Kissy Duerré

@jayhawkridge

Jay’s content is frank, upfront, tongue-in-cheek and informative when it comes to living with HIV. Approximately 38 million people are living with HIV, globally, so knowledge is paramount when it comes to discussions surrounding it. With his bio saying “education we could all do with”, it is great to see accounts dedicated to breaking stigmas and raising awareness.

@jayhawkridge

Regular sti testing is hot

♬ Hot Girl (Bodies Bodies Bodies) – Charli XCX

@neoitgirl

Nykita is a trans model and MUA from New York. She is very open about surgeries most trans women undergo to complete their transition and shares with her audience her tips and tricks for more feminine-appearing makeup looks.

@neoitgirl

Replying to @justdaurnt anything for you 💗 #lashes #mascara #makeuptutorial #mua #neoitgirl

♬ Chopin Nocturne No. 2 Piano Mono – moshimo sound design

@2deafgirls

Duo Becky and Immy share relatable relationship content, but from the perspective of a deaf couple. They challenge stereotypes and regularly highlight the intersectionality between disability and sexuality. On top of this, the majority of their videos are conducted using British sign language, making their content accessible to the deaf community and those who would like to learn.

@2deafgirls

Reply to @mariannagunzz any questions? Just ask. #deaf #2deafgirls #comments #xcyzba #learnontiktok #viral

♬ original sound – Becky & Immy 🤟🏻 🌈

@kai_isaiah_jamal 

Kai is a non-binary creator who shares their journey towards self-acceptance. Catch them walking for Mugler in a recent campaign and answering their most-asked questions as a member of the non-binary community.

@kai_isaiah_jamal

2 in one day. Full fit Ferragamo

♬ Oxlade x Kolo Sa x DJ Jesse x Smiley Music – Jesse Ogbomor (DJ Jesse)

@elliemedhurst

Looking to learn more about the history of the LGBTQ+ community in a cool and engaging way? Ellie is the creator for you! Expect to find content talking about the history of the word ‘lesbian’ and where “lesbian hair” originated from.

@elliemedhurst

Who else is a young priestesses of Lesbos?? #lesbianhistory #lesbianvisibilityweek #lesbianvisibilityweek2023 #lgbthistory #lesbiansoftiktok #queerhistory

♬ original sound – Eleanor

@djkrystallake

Krystal’s content covers everything the schools don’t. Calling out systemic issues such as racism and homophobia, you can expect to find content that educates people about the issues facing marginalised groups and moments throughout history that have impacted women, people of colour and the LGBTQ+ community.

@djkrystallake

❤️ What does being a feminist mean to you? 🎤 Hear what I had to say in the first-ever #FEMINISTZINE available now📓 Sign up now in the #linkinbio @feminist Commissioned by @wetransfer. #FEMINISTFORALL

♬ original sound – Krystal Lake

@totallyprincessjasmine

Jasmine is a desi, trans woman who shares her transition with her followers and celebrates the trans community. Her content helps to break down misconceptions and spotlights everyday trans experiences.

@totallyprincessjasmine

you have now <3 #transandproud #desi #indian

♬ оригинальный звук – speed songs

@therealasherah

Singer, songwriter and trans activist, therealasherah regularly amplifies trans issues and voices, spotlighting the importance of unlearning transphobia.

@therealasherah

1 year on hormones. It has changed my life thank you all so much. You have Changed my life make sure to donate link is in my bio. #gofundme #hormoneupdate #genderaffirmingcare i will be posting my crowdfunding video in a few hours

♬ original sound – Therealasherah

@glow_with_ola

Ever wondered how people make walking in heels look so effortless? Ola is the creator for you. Ola regularly calls out internalised racism and homophobia and unapologetically walks the streets in his iconic high heels, embracing his identity wholeheartedly.

@glow_with_ola

8 inch life #runninginheels #runninginheelschallenge #howtowalkinheels #howtowalktutorial #meninheels #catwalkchallenge

♬ america has a problem – NHLZS™

@itsmillyevans

Queer sex educator and author, Milly, shares content about sexual health and safety for the LGBTQ+ community. From encouraging lesbians to use protection during sex, to advocating for the ban of conversion therapy in the UK, Milly’s account is a great resource to follow.

@itsmillyevans

Part 2 coming soon! Dental dam tutorial 👉@itsmillyevans #healtheducation #learnontiktok #advice #wlw #lgbtq

♬ Say So (Instrumental Version) [Originally Performed by Doja Cat] – Elliot Van Coup

@maxhovey

Max is the queer bestie you needed growing up. His content is a great mix of relatable, funny and educational videos about life as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. Another great resource to follow!

@maxhovey

Replying to @CreePing_StarFish masculinity is a social construct🫶🏼 #queerness #internalisedhomophobia #internalisedmisogony

♬ Morning Moon – brd

@zoestoller

Social worker and queer writer, Zoe, provides TikTok users with endless educational content surrounding almost any and every LGBTQ+ topic you can think of. From explaining queer-related terms to helping others find their identity/sexuality, Zoe makes their content easily digestible.

@zoestoller

👋🏻 Here’s your reminder that lesbians don’t have to be women! 🌈 Some people see the identity lesbian as very rooted within the gender binary of man and woman, and so they define lesbian as “women who love women.” And it’s valid for anyone who wants to define it as that — but in truth, the word lesbian can go so much further beyond just the gender binary. There are nonbinary lesbians. Lesbians who might connect to womanhood in a way that’s different from how society traditionally defines it. Lesbians who might connect to manhood! There can be lesbians that connect with any gender— because it doesn’t have to be constricted within that gender binary. As such, some people choose to define lesbian as “non-men who love non-men” — but even that label doesn’t feel comfy for everyone, as it defines lesbianism in opposition to manhood, and it also excludes any lesbians who do connect with manhood in their identity. In the end, you’re allowed to define the word lesbian in whatever way feels most validating for you — while also keeping in mind that anyone of any gender identity can use the label lesbian if that’s what feels best for them!❤️ 💬 How do you define the word lesbian? Do you have any questions about expanding the label beyond the gender binary? 💬 #zoestoller #lesbianvisibilityweek #lesbianvisibilityday #nonbinarylesbiansarevalid

♬ Daylight – David Kushner

@justflintisfine

As a queer student and LGBTQ+ educator of nearly 10 years, Flint shares invaluable videos about allyship and creating queer-inclusive classrooms, along with a range of other topics.

@justflintisfine

We can’t all just outrun this, my dudes. #trans #transtok #transrights #queer #queertok #lgbtq

♬ som original – SUZY SANTOS

@thejeffreymarsh

Jeffrey is no stranger to the online LGBTQ+ community. Marsh uses their platform to encourage and empower viewers of all identities and sexualities with positive, affirming content and a soothing voice. Their account also promotes trans, non-binary and queer-inclusivity.

@thejeffreymarsh

finding peace 😇💛✨️🌈💕 #lgbtq #nonbinary #trans #peace #healing #meditation #manifestation

♬ original sound – Jeffrey Marsh

@hellomynameiswednesday

Coming back full circle, we have another animated TikTok account headed by trans illustrator Wednesday Holmes. With a focus on mental health, Wednesday creates inclusive artwork that celebrates and encourages all of their followers.

@hellomynameiswednesday

Love u ✨✨✨✨

♬ outside – Øneheart

FAQs

Who is the most followed person on TikTok?

@khaby.lame is the most followed TikTok account with 157.4M followers.

Who are the top 10 most followed TikTok accounts?

  1. @khaby.lame 
  2. @charliedamelio
  3. @bellapoarch
  4. @addisonre
  5. @mrbeast
  6. @zachking
  7. @kimberly.loaiza
  8. @cznburak
  9. @domelipa
  10. @dixiedamelio

Who is the highest paid TikTok creator?

Charlie D’Amelio with an est. annual earnings of $17.5M.

Who is the most famous female TikToker?

Charlie D’Amelio with 150.5M followers.

Our influencer marketing agency and social agency are located worldwide, with our agency network based in the USA, UK, UAE and China.

If you want to find industry insights, visit our influencer marketing and social media blogs here.

@ Socially Powerful

Posted in Industry Trends, News, Social Media Platforms, Social Trends

The Facebook Demographics Every Marketer Should Know

May 15th, 2023 by

As a social media platform, Facebook has stood the test of time. Despite the constant change in trends, user behaviour and content preferences, it has continued to remain at the top of the social media leaderboard. Given this, what are the Facebook demographics to know for 2023?

But with the rise in competition coming from platforms like TikTok, how do marketers know if their audience are even still using Facebook? Facebook demographics are a foolproof way to know if you still have some form of standing on the platform or if it’s time to try your luck elsewhere. This blog will get you up to speed with the latest Facebook demographics, covering all you need to know about users, usage, and advertising on Facebook in 2023.

Facebook demographics: Users

As the third most visited website on the internet – following Google and YouTube – it’s safe to say there are a fair few people visiting Facebook, daily, but who are they and what is their purpose for visiting? 

1. Facebook has nearly 3 billion monthly active users

By Q3 of 2022, Facebook’s number of monthly active users increased to 2.96 billion. Though adoption has slowed down, usage is on the up, putting the platform in good stead for hitting the 3 billion mark. It is also important to note that 67.5% of these monthly active users are active every day. This means that there are potentially billions of people that your brand could reach every day.

2. Messaging friends and family is the top activity on Facebook

71% of users say they use Facebook to message friends and family, particularly if that family lives overseas. Other popular activities include photo sharing/posting (62.9%) and keeping up to date with events (59.5%).

3. India leads in total Facebook users

India boasts a total of 329 million Facebook users. That’s 23.88% of their entire 1.38 billion population. It might feel like they lead in everything, but the US and Canada only make up 10% of total Facebook users. 

In-keeping with country specifics, 66% of the UK population are Facebook users, while a whopping 71.43% of the US population are, too. 

4. Users aged 65 and over are the platform’s fastest growing demographic

A study conducted by the Pew Research Centre found that of all the Facebook demographics, those aged 65 or older grew the most between 2018 and 2019, from 26% to nearly 40%. Millennials and Baby Boomers only rose by 2%, while Gen X actually decreased by 2%. 

Speaking of millennials, an estimated 84% of millennials are active users of the social platform, making them the largest audience. 

5. Facebook is the most popular social media platform for men and women aged 35-44

This might not come as a surprise to most of you, since it feels like nearly every mum on the planet has a Facebook account to share pictures of their children and holidays on.

Facebook demographics: Ads

The world of Facebook ads is ever-expanding and 2023 is no exception. Read on to find out more about the current advertising statistics and trends. 

1. 93% of social media marketers use Facebook ads

Facebook ads are essential for most marketing strategies, internationally. As previously mentioned, billions of users worldwide flock to Facebook so it makes sense for marketers to expand their efforts through the platform.

2. 56.6% of Facebook’s ad audience are men

The largest Facebook ad audience in 2021 was men aged between 25-34, accounting for 19% of total reach. Men aged between 18-24 make up 15%, while women aged between 24-35 account for 13%. 

3. Facebook ads see an average click-through rate (CTR) of 0.90%

According to a WordStream study Facebook ads get a CTR of 0.90% across all industries. Having said that, it does vary industry by industry, with retail, legal, apparel, beauty and fitness seeing a CTR of 1%.

In addition to this the average cost per click (CPC) for Facebook ads across all industries is £1.31. The industry with the highest CPC is Finance and Insurance with £2.88, while the industry with the lowest CPC is apparel with £0.34. 

4. The average conversion rate across industries is 9.21%

Facebook is the leading social media platform when it comes to conversion rates, with Google Ads trailing in second place with a rate of 3.75%. Again, specifics depend on your industry, with Fitness, Education and Healthcare sectors seeing significantly higher conversion rates than others.

Needless to say with such high conversion rates and low CPC, marketing on Facebook yields high returns, placing it at the top of the leaderboard for highest ROI generated. 

5. Over 1 billion people use Facebook Marketplace 

The buy-and-sell element to Facebook has grown substantially since its launch in 2016 and is now used by over 1 billion people worldwide. Expanding upon this in 2020, Facebook then launched Shops in an attempt to cater more towards the ecommerce world. With online shopping becoming more commonplace, Facebook users have 250 million stores to choose from, with an average of 1 million people using the feature on a monthly basis.

6. 94% of ad revenue is from mobile users

“Facebook really is a mobile app” said Zuckerberg and that doesn’t seem to be changing any time soon. From an estimated 34.45 billion in mobile ads, to 113 billion USD in 2022. 

This leads us into exploring Facebook as a mobile-first platform.

Facebook demographics by device

1. Most people access Facebook from a mobile device

97.4% of Facebook users access Facebook from any type of mobile device. Moreover, 68.7% of users exclusively use their mobile phones to access Facebook, indicating how much of an overwhelming preference there is for accessing the platform via mobile, therefore, how important it is for Facebook to optimise for mobile devices. 

Brands should keep this in mind when developing a content strategy for Facebook.

2. Only 2.6% of users exclusively use computers to access Facebook

This is quite a stark difference compared to those whose preference is a mobile device to access the platform. 

3. If you’re using Facebook, you’re more than likely to use the other apps in Meta’s family

Along with Facebook, Meta has a lot of other successful apps under its belt that you are most likely already using. 

  1. 74.7% of Facebook users also use YouTube
  2. 72.2% of Facebook users also use WhatsApp
  3. 78.1% of Facebook users also use Instagram

It was also found that Facebook users are least likely to use TikTok and Snapchat, two platforms that generally attract a younger audience. 

4. Facebook mobile users spend 57 minutes on the app per day 

This translates to an average of 28 hours every month and 14 days every year.

If your audience still frequent Facebook, hiring the help of a Facebook marketing agency is a great way to boost and manage your presence on the platform and ensure you are reaching the relevant people.

FAQs

What is the largest Facebook demographic?

As of January 2023, it was found that men aged between 25-34 made up Facebook’s largest audience, accounting for 17.6% of total global users. 

What are the Facebook gender demographics?

In 2023, 56.5% of Facebook users are men, while 43.5% are women. 

What are Facebook’s age demographics?

18-24 years old = 18.1%
25-34 years old = 25.7%
35-44 years old = 18.1%
45-54 years old = 13.6%

Which country uses Facebook the most?

India has the most Facebook users globally, with 329 million users.

Our influencer marketing agency and social agency are located worldwide, with our agency network based in the USA, UK, UAE and China.

If you want to find industry insights, visit our influencer marketing and social media blogs here.

@ Socially Powerful

Posted in Marketing News, News, Social Media Platforms

Understanding the TikTok Algorithm in 2023

May 15th, 2023 by

The TikTok algorithm is notoriously tricky.

Social media is no longer about posting whatever, whenever. There is an art to achieving success.

Getting to grips with a platform’s algorithm is crucial. It is responsible for what content is shown on a person’s feed and, from a brand’s perspective, determines which people are most likely to engage with it by displaying it to an appropriate audience. 

In the past, we’ve delved into the Instagram algorithm and even the Instagram Reels algorithm, but in today’s hot seat is the world’s most talked about social media platform, TikTok. 

The TikTok algorithm works so flawlessly that it keeps users hooked on their For You Page for hours. But how does it do this?

This blog will not only tell you how, but also reveal ways in which you can work with it to give your content a fighting chance of beating the myriad of competing content that awaits.

TikTok Algorithm: “There’s no magic formula”

One of the most interesting things about the TikTok algorithm is that it doesn’t rely on a user directly indicating whether they like something through a thumbs up or a save in order to decipher which content to feed them. Uniquely, it actively tests its own series of predictions by examining a user’s response to the videos it thinks they’ll like. 

Ever scrolled through your FYP and wondered how you ended up seeing gymnastic content or hairdressing videos? The TikTok algorithm is constantly working overtime to learn what type of content a user likes and engages with and what they prefer to ignore. If it thinks you like Formula One it will begin showing you videos of supercars and gauge your response to them before showing you more similar content. This is why there is an endless stream of content on the FYP. The algorithm wants to learn everything about you to give you the best experience possible!

@later.com

TikTok now shows you why a particular video was recommended to you in your FYP! ✨ #tiktoknews #socialmedianews #tiktokfeature #fypexplained #greenscreen

♬ original sound – Later

How does the TikTok algorithm work?

In the past, social platforms would keep their algorithms a secret. This makes sense since a platform’s algorithm is what makes it unique. But in recent years sceptics have arisen questioning how their interests and behaviours have been tapped into by said platforms. This has forced many social media heads to be more transparent about their inner workings. Fortunately for us, this means we now know some of the key ranking signals the TikTok algorithm uses. They are as follows:

User interactions

The TikTok algorithm bases recommendations on a user’s interactions with content on the app. What kind of interactions?

  1. Which accounts you follow
  2. Comments you’ve posted
  3. Creators or sounds you’ve chosen to hide
  4. Videos you’ve liked/shared
  5. Videos added to favourites
  6. Videos marked as ‘Not Interested’
  7. Videos you’ve reported as inappropriate
  8. Longer videos you watch until the end
  9. Content you create
  10. Interests you’ve displayed by interacting with organic ads

Video information

Video information signals are based on the content you actively seek through Discovery and Search. This can include: 

  1. Hashtags
  2. Sounds
  3. Captions
  4. Effects
  5. Trending topics

Location and language

The TikTok algorithm recognises a user’s device settings (language and video) when deciding who may be interested in a video.

Some of the device and account settings picked up by the algorithm are:

  1. Language preference
  2. Type of mobile device
  3. Country setting
  4. Posting location

Audio

Trending sounds and songs are to TikTok what hashtags are to Twitter. They are crucial to a user’s experience. The TikTok algorithm knows this and categorises content based on what trending audio a user either engages with or uses in their own content.

What’s not included in the TikTok algorithm?

The following are NOT recommended by the algorithm:

  1. Duplicated content
  2. Content you’ve already seen
  3. Content the algorithm flags as spam
  4. Potentially upsetting content
  5. Unoriginal, low-quality, QR code content
  6. Inauthentic or misleading content

Ways to hack the TikTok algorithm

As the saying goes, ‘if you can’t beat them, join them’. The same applies to social media algorithms. From a creator’s perspective, working with the TikTok algorithm, rather than against it, is a sure way to boost performance and encourage growth, but what does this look like exactly?

Find your niche 

The nature of the TikTok algorithm makes finding existing communities to engage with, crucial. This is because, unlike other social media platforms where people spend their time engaging with accounts they already follow, TikTok users spend 70% of their time on the FYP discovering new accounts/content. If you can use the FYP to tap into a new community, you’re then likely to be amplified to the correct audience from then on. 

Some of the top communities currently circulating TikTok are:

#BookTok

@macksbooks

love these books so much🫶🏻 #fyp #booktok #bookclub #bookrecs #books #read #bookhaul #sadbooks #sad

♬ original sound – 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐋𝐈𝐄

#FoodTok

@bayashi.tiktok

#tiktokfood #asmr

♬ オリジナル楽曲 – バヤシ🥑Bayashi – バヤシ🥑Bayashi

#CleanTok

@mydoseofhome

Shower cleaning 🫧🤩 #cleantok #cleaningtiktok #cleaning #showercleaning #showerclean #shower #cleanwithme #cleaninghacks #cleaningmotivation #asmr #asmrcleaning #asmrclean #momcleaning #fy #fyp #foryou #momsoftiktok #asmrsounds

♬ original sound – Val | Cleaning & Organizing

Understanding your niche will allow you to create content that connects authentically with the relevant audience, enhancing credibility, brand loyalty and gaining even more exposure for your brand. TikTok users want brands to take this approach, with 76% of them saying they like it when brands are part of special interest groups. 

Optimise for search 

TikTok’s algorithm is prepped and primed for search engine optimisation. Its endless stream of content means almost every question typed into the search bar is met with a result. SEO relies heavily on keywording, a practice that all TikTokers can begin to incorporate into their content through hashtags, on-screen text and captions. Just like Google, TikTok will prioritise content that makes the most use of this keywording practice. 

Using hashtags is a great way to categorise your content, but using relevant hashtags that incorporate keywords will signal to the TikTok algorithm what your content is exactly about. For a more in-depth look at TikTok SEO strategies, click here.

Create high-quality content

As previously mentioned, the TikTok algorithm does not favour low-quality content. This isn’t to say you must go and buy the latest, most expensive equipment. Your phone quality will more than suffice, as long as you pair it with good lighting, a decent microphone and some above average editing skills. 

TikTok allows for videos to be anywhere between 5 seconds to 10 minutes in length, however, experts suggest always ensuring your videos are over 10 seconds to leave a lasting impression. 

TikTok also suggests users make the most of its built-in features like trending effects and text treatments, as these are capable of boosting your chances of appearing on the FYP.

@aronsogi

Tiktok editing tutorial, if you are thinking of editing Tiktok videos in the app this is going to be super helpful for you. Learn video editing #videoediting #editing #tiktokediting #howtoedit #editingtutorials

♬ Blue Blood – Heinz Kiessling

Post at the right time for your audience

Active engagement is a key ranking signal of the TikTok algorithm, therefore you should be posting when your audience is most active. Click here for more information on how to find out more about your audience’s online activity and the best times to post on TikTok.

Be real, be you!

Unlike other social media platforms where a polished image gets you far, this isn’t the case on TikTok. 

  1. 65% of users agree that professional-looking videos from brands feel out of place or odd on TikTok.
  2. 78% of users agree that the best brands on TikTok create videos on all sorts of topics and interests.
  3. 77% of users like it when brands reveal more about themselves.
  4. 44% of users want to see something fun or entertaining from brands who advertise on TikTok.
  5. 64% of users prefer seeing ‘everyday people’ advertising products as opposed to celebrities.

FAQS

What is the TikTok algorithm?

A set of key ranking signals TikTok uses to determine which content makes it to a user’s FYP.

What are the algorithms top ranking signals?

  1. User interactions
  2. Video information
  3. Location and language 
  4. Audio

How do you beat the TikTok algorithm?

  1. Find your niche
  2. Optimise for search
  3. Create high-quality content
  4. Post at the right time for your audience
  5. Use relevant hashtags 
  6. Use trending audio
  7. Experiment with new features
  8. Engage with similar creators
  9. Create accessible content 
  10. Be you!

What is the current TikTok algorithm in 2023?

In 2023, TikTok bases recommendations on a user’s interactions with the content it provisionally shares. 

How does the TikTok algorithm work?

TikTok uses the key ranking signals (mentioned above) to further suggest content it believes a user is most likely to interact with and like.

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@ Socially Powerful

Posted in Marketing News, News, Social Media Marketing News, Social Media Platforms