Welcome back to Giraffe Social’s monthly social media news roundup, bringing you the latest movements and headlines from across social media platforms. This month we dive into Instagram’s efforts to increase community engagement, Elon Musk reversing course on X features and Pinterest rolling out direct linking to more ad campaign types.
Let’s dive in.
Instagram Enhances Community Engagement with New Feature to Highlight Post Replies in Stories
In a move to further enhance community engagement and foster deeper connections between creators, brands, and their audiences, Instagram has introduced a new feature that allows users to share comments to their Stories. This feature, which is currently being rolled out to users worldwide, empowers individuals to showcase meaningful interactions, highlight top comments, and spark lively discussions around their content.
As per Instagram:
“Sometimes, all it takes is a single comment to spark an idea or start meaningful conversations with your fans. You can now easily share your favourite comments to Stories, highlighting your most important interactions with your audience.”
To utilize this feature, users simply swipe across a reply they wish to share and select the “Share to Story” option. The chosen comment will then appear as a sticker on the Story, providing a platform for users to amplify their favourite interactions and engage with their audience in a more dynamic manner.
This new addition to Instagram’s suite of features presents several benefits for both creators and brands. For creators, the ability to highlight positive comments serves as a valuable tool for showcasing appreciation for their audience and reinforcing the impact of their content. Additionally, it enables creators to spark discussions around specific topics or ideas raised in comments, further enriching the community experience.
Brands, on the other hand, can leverage this feature to effectively showcase their top fans and promote their products or services. By sharing positive comments that mention their brand, brands can amplify their reach and generate positive sentiment among their audience. Moreover, this feature provides a unique opportunity for brands to engage in direct conversations with their customers, fostering a sense of community and loyalty.
The introduction of this feature underscores Instagram’s dedication to fostering meaningful connections and enhancing the overall user experience. By empowering users to highlight positive interactions and spark engaging discussions, Instagram is further solidifying its position as a platform that fosters community and encourages creativity.
Elon Musk Reverses Course on Link Previews
In a surprising move, Elon Musk has announced that he is reversing course on his previous decision to remove post headlines from link previews on X. The change will be implemented in an upcoming release of the app.
Musk had originally removed post headlines in October, arguing that they made link previews look “cluttered” and “ugly.” However, the decision was met with widespread criticism from users, who argued that it made it difficult to tell what a link was about without having to click on it.
In a tweet on November 23, Musk said that he had decided to bring back post headlines after seeing a tweet from his own account that had been shared without a headline. “This led to confusion, so I’ve decided to revert back,” he wrote.
It is unclear why Musk decided to change his mind on this issue. However, it is possible that he was simply responding to user feedback. It is also possible that he realized that the benefits of removing post headlines were outweighed by the drawbacks.
Whatever the reason, the decision to bring back post headlines is a positive one for X users. It will make it easier to share links on the app and will help to improve the overall user experience.
Pinterest Expands Direct Links to More Ad Campaign Types
In other social media news, Pinterest has announced an expansion of its direct linking options, which will provide more opportunities for brands to drive more focused, direct traffic from their Pins and Pin ads.
As explained by Pinterest:
“With other Pinterest ads, it takes two clicks for someone to navigate off Pinterest. First, people see a close-up view of the ad, and then a second tap takes them off Pinterest to the advertiser’s website. For ads using direct links there’s just one click, and it goes directly to the advertiser’s site. This streamlined customer journey is designed to support your lower funnel goals, at lower costs.”
Pinterest’s direct linking options allow advertisers to link their Pins directly to specific pages on their website. This is a more effective way to drive traffic to a specific product or landing page, rather than sending users to the advertiser’s homepage.
Early adopters have seen positive results so far, seeing a 39% decrease in cost per outbound click. This is because direct links can help to improve click-through rates, as users are more likely to click on a Pin that takes them directly to the product or information, they are interested in.
Overall, Pinterest’s expansion of its direct linking options is a positive development for advertisers. It gives them more tools to drive traffic and conversions from their Pins, helping them to reach their target audience more effectively.
That’s a wrap for this month! Thank you for joining us at Giraffe Social. We’re grateful for your time and attention. If you’re eager to delve deeper into social media marketing or seek inspiration for your next campaign, explore our insights. They’re tailored to enhance every aspect of your social media presence.