Instagram is still throwing new features at the wall to see what sticks. The latest in a barrage of changes, Instagram is testing a new ‘Public’ folder in the direct message inbox, allowing you to “message or share your favourite posts directly with your followers.”The general concept sounds good, right? You can increase the likelihood of those already following you seeing and engaging with your posts.Similar to sending out a broadcast back in the BBM days. But realistically this may clog up your inbox like spam emails - ignored and reduces a brand&#39;s trust.<img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/19flPuJkN4RT58HszAqosP/8d0ba638b2353b22833bf86b05952b5f/laptop-3781384_1280.jpg" alt=""/>It seems the overarching goal with this update is for accounts to get their content in front of their followers to increase engagement, and improve the overall experience for their followers.Do you know what else would do that? A CHRONOLOGICAL FEED.Users have been reporting their feed has seen an increase in “recommended” posts and a decrease in posts from accounts they follow leading to them missing out on the content they want to see.<img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/2zM6tYYDwLUXEsAsaSb5K1/fe9159784cd6fbf6772d74fde969c437/Untitled_design__33_.png" alt=""/>This update seems to be designed to tackle this disproportionate distribution of content - just not in the way we want. This feature is still in testing so not all users have access to the feature but we are sure it will be soon. Do you think this feature will improve your content reach?

Instagram is still throwing new features at the wall to see what sticks. The latest in a barrage of changes, Instagram is testing a new ‘Public’ folder in the DM inbox.

New Instagram Update

When you have no experience in the world of social media and are tasked with growing accounts - where do you start?We have searched for 5 of the best courses to give you the tools you need to succeed on social media - even if you have 0 experience.<ol><li><h5><a href="https://www.facebook.com/business/learn/courses/bring-your-business-online">Meta Prepare to bring your business online</a></h5></li></ol><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/euErW713juITAynvacaTs/c996efc567b87e7c81b12a7ba13554af/4.png" alt=""/>This free course from Meta is perfect for people at the very beginning of their journey into social media for businesses. Through this course you will learn:<ul><li>How to find your audience online</li><li>How to map customer journeys</li><li>How to set marketing goals</li><li>How to create a brand tone</li><li>How to use social media to understand your audience</li></ul>This is just one of many courses on offer from meta, allowing you to gain a greater understanding of the platform - straight from the horse&#39;s mouth.Completing the course will a solid foundation to begin growing your social presence. <h5>2. <a href="https://academy.hubspot.com/lessons/the-key-to-lead-generation-on-twitter">The Key to Lead Generation on Twitter</a></h5><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/2ekox7J8uuJA73UQhfukqx/6e8248560e7fd4374c4e2baa8c1a96cd/5.png" alt=""/>The second free course on the list comes from Hubspot!Through this 23-minute lesson, they cover:<ul><li>How listening strategies can help B2B sales teams </li><li>What social selling is on Twitter and how it can help you build your bottom line</li><li>How sales teams can use Twitter lists to keep track of customers, competitors and prospects</li><li>How to use Twitter to create relationships with B2B prospects and customers</li></ul>By taking this course you will be able to transform your Twitter profile from a time-sucking resource to a tool to drive sales and increase conversions to your website.<h5>3. <a href="https://www.skillshare.com/classes/Mastering-TikTok-Stop-Scrolling-Post-Your-1st-TikTok/1204096750?via=search-layout-grid">Mastering TikTok</a></h5><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/3ObZfgMFNLyAOJI4Xprhja/8debec62c4ba9526ddc9c3554ec2f672/1.png" alt=""/>Although there is a small cost of £7.50, this course from Skill Share is perfect for anyone new to TikTok. With the popularity of the app, it is becoming one of the most useful social media platforms for brands to connect with their audience.Through this course you will learn:<ul><li>About TikTok’s algorithm</li><li>How to create and edit a TikTok video</li><li>How to write engaging captions</li><li>How to use hashtags</li><li>How to discover trending content</li></ul>Although people think of TikToks as “easy” this course will show you how much goes into success on the app - setting you up for success.<h5>4.<a href="https://academy.quintly.com/courses/free-social-media-analytics"> Social Media Analytics</a></h5><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/2wGofO1OKWsJg0Iuxk7vs6/bc8a7c4c7bdf8cb4b289b0738bda65d7/2.png" alt=""/>Quintly has this free course to enrol in, helping anybody involved in social media analytics, no matter their experience.The course covers:<ul><li>An introduction to social media analytics</li><li>Understanding the social media landscape</li><li>The differentiation between social networks for data collection</li><li>How to find KPIs that fit your goals</li></ul>Analytics is one of the most important aspects of success on social media, this course from Quintly is vital to getting your head around the topic so you can grow your profiles with the proper information.<h5>5. <a href="https://www.canva.com/designschool/courses/graphic-design-basics/?lesson=design-to-communicate">Graphic Design Basics</a></h5><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/4DJIce1rnObjodZd0a8kyd/15e1091a105242ffba2e27ce50e688be/3.png" alt=""/>Creating graphics to stand out on social media can be a full-time job in itself. Many social media guides will tell you to use Canva for graphics - but knowing the tool to use doesn’t mean you know how to use it properly.By the end of this course you will learn:<ul><li>The basic elements of design</li><li>How to think like a designer</li><li>How to kick off the design process</li></ul>Each of the modules in the course includes a lesson along with an activity to apply what you’ve learned ensuring what you are learning can be applied to your business. Take these courses and after we are sure you will have a greater understanding of how to use social media effectively for your business!

When you have no experience in the world of social media and are tasked with growing accounts - where do you start?

Social media courses for small business owners

Gone are the days when customer disputes are resolved via waiting 3-5 days for an email - customers living in an “instant gratification” world require instant resolutions.These are our top 5 tips on using your Twitter to improve your customer service experience.<h4>1. Set up a dedicated handle for social media customer support</h4>You don’t want your social media efforts and goals to get mixed up with your customer service ones - so make a dedicated channel for customers to receive support.It is a good idea to create a separate social media account solely for customer support.Take Amazon for example. <img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/ETqQ2DXxS8VvDvFTQPEpz/b858dcdfc0e4fc546523f98c87601122/Screenshot_2022-08-30_at_3.50.25_pm.png" alt=""/>The E-commerce giant has a dedicated Twitter set up to answer customer queries in multiple languages.<a href="https://www.bigcommerce.co.uk/blog/social-media-customer-service/#:~:text=These%20stats%20show%20why%20social,make%20meaningful%20social%20media%20connections.">&quot;1 in 3 social media users would rather have social media customer care services than telephone or email.&quot;</a><h4>2. Find and monitor conversations relevant to your business</h4>Using your Twitter account to engage with customers about topics they are interested in will help soften a corporate image.By using the explore section on Twitter and searching relevant hashtags you can find your core demographic to engage with building a healthy rapport. This process will also allow you to see first-hand what your customers care about and interact with, allowing you to make better-informed decisions.&quot;<a href="https://www.bigcommerce.co.uk/blog/social-media-customer-service/#:~:text=These%20stats%20show%20why%20social,make%20meaningful%20social%20media%20connections.">75% of people will likely post something positive about your brand if you make meaningful social media connections.</a>&quot;<h4> 3. Create social media guidelines</h4>Whether a small business or a massive one, it is likely that at some point or another, more than one person will be using your Twitter account - but your customers don’t have to know that.<img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/25BmD9aR0fJ9gwOyXLhkmO/2ab1e83e3d71d778dc9318954a81544c/joshua-hoehne-Lh_sFxD8AkI-unsplash.jpg" alt=""/>To ensure brand consistency, before doing anything you sit down and make it clear how you want your business to be received. The tone of voice, formality, emojis, and topics you want to avoid all need to be considered and understood by all staff.<h4>4. Be proactive</h4>Often a large base of customers want to know the same information, why there is a company-wide issue, a delay with shipping or an announcement so save yourself some trouble - be proactive. Use your feed to keep customers informed on anything relating to business news. If the information is there before people come looking, customer satisfaction will be improved and your workload will be lightened. <h4>5. Manage customer expectations</h4>Sometimes issues can’t be fixed so be honest about the situation - sometimes all a customer wants is the facts<img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/46fdYq1hZuyWZTmxhDg10y/1fc04bac7f66622698ff02587ab9e043/Screenshot_2022-08-30_at_3.45.37_pm.png" alt=""/> When a follower engages you for answers don&#39;t try to double-talk them - be honest and straightforward. By being upfront with information your customers (although they may not be happy) you instil a feeling of honesty and trust in your brand.Twitter is an amazing tool that allows you to directly speak to your customers, but you still need to put in the work!Implement these tips into your Twitter strategy and watch your customer satisfaction go up, and your stress come down.

Gone are the days when customer disputes are resolved via waiting 3-5 days for an email  - customers living in an “instant gratification” world require instant resolutions. These are our top 5 tips to use your Twitter to improve your customer service experience.


5 tips to smash your customer service with Twitter

At this point, you may be sick of the entire marketing community still talking about TikTok for businesses - but that’s because it’s so important, and people still aren’t listening. Here we have selected our 5 favourite brands on TikTok and will break down why they are so great and what they are doing right. <h5> 1. KOHO</h5>KOHO is a free-spending and savings account where you can get instant cashback and earn interest on your entire account.<img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/6ah3M3cQCr5NtE1aS5kK9P/1e5d5d7df5142b282db76ff33a0f0a91/koho-logo-freelogovectors.net_.png" alt=""/>Although a fintech company, KOHO is essentially a financial business - not the most interesting subject. But KOHO has utilised TikTok to generate over 14.8 million views and lift brand awareness by 9.9%. Targeting a Gen-Z demographic, KOHO creates content geared towards them taking part in current trends and using trending sounds while relating them back to their services.KOHO is making use of the platform&#39;s influencers by partnering with accounts to authentically share the real-life benefits of having a KOHO card.<h5> 2. M&amp;S Romford</h5>What makes M&amp;S’s TikTok presence so great is there is so much of it.<img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/6WUI71Fnr1v6hbV63gfoHF/d100a343298c54c8e76bb407bc343d24/Marks-Spencer-Logo-2007.jpeg" alt=""/>Along with a main verified account, different stores across the country have their own TikTok account where staff members create the content.M&amp;S Romford is one of the most popular M&amp;S accounts on TikTok with 3.5 million likes and 91.2k followers. An important difference between this account and other national brands is employee participation. The content seems to be created by the store members which creates a positive perception of M&amp;S as an employer, and the environment of the store. <h5> 3. Ryanair </h5>We couldn’t make a list of brands on TikTok without mentioning Ryanair. <img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/hzQNnrSr8mBLm2qmIyjXm/0ecb556ad7521f64ce5069cafcf6d0cd/ryanair.jpeg" alt=""/>Although a budget airline, its TikTok is nothing but premium. As we write this, the account has 1.7 million followers and 16.8 million likes. Ryanair uses the filter seen above in a majority of its videos. This quirky feature shows a real understanding of the relaxed and informal tone of the app Like others on the list, Ryanair is quick to jump on trending sounds and challenges ensuring that in some way they relate it back to air travel and their brand.<h5>4. Rogue </h5>We have spoken before about blending in to stand out, and no one on this list does it better than Rogue.<img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/5MpgFxUnopQUi9FuTLcscD/358ee0c2a573e122e3a18181f55747ad/Untitled_design__31_.png" alt=""/>They do it so well in fact we didn’t realise it was a fully-fledged business until a couple of weeks after following. As a vintage clothing store targeting a specific demographic, it has tailored its content to that demographic. Rogue films TikToks outside of its store, asking passers-by questions like “what is your favourite fashion trend right now?” essentially conducting mini interviews.This informal content speaks to its audience as they see a wide range of people engaging in a topic they care about ingraining Rogue into the vintage fashion culture.<h5>5. Paralympics</h5>Although not a business there is a lot to learn from the Paralympics TikTok account. <img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/4btlwaCc58Xx8T4SZk7Qbm/fabe31b51dc5132aeca21ea618a61a34/logo-official-paralympic-games-tokyo-2020-japan-vector-39025343.jpeg" alt=""/>The reason we want to include the Paralympics on this list is due to its understanding of the culture on the platform and its ability to repurpose content.Although the event isn’t currently taking place, the page is still posting videos multiple times a week, proving that you can rework content from last year to use tomorrow. It is taking clips from previously televised events and finding trending sounds that make sense to produce engaging humorous content that increases awareness of the organisationAlthough completely different industries, sizes, and locations, the one thing each of these brands has in common is the understanding of the value TikTok has to offer. The only cost of this content is time. Video production and editing are minimal, so what is stopping you from starting?

At this point, you may be sick of the entire marketing community still talking about TikTok for businesses - but that’s because it’s so important, and people still aren’t listening. 

Here we have selected our 5 favourite brands on TikTok and will break down why they are so great and what they are doing right. 

How to make your TikTok stand out - 5 brand accounts getting it right in 2022


Today’s digital landscape requires businesses to be increasingly agile, in order to stay ahead of the curve.Social media has become a key component of online marketing strategies for businesses from all industries, as it provides an opportunity to connect with your target audience in an intimate, personal space. To remain competitive, many small businesses outsource their social media activities to more experienced professionals who can manage their accounts efficiently and help them achieve their goals faster. Here are 5 reasons why you should consider outsourcing your social media management instead of doing it all yourself:<h5>1. Free up your time</h5>A business owner’s most valuable asset is their time.A good social media manager can write effective posts, create engaging content, schedule posts for maximum impact, respond to comments and questions quickly, and analyse your data to inform future decisions. If you outsource your social media management, you can spend your time on what you love doing most – building your business!<img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/5LYYWhKXd9uV7TsRbcKq4W/44256413ec5ecaafceb8b171cd0c0b7b/age-barros-rBPOfVqROzY-unsplash.jpg" alt="d"/>The last thing you want is to be wasting time on something you aren’t an expert on and stopping you from overseeing other areas.<h5>2. Expert opinion</h5>Engineers are experts at engineering, builders are experts at building, and social media managers are experts in social media. You wouldn’t ask a doctor to build you a website. It is ok to admit when you aren’t all-knowing about a certain topic but finding the right people to help is key. When you partner with an experienced social media team you gain the insight and skills of experts to help take the worry of followers and engagement rates off your mind.<h5>3. Consistency</h5>People have a million different opinions on how to grow on social media but really it all comes down to consistency. Consistency in your schedule, consistency in the standard of your content, and consistency in your tone of voice.<img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/6vYfxrsIdQJl5luCzQnuEE/64352026b804c98c5efd4e7db834184d/business-people-calendar-cellphone-1187439-1024x666.jpeg" alt="Awareness days "/>If the quality of your content goes up and down, or your schedule is all over the place it reflects poorly on your brand. Followers see your social profile as a reflection of your business so you need to make sure you are presenting yourself in the best light at all times.<h5>4. Cost</h5>The average social media manager&#39;s salary in the UK is £33,426 - this is a massive portion of a company&#39;s budget, especially for a small business. Outsourcing your social media is often a cheaper option without having to sacrifice quality. <img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/4B2Ram809D3ZuI8pQ3Po1t/f805d284eac21fd0d2eedde6f2d4f722/andre-taissin-5OUMf1Mr5pU-unsplash.jpg" alt="f"/>Our packages start from just £250 per month with guaranteed growth. By reducing the amount you are spending on social media management as a whole you free up money to be spent on social media ads and other business resources.<h5> 5. Fresh perspective</h5>Sometimes a fresh pair of eyes can help unlock a new way of thinking about your brand.Social media managers have the pleasure of working across several different industries at one time - meaning we have seen it all and can bring new ideas to your strategy. If you want to grow your business, you need to be smart about how you allocate your resources. <a href="https://calendly.com/glassagencyltd">Book a consultation</a> today if you want to learn more about outsourcing your social media management.

Today’s digital landscape requires businesses to be increasingly agile, in order to stay ahead of the curve.

Social media has become a key component of online marketing strategies for businesses from all industries, as it provides an opportunity to connect with your target audience in an intimate, personal space. 


5 reasons to outsource your social media

Since last year we&#39;ve witnessed Instagram pivot in a number of different ways to stay relevant with users - however, some changes have been slow to take effect and are not being well received.Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, addressed the changes on Twitter to clarify the direction and future of the social media platform.Although he talked about topics like the full-screen feed and recommended posts, the main takeaway is what we have been saying for the last year - VIDEO IS KING. It is unavoidable that as platforms such as Instagram evolve and change how they distribute content, we must adapt and work with them rather than against them.<img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/cjYN7ft4YiJTQeomqUjy0/81f4a67eb81708844ee27fffbdce74df/Blur_backfround__2_.png" alt=""/>Mosseri’s video was published not long after mega influencer Kylie Jenner posted this image above to her Instagram story (with her mega famous sister Kim Kardashian also getting involved on her own profile).When the most followed woman on your app is commenting on the state of your platform, it may be time to make some changes. Kylie’s story really addressed the elephant in the room - it feels like Instagram is becoming too similar to TikTok.It is undeniable the effect that TikTok has had on the social world but success doesn’t have to come from imitation. Take Be Real for example. Be Real is a new social app created in 2020. <img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/4H0Y66wdUte7WY481JmQSH/63be780e8b205d0e3c4ca82747f42c2c/Blur_backfround__6_.png" alt=""/>In April 2022 they reported 2.93 million daily active users... which is a huge increase of 29200% from the previous year.The premise of the app is that you can only post once a day, at a time determined by the app that changes daily, and you can only see other users&#39; posts once you have posted.Although it is still early days for the app, they are growing and have created a buzz with its target audience by using a unique concept.Instagram is still a pillar of any good marketing strategy and the platform is great for both users and businesses. We understand that any good business needs to adapt to survive, but we hope they are able to adapt a little quicker and fix the bugs to keep users on the platform.

It’s official - Instagram HATES us.We have lost count of how many massive updates have been made to Instagram this year, but this one might be the biggest one yet.<h5>What’s going on?</h5>Instagram has announced that it is rolling out a new update for how your content will look in the feed. For years 1080 pixels by 1080 pixels has been the golden rule when it comes to the size of Instagram feed posts - but Instagram has flipped this rule on its head.<img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/2qaSIbzBwmsjQrGnXW4Wwz/c83045e97da959b122d063daa9155f2e/IMG_0698.PNG" alt="New insta feed"/>The new feed means that feed posts will be shown in 1920 pixels by 1080 pixels (the size of a story or reel) and you can only swipe one post at a time - rather than the previous endless scroll.I wonder where they got this idea from? <h5>The Argument For </h5><h5>Attention</h5>When a larger portion of the screen is being taken up and the endless scroll effect is removed it is easier for users to focus on the content.Think about when you are on TikTok. It feels more like streaming rather than a social platform, and that is because of how prominent the content is on the screen. Rather than the next post in the feed rearing its head, the video you are currently watching has your full attention. This effect may transfer to Instagram retaining more attention to your content.<h5>Ease </h5>We create 100s of pieces of unique content every month between reels, stories and feeds - it can be time-consuming at the best of times.With this latest update, it means the graphics and photos we use for our stories can be used in the feed as well - saving us time having to design the same post twice.<h5>The Argument Against </h5><h5>Blurred lines</h5>Although slightly modified, this new feed looks very similar to TikTok - reducing the separation of apps. I want to scroll on TikTok for 30 minutes and then do the same on another platform that feels different - not the same.The lack of difference between platforms reduces the creator&#39;s creativity - it may feel like you can just copy and paste your content across platforms.<h5>It’s not ready</h5>Meta hasn’t had time to catch up yet.Because this new update hasn’t been released to every user as we write this, creators and businesses can’t implement their new strategy just yet.<img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/6HYBHgN4KwURKE4OiQMjA3/f0486d84c02078cbf94eb6d808a1e3ef/Screenshot_2022-05-09_at_2.18.26_pm.png" alt="zimmer meta error"/>This is a screenshot from one of our client’s accounts in the scheduling section of Meta.This post is the ratio of the new feed, but Meta won’t allow it to be scheduled due to it not being the “correct” size.Regardless of your opinions or ours it looks like this is the new format of content for Instagram, the only thing left to ask is - are you prepared to pivot your content?If you need some help preparing for the change,<a href="https://calendly.com/glassagencyltd"> book a free consultation</a> today!

It’s official - Instagram HATES us.

We have lost count of how many massive updates have been made to Instagram this year, but this one might be the biggest one yet.


Instagram feed update 

Instagram is one of the most used social media platforms in the world, but how can you use it to grow your business?Instagram is a diverse platform that hosts every kind of demographic that you can think of, meaning whoever you are targeting will most likely spend some time there. As easy as it sounds, growing on Instagram can be tricky but by remembering these tips you’ll be able to establish your brand on social media and grow your business as a whole.<h5>Instagram shop</h5>Instagram released its shopping feature in 2019 - allowing businesses of all sizes the opportunity to increase their sales and shorten their customer’s shopping journey. <img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/146iwsQvg2QBgHvGILUbgp/76acc313871c5e61923f606272c5ac08/Glass__1_.png" alt="shop"/>It is estimated that more than 800,000 shoppers use Instagram every month so by actively posting and utilising this feature you have the opportunity to grow your business and sales.Check out our article on &quot;<a href="https://glass.agency/how-to-create-an-instagram-shop">How do you set up an Instagram shop?</a>&quot;. <h5>Content </h5>There is no secret cheat code to growing your business or Instagram account, it takes time and effort. But where should you channel your energy to get the most out of your time?The answer is into your content. <img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/1pUd5MlQGKgPfqNo3ofpSI/9029e1e4fcac4a03ccb7e85c5f17ef1e/jenny-ueberberg-B8A3_0qfNzg-unsplash.jpg" alt="content"/>As with all social media platforms content is how people find your account, and what they care about - so you need to spend some time on it. Look into what your audience would be interested in seeing, and work your content around that.Check out our article “<a href="https://glass.agency/how-to-create-social-media-content">How to create social content</a>” to understand what goes into making good social media content.<h5>Instagram lives</h5>The great thing about social media is the ability to strip back a corporate image and showcase the personal side of your business - lives are an easy way to do this. You can go live on your account to answer questions from followers, show off an event you are attending, and collaborate with influencers or other businesses.<img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/5Hmj6uaXrQVjySXvPx9N1B/106bd2c8ef38eb193ce5386a55314c1c/instgaram_live_.jpeg" alt="Live stock"/>Sharing your platform with others in these lives is a great way to grow as you gain access to another audience - if the content on your profile is strong they might just stick around.<h5>Reels </h5>Let’s be honest - Instagram Reels are almost a knock off of TikTok but can you blame them for giving it a go after the success of the video-sharing platform?Instagram has always been the go-to for photo sharing but because of apps like TikTok, they are starting to push their focus to video - and that means they’ll push your video content to more people over a still image in most cases.<img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/7gKEgqNP3YvIPq6p6pIGGt/9548c7f771802b04faefba2ff916fb7b/Glass__2_.png" alt="Reels stock"/>If you want to grow your Instagram page and brand then you need to invest in video content to ensure you are maximising your reach. Now, this doesn’t mean you have to hire out a production company and write a script - your phone is more powerful than you think and YouTube can teach you anything you need to know.<h5>Community engagement</h5>One of the things Instagram can help your business with is increasing brand awareness - this is done through community engagement.Due to the platform’s blend of both consumers and brands, it’s important to interact with other accounts so you can stay in touch with what’s going on in your industry, and know what your customers care about.The simplest way to do this is to search hashtags in the discover section that relate to your business and start interacting with the posts. Like content and join in on the comment section with your opinion on the topics being discussed to show your brand’s personality and make your presence known. <h5>Insights</h5><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/4943fYxn6W4eUyp2B2mQ33/35f63c6805a2bc97f9a53b3195e27092/georgia-de-lotz-Ebb8fe-NZtM-unsplash.jpg" alt="stock insights"/>Measuring results is a big part of growing a business, and Instagram offers an in-depth tool to track and measure the reach of each post you publish and the growth of your account as a whole. This allows you to understand how well you are doing and make adjustments to your strategy to ensure you are moving in the right direction.<h5>Influencers</h5>Instagram is home to the modern-day influencer and with the right strategy they can massively affect your business for the better. <a href="https://digitalmarketinginstitute.com/blog/20-influencer-marketing-statistics-that-will-surprise-you">The Digital Marketing Institute</a> reported that 49% of consumers depend on influencer recommendations, and 40% had purchased something after seeing it on Twitter, YouTube or Instagram. These influencers are able to build a unique relationship with their followers earning their trust - by partnering with them that trust is extended to you. Instagram is a great place to grow your brand and increase your business, but it’s useless unless you put the work in. Use the tools at your disposal and follow the tips above and you will see an improvement in your Instagram.

Instagram is one of the most used social media platforms in the world, but how can you use it to grow your business?


How to grow your business on Instagram


Since last year we've witnessed Instagram pivot in a number of different ways to stay relevant with users - however, some changes have been slow to take effect and are not being well received.

Head of Instagram Adam Mosseri addresses Instagram updates


Google has given us many amazing tools and features over the years, but none is more underused than the extension. Like apps, there are thousands of them that do different things and if you know the right ones to use you can save a lot of time and make your life easier. We have compiled a list of the top 5 Google Chrome extensions for small businesses to help you work smarter, not harder.<h5>1. <a href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/grammarly-grammar-checker/kbfnbcaeplbcioakkpcpgfkobkghlhen">Grammarly</a> </h5>Grammarly has saved me from embarrassment more times than I care to admit.This free extension will review any text you write while online and shows spelling, and grammatical errors, with a correction. Add this free extension and you will never send an email with a misspelt word again!<h5>2. <a href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/image-downloader/cnpniohnfphhjihaiiggeabnkjhpaldj">Image Downloader</a></h5>Have you ever been in a position where you need a photo from a website but it won’t allow you to download it? Image downloader has you covered!<img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/1V2qmQLOYdFc4ISBJ2zUeu/20669cdafdb41f523074e892f6431689/Screenshot_2022-06-29_at_1.21.46_pm.png" alt=""/>Once clicked the extension will show all the images on a web page available for you to download. Just make sure that if you are using any images for public use you have permission or paid for the copyright!3. <a href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/wordtune-ai-powered-writi/nllcnknpjnininklegdoijpljgdjkijc/related?hl=en">Wordtune </a>We love seeing creative copywriting - people with unique styles, opinions, and voices, but with some topics, there are only so many words you can use to say the same thing. If you are rewriting a news article or rewording a common topic Wordtune is a must-have extension. <img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/53Lk5eLjlnd3FJf2obYfN6/8ac229f2692429962193520df4b30822/Screenshot_2022-06-29_at_1.31.14_pm.png" alt=""/>By selecting any text and clicking the extension, the free tool will offer alternative wording - the same information communicated differently.<h5>4. <a href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/teampassword/cikdbigchmgednjbjppflefljobhnhca?hl=en">Team Password</a></h5>It has never been harder to remember passwords. Every site requires different levels of security and when you are working within a team things can get confusing. <img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/C6XdWiE2lzOUmoAxv9bz9/0ede949f97b3400e5ddbed18e542be16/Screenshot_2022-06-29_at_1.48.28_pm.png" alt=""/>Team Password is a free tool that allows you to have one secure space with all of your team to share passwords.This extension will save you so much time and make sure you never have to hit that “forgotten password” button again.<h5>5. <a href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/influencer-insights-for-i/hcghganppfkplebfebpdnnihcjmjefep">Influencer Insights for Instagram &amp; YouTube</a></h5>Working in social media can be hard, at times it feels like there are no measurable results because a lot of strategies focus on brand awareness. That’s why having hard data is so important. This free extension allows you to look at any Instagram account and see the exact insights of any account. <img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/1BDUEXY4Ill13rF6CbP8fS/696e80dd08711abce4c3ff4673697012/Screenshot_2022-07-06_at_12.24.01_pm.png" alt=""/>This screenshot shows Tesla&#39;s Instagram account. We can see from the extension that although they have 9.6 million followers the average likes on their posts is 196k resulting in a 2.1% engagement rate. This tool is useful when carrying out competitor analysis, influencer research, and reporting.Try these extensions out and let us know what you think, and if you need some extra support with your online presence get in touch!

Google has given us many amazing tools and features over the years, but none is more underused than the extension. 

Top 5 useful Google Chrome extensions  for small businesses


<h5>Vinyl Solutions </h5><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/MOQHUazUmjEshfU4mUHxB/931f697985039621e0fa279fb41b3c63/case_stufdies_images__1_.png" alt="vinyl logo"/>OverviewVinyl Solutions are a national PVC decking manufacturer and installer. They have been in business since 2000 steadily growing and expanding their business. Vinyl Solutions are a recognised decking provider working in partnership with all of the major park operators in the UK. BriefAlthough they had already adopted a social strategy they were unable to dedicate the time and resources required to make the impact they desired. Vinyl Solutions engaged us to increase their brand awareness, generate leads, and increase sign-ups to their charity golf day.Because the business covers both B2B and B2C they required a strategy that would ensure the goals for each area were met.Results<img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/2bMr3TSeULA6MfPFVzKdTM/cd0f91df82a0dcf247fa01be09c3b685/_2.1k-__266.7-__123.1-_Increase_in_page_reach_Increase_in_profile_visits_Increase_in_in_followers_Over_a_3_month_period__2_.png" alt="stats"/>After 3 short months of working with us, we were able to generate these results for them through a bespoke organic strategy.<h5>Race For Men</h5><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/2xhP3jSs2gYic3i8MNiXaP/65acfeaa99e2ef54450f7a842b811186/case_stufdies_images.png" alt=""/>OverviewRace For Men is an annual charity fun run with the goal to increase the awareness of prostate and testicular cancer amongst men, whilst raising money for the cancer charity &quot;The Stars Appeal&quot;.BriefDue to covid, they have been unable to hold the event so 2022 would be the first time everyone had been together in 2 years. Coming back after 2 years meant they need to create buzz and reintroduce Race For Men to the community.Race For Men needed to increase brand awareness, sign-ups, and grow its following.Results<img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/iYCi7E9U0lDbrqWISLeMq/71de6cc17d02967ff7c3449ac4b67961/_2.1k-__266.7-__123.1-_Increase_in_page_reach_Increase_in_profile_visits_Increase_in_in_followers_Over_a_3_month_period__1_.png" alt=""/>Through a combination of paid and organic social media campaigns, we were able to achieve these results for the brand resulting in increased sign-ups.<h5>Project Start</h5><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/65bjiPl4nK5GEkZ1tstl51/e0616a883ca1e29ef4eedad177164448/case_stufdies_images__2_.png" alt="Cover "/>Overview Project Start is a nationwide technical recruitment agency specialising in the automotive, engineering, environmental, facilities management, industrial and technology sectors.Brief Due to the nature of their business, they understood the need to be visible to both candidates and employers on platforms like LinkedIn but didn&#39;t know what type of content to create. They wanted to increase the number of candidates applying for open positions, and businesses approaching them for their services.Results<img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/2Nf6RgmYvEjYmKtBgcFitH/2a9ac87991c7816cdad8550570171cda/_2.1k-__266.7-__123.1-_Increase_in_page_reach_Increase_in_profile_visits_Increase_in_in_followers_Over_a_3_month_period__3_.png" alt="k"/>Since working with Project Start we have been able to increase their key metrics and drive more candiates to their website to apply for open positions.

Case Studies 

Most businesses are already on social media; some know they need to but haven&#39;t got the time, and others have an account open collecting dust unsure of what to do with it. Many traditional businesses in fields like manufacturing and engineering ask us why they need to be on social media? Does it really matter? And how does it translate to sales? We have written this short article to answer these very questions and summarise what you are missing out on by not utilising social media for your business.<h5>1. Brand awareness</h5>In 2022 the majority of people are on social media, from your 2-year-old nephew to your 80-year-old grandmother - there is going to be some form of social media.<a href="https://cybercrew.uk/blog/social-media-statistics-uk/#:~:text=There%20are%2053%20million%20active,in%20the%20UK%20is%2094.9%25.">“There are 53 million active social media users in the UK, which is 77.9% of the UK population.”</a> As marketers, we know that wherever the attention is, we need to be. When the high streets were buzzing with trade, posters and billboards were the keys but with people switching their attention to screens, social media is the best way to capture their attention.<img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/2UA92PjYGUdBcsXpOG618N/33e50328adc472660ebc2eb4878039aa/will-francis-r02wxT3-PYw-unsplash.jpg" alt=""/>Social media allows you to get your brand in front of people’s eyes, increasing name recognition and brand awareness at a fraction of the cost of traditional marketing.<h5>2. Sales </h5>It was reported that <a href="https://optinmonster.com/social-selling-statistics/">“78% of salespeople engaged in social selling are outselling their peers who aren’t.”</a>So why take the risk of losing out?For B2B businesses, platforms like LinkedIn are a great and easy way to connect with key employees in positions that you want to build relationships with.<img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/3jP3tvjcT0okGo4zg9s6eC/47c5dc3727d1a1d95ccb551fdbee1bf3/carlos-muza-hpjSkU2UYSU-unsplash.jpg" alt=""/>Social media apps like Instagram have integrated shopping features into their platforms shortening the customer journey to purchase products.A lot of these processes require little to no funding resulting in a great ROI.<h5>3. Establishes authority </h5>Choices can be overwhelming, helping your customers narrow down their options.<img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/HW0oLwBgi2DzRqj84T7Ww/9601def6cdf4c4eb43544c3d13a5be39/Screenshot_2022-06-16_at_7.10.47_pm.png" alt=""/>When you search for an engineering company on Google there are over 8 billion results. As a consumer, who should I trust? Who knows what they are talking about? Why should they choose you?You can use your social media platforms to demonstrate your qualities and place within your industry. For example with Glass&#39;s social media, we have created a series called “The Rundown”. This is a series where once a week we talk about 3 new changes in the world of social media. Because we are constantly researching and keeping up with the news in our industry, clients and potential clients can see that we keep our finger on the pulse of the world and are up to date with the latest developments.<h5>4. Customer support. </h5>Social media is a way for your brand to be more accessible and convenient for your customers. Trying to find a company&#39;s number or email in 2022 can be difficult but it only takes seconds to find their social media accounts. <img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/2KJRWEjSmKvpL1HMNsJaqs/6e89713701972c0313f70a33313de2b2/Screenshot_2022-06-16_at_7.19.14_pm.png" alt=""/>Many brands large and small use social media as a channel for customer support.Because many are so used to using social media it feels more comfortable for them to speak to brands through this format.<h5>5. Humanise your brand</h5>For years businesses could get away with being corporate and unapproachable but in today’s climate there is a need for human touch - social media can help.Use your social accounts to showcase photos and videos of your staff so clients and consumers can see the culture of your company.When you demonstrate that you care about your employees and that you created a happy environment it increases people&#39;s perception of you.If you have made it this far, hopefully, you will understand the importance of a strong social media presence for your business. If you are stuck with what to do next, <a href="https://calendly.com/glassagencyltd">get in touch</a> with Sam to find out how the Glass team can help you succeed.

Why does your business need social media?


Getting it right on social media is tough for any business, but when you are a niche B2B engineering company, the difficulty only increases. What type of content should you be posting? How do you know what type of content works best for you? How do you want to be perceived?We are here to help you answer these questions and more with 5 types of content engineering companies should be creating on social media.<h5>1. Employees</h5>Your employees are the biggest asset to any well-oiled company - customers want to see this!We manage several social media accounts across several different industries and the one type of content that performs well across them all is those that feature employees and show off company culture.<img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/6xa6kz4KMjdXzM4L6lWhwM/3c7862db5664205b1e0340356e2bcdda/Screenshot_2022-06-07_at_12.28.58_pm.png" alt=""/>Company culture is a phrase you have probably heard mentioned more frequently over the last few years as it has become more important. The chart above shows a steady increase in searches for the phrase “company culture” since 2014. Customers want to know they are working with ethical companies and the top talent wants to work in a healthy culture - social media is a great way to show your company&#39;s culture off to these demographics. <h5>2. Building process</h5>We have a client who manufactures PVC decking and one who engineers moulds for aerospace projects - the thing that they have in common is that before partnering with Glass they believed their work was boring and not primed for social media… they couldn’t have been more wrong. <img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/knR9hjLpdsEuCxgWhDmHK/7e2e7fd22f264a32bbddd4eee4ecc798/Screenshot_2022-06-07_at_4.40.22_pm.png" alt=""/><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@popularmechanics/video/7066969489941744943?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7106510515505366534">This video</a> is 7 seconds long of a very standard manufacturing process, nothing you haven&#39;t seen a million times while walking through your factory, right?To those of us unfamiliar with the industry it&#39;s interesting to see the methods and processes behind the manufacturing. This video gained 10.2 million views, 210K likes, and 1705 comments.<h5>3. Client side </h5>A big part of social media is storytelling, creating a narrative that your followers can relate to while demonstrating what you can do for them from start to finish. When you sit down to create content follow this flow chart Establish Establish the client&#39;s issue/ what they need from you, commenting on any potential issues or points of interest in the job at hand.Solution After establishing what you want to do it’s time to solve the problem! Show what you are doing to fix the problem and the process from start to finish. During this stage, you can comment on any technical methods you are using.SummaryOnce you have finished the solution it&#39;s the perfect time to show off your finished products while summarising what the customer wanted, and what you did to fulfil their request. <h5>4. Industry specific</h5>Although a lot of content ideas can be shared between companies and even industries, it is always a good idea to get as specific as possible. All of your content will focus on engineering to an extent, but take it a step further and dive into the industry your products are in. For example, we completed a short case study on Tesla explaining <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cd78jcyoUS9/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link">the type of content we would post if we were in charge of their social media for a day.</a>One of the content ideas that we suggested was a road trip series. Although a large majority of their work is located in the factory building products, we believe giving a purpose to the finished product allows clients to picture the use of the product.<h5>5. Industry news </h5> For many engineering companies, B2B clients are the lifeblood of their business so make sure you are doing everything you can to instil confidence in your company and solidify your place in the industry. <img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/50dhK8uAA2rijmMLxzYLvn/166d187e587abad2419d21ae00b4c977/absolutvision-WYd_PkCa1BY-unsplash.jpg" alt=""/>By reposting and commenting on new regulations or current topics in your industry, you let clients see that you are at the forefront of your niche, keeping up with the latest trends and goings on. Engineering businesses working primarily in the B2B industry have a tough time when it comes to social media, but it doesn’t have to be like that! If you want to grow your business through organic social media, <a href="https://calendly.com/glassagencyltd">book a free consultation </a>with Sam today.

Getting it right on social media is tough for any business, but when you are a niche B2B engineering company, the difficulty only increases. 

What type of content should you be posting? How do you know what type of content works best for you? How do you want to be perceived?


5 types of content for engineering companies to smash LinkedIn 

Blogs are an essential part of almost every website now, and a great tool to push you up the ranks on search engines, but if writing isn’t your forte - they can be tough to crack.With the advancement of AI technology, auto writing software can seem like an appealing option - but the result is robotic and impersonal.We are very lucky at Glass to be led by Ellie who trained and worked as a journalist for the first stage of her career. <img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/6jMMma7xqy1WFOl2MZPrB4/309feda0a0a4a24d65c5c43cd2376a87/200205_GPD_GPM_07857.jpg" alt=""/>These are her top tips for writing a scroll stopping article!<h5>1. Write the first part, last</h5>Write the title and introduction last, once you’ve got all of your points together. This allows you to summarise in the intro what the article is going to cover and also gives you time to think of a catchy, SEO friendly title.<h5> 2. Be conversational but not too colloquial. </h5>No one wants to feel like they are reading a dissertation - so write like you are talking to someone, not AT them. The flip side of this is being too colloquial, leave the “lols” for your Instagram DMs. Write how you would tell someone - if it doesn’t make sense to you, it definitely won’t to others<h5>3. Check it out</h5>It has been some time since we have been in an English classroom so sites like Grammarly can help ensure your article makes sense.Grammarly offers a free spell and grammar check on its site. All you have to do is copy and paste and it does all the work! Just make sure you check for Americanisms (color instead of colour). <h5>4. Images</h5>A text heavy article can be extremely off putting to someone just searching for information.Try to break up your text with images where possible - an image speaks a thousand words and most people learn by seeing. <img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/3UnxkTULVSFHfMIOncEcNv/f9400aa07295b9a7e6e18d45daca5450/inkredo-designer-OuzwaOhwAN4-unsplash.jpg" alt=""/>When using an image in your article make sure it is copyright free. Sites like Unsplash or Pexels offer thousands of images that you can use for free!<h5> 5. Check sources </h5>For most industries, there are only so many topics to cover so there is a high chance you will be using information from other articles. <img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/7DpN7GBhB1b6mli0JPB3FX/066bde610dd0248781f8c8ece0932738/john-schnobrich-FlPc9_VocJ4-unsplash.jpg" alt="checking "/>That’s completely fine BUT when you’re taking the information from another article, check their source to ensure that the information is accurate. Also never copy and paste their content, it’s ok to use the same information - just put it in your own words. Any time you do use information from another source it is always good practice to run your whole article through a plagiarism checker.<h5>6. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle </h5><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/iatVI7DjUOV2x7cZITC1L/f3ba61e6bc749e5df039c85b6ecc2239/sigmund-aI4RJ--Mw4I-unsplash.jpg" alt=""/>Coming up with topics to write your articles on can be one of the biggest hurdles in the process. The great thing with content is it can and should be reused! If you take part in a talk, interview, podcast, or video you can transcribe the audio and format it for an article.Next time you sit down to write an article remember these tips and you’ll have your readers coming back for more. <a href="https://glass.agency/contact">If you don’t have the time to put into article creation get in touch to see how we can help you!</a>

Blogs are an essential part of almost every website now, and a great tool to push you up the ranks on search engines, but if writing isn’t your forte - they can be tough to crack.
With the advancement of AI technology, auto writing software can seem like an appealing option - but the result is robotic and impersonal.


6 tips to write a scroll stopping blog

Working in a world surrounded by social media 24/7 we are aware, more than most, that it is an over-saturated industry. Anyone with a phone, Canva account, and an internet connection is offering their services to manage your social media accounts - but with so much noise, how do you find the right social media manager for you and your business?These are our top tips for when you are on the hunt for someone to manage your social media channels. <h5>Niche</h5>Being such a busy industry, a lot of managers will niche down and only work with specific industries - meaning they are well versed in the ins and outs of your industry. Take Glass for example.Although we have the ability and experience of working across multiple industries, we often offer our services to small businesses that struggle with social media. This allows us to know what our customers require from us from the start.<h5>Is there chemistry? </h5>When you work with an agency, it’s like hiring a new employee - make sure it’s someone you don’t mind spending time and being seen with!<img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/3U6Q3M010okNiihlJc6guX/80320ff8e9b40102e392adb9d60f203f/211208_GPD_Glass_Candid_0179_.jpg" alt=""/>The last few years have seen company culture under the microscope more than ever and that applies to the companies you work with too. When looking for an agency to work with, ensure that the company as a whole matches YOUR company&#39;s values, otherwise it dilutes what your company stands for.What would you think if Greenpeace and Shell partnered on a project together?<h5>Can they provide evidence? </h5>People love to promise the world, but can they back it up?You don’t want to go through the process of hiring a company, paying their fees, and giving them access to your accounts just to find out that they can’t obtain the results you need. <img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/1JCGiE5N7hrLrGQpf5iNwE/6ccf9359b63cce8549ecfee07ae50c41/220202_GPD_Whale_in_Office_0342_.jpg" alt=""/>Although there can be ambiguity in the world of social media, because a lot of companies don’t want their competitors to know they’re using an agency, you should always ask agencies for case studies and statistics to back up their claims. Ask about KPIs like engagement growth over 3 months so you can see the effect they have on the accounts they manage.<h5>Do they offer what you need?</h5>It doesn’t matter if an agency ticks every requirement we have mentioned so far, if they aren’t offering what you need they aren’t the right fit.Some agencies will only work on specific social media platforms or only work with B2B businesses. There are many reasons for this but if they don’t offer the things you need, it’s a waste of time.<img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/z8EsUhBYbR9dDvI7YFDx2/384afa3b05804136e06833702e7ac772/hello-i-m-nik-fNMRpUnInH8-unsplash.jpg" alt=""/>For example, if your prime demographic is 30-50-year-old B2B business owners, an Instagram-focused agency isn’t the right match. If this is your demographic you should be reaching out to agencies that focus on LinkedIn.Follow these tips so that the next social media agency you approach, will be the last one. If you need help, do get in touch. Our team is experienced in a multitude of fields - so we might just be your perfect match.

Working in a world surrounded by social media 24/7 we are aware, more than most, that it is an over-saturated industry. Anyone with a phone, Canva account, and an internet connection is offering their services to manage your social media accounts - but with so much noise, how do you find the right social media manager for you and your business?


How to choose the right social media agency 

If you needed more proof that vertical video is king, YouTube is adding a new shorts shelf to the trending tab to showcase popular short videos. We are sure you&#39;re sick of reading about it but the disruption, and influence, that TikTok has had on social video content over the last few years is unprecedented!For years horizontal videos were the status quo, this is mainly down to the fact that YouTube is the OG of online video and was one of the first sites that valued video content which other platforms adopted.Since TikTok came about, it has changed many things about how we behave on social media, from watch time to viewer attention, to video orientation.Reels have now become the easiest way to increase page reach on Instagram which is a direct link to TikToks influence. <img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/4ubmZrsfqgj3ZoyV9TgRe2/cf1b0b52dc7443313fc2c76106604c73/Screenshot_2022-04-26_at_3.15.10_pm.png" alt="Glass video"/><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CcQAtruDpjc/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link">This is a video</a> that previously we would have posted in 1080 pixel by 1080 pixel (normal Instagram feed size) but we have had to adapt to how people consume the content. Everything is still the same, just taller. <a href="mailto:ellie@glass.agency">Ellie Harries</a> our social media manager spent the first part of her career as a journalist. During her training, it was reinforced that video content had to be published horizontally, not vertically. <img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/5RvOyDDn51i52aTxSR1YjB/431163585ebfcb9fbba77b210a702133/aaron-weiss-UhSZEG0iLFY-unsplash.jpg" alt="vert"/>This isn’t just our feelings we have the stats to back it up!<a href="https://www.yansmedia.com/blog/vertical-video-statistics">There was a report that came out showing that videos that are published vertically have a 90% higher watch through rate compared to horizontal ones</a>.If you have read this far and are still planning on posting horizontal videos - DON’T. By continuing to post horizontal videos, (especially on TikTok and Reels) you morph yourself and your business into the digital version of your Grandma when she asks you to help with “The” Facebook.

If you needed more proof that vertical video is king, YouTube is adding a new shorts shelf to the trending tab to showcase popular short videos. 

YouTube adding trending shorts

We’ve been down this road before, thinking we’re FINALLY going to get an edit button to help with all those typos we make on Twitter only to be disappointed, but it might actually be on its way…So it turns out that it wasn’t a joke from Twitter on the 1st of April that an edit button was being worked on, despite what we all thought…<img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/6oKoIBByOCnPkpRuhI87u7/a2e15ff6c44b55a6811a239c72967b04/Twitter_April_1st.png" alt="Twitter Tweet "/>The @Twittercomms team tweeted just a few days later saying:<img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/wQjpRPGyH8kapaf6IZvCB/b0a42c98a761e2309cecdfd09b82bbf3/Screenshot_2022-04-14_at_13.29.54.png" alt="Twitter comms tweet edit button"/>“now that everyone is asking… yes, we’ve been working on an edit feature since last year!no, we didn’t get the idea from a poll we&#39;re kicking off testing within<a href="https://twitter.com/TwitterBlue"> @TwitterBlue</a> Labs in the coming months to learn what works, what doesn’t, and what’s possible.”<h4>When is it coming, and what will it look like?</h4> Well, for now, that’s a mystery. Twitter say it’s being worked on and will go out on Twitter Blue first. It’s not known what the format will be with the rollout after Twitter Blue tries it out, whether verified accounts will be able to try it out before the rest of us or we’ll get it after testing, but we’re interested to see how it plays out.As anyone who uses Twitter will know, there have been calls for an edit button since it began but since it was announced there have been some concerns over what it may bring.Twitter can be a toxic place at times with the amount of abuse some people are subjected to, and it’s a worry to some that people will tweet abuse and then go back and edit it - removing accountability if someone isn’t quick enough to screenshot.<img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/6DiFQeO3MR5HPTne0fUvdY/7d914ab2a33d19ee15a5162bfac0e99a/Screenshot_2022-04-14_at_13.31.20.png" alt="Astronaut tweet to Elon Musk on Twitter"/>For us, it’s something that would be a nice feature to have especially when we’re furiously tweeting Meta or another social media platform in a rage when something isn’t working, or they’ve rejected our adverts again, and we make a typo.We’ll wait and see what comes about, or whether this was just a big ploy by Twitter to get us all discussing the platform more.

We’ve been down this road before, thinking we’re FINALLY going to get an edit button to help with all those typos we make on Twitter only to be disappointed, but it might actually be on its way…

Is a Twitter edit button really coming? And is it a good thing?

Some time ago, we reported that Instagram had plans to revert its feed to chronological order.After years of users pleading with the social platform to bring back a chronological order feed they have finally listened - but not exactly how we thought it would be.Instead of reverting to a single feed that shows posts in order of the time they were posted, Instagram has introduced a &quot;Following&quot; and &quot;Favourites&quot; feed to allow users to &quot;quickly catch up on the posts you don&#39;t want to miss&quot;.<img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/57W9WSRJLTMyTSUQTvE19s/f8e22ddb67a2d317838104d7b055889d/Glass__4_.png" alt="Preview of new Instagram feed update "/><h4>Favourites </h4>When you select the favourites tab you will be shown the latest posts from a list of up to 50 accounts that you can pick and edit. This can be your best friends, your favourite creators, or favourite social media agency... <h4>Following</h4>As you would expect, the following tab will show you posts from a mix of accounts that you are already following.<img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/6ImrXsNxe2z1KEPCLveFjM/781663a63731ccec46cb75c7d1f4ecb7/Glass__3_.png" alt="feed"/><h4>Home</h4>Instagram has said that &quot;home&quot; is what we know as the current feed. It will stay the same as it is now with a mix of ranked content from people you follow and recommend content you may like.This will be the default view on the app, so unless you click the top left of the screen and choose favourites or following, you won&#39;t see any difference.<h4>Our Opinion</h4>For those of us who remember the OG chronological feed, this news isn&#39;t exactly what we had in mind. We just wanted to see more of our friends and fewer Instagram &quot;comedians&quot;.This update seems like it will be similar to Twitter&#39;s feed - with more steps. But it will be interesting to see how this update will affect reach and engagement for small accounts.

Some time ago, we reported that Instagram had plans to revert its feed to chronological order.
After years of users pleading with the social platform to bring back a chronological order feed they have finally listened - but not exactly how we thought it would be.

Instagram release chronological order feed

Another day, and another change to the fastest growing social media platform out there.If you’ve been using any form of social media for the past ten years, you’ll be aware that Snapchat was the originator when it came to ‘stories’ (way back in 2013) allowing people to upload content that remained on the platform for just 24 hours.It was only 3 years later when Instagram clearly took notice and thought it would be a great addition to its platform - and here we all are today uploading content to our Instagram stories on the daily, and keeping our followers in the loop as to what we’re doing each dayNow TikTok is rolling out a similar idea - we’d hate to say they were copying!<img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/3riGVfssjHXeOgIq01eiGA/46b21bba7de61c7ac8d8dca0e196e1e1/Untitled_design__3_.png" alt="Tiktok stories "/>These will disappear after 24 hours, remarkably similar to Snapchat and Instagram...However.Unlike the other two platforms (and the likes of Facebook and Whatsapp), there’s one thing missing currently it seems… and that’s the ability to scroll through multiple creators’ stories.On Instagram, we’re very used to seeing all of those we follow stories at the top of the feed when we open the app but right now, you have to go onto a creators’ profile on TikTok to see their story.It’s understood from what we’ve seen online that this could be changing, but for the time being, we’ll have to check out our favourite TikTok-ers profiles to see what they’re uploading to their stories.To do that, you simply have to click on their profile and click on the photo icon (if it’s highlighted in blue) to see it. <img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/5jpLUsCFEpTK2tDklqfnIk/cf6f3a5f878a2491a7beb365d0502042/IMG_6300.jpg" alt="Tiktok stories Ellie Harries profile"/> So, what next for TikTok?Videos have gone from allowing just 1 minute of content to 3 minutes, to now 10 - and with stories being introduced, will we need to go anywhere else to inhale the video content we all desire?

Gone are the days of just 60-second videos on TikTok - the social media platform is changing it up again.TikTok introduced 3-minute videos just last year, so it’s not surprising that they’re switching it up and extending their video length to compete with other platforms.<h4>Notifications</h4>So when is the change coming into play?Well, this is the notification we received yesterday… and if we’re already being informed with our small platform, you’ll likely all have access to it as well.<img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/1SdgJlFFHPYMNdMGzdkpQ9/01f70cb9056ee5c2587ee90680c3ba03/Screenshot_20220228-080749__01.jpg" alt="TikTok notification 10 minute videos"/>You will have to have the latest version of the app, so make sure your phone is updated (worth checking the app store, and it might not be available on older phones).And… that’s it really! We’ll have to keep an eye on the statistics to see if it’s going to succeed, but if we could bet on it we would. TikTok changed the game when it comes to short-form video, let’s see how it gets on with long form.

A major player in the creation of a successful marketing plan is the skill to develop a solid social media strategy for your business, so why not take yours to the next level like so many others and head over to TikTok? Just in case you’ve been isolating under a rock for the past year, TikTok is a video-sharing social media platform and is currently the most downloaded app in the last year, with more than 1.1 billion users at present.Maybe you’ve spotted people wearing those honeycomb leggings in the gym? Or even been intrigued when seeing people drink freakishly green water? Well, these two products blew the minds of millions of users across TikTok, with the two hashtags wracking up a staggering 367 million views!<img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/1waRMF5z5XoqLSQarReVWA/8713c0c6f2a7633237b86e1f8cdf0aec/solen-feyissa-Yaw9mfG9QfQ-unsplash.jpg" alt="stock logo"/>By now you should see where we’re going with this, if you’re not already on the platform, get on it! With the much-needed shift to online shopping, especially over the pandemic, your business should take a switched-on approach and open your products up to the world of eCommerce across apps such as TikTok. So how do you create the perfect social media strategy to boost your sales and business? Let’s get right into it!<h2>First Things First, Online Shopping on TikTok </h2>With social commerce becoming a big part of our trending apps, long gone are the days when you had to leave the house to shop for clothes, new furniture, or even electronics. Nowadays we don’t even have to get out of bed to grab our laptop and order something, with online shopping bursting through the screens of our phones.Having the ability to sell your product on the world’s largest platforms for FREE is only something a digital marketer would’ve dreamt of back in the early 2000s, but now you’ve got the chance to do so right at the tips of your fingers, so what are you waiting for? TikTok is continuously rolling out new retail features, including an innovation that allows users to share shopping experiences through links and also earn commissions from the sales they convert. TikTok has also embarked on an exciting partnership with Shopify, allowing the app to be integrated for their users too.Having created a new customer journey through the app itself, the familiarity of using the platforms creates a secure level of trust between the brand and consumer, this then goes on to generate an easy trigger finger for shoppers to make purchases through the app. <h2>Make Your Mark With TikTok</h2>Now that you know social media shops are the ultimate step in switching up your business strategy, the next step you need to take is to create your business social media accounts, if you don’t already have them, and begin posting valuable, innovative content. Here are our 4 top tips you can use to skyrocket your business with TikTok: <h3>Capture Those Moments </h3>Always have your phone on hand to capture every step of the process, when creating your product. Film it in portrait mode, find a trending sound, and make it fun! Using short, captivating videos for your TikTok creates access to a wider reach of audiences and helps maintain your growth in engagement, this leads to an increase in revenue.<img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/1q90JYouxIiz4nitdnwfNT/9901d23ff3f30b1772ec2582c948d3fa/Taking-photo-of-ceramic-bowl-1022102.jpg" alt="taking photo"/><h3>Going Live in 3...2...1... </h3>Take your business to the next level by going live on TikTok, it’s an excellent way to authentically connect with your audience on many levels. It allows you to effectively build brand affinity and strengthen your trust between consumers and businesses. Be aware though - you need to have 1000 followers to go live, so build up that following!<img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/5LtWKdtXmVLv7nBV16Y64h/6cd9924fcc6e688197162f51ae2db6cc/Screenshot_2021-12-23_at_11.14.36_am.png" alt="Live screeshot"/><h3>#AD - Influencers And Content Creators </h3>Influencers and Content Creators have built up their own community of followers and hardcore fans, so by teaming up with them - your brand can: ● Be exposed to a larger audience ● Have a possible boost in sales● Provide credibility through endorsement by someone trusted <img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/5xSrtp9EK0L5UFiiH53WJ7/7c16493997b599b5dfafe870404f40e0/amanda-vick-pPV-kqfs5wA-unsplash.jpg" alt="content"/><h3>People Purchase From People </h3>Taking notice of the content created by customers and users across social platforms is now a key to success. It is cost-effective and, because people are regularly creating content, user-generated content fortifies trust between brands and consumers.Studies have shown that user-generated content is five times more likely to drive sales than a piece of content curated through brand-sponsored posts, it’s a trend that you cannot afford to surpass. <h3># and Trends</h3>Using a sound that’s trending, is one of the best ways to get seen as the FYP (For You Page) will be rolling out videos with that, so you could be in luck and reach a wider audience. Creating your brand&#39;s very own hashtag allows you to share this with followers who can then use this throughout their own content, submitting videos related to your brand. This hashtag can then be shared across a variety of social platforms allowing brands to survey the metrics produced from these, such as popularity, whether influencers or content creators hop on your trend, and also how quick it grows and spreads across the platform.<h2>Get Started Today </h2>With TikTok bringing a new lease of life to social media user engagement and behaviours, it’s your time to jump on the trend train and kickstart your brand’s TikTok journey. Part of this new evolution comes from creating and solidifying your company’s social commerce strategically across multiple platforms. <a href="https://calendly.com/glassagencyltd">Get in touch</a> with our agency today to find out how we can take your brand to the next level!

Take your social media game to the next level with TikTok

With the worldwide pandemic affecting us all, lockdown brought us closer than ever to technology with TikTok downloads skyrocketing and reaching an estimated 800 million monthly active users. The one thought on everyone’s minds now though; will the usage of the video platform die down with the world returning to normality? According to the latest figures, TikTok is only going to get stronger.TikTok recently posted a survey of 500 UK TikTok users, with 54% of users saying that they will maintain their usage of the TikTok platform over the next six months, whilst 33% of users claimed they will increase theirs. Just 13% of the platform’s users said that their TikTok usage would reduce, this can be due to many circumstances such as returning to full-time work after furlough or starting a new role (check out the results in <a href="https://dashboard.askattest.com/survey/4WXF4AW48K3DR3/results">Attest’s interactive dashboard</a>).The video platform has now become an important place for consumers to discover new brands, with 79% of respondents agreeing that they have found and explored new businesses through TikTok, 54% have purchased from a brand after finding them via the TikTok app.The influence TikTok holds to drive a purchase was seen to peak earlier this year, with the release of Little Moons Japanese Mochi Ice Cream Balls sending users wild across the UK. With the craze being talked about outside of the TikTok community and even reaching publishers on a variety of online platforms, taking a trip to Tesco in search of Little Moons caused a huge push in sales by more than 1,000%.So why are brands waiting to get in on the TikTok act? It comes with a need for uniqueness and an effort to resonate with TikTok’s particular audience, do you think your brand’s got what it takes?TikTok’s Stats of Unique DemographicsThe first thought that comes to mind when talking about TikTok’s users are Generation Z, but what brands may not realise is the app’s not exclusively for youngsters; 43% of survey respondents were aged over 25. What interests us, in particular, is that this sector of App Users is showing the biggest growth potential from the range of TikTok’s audiences.With 92% of people in the older age group planning to maintain or even increase their usage of the app in the next six months, just 84% of respondents aged 18 to 25 plan to maintain their platform usage.The two demographics strongly believe that TikTok helps them find and explore new brands, yet it is the younger bracket of users who claim to be highly engaged with brands on the App itself. The majority of TikTok users aged 18 to 25 stated that they follow brands on the platform and just over 59% of respondents say they’ve gone on to buy from brands after seeing their products across their content. A smaller percentage of users aged 26 and over follow brands on TikTok and 46% have made a purchase. When dividing the data established from the survey, you can see a similar difference in engagement with women being found to be more interested in brands on TikTok than men are. Almost 62% of female users follow brands on the platform, whilst just 52% of males take the same action. As you can see from the data, there’s a large gap between the genders of who’s being driven to create a conversion with a brand; 65.5% of women state they’ve purchased a brand they’ve been exposed to on TikTok versus just 41% of men.Produce Innovative Content Wanting to leave a mark on TikTok? Then you need to be sure to put your highest efforts into creating innovative, creative content. TikTok has got you covered when it comes to distinctive filters, stickers and music that render videos made for the platform easily identifiable. The platform is also known for its homemade, authentic style, which even the most well-known brands will have to be on board with to get into their consumer’s For You Page (FYP).<img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/1pUd5MlQGKgPfqNo3ofpSI/9029e1e4fcac4a03ccb7e85c5f17ef1e/jenny-ueberberg-B8A3_0qfNzg-unsplash.jpg" alt="content"/>When it comes to the users themselves, they want to escape and enjoy their time scrolling through their FYP, looking at content that makes them feel a certain emotion, whether it’s funny, exciting or even heart-felt content; there’s an audience for everyone. One of the strongest examples of a brand that’s found success through the platform is Ryanair, they’ve done this by finding themselves on the humorous side of TikTok with their content often focusing on trending memes and formats, bringing them over 23.8 Million likes across their page.The second-highest ranking type of content is tutorials. With the trend of ‘As seen on TikTok’ spreading the platform like wildfire, whether it&#39;s learning the latest trending dance routine to the newest TikTok hits or how to make the perfect roast potato on PotatoTok. Some brands have an easier adaptation to this style of content, with the likes of MAC Cosmetics giving its viewers the How-To format of using their products on “all ages, all races, all genders”.One of the main content innovations that kept the nation smiling at the start of lockdown was the number of dance challenges and iconic lip-syncing scenes that sparked up across TikTok - and users are known to like it when brands either join in on the fun themselves or even start their own challenges! And it’s not just the younger audience looking up to the likes of Charli D’amelio, 41% of those aged 26 and over like to see a dance routine spark up on their FYP, compared to just 36.5% of those aged 18 to 25 entertained by these pieces of content.The magic that comes with starting a lip-sync or dance challenge is that, if it goes viral across the platform, brands can bring in masses of user-generated content. A great example of this is to look at E.l.f. Cosmetics as they created a viral dance challenge #EyesLipsFace which resulted in the curation of 3 million user-generated videos and literally billions of views.Who’s Smashing It?One of the biggest brands on TikTok, holding 1.6 million followers to date, Nike curates some of the most innovative content on the platform. With their huge following and presence also known away from the app, their page has become a great place to find your favourite sports stars having their fair share of TikTok challenges and trends thrown to them. <img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/1JKZnwZwQ721INQ4JAmq1T/1c5a3c5c7c676f688b4184426a765302/Screenshot_2021-12-23_at_11.31.30_am.png" alt="Nike "/>Their most recent trending hashtag #BreakItDown has brought to light the stars hidden behind the screens of TikTok. In doing so, Nike encourages users to post their own unique sporting skills and share the behind the scenes on how to accomplish them. This style of user-generated content is the perfect format to reshare to your brand’s page, especially when it becomes a How-To form of video along with it being relatable and educational, this challenge has brought in over 2.6 million views to the Nike TikTok Page.With a whopping 9.2 million likes across their TikTok page, the UK fast-fashion brand Pretty Little Thing (PLT) is doing pretty well on the platform as they have gained over 763 thousand followers. With a feed that reflects their eye-catching colourful brand identity, PLT uses a mixed style of content such as giveaways and product spotlight videos to reach and engage their followers. <img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/2P3iwZ7RJ3YadiiZsnQi6f/81c87977d820323810fe853d14205351/Screenshot_2021-12-23_at_11.36.13_am.png" alt="PLT"/>Through innovative, interactive content on their page, Pretty Little Thing encourages their TikTok followers to tag friends in their video’s comments, share their content across other platforms and also ask to see their follower’s outfits/try-on hauls too! This allows PLT to keep existing followers interested in the brand through the content they’re producing, whilst simultaneously expanding their reach beyond their immediate followers.Hop-On The TrendUsing TikTok as part of your marketing strategy allows your brand to show another side of the business to your followers and future customers, you can build a niche community, and target a younger generation of buyers too!With TikTok becoming one of the biggest video content platforms in the app marketplace, you can enjoy creating and experimenting with video, and with the right strategy for your business, you can use TikTok to grow from there!If you&#39;re interested in finding out how Glass can help you build your TikTok brand, contact the team.

TikTok's brand building abilities

Gone are the days of just 60-second videos on TikTok - the social media platform is changing it up again.

TikTok expands to allow 10 minute videos

Instagram is continuing its trend of developing tools and resources to benefit its creators in an attempt to attract them to stay on the platform. Following Twitch, Youtube, and TikTok - Instagram has decided to add the option for moderators (mods) to be selected during live streams.These platforms have had live moderators for quite some time now, protecting creators from online abuse - allowing them to build out a community in a safe environment.<img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/1l5QQgH8oyrhu6x6KMtyy3/39bbd382b95f5389d20e1bc3d3904570/Glass.png" alt="Insta Tweet"/><h4>What does this new feature mean? </h4>Creators can now choose people to monitor their live streams with the power to remove viewers, report comments, and limit comments during a stream. &#39;Mods&#39; are usually on the lookout for trolls and hateful comments being posted in the live chat.This option will allow creators to focus on their streams with the knowledge that their chat, and community, is functioning how they want it.<h4>How do you implement it?</h4>Instagram has made it simple to add someone as a &#39;mod&#39; to your live. All you have to do is tap the 3 dots in the comment bar during a live and search for the account you want to add.<img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/1P4tOryzBarNOfiVekPxsI/e4833d39d682961bb33cd8bf0daaedf0/58.png" alt="Mods "/>It is unclear if this feature will be available on all types of accounts yet - but we imagine it will be for creator and business accounts only.<h4>Why have they done this?</h4>Instagram seem to be using this as another opportunity to move towards a creator first model.This change will incentivise high profile users to use the platform as their primary source of content distribution. Adding a level of community monitoring on the app also opens more opportunities for brand deals and ads.<h4>Our opinion</h4>In some people&#39;s eyes, Instagram has in a way &quot;neglected&quot; creators when compared to its competitors.The other platforms have direct ways of monetising content, personal creator contacts and many of the creator tools Instagram is only releasing now. With the threat apps like TikTok pose, it seems that Instagram is being forced to compete and do all it can to keep users on the platform.If creators can go live on Instagram with the knowledge that they won&#39;t have to deal with hate, they may be more likely to stick around. Is it too little too late for Instagram? Or do you think this feature will encourage users to stick around?

Instagram is continuing its trend of developing tools and resources to benefit its creators in an attempt to attract them to stay on the platform.

What is the new Instagram moderator feature?

Another day, and another change to the fastest growing social media platform out there.


Tiktok rolls out Snapchat and Instagram-style stories to more users

Understanding the importance of great social content is only the start, you need to come up with ideas to start creating it. Sometimes businesses hit a creative wall when it comes to creating content, they don’t know what to post or what they want to say.We have heard many say that their company is too small or niche to create content about, but content can come from anything, as long as you create it with your audience in mind. We want to look at different businesses and explain the type of content we would create if we were in charge of their social accounts.First up is car dealerships, but this type of content can be applied to any business in a similar industry.<h5>Car Specs</h5>This piece of content would be a hosted video, detailing individual car features and specs. Think of a Top Gear style video showcasing all the key points of a car, and some clips of it in action.<img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/2x2efzg4IfTyAhc1ZS9faR/c91fbcb639fa665e9e9998a34a36659b/brock-wegner-pWGUMQSWBwI-unsplash.jpg" alt="nn"/>You want to show people the products you have to sell but that doesn’t mean it has to be boring, have some fun with it! By creating a video on the cars, running down all of the specs and key features like tech accessories, engine size, or top speed you will educate consumers while giving an entertaining piece of content for them watch.<h5>New Driver Advice</h5>Who are buying cars all year round without fail? New drivers. Young drivers make up a large portion of car sales each year. You can target this demographic by giving free advice to young or new drivers. <img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/a1H8Y3EpSZ4Uzs5EZ5eTw/d4a1896d8177643163cd863f04b58252/istockphoto-172476634-612x612.jpeg" alt="New driver stocl "/>Think about the things people new to being behind the wheel don’t know, but really should. Topics that could be covered are; how to change a tire, how to pick the right insurance, how to check fluid levels, and much more.By developing a relationship with consumers at a young age, you instil a sense of brand loyalty. You are able to educate them which will create a positive rapport with them before they walk through your doors.<h5>Scenic Photos</h5>Although many companies already display high-quality photos of the cars they offer, it can be taken a step further. <img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/6WNZm00KWWhrlQvQthdWmo/59df2caaa59c9ae54ccf4c856b7b3c4a/jon-flobrant-lRSChvh1Mhs-unsplash.jpg" alt="scenic car "/>Don’t just take photos in your carpark, go out to the surrounding areas or places that customers will recognise. This will add a sense of local knowledge and community.<h5>Trip Locations</h5>Many people buy cars to go on adventures. So why not give your customers ideas on where to visit? <img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/3hCHc87IYifhhkTLad6iOE/28438d55b1bceeabef462609f661a2fa/jean-frederic-fortier-RkBTPqPEGDo-unsplash.jpg" alt="Trip stock "/>Utilise the guide feature on Instagram to give recommendations on local spots, landmarks, and businesses to take road trips.A past example of this is the famous Michelin Stars. <a href="https://www.lookers.co.uk/blog/history-of-the-michelin-guide#:~:text=Origins,of%20the%20Michelin%20tyre%20company.">The origins</a> of the hospitality rating system came from the tire manufacturer Michelin. They wanted to increase driving in France so people would go through tires faster - increasing their sales. They created a guidebook for the best restaurants out of town to encourage people to drive more.Give people a reason to use your product and then capitalise on it.The main thing to remember when creating content for social media is “it’s not all about you”. You need to give people a reason to want to follow your socials and the quickest way to do that is by giving them content they will enjoy or find useful.If you are interested in exploring a bespoke content strategy click here to book a free <a href="https://calendly.com/glassagencyltd">consultation</a>.

Understanding the importance of great social content is only the start, you need to come up with ideas to create content around. Sometimes businesses hit a creative wall when it comes to creating content, they don’t know what to post or what they want to say.

4 types of social media content for car dealerships

Social media management can consume a lot of time from small businesses. You have to create, research, schedule, and engage on your profiles - all on top of running your business.Simply put it can become a job in itself.To make life a little easier for you we put together a list of 4 social media management tools to help save you time and increase the quality of your social media content.<h5>Content Creation: Canva</h5> Canva is the secret weapon of social media managers across the world. <img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/7cgQzgojNx3L0hncLylClL/472c1cf7dc65ca1e4d800bc259a551ca/canva-screenshot.png" alt="Screenshot"/>Canva is a free online alternative to paid programs like photoshop. The site will help you create posts for social media providing access to hundreds of design assets, fonts, colours, and templates. The site is extremely user friendly so even if you have zero design experience you can still create eye-catching content for your brand.<h5>Research: Google Trends</h5>Understanding what people are already searching for will help you when you begin to create content. <img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/3pMgZQfdpA2wv3Omimi4cV/07516026cde1950e582ab8c7b5c3327c/Screenshot_2022-01-04_at_1.08.08_pm.png" alt="screenshot google "/>Google Trends is a free service that allows you to see how often words or phrases are searched over a certain period of time. If you are struggling to come up with ideas for content, search your industry in Google Trends and it will provide you with how often people are looking for information on topics and suggest other things you can cover.<h4> Images: Unsplash </h4><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/2rlB2F9vAZ5mrcjQ66hjFJ/e7f3f762c31215270c0875cc0e847596/Screenshot_2022-01-04_at_1.09.10_pm.png" alt="screenshot"/>Unsplash is a large library of high quality, professional photos that you can use for free. For small businesses trying to grow their social media it can be hard to invest in unique images, so take advantage of this free resource. If you are ever covering a general topic or don&#39;t have a budget for photos check it out! <h4> Planning: Monday</h4>We have recently trialled Monday and we are loving it! <img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/4tTlS8NYSG72uxu2K21G54/51d373dc950d07784ec3e2a51a618462/Main_view_publish_date.png" alt="Monday screenshot"/>Monday is a versatile content planner that allows you to collaborate with members of your team to review, edit, and schedule content. The site has templates that allow you to customise the workflow for whatever task you require.Try these 4 tools to manage your social media platforms and give yourself more time to focus on growing your business and interacting with your customers!

Social media management can consume a lot of time from small businesses. You have to create, research, schedule, and engage on your profiles - all on top of running your business.

4 tools for social media management 


With 55 million businesses already on LinkedIn, it’s no surprise that many B2B companies struggle to stand out on the platform when they’re putting no time or effort into what they’re posting.It’s why we believe creating a strong profile image, and posting strategy, is a must in 2022 to help you succeed.So how do you get started on that? Here are our three top tips!<h5>Sort your profile out</h5>If you let the small things slip through the cracks like the quality of your LinkedIn profile photo, how can a client trust you won’t do the same with them?Image is everything and when someone clicks on your LinkedIn profile it&#39;s the first impression they will have of your company, so spend some time to ensure it’s a positive one. Your picture should be a high-quality file of your logo, and your header should give an insight into your company - for example, work highlights.LinkedIn profile pictures should be a 300 x 300 pixel, 1x1 ratio (square), png file.The LinkedIn banner should be 1536 x 768 pixels.<img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/5fKGmn5IURNHpFWb6HsoZF/9c9f94ae9c85efafcad8edf5fe51f353/Screenshot_2021-12-19_at_7.23.15_pm.png" alt="lINKED IN SS"/>Take a look at our LinkedIn profile as an example. Our profile picture shows our logo clearly, and it’s correctly sized too. Our banner ties in with our branding - clean, minimalist, and bold. Our banner showcases our tagline and gives an insight into the platforms we work on.Next up, you need to make sure every detail on your page is completed.This means checking the location of your business, how people can contact you, and a description of what you do.This will also let LinkedIn categorise your profile and know who to show your content to.<img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/6DlTGFzLECjNKgMURzaoed/4c2dcfe53bb1546529b4b5c331dac95e/how-to-create-linkedin-company-page-11-1024x686.png" alt="Linkedin"/><h5>Content </h5>As with every other social media platform, you grow your brand and following through the content that you publish.So, please, put some effort into it! Asking questions, highlighting services, and showcasing your team are just a few examples of the type of content that works really well on LinkedIn.Ensure you keep publishing valuable content and being authentic to your company&#39;s values and you’ll succeed.<img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/3d8WVRFunBtOglSXrGZA3s/cab9afc4949a5b620c16a2f336181ebb/Screenshot_2021-12-21_at_12.50.56_pm.png" alt="LinkedIn- Nike"/>LinkedIn also throws something else into the mix that other social media platforms don’t directly allow for - the posting of your own articles.They are blog posts for the social age allowing you to dive into a topic further than a simple post accompanied by a video, image, or graph.This type of long-form content will allow you to demonstrate your authority and knowledge within your industry opening to a wider audience and conversation.What’s also important to note with LinkedIn and the content you post, is that it can help with your SEO ranking. LinkedIn’s domain authority score is 98/100 - meaning when people search for a topic on Google that you have written about, your article has a good chance of being at the top.<h5>Get Personal </h5>A company profile, and posting on it, is a must - but wouldn’t you trust a person over a brand more? This isn’t for everyone but developing a personal brand on LinkedIn will benefit your company. People connect with people so having a face rather than a logo will get people to lower their guard. If you share or publish content to your personal account all bases are covered.<img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/3FZ8TCcRQRbXYdfPbX3krP/4a48bb6ee7c1433bb990790fa226d825/Thursday_App.jpeg" alt="Thursday Founder "/>This is <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-rawlings-32b726112/">George Rawlings</a> the Co-founder &amp; CEO of the dating app “<a href="https://www.getthursday.com/ ">Thursday</a>”. If you have been on LinkedIn over the last year we&#39;re sure you will have heard of them with multiple marketing posts going viral. Most recently the app has recreated the Christmas movie “The Holiday” and has documented the whole journey on the companies profile and George’s per<img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/3TiA7eBmKMYY26AQtRiZe0/3a19d839be94d47d2c161d6e8126fb6b/Untitled_design__1_.png" alt="Thursday app"/>As you can see, the 2 posts above are on the same topic - one posted from the company account and one from George’s personal account. The post published from the personal account exceeded the brand by over 600 likes! As George is a person and not a brand his posts feel more sincere - it doesn’t feel like he is promoting his product, just sharing his life and that’s what social media is all about.So time to get started! By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to making your LinkedIn profile stand out from the crowd.If you have any questions about growing your LinkedIn profile, <a href="https://glass.agency/contact">get in touch</a> and we’d be happy to help.

With 55 million businesses already on LinkedIn, it’s no surprise that many B2B companies struggle to stand out on the platform when they’re putting no time or effort into what they’re posting.
It’s why we believe creating a strong profile image, and posting strategy is a must in 2022 to help you succeed.

How to make your LinkedIn business profile stand out

After months of jokes about screenshotting NFTs to claim ownership via profile pictures, Twitter has released an official verification process for NFT profile pictures.<img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/7nPVUvj5z7CwhCku7NgANK/706d03d44d75053a41aa92a526c5485a/Credit__TwitterBlue.png" alt="Twitter NFT "/><a href="https://twitter.com/TwitterBlue"></a>Credit: @<a href="https://twitter.com/TwitterBlue">TwitterBlue</a>With this new feature, you are able to link your ETH wallet to your Twitter account and select an NFT you own to use as a profile picture. At the moment you can only use ETH NFTs but Twitter has stated that this is just the “first iteration” and in time they may go on to offer other blockchains.Once you select an NFT for your profile picture, instead of the normal circle border accompanied with standard profile pictures you get a hexagonal one.If another user attempts to screenshot your NFT profile picture and upload it without buying it, they will be left with a plain JPeg and circular border.This new feature makes Twitter the first social platform to integrate NFT technology in a meaningful way. As the months pass web 3.0 is growing more and more prominent in society, so the only question is - are you going to embrace it or ignore it?

After months of jokes about screenshotting NFTs to claim ownership via profile pictures, Twitter has released an official verification process for NFT profile pictures.

Twitter integrates NFTs 

Instagram has now announced that it will be trialling a subscription-based feature on the app.Although only a handful of creators in the US have been chosen for the trial phase Instagram has said “we have plans to expand access to more creators over the next few months.”If you are curious about how the subscription feature will work you can follow and subscribe to these creators taking part in the trial:<a href="https://www.instagram.com/alanchikinchow/">@alanchikinchow</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sedona._/">@sedona._</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/alizakelly/">@alizakelly</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kelseylynncook/">@kelseylynncook</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/elliottnorris/">@elliottnorris</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jordanchiles/">@jordanchiles</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jackjerry/">@jackjerry</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/bunnymichael/">@bunnymichael</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/donalleniii/">@donalleniii</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lonnieiiv/">@lonnieiiv</a>.<img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/3f0fQico3zO346PiP73Fl8/0a3e417c103f01f9247b69943779f136/credit.png" alt="Screenshot of insta post "/><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CY7BcQcvCgh/">Credit: @Creators</a>These creators will be able to set a monthly price of their choice, unlock a “subscribe” button on their profile and offer exclusive content to their subscribers.<h4>What you get for your money</h4>Subscriber Lives This feature will work in the same way as a traditional Instagram Live does but with the benefit of a smaller viewership -  meaning your favourite creator is more likely to see your live messages.Subscriber Stories This will be similar to the “close friend” stories but only for subscribers. When subscribed to a creator you will be able to see exclusive 24-hour content. Subscriber Badges Subscribers will be able to stand out to their favourite creators with badges next to their names any time they comment or message the creator.<img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/3j0fYounYW7DFSojCkTDte/1c3894edc0f8acf91cb1c8ad2a78219b/Untitled__1024____78px___1024____768px_.png" alt="screenshot"/><a href="https://business.instagram.com/blog/subscriptions-creators-instagram-recurring-monthly-income/">Credit: Meta for Business</a>This kind of paywall content is appealing to users because it feels like they are building a more personal relationship with their favourite creators.But that doesn&#39;t mean that this new feature is only for creators - This opens opportunities for businesses too.If you sell a digital service or course, you can monetise your content on Instagram directly. Instead of promoting on Instagram and then providing the content in another space, you can have everything under one roof.What are your thoughts on this latest feature?

Instagram announced that it will be trialling a subscription-based feature on the app.

What is Instagram's new subscription service? 

Instagram is home to 500 million daily users, all scrolling through their feeds to pass the time so why wouldn&#39;t you give them the chance to buy from you?Way back in 2019 Instagram released the shopping feature allowing businesses and influencers to add shopping tags to their posts. Since then this feature has grown to be a more prominent part of the app with its own tab to showcase products on offer from the pages that you follow.As an Instagram user, you may have your own opinions on this change but from a business perspective, you can’t ignore the opportunity. Instagram has provided the ability to shorten consumers shopping journeys, making it more convenient to buy products. Instead of leaving Instagram to go to the website, find the item and then buy it, they can click on the image and buy almost instantly.So how do you set up an Instagram shop as a business?Follow these steps below and you&#39;ll have it up and running in no time!<img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/1ZlLNEcOO2qwJwKIIBlytA/1d8ac9926b2f5aaec09ed6cffcac8fbd/How-to-set-up-Instagram-store-_02.gif" alt="insta shop 1 "/>First things first, you need to go into your Instagram settings and ensure that your profile is set up as either a creator or business account as you can&#39;t add a shop to a personal account.<img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/2zHRFnfDgvshsmWpD7QXnJ/8333ee9f79d2e637dc08d76f313fc2d2/How-to-set-up-Instagram-store-_03.gif" alt="insta shop2"/>As Instagram uses the Meta Business Suite, you have to connect your Instagram account to Facebook.<img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/1iBMbErHp7Zb7rthKsMP6u/08d553312f4c606a37c50fd781ce7f59/How-to-set-up-Instagram-store-_04.gif" alt="Insta shop 3"/>You have two options when it comes to uploading the products you are selling.The first is referred to as the DIY method. You can go into the settings within Meta Business Suite and upload products individually providing descriptions and prices. This is great for businesses just starting out with no website in place.The second option to upload your products is importing them from an e-commerce platform partner like Shopify. You can copy and paste your whole catalogue from the website to sell your products on Instagram. <img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/5iVG3dCsrnBOGbvPmKAdVs/5d511bf7d48be985abaf6e20b675dd96/How-to-set-up-Instagram-store-_05.gif" alt="Insta shop 4"/>After you are happy with all the products you’ve uploaded it’s time to send your account off for review. Instagram need to check over your account and the information supplied before you can start selling. To do that you;1. Go to your business’s Instagram profile and tap the 3 horizontal lines  2. Scroll down and select settings  3. Tap on “sign up for shopping” 4. Follow the steps on the screen to submit your account for review.<img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/1Z8uT2y1k6T5ULMEQC3X2/15bd43979c5a5660896ebc30bb038386/How-to-set-up-Instagram-store-_06.gif" alt="Instashop 5"/>Fingers crossed, your account gets approved for Instagram shopping - now all you have to do is turn it on. To do that you;<ol><li>Go to your business account settings again and tap the 3 horizontal lines </li><li>Scroll down and tap on settings </li><li>Tap business and then shopping </li><li>Select the product catalogue that you want to connect to your account </li><li>Select done.</li></ol><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/4D32mwsOVFhKVNFpfpaVZD/c05b1faa033f53d4d0e3c5c3670c6f16/How-to-set-up-Instagram-store-_07.gif" alt="Instagram shop 7 "/>Now the hard work is done all that’s left to do is create a post and sell your products! You do that by;<ol><li>Create a post as you normally would.</li><li>Tap on “Tag Products”</li><li>Tap on the photo and search for the product you want </li><li>Select the product</li><li>Tap “done”</li><li>Tap share </li></ol>That is it, 6 easy steps to get you up and running on Instagram shop. This is a great opportunity for smaller businesses trying to grow their audience and increase sales. If you still have any questions or are thinking about taking your social media content to the next level, <a href="https://glass.agency/contact">please do get in touch</a>

Instagram is home to 500 million daily users, all scrolling through their feeds to pass the time so why wouldn't you give them the chance to buy from you?

Way back in 2019 Instagram released the shopping feature allowing businesses and influencers to add shopping tags to their posts. Since then this feature has grown to be a more prominent part of the app with its own tab to showcase products on offer from the pages that you follow.

How do you create an Instagram shop?


It feels that almost daily we hear how all brands need to be on social media. “If you’re not on TikTok or Instagram Reels, your small business will never succeed.”It IS an easy way to communicate with potential customers, grow your brand, generate leads, and much more - but no one really tells you where, or how to start.Being present is great, so we’d always encourage you to start posting as soon as you can with the content you have. But the only thing worse than having no social footprint is having one that’s poor quality which doesn’t reflect you, or your brand.Often businesses don’t know what to post on social media to showcase their business, so they resort to low-quality stock images, generic posts, and ramming products down people’s throats. Here’s a breakdown of things to remember when creating your content plan:Think Like a HumanThe first and most important thing to remember is you need to approach social media as a human and not a sales robot. We all use social media so it’s not hard to put yourself in your demographic’s shoes, just think who do you follow on social media and why do you follow them?<img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/7nmTDIBBLxGqz0Bi59x4sb/f0eb261486643b00f257caf6a09b28d9/jeremy-bezanger-OXrk8fG2aig-unsplash.jpg" alt="Stock"/>Do you follow those who constantly promote their brand and shove promotions in your face? Or do you follow people whose content you enjoy? Content that makes you laugh, or educates you, or makes you feel something.You won’t succeed on social media by thinking how you can take from your followers, you need to identify what they want to see, tie it into your company and then create content that will add value to their feeds.Do Your HomeworkThe best way to get a better understanding of the current landscape is to take time to find out what type of content is already out there. Investigate your industry, not just businesses but publications. No matter your industry we can guarantee you there will be online magazines with articles and content about your industry. Never plagiarise the content, but use these platforms to gain an understanding of what people are talking about, what they are interested in, and what they want to see.<img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/2MskWgV0h5y8t871elLLNe/e1af84ec2913cfa2bd0ca03054665326/Google_trends.PNG" alt="Google Trends showing the searches for the phrase &quot;Instagram Tips&quot; vs &quot;LinkedIn Tips&quot; over the last month."/>Google trends can be used to see how many people are searching for a certain word or phrase. When you are creating content, you can use the google trends search to see how many people are interested in a certain topic, this will ensure you are creating content on things people want to see. There are so many different tools out there now that allow you to see what’s working for your industry - so get looking. The likes of Brandwatch, You Scan, Buzzsumo and others will all help you build an idea of what is, and isn’t working.Get SpecificThe wider your net, the less you’ll catch. Trying to reach and please everyone with a single post is nearly impossible, so you need to design each post with a particular type of customer in mind.B2B and B2C customers are naturally going to be interested in different things so not every post can cater to both bases. For B2B get technical, show off your machinery, your process, the background details. For B2C think about their needs and what they are interested in. The one thing you always need to address for both is how you can add value to them. <img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/M7lJ28ktYRUEyJsO1dlp1/6a25ceb484f00c253f9eebdc04fc0580/Untitled_design__2_.png" alt="LinkedIn Screenshot"/>Take DHL for example. The delivery company showcase their drivers and community initiatives on their Instagram to target customers while reserving their LinkedIn to discuss the business side of their company.Invest In Content Posting content is the first step but at a certain point, the quality of your content is going to come into question. How are people supposed to trust your attention to detail and the quality of your product if you have a watermarked fuzzy image promoting your brand?Take Canva for example - Canva is a free graphic design platform that&#39;s great for creating social media posts. A drag and drop system allows you to customize thousands of templates. Canva&#39;s wide range of features allows you to edit photos without knowledge or experience.If you haven’t got the time to do this yourself because your business is so busy, then don’t be afraid to get some help. You aren’t expected to know everything, and there are people out there that can do it better. Track It<img src="//images.ctfassets.net/xrpfyny3yyi8/2dfI9409CSByDsBXA3VCji/65a8077211d637c3b95970a239c4832c/facebook-insights-2.png" alt="Facebook stat screenshot"/>It doesn’t matter how much research you do or how much time you put into your content if you aren’t monitoring how well it is performing. If it isn’t increasing engagement, following, translating to sales etc - then it is pretty worthless. We’re all for building brand awareness with your posts, but if only one person is engaging - there’s no awareness there. By tracking each metric, you are in a position to understand what type of content is working and what is not, ensuring that you aren’t wasting your time on something that is giving you no return. We know how hard it can be to get all of these things in place, start by being realistic - what can you start doing first that won’t take you away from running the business? If you’re not sure where to begin, let us help you get that ball rolling. Check out our recent articles on different social strategies, and head over to our Instagram for more tips and tricks.

Top 5 useful Google Chrome extensions for small businesses

1. Grammarly

2. Image Downloader

4. Team Password

5. Influencer Insights for Instagram & YouTube

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Head of Instagram Adam Mosseri addresses Instagram updates

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