Social Media News: January 2021

Each month I recap the biggest changes in social media so you can stay informed and adjust your marketing strategy accordingly. Here are the highlights of what you should know from January 2021:

Instagram Keyword Search Evolves: Marketing on Instagram just got better with its new keyword search. Customers can now search for you or your brand by keywords, instead of relying profile, location, or hashtag limitations of the past. Getting found by your ideal customer is now easier than ever! Learn about how to use it effectively here.

Instagram Adds Creative Tools to Reels and Stories: Reels is getting new Audio Mix and Voiceover options, making it possible to add additional audio tracks for a more robust Reels experience. Additionally, Stories are getting a new Multi-capture mode, which can take several shots in a sequence.

These additional tools make Reels and Stories better to create exciting and creative marketing content! They are being rolled out slowly and full roll-outs haven’t been confirmed yet, but check your Instagram account to see if you’re one of the lucky ones who have a preview of these tools.

LinkedIn Adds Products Tab on Company Pages: LinkedIn has added a new Products Tab on company pages, making it easy to highlight specific products. This is a great way to showcase products that you want to feature, ratings, or reviews. Read more in their announcement here.

Snapchat Steps Up Bitmojis: Snapchat users’ Bitmoji characters could be getting a new wardrobe as part of Snapchat’s growing interest in eCommerce.

Retailers will be able to partner with Snapchat for their products to show up as clothing options for Bitmojis. While this update has yet to be rolled out, Snapchat has already filed a patent addressing the details and with its current partnerships with clothing brands, it looks like Snapchat is looking to take a big step in the eCommerce realm in 2021.

Google Adds Short-Form Video Carousels: TikTok and Instagram Reels are gaining traction and it looks like they might become even bigger marketing tools this year.

Google has begun testing a short-form video carousel as part of search results, where the videos showcased are TikTok and Reels videos. It is unknown if this will become a key element of Google Search results, but get those videos ready, because it looks like they’re bigger than ever!

Small Business Resource Center Arrives at TikTok: TikTok has just launched a new Small Business Resource Center full of case studies, creative tools, and FAQ’s to help businesses utilize the app more effectively.

TikTok is one of the biggest platforms for teenagers and millennials, making it important to keep a strong marketing presence on this platform. And if Google’s new short-form video carousel gains traction, it will be even more important to include video content in your marketing strategy! Check out TikTok’s small business resources here.

What do you think of these changes? Which new features are you most likely to try first? Let me know in the comments below!