Archive for the ‘Social Networking’ Category

How brands are leveraging influencer marketing to ‘up their game’ – Gulf Business

People do not buy goods and services. They buy relations, stories and magic, author and entrepreneur Seth Godin famously said.

Stardom and brands have been companions for a while now. Athletes have endorsed sports giants, movie stars have backed skincare and F&B products, while other celebrities have helped drive a plethora of customers to banks and other brands. The marriage was a happy one.

But as digital connectivity and content curation exploded, advertising mediums grew and social media donned a new face of engagement and connectivity, the concept of modern endorsement shifted.

Marketing arenas, once restricted to celebrities and famous people, beckoned individuals who deployed social media platforms to exert a certain influence. This shift came as influencers started to become a trusted presence within their communities while engaging customers in a more personalised fashion.

Drawing on the connect and its benefits, brands began to leverage the concept to market their products and services via digital creators. But is an influencers value restricted to just their following?

In 2021, Id go as far as to say that the size of an influencers following is one of their least valuable assets. Brands have realised a big following does not equal big success. Its much more valuable to focus on audience engagement and drill down into the specifics of where those followers are than blindly hit big numbers. Thats why micro influencers have become so popular, they have much more engaged followings, so recommendations are more trusted, explains Karl Mapstone, head of Middle East at Vamp, a content and influencer marketing platform.

People are spending more time online than ever before and there has been an uptick in online shopping. Brands have shifted their focus to social campaigns to meet their customers where they are. But influencers dont just reach customers, they connect with them on a deeper level. Thats a big draw for brands who, while working hard to empathise with their customers pandemic realities, cant compete with influencers storytelling abilities, he adds.

Due to the strong engagement and unique content it offers, influencer marketing has not only secured a spot within a brands marketing/promotional drawing board, but it has also started to attract the spend that some brands rolled back from other mediums. This shift was prompted in part by brands pruning their budgets pre-pandemic, and in part by the lockdowns put into effect by the Covid-19 crisis.

As their customers retreated into lockdown, brands predictably cut spending on out-of-home advertising and funneled it into digital channels. But with so many doing the same thing, competition increased dramatically. Brands needed to find a way to stand out online and influencers helped them do this, explains Mapstone.

It also impacted spend on traditional content creation. Due to reduced budgets and lockdown restrictions making big advertising shoots difficult, brands shifted spend from creative agencies to social content creators. Influencers are usedto being self-sufficient and creating content alone, so were able to continue supplying brands with assets for their social channels and e-commerce sites.

Shant Oknayan, general manager of global business solutions MENAT at ByteDance the parent company of TikTok opines that due to the pandemic, the strength of the story now sits at the heart of every successful campaign, and not the product itself.

The rise of conscious consumerism along with the pandemic acted as catalysts for the shift to purposeled marketing and authentic storytelling. Brands and influencers are seen now more than ever moving towards brand communication and less toward product communication, he states.

Brands now have more sustainable relationships with influencers, rather than transactional. This new movement is definitely in the favour of consumers, who now spend more time online and are hungry for authentic and unique stories and ideas. This shift also accelerated the rise of creative content, as we see brands loosening control over content and giving influencers more room to create and inspire.

While influencers can fortify a brands reach and appeal, resonating to a range of customers, it is equally imperative that they be aligned with the brands strategy. But should they be fully aware of the products they are promoting and believe in them too?

Im not really sure about all the influencers, but when I promote something, I have to believe in the products and I make sure I try them out before promoting it to my people, says UAE-based influencer Jumana Khan, who commands a TikTok fan base of nine million followers.

Oknayan adds: We think its extremely important for influencers and creators to be fully aware of the products they are promoting and ensuring it is the right brand fit for them. They have a responsibility to their online community who look up to and trust them and by essentially endorsing the product, they have given it their seal of approval. With the rise of conscious consumerism now making ethical promotion more of a necessity rather than a choice, consumers today are less interested in product endorsements that generate clicks and are more inclined to trust authentic advertising.

New FrontiersIn the face of the changing digital landscape, especially at a time when brands are constantly seeking peoples attention, there is no understating the role of influencers. With people continuing to spend an increasing amount of time onsocial media, the role of influencer marketing appears to remain relevant in the immediate future.

Professional networking site LinkedIn listed digital marketing specialists as one of the most in-demand jobs in the UAE in 2021, while influencer marketing was featured as a top skill. The influencer marketing industry is set to beworth $15bn by 2022 and there are some specific emerging trends which will also help to prove its value, suggests Mapstone.

Following the increased adoption in online shopping, social commerce is the next frontier. Instagram and TikTok are introducing new shoppable options all the time and they will help increase those influencer-led conversions. Were expecting to see Live shopping on Instagram take off with the platform investing in making it shoppable particularly having seen the power of live social commerce in Asia.

As brands branch into that market, theyll be looking for trusted social personalities to front their live streams and influencers will fit the bill, he adds.

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How brands are leveraging influencer marketing to 'up their game' - Gulf Business

Lala Milan Reveals the Secret to Her Social Media Success – OZY

Because when you see her face everywhere, you can say you knew her first.

This up-and-coming star is a breakout comedian, social media influencer with over 3 million followers on Instagram and more than 14 million views on YouTube, and a budding entrepreneur with her new fitness platform, FitGirlBod, as well as her podcast, The Salon. In this sit-down with Carlos Watson, the Miami native shares how she went from local girl and internet sensation to celebrity status. You can find excerpts below or listen to the full interview on theshows podcast feed.

Carlos Watson: Now, how did you get started in entertainment? Because somebody told me that you were in insurance.

Lala Milan: Do you believe in magic? Yes. I was absolutely in insurance; Allstate to be exact. Ive always been me. So, with that being said, Ive always just been apparently naturally funny. So, being on a job, having extra time when a boss is out playing golf or networking, I was like, You know what? I am going to go ahead and create some fun for myself in the office.

At that time, social media was fairly new, so I would prop up my phone and just create content from there. Next thing you know, people started requesting to book me and stuff. And I was like, Im making more money on these bookings than I am biweekly at this job. I was just like, I got to go ahead and chase my dream real quick to be an entertainer, and thats what I did.

Watson: Did it take off right away?

Milan: I was doing that for probably two years on social media and quickly rising. It was impeccable. You dont see that kind of growth today because now everybodys doing it. But after being there and doing the social stuff for a while, one of my friends was like, Im going to move to LA and if you dont come, youre going to miss out.

Dont ever tell me that Im going to miss out on something because now Im seeing it as competition. That was the best thing my friend could have ever said because I found myself packing my stuff up and getting the hell on. So then we made it to LA with a dollar and a dream and next thing you know, just started going insane.

Watson: And did you have dreams of entertainment?

Milan: Always. I knew that working a traditional job was not the thing for me. I very much so knew that I wanted to have a nontraditional job. And of course, our parents are very much theyre like, No, you need to get a 401k. You need to have a savings.

I commend the people who have regular jobs and who are great at it. It just wasnt my thing. So yes, I had dreams of being an entertainer. I didnt know how I was going to attain it, but who would have known that social media was going to be the way that I reached my dreams?

Watson: How did you get on social media?

Milan: Everybody was on social media. I was like, I want to be on here and I want people to see me, but not for being in my business. I want to entertain.

So, I started creating content and it was engaging. A lot of people unfollow me. My friends had unfollowed me when I started doing it at first, because I guess it was annoying and they werent used to seeing something like that, but them people hitting me up today. You know what Im saying?

Watson: Now, what were your mom and dad like and what are they like now?

Milan: Typical Black parents: You going to go to school. You going to go make me some money the traditional way I raised you.

But when she saw how lucrative it was and how successful I was actually getting to be, she was like, I was wrong. She had no problem admitting that she was wrong. As far as my dad, hes always been very much, So do what you want to, baby. Ill always be proud of you.

Watson: Now talk about trying to gain some weight because so many people are trying to go the other way.

Milan: Obviously I am a slim-framed woman. FitGirlBod is very, its a passion project for me because gaining weight is a niche that is very untapped and its taboo.

Most people want to lose weight but theres so many people out there who want to gain weight. So being able to create a platform, in a safe space, for people who want to gain weight without being judged and people telling them different things like, I wish I was your size. Its a fire thing for me. So I love it. I think that it should be normalized just as much as losing weight and people should understand more that just because youre slim. You are not in shape.

Im naturally slim. And so putting on weight is just as much of a battle as it is to lose weight. But when you have discipline and enough power to be able to control it and maintain both journeys, its a powerful thing. And I feel like being able to both gain and lose weight, it really, really, really makes you hone in on just being a better person overall. When youre disciplined enough to eat more or eat less, it makes you be disciplined to do more work that day. It makes you be disciplined to go to the gym. Its so many things that where you get those things in control, you are just becoming greater in life, period.

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Lala Milan Reveals the Secret to Her Social Media Success - OZY

Place Of Facebook In The World Of Social Media – LA Canyon News

UNITED STATESFacebook is the most popular social media network with over 2.5 billion active users monthly, and the figure keeps growing. It incorporates different aspects of media such as text, photos, and Messenger and has minimal limitations compared to other social networks such as Twitter or LinkedIn. Accounts that get real Facebook likes generate more ad revenue, as most companies spend money on online marketing platforms with more viewership. With a few tips, one can get more followers to their account, so they can generate more income online.

Advantages of Facebook over other social media platforms

Facebook has an edge in marketing online because of the number of monthly active users. It also has lots of data on the target market so, for broad classifications, it is ideal for companies seeking to launch new products or create more awareness of their brands. They uphold personal data privacy, but for general communication to reach the target market, such data is available for business enterprises.

Online social media engagement is the rate at which a post or online content receives views, comments, likes, and the number of shares. With more followers, the engagement rate increases. A platform with many users will have higher engagement and impact in the targeted market niche, and Facebook is this kind of platform.

Most active Facebook users log in through the mobile phone. The text messenger and WhatsApp feature influence more users to remain active in the platform. Daily usage of all applications in the mobile phone shows that Facebook rates higher than all other social media platforms.

Though many social media platforms have come up over the years, Facebook continues to attract more users. Most people consider Facebook as their lifestyle, and the emotional attachment makes it hard to change to other social media platforms. Instead, some people also join other social media platforms but are more active on Facebook. Reviews show that Facebook rules the social media world because of the following reasons:

People consume more content online through Facebook. You may also share and re-share content by uploading, sharing links, or posting pictures. It is an ideal platform to widely share content online.

The feature allows one to feed content from other social media platforms easily on Facebook. One may configure a Twitter account to post concurrently, and that gives more exposure to your content. Sharing content from Instagram, Pinterest, and all other social media platforms is made easy since Facebook Feeds channels are compatible.

Most people prefer remaining active on Facebook rather than joining other social media platforms because they fear their friends and family may be left behind. Building new networks may take time, so the emotional attachment one has to the Facebook account makes them remain active. Facebook is the most popular global network, making it advantageous for people looking to build networks for business or social reasons.

How To Run A Successful Facebook Page

Facebook is indeed effective for more brand visibility. But how does one make their page more effective? How do you engage the audience to market your brand online? Public figures, online communities, and businesses will benefit most from a successful Facebook page.

The following tips can help to customize your Facebook page for more brand visibility and income generation:

Applying some search engine optimization techniques in creating your brand name and page enhances the chances of potential customers finding your business. Choosing a memorable cover and profile photo, or the business logo is the best option. You may also showcase some product photos and remember to use the color of your brand.

You may select a few collaborators to help in administration because a business account is likely to be very busy, and one person may not be able to manage it. Having a moderator, an editor, and a digital marketer makes the management of a Facebook page easy.

You may seek professional help to help in digital marketing for your Facebook page. One should also constantly increase followers for more networking to make your page more popular.

Facebook is a fun way to connect socially globally, and for business, it helps enhance revenue. But remember to also adhere to policy guidelines and constantly engage online for more exposure.

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Place Of Facebook In The World Of Social Media - LA Canyon News

Clubhouse, the audio social network, has implemented a trial version for Android – The Press Stories

Clubhouse in the App Store

Live Audio Social Networking Clubhouse, Currently only available for mobile phones with the operating system iOS, You have implemented a Test version For devices Android. Beta only available Some users But this marks the beginning of a new phase of application, Thus trying to grow in number of users.

In January of this year, the billionaire businessman, CEO of Tesla, had a lot of visibility. Elon Musk The voice made its debut on the social network, In an audio session with 5,000 people (maximum number of users per conversation). Appeared on Good time show, Guests and co-hosts An evening event involving company partners, on various occasions Andrissen Horowitz (a16z), The main investor in the clubhouse (which invests in some start-ups is Kasturi works).

Clubhouse is a social network, which is not the logic we know from social networksIt does not want to share photos or videos. Social networking was initially launched in March 2020, and since then only mobile users have been able to use it under the iOS system and on call.

Recently, The app developer company has released the first screen shots of the Clubhouse app for Android. Now, the release of Basic Beta Version for a Few Testers with Googles mobile operating system has been announced.

However, Clubhouse reiterated that its version for Android is not currently available to the rest of the users.. However, he hopes to extend this to many more in the coming weeks.

Similarly, the platform has shared some Innovations It will come to your service as such Announcements to report when new people join the group, As well as improvements in recommendations for other users and rooms to follow Activities for reporting abuse Option to identify who is speaking by double-clicking with two fingers.

About the app

Clubhouse was created by Paul Davidson and Rohan Seth. This is an aural social network, In rooms or Rooms Conversations can be created on a variety of topics, and Upon entering, you can participate or be a single listener.

This app is suitable for people over 17 and has a rating of 4.8 on the App Store. In the Apple Store, they mention that they work from Clubhouse to quickly add people to the app. This is, so far, a necessity for you Call to record. Anyone can get one by joining the waiting list or by asking an existing user.

The clubhouse description says: This is a place for informal and live audio conversations with friends and other interesting people from all over the world. Can only chat with followers (with text), and actively participate or listen.

Each new clubhouse user receives two calls to make. Earn more as you use the app more. The app allows you to listen to other peoples live conversations, but not to those who want to hear.

A fake clubhouse

In March of this year, cyber security experts identified Fake application From Clubhouse Installed one Malware (Malicious software) Can Steal login credentials from 450+ applications.

It was a version The Android and malicious package was distributed from a website that looks like a legitimate Clubhouse portal, As they warned from the cyber security company Asset.

(With portal information)

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Clubhouse, the audio social network, has implemented a trial version for Android - The Press Stories

Facebook Neighborhoods: Another Clone To Target Hyperlocal Social Media! – Dazeinfo

Facebook Neighborhoods a new day and a new clone of yet another popular social media apps by social media behemoths!

The social media behemoth has rolled out Neighborhoods which is a copy of Nextdoor, a popular hyperlocal social networking app wherein you can get local updates, recommendations and more.

Facebooks Nextdoor clone has been made available in Canada and it will soon be released in four U.S. cities. According to media reports, the U.S locations being targetted are Charlotte, North Carolina; San Diego, California; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and Newark, New Jersey.

Similar to Nextdoor, Neighborhoods by Facebook is all about socialising geographically in defined groups. It offers a unified space wherein a user can discuss local ongoings. Facebook says that its hyperlocal social media app will help users get to know their users better, ask for recommendations for coffee shops, locksmiths, etc or organize a local event. But that is not all.

Neighborhoods will also allow users to specifically focus on their interests and communicate with others who share them.

Facebook, in a blog post about their Nextdoor-clone, said that users can create their own Neighborhood-bounded groups based on their interests. For instance, if you are someone interested in bird watching, or keen on discussing sports, you can create a group for exactly that.

Now, because users are being encouraged to share their thoughts about their locality, note here that it is pretty evident that many such activities will devolve into political arguments, petty fights and quite possibly outright racism (as seen on Nextdoor). And, we all know, Facebook has had a not-so-good track record when it comes to letting groups of users hang out.

Facebook Groups for long has been identified as a thriving hotbed of unmoderated extremism, misinformation and conspiracy theory. Thus, now it would be interesting to observe how the social media behemoth plans to tackle the very same problems in their new product Neighborhoods.

That being said, note that only users aged 18 and above are being allowed to join these groups wherein they can create a new profile (separate from their main Facebook account).

Neighborhoods users will be able to choose what interests they want to add and which places they wish to remain updated about. Also, the platform has a standard bio feature which can be useful when it comes to introducing themselves to other users in their locality.

People will also be able to take on various specific roles such as socializer, helper, welcomer etc based on their activities on the platform.

Reid Patton, a product manager for Neighborhoods, said that each group on the newly released platform will have a moderator whose job will be to make sure people are acting within the set guidelines and being kind to one another.

However, it is yet not clear what powers will be bestowed upon them by Facebook as of yet. All in all, it is well understood that the social media behemoth continues to tread on its time tested path of killing its competition via copying them. We will keep you updated on all future developments. Until then, stay tuned.

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Facebook Neighborhoods: Another Clone To Target Hyperlocal Social Media! - Dazeinfo