Welcome to this week’s edition of the Social Media Marketing Talk Show, a news show for marketers who want to stay on the leading edge of social media.
On this week’s Social Media Marketing Talk Show, we explore the return of the chronological timeline on Twitter and new ways to sell your products directly from the Instagram app. Our special guests include Madalyn Sklar and Jeff Sieh.
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If you’re new to the show, click on the green “Watch replay” button below and sign in or register to watch our latest episode from Friday, September 21, 2018.
For this week’s top stories, you’ll find timestamps below that allow you to fast-forward in the replay above.
Twitter Revives Chronological Timelines: In a series of six tweets, Twitter shared that it’s “working on… an easily accessible way to switch between a timeline of Tweets that are most relevant for you and a timeline of the latest Tweets.” Twitter will begin testing this new option “in the coming weeks.” (3:07)
1/ We’re working on new ways to give you more control over your timeline. But first, some context: Twitter helps you see what’s happening by showing the best Tweets for you based on your interactions.https://t.co/H5nuhQy3r2
— Twitter Support (@TwitterSupport) September 17, 2018
In the meantime, Twitter updated the Show Me the Best Tweets First setting such that turning it off will now show only tweets from people you follow in reverse chronological order. In the past, Twitter either displayed tweets that you might have missed (“In case you missed it”) and recommended tweets from people you don’t currently follow. Twitter will eventually replace this setting with the option to switch between algorithmic and chronological timelines.
Twitter Redesigns Explore and Bookmarks on the Web: Twitter is testing an updated web version that includes access to some of its popular mobile features such as Bookmarks, the Explore section, and more. Twitter is currently testing the new experience with a small number of users, but tells all other users to “stay tuned.” (19:54)
Love to use Bookmarks and want it on web? Into scrolling through Explore to see what’s happening?
We are testing out a new Twitter for web, which a small number of people will see today. Love it? Missing something? Reply and tell us. Don’t have the new experience? Stay tuned. pic.twitter.com/w4TiRrVFHU
— Twitter (@Twitter) September 6, 2018
Twitter Prioritizes Live Broadcasts: Twitter announced via tweet that it’s “making it easier to find and watch live broadcasts” from the accounts you follow by placing the live stream at the top of your timeline. This update will include breaking news, personalities, and sports and is rolling out now on iOS and Android. (23:47)
We’re making it easier to find and watch live broadcasts. Now, when accounts you follow go live, the stream will appear right at the top of your timeline.
Catch breaking news, your favorite personalities, and can’t-miss sports moments. Rolling out now on iOS and Android. pic.twitter.com/gka2NDHGDX
— Twitter (@Twitter) September 13, 2018
Twitter and Periscope Get Audio-Only Broadcasts: Twitter launched audio-only broadcasts on mobile on Twitter for iOS and Periscope. This new feature, which was confirmed in a tweet from Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, is available where you would normally launch a live video. Twitter hasn’t confirmed when it will be available on more platforms and devices. (26:43)
Sometimes you just want to talk, without being on camera. We’re launching audio-only broadcasting, so your followers can hear, but not see you.
Rolling out now for iOS. pic.twitter.com/tBsm37NcdH
— Twitter (@Twitter) September 7, 2018
Twitter Experiments With Threaded Replies and Status Indicators: Twitter announced via tweet that it’s experimenting with threaded conversations and status indicators to make conversations on the platform “feel more conversational.” However, no further details on these features have been provided. (14:28)
hey Twitter. we’ve been playing with some rough features to make it feel more conversational here. presence and reply threading. still early and iterating on these ideas. thoughts? pic.twitter.com/3U3NvpHWPy
— Sara Haider (@pandemona) August 31, 2018
Instagram Rolls Out New Ways to Shop From the App: Instagram introduced two ways to make it easier to shop directly from the app by expanding Shopping in Stories and testing a new shopping channel in Explore. Instagram began testing Shopping in Stories in June 2018 and is now rolling it out globally to 46 countries. (34:03)
The new Shopping channel in Explore will feature content that’s specifically tailored to a user’s style, tastes, and interests. It will feature brands users already follow and brands they might like. The Shopping channel in Explore is currently testing and will roll out globally over the “coming weeks.”
Pinterest Boasts Over a Quarter of a Billion Users Worldwide: Pinterest shared that 250 million people are using Pinterest every month, up from 200 million last September. The company also reported that more than half of its users and 80% of new signups come from outside the U.S. (43:03)
Pinterest Launches Influencer Marketing API: Pinterest expanded its content marketing API to third-party influencer marketing platforms. According to the company, this update is intended “to help brands and influencers collaborate more effectively and create exciting new things on Pinterest.” With the help of eight influencer marketing platforms as launch partners, Pinterest Business clients will gain visibility into key stats like monthly views, followers, impressions, click-throughs, and saves.