Facebook, Messenger, and Instagram Now Have a Single Inbox For Businesses

November 18, 2016

With the introduction of each new social network, our bandwidth seems to diminish. Social media marketers find themselves bouncing between platforms in effort to keep up with their comments, likes, retweets, and messages. To make things easier, Facebook announced that they will be rolling out the ability for brands to link their Facebook, Messenger, and Instagram accounts. By linking the accounts, all interactions across platforms will flow into a single inbox. More details on why this matters, and what else is happening in social media below.

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Facebook, Messenger, and Instagram Now Have a Single Inbox For Businesses

Facebook announced that they will be rolling out the ability for businesses to link their Facebook, Messenger, and Instagram accounts to receive all of their messages in a single inbox. This will include Facebook comments, visitor posts, reviews, messages, and Instagram comments. Businesses will be able to reply to all of these messages from the same inbox.
Why does this matter?
This will significantly streamline communication for brands. Brands will no longer have to check each of their pages and inboxes for new and important messages. They also will be to respond to all of interactions in a single place.

Facebook Updates Metrics and Reporting

Facebook has found additional bugs in their metrics and reporting, and are working to fix them. They noted in the same statement that they are increasing third-party verification, building more measurement solutions with their clients, and are aiming to provide more regular and clear updates on their metrics. A complete list of the latest updates can be found here.
Why does this matter?
According to Facebook’s latest statement, there may be discrepancies on some of the data they have been providing. Moving forward, they are striving to provide more accurate information, while being more transparent in the process.

Instagram Now Supports Vertical Format for Ads

Instagram now supports a vertical format for photo and video ads, with up to a 4:5 aspect ration. They noted that in initial tests, brands saw better view rates with this ad format.
Why does this matter?
This new format will allow advertisers to be more flexible and creative with their ads. Based on Instagram’s research, this format will also provider marketers with better view rates.

Snapchat Signs Deal With Foursquare To Improve Targeting

Snapchat has partnered with Foursquare to make more geolocation data available to marketers looking to leverage Snapchat geofilters.
Why does this matter?
This data should help advertisers leveraging Snapchat geofilters to better target where their ads should be served. With more accurate ad placement, advertisers will ideally see better reach, engagement, and ROI.

Snapchat’s Spectacles are Now For Sale

Snap Inc. has made Spectacles, their sunglasses with a built in video camera, available to the public. Spectacles are currently sold through yellow vending machines called Snapbots. Spectacles are available for 129 USD. Snap Inc. is giving only a 24 hour notice when and where the Snapbots will be available. The machines are only at that location for one day.
Why does this matter?
Snapbots are the only way to access Spectacles at this time. Marketers are eagerly awaiting to hear if and when Snapbots will be available in their area, so they can begin creating content with this new tech tool.

Facebook Streamlines Status Updates

Facebook is testing streamlining status updates. When marketers go to publish a status update, they will now be able to select what they would like to achieve. For example, they will have the option to choose “create an event” or “create an offer”, before beginning their update.
Why does this matter?
This update will make publishing Facebook updates easier and more efficient.

LinkedIn Introduces Audience Insights

LinkedIn has introduced audience insights. LinkedIn publishers will now be able to see more detailed insights into who is engaging with their content. Insights will include, the company they work for, job title, where they live, and how they found your post.
Why does this matter?
Publishers will now be able to see who is engaging with their content. This will give them the opportunity to see if they are reaching their target audience, and allow them to adjust accordingly.

Pinterest Adds Video Auto-Play for Ads and an Explore Tab

Video ads will now auto-play in the Pinterest feed. Pinterest has also added an “Explore” tab that will feature what’s trending on Pinterest at that time, along with picks from top brands, influencers, and Pinterest employees.
Why does this matter?
Auto-play video ads will ideally hook Pinterest viewers in quicker, and keep them engaged with the ad content. The Explore tab will be a fun feature for users to discover new content on the platform. The tab will be beneficial for brands if their content is featured.

Pinterest Helps Keep Track of Things You’ve Already Tried

Pinterest has introduced a new checkmark feature, that allows you to denote if you have tried a particular pin on Pinterest. Users can add notes, feedback, and photos, so other users can decide if they want to try that pin too. Tried pins will be housed in a new section on the user’s profile, so they can be quickly referenced.
Why does this matter?
With the abundance of content on Pinterest, it’s hard for users to keep track of the pins that they’ve tried, and what they did or didn’t like about them. This feature eases this pain point, and improves the overall user experience.

Periscope Introduces New Features

Periscope has introduced three new features to their live-streaming platform. Superfans, the top ten people that were most engaged during the broadcaster’s live stream, will now be available. Groups, will allow broadcasters to narrow down who they want to share content with. Periscope has also introduced heart and comment support for Periscope.tv.
Why does this matter?
Superfans will help broadcasters know who is the most engaged in their community, allowing them to build deeper relationships with those people. Groups will allow broadcasters to choose who they share particular content with. This will be especially beneficial to marketers, who want to niche down their video content.

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