Changes happen all the time on your favorite
platforms — here's what you may have missed
Jun
25, 2019 @ 11:51 am By Scott Kleinberg
We're more than halfway to 2020, and while
that in and of itself could be a fascinating topic for a different kind of
column, I thought I would use this opportunity to round up some pretty important
things going on across different social media platforms.
As a social media manager and columnist,
staying up to date with the little things is what I do — so you don't have to.
LINKEDIN
Hashtags matter just a little more now. On the right side of your feed on your desktop
or laptop, you'll see a space for hashtags you follow. On mobile, see this by
clicking on your profile picture at the top left. This means people are
"following" hashtags now. So if you're on the fence about whether or
not to add a hashtag to a LinkedIn post, consider doing it. Usual hashtag rules
apply: aim for concise and on-topic. If you are writing about something with an
established hashtag, use that one because chances are someone is already
following it.
You can now tag people in photos. Feels like we've been doing this on other
platforms for like 100 years, but photo tagging is just becoming a thing on
LinkedIn. It's really a natural for this platform. You don't have to tag
people, but you should consider it. And if someone tags you, you should be
notified, depending on how your notifications are set up.
INSTAGRAM
Your bio link is all powerful. Anyone who uses Instagram knows
you can't put links in comments or posts. The reason is Instagram wants people
to stay on Instagram. Makes sense, but you still need a place to promote you
and/or your firm. The link in your bio is the only link you can edit on
Instagram. If you are working on something you want to draw attention to,
rewrite your bio and explain that. No matter what, you should at least put
something there, whether it's your personal website or firm's.
TWITTER
Removing something most people don't use
anyway. Seems unimportant
based on the description, but it really depends on how you use Twitter.
According to the official @TwitterSupport account: "Most people don't tag
their precise location in Tweets, so we're removing this ability to simplify
your tweeting experience." To be completely honest, I used to freak out
when I mistakenly tweeted my precise location. Clearly, there's no need to do
this. If I tweet from Niagara Falls, you'll know it, you don't need the hotel
room I'm staying in.
FACEBOOK
About the About section. This only applies if you have a page, not a
personal profile. However, for those who do, it's significant. Facebook will be
removing several parts from your About section: Mission, company overview,
biography, affiliation and personal interests. Facebook suggests you add this
to the main area at the top, but that area is limited to a few hundred
characters. While it's possible that limit may be lifted, assume you'll have a
lot less space, so make every word count.
ALL PLATFORMS
Speaking of making things count,
I hope you find some or all of these useful. The start of a new season is a
great time to do a tune-up on your social media accounts. I
highly recommend making sure each of your accounts is secure. Make sure your passwords
aren't 123456 or Password. If the platform allows two-factor authentication of
some kind (usually using a phone or other device), you should take advantage of it. And
if you follow a whole bunch of people you never interact with, clean up your
contact list(s) to make your conversations more meaningful.
If you have a social media question or an idea
for a column, please let me know. Tweet them to me with the hashtag
#onsocialmedia or email me at skleinberg@investmentnews.com.
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