"Hello, hello, hello and welcome back to another round of The Social Marketing Advice Podcast! I'm here, as always, to unpack the latest social media and marketing news, changes, and trends. So whether you're looking for inspiration or insights, this is the place to be! And don't forget, if you're enjoying the show, drop me a comment with your favorite thoughts from todays episode and hit that subscribe button. Alright, folks, let's jump right in!

First on our agenda today is the big update from Google Business profiles. Now, you can see exactly what a customer sees when they look you up. I can't stress enough how essential this feature is. It's your chance to make the ultimate first impression and fine-tune your business listing down to the smallest detail. Considering when someone searches for your name or business, that your Google Business profile will be the first thing they see, make sure you spend time cleaning this up! Get your hours of operation right, make sure your images are top-notch, and keep that business description succinct and enticing. Remember, in this digital age, your online storefront is just as, if not more, important than your physical one! And first impressions are everything!

In other news, Instagram is keeping things fresh and exciting as usual. Hold onto your hats because now, you can comment on a post with a Reel! No more will simple text comments suffice - bring out your inner Spielberg and start responding in style! Can you imagine the creative possibilities here, folks? I know I'm already brainstorming some fun Reel responses for my clients Instagram pages!

Real quick, We need to chat about the new sensation that is Meta's Threads. Now I’ve already been talking about it, but It's not every day that an app storms past the 100 million users mark at record-breaking speed. Now How fast, was it really? Try reaching 100 million users in five days! For a bit of comparison, Instagram took 26 months, Facebook 54 months, and Twitter a mind-boggling 65 months to reach the same milestone. In my humble opinion, the success of Threads clearly indicates a shift in social media usage patterns, with users embracing new, dynamic ways to communicate. And Meta, they're not resting on their laurels. New features are on the horizon - a Following feed, editing options, post search, hashtags, and more. So, if you've been on the fence about Threads, now might be a good time to join the bandwagon!

Before I dive into our next bit of news, just a reminder to drop a comment about your favorite update so far! And if you're not subscribed yet, you know what to do!

[Short pause]

Okay, TikTok fans, here's some good news. The platform is working on an option to download videos without the watermark. But keep in mind, this feature will be limited to your own uploads. So, while it's a nice touch for content creators looking to repurpose their TikTok videos on other platforms, you can't go around downloading all the viral videos and cleaning hacks you come across!

Big shocker: Twitter is expanding its reach, taking a leaf out of LinkedIn's book. The platform is testing a new feature to publish job offers directly on profiles. This opens up a whole new avenue for businesses and recruiters. Coupled with the unique Twitter audience, who knows, this could be the game changer in recruitment strategy businesses have been waiting for!

Do you sell a physical product? Shopify merchants, brace yourselves, because now you can sell products directly on TVs via Roku. This fusion of eCommerce and TV could be the next big thing in cross-platform marketing. It's a perfect blend of the shopping convenience of eCommerce with the visual appeal of TV advertising. I'm excited to see how this pans out!

Now, while I’m not sure who actually uses RedBox anymore (some of you may not even know what I’m talking about haha) but If you've used a RedBox rental kiosk recently, you may have noticed TikTok trending videos & ads making an appearance. This is a classic example of how online and offline worlds are merging, expanding the reach of social media beyond the traditional confines of mobile and desktop screens. So I guess while TikTok is expanding their marketing avenues, there must be enough people still using RedBox to make it worth their while!

Now, let's discuss Twitter. Amidst the whirlwind of changes and challenges the platform has faced, it reports that 'more than 99.9% of impressions are from healthy content'. This is a testament to Twitter's commitment to combat fake news and foster a safe online environment. Marketers, this reassures that your content is in good company! So if anything, this is positive news for a struggling platform.

[Short pause]

At this point, I just have to remind you all to subscribe to the podcast if you haven't yet. And drop me a comment with the news you find most intriguing!

[Short pause]

A round of applause, please, for Facebook! The platform hit an astronomical 3 billion monthly active users, making it the first social network to do so. That's almost half the planet's population, folks! Imagine the audience reach potential for your next campaign.

But it's not all smooth sailing in the world of social media. Meta's Threads, which had a record-smashing launch week, has seen a drop in engagement. Daily active users are down by 20%, and time spent on the app has fallen by 50%. This post-launch dip is not uncommon, and it'll be interesting to see how Threads rebounds.

Did you participate in everyone's favorite shopping holiday, Amazon Prime Day? It, saw total spending in the U.S reach a whopping $12.7 billion, marking a 6.1% growth YoY. And in the video realm, Facebook is phasing out its 'Watch' feature, replacing it with a comprehensive 'Video' tab. This will be the go-to source for all video content on Facebook - Reels, long form videos, live streams, you name it!

I’m sure you’ve heard the news already on how Netflix, in a controversial move, banned password sharing. But due to this change, Netflix saw a significant 236% new subscriber bump. Keep in mind, before you plan to imitate this strategy, remember, Netflix can afford to make bold moves given its large, loyal user base!

[Short pause]

Are you still with me, folks? If you're enjoying the episode so far, don’t forget to subscribe and drop a comment with your favorite update!

[Short pause]

Now, let's talk about repetitive ads. A new study reports a 16% drop in purchase intent with such ads. So, marketers, diversify your ad content to keep your audience engaged and interested.

On a lighter note, for those who've been using Apple Maps purely because it came with your iPhone and were waiting for it to catch up to Google Maps, your day has come! Apparently, iPhone users are starting to prefer Apple Maps over its Google counterpart. So this shift might just call for a fresh look at your local SEO strategy, specifically, optimizing for Apple Business Connect.

And lastly, we give a nod to one of the most underrated marketing tools - the QR code. According to Bitly, QR code usage is up 41% from last year, showing how it's helping businesses bridge the in-person and online worlds. So, if you're not already using QR codes in your marketing, it's time to reconsider!

Phew! That was a marathon of news, but we made it through. I hope you found some valuable insights in this episode of The Social Marketing Advice Podcast. Remember to subscribe, and comment with your favorite takeaway from today. I'll catch you next week for another deep dive into the vibrant world of social media marketing. Keep innovating, experimenting, and remember, the world of social media never stands still, and neither should you!"

[Outro Music]