Google+ Undergoes Dramatic Facelift

Google+, following in the footsteps of competitors, has just unveiled its latest facelift.

Social networks are notorious for changing their aesthetics, formats, and adding/removing features faster than you can say “+1.” This past weekend, Google+ rolled out their new look, including a more visual emphasis, which Hubspot is calling a “dramatic” redesign. Find a complete overview of the new changes here: http://blog.hubspot.com/google-plus-redesign.

It’s been almost a full year since Google+ has rolled out major changes, and the new format is getting mixed reviews from users.

How do you feel about the new G+ look and feel? Love it or hate it? Do you utilize Google+ for your business’s social media strategy? Tell us in the comments, below!

Let ISM boost your social media presence! Find us online at http://www.instantsocialmediaco.com.

Twitter Introduces Advertising for All Users

They’re here! Twitter ads, that is. Advertising has been available for big brands (with big budgets) for quite some time, but not for small businesses or individuals looking to boost their Twitter following.

Last week, Twitter announced that their paid ads are now available to all Twitter users. There’s a helpful video on the official Twitter website, which will walk you through the steps needed to start your ad campaign. Hubspot has another helpful article here that explains how to best take advantage of Twitter ads.

Will you be using the new feature? Tell us on Facebook or Twitter, and be sure to contact us for all your social media marketing needs: info@instantsocialmediaco.com.

 

Promote Your Friends –Pay to Promote Friends’ Posts on Facebook

Have you ever seen a Facebook post so amazing, you just have to find a way to share it with the world?

In the past, your only options were to like the post, or “share” with your friends. Facebook’s latest feature lets you take it to a whole new level, and actually pay to promote these posts.

You already know about promoting your own posts, which can be a great way to ensure that more people see your (or your fan page) status. Learn more about promoting your friends’ posts with this article from the Huffington Post.

Tell us: Will you be using the new feature? Let us know in the comments, below, or on Facebook or Twitter.

 

Introducing: Facebook Home

Nope, we’re not talking about a new brand of home décor. Nor is Facebook Home intended for those who appear to literally live on their Facebook page. Instead, Facebook Home is the new platform for Android, announced last week in a highly publicized press conference.

Boiled town to its basics, Facebook Home is essentially a new home screen/app launcher interface for Android. The new platform emphasizes Facebook newsfeed/other features and seamlessly integrates it with other aspects of your day-to-day, mobile life. Zuckerberg describes the new initiative as, “putting people first instead of apps.”

Interested in learning more about Facebook Home? Mashable.com has a great guide here.

Think you’ll be jumping on the Facebook Home bandwagon? Tell us your thoughts on Facebook: www.facebook.com/instantsocialmediaco or on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/instantsocialme!

 

Facebook Announces New “Reply” Comment Feature for Fan Pages

Do your Facebook fan page comment threads resemble ten-car pile-ups on the highway at rush hour? It often seems as if, by the time you’re ready to respond to a post, another fifteen comments have already popped up!

This week, Facebook announced a quick fix to this aggravating problem: The ability to reply to individual posts within a comment thread. We’ve got just one thing to say about it: Finally.

Mashable.com has a full run-down of the new feature, how to use it, and more in this helpful article.

Need help navigating the social media highway? ISM is here to help! Shoot us an email at info@instantsocialmediaco.com to inquire about our professional social media management services and custom Facebook pages.

Google+ Updates & Changes:

If you’re an active user of Google+, you’ve likely noticed a few changes to the G+ brand pages in the past several days.

Last week, the popular social network announced a facelift to the standard page profile design, including updated (much larger) cover photos, a new “Reviews” tab, a refreshed “About” tab and more.

The new dimensions for cover photos are 2120 X 1192 pixels, and the updated tabs will allow for a more personal, user-friendly way to review your favorite local hot spots or brands.

Not on Google+ yet? Be sure to contact us if you’d like a professionally designed, custom Google+ page for your business! Email us at info@instantsocialmediaco.com for additional information.

For a full run-down on the latest updates on Google+, be sure to check out this helpful guide via Google+ Daily.

 

What Your Marketing Team Can Learn From the Oscars

Jennifer Lawrence stunned. Seth MacFarlane offended. Adele wowed. For the 2013 Academy Awards, the rich and famous performed at the peak of their game (or, at least, exactly as expected).  So which marketing efforts took “Best Picture?”

As we’ve covered in previous posts, social media is largely reliant upon pop culture trends, current events, and news. If you need further proof, Mashable.com reports that this year’s Oscar’s resulted in a whopping 8.9 million tweets.

Need some tips from the pros on how to incorporate pop culture in your marketing efforts? These clever campaigns caught our eye as excellent examples.

Overwhelmed by the social media puzzle? ISM may be the missing piece. Contact us for all your social media marketing needs: 1.888.243.3158.