This Week in Social Media

News for the Week of September 26

LinkedIn Desktop Redesign and New Messaging Feature

LinkedIn is the go-to destination for online professionals, and now it’s offering a more intuitive desktop experience that more closely resembles its mobile app.  The biggest redesign since LinkedIn began, this new look and feel offers a simpler way for users to access jobs, information, and insights; and professionals can more easily utilize available features to prepare for meetings or learn more about skills they’d like to acquire.  Originally previewed by journalists, LinkedIn’s newest redesign will be available to all members soon.  Additionally, LinkedIn continues to build on the momentum that’s been created with professional messaging by previewing messaging bot technology.  A way of offering a type of personal concierge or assistant, bots will serve as schedulers that can help with things like setting appointments and identifying meeting times.  Dealerships, take advantage of all the new features LinkedIn will soon be offering to connect with even more industry professionals and share the things your dealership is doing to reach out and build your customer base.  You’ll not only be able to enjoy new desktop designs, but you’ll also be able to build social relationships with the younger professional generations as you utilize the latest tools being designed to appeal to them.

Hello, Google Allo

Google just introduced Allo, its new smart messaging app for Android and iOs.  It was announced as a privacy-first solution at the Google I/O Conference in May, and since then, Google has topped its original plan by delivering an app that offers even more.  Google Allo can help users make plans, find information, and express themselves more easily via chat—and even better, the more they use it, the smarter it gets.  The app offers Smart Reply, which allows users to reply to messages with a single tap, incorporating high-usage phrases and improving over time to adjust to each user’s response style.  With Allo chat, users can easily resize emojis and text by dragging the send button up or down, personalize pics with scribbles before sending, and use any of the 25 custom sticker packs that are included with the app.  Google Allo will also introduce users to their own personal assistant via Google Assistant, where they can share information, get ideas, or search for things like restaurants or shops.  Simply by typing @google, the Assistant can be brought into any chat to help and interact.  Finally, don’t forget to check out the Chat in Incognito mode that comes with Allo.  When users choose Incognito mode, messages have end-to-end encryption and added privacy features like discreet notifications and message expiration.  Dealerships, check out just one more way you can connect and interact with both your customers and your team.  When you’re able to answer questions and interact with consumers on a regular basis, they’ll feel more confident turning to you when it’s time to buy.

YouTube Heroes Moderate Forum

YouTube has recently adopted a new way of moderating and improving the viewer experience for everyone—YouTube Heroes.  It’s recognizing its global community of volunteer contributors, and enabling them to flag inappropriate videos via the YouTube Trusted Flagger Program, add closed captions and subtitles to videos, and share knowledge with other YouTubers via the YouTube Help forum.  YouTube Heroes are able to unlock rewards when they reach different levels of participation, with Level 5 offering cool perks like pre-release product testing and the ability to apply to attend the Heroes Summit.  Currently in Beta, the YouTube Heroes Program will be open to those with a valid YouTube channel, who are of legal age and sign up to participate in the program.  Dealerships, it’s time to get your YouTube game on point!  70% of car buyers who went to YouTube for research were influenced by what they saw.  That means you have the power to reach a vast number of consumers and get content to them about your dealership when you embrace the power of video.

Save as Draft Feature Available for Instagram

Instagram users can now begin creating posts and finishing them later with the new Save as Draft option.  After uploading a portion of photo or video posts and adding effects, filters, or captions, users can back up to the filtering and editing step and select Save as Draft to come back to it later and put on the finishing touches.  It’s important to note, users must edit, tag people, or add a caption or location in order to save posts as drafts.  When going back to edit posts, simply tap Library, and posts will appear under Drafts at the bottom of the screen.  Dealerships, now it’s easier than ever to feel confident about your Instagram posts.  In addition to giving you more time to ensure your posts are up to your standards, you can also plan more posts with a wider variety of elements and save them as drafts, posting when you’re ready to share with your audience.  Instagram doesn’t yet offer a native scheduling option, but with its new Save as Draft feature, users are sure to invent their own flexibility.

Facebook Offers Dynamic Ads for Retailers

Facebook is testing dynamic ads for brick and mortar retailers, which would allow retailers to run smarter, more targeted campaigns directed specifically at consumers in their immediate locations.  While many businesses already use Facebook ads to target shoppers, dynamic ads would allow businesses to customize creative for every store location based on product availability, pricing, and promotions—directly impacting consumers within the vicinity of individual locations.  For example, if a business runs a promotion on a specific product company-wide, when an individual location runs out of that product, the ad would self-adjust, no longer promoting the product where it’s unavailable.  Ads would also suggest nearby locations where the promoted item is still available.  Dynamic ads include availability indicators, product summaries, similar product suggestions, as well as shopper actions such as being able to contact the store, buy online, or save the product for future reference.  Dynamic ads are currently being tested with large retailers like Macy’s, Pottery Barn, and Target, and will be made more widely available in the coming weeks.  Dealerships, keep in mind, today’s consumers, especially millennials and Gen Z, are on the lookout for an excellent online experience.  No matter what you’re focusing on—whether it’s ads or pricing on your website or any other form of content—it’s imperative to ensure you’re using the smartest, most dynamic tools, as well as optimizing for every format to ensure you reach the broadest audience possible.

Tip of the Week – Ask and You Shall Receive

If you haven’t yet tried one of the many easy-to-create online polls to get feedback from your online followers, do it.  Do it now.  Seriously, it’s easy and you can get in-the-moment, quick answers that can benefit your business.  In addition to immediately engaging your consumers, you’re letting them know you care about their opinions and input; plus, BONUS, you can even have some fun along the way and build stronger relationships with potential shoppers.  Many consumers are eager to share their opinions and preferences with you, and sometimes all you have to do is ask—and they’ll share their thoughts.

Check out just 5 of the ways online polls can help you boost your business and increase interaction with consumers:

1. They’re convenient.  Your followers can opt in or out as their schedules permit, and social polls are usually short, taking no longer than a couple minutes to complete.

1. You’ll save money.  Rather than paying for longer, more time-consuming surveys, you can opt for a quick poll on Twitter or Facebook and pay nothing.

1. You’ll get quick results.  Many times, you can monitor your poll in real time, and when it’s all said and done, you’ll see the end results in days, rather than the weeks it might take with more formal, paid surveys.

1. You can have fun.  In addition to seeking out serious data, you can have fun with your followers with more lighthearted polls.  Since it’s free, consider engaging your audience with occasional entertaining polls, for example:

Which team’s gonna win tonight?

□ Chicago Cubs…all the way!

□ Pittsburgh Pirates…the only choice!

1. You’re being relevant.  A majority of today’s consumers both research AND leave feedback online, so when you post quick and easy polls asking for their opinions, you’re showing you care about reaching them in ways that matter to them.

However you decide to set up your polls, be sure they’re seen by consumers by getting them on the top social sites.  In just 12 years, Facebook has piled on the numbers, accumulating approximately 1.59 billion monthly active users, so make this your stand-out platform for connecting and gaining insights.  Twitter has also made things super-easy by allowing users to add polls directly from the Compose box.  Run a 24-hour poll and get feedback and interaction from your followers across this platform; after all, 320 million active monthly users is still a pretty good crowd.  And depending on where you see the most traffic, keep other platforms like Google+ and LinkedIn (create a poll within a group) in mind.

Online social polls don’t replace in-depth traditional research and analytic studies, however, they can give you great insights as to what your consumers are thinking in the moment; and they’re a great way to stay involved in conversations and let your customers know you’re listening!