It’s Friday! And the latest installment of The Weekly Download is here.
On the docket this week: TikTok reveals their new Shopify tool and parental guide, Facebook releases a marketing guide for the upcoming holiday season and tests Reels, topped off with some Friday Fun!
TikTok Reveals New Shopify Tool
Shop until you drop!
All it takes is one viral TikTok to change the entire trajectory for a business. We’ve seen many big breaks take place over the last few years following user shares and reviews of some of their favourite day-to-day products, life hacks, rituals, recipes and more.
Now, TikTok is taking things to the next level.
Available to approved merchants, TikTok has revealed a new Shop tab after announcing an expanded partnership with Shopify, allowing users to shop and sell directly from their accounts.
“Today, we’re unveiling an expanded partnership with Shopify and pilot testing TikTok Shopping among a select group of Shopify merchants in the US, UK, and Canada in the coming weeks. TikTok Shopping will bring new features that help Shopify merchants create engaging, organic content that sends consumers directly to their online store for checkout, making it easy for people to explore and buy the products they discover on TikTok.”
What brands do you think will make the cut?
TikTok Shares New Parental Guide
In an effort to help protect and support younger users on the app, TikTok has partnered with the National PTA to put together a TikTok Guide for Parents.
The 20-page guide provides a master outline of the app’s terms and conditions, platform basics, content types, restrictions, a digital well-being checklist and more. They’ve even managed to slip in a parent-teen video collaboration caveat.
Although TikTok has made it clear on numerous occasions that they’ve put a variety of protective measures into place, no plan is entirely foolproof. There are still risks to consider while using the app, including potential exposure to inappropriate content, bullying, predators and more.
While TikTok continues to address these larger issues, the guide is a helpful resource to parents looking to have open and honest conversations about how their kids are using the app and ways they can stay safe. It’s also important for businesses with products targeted at younger consumers to be aware of these guidelines.
Facebook Shares New Christmas Marketing Guide
Nothing screams Christmas like the end of… August?
Well, in the world of marketing, the holidays need plenty of time for prep. It’s no surprise that Facebook has already shared a marketing guide to help businesses prep their strategy for this holiday season. We’ve got to hand it to them, for a document with only 18-pages, it’s insightful.
As told by Facebook:
“The Facebook Discovery Commerce system can help you delight shoppers and anticipate their needs, helping products find people wherever they are through a series of sophisticated components and tools.”
The guide is jam packed with Facebook marketing insights and statistics, recommendations based on those findings, partner integrations, campaign planning and a heck of a lot more. Check out the full guide here.
If you need any help getting started with your holiday marketing, reach out to our team!
Facebook Tests Reels
Facebook has been “Reely” missing out on the latest video trends.
Starting in the U.S., Facebook has shared they will be testing out a Facebook Reels feature. Users will be able to curate and share their video content in short-form video clips similarly to those of Instagram and TikTok.
Facebook Reels is said to have its own display at the top of the user’s News Feed where they can then select to “Create” a Reel. Facebook Reels will have their own suite of tools similar to those of Instagram which include music, text and more. According to TechCrunch, one difference is the choice in audiences you can share with, like “Friends,” or “Friends except…”, and also have the option of making them public.
Do you think this type of video content will take off with Facebook’s audience?
Friday Fun
Attention all Princess Bride lovers! Check out this sweet TikTok response from Mandy Patink sent to a fan who recently lost her dad to cancer.
Oh, and grab the tissues.
@mandypatinktok @alaska_webb thank you for finding us and sharing this! ✨ Sending big love and light to you and yours. More in comments. #grieving #cancer #dads
