Happy Friday and welcome back to the Weekly Download! Kick off your weekend with another helping of digital marketing news.
On the agenda today: TikTok launches new editing tools, Instagram tests achievement badges for Reels creators, Twitter introduces Link Spotlight for professionals, Google keeps Gen Z searching, and we’re wrapping it all up with some especially cheesy Friday Fun.
TikTok Launches New Editing Tools
To expand what’s possible with content on TikTok, the platform is adding a range of enhanced creation and editing tools. According to the company, the new tools will empower people to enjoy more creative freedom, share richer stories, and bring content ideas to life across formats.
The enhanced editing tools will allow creators to:
- Easily adjust clips, sounds, images, and text in a new editing environment
- Share a carousel of content in the new Photo Mode
- Include longer descriptions — up to 2,200 characters, to be exact
To learn more about the updates, check out the official news release from TikTok.
Instagram Tests Achievement Badges for Reels Creators
Instagram continues to push adoption of its TikTok clone, Reels. Incentivizing creators with new “achievement” badges is the company’s latest move.
The feature, which is currently unreleased, was spotted by a reverse-engineering developer, Alessandro Paluzzi:
#Instagram is working on Achievements for #Reels 👀
ℹ️ Only you can see your achievements pic.twitter.com/oktYQ88C4b
— Alessandro Paluzzi (@alex193a) October 12, 2022
While Instagram has yet to comment, it appears that with the new feature, creators could be awarded with badges based on the performance of their Reels, an incentive that would perhaps encourage more of the same content.
After internal documents showed that the Reels feature has so far fallen short of the company’s expectations, it’s no surprise Instagram is looking for new ways to boost its short-form video content in-app. But will it be enough?
Twitter Introduces Link Spotlight for Businesses and Professionals
Twitter is making it easier for professional account users to link to their content and services with Link Spotlight.
The feature allows users to add an interactive button to their profiles that links to a specific URL. Twitter says the purpose of the new feature is to give businesses and professionals a way to drive potential customers to their content, services, or products.
👋 Link Spotlight is now available to all professionals in the U.S. This new spotlight adds an interactive button to your profile that can drive your customers to whatever touchpoint is most important to you – viewing a menu, listening to your podcast, making a reservation, etc. pic.twitter.com/HGJdJcFceZ
— Twitter Business (@TwitterBusiness) October 12, 2022
Users can choose from a variety of buttons that include calls to action like “Listen now,” “Stream live,” “Read now,” “View menu,” and more. Once a button is selected, a destination URL can be added, and the interactive button will then appear on the account’s profile.
Google Keeps Gen Z Searching with New Infinite Scrolling Search Results
After learning that Gen Z users were turning to platforms like TikTok and Instagram for everyday answers, Google is introducing new infinite scrolling search results, with a more visual appeal. The update, called Exploration, is designed to align with how the younger generation searches for information online.
Exploration features search results in a continuous scroll of tiles and also includes photos and videos — sort of like you’d see when scrolling through a social media feed. TikTok videos and YouTube Shorts will also appear in the results section of Exploration.
According to Google, the Exploration feature will initially be available on iPhone only and limited to searches regarding travel and tourism.
Friday Fun
A tiny Albertan hamlet that’s home to fewer than 100 people is making headlines for its new, hilarious (and delicious?) landmark.
View this post on Instagram
In Cheadle, Alberta, a 17-foot sculpture of three orange-dusted fingers holding a well-known puffy cheese snack has gone viral, becoming something of a social media sensation.
If you’re looking for a photo op with the giant Cheeto, hurry! It’s only around until November 4.
