How to create a Facebook business page is about a lot more than just throwing up a presence on the social media platform. Without the right focus on cover, story and content, you might as well throw a needle into a haystack.

Making a Facebook business page and having a successful one are two separate endeavors. You’ll need followers. If you want to grow your presence, people should share your posts and invite their friends and family to your page. 

Facebook has an estimated 2.94 billion monthly users and 1.96 billion who log on every day. Your audience is on the platform somewhere. You just have to get a page up and drive them to it.

If you haven’t created one before, the concept might seem overwhelming. However, we’ve got you covered with a few short steps and several insider tips on what to do with the page once it’s in place.

How to create a Facebook business page is about a lot more than just throwing up a presence on the social media platform. Without the right focus on cover, story and content, you might as well throw a needle into a haystack.

Making a Facebook business page and having a successful one are two separate endeavors. You’ll need followers. If you want to grow your presence, people should share your posts and invite their friends and family to your page. 

If you haven’t created one before, the concept might seem overwhelming. However, we’ve got you covered with a few short steps and several insider tips on what to do with the page once it’s in place.

How to Create a Facebook Business Page in 5 Easy Steps

Deciding to create a Facebook business page gives your brand an opportunity to reach a target audience and define your image. Setting one up may seem daunting at first, especially with the new Meta Business Suite, which is quite different from previous versions. 

Follow these steps to get a basic page up and start engaging customers:

Step 1: Navigate to the Page Builder

How to create a Facebook Business page is quite simple for most users. Login to your Facebook profile. Make sure you are on the Home page feed by clicking the little house icon at the top of your page.

Look to the left sidebar and search for “Pages.” You may need to expand the selection if it isn’t showing by clicking on the down arrow next to the words “See More.”

Click on the word “Pages.”

Step 2: Create a New Page or a Meta Business Account

You have two options with this next step. The easiest path is to simply create a page and set it up. You can still use and access insights and Meta tools from the page, but the setup will be a bit more straightforward.  You can also select to have a new Meta Business Account, instead, and create everything through there.

Meta Business is a bit more complex and should be an article all on its own. For the purposes of this article, we’re going to stick with the basic way how to create a Facebook business page from the Pages tab. There are many advantages to separating your personal account and your business account, so put it on your to-do list to better understand how to utilize the insights and tools of Meta. You can also assign others to work on the page and gain access to some tools that help build an audience over time. 

Click on the “Create New Page” button. If you decide to try your hand at Meta Business Suite, you can click on the button just under that, create a unique profile and go from there. If you’re just starting with FB business pages, it is probably best to stick with the steps laid out here.

Step 3: Fill in the Blank Spots

Luckily, creating a page is simple, even for someone with zero coding and website building experience. You simply go through the prompts and fill in the sections.

• Page Name: This is how the world will refer to you. Take some time to ensure you aren’t using a page name similar to another business or trademarked in some way.
• Category: Most of the time, the category your business fits into will be very apparent. You might choose Education, for example. Type in a description and Facebook tries to match you with a relevant category. We chose Discount Store as an example.
• Bio: Your bio section is optional. You can also go in later and fill this in. If you are a solopreneur, you may want to go ahead and put something here. If you run a small business, you could include company history. 

Click on “Create Page.”

Step 4: Fill in the Blanks

If you stick with the prompts on the left side of the page, you’ll begin fleshing out your content. They want details such as: 

• Website Address 
• Phone Number 
• Email 
• Location 
• Hours 

You can get creative with your responses and you don’t have to fill in anything. For example, don’t put a phone number unless you want customers calling you. 

Step 5: Add Images

The prompts will also ask you to add a profile picture and a cover photo. You want to present a professional image to the world. You can use a free resource such as Canva.com to create a beautiful and perfectly sized Facebook cover for your business page. 

Your profile photo should either be a company logo or the face of your brand. Only you know your company’s personality and what might work best with your users. Here is a sample of what it might look like.

The remaining steps allow you to connect What’s App and set up notifications for your page. If you’d like to connect to Instagram, you’ll need to use the Meta Business Suite to set it up to integrate with your account.

Tips for Putting Together Your Page

Now that you have a basic page, it’s time to pull it all together and start adding things people will want to share and give them a reason to follow you. Here are some ideas for what you can add to your page in the form of posts, stories and reels. 

1. Post Content

Share content from your website, blog or unique items to the page at least a few times a week to draw in your target audience and begin engaging them. Ask a question, post an intriguing quote or offer some advice. Do not try to sell to them in these posts. They are simply to show them your brand personality and presence. 

2. Offer Sales and Discounts

Some of your posts can direct them to specials or sales you are running. You just don’t want to overwhelm them with nothing but promotions nonstop. They’ll stop listening if you don’t send some valuable content their way. 

3. Invite People to Follow Your Page

Ask current customers to follow your page. Once you have a nice following of clients, you can later boost posts and market to lookalike audiences, reaching your target audience more easily. At this time, avoid inviting friends and family as they may not be the leads you’re seeking. They can always help promote your business later. 

4. Set Up a Schedule

Set up a day and time to post so people know when and what to look for. Vary the type of content you post. Share interesting tidbits from others, such as an instructional video related to your industry or a funny quote that speaks to you and likely your audience. 

5. Respond Quickly 

Set up notifications so you can respond to any customer’s comments or complaints. The more responsive you are, the more likely they’ll continue to engage. Others will also see if you interacted with your audience. 

Knowing How to Create a Facebook Business Page is Another Tool in Your Business Chest

A Facebook business page gives you an opportunity to reach your audience directly. Many people will hop on social media to see what a brand is up to but never visit the website. Ideally, you’ll use the connections you make there and get them on your mailing list so you can market to them consistently. However, even if they only ever follow you on FB, you’ll still be making more of an impact than not having a page at all. Getting set up is easy, even for newbies. 

The post How to Create a Facebook Business Page appeared first on Designerly.

Have you noticed a recent decline in your likes, comments, and overall engagement on a social media site? Maybe your TikToks aren’t getting as many views as they used to or once-popular tweets are struggling to gain traction. There’s a possibility that you’ve been shadowbanned. Learn more about what this limitation means for your account, why it happens, and how you can get it reversed.

What Is a Shadow Ban?

Shadow bans are a type of account restriction. While the specifics may vary between platforms, the general characteristics are similar. A shadow ban completely or partially hides a user’s content from the site — without notifying the user.

When a platform shadow bans your account, things will likely look normal from your side. You will probably be able to post as usual. However, your content might not show up on the platform’s timeline or in a site search. Other potential account restrictions from a shadow ban include limited messaging or reply capabilities.

How is a shadow ban different than a regular ban? The lack of communication between the user and the platform is what separates them. With a traditional ban, the site will inform the user of the restriction. It may offer an explanation, such as how they violated the platform’s terms and conditions. Depending on the offense and whether it’s the first violation or the latest of many, a user could be temporarily or permanently banned from posting altogether.

On the other hand, users with a shadow ban might not know which rule they broke. They may not even realize there is a shadow ban for some time or that a ban is the reason their content isn’t performing as expected. A shadow-banned user can still post, but their photos, messages or other content aren’t reaching their audience.

What Actions Can Get You Shadow Banned?

People who receive a shadow ban haven’t explicitly broken the rules to the point where they deserve an actual ban. It’s safe to say they’ve merely had their ranking tanked by an algorithm. In this case, any metric-related actions could result in this kind of ban.

Social media algorithms often penalize users for misinformation, spam, inappropriate content, unusual activity, or suspicious practices. An algorithm could still misinterpret your behavior even if you haven’t technically committed any of these offenses. Actions like buying followers, getting mass-blocked, using banned hashtags, or uploading in rapid succession could cause a shadow ban.

Although most shadow bans are only temporary, they directly react to something the account holder did. Social media platforms likely go through with them to subconsciously steer people away from certain behaviors. After all, you’re much less likely to post something again if it immediately tanks your engagement the first time.

How to Tell If You’re Shadow Banned

Since you won’t get an official alert about a shadow ban, you’ll have to do some sleuthing on your own to determine whether you have a ban. If you think you might have a shadow ban, ask yourself if you’re experiencing the following signs:

• Drop in engagement: A sudden or drastic change in audience engagement is a tell-tale sign of a shadow ban. If you usually get thousands of views and likes on every TikTok you post, you’ll quickly notice if you start struggling to break just a couple hundred views. A noticeable lack of interactions — when you haven’t made any other changes to your content — may signal a shadow-banned account.
• Limited access to features: While you still might be able to post content without an issue, a shadow ban could affect your access to other features and lead to frustration. For example, you might not be able to tag other people in your posts or reply to other users. Some shadow bans even prevent users from sending messages to other people. If you’ve lost access to primary features, you may have a shadow ban.
• Hidden search results: When you have a shadow ban, your content won’t appear on the site’s search results. For example, you may tag an Instagram post with #newyorkcity, but your post won’t appear in that tag’s results. The same goes for keyword or location searches.

While these factors are the basics, keep in mind that the specifics of shadow banning vary from site to site. Certain apps might provide official confirmation of shadow banning if you ask, while you might not get any clear answers from others — few sites outright admit to shadow banning.

Instagram

When you’re trying to grow your brand or business’s Instagram following, a shadow ban can have severe effects. Your posts won’t appear in hashtags or search results, making it nearly impossible for new or even loyal followers to find your content. 

While Instagram doesn’t openly admit to shadow banning, you can check to see if there are any restrictions on your posts. Open your Instagram settings and search for “Account Status.” This page will let you know if you’ve posted anything violating Instagram rules, tell you how it affects your account, and give you a chance to appeal.

TikTok

Since TikTok is all about views, it’s pretty easy to tell if you have a shadow ban. A shadow ban means your content won’t appear on the For Your Page (FYP), which is where videos receive the majority of their views. If other users don’t see your TikTok on their FYP or in search results, you’ll see a serious decline in views and engagement.

While sometimes a change in viewership is related to the algorithm or the type of content you post, a serious drop-off in engagement may be a sign of an account shadow ban.

Facebook

While Facebook, like other platforms, has denied the existence of “shadow bans,” founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently confirmed that the site has a “demotion” policy that affects the reach of certain posts and users. It might hide your posts from the timeline or make sure your comments don’t appear on others’ posts.

While some of these restrictions are meant to prevent the spread of misinformation, other users can get caught in the middle and it may affect their brand of business.

Reddit

A Reddit shadow ban means the posts or comments you create aren’t visible to anyone except you and the subreddit’s moderators. Fortunately, Reddit offers a more direct way to check if you’re shadow banned than other platforms.

You can visit the r/ShadowBan subreddit and make a post inquiring if you’re banned. A bot will analyze your account and let you know if you’re shadow banned or if your posts and comments have been removed.

Twitter

Losing engagement on Twitter can be detrimental to your brand reputation. If you think your Tweets are shadow banned, log out of your account or open a private browsing tab. Open Twitter and search for your username — if your tweets don’t show up, they likely won’t show up for anyone else.

How Does a Shadow Ban Actually Work?

These kinds of bans are somewhat mysterious since most social media platforms won’t even admit to carrying them out. However, some have hinted before about how ranking or algorithmic systems penalize users — in other words, shadow banning.

Once the system detects behavior it doesn’t want to promote on the platform, it essentially lowers their ranking. However, shadow banning goes beyond giving users a simple demotion. After all, it removes them from search results and hides their content from potential viewers.

This is because a social media site doesn’t want to give someone a platform once it assumes they are a spam account or have committed violations. Instead of manually reviewing their content, enforcing a ban, and potentially working through an appeals process, it just quietly hides them from view.

Whether they’re a bot or not, it’s much easier to get rid of them silently without going through the formal process. At this point, it’s up to the site when to lift the shadow ban. Although it’s possible to appeal their decision, it can be challenging. After all, most sites won’t even admit what they did in the first place.

What Is a Shadow Ban’s Impact on Your Business?

A shadow ban primarily reduces your visibility on social media. People won’t see you when they search for a relevant hashtag or post, so your conversion rate will probably drop. If a site removes your account from search results, even those specifically looking for your business won’t find you.

Less visibility means far less engagement than average — potentially for a few weeks at a time. Fewer likes, comments, and shares on your posts could negatively affect your business. These things could impact you tremendously if you’re about to release a new product or have an upcoming event.

Ultimately, less visibility and engagement results in fewer sales, a poor conversion rate, and abysmal lead generation. You may not even be able to respond to customer complaints on social media, which could impact customer’s perception of your brand.

Shadow bans can even impact the account itself. While many people only see their follower count slow or stagnate, it can actually drop. If the platform you’re on hides you from search results, your churn may outpace your acquisition and retention rates. Ultimately, you could end up with a permanently lower following.

What Should You Do if You Receive a Shadow Ban?

You need to know a sudden drop in interaction isn’t always due to this sort of pseudo-ban. The internet’s attention span is short and its focus constantly shifts, so people might’ve just moved on. Alternatively, your audience may just want a change of pace. Try to engage directly with your following before you assume you’ve received a shadow ban.

If you still think a site has given you a shadow ban, you should first see what behavior could’ve caused it. Continuing on like usual might not extend your penalty, but you won’t know until you find out. Try to look at your account to see what could’ve gone wrong.

So, should you post during a shadow ban? Although it’s fine to keep pushing out content like you normally do, it could make things worse. If everything started because an algorithm flagged your posts, continuing with the behavior could extend your pseudo-ban. Generally, it’s best to play things safe and hold off on posting for a short while.

If you don’t want to leave your followers hanging, tell them you will be less active for a while. You could say you’re focusing intensely on an upcoming project, you need to do some technical work behind the scenes, or you’re working on a profile revamp. The intrigue could even stir up some excitement, which would counteract your low engagement rate.

Can You Reverse a Shadow Ban?

Some shadow bans are temporary, only lasting a few days or weeks. In that case, you may just have to wait out these short-term limitations. Other times, you may have to take action to make your account visible again. Social media sites won’t exactly publish workarounds, so it’s up to you to determine your next steps.

For example, if you posted a photo or used a hashtag on Instagram that violated the platform’s terms of service, you may have to delete the post or remove the prohibited hashtag. If the reduction in your views and engagement lasts longer than a few weeks, you may have to consider making a new account.

How Do You Make Your Content Visible Again?

While it’s possible to take action to make your account visible again, the methods you should use vary. Your next steps depend on what you did to get the ban and what platform it happened on. However, most social media sites share traits, so there are a few approaches you can try out on any of them.

Generally, the first thing you should do is make sure your account looks legitimate. Verify your email address, upload a profile picture, fill in your business’s details, and publish your contact information. You want to make it extremely clear you’re real and official.

You should also check your follower count and see if there have been any sharp bumps or dips. An algorithm might think you’re buying or purging fake followers, which could result in a lengthy shadow ban. Weed out bots and try to stabilize your following if you can.

Most importantly, you want to check over all of your recent posts. Look at the words, hashtags, and links you used to make sure they don’t violate any rules. All of the content should be appropriate, look legitimate, and be reasonably spread out time-wise. If you see anything you’re on the fence about, remove it — you can always put it back later once the shadow ban lifts.

Avoiding Shadow Bans on Social Media

Shadow banning is a tricky obstacle for anyone trying to promote their brand or business on social media. Fortunately, you can typically avoid these bans by following platform guidelines and optimizing your content for your target audience.

The post What Is a Shadow Ban? How to Ensure Your Content Is Visible appeared first on Designerly.

Social media is still relatively new within the business landscape. Yet, as digital marketers realize its growing impact and importance, social media marketing jobs are everywhere.

Of course, careers in social media have evolved — a breadth of new titles makes the job search somewhat confusing. As such, determining how to find the right social media position requires a bit of legwork. In this article, you’ll find everything you need to know to launch a successful social media marketing career.

The Job Market for Social Media Marketing

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 10% job growth in marketing by 2031 — much of which comprises digital marketing specialists, including social media managers. This is good news for tech-savvy folks, as all companies rely on a solid social media presence to thrive. 

Nearly 4.48 billion people use social media globally — up from 2.07 billion in 2015. Additionally, one user typically engages with around six social media platforms daily. 

Managing multiple platforms simultaneously takes up time most workers don’t have — a core reason companies need a designated person to handle engagement. Social media is one of the most effective ways to interact with your target audience and gain loyal followers of your brand — particularly younger consumers.

Top Skills of a Social Media Marketer

A social media marketer wears several hats — marketer, copywriter, content creator, strategist and customer service representative. As a result, they must possess wide-ranging skills to run effective campaigns and build brand awareness.

Those in social media marketing jobs must have the following skill sets:

• Effective communication
• Writing and creativity
• Graphic design
• Project management skills
• Strategic thinking
• Customer service and “people skills”
• Research capabilities — such as determining the target audience
• Flexibility
• Data analysis and reporting, with an understanding of analytics insights
• Budget management — for paid social media marketing

As social media rapidly evolves, digital marketers must have expertise in growing trends. For instance, paid social has grown increasingly popular as organic reach declines. About 51.4% of marketers will increase paid social spending to improve targeting and marketing efficiency. 

Social media specialists must also adapt to changes within their industry. Aside from emerging platforms, honing in on old and new skills and learning about technological advances is essential. This is especially true as artificial intelligence may cause upheaval in the digital world. 

Where to Search for Social Media Marketing Jobs

Social media marketing jobs are listed just about everywhere online. While you can find many of these roles on Indeed, Monster, ZipRecruiter and CareerBuilder, several freelance and remote work job boards also advertise them. 

FlexJobs

FlexJobs is one of the most extensive job and resource databases for telecommuting roles, including part-time, full-time and temporary. To access the website, you must buy a subscription ranging from $9.95 to $59.95, depending on whether you subscribe for one week, a month, three months or a year. However, new enrollees get a discount.

Virtual Vocations

Virtual Vocations works similarly to FlexJobs, guaranteeing screened telecommute listings you can filter in search. Although you can view the social media marketing jobs on the website, you must pay for unlimited access to view company names and other details. 

Jobspresso

Upload your resume to Jobspresso so employers can find you. In the meantime, you can browse various marketing opportunities for social media roles — Jobspresso vets companies and job listings to eliminate scams.

Home With the Kids

Nearly 400,000 more women than men left the workforce during COVID-19 — many have yet to return, facing bias or lacking child care. Home With the Kids is a remote work database for stay-at-home moms with occasional social media marketing listings.

Freelancer.com

Head over to Freelancer.com — the largest freelancing job marketplace on the internet. Freelancer.com connects more than 67 million employers and freelancers from 247 countries. It’s an excellent place to start your solo career in social media.

Job Search: Common Keywords and Titles

A strategic job search for social media marketing jobs isn’t as straightforward as typing “social media opportunities” in the search bar. Companies use different titles when listing available positions — sometimes with varying job descriptions. Standard job titles for social media include the following:

• Social media manager: Oversees all aspects of the social media department, ensuring the message and aesthetics align with the brand
• Social media specialist: Strategizes new social media campaigns and develops content for posts, including images and writing — then schedules posts and reports insights
• Social media coordinator: Develops an active social media presence to boost brand awareness and reputation, engaging followers and monitoring operations
• Social media community manager: Engages followers across all platforms, moderates comments and fosters brand loyalty and personalization
• Social media intern: Gains foundational experience in social media management, focusing on basic tasks, such as writing captions, scheduling or researching trends

Aside from internships, companies may not fully comprehend the differences between social media roles. As such, your job duties may evolve or cross over into related tasks over time.

Related Jobs for Social Media

Social media marketing professionals may also be interested in corresponding jobs to broaden their search. Similar positions often include:

• Blogger: Writes and optimizes engaging SEO articles to improve search engine rankings and share on social media
• Content curator: Stays abreast of social media trends and curates appropriate content — images, articles and videos — to share across the brand’s social media platforms
• Brand manager: Generates messaging to build brand awareness and integrity across all traditional marketing methods and social media platforms
• Digital strategist: Develops multi-channel campaigns using paid media and SEO strategies to build brand awareness and boost sales
• Content strategist: Recognizes digital marketing trends and prepares content to share across all platforms, including social media, blogs and the company website
• Data analyst: Analyzes insights from social media campaigns, reports findings and strategizes areas of improvement
• Digital project manager: Ensures the completion of digital campaigns on time and on budget for client satisfaction
• Creative director: Manages entire creative department of social media professionals, copywriters, graphic designers and others

You may discover you can apply your social media skills to one of these related opportunities for increased pay or job growth.

Social Media Marketing Salaries

Social media marketers earn an average total of $63,757 annually, with a base salary of $58,802. Of course, wages vary depending on experience, industry, education and location.

Conversely, freelancers must determine their own rate for client projects — often a difficult task. Freelancers make an average of $52,613 at an hourly rate of $25.29. However, top earners could earn over $80,000. Other pay factors include charging a monthly retainer or a percentage of revenue for lead generation.

Find Your Next Social Media Marketing Job

Job seekers have thousands of opportunities for social media marketing jobs. They simply need an effective search strategy to discover the right one. Try using different keyword search queries across various job boards — you don’t want to miss out on finding your dream career.

The post A Guide to Social Media Marketing Jobs appeared first on Designerly.

Twitter has undergone several changes throughout the years — a hub for giving status updates has since become a full-blown media outlet. Likewise, since Elon Musk’s acquisition and the subsequent merging with X Corp. in 2022, the site was recently rebranded as simply X. Today, people get their news from X — commenting, interacting with, and sharing trending topics and relevant stories. 

To keep up with the changes, brands must adopt new strategies to build interest and stand out within their respective industries. Companies and individuals understand it’s only possible to succeed on the platform with loyal followers. Here are 10 practical ways to get followers on X — or Twitter X for those still adjusting to the changes.

1. Find Your Brand Voice

Wendy’s, Netflix and Denny’s are some of the many companies that have mastered brand voice on Twitter X. For instance, Wendy’s captures their audience with the wittiest profile tagline: “We like our tweets the way we like our French fries: hot, crispy, and better than anyone expects from a fast food restaurant.” 

And it’s delivered, enjoying virality from its witty tweet roasts over the years — even going after its competitor, McDonald’s. If you hope to stand out similarly, find your brand’s ideal voice and tone. Knowing your existing customers is an excellent starting point.

2. Tweet Regularly

Due to the platform’s news-centric nature, tweets have a limited life span of 18 minutes — so it’s essential to post several times a day. 

Some accounts post 4–5 times daily, while others post about 10 times or more, including retweeting other people’s content. If it seems like a lot, it isn’t. Things move relatively fast on Twitter X. 

Although you might consider using a social media calendar for sharing some tweets, it’s sometimes beneficial to tweet in the moment to stay on trend. 

3. Optimize Your Profile

Prospective followers can search for your profile through the app and search engines. As such, you’ll want to optimize your profile by filling out each description field to ensure you get seen.

Showcase your personality in the profile tagline and incorporate other industry or brand-related hashtags, keywords, and location details. Twitter X accounts with clear profile photos typically receive 18% more visits than those without.

You should also include a link in your description if you have one. Users who find your Twitter X handle can then follow the link to your website to learn more about your company or visit your online store.

4. Post Visual Content

People are visual creatures, so capture their attention by switching up the content you share with imagery. 

While text tweets are essential to establishing your brand — and are literally what Twitter was built on — you are more likely to stop scrolling users and entice new followers to view your posts when you include photos, GIFs, and videos. 

5. Ensure Tweets Are Relevant

Of course, you don’t want to tweet random thoughts or visuals — unless that’s how you’ve branded yourself. Instead, ensure your tweets are relevant to your industry, audience and voice if you hope to get noticed.

Twitter X is more than a news outlet — people come together for conversation, idea-sharing and debate. Therefore, your content should appeal to the masses and add value, such as advertising sales, delivering tutorials, sharing inspiration or posting about current events. 

6. Use Hashtags

Like all other social media platforms, you can use relevant hashtags in tweets so users can find your Twitter X account and follow your content. In fact, Twitter was the birthplace of the hashtag. 

Hashtags make it easier for users to look up and participate in trending conversations based on their interests. For example, someone might look up “#gfrecipes” and find a gluten-free recipe from cooking publications or blogs. 

Users post 500 million tweets daily — 40% contain at least one hashtag, equating to 200 million tweets. If you aren’t currently using hashtags, you should begin including them on relevant keywords to attract new followers.

7. Get Verified

Musk’s Twitter takeover was met with criticism and pushback, especially as he changed the verification rules. Public figures, brands, and governments suddenly had to pay $8 for a blue checkmark, while the rules allowed anyone to get verified and risk impersonation.

You might question whether it’s worth participating in the paid verification program. Honestly, it depends. Now that Twitter has become X, it’s hard to know if verifications will change with the rebranding. As for now, Twitter Blue allows you to post longer tweets and videos. It also prioritizes your responses in reply chains. 

In July 2023, Musk implemented a new rule allowing verified users to view a maximum of 6,000 tweets daily, limiting unverified users to 600 posts. Weeks later, Musk announced additional restrictions on daily direct messages for unverified users. The new rules occurred before X and may undergo more changes still. 

8. Create Threads

Threads solve the problem of having only 280 characters per post by allowing you to deliver multiple tweets in a sequence. Suppose you create a thread of four or five tweets — Twitter X will mark them as 1/5, 2/6, 3/5 and so forth.

Threads are practical if you have a longer story or opinion to share. Medical professionals or scientists may even use them to discuss new research. Regardless, it gives you several opportunities to get noticed.  

You can create threads by pressing the plus icon once you’ve written your first tweet. Once completed, Twitter X will add them together when you hit publish.

9. Tag, Retweet, and Reply

Engaging with others is your best shot at getting followers on Twitter X. In addition to creating tweets, you must reply to users who’ve responded to your posts, tag others, and retweet relevant posts by others.

Retweet followers of your brand to show appreciation for their comments and feedback. Likewise, versatility in your engagement demonstrates you aren’t a bot.

Again, always ensure whatever you tweet, retweet, or respond to is appropriate and fosters the type of reputation your brand is after. For instance, you likely won’t find an upscale clothing brand retweeting a post with profanity or obscene images.

10. Participate in Chats

If you want to get followers on Twitter X, you must put yourself out there to access your target audience. Demonstrate your expertise in a particular topic by participating in chats. Chats on a specific subject are scheduled in advance and usually designated by a related hashtag.

Be sure to follow accounts within your industry — but not your competitors — to know when to look out for upcoming chats. 

Make Your Brand Stand Out on Twitter X

These thoughtful strategies will help you build your brand on Twitter X. As usual, the right approach to gaining followers may be a matter of trial and error. A combination of tactics will help you stand out among millions of active accounts.

The post How to Get Followers on Twitter X appeared first on Designerly.

In a digital world, brands must harness the power of social media to reach consumers and earn revenue. Instagram, in particular, is a powerful platform enabling businesses and individuals to target broad audiences and attain their marketing objectives. Of course, learning how to grow your Instagram reach is a challenging feat, especially when you’re just starting.

Here’s a helpful guide for reaching more followers on Instagram, generating leads, and establishing your brand’s reputation for excellence. 

Why Should Your Brand Have an Instagram Account?

Brands with Instagram accounts have access to 2 billion active users, making Instagram the fourth most visited social media platform after Facebook, YouTube, and Whatsapp. While not all Instagram users will align with your values or mission, you can hone in on your target audience and turn them into loyal followers.

Instagram stands out among other social media channels. For one thing, most users are younger — 30.8% are 18–24 years old and 30.3% are 25–34. If your target audience is primarily Generation Z and Millennials, Instagram is where you’ll likely generate the most significant following. It also fully leans into visual content, comprising engaging photos and videos.

With the right approach, Instagram allows for heightened brand visibility and the ability to have posts go viral. Brands utilizing Instagram growth strategies will increase engagement, achieve their desired esteem and drive sales. 

Types of Instagram Followers

Before you approach your brand’s presence and garner followers on Instagram, it’s essential to understand the different types of Instagram followers, including:

• Organic: Active users who come across your posts and engage with your brand
• Customers: Current customers of your products or services who follow your account for updates
• Competitors: Other brands your followers follow to compare prices and quality — an excellent starting point for drawing content inspiration
• Influencers: Nano, micro, or macro influencers with follower counts ranging from 1,000 to over 100,000
• Fakes: Bot accounts that merely increase your follower count without engaging, negatively impacting how effectively the algorithm helps you gain traffic
• Ghost accounts: Inactive users who do not engage and skew your business growth 

Indeed, you have little control over fake accounts — so reaching organic, customer and influencer Instagram followers should be your primary focus. 

How to Grow Your Instagram Following Organically

Growing your Instagram reach will require some trial and error. Depending on your brand or industry, some posts may uptick your follower count more than others. Here are eight strategies to grow your Instagram following.

1. Post Consistently

The last thing you want to do is overwhelm your followers with content. Conversely, posting too little could drive them away. According to a HubSpot Blog Survey, 45% of brands post several times weekly on Instagram, while 23% post several times daily. Another 23% post once every day.

You can discover your brand’s ideal posting frequency by experimenting and checking your Instagram analytics. You’ll improve once you know how to grow your Instagram following with metrics.

2. Include Relevant Hashtags

Although you can use up to 30 hashtags on an Instagram post, you should stick to three to five of the most relevant hashtags to broaden your reach. 

Hashtags ensure your posts end up in Instagram search results. People may stumble upon your brand or follow specific hashtags for regular feed updates. Remember, using hashtags with fewer posts can limit competition and improve the algorithm.

3. Use a Post Scheduler

Timing is everything on Instagram — you’ll want to choose the most active days and times to post content. Surveys have shown the most effective times to post to Instagram are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays between 9:00 and 10:00 a.m. — the same for Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Utilizing a social media post scheduler will allow you to schedule posts in advance to avoid missing your window of opportunity.

4. Collaborate With Others

Collaborating with other creators enables you to cross-promote your products, services, and content. Influencers are trendy among the younger age demographic. However, it would be best to consider more than their follower account for influencer marketing to benefit your brand.

Since 81% of marketers agree videos are the most effective outreach tool, you should select influencers who mainly post videos. Additionally, consider the ROI — influencers with up to 10,000 followers may charge between $10 and $100 per post, while those with up to one million followers may earn between $5,000 and $10,000. Those with over a million followers make much more. What can you afford to invest in influencer marketing for your brand?

5. Create Engaging Content

Content should be engaging and varied — professional, clear photographs are highly appealing to users and should remain relevant to your brand. However, mixing posts with Stories and Reels is crucial.

Although still behind TikTok’s engagement, a study found a 5% increase in Instagram Reels adoption — now 74%, up from 69% in September 2022. This aligns with the growing preference for video content.

Likewise, 18% of marketers say Instagram Stories produced the greatest ROI for their brand. Product-focused and interactive content are the most popular among users.

6. Go Live

Instagram Live enables brands to connect with their followers in real-time — an approach that increased in popularity during the pandemic.

Brands may go live with their followers to host a Q&A with a brand leader or influencer, launch a new product, deliver a behind-the-scenes look, interview an expert or deliver a more authentic glimpse at your brand.

7. Utilize Geotags

If you want to learn how to grow your Instagram following organically, you need to understand the importance of geotags. Local businesses should optimize posts by utilizing them. In fact, there’s a 79% increase in post-user engagement when there are geotags. 

Geotags are the specific location of your Instagram account, depending on the location of your mobile device. Users may tag a store by its coordinates if the brand has publicized its location.

You can attach the geotag when creating a feed post, include a location sticker in a Story or include location hashtags under the post caption. 

8. Host Giveaways and Contests

Who doesn’t like free stuff? The occasional giveaway or contest is a highly effective way to grow your Instagram followers and establish your brand. Consider holidays or yearly events for particular contests. 

For example, a stationary supply store might offer a bundle giveaway during the back-to-school season. A sporting goods company may also provide something to followers during an upcoming sports event like the World Cup or the Boston Marathon.

Comment contests, influencer giveaway partnerships, and hashtag contests — where users upload photos of your product and tag you — are all possibilities. 

Experiment With Growing Your Instagram Following

Often, growing your Instagram reach comes down to experimenting with what strategies have the most significant effect on your follower accounts and engagement. Regularly check your analytics to see what works best for your brand and modify your approach as needed.

The post How to Grow Your Instagram Reach in 8 Ways appeared first on Designerly.

Facebook has become a crucial tool for many small businesses in this age of social connection. Yet, many run into the problem of getting more Facebook followers. With the algorithms favoring users more than businesses, organically growing your following can pose difficulties. 

However, businesses need followers to increase their visibility and enhance customer engagement. Doing so provides companies with ways to direct consumers to products and services and eventually make more sales. So, how can they increase their Facebook followers if the algorithm works against them?

They need the right strategies in play, so here are practical tips to help you get more Facebook Followers each day.

1. Optimize Your Facebook Page

Growing your following on Facebook starts with optimizing your business’s page. Your business Facebook page is the hub for your brand, where potential followers can learn more about it and what it offers. Start making the most of your business’s profile by:

• Completing your information: Make a good first impression by filling out all the information customers need about your business. These include your “About Me” section, business hours and a profile image. You could also upload a high-quality cover photo that displays information about who you serve.

• Use keywords strategically: For potential followers to find your business page, you must incorporate relevant keywords. These keywords should be in your page’s title, about section and posts. Relevant keywords should be your business name, location and the products or services.

• Add your website link: Including a link to your business’s website enhances your credibility on Facebook and increases site traffic. Be sure to place it in prominent places, such as your About section and the website field in your page’s contact information.

2. Post Consistent, Quality Content

Consistent posting of quality content is the key to getting more Facebook followers. Doing so keeps existing followers engaged, making them more likely to share your content and get your brand noticed. 

Start posting consistently by creating a schedule. For instance, if you have a month’s worth of content, use tools like Hootsuite to schedule and automate posting. Try to aim for at least one post per day to ensure you stay active. Yet, it’s imperative that the quantity of content does not sacrifice the quality. 

What you post is just as important as how often you post. So when it comes time to publish a post, ensure it is relevant and provides value. Whether you post something informative or a fun behind-the-scenes snapshot, each piece of content should resonate and reflect your brand’s voice.

Visuals also have the power to boost engagement. From videos and images to infographics, you make it easy for your followers to consume and share. Videos have the highest engagement rate on Facebook. In fact, their engagement rate equates to 6.09%, compared to images with only 4.42%.

Videos become high-quality when they teach your audience something new or if they’re outright entertaining. When creating content, be sure to show them that you understand their needs and provide value.

3. Engage With Your Audience Daily

Engaging with your audience is another great way to get more Facebook followers. The more you interact with users, the more visible your business becomes. However, engagement requires a strategy to help you win the hearts of followers and attract more.

One of the ways to increase engagement is by responding to comments and queries on your Facebook page. Every time you receive a comment, message or review, it’s important that you reply immediately. That way, you show you value their input and encourage them to keep engaging with you.

You can also encourage audience interaction by asking questions, posting polls and quizzes or going live. Broadcasting your business and putting it out there is key to boosting engagement and garnering your audience’s attention.

Yet, the important thing is to make sure you’re listening and providing genuine responses. If you show that you’re truly interested in engaging your audience, they will likely remain loyal and advocate for your brand.

4. Leverage Facebook Advertising

Sometimes getting more Facebook followers takes more than a quality post or active engagement. Many companies resort to advertising so they reach a larger, more targeted audience. Facebook has around 2.98 billion active users to date, and advertising is a true tactic to gain future followers. 

The first step to running a successful ad is knowing the exact audience you want to reach. Start by filling in Facebook’s detailed targeting options, such as location, age, gender, interests and more. Inputting this information will make it more likely for your ads to show up in front of people who may show interest in your business. 

Once you have your audience’s demographic details in place, you can start setting up a new ad campaign by following these steps:

• Choose your objective: Since your goal is to gain followers, “Page Likes” or “Engagement” may be most suitable.
• Set your budget: Choose a daily or lifetime budget, and Facebook will keep the advertising cost within this amount. You can always increase your budget at a later time if your ad is performing well.
• Design your ad: Create an engaging ad with eye-catching visuals and compelling copy. Use your brand colors and messaging, and ensure the copy is concise to retain their attention. You can choose from various formats like a single image, video or carousel. 

After your ad goes live, you’ll need to track its performance to ensure everything is working. You can find this information in your Facebook Ads Manager and review the analytics. Based on the results, be sure to tweak your campaign for better performance. 

5. Collaborate With Influencers and Other Brands

Partnerships with influencers and other brands can substantially boost your Facebook follower count. It’s a powerful strategy that leverages networks beyond your reach. However, influencers can be costly if their rates aren’t within your budget. Instead, many brands choose to collaborate with niche fan pages — ones that like to share new products or articles within a niche. 

These fan pages have large followings, and partnering with the most relevant ones will give you a significant reach to potential followers. Plus, they’re typically more cost-effective than actual influencers. 

Therefore, it’s important that you find the right partner by researching their audience. Find out if their audience overlaps with yours by using tools like Facebook’s “Pages to Watch.” This feature allows you to identify potential partners, contributing to higher success.

Once you’ve identified potential collaborators, approach them with a personalized proposal. Be clear about what you’re proposing, the benefits they gain and the terms of the partnership. Collaborations always work best when they’re mutually beneficial. 

Empower Your Small Business With a Strong Facebook Following

Small businesses have plenty of opportunities to leverage so they can get more Facebook followers. The tactics mentioned here are great starter tactics, but it also helps to get creative with how you attract more followers. 

Every business is unique, and what works for one company may not work as well for another. So strive to experiment and find what strategies align with your brand. Test and refine these strategies by measuring your results and see where your efforts will take you. 

The post How To Get More Facebook Followers Each Day appeared first on Designerly.

Highlights are a relatively new feature on the ever-popular app Instagram. The social media site added Stories to its app many years ago, seemingly taking a nod from Snapchat. This allowed profiles to add snapshots of their day without posting directly to their feeds, but only for 24 hours. Highlights changed that up and allowed people to save a series of stories and pin them to their profiles. Learning how to add Highlights on Instagram has benefits for businesses.

Social media has become a critical part of marketing and sales for any company. It provides a direct avenue to interact with consumers, provide customer service, release paid and non-paid ads, allow influencer interaction and even use a commerce platform. Being able to access all these selling points for little to no cost is incredibly valuable for any small business or big corporation. But what can Highlights do?

The Rise of Social Media in Business Practices

When website and app developers originally formulated their ideas for social media, becoming a platform for companies to advertise to new and loyal customers probably wasn’t in the plan. However, it’s undoubtedly become one of the most significant facets of any social media today. In 2021, people likely saw as many as 10,000 ads a day and more than half the apps on the Google Play store had users complain about the amount of advertisements they saw.

How did this happen? Many apps out there are free and developers can’t survive off of positive reviews. They must allow advertisers to pay for spots on their app so they can promote their product or service to make their endeavor continuously profitable. As much as the average user might not appreciate seeing so many ads, they are what make their favorite apps free to use.

Instagram hit the app store way back in October of 2010 and was able to reach 1 million users within two months of its launch. However, it took three years before it started toying with the idea of including advertisements on the users’ feeds. Photo ads started hitting the app in November 2013 and video ads joined a year later in October 2014. Today, 79% of marketers use Instagram as part of their advertising strategy.

Why Companies Should Add Highlights to Their Profiles

With all that said about advertisements in feeds, why should a business consider adding Highlights to their profiles? The answer lies in the shortening attention span of the general public.

It may seem like a new phenomenon, but it’s actually been happening for the last 20 years — the human attention span is shrinking, thanks to technology. Kids as young as two years old already have an average of two and a half hours of screen time daily. Introducing children to something that can provide instant gratification that young naturally decreases their attention span, which carries on into adulthood. Adults have felt the effects, too, with the average focus shortening from 75 seconds in 2012 to 40–47 seconds.

What does that mean for businesses? Their ads need to be attention holding. It’s not enough to draw the eye to their ads or profiles — someone must want to stick around to see what a brand has to offer. Not to mention, people are quickly growing tired of companies constantly trying to sell them something. A company has mere seconds to capture a person’s interest and hold it long enough to offer a compelling sales pitch.

That’s where Highlights come in. When a potential customer visits a business’s Instagram page, they likely don’t want to spend the time to look through all the posts so they can get an idea of what the brand is about. Providing something quick and easy to digest is an excellent way to ensure profile visitors have something accessible to go through and get a better understanding of a company’s mission.

Additionally, it reduces the amount of clutter on an Instagram profile, which can come off as unprofessional. Spamming followers with countless updates will likely get them to unfollow and new visitors will have to scroll endlessly to get an idea of the business. Highlights allow organizations to place all the most important information at the top of their pages and not have to reshare it constantly.

How to Add Highlights on Instagram

Now comes the most crucial part of the equation — how to add Highlights on Instagram. Thankfully, it’s a rather painless process, even for those who don’t have much experience with the app. Here’s a step-by-step guide for adding Highlights to an Instagram profile.

1. Add Something to the Account’s Story

Technically, the full name of Highlights is Story Highlights. Therefore, there must be something on the page’s Story to highlight. Start by formulating great Stories, such as a look at the company’s office or a quick look at its products.

2. Go to the Profile Page

The next step is to go to the main profile page — where all the business’s posts appear. While some might think they need to hit the plus button at the bottom of their screen to make a post, that’s not the right place to go. Instead, hit the profile picture in the bottom right corner.

3. View the Story

Then, tap on the profile picture to view the account’s Story. This is the easiest step — all it takes is a click.

4. Go to the Highlights Button on the Story

At the bottom right of the Story, there should be a Highlight button. It looks like a small heart surrounded by a mostly full circle. Hit that little icon to pull up a small menu.

5. Select a Highlight

On the “Add to highlights” menu that appears, select one of the existing Highlights to add a Story to. If there aren’t any there yet, simply tap the New button that looks like a large plus sign in a circle to create a new Highlight. Then, the Highlight should pop up at the top of a profile and a company only needs to repeat this process to add more.

What About Archived Stories?

Instagram accounts will automatically archive any Stories the user posts. If they don’t, all someone needs to do is tap the three horizontal lines at the top right of their profile page, navigate to Archive and hit “Change archive controls in settings.”

This will save any Stories the account posts and allow the account manager to reaccess them. To add them to a highlight, click the plus button under Story Highlights, select the Stories for the Highlight, name it and wait for them to appear on the account.

6. Edit the Cover

When adding Highlights on Instagram, one of the best ways to make them effective is to create cohesive covers. These help the Highlights look much more organized, thus making more people want to click on them. Have someone on the team make an appealing cover for the Highlight, then tap on one of them, hit More with the three dots above it, hit Edit highlight, then select Edit cover.

When creating a cover, sticking with something simple can help them look more professional. A blank background with clean fonts or an appealing graphic is more than enough to interest potential customers in the Highlights.

Learning How to Add Highlights on Instagram Is Easy

In the age of the internet, social media is one of the best tools a business can use to connect with its consumers. Utilizing Instagram Highlights can encourage more conversions from new profile visitors looking to see what an organization is about. Start using Highlights to make the most of a company Instagram account.

The post How to Add Highlights on Instagram: A Business Guide appeared first on Designerly.

Are your Instagram Reels not working properly? As a marketer, this can be a frustrating experience for you and your team.

Since its launch, Instagram Reels has taken the world by storm, providing an exceptional platform for companies to showcase their personality, creativity and charm. With its short, captivating video format, Reels can effortlessly grab the attention of potential customers.

However, when Reels doesn’t work as intended, it’s essential to know how to troubleshoot effectively. This guide will help you navigate the world of Instagram Reels troubleshooting so that you can swiftly return to sharing engaging content and connecting with your audience.

How Instagram Reels Not Working Can Impact Small Businesses

These days, it’s impossible to scroll through Instagram without seeing a reel in your feed. After all, these short video clips are engaging and a powerful way to reach a large audience. Small businesses use them to showcase their products and services and build a strong brand presence. 

Yet, when Instagram Reels are not working, it disrupts this marketing channel, leading to potential setbacks. Your marketing team may miss out on optimal posting times, which are crucial for maximizing your engagement. Similarly, small businesses rely on Instagram for sales and customer interaction. Without reels, they could experience reduced traffic and potential revenue loss.

The most frustrating thing about Instagram Reels not working may be the resources you’ve invested into it. Creating a reel takes lots of time and effort. It also requires your creative juices to flow to create an attention-grabbing video. When this feature is out of order, these resources go to waste if it fails to upload or function as expected.

Moreover, it can hamper customer outreach during promotional campaigns. This can impact your overall campaign success, keeping you from achieving your marketing goals. In the face of such challenges, businesses must have alternative plans. They should diversify their digital marketing strategies to minimize dependency on a single platform. 

The Causes of Instagram Reels Not Working

While it can be frustrating when your Instagram Reels are not working, understanding the underlying causes is the first step in finding a solution. Here’s a closer look at the most common reasons they may not be working:

• Connectivity issues: A weak or unstable internet connection can prevent Reels from loading or playing correctly. This may indicate a poor Wi-Fi signal, slow mobile data or network congestion.
• Application bugs and glitches: At times, technical issues within the Instagram app can cause Reels to malfunction or fail to load.
• Outdated app version: The most recent version of your Instagram app fully supports the latest Reels feature. Consequently, an obsolete version can cause compatibility or playback problems.
• Device compatibility: Older or lower-end devices may have difficulty running Instagram Reels smoothly, resulting in playback issues or crashes.
• Instagram server issues: Occasionally, Instagram may experience server-side problems, which can impact the functionality of Reels for users.
• Regional restrictions: In certain regions, Instagram Reels may be unavailable or have limited functionality due to local regulations or rules. 

Troubleshooting Connectivity Issues

When dealing with connectivity issues, it’s essential to determine whether the problem originates with your internet connection or the app itself. One way to fix this issue is by ensuring you have a stable Wi-Fi or mobile data connection and testing your connection by visiting other websites or using different apps.

Occasionally, simply toggling your Wi-Fi or mobile data off and on can resolve connection problems. If one type of connection is causing issues, try switching to the other to see if it fixes the problem.

If you continue to face issues, consider resetting your device’s network settings. Keep in mind that this action may delete any saved Wi-Fi networks and require you to reconnect them. 

Resolving Application Bugs and Glitches

When bugs and glitches are the culprits, addressing them is vital to ensure successful Reels uploads. One simple and effective solution is to force quit and reopen the app, which can often resolve minor glitches.

Another approach is to clear the app cache and data on Android devices or offload the app on iOS devices. This method removes temporary files that may be causing problems without deleting your account information.

To maintain a seamless Instagram experience, regularly update your app to the latest version. Updates often include bug fixes and new features that resolve the issues with Reels. If the problem persists, consider uninstalling and reinstalling Instagram to eliminate corrupted files that may be causing Reels to malfunction.

Addressing Device Compatibility and Performance Issues

If you suspect compatibility and performance issues, address them by checking to see if your device is compatible with Instagram Reels. You can do this by reviewing the app’s system requirements on the App Store or Google Play. Compatibility issues typically arise when your device is older or doesn’t meet the minimum standards.

Next, ensure your device’s software is up-to-date, as outdated software can lead to compatibility problems and poor performance. You can check for updates by entering your device’s settings and installing any available updates.

Lastly, close any unnecessary background applications to free up resources on your device. Running multiple apps simultaneously consumes valuable memory and processing power, which may be why your Instagram Reels are not working. Yet, closing unused apps can allocate more resources and allow you to engage your audience with Reels again.

Dealing With Instagram Server Issues

Sometimes, Instagram may be experiencing downtime, which can impact the functionality of your Reels. If you suspect server issues are the cause, consider following these steps:

• Check for widespread reports: Look for user reports on social media or outage-tracking websites to confirm if other users are experiencing similar issues. This step helps you determine if the problem lies within the app itself.
• Wait for a resolution: If you’ve confirmed the issue is on Instagram’s end, you may need to be patient and wait for the problem to resolve itself. Keep in mind that Instagram usually addresses these issues fairly quickly.
• Report the issue: If you want to contribute to resolving the issue more quickly, consider reporting the problem through the Instagram app or their support website.

Staying informed about potential server issues can help you take appropriate steps to address them and better manage any disruptions in sharing Instagram Reels.

Additional Tips and Tricks for When Instagram Reels Are Not Working

Here are some final tips to help you address Instagram Reels issues:

• Use a VPN: Not all countries have access to Instagram Reels. If this is the case, try using a VPN to bypass these limitations. A VPN can also help you access content your region is blocking.
• Check Instagram’s Help Center: Visit the Help Center on Instagram’s website for any known issues and their resolutions. This resource enables you to gain insight into common problems and offers guidance on how to fix them.
• Seek assistance from the community: Reach out to the Instagram community through forums and the platform to share your experience and seek advice. Other users may have encountered similar problems and can offer helpful suggestions.
• Try logging out: Sometimes, there’s a temporary glitch in Instagram’s system, which may only require a simple fix. Try logging out of your account by going to your settings and tapping “log out.” Once you log back into your account, the issue may go away.
• Clear the data cache: Another quick way to fix the issue when your Instagram Reels aren’t working is to clear your cache. On your iPhone, you can go into your settings > general > iPhone storage. Tap on the Instagram app and delete it. Once you’ve deleted the app, you can reinstall and use it again.
• Uninstall the app: If your Instagram app is glitchy, consider uninstalling it from your phone and installing it again. This will ensure you’ve downloaded the latest version of the app if a new update is available.

Exploring these additional avenues increases your chances of resolving the problem you’re experiencing with Instagram Reels. Sometimes, a little extra effort is needed to ensure your content is accessible to your audience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Instagram Reels may be a few years old, but it’s likely there are still some things you have to learn. These are answers to some of the most common questions.

1. Why Can’t I See Instagram Reels?

There can be multiple reasons for this. The number one reason could be that your app needs to be updated. However, other reasons could be your geographical location, as Reels are only available in some countries. Another reason could be issues with your specific account.

2. Why Can’t I Make Reels?

As mentioned previously, Instagram could be experiencing a glitch. Additionally, your app may have an outdated version. Or, perhaps your account doesn’t have access to this feature. Consider checking for updates in your app store and try updating it to the latest version first.

3. Why Are My Instagram Reels Not Getting Views?

If you upload your video and it isn’t getting any views, you might think it’s because Instagram Reels aren’t working. However, this issue could most likely be due to algorithm changes, content saturation, or the type and quality of your content. Ensure you’re getting views by maintaining high-quality, relevant content. You can also tag others to see if your views increase.

4. Why Is the Sound Not Working on Instagram Reels?

There could be a problem with the original sound file or your device’s audio settings. It may even be because of the Instagram app itself. Try troubleshooting by turning the sound up on your phone or restarting your device to see if it resolves. You may also need to turn off Bluetooth settings to ensure it’s not connected to other devices.

Restore Your Instagram Reels When They’re Not Working

Issues with Instagram Reels can arise from time to time. However, marketers can address them swiftly and efficiently by following the abovementioned steps. Whether it’s connectivity or server-side problem, understanding the root cause and applying the appropriate solutions can help you get your Reels back on track. 

It’s essential to remember not to let minor setbacks like these hinder your creativity or audience engagement. Continue exploring other ways to create captivating content until you find your Instagram Reels functioning properly again.

The post Instagram Reels Not Working? Here’s How to Fix It! appeared first on Designerly.

Do you always feel like you’re behind on Instagram? With this platform’s noise level, keeping up with the demands of posting consistently and at the right times can feel overwhelming.

However, a strong social media presence is crucial to any successful business. In particular, it’s an amazing tool for solopreneurs to showcase their work, connect with their audience and drive sales. Yet, without a consistent posting schedule, your content can easily get lost in the shuffle of Instagram feeds.

That’s where scheduling comes into play. By learning how to schedule Instagram posts in advance, you ensure they always stay on-brand, on time and engaging. Here’s all you need to know about preparing Instagram content like a pro.

1. Plan Your Instagram Content

Before you start scheduling your posts, taking the time to plan your content in advance is important. Not only will this help you stay organized, but it also helps you ensure the posts are aligned with your brand and marketing goals.

Follow these key steps in planning your Instagram content:

• Identify your target audience: Understand who you’re trying to reach by knowing your audience’s interests, pain points and values. Knowing your audience lets you create content that resonates and drives engagement.
• Define your content goals: What are you hoping to achieve with your Instagram content? Are you trying to increase brand awareness or drive traffic to your website? Establishing clear goals enables you to create tailored content for those objectives.
• Create a content calendar: A content calendar is a schedule of the posts you plan to upload on Instagram. Using one of these helps you stay organized and gives an overview of whether you’re posting consistently. When creating a content calendar, ensure it includes the posts’ dates and times, type of content, caption and hashtags.

When planning your content, you’ll want to strike a balance between promotional and non-promotional content. While using Instagram solely as a sales platform is tempting, your audience will quickly tune out if you only post ads. Instead, aim to provide value to your followers by sharing helpful tips, behind-the-scenes glimpses of your business and content that starts conversations.

By planning content, you can create a cohesive and effective social media strategy that lets you achieve your marketing goals.

2. Choose the Right Scheduling Tool

Once you’ve planned your content, you can determine which scheduling tool will bring your strategy to life. Before you choose your Instagram scheduling tool, consider some key factors to help with your decision.

The first thing you’ll want to look at is its features. Different scheduling tools offer various features, so choosing one that aligns with your needs is important. For example, some tools allow you to schedule Instagram Stories and regular posts. Meanwhile, others provide analytics and reports.

Decide which features are most important to you so you can make the most out of your Instagram strategy.

Another thing to consider is its ease of use. A scheduling tool should be intuitive and user-friendly, with a clean and simple interface. That way, you can start using it immediately instead of wasting time trying to figure it out or risking making mistakes.

Finally, you should also consider your budget. Prices can vary widely in scheduling tools. Some offer free plans with limited features, while others require a subscription.

Some of the most popular scheduling tools include Later, Hootsuite, Buffer and Sprout Social. Take the time to compare features and pricing, and choose one that fits your needs.

In addition to third-party scheduling tools, Instagram offers its own scheduling feature through Creator Studio. You can schedule posts and reels 75 days ahead, which may be your best option for streamlining your scheduling since it’s free.

3. Set Up Your Instagram Scheduling Tool

Since many business owners like to use Creator Studio for scheduling, here’s a step-by-step guide on how to schedule Instagram posts with this tool:

• Log in to Creator Studio: Facebook offers this tool so that you can manage your Instagram and Facebook accounts in one place. To access Creator Studio, log into your Facebook account and navigate to the Creator Studio dashboard.
• Connect your Instagram account: If you haven’t already, you’ll need to connect your Instagram account to Creator Studio. To do this, click on the Instagram icon in the top left corner of the dashboard, then follow the prompts to connect your account.
• Create a new post: Schedule an Instagram post by clicking “Create Post” in the top left corner of your dashboard. From here, you can create content for your feed or stories.
• Schedule the post: Once you’ve created your post, click “Schedule” instead of “Publish.” Select the date and time you want it to go live, and click “Schedule.” The post will save in Creator Studio and automatically upload at the scheduled time.

Keep in mind that Creator studio allows you to view your analytics, respond to comments and messages, and manage multiple Instagram accounts. This can be a convenient option for businesses wanting to stay organized in one place.

Best Practices for Scheduling Instagram Posts

Scheduling Instagram posts can be a game-changer for your social media marketing strategy. However, following these scheduling tips can ensure your posts are effective and engaging.

Post at the Right Times

Timing is everything when scheduling Instagram posts. Pay attention to when your audience is most active on the platform, and plan accordingly. You can use Instagram Insights or third-party analytics tools to determine the best times to post. 

However, research shows that morning posts are the most effective for Instagram.

Monitor Your Engagement

After your posts are published, you still have more work to do. Continue to monitor your posts for engagement and response to messages. This will let you establish relationships with followers and increase overall engagement on the platform.

Write Engaging Captions

Captions are important to your Instagram posts, as they tell your brand story and engage your followers. Ensure you write captions that are interesting, informative and relevant to your audience. You can use hashtags, mentions and emojis to add personality and increase discoverability.

Use High-Quality Visuals

Since Instagram is a visual platform, high-quality images and videos will be the most appealing. Ensure your visuals are clear and aesthetically pleasing to attract Instagram users. You can even use editing tools or filters to enhance your visuals and make them stand out.

Plan Content Effectively

Planning is key before you start scheduling any posts. While you’re at this stage, consider your brand voice, target audience and overall goals for your campaign. Once you have created the content ahead of time, you can start scheduling a month in advance to streamline your social media efforts.

Analyze Your Results

Finally, you must keep track of your posts’ performance to understand the effectiveness of your Instagram content strategy. By tracking metrics like engagement, reach, follower growth and more, you can identify what’s working. Use this data to make informed decisions about future content and optimize your strategy for better results.

Scheduling Instagram Posts Like a Pro

Scheduling Instagram posts can be powerful for building your brand and engaging your audience. By following these steps and best practices, you can create a content strategy that helps you achieve your goals and takes your social media presence to the next level.

The post How to Schedule Instagram Posts Like a Pro appeared first on Designerly.

Most business owners feel as though they are in the dark about the magical formula needed to be successful with Facebook ad management. While some companies find great success on the platform, others throw a lot of money at trying out different ads without much to show for it.

Some people even pay so-called marketing gurus to help drive results without any clear return on investment (ROI). Fortunately, Facebook comes with some built in algorithms to help users figure out what’s working and what needs tweaked. 

How to Utilize Facebook Ad Management to Drive Conversions

Facebook’s ad revenue is around $1.5 trillion in 2023, and expected to reach over $2 trillion by 2026. With so many companies and people advertising on the media giant, you can find advice running the gamut of things to try to bring in revenue. 

We’ve spent some time hunting through the top tips, comparing them to our own experience on the platform, seeking input from other marketing professionals and coming up with some of the best tips for Facebook ads management. 

1. Narrow Your Audience

One of the benefits of advertising on Facebook is reaching a specific target audience. Start by narrowing the parameters by demographics and psychographics. You can choose who sees ads based on what their interests are and past behaviors such as groups they’ve joined or pages they like.

One of the key elements of Facebook ad management is how well you target your users. You can do everything possible to create an engaging and eye-catching promotion, but if you aren’t serving it up to the right people, it will still fall flat and your return on investment (ROI) will be dismal. 

Take the time to perfect your audience selection and your advertising dollars will stretch farther and give you a better ROI. 

2. Stand Out From the Crowd 

Study the competition. What types of ads are they serving up? Can you use something different to capture attention? For example, your nearest competitor uses photos and catchy headlines. You find photos that are brighter and more targeted and give them to the same audience.

Think about the special offers, content and engagement other brands do. How can you try something else for your target audience? You want to get them to share, comment and click without seeming spammy or too self-promotional. 

3. Choose the Right Timing

The average Facebook user spends about 33 minutes per day on the platform. Figuring out when your audience is most active can save you money and make your ad campaign more effective. Within the Facebook ads manager dashboard, you can choose the times you want your ads to appear. Select the days and hours your target audience is most active and most likely to engage. 

If you’re unsure of the best times, you can consult Facebook’s analytics reports. When you log into the Facebook ad manager, click on the icon on the left side for Campaigns–a little box icon with grid lines. On the Campaign screen, a left sidebar will appear. Choose the top icon, which features a bar graph to see insider information about how various campaigns have performed. 

You can also dive down into ad sets and specific ads by clicking on the taps across the top. The more information you gather, the better you can see which ads work best with your audience and how to serve up new ones for stellar results. 

4. Separate Campaigns

If you want to see how well each ad performs, create separate campaigns for different promotions. You can also organize ads by sets and see which images and wording performs best over time. 

Use the analytics mentioned above to figure out which campaigns you want to repeat and which flopped. 

5. Segment Your Audience

If you want to narrow down your audience even more, you can create separate ads for different audience segments. Break customer data into factors such as income level, gender, age and geographic locations. 

Know each buyer persona’s pain points so you can solve them in each ad. For example, if you sell baby teething rings, you might have moms, dads and grandparents hunting for them. The ads you serve to each of those buyers would vary. Moms are usually wanting some relief from the endless tears. Grandmas want the baby to feel relief. 

While some of the emotions overlap, the way a mother feels will vary from the way a grandparent does. Know the pain points, speak to them and you’ll have much more success than if you just serve one general ad to every person.

6. Make the Copy Match the Image

Is your copy relevant to your image and vice versa? You don’t want to show users a photo of a brightly colored umbrella and then talk about clear skies. Readers like to feel you’re being upfront and honest but also offering them a solution.

Facebook ad management gives you an opportunity to see all your scheduled ads and drafts at a glance. You can move photos around as needed, edit headlines and tweak your copy at any time. 

One of the top benefits of online advertising is that you can edit in real time. If a promotion isn’t going well, make some adjustments and see what happens. Facebook Ads Manager even allows you to run experiments via the hamburger menu.

You can add new campaigns and see which version performed for the least amount of money per click. Armed with in-depth information, you can stretch your marketing dollars to get the most from even a tiny budget. 

7. Avoid Overspending

Under your Facebook ad management dashboard, you can set some thresholds for spending. You want a large enough budget to serve up ads to potential customers but you don’t want to spend thousands of dollars per day and run out of your annual money in a matter of weeks. 

Click on the hamburger menu on the top left of your dashboard just under your home icon. Choose “Payment Settings.” Select the edit icon next to the payment threshold to set some maximum amounts. You can also scroll down to set an account spending limit and view payment methods. 

8. Spend Time in Audiences Tab

One of the most crucial things you can do to improve your ads is to reach the right people. Click on the hamburger icon again and select “Audiences.” You have two options when creating an audience to serve your ad to–custom or lookalike.

A lookalike audience is based on those who’ve already interacted with your brand. Perhaps they liked a post or commented on something on your business page. You can also cross-promote between different pages you have on the platform.

A custom audience is one where you set all the parameters. You can have the selections as wide or narrow as you’d prefer. You’ll see how many potential customers you can reach with each audience.

Practice Makes Perfect With Facebook Ad Management

The key to really understanding the best principles for Facebook ad management is to frequently try new things. See how one type of ad performs with a particular audience. Reset some of the parameters and see if clickthroughs improve. The more time you invest in learning the system, the easier it will be to launch new campaigns and get an excellent ROI.

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