Latest social media updates across Instagram, YouTube and Google Search Ads
This month’s updates reveal key changes to Instagram reach, YouTube Shorts and Google Search Ads.
Let’s explore these developments and see how to leverage them for your campaigns.
Instagram updates
Editing in third-party doesn’t affect Instagram’s reach
Adam Mousseri, Head of Instagram, has confirmed that editing your video in a third-party app doesn’t affect your reach. However, if there’s a watermark throughout the video, this could impact it.
Instagram tests a new way to store shared content
As more people share more content through DMs, Instagram is testing a new ‘Social Library’ section, so users can see all the posts and Reels they’ve interacted with.
Adding a link to a Reel could be coming
Instagram is currently testing the ability to add a link to a Reel. This can seamlessly guide users to take specific actions, such as making purchases, signing up for newsletters or booking services, to improve conversion rates.
Instagram launches new profile cards
After testing with selected creators, Instagram has announced the launch of its new profile cards, offering a simple way to connect people to your IG presence.
Instagram’s updated profile cards, now available to all users, are digitally flippable panels. One side features a QR code for instant connection, while the other provides a profile overview and summary.
New Instagram Best Practices for Creators
Instagram has released ‘Best Practices’ in the Professional Dashboard for creators.
Creators can find guidance on topics across Creation, Engagement, Reach, Monetisation, and Guidelines. It includes insights on how often to post, how to capture more attention through photos, and how long Reels should be for that channel.
TikTok updates
TikTok has introduced Search Ads Campaign
TikTok Search Ads Campaign will allow advertisers to appear in search results, with control over how their content appears and allowing them to tailor ads to align with specific search behaviours.
YouTube updates
YouTube clarifies recent update on Shorts
After some initial confusion from creators, YouTube has clarified that it now considers all videos under three minutes as Shorts. However, this change only applies to new uploads from October 15th 2024, onwards.
Any vertical videos of three minutes or less uploaded before this date will remain as regular long-form videos.
Over the next few weeks, YouTube’s systems will gradually transition videos under three minutes into Shorts. During this time, longer Shorts may still appear as regular videos on your channel until they’re fully categorised into the Shorts tab and feed.
YouTube rolls out direct control over Shorts thumbnails
YouTube will now let creators change Shorts thumbnails directly in the main app, giving them more control over their content’s appearance.
Tagging sponsored content on YouTube
Lastly, YouTube has streamlined the tagging of sponsored content, allowing creators to easily tag both short and long-form videos as promoted content on both web and mobile platforms.
Google expands travel ads with real-time data
Google has updated its travel ads in search, allowing hotel advertisers to use Travel Feeds in Search Ads to showcase real-time data like prices, dates, ratings and images, helping travellers find exactly what they need, quickly.
And there’s more on the way with Google looking to expand this format to include things to do, car rentals, and events
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