Social Media's Moving Targets

Staying Ahead of Social Media Trends

Keeping up with social media can feel overwhelming, especially with platforms constantly rolling out new features. In this video, Isaac and Jesse discuss why staying ahead of these trends matters and how small businesses can effectively leverage new features for growth.

How Social Media Platforms Introduce Features

Social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok continuously introduce new features to keep their apps engaging. Jesse explains that platforms initially release new features to select users to test their effectiveness. Sometimes these changes are well-received, and sometimes they're quickly reversed after negative feedback—like Instagram's short-lived experiment with horizontal scrolling.

Recent Instagram Changes

One recent significant change Jesse points out is Instagram moving from square (1:1) profile photos to a slightly cropped 5:4 format. This affects users who have carefully curated their profiles around square images, potentially cropping out key visuals or text. While you can update thumbnails for videos, photos may require strategic adjustments.

Proactively Following Platform Updates

To keep ahead, Jesse recommends following Instagram's CEO, Adam Mosseri, who regularly shares updates about upcoming changes. This proactive approach ensures you're prepared when new features arrive.

Benefits of Early Adoption

Importantly, social platforms reward early adopters. Jesse highlights how early engagement with Instagram Threads or TikTok’s latest editing tools can significantly boost visibility. Facebook is also strongly prioritizing reels over traditional text posts, as video content keeps users engaged longer. Jesse emphasizes that while posting frequently is crucial, focusing on reels and engaging features—like polls in your captions—is particularly beneficial.

Strategic Advice for Small Businesses

For small business owners, Jesse advises treating new feature releases like critical business opportunities. Jumping quickly onto features like polls, reels, and trending editing tools can drive greater engagement and growth.

Isaac adds that there's a similar benefit in advertising platforms like Google Ads, where early adoption of new features is rewarded with increased visibility and better performance.

Key Takeaways

• Stay proactive by following official platform announcements.

• Quickly adopt new features for maximum engagement.

• Prioritize reels and interactive content.

• Don’t overthink perfection—quantity can drive growth when coupled with strategic use of trending features.

Explore more practical advice on growing your business at LaunchingPros.com!