🍊 BeReal, Enhanced Instagram DMs and Successful April Fools' Day Campaigns

Welcome to Prosek’s Digital Download: the best digital marketing newsletter in financial services

Apr 05, 2022

Hey everyone,

We’ve made it to April which means we finally have sunlight past 6pm, and you can stop defending yourself for getting an iced coffee in sub-freezing temperatures!

If you’re in the need for a new tv show to binge, I highly recommend Super Pumped. The show stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt and details the origins of Uber’s EXTREMELY toxic founder as he battles the titans of Silicon Valley, and the backlash of his own public image in the pursuit of forever transforming public transportation. It’s a must watch.

In this edition of the Digital Download, we discuss the latest Instagram features that will help you DM like a pro, the newest social media app craze that isn’t named TikTok, and we take a look at a few April Fools’ campaigns that we actually liked.

Enjoy.

- Steve Dresner

Digital Updates

Social

It Goes Down In The DMs: Instagram has rolled out a slew of new features to enhance the way you communicate. Users can now send song previews, create polls in their group chats, and directly respond to messages from their newsfeed. This update reflects Meta’s larger initiative to further integrate its suite of apps as many of these features are already available on Facebook Messenger.
Share Your Favorite YouTube Videos On Snapchat: Snapchat will now allow users to embed YouTube videos into their snaps. By selecting the “Share” button on YouTube, users will be able to upload any video to their Snapchat camera as a sticker which will show the name, thumbnail, and video creator, allowing viewers to instantly watch the video with just one tap.
Hashtags Get An Overhaul On Instagram: During a live AMA, Instagram’s Adam Mosseri announced that hashtags no longer directly affect the reach of content. On most platforms, hashtags are used to grow engagement by grouping content with the same hashtag. Going forward, the algorithm will only reward this growth hack to content that is seen as “high-quality”, which is determined by a number of factors like engagement and the amount of time spent on posts.
BeReal Takes A New Approach To Social Media: A new social media app, BeReal, has become a popular platform for younger audiences. The photo-sharing app encourages users to post ‘real’ photos of themselves randomly, throughout the day. Similar to HQ Trivia (remember that?), BeReal broadcasts random notifications throughout the day prompting users to take two pictures of themselves in their current state - whatever that may be. No filters. No ring lighting. Just their authentic selves. The authentic nature of this platform is becoming a refreshing counter to the current state of social media.

Audio

YouTube’s Increased Focus On Podcasts: A recently leaked document revealed YouTube’s plans to launch a separate homepage for podcasts. This new vertical seems to be the next logical step for YouTube, which has historically been slow in adapting to the evolving podcast space compared to some of its competitors.

Good Reads

10-minute TikToks: social media managers react: With the rollout of TikTok’s 10-minute videos, there’s been a ton of debating as to how this will shape the future of video content on the internet. Some think it won’t work due to shortened attention spans while others are convinced user’s habits will continue to adapt to the video-sharing behemoth.
Pepsi enlists silent TikTok star Khaby Lame to pour new nitro cola: Pepsi partnered with TikTok star Khabi Lame to introduce their new nitro soda. The TikTok influencer has amassed over 135 million followers through posting silent reaction videos. This partnership will feature Khabi Lame in out-of-home ads and will spotlight his famous gestures while pouring a can of the new soft drink.
Tostitos turns sounds of chips and jars into audio logo: With consumers spending more and more time on audio-only platforms, Tostitos launched a 1.5 second branded sound to remind listeners of the sounds and feelings of opening up a fresh jar of salsa and taking that first bite into a crispy tortilla chip.

Best in Class - Earth Day

Last year, Blackstone posted a video on Twitter to showcase how they’re integrating sustainability into its investment process.

IBM highlighted its goal to achieve net-zero by 2030 with a video on Twitter.

Marketing Inspiration

Klarna shared its 2021 ESG Report findings in a carousel post on LinkedIn.

iM Global Partner took to LinkedIn to share news of its new non-profit campaign, which aims to protect educational, cultural, and scientific youth initiatives.

To wrap up Women’s History Month, Lauren Mulholland shared a photo from a networking dinner for women in private equity on LinkedIn.

Successful April Fools’ Day Campaigns

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