Social Media

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  • Instagram’s new payment model is here 

    Date: February 9, 2022

    Category: Social Media

    Facebook-owned Instagram has announced a move that could allow creators to monetize their profiles by introducing a new monthly subscription button. 

    Until now creators have had to rely on displaying ads and sponsored content on their accounts, but with competition from social media sites such as TikTok, the platform has been trying to develop new features to stay relevant and entice new users.

    What exactly are users being paid for?

    The subscription feature will allow users to subscribe to creators’ accounts on Instagram for a monthly fee that could range from $0.99 to $9.99 a month. According to The Verge, users will have the option to subscribe on a monthly basis. At the moment this feature is limited to macro influencers in the US who can create a private version of their profile that’s only accessible to paying followers.

    What are Instagram subscriptions?

    There will be normal, free content that every follower can see and these profiles will also contain content that can be accessed for a small monthly payment. It’s a similar model to other platforms like Twitch or YouTube.

    As it’s the same subscription model as Facebook, it can be assumed that the format will be similar. This means that it may be limited to creators with more than 10,000 followers or more than 250 returning viewers on their streams. Similar to Facebook, it could also require more than 50,000 interactions with posts and 180,000 minutes of viewing.

    The three different subscriptions 

    Instagram offers three different options for accessing this exclusive content. One is Subscriber Lives, live videos to which subscribers have exclusive access. These differ from other live content because they are highlighted by a purple circle, as Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri confirms.

    Subscriber Stories, on the other hand, are stories that are only for users who have subscribed to these channels and who can interact with creators through the use of “stickers”.

    Finally, Subscriber Badges allow content creators to tag their subscribers with a purple icon when they comment on their posts in the feed.

    Generating revenue from posts would complement other existing content creation services, such as Instagram Collabs, a co-authoring format that allows you to share feed content and reels with another user in a single post.

    Instagram isn’t the only platform looking to try out new paid subscriptions. Twitter announced last year that it was working on a content creator feature called ‘Supper Fellow’ that will allow subscribers to receive exclusive content. Other social platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, or Pinterest are also joining this trend towards monetized content.

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  • Key factor to meet Black Friday 2021

    Date: November 18, 2021

    Category: Social Media

    This 2021 has been a different year where the need for social distancing, the impending economic crisis and the existence of a more conscious consumer make brands rethink their strategies for this Black Friday, one of the most consolidated and relevant events in terms of sales for companies.

    The 10 keys to Black Friday 2021

    Local proximity

    Until the advent of the pandemic, most of the BF conversion revolved around deep markdowns and discounts. However, with all that has happened, there has been a change in the consumer, who is more inclined to small businesses, the neighborhood, in short, local consumption. These smaller businesses cannot afford big sales, but they can participate in the BF with a small extra gift or free shipping of their product.

    Proof of this is Amazon, which in 2020 was the brand with the most mentions on BF, because it is a place where consumers can purchase products from different brands, many of them from small brands.

    Responsible consumption 

    The trend is towards sustainable and conscious consumption. As a result, brands are encouraging their consumers to follow this conscious consumption and, instead of offering massive markdowns, are focusing on appreciating their most loyal customers. 

    The more discerning consumer group is more willing to invest in brands that strive for positive change, revolve around social causes and support small businesses, indicating a shift towards sustainable shopping.

    Growth in gaming

    Undoubtedly, the sector that is experiencing the greatest growth, and that at BF will be one of the most demanded, is gaming. Consumers have the opportunity to enhance their gaming experience with the most expensive devices (headsets, new consoles…).

    Given this consumer trend, brands have the opportunity to gamify this Black Friday around these products. Engagement through call to actions is key for brands’ target audiences.

    In addition to gaming, technology in general, beauty, fashion and entertainment dominate the Black Friday social conversation. Already in the 2020 campaign, 63% of mentions corresponded to these four industries: technology (26%), beauty (15%), entertainment (14%) and fashion (9%).

    The power of technology

    The pandemic has accelerated digitalization in such a way that new technologies have been implemented that improve people’s relationships, habits and lifestyles.

    For example, augmented reality is enhancing the reality of online shopping especially in fashion and home décor. High volume and growing participation of voice-enabled solutions with Alexa and Google Home will be experienced.

    In addition, AI (Artificial Intelligence) is helping stores learn about their shoppers, and personalize their online shopping experience, where big data plays an important role in creating personalized experiences for those customers.

    Anti-BF campaigns

    Covid-19 has changed the order of consumer preferences. Brands are aware of the continuous change and have taken advantage of the great communication milestone of Black Friday to join important movements that, in some way, go against the traditional BF. An example of this is the Blue Friday campaign where the Sea Shepherd brand encouraged consumers to buy sustainable holiday gifts.

    On the other hand, the general trend of consumers to consume less in the BF has generated a response from brands to advance their offers and keep them for longer, thus creating more opportunities for more conscious customers to avoid compulsive consumption.

    Video, the star format

    Videos in which influencers describe their favorite products resonate with a better audience and come across more naturally to users. The positive comments posted by users show the authenticity of the video and how influencers are received with more trust than brands. Part of the positive impact of video is triggered by the popularity of Tik Tok. Carousel formats also work well to get the message across quickly.

    Call to actions

    Calls to action along with BF promotion are well perceived by users. The best-received posts are those asking users to choose their favorite products or to comment or click on them. Also to click on the link in the bio to join a “close friends” list or a loyalty program to get exclusive offers.

    Memes

    Memes also attract a large majority of positive comments on BF posts. They are mostly used by small companies with a creative approach that keeps them active in these days of so much competition, although big beauty brands are also assiduous with them.

    Contests and gifts 

    Contests and giveaways are a must that works perfectly in this campaign. To get these gifts, brands ask users to tag their acquaintances, to like and follow the brand to win. It is a simple way to gain followers, engagement, to please and to make users aware of your products. In addition, for the influencers who are the voice of the sweepstakes, it is an opportunity to gain trust with their loyal followers, who are rewarded for their loyalty. 

    Influencers, the visible face of campaigns

    When e-commerce meets social networking, it is known as social shopping. This involves aspects of social media, such as groups, communities, recommendations and discussions, as well as the core function of e-commerce: selling products and services online. To help with all this, influencers are the best bet to achieve this.

    There has been a shift from “like” buttons to “buy” buttons, and platforms are making it easier for users to purchase through the platform. Influencers can speak intimately to their audiences, driving choices and sales directly to e-commerce.

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  • Instagram Live Shopping Events

    Date: November 11, 2021

    Category: Social Media

    How does this new technology impact sales? Find out the five keys that brands should deploy for Black Friday and Xmas campaigns.

    It is a reality that social media is a storefront that companies can use to benefit and enhance their advertising campaigns. Instagram is perfectly aware of it and this is why they have improved its tool “Live shopping” now allowing direct sales of products through the app. How can brands be influenced by this improvement? 

    These are the top five benefits of including Instagram Live Shopping in your marketing strategy:

    Great boost for direct product sales

    Thanks to the inclusion of this type of technology to Instagram, there can be a heavy increase in direct product sales for this Christmas. Users will no longer have to remember which product their favorite influencer mentioned in the last live. With this new feature, users can buy the product instantly, without leaving the livestream.

    Exclusive products for exclusive users

    Instagram aims to get closer to its users and offer fun and differential live shopping tools. Therefore, it has launched a series of live shopping that, together with brands, will incorporate exclusive products and recommendations from influencers that will help maximize interest. Instagram lives are special because they have an immediacy that the rest of contents don’t have. Being able to buy exclusive products encourages the user to keep watching this type of content even more.

    Proven technology

    As a first approach, Instagram has created a series of additions that will take place during the months of November and December, which are the most important months in terms of sales. The content of its additions ranges from gift ideas to influencer collections. Due to the fact that this new addition is being tested, brands must be agile when implementing it to their strategies, since after December no one knows what may happen.

    Assured visibility

    It’s hard to make an estimation around the extra sales that Instagram Live Shopping will generate, because this will depend a lot on the brand and its strategy. However, it seems that Instagram is going to really support this channel and will encourage users to use it. In fact, during this first launch, Instagram will support brands to help maximize their sales by offering the users a 20% discount on their first purchase in the app, they will also offer free shipping on certain products.

    Ad hoc content

    With all of this, brands are going to be able to create specific content for this new functionality and add it into their marketing strategy, amplifying the message through the different streams of communication with the users.  In addition, it will help improve the engagement and sale of products.

     

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  • Tokyo 2020: the power of social media and the Olympics

    Date: August 13, 2021

    Categories: Data & Metrics, Social Media

    The Olympic Games Tokyo 2020

    A brief study on the Olympic Games

    The closing ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games took place on 8 August, an edition that has undoubtedly been marked by the current circumstances, but also by the weight of great moments and a large and active conversation on social networks.

    Thanks to social listening, we can measure those topics that have generated more negative or positive sentiment, those that have generated more interactions and mentions and how the audience has generally perceived the Olympic Games and its highlights.

    In this small general study, we have chosen to focus on the social network most focused on conversation, Twitter, to understand the real impact of many of the highlights of these Olympic Games. However, we have included general data from other networks in order to provide an overall picture.

    A unique kind of Games

    It is clear to everyone that the Games were a bit different. The pandemic has forced them to be held in 2021 instead of 2020, they have had no public, which entails losses for Japan, and yet they have been a games with a great presence in networks.

    Tokyo 2020 was also the first edition to feature competitions such as karate, rock climbing and skateboarding, ushering in an era in which the host country can define some of the competitions and dispense with others.

    Representation Matters

    Visibility in the face of discrimination, LGTBIQ+, the importance of mental health, etc. was undoubtedly one of the strongest points of these games, generating a very high level of conversation but also of great quality, thanks to the debates provided.

    The importance of talking about and raising awareness of these issues is incredibly well represented by the spike in conversation about mental health following the temporary withdrawal from the games of US favourite Simone Biles.

    The conversation about mental health generated a number of mentions, both negative and positive, which had an impact on the media, who echoed how pressure affects the mental health not only of elite athletes, but also of professionals and especially, considering the current social and economic situation, and how it affects young people.

    It is therefore remarkable that the term “mental health” is undoubtedly one of the most used terms at international level in relation to the Tokyo 2020 games. Moreover, in the graph below it is clear that 90% of the most used expressions are related to mental health and young women, especially young women of colour.

    Top most used keywords during the Olympic Games – connected to trends

    However, as mentioned above, mental health has not been the only key focus of these games. LGBT+ visibility was another of the most talked about, and celebrated, themes of the Tokyo games.

    When it comes to the LGBTIQ+ community in the world of Olympic sports, one of the most prominent voices is undoubtedly Tom Daley, the British trampoline jumper who has always been outspoken about his sexuality and vocal about discrimination against the group.

    His powerful statement “I am a gay man and also an Olympic champion ” has resonated strongly for all that it represents.

    Tom Daley after winning the gold medal

    In this sense, there have also been negative voices, especially when talking about trans athletes. However, many others showed their support for the trans community in general and the more knowledgeable ones reminded the masses that one of the medical measurements taken at the games is testosterone level test.

    In addition, there has been non-binary representation at these games, something that has also been criticised negatively by those who criticised transgender participation. However, what really stands out is the naturalness and positive visibility that this represents for millions of people.

    Non-binary representation at the Olympics by Quinn, a member of the Canadian team.

    The youngest Olympic Games

    Tokyo 2020 has also been marked by the number of competitors under the age of 18. Particularly noteworthy is the recently added skateboarding competition, where the podiums have been occupied by some of the youngest athletes in history.

    Rayssa Leal, Momiji Nishiya, Sky Brown, … There are many names of young athletes who have left their mark by their resilience, their sportsmanship, their professionalism and their camaraderie towards the representatives of other countries.

    Rayssa Leal cuando se hizo viral y ahora, como competidora olímpica (en translation)

    Olympians, the new influencers

    At the Olympic Games, contemporary fans are not only cheering on their country’s athletes, but also their influencers and social media stars. US Paralympic athlete Hunter Woodhall has 2.6 million followers on TikTok, US volleyball player April Ross is on the Cameo platform, and Tom Daley has documented his trip to Tokyo, where he just won a gold medal, for his 900,000 YouTube subscribers.

    Many athletes have gained international fans thanks to being discovered globally during the games, gaining thousands of followers overnight.

    Karate, skateboarding, sport climbing and surfing – all sports that resonate with a younger demographic – certainly helped drive traffic to TikTok. The women’s street skating podium winners were aged 13, 13 and 16, and the silver medallist, Brazil’s Rayssa Leal, has 3.4 million followers on TikTok, half of her 6.5 million followers on Instagram. 

    Filipina skateboarder Margielyn Didal posted a photo alongside Tony Hawk, widely regarded as the greatest skateboarder of all time, in which she added to Hawk’s running joke that people often failed to identify him in public places. When his post was interpreted by many as Didal not being able to recognise Hawk, Tony himself had to explain that it was all a joke.

    Erik Shoji, an American volleyball player, gained attention with food reviews on TikTok and tours from the athletes’ village, along with behind-the-scenes looks at the athlete’s experience. She didn’t take social media seriously until she opened a YouTube channel last year while battling COVID. 

    Australian canoeist Jessica Fox, on the other hand, rather than becoming famous for winning gold in canoe slalom or bronze in kayak slalom, rose to fame by posting a video on TikTok of someone using a condom to repair the nose of her boat. 

    Even the official Olympics profile has skyrocketed with more than three billion views of videos related to his #OlympicSpirit challenge. What’s more, the official TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Weibo accounts generated 3.7 billion interactions, reaching a combined total of 75 million followers.

    Millennials, GenZ, visibility and good vibes

    Another of the highlights is undoubtedly the good atmosphere, something that many have pointed out, the general good relationship between athletes, the gestures of solidarity, and the celebrations as friends of other people’s triumphs.

    The decision to share the gold medal between Qatar and Italy in the men’s high jump, the American swimmers celebrating the gold medal and world record of South African Schoenmaker as their own. There are many displays of sportsmanship and genuine camaraderie to be found at these games.

    Celebrating Schoenmaker’s world record

    Popular culture and the favourite shows of many have also made their way into the competitions. It is certainly a point that shows that the new generations are not afraid to show their passions and give a fun touch to the competition.

    Fans of “Avatar: the last airbender” were undoubtedly the most commented on, with the show having a very striking representation in both windsurfing and synchronised swimming, thanks to the representatives from both the Netherlands and the Mexican team.

    Kiran Badloe decided to decorate his hair with the characteristic blue arrow of the airbenders, the wind masters from the animated series Avatar, showing that the wind was on his side in the competition. Indeed it was, considering he won the gold medal in the RS:X category.

    Kiran Badloe showing his airbender style on Instagram

    Mexico’s synchronised swimming duo were not far behind, with swimmers Nuria Diosdado and Natalia Jimenez representing the four nations from the series in their costumes and routine, generating a huge buzz online.

    Another popular moment was the Sailor Moon-inspired rhythmic gymnastics routine and costume of the Uzbekistan team.

    The funniest trends

    Not all the moments at the Olympics are what can be described as wholesome, there have been new and returning memes, such as the face of the trampoline jumpers, which is now a classic.

    Within this, two points in particular have undoubtedly stood out, one that would explain the rise in followers of some of the athletes and another that shows why it is necessary to have empathy when talking about competition.

    Of the first, we can highlight how different countries have found the appeal of some of their competitors, awakening their interest in other locations, neighbouring or distant, which will surely end up defining their future trips, as soon as they can become real.

    One example is that of Spanish karateka Damian Quintero, who after his participation in the Olympics has reached 149,000 followers, filling his posts with comments in different languages. The athlete has aroused passions especially in Japan, gaining thousands of fans from that country.

    A new japanese fan showin her enthusiasm about spanish athlete Damian Quintero

    On the other side is Novak Djokovic. The Serb was asked about the pressure when competing, something that many related to Simone Biles’ temporary absence from the games, and he responded that pressure is positive and that you have to learn to manage it… only to have an outburst of anger days later during the match in which he was playing for the bronze medal.

    These unfortunate comments, in which he was referring to himself and not to the American, unleashed a barrage of memes on social networks.

    One example of Djokovic memes

    But this was not the only popular meme, Australian coach Dean Boxall’s celebration also went viral, as well as many other moments, here are some of them:

    Dean Boxall celebrating australian triumph

     

    Other of the most popular topics and memes

     

    Another of the most popular memes, to say the only thing in which someone can identify with an Olympic athlete. In this case, myopia.

    Data-driven research on the history of the Olympic Games

    Do you want to know more about data research and trends through the study of data? Our colleagues at SHARE Creative, one of the agencies part of the Samy ecosystem, have created an interesting article based on data extracted from the history of the Olympic Games, where you can see a bit more about how we work with this kind of information.

    You can take a look at it here. You can find out which countries have the most medals, in which sports a country clearly dominates, where the medallists with the most medals come from and much more, as an example of our data expertise.

    Want to learn more about our work?

    If you want to know more about how our innovation team works and why we are professionals in data and social listening you can contact us here.

     

    Fuentes: Social Listening realizado a través de Synthesio, Market Insider, USA Today, Twitter, GimmeSport, The Star

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  • Spark Ads on TikTok: what are they and how do they work

    Date: August 9, 2021

    Category: Social Media

    Spark Ads on TikTok

    TikTok is trying new things. As news broke in the media that the platform was testing a Snapchat-like concept for stories, the platform unveiled Spark Ads.

    The global launch of this new form of advertising will allow brands to grow through real connections with the user community, elevating and sharing relevant native content.

    What is Spark Ads?

    According to TikTok for Business, this new type of ads is: “a new native-like ad display format. Brands will be able to promote their own organic videos and/or amplify creators’ content in an immersive, full-screen, auto-playing native video format.” 

    These videos will be able to be placed as In-Feed or TopView ads in the “For You” feed, among user-generated content. 

    With its launch, the platform aims to create a unique solution for brands to consolidate their presence in a natural and unobtrusive way. Spark Ads is based on the idea of starting conversations and aims to increase interactions between brands, creators and the community.

    How does it work?

    They are a native advertising format that allows you to run ads using your own TikTok account or a content creator’s account with their permission.

    Within the TikTok Ads Manager, Spark Ads only allow the following targets and products: 

    • Auction Ads: Reach, video views, engagement (Beta), traffic, conversion and app install targets.
    • Booking Ads: Reach and Frequency (Beta)

    If we talk about how Spark Ads look, we are talking about organic videos belonging to an existing TikTok account (commercial, creator or normal user). 

    In terms of specifications, there are no creative restrictions whatsoever in terms of video appearance, resolution, file type, etcetera. Basically, as long as the video is already published, it can be a Spark Ad.

    What can you do with Spark Ads?

    This ads allow brands to amplify existing organic videos that match their campaign objectives. Brands can now leverage creative content and connect with creators to help them bring their products and services to life. 

    In this sense, brands looking to build a strong content strategy can amplify original creative videos through Spark Ads.

    In addition, they can also increase community engagement with Duo-enabled features, making it easier to create more creative stories.

    Spark Ads enables brands to create more lasting and authentic connections in the community, while delivering sustainable and impactful business value. 

    With them, brands can track trending content and support other great campaigns. To acquire first-party data, TikTok uses pixels, though users must opt-in on iOS.

    What are the benefits of this kind of ads?

    There are several points highlighted by the platform that show the value of Spark Ads.

    It is a sort of hybrid format between ads and organic content that helps brands to be perceived as native and authentic TikTok brands thanks to its 100% native in-feed format and to the fact that it provides a better experience, generating greater trust through real accounts, with all the benefits that this entails.

    Not only that, but TikTok points out that Spark Ads can generate lasting marketing impact. These ads drive traffic to a profile rather than a landing page, generating long-lasting connections and being a starting point for creating communities and building culture within the platform.

    According to data provided by TikTok, with Spark Ads (if we are talking about the auction mode), we see a notable increase in performance in:

    • Video viewability metrics: 58% increase in 2-second VTR, 66% increase in 6-second VTR and 30% increase in video play rate compared to nother kind of ads. 
    • Engagement metrics (Beta): 170% increase in % of paid comments, 100% increase in % of engagement and 222% increase in % of likes compared to non-Spark ads. 
    • Conversion metrics: 42% increase in immediate CVR compared to non-Spark ads. 
    • Cost metrics: 35% decrease in 2-second CPV, 39% decrease in 6-second CPV compared to non-Spark ads. 

    Want to learn more about how to create an engaging, natural and organic strategy for your brand?

    SamyRoad is part of Samy Alliance, where we are experts in digital marketing, offering 360 solutions that are tailored to our clients’ needs.

    If you need help or want more information, don’t hesitate to contact us.

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  • The Podcast: Why consider it and how to use it in marketing

    Date: August 4, 2021

    Category: Social Media

    Podcast and Marketing

    The podcast is here to stay. Increasingly embraced by well-known figures and professional media, this type of content is making the leap to anonymous individuals and also to large brands and agencies seeking to generate engagement in a non-invasive and qualitative way.

    Who said that radio was an endangered medium? Like others, the audio-only format has evolved, transforming and adapting to new user needs. According to a study conducted by the specialised platform Discovery Pods, 82.4% of podcast fans listen more than seven hours a week and 59% say they spend more time listening to podcasts than on social networks.

    A podcast can accompany the user on a journey, while commuting or travelling to the other side of the world, while working or doing some kind of chores, or simply in their free time. And this is also useful for brands, especially because it is sought-after content that is consumed with a very high degree of interest, something that is in short supply in the age of the attention economy and dual screens.

    Whether creating a podcast as branded content or simply advertising on one, companies can benefit from this rising trend. What’s more, 55.6% of respondents say they have purchased a product after hearing about it on a podcast. 

    This type of content can be found on multiple platforms, notably Spotify and Audible (Amazon), with paid, freemium or free formats. All of them offer content of all types and topics, creating the possibility of reaching more general or specific targets.

    According to Statista data, in 2019, the top 5 podcasts with the highest revenue were, at an international level: The Joe Rogan Experience, hosted by Joe Rogan himself, comedian and former athlete, My Favorite Murder, belonging to the popular True Crime theme, The Dave Ramsey Show, a Morning Daily Show, Armchair Expert, hosted by actor Dax Shepard, a talk show with a touch of comedy, and The Bill Simmons Podcast, with content focused on basketball.

    Coffee break and podcast

    Why is it important to consider the podcast when creating a digital marketing strategy?

    Podcasts are considered, according to a Comscore study, to be the least intrusive form of digital advertising. They also have the ability to forge a greater sense of intimacy between the presenter and the listener, and this intimacy creates a feeling of trust.

    Approximately 80% of listeners have reacted to hearing announcements introduced by a podcast host, whether it be researching a product or service, connecting with a brand on social media, discussing it with a friend or making a purchase.

    Listeners are also more receptive when listening to podcasts because this type of content captures attention in a way that other media cannot. 

    As noted above, many consumers play podcasts in the background while multitasking, but still absorb the information. “60% of our audience says they tune in to podcasts for education,” Spotify reports, “and two out of three podcast listeners give them their full attention.

    Different ways to advertise on a podcast:

    • Pre-Roll: this is the announcement that appears at the beginning of a show. It is usually announced by the presenter or another voice, and it makes it known that the episode or podcast is sponsored by a specific brand.
    • Mid-Roll: once the first half of the podcast has finished, approximately, there is an intermission in which the presenters introduce announcements, take a break or simply take a moment to thank the sponsors for their collaboration with the podcast.
    • Post-Roll: at the end of the episode, or at the end of each episode if it is always the same sponsor, during the farewell they take the opportunity to thank the sponsor for their support.

    This is not the only way to create announcements or sponsorships within a podcast, there are several different styles of announcements including the following:

    • Announcements narrated by the host of the podcast: when it is the hosts and/or regular contributors to the podcast themselves who carry out the announcement, a sense of credibility and trust is generated.

    These types of announcements are close to the “shout-out” or endorsement of a brand by a public figure. They can be scripted or completely improvised by the presenter and always follow the dynamics of the podcast in a natural way.

    • Hybrid or produced commercials: this type of commercials are introduced as a wedge within the show, and are often given a lead in advance. They tend to attract attention because they are accompanied by music or sound effects and are usually narrated by a voice other than that of the presenter/presenters.
    • Branded Podcasts: nowadays, the best way to generate content on various platforms is through sponsored content. The fact that a brand itself, without being invasive, generates interesting content or that content is generated with the excuse of being sponsored is successful, as it does not force an advert on the audience and it is interesting content regardless of whether it is sponsored or not.

    This type of sponsorship goes beyond a simple thank you from the presenters. The brand can be the creator, with the contributors belonging to the brand or simply by embedding the content within their other networks or domains, clearly showing, thanks also to the style, that they are the owners of the content.

    We can help you

    Today there are many types of native advertising, branded content and digital marketing elements adapted to different social platforms, reaching audiences in a less intrusive, more organic and honest way.

    At Samy we are experts in 360 solutions for your brand. If you have any questions or curiosity about how we can help you, don’t hesitate to contact us.

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  • Gaming and marketing: a growing loving relationship

    Date: July 8, 2021

    Categories: Influencer Marketing, Social Media

    Gaming: Fortnite Switch

    Video games are everywhere. In the APP of your favourite clothing shop, which allows you to try on clothes with AR, in schools, in companies and in satisfaction surveys.

    Gaming is growing exponentially every year and occupies a large part of today’s popular culture on social networks. The gamer community also reaches a hard-to-reach target audience, young men belonging to generation Z and millennials.

    Today, gamification is extrapolated to virtually every aspect of life and now, those aspects of life are turning gaming into another form of marketing.

    Gaming & Fashion

    Major luxury clothing brands have jumped into the arms of entertainment technology to present their collections and exclusive collaborations in games with a strong presence on different platforms.

    Gucci presented its collection in the Sims4, Animal Crossing triumphed and Tommy Hilfiger decided to present an exclusive winter collection by creating its own island for people to visit, Balenciaga created its Fortnite skin and Burberry, taking advantage of the popularity of the Chinese game Honor Of Kings, carried out a virtual catwalk with the game’s characters as protagonists.

    Moreover, eSports are replacing classic sports in terms of popularity, with professional teams having partnerships with brands such as Armani, Adidas, Fila, etc.

    The new influencers:  streamers and gamers

    If we continue to focus on the fashion industry we find Willyrex’s collaborations in Spain with the Springfield brand, launching his own clothing collection. On an international level, the collection of Ninja, the most popular American streamer on an international level, with Adidas stands out without a doubt.

    In addition, professional LoL player Rekkles, a member of the G2 team, one of the most popular gamers today, has been chosen by Polo Ralph Lauren as one of the faces to advertise its Wimbledon line.

    The home of Ibai, the Spanish streamer with one of the most remarkable careers today, collaborates with so many brands that it’s almost impossible to keep up. Endesa, Dominos, Colacao, Grefusa, are just some of the big companies that have decided to support the group of streamers.

    Fortnite everywhere you look around

    The Fortnite phenomenon is related to absolutely all kinds of brands and collaborations.

    One of the most outstanding actions carried out during 2020 have been the concerts of international stars such as Marshmello, JBalvin or Travis Scott, which broke records, achieving 27 million viewers.

    In addition, another of Fortnite’s advantages are the exclusive skins, which allow users to customise their character. Many brands, especially those in the entertainment industry, have found an advantage in this, creating their own popular skins for users.

    Football teams, Marvel, Star Wars, DC Comics, TheGrefg, Ninja, Mashmello, are just some of the brands (and characters) that have their own skin or collection of skins within Fortnite, highlighting the popularity of the video game internationally and the importance of positioning themselves in front of it.

    Experts in digital marketing

    At Samy we are experts in digital marketing and we can help your brand to position itself in different ways within the gaming industry. From our agency Share, we have launched a whitepaper on the growing importance of the industry.

    In addition, SamyRoad, as experts in influencer marketing, can help you find the perfect campaign with industry-focused profiles.

    If you want to know more or are curious to see what we can do for you, don’t hesitate to contact us.

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  • In-Stream Ads by topic, the new Facebook feature

    Date: June 20, 2021

    Category: Social Media

    Image credit: Will Francis

    If you’re talking to everyone, you’re talking to no one

    This is the premise of generic ads or content videos that do not have a clear target audience. Now this is going to change.

    Facebook continues to improve its technical features to help retailers and content creators maximise both their impact and their ability to optimise the audience they are targeting with their ads.

    Although still in beta, the platform has launched a new way to filter the type of video ads to be shown by topics, allowing for even more customisation of the user and potential consumer experience.

    Where can I add them?

    These ads can appear before, during or after the video, or even be static images that accompany it. The minimum time an ad can be shown in a video with automation enabled is 30 seconds, if it is a static image, and 45 seconds if it is a video.

    In order for a content creator to be eligible to add this type of ad, they must have a series of minimum requirements: 10,000 followers or more, 600,000 total minutes with views in the last 60 days, with at least 60,000 minutes of their live videos viewed and a minimum of 5 active videos on their page.

    With ad automation and the algorithm, the platform is trying to get closer to optimising the ads it displays. In this case, Facebook’s ad auction system detects the best time to show an ad to the user.

    In order to choose the best type of ad to show on the videos you need to have some things in consideration:

    • Before the video: These ads, showed before the video, are targeted for users actively searching for an specific content. More views equal more payments for the creator of the content where the ads are showed.
    • During the video: This kind of ad is perfect for videos with natural breaks. Most of the videos are discovered in the news feed of the platform, we recommend creators to schedule their content to show ads during the video.
    • Image ads: these ads are static images displayed below the content. They are perfect for videos where it’s difficult to insert publicity.
    • After the video: This kind of ad can be shown to viewers who did not see ads before the video or image advertising.

    What else is new?

    This is not the only new feature the platform is introducing for advertisers, as it is also currently testing sticker ads that creators and advertisers will be able to add to their stories.  This type of advertising will allow creators to monetise their Facebook stories, receiving part of the profits generated by these stickers.

    In addition, Instagram, a platform owned by Facebook, is testing Reel ads. These ads can be a maximum of 30 seconds and will allow users to comment on them, like, view, save, share or skip them.

    There are undoubtedly many new features coming to the different social networks that will help brands and creators to maximise their advantages and optimise their content.

    Want to know more?

    In SamyRoad we are experts in social networks, if you want to know how we can help you do not hesitate to contact us.

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  • Most popular content on Instagram for your brand

    Date: May 26, 2021

    Categories: Influencer Marketing, Social Media

    Popular content for brands to post on Instagram

     

    Instagram is the king of social networks. There is still no doubt about this statement, as it is currently chosen by more than 1.2 billion users, the one that generates the most engagement and the one preferred by influencers, brands and users.

    On Instagram, 90% of users follow a brand, and shoppable posts can increase brand traffic by more than 2,600%. But, what content is most popular when it comes to brands?

    User Generated Content

    User Generated Content on Instagram

    UGC is very popular on social networks and Instagram is no exception. Brands can and should take advantage of content generated by users and customers. It’s real, honest content and shows the real consumer reception of your product.

    Behind-the-scenes Shots

    Behind-the-scenes shots is a popular content on Instagram

    People are curious by nature, a behind-the-scenes is always a good way to show how work is done and to show things never seen before by the user. Behind-the-scenes videos always generate great impact and interest no matter what you are talking about.

    Teaser Product

    Teaser your products

    Without a doubt, teaser content is a classic. Creating buzz by generating teaser posts to present a product is always a good idea. It increases engagement, people will want and try to find out what it is, especially if the teaser content is well done.

    Real-time Trends

    Keep it up with trends! Generating content following real-time trends is a must in social media. It is essential to have a good social listening strategy to know what is happening and always keep in mind the challenges and types of content that are popular at any given moment.

    Carousel Posts To improve your Information Sharing

    Data, tips or lists of information and curiosities are becoming more and more popular. People like to be informed in a quick way and this kind of information pills generate interest and curiosity. It is a very popular style of branded content.

    Memes are Taking Over

    Memes are popular content on Instagram

    Don’t be afraid of corporate memes! Although Twitter is the main social network for this humorous content, many are already taking up the format on Instagram. Branded content memes are becoming increasingly popular, but it is important to know how to use them correctly.

    Branded AR Filters

    Instagram filters never go out of fashion. They are easy to create and people like them, especially if they are absurd. A brand can create filters to promote items, that are just for fun or that serve to generate a challenge.The options are varied, you just have to be bold.

    Do you need help with your Instagram strategy?

    In SamyRoad we are experts in social media and influencer marketing, if you are curious to know more or want to know how we can help you, do not hesitate to contact us.

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