Swell Content

01/10/2024

The End of an Era: Farewell to the Instagram We Knew.

Say hello to bubbles within bubbles!

The platform's early evolution turned Instagram into a realm of carefully planned content, leaving average users fatigued. The once-promised free-flowing social media transformed into a space dominated by influencers and professionals. The cadence of posting changed, and the magic faded.

Enter the rise of private posting and closed groups. Features like Close Friends and group chats provide a refuge for sharing puppy memes and gossip without the pressure of perfection. It's a sublayer of Instagram that's truer to its lunch sharing roots, hidden from the general public's scrutiny.

Users, fatigued by constant sharing and the pressure of curated content, are retreating. Even Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, acknowledges the shift to direct messages, closed communities, and group chats.

The changing landscape isn't limited to Instagram; it's a broader shift in the social media ecosystem. New apps attempting to recapture the essence of early Instagram face challenges. Threads, Instagram's latest venture, aims to fill the void, but with a 79% drop in daily active users, the question arises: Are these new platforms solving anything new?

In an age tired of curated perceptions and the constant consumption of content, users are seeking refuge in closed spaces. Discord, Geneva, Telegram, WhatsApp and similar apps offer niche communities and direct sharing, providing a more authentic experience. Users are no longer interested in being perceived but in forming genuine connections.

As the pendulum swings back to smaller, more intimate communities, social media's promise of bringing us closer seems to have led to an openness many now find unappealing. The Instagram era is over, making way for a new era of "authentic" online sharing, sans the pressure of the mass audience. Where this shift will take us remains uncertain, but one thing's clear—the landscape of social media is evolving, and the days of the perfectly curated feed are numbered. Time to update your planning accordingly...yes you...again.

The era of social media, as we knew it, is dying.

How are you updating your content strategies to pierce those bubbles?

Let us know & feel free to reach out Swell Content

01/02/2024

Top Ten signs you're not ready to go back to work after the holidays:

10: Your LinkedIn endorsements now include "Master of Procrastination" and "Expert in the Art of Extended Holiday Bliss."

9: You're convinced that your daily commute to the kitchen for snacks is more productive than commuting to the office.

8: Your desk plants have thrived during the holidays, but your motivation is on life support.

7: Your LinkedIn headline proudly reads, "Chief Procrastination Officer" with a PhD in Holiday Prolongation.

6: You've mastered the art of blending productivity with holiday leftovers – your desk is now a festive smorgasbord.

5: You're seriously considering applying for a job as the official spokesperson for "Extended Festivity Advocacy."

4: You've started a petition to officially recognize "Post-Holiday Hibernation" as a valid work mode.

3: You've memorized every holiday movie on streaming platforms, but can't remember your Slack password.

2: Your keyboard has a dust layer so thick that archaeologists are considering an excavation.

1: Your New Year's resolution involves mastering the fine art of blending into virtual meetings without contributing a single word.

Happy first day back of 2024 from Swell Content.
Follow for more in 2024

#2024

10/31/2023

Meta's Market Move: Is there an Ad-Free Subscription market for Facebook and Instagram in Europe?

In a pivot, Meta, is allowing users to opt for an ad-free experience, starting next month. Like everything else streaming, it's going to cost you. (Yay! Another subscription!)

With European regulations tightening the screws on data privacy, Meta's responding with a subscription model. Starting at €9.99/month on the web ($10.58) and €12.99/month on mobile ($13.75), it's a sign that tech giants are shifting gears. It's basically privacy meets profit.

Meta's DNA has always been free social networking supported by ad revenue. But to comply with data privacy rules, they're offering users a way out. It's not just Meta; Amazon, Apple, Google, and TikTok are all starting to dance around to a similar tune.

From November, users in select countries can choose between free, ad-supported Facebook and Instagram or opt for an ad-free experience. Additionally, come March 1, 2024, extra accounts will incur additional charges.

As marketers and content strategists, what ripples do you see this shift having in the advertising pond? Is there a market anywhere for subscription services for long free apps?

Starting in November, subscriptions will cost between 9.99 euros and 12.99 euros per month, the company said.

10/30/2023

Bold move on AI as White House reveals 10 AI mandates to shape the industry.

President Biden's executive order introduced 10 groundbreaking steps to address concerns in the industry. Worth a thought if you're in advertising, media, tech, brandside. Here's what you need to know:

1. Major AI players like OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft are now required to share safety test results with the government before launching new models. 🧪

2. Red-team testing will adhere to high standards set by the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

3. New safety standards are on the horizon for AI models used in science and biology projects.

4. AI-generated content will now have to be watermarked, making it easier to spot deepfakes. 🤔

5. The 🔒'AI Cyber Challenge'🔒 is pushing forward, enhancing cybersecurity in AI tools.

6. Congress is urged to pass bipartisan data privacy legislation to protect Americans' privacy. (Good luck)

7. Companies' data policies will be thoroughly assessed to ensure responsible data utilization.

8. Efforts will be made to reduce discrimination amplified by AI, including bias in housing and the criminal justice system.

9. The U.S. government is attracting global AI talent through fellowships and job opportunities.

10. Workers vulnerable to AI developments will receive support against job displacement and discrimination.

Is this wallpaper or paving the way for a safer and more responsible AI future? What are your thoughts on these their potential impact on advertising, media, tech, and brand strategies? Always love to hear your insights and opinions.

President Joe Biden is signing a sweeping executive order to guide the development of artificial intelligence. Monday's order will require industry to develop safety and security standards, introduce new consumer protections and give federal agencies an extensive to-do list to oversee the rapidly pr...

03/06/2023

Market dictates your reach 📈:

• If the content is bad
• If the marketing is poor
• If the message is unclear

The market will silence it. 🤫

03/02/2023

How often do you look back at your work after going to market? 🤔

Go through your content and give it a fair assessment.

Ask:
• How was the hook?
• How good is the story?
• How quickly do I add value?
• What would I walk away learning?

Review and implement your learnings.

02/14/2023

🚨 🥅 Make this a goal 🥅 🚨 :

Build a reputation for having great processes and systems. Not just a single use case.

It’s the process not the product.

02/10/2023

📈The goal isn't just to get a lot of followers.

👉🏽 The goal is to become someone worth following.

👏🏼 Chase mastery, 👏🏽not status.

02/09/2023

😳 INSANE new AI with lots of upscaling models for your image. 🏞

This single AI will help you get super resolution...

02/08/2023

👀 90% of advertisers are doing 'UGC-style' wrong. 😑

Look at the ad libraries of the most successful brands on paid social.

Most of their ads are NOT single-creator concepts, they're compilations.

Always get the raw files and invest in systems so that you can turn 1 ad into 10.

02/07/2023

A great video strategy can't save a bad ex*****on.

If the content isn't relevant to the platform it will not meet its objectives.

To create videos that match up with your goals and the platform where you'll be posting them DO THIS:

1. Know your audience.

2. Choose your platform wisely.

3. Don't go overboard with production value or technology if it doesn't make sense for your goals and budget (and remember, there's nothing wrong with keeping it simple).

02/07/2023

The best content marketing tactic is pure honesty.
Agree or Disagree?