The most important Social Media updates In 2022 you need to know
Written by Molly Ashley, Marketing Account Manager
Losing track of the frequent updates to your favourite social media platform? You’re not alone. As a Hampshire-based marketing agency, we know how important it is to stay ahead of the virtual game. That’s why we’ve collated the most important social media updates from 2022 in this handy guide!
The digital landscape is constantly changing. On social media, links can disappear, new features come into play and add-on capabilities seem to spring out of nowhere. But as social media managers, it’s our job to stay atop of the game. From pinned posts on Instagram to business forms on LinkedIn, here’s the social media updates you need to be aware of, as of June 2022.
With 2.82 billion daily users, Facebook is the largest social media platform. An invaluable tool for brands, the site is ideal for posting product launches. And with expert levels of audience targeting, it’s unrivalled in advertisement opportunities.
Read on to discover the most important social media updates delivered by Facebook in 2022!
Community Growth & Management – In March, Facebook turned their focus to groups. They gave admins the ability to send invites through email, and the power to automatically decline incoming posts containing false information. The social media giant also updated the mute feature to suspend.
Ad Feed Placements – Also in March, Facebook announced the introduction of content-based controls. With more power over the placement of their ads, advertisers can hide content from topics that don’t align with their brand.
Reels From Existing Videos – Since June, users have been able to create reels from their existing Facebook videos. Available via the creator studio, these reels can be posted immediately or scheduled for later.
Considered to be the best platform for driving brand awareness, Instagram is visited by 500 million daily users. Best for audience engagement, the app has huge potential for small business owners looking to boost their marketing efforts.
Read on to discover the most important social media updates delivered by Instagram in 2022!
Focus On Video Content – At the beginning of 2022, Adam Mosseri told users that the platform was “no longer a photo sharing app”. Given the success of TikTok, Instagram has put a greater focus on video – favouring reels over static content. As of June, videos have been replaced by reels entirely.
Reels From Stories – Since March, users have been able to convert story highlights into reels. The social media update follows the platform’s bid to focus on video content.
Pinned Posts – In May, Instagram rolled out a feature that allows users to pin posts to the top of their profile grid. Typically used to highlight announcements or showcase content, the feature was released as part of Instagram’s bid to be more creator-friendly.
Hidden Stories – Also in May, Instagram launched a test update that would hide excessive stories. Soon, the platform plans to only display three stories unless viewers tap to ‘show all’
With 206 million daily visitors, Twitter is renowned for building online communities. A preferred setting for news and discussion, the platform encourages brands to meaningfully connect with their audience.
Read on to discover the most important social media updates delivered by Twitter in 2022!
Live Audio Conversations – In January, all Twitter users were given the ability to record their spaces for listeners to tune into at a later date. Any recorded audio content will be available to playback for the next 30 days.
Edit Tweets – In April, developers announced that an edit button was in the works for Twitter. Though the function is thought to be in testing, there’s no clear date for implementation.
Product Drops – In June, Twitter introduced a new shopping feature to help marketers promote product launches. With product drops, users will receive reminders when a brand tweets about an upcoming launch.
LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network. With 30 million daily users, the B2B social media platform helps businesses scout quality sales leads, establish their public image as a brand and share expertise.
Read on to discover the most important social media updates delivered by LinkedIn in 2022!
Newsletters – In March, LinkedIn extended their articles feature to introduce newsletters for company pages. Available to access via subscription, the platform’s goal is to provide better engagement with followers and initiate “meaningful conversation”.
Product Listings – In June, a new element was added to profiles on LinkedIn. With product listings, users can add the products they’ve worked on as a sub-element to their experience.
Business Contact Forms – Also in June, LinkedIn introduced lead generation forms to business profiles. Now, members can automatically complete enquiries without needing to leave the platform.
What impact can these updates have on our online business?
Where business owners once had to rely on print advertising and word of mouth to attract leads, social media provides unmatched opportunities. With it, we can reach our target audience, engage with online communities, gather product feedback and build brand loyalty. But if we aren’t using social media correctly, it’s tricker to reap the benefits.
On Instagram, if your key message doesn’t fit into 3 stories, can you be certain that your audience will tap to ‘show all’? On LinkedIn, could you grow your community faster with newsletters? And on Facebook, is your advert strategically placed near others that align with your goals?
By shaping our strategies to reflect the updates introduced by social media giants, our business is more likely to see increased growth online.
What social media updates are expected in the latter half of 2022?
So, what social media updates can we expect to see from Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn moving forward? Here’s our predictions!
To pull back younger audiences, we expect Facebook to focus on augmented and virtual reality. Popular among millennials, the Metaverse has already seen brand’s experiment with digital experiences, products and payment methods.
On Instagram, eCommerce is expected to explode, with most posts becoming shoppable in the app. The platform’s increased focus on video is also expected to remain.
After Elon Musk purchased Twitter, the platform could be about to change entirely. Though the purchase and subsequent future of the app is undetermined, we know that Musk wants to focus on free speech and speed up the introduction of an edit feature.
Finally, amid major shifts in the job market, LinkedIn is expected to become a bigger facilitator of livestream events, and a platform focused on virtual recruitment.
As a Hampshire-based marketing agency, we can support your social media management strategy to ensure that you don’t miss any more important social media updates in 2022. From content calendars to engagement and reporting, our social media support packages will optimise your platforms to make the most of the ever-changing opportunities online. To find out more about marketing for small businesses, get in touch.
