A common piece of advice I give to companies in our industry is often something they don’t always want to hear. Even if you don’t plan on using a specific social media platform, you should still secure your company’s username on it so no one else can. Now, there is a bit of follow-up to this advice: if your company has a Twitter (now “X”) account you’ve snapped up but are not using, begin posting there now. Read on to learn why.In the wake of...

A version of this blog post ran in June 2021. This has been updated with new information.FGIA has several tutorials for members, detailing processes for things like how to join an FGIA committee or task group, how to access and use the FGVL or how to access meeting and conference call information. We have also started doing some short, instructional videos about how to best make use of our social media channels, including our relatively new Facebook page and our other social media accounts -...

A common question I get about social media is a complicated one: how can my company use it to make money? There is no one-size-fits-all answer, but there are common themes to what those social media companies want from you in order to give you a cut of their revenue. They want you to have a lot of followers and subscribers, and they want you to have lots of eyes on your content. Here is a brief guide to what YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter...

This blog is often about ways to use social media to your company’s advantage, such as how to best showcase your products and services for various platforms. However, this month’s post is going to offer a certain degree of caution about doing so in some cases. Social media has changed a lot in recent years, and perhaps no more than it did in 2022. Let’s look back on why we started using social media for our businesses, what’s happened since and what to expect moving...

Has your company been creating content on Instagram Stories? They are easier than ever to put together, complete with music, links to products and other creative additions to easy-to-shoot smartphone video. I took a look at what some FGIA members have recently put out on Instagram Stories to share what interesting, engaging content is already out there – and how your company can take inspiration from these social media superheroes. Let’s take a look.SolatubeThis Story shows a unique application of the company’s product. It’s nice...

Twitter has been in the news a lot lately, mostly thanks to Elon Musk’s recent moves toward becoming a large part of the company, if not its owner. His influence may be felt there already – like his campaign to get an “edit” button added to tweets. Twitter is also testing a couple other features like “downvotes” and “unmentioning” accounts. Read on for more Twitter news – plus a bonus Instagram tip.Editing TweetsAfter years of users asking for it, an “edit” button for Twitter might...

FGIA has several tutorials for members, detailing processes for things like how to join an FGIA committee or task group, how to access and use the FGVL or how to access meeting and conference call information. We have also started doing some short, instructional videos about how to best make use of our social media channels, including our relatively new Facebook page and our other social media accounts - Twitter, LinkedIn company page and groups and Instagram. A tutorial giving an overview of all four...

In 2021, most companies already know the value of social media for their business. Having a robust social media presence is key to furthering awareness of your brand, gaining customer leads and getting more clicks to your website. But as social media platforms change, so do their features. There are tools specific to Instagram Business accounts that you probably already have available to you, whether you know about them or not. Plus, here are some examples for how to apply them.Tool 1: Get Your Website...

It is time for a new social media news roundup, in which I share some added features or major moves being made over at our favorite online networking platforms. This fall, there are changes happening to how Facebook users can interact with Instagram content, an explanation of why Twitter revamped its Trending Topics section and a breakdown of LinkedIn’s new features, which include video calling capability and LinkedIn Stories. Let’s get into it!View Instagram Stories Directly Through Facebook: The Verge reported on this news, which...

The global spread of COVID-19 has changed the landscapes of many institutions, and social media is no exception. Businesses need to find creative ways to stay present in their customers’ minds, and social media - a contact-free tool - is going to play a huge role in working toward this goal.A July post on Social Media Today shared some predictions made by marketers about the future of social media in a post-COVID world, including theories that creative skills will be more valuable and that “honesty,...

It’s been a while since we last checked in with some updates about how social media is changing, which means it’s time once again for a social media news roundup! Here is a summary of the biggest moves being made in the social media world this spring, and how they could impact your business.InstagramInstagram is reaching out to smaller businesses to help them through the current COVID-19 crisis. Some tools it is rolling out include a “Support Small Business” sticker which can be used in...