Social Media and Influencer News You Need To Know In May
Welcome to this week’s news you can use, where we’ll cover the latest social media and influencer marketing news that you need to be aware of. Today, we’ll look at a TikTok user who brings his branding takes to the platform. Instagram is preparing a new feature similar to BeReal, and Sprout Social releases their latest influencer marketing findings now so that they can leverage Tagger insights.
Before you dig in, don’t miss my blog update about the latest legislation that is forcing TikTok to be sold or be banned in the United States.
How A Branding Expert Uses TikTok to Share His Professional Takes
Ashwinn Krishnaswamy, a TikTok user with a truly innovative approach, is bringing his branding takes to life on TikTok. His videos, a departure from the usual Twitter threads or LinkedIn thought leadership posts, offer a breath of fresh air. With his diverse background in design, product, and branding, Ashwinn adopts a unique 'teardown' approach to critique brands and provide builds.
For instance, he meticulously analyzed Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy’s watch brand Brick and then unveiled his vision for a rebrand. In another video, he even reimagined ad copy for Allbirds running shoes, with a "strong" suggestion (looking at Terry and Stefan): "All nerds wear Allbirds." Even for something considered more niche to the average consumer (e.g., branding), it's clear that entertaining and relevant content continues to be prioritized even if the topic isn't broad.
Instagram Working on a “Peek” Feature to Encourage User Interaction
Instagram is trying to revive the BeReal trend. According to researcher Alessandro Paluzzi, Instagram is developing a new Peek feature. This feature allows users to share a quick, unfiltered snapshot of themselves or their lives with friends. The recipient would then be able to view the image once before it was permanently deleted. The Peek feature is a response to the growing demand for more authentic and real-time content, a trend that is also shaping the influencer marketing landscape.
The Peek feature is similar to the BeReal trend in that it encourages users to share simple, real-time images that capture their daily life without the performance pressure of a regular Instagram feed. Like BeReal, the Peek feature is a response to the growing dissatisfaction with the curated, edited, artificial portraits that many people post online, depicting an idealized version of themselves. This dissatisfaction reflects a renewed desire for more 'realness' and authenticity in communications, a trend that is also influencing the evolution of influencer marketing.
BeReal is struggling to maintain its usage due to insufficient demand for its services. Such an option may make more sense in a larger platform like Instagram, where private group chats are increasingly used instead of public posts.
Sprout Social’s Influencer Marketing Trends Across Industries
As consumers grow more discerning, they are turning to influencers they trust for recommendations, bypassing traditional advertising channels. This shift underscores the importance of authenticity in introducing a brand to an unaware audience. It's a reassuring trend, indicating that consumers are seeking genuine connections with brands.
This article from Sprout Social delves into some recent influencer marketing trends relevant to advertisers and brands. Our goal is to help our clients recognize the growing importance of influencer marketing as part of their overall marketing approach, as it reflects their audience's values and enhances their brand's credibility.
If you’re looking for more of the latest and greatest in social media, ee sure to check out more of my writing. Such as, my favorite social media tools, like GoCharlie.ai. And you can also get the keys to gaining success with influencer marketing and more deep dives on other social media or influencer marketing topics.
