The Latest Social Media News You Can Use 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 look at the rise of the employee social media ambassador, the latest data around when is the best time to post your brand’s content, and X is making another platform change regarding how engagements are viewed.
Before you dig in, don’t miss my blog update about the latest legislation that is forcing TikTok to be sold or banned in the United States.
The Rise of the Employee Social Media Ambassador
In April, TikTok creator and Chick-fil-A employee Miriam Webb, who built a following of tens of thousands of people by reviewing Chick-fil-A menu items, said in a post on the platform that she had been notified by the company that her videos violated a rule in its employee handbook. She would no longer be posting them—much to the disappointment of her comments section.
Less than a week later, Webb released the first of two paid videos with Shake Shack, in which she reviewed the chain's new chicken sandwich. This is just one example of successful brand partnerships, with Miriam also working with other brands, including El Pollo Loco, Dunkin Donuts, and Claire's, further demonstrating the potential of such partnerships.
Brands like Southwest Airlines, Sherwin Paint, and Chick-fil-A are grappling with a fascinating challenge. They are striving to utilize the power of employee advocacy on social media effectively. The struggle lies in maintaining the authenticity that these employee social ambassadors can convey, as they represent real human beings who can humanize a brand, much like influencer marketing.
Best Times to Post to Social Platforms in 2024
There is no single best time to post on social media for every brand and business. Each brand's audience is unique, with different behaviors and interests, so there is no one-size-fits-all, prescriptive approach that will guarantee the best results every time you post. However, this also means that there are always opportunities to adapt and improve your social media strategy.
According to Sprout's data, the best times to post on Facebook are weekdays between 9 a.m. and midday, with Sundays being the worst. According to Sprout Social, weekdays between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. are the best for Instagram, with less engagement on Fridays and weekends.
While there's no universal 'best time to post' on social media, guides can serve a valuable purpose. They can highlight broader trends in engagement and prompt you to consider when you might want to start experimenting to find your ideal posting cadence.
On LinkedIn, company pages receive the most engagement on Tuesdays and Wednesdays between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. Pinterest is also included, with the best time to pin is Tuesday through Friday at 1 a.m. TikTok posting works best in the afternoon, between 2 and 6 p.m. on weekdays. Finally, on X, weekdays between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. are ideal.
X Is Hiding Post Likes for All Users
A new update from X has removed the ability to browse a user's profile and see which posts they've liked. X has decided to remove Likes from the platform for all users in order to mitigate the potential negative consequences of your interest.
It will not only give users more freedom to like whatever they want without fear of someone looking up their Likes later, but X hopes that with this increased freedom, users will Like more posts, allowing it to use that data to improve its algorithms.
That’s all for this week! 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.
