Article

Trevor Evans
Trevor Evans 3 April 2018

Brands and social media platforms are reassessing their relationship

What does that mean for content? As social media networks de-prioritise content from brands, and brand themselves re-evaluate their relationships with the big social players, what does the future look like when it comes to content?

It was described as a digital ‘nuclear bomb’. Although marketing loves hyperbole, Adweek wasn’t wrong in finding Facebook’s algorithm change, announced at the beginning of this year, as cataclysmic. Designed as a response to criticism that the social network had become more promotional than personal, the social media giant said they would be altering their ranking settings to “show less public content, including videos and other posts from publishers or businesses”.

Facebook’s new goal, it stated, was ‘meaningful interaction’. It wants to prioritise posts with back-and-forth discussion, from friends seeking recommendations to news articles or videos which prompt a slew of comments. In doing so, it hopes to distance itself from accusations that its site is in thrall to corporations and does more harm than good.

So, where does this leave brands and their content? It’s clear that now more than ever, engagement is everything. Garnering interaction on posts is not just a way to drive sales to your business – it determines whether your business is even seen. And when it comes to creating engaging content, there’s only one winner: live video.

Time and again, the stats show that it is live video which is creating those meaningful interactions. According to social media analytics company Socialbakers, live video gets 200% more engagement than pre-recorded content. In an age where social media interactions now determine whether a brand stays viable, live streaming is something which companies can’t afford to ignore.

And it’s not just Facebook who is making changes which favour live content. Last month YouTube Live announced a range of new features including chat replay, where followers can see live chat conversations occurring as in real time, even when streaming has ended. That Youtube is making it easier to have a similar streaming experience even after the event suggests that live video will soon become the future of all filmed content.

Live video’s ability to solicit an active audience is of increasing value at at time when brands are feeling the social media kickback. Through doubled engagement rates it generates those ‘meaningful interactions’ which networks now seek to prioritise and allows companies to straddle the line between the public and the personal. Facebook’s new algorithms may have changed the game but there’s one way to keep playing.

Please login or register to add a comment.

Contribute Now!

Loving our articles? Do you have an insightful post that you want to shout about? Well, you've come to the right place! We are always looking for fresh Doughnuts to be a part of our community.

Popular Articles

See all
The Challenges of Customer Lifetime Value (CLV)

The Challenges of Customer Lifetime Value (CLV)

We all agree Customer Lifetime Value is important, but there’s not much agreement after that. This blog is about the challenges of Customer Lifetime Value (CLV). CLV is a fantastic concept but defining that value and...

Peter Rivett-Jones
Peter Rivett-Jones 24 May 2023
Read more
Exploring the Rapid Growth of Mobile App Development

Exploring the Rapid Growth of Mobile App Development

Smartphones have included mobile applications for more than ten years. The fastest-growing area of the mobile industry is the mobile app market. Only a few app developers were aware of the potential market opportunity...

Prashant Pujara
Prashant Pujara 24 May 2023
Read more
How These PIM Features can Create the Next Growth Opportunity

How These PIM Features can Create the Next Growth Opportunity

The increasing need for effective product information management solutions has become critical for businesses that sell products online. With the growing number of sales channels and the rising complexity of product...

Sudhanshu Singh
Sudhanshu Singh 31 May 2023
Read more
The Ins & Outs of Product Marketing

The Ins & Outs of Product Marketing

Product marketing is what drives products onto the market and keeps them there. Developing effective product marketing is the secret to your organization's development, expansion, and long-term success. It is a...

Pawanpreet Gill
Pawanpreet Gill 26 May 2023
Read more
Getting Your House in Order: Why Accurate Clean Local Data is the Backbone of Global Marketing

Getting Your House in Order: Why Accurate Clean Local Data is the Backbone of Global Marketing

Despite weathering the pandemic and initially seeing the green shoots of recovery, the worsening global economic situation will likely see many CMOs once again fighting hard for every penny of spend. Three-quarters of...

Marianne McKenzie Yallop
Marianne McKenzie Yallop 25 May 2023
Read more