Q2 is kicking off! 🏈

Looks like the rumors weren’t rumors after all.

As reported by Social Media Today, some TikTok users are receiving notifications that their image uploads will soon appear in “TikTok Notes.”

According to the notification, Notes is a “new app for photo posts” that’s “coming soon.” In short, TikTok is releasing its own version of the OG Instagram.

Weird move, right? Short-form videos have been the bread and butter of brands and creators for years now. That said, Instagram did see a resurgence of photo content last year while TikTok has been pushing creators to make longer videos.

Could this be a tipping point in the ongoing “feature war” between TikTok and IG?

Given that TikTok enabled photo uploads back in 2022, probably not. Some critics speculate TikTok is simply experimenting in case their ban becomes a reality.

Still, this does highlight the ongoing shift in how we consume content and engage with social media. As always, brands should keep their ear to the ground and be ready to experiment with any form of visual content that features creators.

Check out the full story here!

Photo Credit: Social Media Today

TikToker @carlapasceri earned 1.6 million views, 196,000 likes, and 111,000 saves by showing off the results of her life-changing new nail routine.

The video kicks off with Carla calling out “that girl” on TikTok who taught her about a $20 nail routine that would supposedly never require you to go to a salon again.

Just as it seems like she’s about to de-influence the products used, she shows off her nails and lets the results do the talking before breaking her silence:

“This looks like I’ve had a Russian manicure,” she says in disbelief. “This has no business looking like this.”

What we love: 

• The video features a legit micro-influencer. Carla had just 3,000+ followers at the time of posting this video. High reach and engagement can happen on TikTok regardless of follower count.
• This video highlights how product recs rule on TikTok. The staggering 100,000+ saves on this video highlight how brands use platforms like TikTok as a place to bookmark products to buy in the future.
• The creator seamlessly sells the product (without really “selling” it).  The creator’s stunned sense of humor doesn’t make this feel in-your-face at all. Meanwhile, the results of the products speak for themselves.

Check out the full video here!

Photo Credit: @carlapasceri

Social news moves fast! Here are a few headlines to keep you in the loop: 

• 📹 Instagram is testing a new short-form video feature called “Blend“
• 🥊 TikTok has launched a new ad campaign to fight the app’s “ban”
• 🛍️ Meta is making some major upgrades to its shopping ad targeting
• 🤑 Report: A quarter of YouTube’s paid creators earn cash via YT Shorts
• 📱Head of Instagram Adam Mosseri confirms that follower count matters less than engagement on Instagram
• 🔎 TikTok is actively incentivizing creators to rank in social search

Fact: 64% of Gen Z turn to TikTok over Google to discover new products.

And social apps continue to snag traffic away from both Google and Amazon.

That’s why we’re begging brands not to ignore social search in 2024. Outranking your competitors and targeting keywords are key to staying on shoppers’ radars.

We’re hosting a deep dive into all things social SEO for B2C brands!

In this live webinar, you’ll learn:

⌨️ How to find the right social media keywords for your brand

👀 Proven content types to boost your visibility above competitors

🔍 Examples of how brands are ranking in social search right now

😍 And more!

Register today and secure your spot! 👇

Check out these resources from Statusphere that you might have missed: 

• • Social Media Keyword Research: How to Build Your Brand’s Keyword List

  • 7 Top-Tier TikTok Spark Ad Examples Featuring Influencers

  • Influencer Ads: How Brands Boost Social Ad Performance with Creators

  • Social SEO Examples: 3 Ways Brands Rank in Social Search

  • Advertising on TikTok: Are TikTok Ads Worth It? Pros & Cons

We’ll be back next month with more tips to enhance your digital marketing strategy!