For those who were around in 2013, TikTok bears some initial resemblance to Vine, the now-defunct app known for its entertaining bite-sized video content. This has led to some skepticism from marketers in terms of the long-term viability of an app like TikTok. To learn how TikTok is different  and why it seems poised for the long-term success that eluded Vine, head over to Social Media Explorer to hear from our very own Jeff Snyder.

Influencer marketing has seen massive growth within the past few years, and it’s no secret that brand deals have proven particularly lucrative for social media stars. However, deceptive practices and fraudulent behavior have led the industry to be dubbed the “Wild West” when it comes to compliance. In fact, according to the Influencer Marketing Hub’s 2019 Benchmark report, only 11% of influencers are fully compliant with FTC guidelines.

Brands started to heavily invest in influencers about five years ago. At that time, it was all about the mega-influencer, the creator like Huda Kattan or Aimee Song who had millions of followers and could launch - and sell out - a product on Instagram in a matter of minutes. But, as influencer marketing has evolved, brands have learned that bigger isn’t always better. In the years that have followed, micro- and nano-influencers have played a key role in generating buzz for brands.

Back in July, Instagram shocked users in several countries (including Australia, Canada, and Ireland) by running a test that hid like counts from other users. Since then, testing has expanded and parent company, Facebook, has considered doing the same. However, in a world where likes have served as social currency and careers have been launched on “Instagram fame,” these tests have been met with mixed emotions. In fact, a Russian influencer reportedly threatened to sue the platform if they move forward with hiding likes. Meanwhile, other users took to Twitter to express their praise, voicing that it’s a step in the right direction that will preserve the mental health of younger generations, specifically.

Last year, Instagram reached one billion active monthly users, surpassing that of parent company Facebook and once-competitor Snapchat. But. between constant algorithm alterations, experimental changes, and a surplus of daily content, it’s becoming more difficult than ever to create engaging posts for your audience on “The ‘Gram.” And, with more than 80% of businesses considering engagement to be their most important metric, this poses a major concern for brands and influencers alike.

In the fast-paced world that is the internet, keeping up with all the latest trends can be a challenge. Even those of us who fancy ourselves as trend-spotters, your author included, will recognize that there are plenty of blind spots to be uncovered on the world wide web.

Between frequent ads, an ever-changing algorithm, and an influx of new posts, getting your brand’s content seen in the Instagram feed has become more and more challenging. Enter Instagram Stories, the feature that is now being recognized as another powerful channel for reaching your audience.

It’s official: influencer marketing has hit the mainstream. According to Social Media Today, influencer marketing is already estimated to be a $1.5 billion industry, with 84% of brands reporting that they plan to increase those expenditures in 2019. What used to be a murky field of marketing has now developed quite a bit of process, and marketers have gone from wondering what influencer marketing is to wondering how to optimize their efforts.

The ways in which we create, consume, and share content are ever-changing, which means that brands must constantly adapt their approach in order to create the most meaningful connections with consumers. Here, we take a look at the rise of user-generated content and the impact that it provides for those who leverage it best.