If a Reel falls in the algorithm forest, will anybody ever see it?

Reposting Reels on Instagram can help you make sure that every Reel gets seen.

Whether you want to repost your own, or add Reels from others to your content mix, both types can explode your growth.

Here’s how to repost a Reel on Instagram to your main feed, as a new Reel, and to Stories — plus how to schedule them all in advance.

Can you repost a Reel on Instagram?

Yes… well, sort of. Reposting a Reel isn’t a built-in feature of Instagram so it’s not as simple as tapping a button. But there are several ways to do it — all covered below.

Reposting your own Reels: No extra tools required.

Reposting Reels from other Instagram accounts: You can do it for free, but you’ll need a few tools.

How to repost a Reel on Instagram: 3 ways

There are 3 main reasons to repost a Reel:

Extend the reach of your existing content.
Share Reels from your customers or influencer marketing partners.
Curating and reposting Reels means you can post more often, which the Instagram Reels algorithm loves, without needing to invest more content creation time.

Before we start: Rule #1 of reposting Reels is to always tag and properly credit the original creator. I cover how to do that with each method below.

How to repost a Reel to your Instagram feed

Step 1: Download a repost app

Currently, you can’t repost a Reel on Instagram in-app. It’s not like tapping the share button on other platforms. To share someone else’s Reel to your profile, you’ll need to use another app.

There are several free options available, including Repost (iOS or Android), Repost for Instagram (iOS only), Reposta (iOS or Android), and many more. Check recent ratings and reviews to help you decide which app to choose.

Step 2: Copy the link to the Reel

Find the Reel you want to repost and copy its link. If you’re browsing Instagram on the web, it’s as simple as copying the web address.

If you’re in the app, tap the 3 dots on the right side, then Link to copy it.

Step 3: Paste the Reel link

With the link saved in your clipboard, open up whichever reposting app you downloaded and paste it in. Many will automatically grab the link when you open the app, or you may have to manually paste it.

Source: Repost for Instagram

Step 4: Create a caption

Most reposting apps will bring in the original creator’s caption, which you can repost as is or replace with your own.

You also need to choose attribution settings. In Repost for Instagram, I can choose which corner the attribution will be in and either a black or white background.

Then tap Repost (or the equivalent button in your app), then Feed to share it to your as an Instagram post to your grid.

Source: Repost for Instagram

When reposting a Reel, ensure you:

Keep the attribution label on.
Tag the original creator in the text caption, ideally within the first line, especially if you’re also using their original caption.
Also tag them in the Reel posting settings within Instagram.

How to repost an Instagram Reel as your own Reel

This is the same process as above, except when reposting it as your own, you don’t include the attribution or credit label. Some reposting apps let you remove this, so just tap that option and complete the simple steps above.

Of course, it goes without saying that you should only share your own Reels this way, because stealing other people’s work is wrong.

The exception to that is if you want to repost someone else’s Reel and schedule it, instead of posting right away. Remember to still credit them in your caption and tag them in the Reel!

This is the method to use if you want to easily repost your Reels to maximize the lifespan and reach of your content, or if you want to post the same Reel across several brand-owned accounts.

Step 1: Download your Reel

There are a few ways to download a Reel. In Instagram, go to your Reel, tap the 3 dots on the right, and tap Save to your device.

Step 2: Or, copy the link to the Reel

If you’re doing this with a Reel that isn’t yours (remember to credit the creator!), you won’t be able to download it directly from Instagram. Instead, copy the link to it. (See the previous section for a refresher.)

Step 3: Paste the link into an Instagram Reels downloader

Be careful: There are lots of shady sites out there trying to confuse you into accidentally downloading malware. And, since these sites aren’t officially sanctioned by Instagram, well… I have to say, “Don’t do this at all.”

But you’re here to repost a Reel so hypothetically, this is how you could download it from that copied link…

A few website options are RepostApp or InstaVideoSave, or apps like Instant Save (iOS or Android) or Reels Video Downloader (Android only).

Step 3: Post or schedule the saved Reel to Instagram

Post the Reel as you would any other by uploading the saved file from your phone to Instagram. Better yet, automatically schedule it for the best time to post with Hootsuite.

Try for free for 30 days

Hootsuite personalizes your recommended publishing times for each social profile based on the previous 30 days of analytics and engagement across your accounts. It’s not just a good time to post, it’s your best time to post.

Or, choose your own time to automatically publish the Reel to your account. It’s easy to schedule Instagram Reels alongside all your other social content with Hootsuite.

How to repost an Instagram Reel to Stories

You can share Reels from anyone to your Story right inside the Instagram app.

Step 1: Tap the share icon

Tap on the paper airplane icon. Tap Add Reel to your Story.

Step 2: Create and post your Story

Create your Story content. You could just share the Reel, but it’s a good idea to at least tag the original creator. Both as an extra way of crediting their work and because Instagram will send them an in-app notification that you shared their Reel.

In return, they could share your share. (So Meta-meta.) This can really boost your account if the original creator has a lot more followers than you.

Add any other text, emojis, stickers, polls, links, etc — like any other Instagram Story — and share it, or download it to schedule for later.

Bonus: Creative ways to repost an Instagram Reel

1. Remix a Reel

This takes more time than a simple repost since you have to create content for your part of the remix, but this can turn a share into a potentially viral Reel of its own. And, it’s a lot more original.

Of course, ensure the Reel you remix fits your content strategy and brand, and that your response is biz-appropriate. (Psst: This is what the cool TikTok kids call a “stitch.”)

Alternatively, you could repost a Reel using the remix feature without adding anything new, like this dog video. Essentially, “featuring” someone else’s Reel.

Personally, I have mixed feelings about this because 1) it’s not the true intention of the remix feature, and 2) it implies you’re adding something to the conversation when you’re not. So, if you don’t plan to add on your own content, I’d advise sticking to the reposting methods described above.

2. Use a template

Templates are a huge time saver if you want to reuse an audio clip for more Reels in the future. You can easily swap out the clips for new ones without having to manually sync them to the audio or worry about staying on beat.

Templates are perfect for making the most of popular sounds, or for always-popular trends like text-pointing Reels.

If you made a Reel from a template, you can easily make a new one by going to that Reel on your profile and tapping Use template.

3. Pin a Reel to your profile

This isn’t an actual repost, but pinning a Reel keeps it at the top of your grid.

Most people will likely see it in their feeds, but for those who visit your profile, this can greatly extend the reach of your best content.

Go to the Reel you want to pin, tap the 3 dots, then Manage, and choose Pin to your Reels.

Need more guidance on Reels? Check out the definitive guide to making rockin’ Instagram Reels for your business in 2023.

Post, repost, schedule, and auto-publish your Instagram Reels — along with all your other social media content — with Hootsuite. Plus, easily manage comments and DMs, and view detailed analytics. Try it free today.

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The post How to Repost a Reel on Instagram (to Feed, Stories, and Reels) appeared first on Social Media Marketing & Management Dashboard.

Originally posted on January 5, 2023 @ 9:41 am

Gone are the days of calling a customer service hotline or writing emails to inquire about a new product. The modern method of communication between a customer and a brand? Through Instagram DM.

Nearly 50% of people say that digital channels will be their primary way of contacting brands in the future. And considering 90% of people follow at least one business on Instagram, it’s safe to say that even more people will rely on Instagram DM for customer support in the years to come.

Direct messaging on Instagram is a personal way to interact with customers, influencers, brand partners, and everyone in between. When it’s used well, Instagram’s messaging feature can help your brand build a strong relationship with your audience by making sure people feel heard and supported.

Here are some tips on sending and responding to messages to help you get the most out of your Instagram DMs.

What does DM mean on Instagram?

Instagram DMs are direct messages between one Instagram user and another user or a group of users. Users can share all types of content through DMs, including:

Photos
Video
Audio
Stickers
GIFs

These messages are private and don’t show up in your brand’s feed, profile, or in search. And they won’t for your followers, either. Only you and those you are communicating with can see the direct messages.

For brands and creators, sending direct messages can be a good way to build personal relationships with followers, reach out to potential partners, or provide support to customers with questions or feedback.

How to send Instagram DMs

How to send DMs using the Instagram app

Sending and receiving DMs from the Instagram mobile app is easy. Follow these steps to start engaging with followers and customers alike:

1. First, open the Instagram app on your phone.

2. Click on the paper airplane or messenger icon in the top right corner of your feed. The messages icon that appears here depends on whether or not you’ve updated your Instagram account to connect with Facebook’s Messenger.

If you haven’t connected your Instagram account with Facebook messenger, you’ll see the paper airplane…

…but if you have connected your accounts, you’ll see the messenger icon.

3. In your Direct Messages tab, you’ll find all of your conversations. Unread direct messages will show up first in the list.

4. Tap on an unread message and write a response in the Message bar.

If you want to send content through a DM, you can also do this directly in the app.

5. Any time you see the paper airplane icon, click on it to send that content to another user in a private message. You can use direct messages to send posts, Reels, or Stories to another user or brand. The content that you forward to another account will appear in their Direct Messages tab.

How to send Instagram DMs from your computer (Mac or PC)

Anyone with an Instagram profile can create or reply to Instagram DMs from the browser version of the app using a desktop or laptop computer. This method makes it easier for your brand to respond to an influx or high volume of DMs.

Whether you’re replying to an Instagram message on a PC or creating a DM to send on a Mac, the process is the same. Here’s how to open a DM on Instagram (web version):

1. Head to instagram.com using whichever web browser you prefer, and log into your brand’s Instagram account. Note: You don’t need to use a specific browser to access Instagram DMs.

2. Once you’re logged into your account, click on Messages in the panel on the left. Just like in the app, the icon you see here — either a paper plane or the Messenger symbol — will depend on whether you’ve updated your account with Facebook Messenger.

If your Instagram account is connected to Facebook Messenger, you’ll see the familiar messenger icon…

…and if you haven’t connected your accounts, you’ll see the paper airplane.

3. In the Direct Messages tab, you’ll see your brand’s messages and interactions here. Unread DMs will appear first in the list.

4. You’ll also see the option to create a new DM. Click on the blue Send Message button to begin a new interaction.

But that’s just one way to message on Instagram on desktop. You can also use a social media management platform like Hootsuite to streamline your social customer care.

How to send Instagram DMs using Hootsuite

If you manage more than one Instagram account or your brand receives DMs on several social media platforms, a social media management tool like Hootsuite can save you a lot of time and hassle.

With Hootsuite, you can answer messages and comments from all of your Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn accounts in one social inbox. No more clicking through countless browser tabs to check for new DMs or accidentally forgetting to respond to eager customers.

If you want to know how to check messages on Instagram (and reply faster) using Hootsuite, follow these simple steps:

1. In your Hootsuite dashboard, navigate to the Inbox. Here, you can see interactions from your connected Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn accounts. Hootsuite Inbox is compatible with Instagram Business accounts.

The Inbox collects 4 types of Instagram messages:

Direct messages
Replies to your Instagram Stories
Quick reactions to your Stories
Mentions of your account in other users’ Stories

2. If you’re part of a team managing social media DMs, you can easily assign messages to other team members (who will be notified by email) and sort your inbox by assignment, social network, message type, and date.

9 best practices for sending and responding to Instagram DMs

Engaging with your customers and responding to DMs is just one way to use Instagram for business.

Before you start interacting over Insta DMs, here are some essential tips to keep in mind.

Set up notifications for Instagram DMs

Being responsive is key to engaging and maintaining strong relationships with your followers.

But you can’t be responsive if you’re not aware of the messages coming your way in the first place.

Checking your DMs regularly is a good place to start, but make sure you see all the new, incoming Instagram DMs that your brand receives by setting up notifications.

On both desktop and mobile, navigate to Settings. Choose Notifications (or Push Notifications if you’re on desktop).

Then under Messages (if you’re working on desktop) or Messages and Calls (if you’re working on mobile), ensure the From Primary and General option is selected.

This will ensure your brand is notified of all its new incoming DMs.

If your brand typically receives a lot of messages, we recommend using a tool (like Hootsuite) that helps streamline and manage your DMs.

Check your Instagram message requests

To ensure there aren’t any customer messages that slip through the cracks, you’ll also want to check your message requests, too.

Requests are direct messages from accounts you don’t follow. As a brand, this means most of the customer messages you receive will land in the Requests tab if you haven’t interacted with them before.

Under Messages and Calls, make sure Message Requests is turned on to start receiving all DM requests.

Use Instagram Saved Replies

Chances are, your brand will get many similar questions and comments over DM. Instead of typing out the same reply to each follower every time, save time and ensure consistency by making the most of the Instagram Saved Replies feature.

To use this feature, you’ll need to set up an Instagram Business Profile or Creator Account.

These professional accounts will also provide more options for organizing and managing your Instagram DMs, like the three-tab inbox, which organizes your inbox into three tabs: All, Primary, and General.

Find Saved Replies as an option under Settings.

From there, go to Business and you’ll see the option for Saved Reply.

Under Saved replies, you can see all of the responses you’ve created shortcuts for.

To create a Saved Reply:

Click on the + button in the top right-hand corner.
Type out a reply to a commonly asked question.
Choose a one-word keyboard shortcut for that message.

When replying to an Instagram DM, type the keyword shortcut into your message and the full response you’ve saved for that shortcut will autofill.

Psst: If you use Hootsuite, you can create and save message replies using Inbox.

Acknowledge when a new message has been received

If your brand receives a high volume of direct messages, it isn’t always realistic to send a carefully thought-out response the moment you receive it.

But at the very least, it’s a good idea to let the customer know you got their message. That way, even if your team isn’t able to respond immediately, your customer isn’t met with silence.

Here are a few responses you can use to acknowledge a new message:

Thank the customer for getting in touch
Let them know their message has been received
Set an expectation for how long it will take the team to get back to them
Share your appreciation for their support

This helps foster a relationship between the user and your brand. It also improves customer service, setting expectations for when that customer can expect a conversation with your brand.

Follow up promptly

Don’t leave your customers waiting! If you’ve already let them know you’ve read their message, follow through with a prompt response (even better if it’s sooner than the expected timeframe you initially shared).

The faster your brand can reply, the better — especially if the message is negative. In fact, 42% of customers who complain to a company over social media expect a response within 60 minutes.

Waiting too long to reply to a customer can result in them losing interest — or, worst, trust — in your brand. Always follow up with questions or inquiries in a timely manner to ensure customers feel supported and heard.

Write in your brand voice

Whatever your brand’s voice is, use that tone in your Instagram DMs.

Your followers associate your brand’s voice with everything you do and post on the platform, including your messages and replies. If your tone is usually upbeat and friendly in your captions or comments, then an abrupt or unhelpful direct message would be jarring and likely deter a customer from continuing the conversation.

When crafting your message replies, remember to:

Be authentic and personable. Show your customer they’re interacting with a real person who cares about their experience with your brand.
Don’t use jargon. Avoid using these words and phrases.
Make sure communication is easy to understand. Irony, sarcasm, and jokes might be misinterpreted by the reader or cause offense, especially if that tone isn’t the norm for your brand. Leave no room for misinterpretation.

Keep your writing short and sweet

If someone is reaching out to your brand directly, they want an answer quickly. So avoid the chit-chat. Get right to it.

Address your customers’ DM right away, whether through a quick reply or an acknowledgment. Write in a way that is easy to read. Use short sentences.

And don’t fear short paragraphs.

Doing all this makes it easier for customers to find the answer to their queries.

If you need more guidance on how to respond to DMs in a prompt yet helpful way, use one of our Instagram DM templates to get started.

Review before you send

With every DM, make sure your message reflects your brand in a professional way before you tap Send.

Check for typos, spelling mistakes, and grammar errors. Read over your DM for flow — even better if you can read it out loud to make sure it sounds natural.

And if your company manages multiple brands and has multiple Instagram accounts, make sure you’re working with the right account.

There’s nothing more anxiety-inducing than sending a response on behalf of the wrong brand — worse if you accidentally reply from your personal Instagram account. Not only will it leave your customer feeling confused, but you’ll have to quickly toggle to the right account to rectify the situation.

Save yourself unnecessary stress by always double (or triple!) checking that you’re replying from the right account.

Don’t forget to sign off

Finally, bring closure to the conversation by tying up any loose ends or sending a thoughtful note.

A few ways to sign off your Instagram DM conversation include:

Asking the customer if there’s anything else they need help with.
Thanking them for their business or loyalty to your company.
Wishing them a great day.
Sharing your appreciation for their feedback.

Closing off is not only a personable way to communicate but also ensures your customer doesn’t feel snubbed before the conversation is over and has clear next steps to follow (if any).

Frequently asked questions about Instagram DMs

Are DMs private on Instagram?

Yes, Instagram direct messages are private and don’t show up in your brand’s feed, profile, or in search. They won’t show up publicly for your followers, either. Only you and those you are communicating with directly can see the DMs.

Can you screenshot Instagram DMs?

Yes, you can screenshot Instagram DMs. Neither party will know if a DM has been screenshot unless the message was sent using vanish mode.

Can people see if you screenshot Instagram DMs?

No, people can’t see if you screenshot their DM on Instagram in most cases. The exception is if a message is sent using vanish mode. Vanish mode allows people to send messages that disappear once someone leaves the chat. If you screenshot a message, photo, or video that was sent in vanish mode, the sender will be notified.

Can you delete Instagram DMs?

Yes, you can delete Instagram DMs using both the desktop and mobile versions of the app. If you delete a DM, this will only delete the conversation for you. The direct message thread will still be visible for the others included in the conversation unless they also delete it.

What is a DM group?

An Instagram DM group is a group chat. Instagram allows up to 250 people to be part of a group chat.

Can you video chat on Instagram?

Yes, you can make video calls with up to 8 people at a time using Instagram DMs. Click into an existing conversation or start a new one, then click video chat in the top right. According to the platform, “anyone you’ve accepted a message from, except for verified accounts, can video chat with you.” If you want to prevent someone from video calling you on Instagram, you can always block them.

Start building your Instagram presence using Hootsuite. Schedule and publish posts directly to Instagram, engage your audience, measure performance, and run all your other social media profiles — all from one simple dashboard. Try it free today.

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The post How To Get More Out of Instagram DMs: The Ultimate Guide appeared first on Social Media Marketing & Management Dashboard.

Originally posted on January 4, 2023 @ 4:41 pm

So you’re planning an Instagram giveaway—how generous!

Here’s a step-by-step guide to throwing a successful Instagram giveaway, complete with tips for laying down the rules, promoting your giveaway and picking a winner — plus 11 examples from brands that are doing it right.

Let’s get started, you selfless, noble giver, you.

What is an Instagram giveaway?

An Instagram giveaway (or an Instagram contest) is a type of promotion involving a brand or creator gifting a product or service to an Instagram user. Users can enter the contest based on criteria defined by the giveaway organizer.

Here are some common reasons why brands throw giveaways on Instagram:

To get new followers. Contests tend to bring in new viewers to your page.
To engage their audience. Giveaways give your audience a chance to interact with your brand and your content—they bring in algorithm-friendly engagement in the form of likes and comments.
To collect user-generated content. Contests can be a great opportunity to allow your audience to generate (free and creative) content for your page.
To give back to their audience. Who would we be without our followers? Hosting an Instagram giveaway helps build your relationship with your audience and give them something in return for their support.

How to do an Instagram giveaway: 6 steps

1. Plan your contest goals

Start by deciding what the goal of your contest is. More followers? Increased sales numbers for a specific product or service?

Whatever it may be, figure out early on what you want to gain. That will make tracking the success of the contest far easier.

2. Set (and share) the rules

Clear rules are essential. When posting about the giveaway on Instagram, it may be best to include the deadlines and promotion guidelines in the caption. This will make them easy to find for your followers.

When sharing the contest on your website, a dedicated landing page, or other social media platforms, include any important rules upfront. If this isn’t possible, direct users to the giveaway post’s caption or wherever else the rules may be outlined.

If your contest is only open to certain geographic areas, be sure to include that information clearly.

3. Pick a prize

This part should be fun! Decide what it is your followers will be competing for. It could be a product or assortment of products, a gift card, a service, or something else.

It’s wise to make sure the prize is related to your brand. General prizes like cash or Amazon gift cards will lure in random followers looking for a chance to win a quick buck. Offering products and prizes related to what your page revolves around is more effective—it ensures that anyone who enters and follows you for the contest is engaged with what it is you do.

4. Publish your contest (at the right time)

And we’re live! Publish your contest using Hootsuite’s Best Time to Publish feature to ensure that your giveaway is being seen by the maximum number of followers.

Try for free

You can also use Hootsuite to see how well the giveaway is performing in analytics, and respond to questions in your DMs or comments using Hootsuite’s inbox

5. Promote your contest

Promote your Instagram giveaway as widely as possible. You’ll want to share it on your Instagram Stories as well as any other social media platform your brand uses. Post about the giveaway multiple times (“One week left to enter,” “Last chance to enter,” etc.) to make sure that no one misses it.

6. Track entries with a social media management tool

If you’re running a contest, you’ll probably want to see some concrete numbers proving how it helps your page’s traffic.

Hootsuite is the perfect resource to help run and track contests. Contest posts can be scheduled with the Planner. Comments can be tracked and answered in the Inbox, and mentions/hashtag usage can be tracked via Streams.

Learn more about how Hootsuite can help you with Instagram contests (and, well, all of your other social media efforts):

Instagram giveaway template

We’ve put together a free social media contest template that covers entry methods, terms of the giveaway, prize rules and disclosures about how winners will be selected. If you’re stuck on how to properly word your giveaway rules, start here.

3 recommended Instagram giveaway pickers

Need a random comment picker to decide your Instagram contest winner? Try these.

1. Saver Front

Saverfront’s picker tool is specifically for Instagram comments. It’s free, and you don’t have to log in or give any personal information to use it. You can choose how many winners you want and adjust criteria like mentions and hashtags.

2. Wask.co

Wask’s tool is also for IG comments. It’s free to use once, and after that asks for a login (but offers a free plan).

3. IG Comment Picker

If you have less than 150 comments to choose from, this is a good tool to use (it’s free for 150 comments). You also don’t have to log in or sign up to use it.

11 Instagram contest examples

If you’re searching for inspiration for your next Instagram giveaway, hashtags are your best friend: try searching #contest, #giveaway, #instagramcontest, #iggiveaway, #contestalert, and other similar variations to find millions of examples of contests — or scroll down the list of inspiring examples below.

The following 11 giveaways demonstrate different contest strategies, entry methods, prize ideas and creative ways to promote your giveaway.

1. Like, comment, and/or share to enter

This is the simplest form of IG giveaway. Your audience enters by interacting with the post (through liking, commenting or sharing—and post importantly, following). This makes entering super easy; it’s low-effort, high-reward.

This Instagram contest includes sharing to a story as a form of entry…

… and this one involves saving the post…

…while this one asks users to comment (and tag friends in the comments section, more on that later) to enter.

Steal this strategy

Keep your marketing goals in mind when deciding your entry methods. Do you want to gain followers, get likes or comments, up your “share” stats, etc.?
Try to keep entering as simple as possible—confusing entry methods are a recipe for low engagement. Make entering your contest a lazy person’s dream.
Think about long-term growth when choosing entry methods. For example, “like to enter” only gets you likes on a single post, but “follow to enter” has the potential to earn you permanent supporters.

2. Tag a friend to enter

Asking users to tag their friends in the comments—and counting each of those comments as an entry—is basically an evil genius move. It means that the entrant’s friends will get notified when they’re tagged, encouraging them to also enter the contest.

If one user tags three friends, those three friends tag three more friends, and so on, pretty soon you’ll have taken over the world. Of course, not everyone will do this… we’re pretty certain that friendships have ended over serial tagging. Even so, it’s a very effective strategy for growth.

Tagging a friend is less of an evil genius move when it actually has something to do with your brand, or the giveaway itself. For example, if you’re giving away a spa package for two, you might ask folks to tag the person they’d bring with them if they won.

This contest for shirts that are dyed with blueberries (cool) asks users to “tag someone who is berry special” in the comments. They’re giving away two shirts, likely one to the contest winner and one to the tagged friend.

Steal this strategy

Make tagging a friend in the comments a method of entry to increase your giveaway’s reach.
Think about how tagging a friend can provide value to the user, as well—for example, you can give away two prizes (so the tagged friend also gets a prize). Otherwise, you risk your contest simply annoying all the tagged friends.

3. Give away a new product

A new product launch is a great reason to host a contest—it helps create hype around the product and share news of the launch with your audience.

Plus, a fresh product automatically has more perceived value, even if the actual monetary value of the prize isn’t super high (for example, this giveaway of ready-to-eat boxed waffles).

Steal this strategy

Consider incorporating contests into your marketing strategy when launching new products.
Emphasize the “newness” of the product when promoting this contest—if possible, consider timing the contest so the winner is the first person to experience the product.

4. Partner with another brand

Collaborating with another brand or influencer automatically expands the reach of your giveaway because the contest has the potential to reach both your followers and your collaborator’s followers.

You can partner with a brand on both the contest promotion and the prize—for example, in the contest below, a reusable takeout container brand collaborated with a vegan food producer, and the prize includes products or services from both brands.

Or, a contest collaboration can just include a prize from one of the brands, while the other collaborator simply promotes the contest—as is the case with this wedding registry company x KitchenAid collab.

Either way, the most important factor in any collaboration is that your collaborator’s brand values align with your own. Reusable containers and vegan food producers both have the goal of sustainability, while the wedding registry company and KitchenAid have crossovers in their industries.

Steal this strategy

Partner with another brand to tap into a new audience for your giveaway.
Make sure that the brand’s values align with your own (in addition to this being a good practice in general, it also makes their followers more likely to love your content).
If it makes sense, make the prize include something from both brands.

5. Celebrate a holiday or special occasion

You don’t really need an excuse to have a contest—people love free stuff at any time of year—but if you can celebrate a holiday or occasion with a contest, do it.

This can be a personal occasion (for example, your brand’s anniversary or reaching 2000 followers) or a publicly-recognized one (Valentine’s Day, Christmas, Mother’s Day).

This contest hosted by a grocer celebrates International Women’s Day by giving away a product from a female-owned company.

Steal this strategy

Centre your giveaway around an upcoming holiday or special date to give your contest a sense of timeliness and occasion.
If you can, make the contest prize something that relates to the occasion (for example, give away a zero-waste product for Earth Day or a candy cane-scented candle for Christmas).

6. Make a creative carousel

When planning your contest, think about how you’re going to market it (after all, people can’t enter if they don’t know it exists). Create attention-grabbing—and informative—visual content to help spread the word about your giveaway.

For example, the Instagram contest below uses one long graphic posted as three separate carousel images. It creates a cool effect when scrolling, and also shares a lot of information about the contest and the prize without being too visually overwhelming.

Steal this strategy

Incorporate a marketing plan into your Instagram contest strategy.
Create visuals that communicate everything that users need to know about the contest, without bogging them down with information.
Consider using carousel posts with one super-sharable cover image, then details about the prize in later images.

7. Make a Reel

When it comes to social media marketing, videos are the name of the game in 2023. Try making a Reel to draw viewers in and advertise your contest.

For the giveaway below, the creator made a Reel that first engages users with strong visuals and sounds (an ASMR-ish cooking video) and includes a contest in the description. He keeps the format simple, just like his non-contest Reels. It’s not simply a Reel that markets the contest; it provides value to his audience as well.

Steal this strategy

Use Instagram reels to market your contests and giveaways.
Make your giveaway reels match the rest of your content, so it doesn’t feel out of place.
Incorporate value beyond the contest announcement in the reel to make the video more engaging.

8. Make it a paid partnership

As a creator, paid partnerships are one of the best ways to make money on Instagram—and as a business, paid partnerships are a great method for expanding your target audience and getting some major street cred.

Do your research into creators or influencers that can help market your contest (and naturally, your business’s product) to find the perfect fit.

Partner with a trusted creator who has an impressive portfolio for the best results—for example, the adorable visuals in the paid partnership contest below.

Steal this strategy

If you’re a business running an Instagram contest, do your research into creators that may be able to help you promote it.
Once you’ve found the perfect creator, work with them to develop the contest content (and pay them for their work).
Make sure to mark all posts as a paid partnership, or risk Instagram removing the posts or flagging your account.

9. Host a photo contest

Photo contest have been around since the dawn of—well—cameras, and they’re a helpful strategy for connecting with artists and getting some awesome user-generated content.

If your page advertises products you can ask entrants to post a photo with your wares. You can also encourage your audience to post a photo that simply follows a theme.

Contests like these are also a great way to collect testimonials. You can ask users to share their favorite personal stories surrounding the brand, product, or ones that relate to your page’s ethos. The choice is yours, just make sure it’s made clear in the rules that you have the right to repost any of the entries.

Steal this strategy

When hosting a photo contest, make sure you have the resources and time to judge it.
Consider using the photo entries as user-generated content (with the photographer’s permission, of course).
Include in the rules that you have the right to repost any entries.

10. Make your own giveaway hashtag

Hashtags make for a great way to host giveaways. Like a user-generated content contest, hashtag giveaways require entrants to post to their page or stories under a specific hashtag (you determine what that is yourself).

Ideally, what you’ll end up with is a hashtag with sizeable traffic. This format does not just allow you to easily keep track of entries. It also drives engagement with a specific hashtag, which the algorithm tends to take note of. A well-performing hashtag will drive traffic back to your Instagram post and your page.

Make sure to pick a hashtag that is unique enough that no one else is using it… for example, #goatsarefamily.

Steal this strategy

Choose a hashtag that your audience can use to enter your contest.
Make sure the hashtag is creative and that you’re the only one using it.
Track how popular the hashtag is, and how many entries you’re getting, to determine the success of the contest.

11. Share the winner

How many brands’ Instagram contests have you entered only to never hear from them again? Most of us totally forget about the contest post-entry. One way to keep the contest fresh in your audience’s minds (even if they don’t win) is to share the name of the winner.

Of course, ask the winner’s permission before you do this, and don’t give out any of their personal information. But sharing the winner helps prove your authenticity to users (and might inspire them to enter your next contest).

Steal this strategy

Once you’ve picked a winner of your giveaway, ask the person if their first name or Instagram handle can be shared online.
Share the winner’s name to confirm to your audience that you’re legit, and to encourage them to enter again.

Use Hootsuite to run your Instagram giveaway. From a single dashboard, you can schedule your posts, answer comments and DMs, and monitor engagement in real-time. Try it free today.

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The post 11 Instagram Giveaway Ideas That Will Get You New Followers appeared first on Social Media Marketing & Management Dashboard.

Originally posted on January 5, 2023 @ 9:41 am

When you take the time to craft content for your Facebook page, you want it to have the greatest chance of being seen. One of the factors the Facebook algorithm considers when choosing which content to serve for each user is when that content was posted.

That means you need to know the best to post on Facebook in order to get your content seen by the most people.

Posting at the right time also helps boost other algorithm signals, like early engagement. After all, you can only get early engagement if your audience is online to see your posts soon after they’re published.

So how do you know what is the best time to post on Facebook for your business page? Is there a general best day and time to post on Facebook? In this post, we’ll answer these important questions and highlight tools you can use to find the best Facebook posting times on any given day of the week.

Is there a best time to post on Facebook?

What is the best time to post on Facebook? In theory, it’s a simple answer: The best day and time to post on Facebook is when more of your followers are likely to be online.

This is when your audience is most likely to see your content and engage with it, which sends important signals to the Facebook algorithm to extend the reach of your posts.

In practice, it’s a little more complicated, since your audience is not necessarily the most active online at the same time as anyone else’s. Add in time zones and different social behaviors during weekdays and weekends, and things get a little tricky.

Here are some important factors to consider:

The average Facebook Page posts 1.68 times per day.
More than two-thirds (67%) of Facebook users log in every day.
About half of Facebook users (49%) visit the platform multiple times per day.
People spend an average of 33 minutes a day on Facebook.

So you have a few chances throughout the day to reach most Facebook users.

Fortunately, there are some great tools to help you learn the best day and time to post on Facebook for your specific Facebook Page. We’ll get into those in the last section of this post. For now, here are some general guidelines to use when planning your Facebook posting strategy.

Overall best time to post on Facebook

Based on an analysis of 30,000 social media posts, Hootsuite found:

The best overall time to post on Facebook is between 8 a.m. and noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Of course, you’ll need to think about the time zones in which your audience lives when planning these posting times.

For example, the Hootsuite social team likes to post at times that work for both the Eastern and Pacific time zones in North America, since that’s where many of Hootsuite’s Facebook followers are based.

That means 6:15 a.m. PST, 9:15 a.m. PST and 12-12:30 p.m. PST are usually the best posting times. That first slot may seem awfully early for followers on the West Coast, but it’s already 9:15 in the major centers or Toronto and New York by then, so it’s the perfect time to reach Eastern time zone followers as they sip their first workday coffee. It also catches audiences in the UK and Europe while they’re still at work, reaching them mid-afternoon.

“We are aware that our audience is global,” says Eileen Kwok, Hootsuite’s Social Marketing Coordinator. “So we try to schedule posts at different time marks to increase our chances of our posts getting viewed by a variety of followers.”

Best times to post on Facebook for every day of the week

In addition to the best time of day, you need to think about which days of the week make the most sense for publishing your content.

For example, the Hootsuite social team finds that Mondays through Wednesdays are the most effective days to post on Facebook. That doesn’t mean Hootsuite only posts Mondays through Wednesdays. You just have to think strategically about ways to boost relevance and engagement on those non-peak days.

“When we publish over the weekends or holidays we try our best to make the content playful or something aligned with the holiday/cultural moments taking place,” says Brayden Cohen, Hootsuite’s Manager, Social Marketing.

Hootsuite’s Social Media Marketing Coordinator, Eileen Kwok, adds that you can help boost engagement on non-peak days with specific copywriting techniques:

“Writing copy that is relevant to the day of the week can help boost engagement,” Kwok says. “For example, on Friday morning, posting something like, PSA: Remember to schedule your posts for the weekend would be a helpful reminder to our audience.”

With all that said, here are the peak times to post on Facebook day by day, based on a Facebook heatmap of when Hootsuite fans are online. (Learn how to find your own custom Facebook heatmap in the final section of this post.)

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Best time to post on Facebook on Monday

The best time to post on Facebook on Monday is between 6 a.m. and 4 p.m. EST.

The worst time is between 9 p.m. and midnight.

Best time to post on Facebook on Tuesday

The best time to post on Facebook on Tuesday is between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. EST.

The worst time is between 9 p.m. and midnight.

Best time to post on Facebook on Wednesday

The best time to post on Facebook on Wednesday is between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. EST.

The worst time is between 8 p.m. and 1 a.m.

Best time to post on Facebook on a Thursday

The best time to post on Facebook on Thursday is between 6 a.m. and 4 p.m. EST.

The worst time is between 9 p.m. and 1 a.m.

Best time to post on Facebook on a Friday

The best time to post on Facebook on Friday is between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. EST.

The worst time is between 9 p.m. and 1 a.m.

Best time to post on Facebook on a Saturday

The best times to post on Facebook on Saturday are at 8 a.m. or from 10 to 3 p.m. EST.

The worst time is between 9 p.m. and 1 a.m.

Best time to post on Facebook on Sunday

The best time to post on Facebook on Sunday is between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. EST.

The worst time is between 8 p.m. and midnight.

6 tips for finding your own best time to post on Facebook

The overall recommendations for the best time to post are a good guideline to get you started before you have your own data to dig into. But like we said above, you’ll get the best results if you tailor your posting time to your specific audience.

Here are some ways to find your own best posting time data.

1. Use Hootsuite

The heatmap used in the section above comes from Hootsuite’s Best Time to Publish feature. It shows you the best day and time to post on Facebook based on your specific goals:

Increasing reach
Building brand awareness
Increasing engagement
Driving traffic

Hootsuite also uses your specific audience data and past post performance to recommend optimal posting times within the Composer, so you can select the best time with a simple click.

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2. Check your audience demographics

While your target audience demographics won’t tell you when your followers are online, they will at least give you a sense of the time zones that are important for you to consider when planning your post times.

To find your audience demographics, open Meta Business Suite and click Insights, then Audience.

Scroll down to Top Cities to see where most of your followers are based. Here’s what this looks like for my Facebook Page:

Source: Meta Business Suite

It’s clear that I should plan my posting times around the Pacific Time Zone. Taking a look at your own Top Cities may reveal time zone clusters that you can focus on, too.

If you have an existing customer database that includes shipping addresses, this is another good source of timezone data.

3. Review past performance

Analyzing past performance can help predict what will work in future. If you’ve already been posting on Facebook for a while, take a look at your recent posts to see which ones have the highest reach.

Reach indicates the number of people who saw your post at least once, so this is a good representation of how much of your audience you reached with a post. There are many metrics for evaluating the success of a particular post, but reach is the most useful one for getting a sense of how effective your timing was for maximizing views.

To see the reach for your most recent posts, open Meta Business Suite, then go to Facebook Insights in the left menu. Click Content, then use the drop-down menus in the top left to select a 90-day timeframe and remove Instagram posts from the analysis. Click the Reach column header to sort posts by the highest reach, and then click on your top posts to see the posting times.

You can also easily access Facebook reach data alongside stats from all your other social channels in Hootsuite Analytics.

4. Test and tweak

Testing is an effective way to refine many aspects of your social media strategy. This also applies to learning what is the best time to post on Facebook for your business.

In order for your timing tests to be effective, you need to use very similar types of content. Otherwise, it will be unclear whether the time has an impact on the reach of your post, or if it’s seeing wider exposure because of high engagement.

If you regularly share links to content from your blog, try crafting similar posts – with similar lengths and styles of headlines and similar styles of photos. Then, share the posts at different times.

Again, this will not give you specific data about the best times to post, but you may start to see some general trends. You can then continue to test within narrower limits and refine your post timing strategy over time.

You can find more best practices for testing in our beginner’s guide to A/B testing on social media.

5. Ask your audience

Of course, it doesn’t make sense exactly to ask your audience when they want you to post on Facebook. But it does make sense to ask them when would be the most convenient time for them to participate in a Facebook Live event.

To use this strategy, do some brainstorming to come up with something valuable you can offer in a Facebook Live. Maybe it’s a chance for your audience to ask questions in real time, or to see a special live performance.

Once you’ve got your content idea, tease your Live event with a post announcing the special live experience you’re working on. Then ask your audience when would be the most convenient time for them to participate. Asking people to comment on the announcement post is a good way to collect real data from your most interested followers.

6. Be consistent

When you’re first testing to see what times work best to post Facebook content, your posting schedule might be a little all over the place. But once you start to get a sense of what works, your goal should be to aim for consistency.

That means if you find a time that seems to work well for your audience, it’s a good idea to start posting consistently at that time. Your audience will come to expect content from you on that schedule, which will lead to greater overall engagement.

You can still continue to test other times. Remember, the average Facebook business page posts 1.68 times per day, so you have more than one opportunity every day to see what might work best.

You can also play around with formats like Stories and Reels to experiment with new content sharing times while continuing to maintain a consistent posting schedule for Feed posts.

Get personalized recommendations for the best time to post on every network and manage your Facebook presence alongside other social channels with Hootsuite. From a single dashboard, you can schedule and publish posts, engage the audience, and measure performance. Try it free today.

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The post The Best Time to Post on Facebook in 2023 [SOLVED] appeared first on Social Media Marketing & Management Dashboard.

Originally posted on January 4, 2023 @ 9:40 am

Do you want to start a YouTube channel but don’t want to show your face? Maybe you’re not interested in being famous, or get nervous in front of the camera. But, you know how lucrative YouTube can be and want to get in on the action.

If this is you, don’t worry. Plenty of great YouTube channel ideas don’t require you to show your face! Let’s explore the best faceless YouTube channel ideas that let you express yourself without being a public figure.

14 faceless YouTube channel ideas

YouTube is the second-most visited website in the world, with users spending an average of 19 minutes a day on the platform. There is money to be made for those who create compelling videos. But, not everyone wants to be a celebrity.

Here are 14 of the best YouTube channel ideas without showing your face.

1. DIY tutorials

Source: 5-Minute DECOR

DIY tutorials make up some of the most popular YouTube channels–with some of the most popular DIY’ers boasting subscriber counts of 9 million and up.

You can make instructional videos on anything from arts and crafts to plumbing, electronics, or cooking. Or, show off your skills with crafting videos or teach viewers how to make your favorite recipe.

The great thing about these tutorials is that you never have to show your face. Many videos simply show the hands or other body parts of the person creating the tutorial. You can also have someone else do the tutorial for you. Or, use animations and graphics to help viewers understand what you’re teaching them.

2. Video game reviews and walkthroughs

Source: Gamer’s Little Playground

Do you have a passion for gaming? Then why not start your own YouTube channel to review games and share walkthroughs with the world?

These types of channels require no face to be shown, because viewers are typically more interested in seeing the game being played. But, even as a faceless YouTube channel, they still provide plenty of entertainment to fans of video games.

When creating your channel, consider specializing in specific genres of games such as role-playing, sports, and adventure. Building a niche audience of gaming enthusiasts will help you gain more subscribers and viewers, which can translate to higher earnings.

3. Technology reviews

Source: Tech Zone

If you know your way around technology and gadgets, try starting a tech channel. From laptops and gaming consoles to phones and cameras, you can review the latest gadgets and advise on what’s worth buying.

These types of YouTube channels show viewers how different products work and how to maximize their use. Not only will this provide an opportunity for you to stay up-to-date with new technology, but it will also give viewers the insight they need to make informed purchases.

Tech review channels can easily be faceless by using a voiceover to discuss the products. Or, if you’re okay showing some of yourself on camera, you can provide demos and reviews using just your hands.

4. Illustration/animation channels

Source: angrymikko

For those with an eye for art, drawing, illustration, and animation YouTube channels are a great choice. This can range from making a series of animated shorts to creating educational illustrations.

The best part is that viewers won’t need to see your face to appreciate the beauty of your art. All you’ll need is a pair of hands, drawing utensils, and an eye for detail.

5. Podcast channels

Podcasts are becoming increasingly popular, with forecasts suggesting there will be more than 160 million in 2023. So, setting up your own Youtube channel for podcasting could be a great way to reach potential viewers.

You’ll need to record audio, source the right music, and maybe add some fun animations–as YouTube is a primarily visual platform–but apart from that, you can keep it faceless.

Check out this faceless YouTube channel idea from the Distractible Podcast, which uses simple animated characters in place of the hosts’ faces.

6. Meditation channels

Source: Healing Soul

Meditation, mindfulness, and relaxation have become increasingly popular in recent years, and Youtube channels discussing these topics are a great way to share content without showing your face.

You can create videos on guided meditations, yoga workouts, breathing techniques, and more. Try custom animations, scenes from nature, or compiling stock footage for visuals.

7. Motivational channels

Source: Motiversity

Hey, we get it, sometimes you need a little push and a reminder of your potential. Youtube channels focused on motivation and personal growth are great for those looking to market their ideas without showing their face.

Create inspiring motivational videos, post quotes or podcasts with success stories, provide tips and advice on building confidence, and more. Videos featuring simple animations or graphics will help keep viewers engaged while they watch.

8. Music channels

Source: Lowfi Girl

If you’re musically talented, consider starting a faceless Youtube channel featuring your music or covers of popular songs.

To avoid being on camera, use a karaoke-style setup or have someone else record your hands while playing an instrument. Other tips for remaining faceless include wearing a mask or disguise to conceal your true identity. Or, creating an animated virtual self–like the famous anonymous band the Gorillaz.

9. News channels

Source: Vailskibum

Like it or not, many people get their news from YouTube. So why not start a Youtube channel featuring news coverage, celebrity gossip, industry news, or other current events?

You don’t have to appear on camera if you use voiceovers or off-screen narration. You can also rely on guests, presenters, and animated characters to provide the content. And, because news is so shareable, your YouTube channel will promote itself in no time.

10. Tour videos

Source: The Local Project

One of the best things about the internet is that it lets you go places without leaving your home. So why not start a Youtube channel that offers virtual tours of places worldwide, without showing your face?

You can use photos, audio, and video clips to build an immersive experience for viewers, from museums and ancient cities to nature reserves and theme parks.

Even luxury home walkthrough tours can be popular, as people can imagine what it would be like to stay in such a fantastic place. All you need are some beautiful visuals to get this faceless YouTube channel idea off the ground.

11. Tutoring channel

Source: The Organic Chemistry Tutor

Online learning has become widely popular, with many people turning to Youtube channels for help in various subjects. You can start a Youtube channel offering tutoring services, without showing your face or revealing your identity.

Use visuals such as infographics, diagrams, and charts to explain concepts, especially those related to math or English grammar. Or, create videos offering test prep advice and tutorials for subjects ranging from grade school to college.

In terms of monetization, you can offer private tutoring services or create a subscription plan where viewers pay a monthly fee to access the content. You can also collaborate with other Youtube channels related to education and promote each other’s content.

12. 3D/360 channels

Source: 3D VR 360 VIDEOS

Have you ever wondered what it feels like to ride the tallest roller coaster in the world? Or maybe swim with the dolphins in Florida? Now you can do that and more with 3D/360 Youtube channels.

No face needed here! This Youtube channel idea does require a 360-degree camera to capture breathtaking footage from all angles. From there, upload your videos to YouTube and let your subscribers explore the world you’ve created.

13. ASMR channels

ASMR stands for Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response and is gaining more and more popularity on Youtube. ASMR revolves around making certain sounds that create a tingling feeling of happiness and satisfaction. The technique includes a variety of methods like tapping a microphone, whispering, scratching, and more.

ASMR videos don’t require you to show your face, so they are a great Youtube channel idea if you want to remain anonymous. You’ll need a great microphone that can pick up the sounds clearly, but other than that, it’s all about creating the most calming and satisfying environment possible for your viewers.

14. Gardening channels

Source: GARDEN TIPS

Gardening channels are another Youtube channel idea that doesn’t require you to show your face. Gardening channels can be a great way to make money as they appeal to a wide variety of people.

You can give guides and tips on the best plants for specific seasons or show your audience the proper way to plant flowers and vegetables. Consider adding tour videos here, as well. Showing beautiful gardens worldwide is a great way to draw in viewers.

Frequently asked questions about faceless YouTube channel ideas

How do faceless YouTube channels make money?

Faceless Youtube channels can make money in much the same way as any other Youtube channel: from Google Ad revenue, sponsored videos, YouTube subscription revenue, and selling merchandise related to the topics of their videos.

How do you become a faceless YouTuber?

To become a faceless YouTuber, all you need to do is create a Youtube channel and post videos without showing your face. You can use voiceover narration, off-screen narrators, or hire guests to host your videos. Or rely on animated videos, graphics, and virtual characters.

Grow your YouTube engagement rate and manage all your other social media content, engagement, and analytics with Hootsuite. Try it free today.

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The post 14 Faceless YouTube Channel Ideas (Make Money Anonymously) appeared first on Social Media Marketing & Management Dashboard.

Originally posted on January 3, 2023 @ 9:41 am