FACEBOOK FINALLY TAKES ACTION OVER SCHEDULING
FACEBOOK’S Creator Studio launches a scheduling option for Instagram
SINCE Instagram’s launch in 2010, digital marketers have experienced the pain associated with scheduling posts on a platform that did not offer the people the option to schedule.
Finally, their complaints have been heard and action taken – Facebook’s Creator Studio app now allows for the scheduling of Instagram and IGTV posts.
Years ago, Instagram was quite resistant to the idea of scheduling. In some cases, Instagram accounts were suspended if third-party tools or apps were used, as these were believed to go against Instagram’s Community Guidelines and/or Terms of Use.
While last year, there was a shift to provide more leniency for scheduling programs, marketers were still calling for greater change.
Thus, Facebook’s Creator Studio app allows for users to see exactly what posts will look like through a native, trusted application, that also offers features many other programs did not provide.
One of these features is the ability to schedule posts including multiple images.
Finalists for Channel 4’s Diversity in Advertising Award announced
Every year, Channel 4 of the UK hosts a Diversity in Advertising Award, Brought to you by committed to the action of improving diversity in representation in advertising.
Last year, the focus was on the portrayal of women in advertising, and a few years prior, on the representation of people with disabilities.
This year, the award surrounds the representation of LGBT+ people.
Channel 4’s sales house analysed more than 1000 television ads over a twomonth period, to get a greater understanding of how LGBT+ people are portrayed by marketers, finding that these individuals tend to be characterised as stereotypes or in a negative light.
With this in mind, Channel 4 short-listed seven finalists and their associated agencies from a list of 40 applicants.
These finalists are Snickers, Starbucks, Virgin Media, Coca-Cola, Booking.com, CALM and Screwfix.
The winner of the competition has the opportunity to win £1 million worth of commercial airtime.
“Our ultimate ambition is that the industry embraces more diverse campaigns to the point that it doesn’t take a £1m award to generate a more creative and inclusive approach to advertising,” says Channel 4’s head of agency and client sales and commercial marketing, Matt Salmon.
The final stage of the competition takes place on September 17, where the finalists present their ideas to a judging panel.
Ikea and Nat Geo collaborating to create a four-part mockumentary campaign
Ikea and National Geographic have decided to team up and create a mockumentary series surrounding one of our every day, eternal struggles, “endangered sleep”.
The series is planned to be a four-parter, with each episode focusing on a different way that people seem to lose sleep each night, using a unique blend of comedy and originality to engage attention.
With IKEA’s decision last year to shift from print catalogues to digital, it comes as no surprise that they have made a bold move this year with a new and creative digital marketing strategy.
The two companies have chosen to post the mockumentary episodes on a co-branded microsite, also featuring fun facts about sleep and other information to keep viewer interest sustained, leading them further towards the idea of conversion.
They’ve launched the campaign under the hashtag #SaveOurSleep, with the first part of the series currently live.
You can watch the first episode at National Geographic Bedroom Habits.
To find out more about News Xtend and how we can help your business achieve your digital marketing goals, call our local expert Tim Carter on 5584 2277.