Is TikTok damaging its own USP?

It was announced a few days ago that TikTok will be increasing its video length to a whopping 10 minutes long. Over the past few years, the platform has been steadily increasing the length of videos, with the maximum of 3 minutes being rolled out last July. Is TikTok damaging its own USP by doing this?

What does TikTok say?

A TikTok spokesperson said in an interview, “We’re always thinking about new ways to bring value to our community and enrich the TikTok experience. Last year, we introduced longer videos, giving our community more time to create and be entertained on TikTok. Today, we’re excited to start rolling out the ability to upload videos that are up to 10 minutes, which we hope would unleash even more creative possibilities for our creators around the world.”

History

TikTok started back in 2018, and thanks to the pandemic, hit stratospheric levels with the amount of times the app was downloaded (it hit a total of 2 BILLION downloads in 2020!). People saw it as a boredom buster, and funny videos took their minds off being stuck indoors. The platform’s USP was its plithy, and short videos which have struck chord with many, leading some to become huge stars off the back of the app.

Imitation is the best form of flattery

So many other platforms have tried to copy TikTok’s success by introducing their own short video option, i.e. Reels on Facebook and Instagram, Shorts on YouTube. If others are copying you, surely you should be secure in the knowledge that you’ve invented a really cool thing?!

F28’s opinion

We’re not entirely sure why TikTok has made this decision. We think they want their users to stay on the platform longer and perhaps feel under pressure from its direct competition, YouTube who have always preferred longer content.

In our opinion, this move will narrow the difference between TikTok and YouTube. With attention spans getting shorter and shorter, even a 5 minute video runs the risk of losing your attention. A 10 minute video will get less engagement than that of a standard 15 second TikTok. Extending the video length may well switch off big creators on the platform, and therefore, could hurt it financially.

It feels like we’ve been here before though. Way back in 2017 with Twitter changing their character limit from 140 to 280, there was a huge uproar at the time but the platform doesn’t seem to have changed significantly as people had thought it would.

If the app did go under because of this decision, it would be a big shame. Whilst some might not ‘get’ TikTok, it has undoubtedly changed the way many businesses around the world connect with, and market to their followers. You can see the huge cultural impact it’s had everwhere you look.

Let’s see how this pans out!

If you have any questions about your social media marketing, please contact Gemma on 01884 308091.

Check out our other blogs here.

2021 Roundup

This year at Function28 has been the busiest and most exciting yet. We’ve been working our socks off producing fresh new websites, managing campaigns, and helping businesses with their social media. We’ve worked on so many fantastic projects that we want to share just some of them with you!

 

Red Ruby Cattle

The good people from the Devon Cattle Breeders’ Society came to us after finding out we built and managed Mid Devon Show’s website and provided them with tech support. Devon Cattle Breeders’ Society had been let down by another agency that started the project of designing and developing a new website, but left them with a product that was unfinished and not fit for purpose. We took on this project and delivered a new website with a fresh, modern look, we also made sure it was fully responsive on mobile devices too. With hundreds of members on their books, they wanted to make the site easy to navigate and attract new members.

As part of the package that they have with us, we’re also hosting their site as well as setting up their new emails too.

 

Fentrigan Manor Farm

We worked closely with Richard to help promote his beautiful holiday cottages on his working farm in Cornwall. We redesigned and developed the website to make it easier to navigate, respond on mobile devices and we’re also hosting the site along with his emails too.

The team really enjoyed working on this project and it’s always a joy to see new pictures of Richard’s dog, Oscar pop up every now and again!

 

 

Somerset County Council

A few key projects that we were part of earlier this year were the Somerset County Council campaign’s to fight knife crime and domestic abuse.

We created and managed major ad campaigns across all social media platforms, collaborated with local companies to make videos for YouTube, and we completed several PPC campaigns on Google. Our team provided clear and precise reporting back to the Council to show how successful these were across the board. We had a great response back from our contact at the Council and we’re very much looking forward to working with them on their new campaign in 2022 (keep an eye on our Blog area for more info!).

 

Cully Pet Shop

Earlier this year, we helped Cully Pet Shop as they made the transition to an online shop. They wanted a modern take on their business so we updated their logo design, website to match, and an online shop with a simple paw design.  We also provided some printed posters, business cards, and vehicle graphics which we think look pawsome! (Sorry, not sorry!)

With Cully Pet Shop being a small local company, it was very important for us to walk them through the process from start to finish.

Other projects we’ve completed, take a look!
MJ Smith
Repair Wizard
Near and Near
JPD Services
Ball and Lawton
Bancoft Locksmiths
Bridgeman Jacks
Crossfit The Physical Edge
Edwards Plumbing Services

We’re looking forward to continuing working with our clients into 2022 and collaborating with new ones too! You can speak to Russ, Adrian and Gemma about your requirements by giving us a call on 01884 308091 or email us at info@function28.co.uk.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recent Campaigns with Somerset Survivors…

Recently we have been working alongside Somerset County Council & Somerset Survivors, in a bid to promote ‘Healthy Teenage Relationships’.

Video Optimized for YouTube Campaign

They had a video created with the view of getting as many people as they possibly could, to see it in the Somerset area.

We managed the campaign and promoted the video using Facebook, YouTube & Google ads.

  • 275,000+ Total Views
  • 700,000+ Impressions
  • 1,850+ Website Clicks

Average Cost Per View = 1p
Lives Changed = LOTS

The video itsself, looks to address signs that may occur within an abusive relationship. Selecting the correct keywords for our Google ad was key for the adverts performance and impact.

ABOUT YOUTUBE VIDEO ADS

Since Google acquired YouTube it has driven it past all other video website hosting offerings, and now you could pay in an effort to have a YouTube video appear as the top result for a key-word or as an advert within your consumer’s favourite YouTube videos.

It also reaches a particular audience on the YouTube video and channel additionally which boosts your platform, including likes and subscribers. We can plan and execute video ideas at Function28, making sure the video tells the story you are after.

“I am absolutely delighted with the way Function28 have helped us deliver a key campaign at the Somerset County Council. We approached Function28 to help us with optimisation on YouTube, Google, and Facebook ads. Later we piloted a TikTok campaign with their help which was equally successful. The campaign outcomes have been so positive that it has set internal benchmarks. A special mention and thanks to Ross for his hard work and superior client servicing. I am sure we have a long association with Function28 and that the team will certainly deliver on future campaigns equally well. Give these guys a chance to do some good work for you. Highly recommend Function28.”

Devleena Roy – Safer Somerset Partnership

Videos Optimized for TikTok Campaign

Function28 worked alongside Nige an animator from Devon to create a powerful TikTok video in just the 15 seconds permitted. With a brief from the client, we went ahead and put together storyboards after some research, and came up with various ideas to make this campaign as successful as possible.

Once we got the story signed off by Somerset Survivors, Nigel went ahead and created the animations ready for TikTok. Below you can see the end results and how they performed. One focusing on ‘County Lines’ and the other ‘Healthy Teenage Relationships’.

@fearlessTell us what you know about County Lines, anonymously…♬ Promoted Music – fearless

@somersetsurvivorsIf you are in an abusive relationship, help & support is available…♬ Promoted Music – somersetsurvivors

ABOUT TIKTOK ADS

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard the buzz about social media app TikTok over the past year. With its easy-to-consume content being watched by millions of people every day, it’s simple to understand why there’s a growing buzz about TikTok ads, and businesses when to get the audience engaging with their content.

Having only been around in its current form since late 2018, it’s very much early days in the TikTok advertising world. But this is also a great time to make the most of the potential reach you can gain from this platform. The ads we have run for clients already, surpass stats from every other platform.

After more details?

If you would like to discuss with us about running a campiagn like this please do not hesitate to get in touch info@function28.co.uk or call 01884 308091

5 Key Ingredients to Help Facebook Posts Perform – Function28

Most brands usually have one of two goals when they post on Facebook: engagement or conversions.

Both metrics matter, but depending on what your goals are, one will typically matter more. If your goal is to increase website traffic, a Facebook post with a high like count, while nice, isn’t necessarily helping.

When do you want conversions? Basically, whenever you want someone to take a specific action after seeing your Facebook post. Maybe you’d like people to subscribe to your newsletter or join a membership club. Or maybe you want them to visit your website, or buy a specific product.

It’s true that every good Facebook post will have some things in common. But if you want your posts to have a high conversion rate, you’ll need to use a different strategy from the one you’d use to achieve a high engagement rate.

1. Content that Stands Out

A Facebook post without creative is like a store without a window display. Nothing has the power to stop people in their tracks (or stop their thumbs from scrolling) like a good visual.

Remember, every Facebook post competes with whatever else is in someone’s feed. And it only takes about 2.6 seconds for their eyes to choose what to settle on.

So make sure your visual is eye-catching and attention-worthy.

Whether you use static images, GIFs, or videos, here are a few things to keep in mind when choosing visuals for Facebook:

Get the right specs: Check Facebooks specifications to make sure you deliver high quality images. Low-res images reflect poorly on your business and no one likes to click on them.

Limit text: According to Facebook, images with more than 20% text have reduced delivery.

Skip stock images: If you can afford to commission a photographer or illustrator, do it. Stock images are easy to scroll past and may be too generic for your brand.

High contrast: Contrasting colors will help make your images pop, even in low light or black and white conditions. A colour wheel can help you make the right choices in this area.

Think about mobile: 88% of Facebook users access the platform from a mobile device. Test your images on a mobile device before posting them to ensure your text is legible and the focus is clear. Consider trying vertical video for maximum effect on mobile.

Aldi Banana Facebook Post

2. Catchy Copy

The next aspect of high converting Facebook post if gripping copy. Keep your writing simple, clear, and to the point.

Avoid business jargon and promotional language. In addition to deterring readers, too much marketing speak can put your post out of favour with the Facebook algorithm.

Copy should convey your brand personality, whether it’s witty, friendly, or professional. No matter the personality, aim to be personal and connect with the reader.

Conventional wisdom holds that short copy tends to win out. While it’s true that social media users tend to have eight-second attention spans, posts with long copy can perform well, too.

Ultimately it depends on your audience. Analyze your top performing posts and see if there’s any correlation between text length and performance.

Netflix Klaus Facebook Post

3. Smart Call-to-action

The most important element of a high converting Facebook post is the call-to-action, a.k.a CTA.

Ask yourself what you want someone to do when they see your post. If you’re not sure, no one else is going to be either.

Whether you’re looking for website traffic, sales, or even engagement, you’re not going to get it if you don’t invite it. Power verbs like Sign up, Download, Subscribe, Reserve, and Click put Facebook users into action after seeing your post.

But those verbs are also pretty commonplace these days, so don’t be afraid to spice them up a little.

Adding urgency can help. For example, “Only a few places left. Reserve your trial today.” If the trial is free, that might be worth mentioning, too.

A CTA should give your post, and its readers,  purpose. But don’t overdo it. Too many CTAs can lead to decision fatigue. One CTA per post is generally a good rule to abide by.

Creamfields Booking Facebook Post

4. Give an Incentive

A call-to-action is only as good as its incentive. If you can’t give someone at least one good reason to visit your website, download your app, or subscribe to your newsletter, then you shouldn’t ask.

An incentive can mean a few things. Maybe it includes the benefits of membership to your rewards program. It could be the opportunity to learn more about the cool features of a product you’ve launched. A travel company may want to highlight the attractions of top destinations. Showing a little sun and sand during the winter can go a long way when it comes to inspiring wanderlust.

A good marketer should already be in touch with what their audience and customers want. And the incentive you choose to share should appeal to these needs and desires as much as possible. If you’re not sure where to start, look at the posts that have performed the best in the past. Dig into your audience insights and explore the interests of your customers.

A good teaser for a blog post leaves viewers wanting to know more. But don’t oversell it. Clickbait, while sometimes irresistible, can come across as gimmicky and disingenuous.

Pro-Direct Predator Facebook Post

5. Targeting your Market

Facebook is known for its ad targeting capabilities, but there are many ways to target an organic Facebook post, too.

First of all, be conscious of your Facebook audience demographics. Don’t take for granted that your followers on Facebook are the same as those following you on LinkedIn, Twitter, Snapchat, or other social media platforms.

For instance, what is the largest age group?

Are they mostly male, female, or gender non-binary?

Where does most of your audience live?

What are their interests?

Tailor your posts around these insights. If your Facebook audience is mostly female, for example, it may make more sense for you to showcase your women’s clothing line versus men’s.

Timing is another important factor. When is your audience usually online? Function28 research finds that the best time to post on Facebook is between 3 pm and 8 pm.

Ted Baker Party Facebook Post

WE OFFER DIGITAL MARKETING SOLUTIONS, INCLUDING WEBSITE DESIGN, SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGEMENT, SEO & BLOG POSTING.

Call us on: 01884 308091

Email us at: info@function28.co.uk

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