Fulfilled By TikTok E-commerce Is Coming - Digital Marketing News 11th August 2023

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What’s new in the X algorithm

It wasn’t long ago that Twitter… now X uploaded its algorithm to GitHub so we could all see how it worked. Turned out we didn’t really see how it worked at all, no one could agree on what it all meant.

One thing that stood out for a lot of marketers was that a like was more powerful than a comment… which is the exact opposite of what we know about social algorithms.

But now a new algorithm update and analysis shows that it’s all about the comments. Comments rock.

Other updates suggest that videos are about to get a boost, long-form tweets and content will be prioritised, as will subscription content.

https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/new-analysis-reveals-how-x-is-evolving-its-feed-algorithm-and-what-its-lo/690181/

TikTok optional algorithm

In Europe you can now choose to ditch the TikTok algorithm, or some of it.

Instead of seeing content based on your interests, you will now see popular videos from your location and around the world.

Some people may be delighted about this, less personalisation will make it way less addictive.

On the other hand, less personalisation could also make it way less fun.

I’m looking forward to flicking between the For You feed and the new non-algorithm to see if it changes my viewing habits.

https://www.theverge.com/2023/8/4/23819878/tiktok-fyp-algorithm-eu-dsa-personalization-data-tracking

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Shopping made easy by TikTok

If you run an online shop the marketing is fun (for most of us) but the fulfilment is a nightmare.

You have to store that stuff somewhere, you have to package it, you have to send it.

All of that distracts from the important business of selling.

Enter TikTok.

If you are in the UK you can now hand over all those tasks to the ‘Fulfilled By TikTok’ service.

You give them the stock, they warehouse it, they handle picking and shipping.

To qualify for this service you have to be UK based, delivering to the UK.

https://newsroom.tiktok.com/en-gb/tiktok-shop-uk-fbt-launch

Zoom Clips

Is teaching a big part of your job? If you are a social media manager, a trainer or someone who needs to show online processes to your clients, screen recording apps are a must.

Many of these tools record and host your videos making it easy to share them.

Some are subscription based, some you can buy outright.

But now there’s a tool that you may already use and pay for that will do the same thing. And that tool is Zoom.

‘Clips’ has just been launched into Beta and to be honest, the interface looks almost exactly like the tool I already use, Loom.

I’m not about to cancel my Loom sub yet but this is a great add-on that will help keep Zoom one step ahead of its competitors.

https://techcrunch.com/2023/08/07/zoom-launches-an-asynchronous-video-tool-for-the-meeting-averse/

New Reels API

We know Facebook and Instagram are focused on Reels right now. But scheduling Reels from third-party social media management tools has always been a bit rubbish.

You couldn’t choose a thumbnail, you couldn’t tag collaborators, and it didn’t support longer Reels.

But now there’s a new API update (that’s the bit that connects Instagram to other apps) that will allow all that. Plus something called ‘Automatic Music Tagging’.

I can’t be sure what that means but my best guess is that music in your pre-recorded Reel will be attached to the right sound on Instagram (provided it’s licenced for use there).

That’s something creators have wanted for a long time.

https://developers.facebook.com/blog/post/2023/08/01/launching-second-release-of-facebook-reels-api/