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In today’s edition:

• 🤖 Today's Tip of the Day is for AI implementations

• 🤳 More ways to market on TikTok

• New Facebook monetization tools

• 🗞️ Additional industry news from LinkedIn and Threads

Are you overwhelmed by choosing where to implement AI into your business? With so many options, it’s easy to become paralyzed.

Use the Eisenhower Matrix

This approach helps businesses evaluate potential AI implementations based on their impact and the effort required:

1. High Impact, Low Effort: Prioritize these "low-hanging fruit" solutions

2. High Impact, High Effort: Invest in these for long-term gains

3. Low Impact, Low Effort: Consider implementing if resources allow

4. Low Impact, High Effort: Avoid or deprioritize these options

Today's advice is provided with insights from Sharon Gai, a featured guest on the AI Explored podcast.

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TikTok Updates for 2025: What Marketers Need to Know

Are you keeping up with TikTok's rapid evolution? Wondering how to leverage its newest features for your business?

TikTok Messaging

One of the most significant changes is the transformation of TikTok's direct messaging (DM) feature.

Previously, the platform's messaging capabilities were limited, allowing only mutual followers to communicate privately. However, TikTok now enables users to see and respond to messages from non-followers more easily. 

Additionally, TikTok has introduced a novel feature where comments on TikTok stories are automatically directed to the creator's DMs, fostering more intimate conversations between creators and their audience.

This update presents a golden opportunity for businesses and marketers to connect more directly with potential customers.

Pro Tip: Hire a virtual assistant (VA) to manage your incoming messages from leads and customers on time.

Long-Form Content on TikTok

While TikTok initially gained popularity for its short-form video content, the platform now actively encourages creators to produce longer videos. This shift opens up significant possibilities for content creators and marketers.

For example, TikTok is now monetizing videos that exceed one minute, incentivizing creators to produce more extended content because they can earn more from longer videos.

The platform has also expanded its recording capabilities, allowing users to create videos up to 10 minutes long directly within the app. And for those who prefer to pre-record their content, TikTok now supports uploads of videos up to 30 minutes long.

Pro Tip: Make sure something changes in the video every 5-7 seconds. You can use B-roll footage, text overlays, and relevant images to achieve a rapid pace of pattern disruption that maintains viewer attention– mimicking the quick-cut style that TikTok users have grown accustomed to in shorter videos.

Horizontal Video

In a surprising move, TikTok is actively encouraging creators to record horizontal videos, even offering to boost the visibility of such content.

To further support this new format, TikTok has introduced a "full screen" button that allows viewers to expand horizontal videos, providing a more immersive viewing experience.

Pro Tip: Filming your horizontal content in 4K allows for easy repurposing of the footage into vertical clips for other platforms while also future-proofing content for TikTok's evolving landscape.

Image-Based Content

TikTok is now prioritizing image-based content alongside its traditional video offerings.

This new post type allows users to create photo carousels containing up to 10 images, similar to Instagram's carousel posts. However, TikTok has added its own twist by enabling users to include music with these image-based posts, blending the visual appeal of still images with the platform's signature audio-centric approach.

The feature allows businesses to present a complete product range or tell a more complex story than a single image or short video might allow.

To make the most of this new format, use an attention-grabbing image as the first slide in the carousel to entice viewers to swipe through the rest of the content. The successive images should tell a cohesive story, with each slide building upon the last to maintain interest.

Pro Tip: To avoid overwhelming the viewer with too much information at once, keep your text short and engaging–ideally limiting the text on each image to one impactful sentence. You can use the caption space for calls-to-action and other contextual details.

Today's advice is provided with insights from Keenya Kelly, a featured guest on the Social Media Marketing Podcast.

Have You Checked Out AI Explored?  

Our mission at Social Media Examiner is to help marketers like you navigate the constantly changing marketing jungle. That's why we launched our newest show… AI Explored. 

It's a weekly show hosted by me (Michael Stelzner). The goal is to help marketers, creators, and business owners understand the business applications of AI. Join me as we explore this exciting new frontier together. 

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Or visit our AI Explored show page today.

Facebook Content Monetization Beta: This new initiative aims to provide creators with expanded opportunities to earn money from a wider range of content formats on the platform by consolidating three existing Facebook-funded monetization programs: In-stream ads, ads on Reels, and the Performance bonus. Creators will be able to monetize various types of content, including Reels, longer videos, photos, and text posts. Invited creators can join the beta program through the monetization tab in the Professional dashboard on mobile devices or through Meta Business Suite on desktop computers. While open enrollment for the program is not scheduled until 2025, Facebook offers creators the chance to express their interest in receiving an early access invitation to the beta. Interested creators can indicate their desire to participate and find more information about the Content Monetization program on the Facebook for Creators website. Source: Facebook

LinkedIn Video Tab: LinkedIn is rolling out a new video tab and inviting creators to contribute content to its new immersive video experience. The videos should be in vertical format, 15 seconds to 2 minutes long, and include a minimum of 50 words in the accompanying post. Source: Social Media Examiner Editorial Staff

Threads Edit Feature: Users can now edit a Thread post for 15 minutes after publication. Source: @mosseri via Threads

Did You Know?

Neapolitan ice cream flavors vary by region. In Italy, the flavors are pistachio, cherry, and vanilla to match Italy's flag. In the United States, the flavors are chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry.