THM’S Weekly Dish: Facebook announces updates, restrictions while LinkedIn changes its algorithm


Facebook’s new updates

If Branded Content Tags are a regular part of your Facebook advertising, then we have news for you! Facebook wants to provide more transparency on brand/creator partnerships, so it’s rolling out new updates. Now, this isn’t a big surprise. Facebook has continually tried to make improvements to maximize brand partnerships since it launched in 2016. But here’s what you should know about the latest changes:

  1. To squash confusion, the “Paid” tag on Branded Content posts is becoming “Paid Partnership.”
  2. Facebook is also adding a new information tag to the top right of the main post image. The tag will link to more info about the brand/creator partnership.
  3. Facebook’s developing additional types of brand collaboration options, including tools which would enable Pages to tag other Pages. Plus, there’ll be new presentation options for sponsorships.
  4. Also being tested is the ability to indicate sponsor partnerships with a message within the content, rather than labels on the post, which could mean more specific branding options.
  5. Finally, Facebook is expanding its Brand Collabs Manager tool. Not only is Facebook taking the tool international, but it’s also developing new features like the capacity for brands to post marketing project briefs.

Facebook implements new restrictions

Meanwhile, Facebook is also cracking down on “low-quality” ads. In their words:

“Low-quality ads on Facebook, such as ones that include clickbait or direct people to unexpected content, create bad experiences for people and don’t align with our goal of creating meaningful connections between people and businesses. We are now going further in our efforts to limit low-quality ads on our platforms by disapproving more of them and reducing distribution for more ads in our auction.”

But what counts as low quality? Here’s how Facebook’s defining it:

  1. Engagement bait. Your typical “like and share” posts repurposed as ads.
  2. Withholding information. Ads that lure clicks by alluding to the full details of the post without being clear on what the details actually are.
  3. Sensational language. Ads which use exaggerated headlines or command a reaction from people without delivering on the landing page.

LinkedIn ups engagement

Do you swear your LinkedIn updates are getting more interactions lately? You’re probably right. LinkedIn announced in its Engineering blog that it recently updated its algorithm to generate more engagement on each users’ posts.

Why now? Well, the company discovered that people weren’t posting updates as often because the algorithm was favoring content from top creators. The change means more reach for your updates, and ideally more likes, comments and shares on your posts. Who doesn’t want that?

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