The Latest News, Trends + Top Tips on How to Save Time as a Social Media Manager.

Good morning and happy Mondayyyy email gang! 😁 

I'm so happy to see you here again, and I have SO much to tell you.

Let me start by saying that this week has been a rollercoaster. I had to restart my Instagram account (again!) from scratch because Instagram thought I was still in Israel! Plus, I had my usual weekly cry session over content planning (because, let’s be real, who hasn’t been there?).

I’ve just been feeling super confused about my content direction lately. Researching and creating content can be overwhelming, with so many ideas and so little time. I’m sure a lot of you can relate. My mood’s been a bit off, but as I always say, the only way to cope is to keep pushing, creating, and improving.

So, here we are with issue #03, and I’ve got lots of thoughts and updates to share. Let’s dive in!

🤫 🗞️ Social media news from the past week

Instagram: 

• Users report that they can now send a preview of a reel as a draft to a friend to get their thoughts (source). 

• Instagram may soon enable you to cross-post Stories to WhatsApp. While I know WhatsApp isn't as big in the US as in other parts of the world (like Israel, where I'm from), it still boasts up to 450 million daily active users. This potential update is very interesting, especially if your audience is not US-based.

• Looks like the creator marketplace with a specific inbox is now live on IG mobile (source).

• Your friends can now see when you are typing on DMs (ugh)

• A new update lets you see a creator's insights and find similar ones. However, this feature is not available to all users yet. Currently, it looks like it's only accessible to business accounts, allowing them to view creator insights and consider potential collaborations, as well as creators who have decided to share their stats.

• Trial reels might be coming: Instagram has launched a test of Trial Reels, allowing creators to share a Reel with only non-followers. Creators will gain insights into the performance of the Reel and can choose to share it with everyone or not. There’s also an option to automatically share the Reel with everyone if it receives a significant number of plays in the first 48 hours (source). 

• Instagram flags reels ineligible for partnership ads so creators can make edits before publishing (source). 

Facebook:

• Facebook has added polls for Reels

Threads:

• You can FINALLY share regular Instagram posts (single-image or carousels) on the platform without a link preview (source).  

X:

• Likes on X will no longer cause PR crises for public figures since they are now private. This comes after another recent update from X a few weeks ago, which officially allows porn following policy changes. I guess that these two updates together make sense, haha.

• X has Launched advanced analytics for premium subscribers (source). 

TikTok:

•  TikTok’s Collabs feature is live. Like Instagram Collabs, this allows multiple accounts to co-author a post, which appears on the profiles of all collaborators and is shared with all their followers (see what it looks like).

• Duolingo lost (and regained) their verification, and they are not alone. Apparently, TikTok surprised many accounts this week by removing their verified status for not having the right paperwork. 

•  Yay - TikTok now lets you caption a video while editing. 

• TikTok is coming for Google, and it's getting serious. They have officially rolled out image search in TikTok Shop, allowing users to take or upload a photo to find similar products. This feature is now available to all users in the United States and Southeast Asia.

Linkedin:

• LinkedIn has introduced new features to enhance its newsletter creation platform. These updates include improved formatting options, better analytics, and increased customization capabilities aimed at helping users create more engaging and visually appealing newsletters. Read more here. 

•  LinkedIn has launched Premium Company Pages, offering new features to enhance business promotion and engagement. These include custom CTA buttons for lead generation, an auto-invite feature for those engaging with your content, detailed visitor insights, and testimonial displays. Additionally, businesses gain access to AI writing assistant tools, a new "Services Showcase" section for rich media and reviews, and a "Request Services" button to drive leads. Premium Business subscribers also benefit from enhanced search alerts and increased profile visibility across the platform (read more). 

• LinkedIn will limit targeted ads in the EU after a complaint they used sensitive data. 

WhatsApp:

• WhatsApp has added screen sharing with audio, 32-person video calls, and more. 

• WhatsApp now lets you protect your account via email. 

Youtube:  

• YouTube has rolled out thumbnail A/B testing to all channels. 

• YouTube’s much-hated redesign is now available for Premium subscribers to try on the web. 

• YouTube’s recommendations algorithm is pulling users away from news, a new study shows. 

• Check out YouTube's top ads of the year, according to Google’s AI. 

More: 

• New York passes legislation to ban 'addictive' social media algorithms for kids (source). 

 🔥 What’s trending?

On TikTok: 

• “Don’t embarrass me motherfucker” 

• “Show me your bad dog” 

• Chipotle is still getting roasted online for its portion sizes, and there's still this weird trend of people filming workers, thinking it will get them more rice, beans, and steak. Honestly, IDK. The company responded, saying there have been no changes in portion sizes and that they’ve reinforced proper portioning with employees. Read more about this strange phenomenon here.

On x:

Netflix dropped a movie called “Under Paris,” which is about the shark phenomenon in Paris. I watched it—solid 6/10. They tweeted about the launch, and the replies blew up, with fans suggesting better titles. Instead of just responding, Netflix turned those suggestions into new ads for the movie.

This move was genius because:

• It showed fans that Netflix listens and values their feedback.

• It got people talking about the movie, making them more likely to watch it.

Takeaway: Always check your comments! Don’t just reply—use them to create real-time marketing campaigns. Content creators do this all the time with video replies to comments, and I think brands should adopt this trend more often. Netflix’s quick reaction is a perfect example of how to nail it.

💭 This Week’s Deep Dive

How to actually save time as a social media manager 📱

Being a one-person marketing squad is no joke. As a social media manager, you're basically the whole crew—copywriter, producer, editor, designer, and everything in between. So, how do you keep cranking out killer content and strategies without totally burning out? I've got you covered:

1. Theme Your Days: Ever tried juggling script writing, shooting content, and editing all in one day? Total chaos, right? Instead, dedicate specific days to each task. Monday = Script Writing, Tuesday = Photography, Wednesday = Editing. Keep your brain in one mode and watch how much smoother your week gets.

2. Automate Like a Boss: If you’re doing it more than once, automate it! With AI at your fingertips, let the robots take over the repetitive stuff. Monthly reports? Set them up to generate and send themselves. Content scheduling? Use platforms that let you automate posts and reports. Set it, forget it, and let the magic happen.

3. Template Everything: Templates are your BFF. Have a go-to strategy template for new clients, an Instagram audit template, and even one for your weekly to-do list. It saves a ton of time and keeps everything looking super professional.

4. Set Office Hours for Replies: Ditch the 24/7 availability. Set specific times to answer emails, messages, and client requests. Let everyone know upfront—maybe even in your contract—that you’ll be available from, say, 10-12 and 2-4. It sets boundaries and keeps you from burning out.

5. Batch Your Content Creation: I know you hear this all the time, but as a social media manager, you HAVE to batch content in advance because of client approval, etc. Do not wait for the last moment; this will only stress you out. Creating content in batches is a game-changer. 

6. Repurpose Content: Don’t reinvent the wheel. Turn a blog post into a video, a video into a series of social media posts, or an infographic. Stretch your content as far as it can go. But remember, posting the same thing on a different platform IS NOT repurposing. You first have to create a good repurposing strategy that reflects what your target audience is looking for on each platform, and then you can use this to repurpose your content. Reply back to my email with “Repurposing strategy” if you are reading this and want me to write a post/article about this :)

7. Subscribe to Good Sources (if you are reading this, you have already done this step 😗 ): Instead of searching for the latest updates and trends, find your favorite resources and subscribe to them. Let the info come to you so you don’t have to look for it. Integrate learning into what you’re already doing. For example, read a newsletter while drinking your morning coffee and listen to a marketing podcast while you shower or work out. This way, you’ll save time and stay updated without needing to sit and waste time researching info.

8. Prioritize Self-Care: This tip is the most important one. Dear social media managers, please remember that if you do not prioritize your mental well-being, everything WILL take you longer. To work faster and save time, you not only need good systems and time management skills, but you need to be your best self because when you are feeling well, you’ll work faster and save time.

😃 It’s meme time (my fav section)

👀 Expand Your Knowledge Even More

🥰 Personal Note

As said earlier, This week marked a fresh start for my Instagram journey, and after putting together this newsletter and planning my content for next week, I’m super excited and optimistic about how it will perform.

On the LinkedIn front, which is also high on my platform's priority list, things have been going well. I've been implementing a strategy where I leave valuable comments on at least 2 posts a day, send 10 connection requests to people in my industry daily, and like as many posts and comments as I can. In just one week, I’ve grown by 32 followers. Considering most of my current followers are Israeli and I’m focused on building an English-speaking audience, I’m pretty happy with the progress.

I’ve also printed my inspiration board to manifest my goals and keep me motivated (that's your sign to do it too!):

Here’s to a new week full of results! Thank you so much for reading till the end.

Love,
Sharon.