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Social media pros everywhere are holding their breath. Why? Because Meta's latest upgrade for Instagram might just save us all a lot of time and trouble. 

Carousels, or multi-image posts, are now an eligible media type on the Instagram Graph API. To translate — you could soon be able to schedule carousel posts.

If you have a busy social media calendar, chances are you’re using a third-party scheduling tool (think Hootsuite, HubSpot, or SproutSocial). Multi-image posts can increase engagement, but scheduling them for an Instagram post through a third-party tool is a real pain, as it can only be done via Mobile Publishing. The promise of native scheduling for multi-photo posts opens up a new world of content possibilities for social media managers and strategists. 

If you see your social media manager around the watercooler today, be sure to give them the heads up – their Insta-induced nightmares may soon be a thing of the past once third-party publishers make the upgrade!

TL;DR: Meta recently released a new update giving our favorite social media scheduling tools the ability to publish carousel-style posts on Instagram. Now we just have to wait for our third-party publishers to make the upgrade!

We All Scream for Livestream

Calling all livestreamers (or streamers-in-training)! Social platforms are evolving their livestream options — whether it be Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or most recently, YouTube. If you’re not already in the streaming game, consider how livestreams can help you closely interact and engage with your audience in real time. With the option to stream available on almost every major platform, you can easily incorporate live content into your existing social strategy.

Today, we are diving deep into YouTube, which recently announced updates to its livestreaming, with some familiar features we’ve seen in streaming options across other platforms. Here’s what you need to know:

• Go Live Together: This collaborative feature will allow users to invite guests to stream with them by sending them a link. Collaborating on a livestream is a great way to expand your content’s reach (and takes the pressure off of having a singular host).
  
  
• Split-Screen Viewing on Mobile: YouTube is offering two different viewing options on mobile devices for livestreams. One layout encourages more active participation, with the video and chat features visible throughout the stream. The second option (a more collapsed live experience) allows the viewer to watch the video content in full screen without the distraction of a live chat window. This hands-off option still shows a teaser of key moments in chat, like polls, to make sure the viewer doesn’t miss anything. YouTube is the first platform to introduce this type of option, so we’ll be keeping an eye out for others to follow.

• Live Q&A: Platforms like Instagram have incorporated live questions into their streaming options and YouTube has now followed suit. Viewers will be able to submit questions during the livestream based on the host’s comments and questions. Q&A’s are great tools for boosting audience engagement, especially within livestreams that encourage real-time conversation.

With a multitude of options for social livestreams, it’s tricky to figure out which platform is best for your brand. If you already have an active YouTube channel, you might consider dipping into its livestream feature to take advantage of your existing audience and build on that viewership.

Pro Tip: If longer video is part of your content strategy, consider repurposing it into livestream form to more personally connect with your audience.

TL;DR: YouTube’s newest livestreaming updates largely mirror features on other platforms, like collaborative streams and live questions, but are great tools for growing engagement and viewership. As social platforms incorporate new streaming features, consider boosting your content strategy with livestreams. 

ICYMI