Maximizing Your Reach and Engagement: The Advantages of Embracing New Platform Features Early On
In the ever-evolving world of social media, staying ahead of the game is vital for brands and personas looking to make a mark. And one way to do this is by being an early adopter of new platform features.
When a new feature is released, jumping on board, and incorporating it into your content strategy can help you reach a wider audience and boost your visibility.
In this article, we’ll explore the benefits of being an early adopter, share real-life examples of successful feature launches, and provide tips for how you can make the most of new platform features.
So, whether you’re a social media marketer or a content creator, read on to learn how to stay ahead of the curve and elevate your online presence.
Consider Instagram Reels. When this feature was first launched, content creators who jumped on board and started using it early on saw a significant increase in their reach and engagement rates.
In fact, some early adopters were even able to double their followings at impressive speeds!
Now, I know we shouldn’t focus solely on vanity metrics like follower count, but the takeaway here is that using new features right away can help you reach a wider audience and attract more perfect-fit clients to your offer.
Of course, it’s important to approach new features with a strategic mindset, and you should ask whether that exact new feature fits into your overall brand, audience, and niche.
Here are some tips to help you make the most of them:
Consider it an experiment.
It doesn’t matter how the new features works for you, you’ll learn from it and get a nice boost of visibility in the process. Take the time to familiarize yourself with the feature and test it out with different types of content. This way, you can learn what works best for your brand or persona and adjust your strategy accordingly.
Look at the data to determine if it’s working.
Analyze the analytics on your social media platforms to see if using the new feature is creating the desired results. Keep an eye on metrics like reach, engagement, and conversion rates to see if the feature is helping you achieve your goals.
Make sure you have a clear content strategy in place.
Remember, marketing content is all about quality over quantity. Focus on creating content that resonates with your ideal client and aligns with your brand messaging.
Are you ready to jump on the next feature release? Being an early adopter of new social media platform features can give your brand or persona a visibility boost, but it’s important to approach them strategically and with a focus on quality content.
Being an early adopter of new social media platform features can have a significant impact on your brand or persona’s visibility and engagement.
Let’s look at some real-life examples of successful feature launches and how they benefited those who were quick to incorporate them into their content strategy.
Instagram Reels
When Instagram Reels was first launched in August 2020, it was met with excitement and curiosity from users. Reels allowed users to create short, 15-second videos set to music or other audio, like the popular app TikTok. Content creators who were quick to jump on board and create Reels saw significant boosts in their reach and engagement rates. In fact, according to Later.com, brands that used Reels saw a 72% increase in reach compared to other types of Instagram content. One brand that leveraged Instagram Reels successfully is the fitness apparel company, Gymshark. They created a Reels series called “Gymshark Train” which featured short workout videos set to music. This series quickly gained popularity and helped the brand attract new followers and customers.
Twitter Fleets
In November 2020, Twitter launched Fleets, a feature that allowed users to post temporary, disappearing content that disappeared after 24 hours. Fleets was like Instagram Stories and Snapchat’s Snaps, and Twitter users who were quick to adopt the feature saw significant boosts in their engagement rates.
One Twitter user who leveraged Fleets successfully is Alex Wolf, a digital strategist and author. She used Fleets to share bite-sized tips and insights on digital marketing and entrepreneurship, and her engagement rates on Twitter increased significantly.
By using Fleets to provide valuable content to her followers in a more casual and temporary format, she was able to connect with her audience in a new and unique way.
Clubhouse
Clubhouse is an audio-only social media app that launched in early 2020 and quickly gained popularity among early adopters.
Clubhouse allows users to join virtual “rooms” where they can listen to live conversations and discussions on a variety of topics. The app has been especially popular among entrepreneurs and business professionals, as it allows them to network and connect with others in their industry.
One entrepreneur who leveraged Clubhouse successfully is Lindsay Pinchuk, founder of the parenting website, Bump Club and Beyond. She used Clubhouse to host virtual events and discussions on topics related to parenting and motherhood, and was able to connect with new audiences and build relationships with other parenting influencers.
YouTube Shorts
In September 2020, YouTube launched Shorts, a new feature that allows creators to create and upload short-form videos of up to 60 seconds in length. Shorts is similar to TikTok and Instagram Reels, and has quickly gained popularity among content creators and viewers alike.
One YouTube creator who leveraged Shorts successfully is Kelly Stamps, a lifestyle vlogger with over 750K subscribers. She was quick to incorporate Shorts into her content strategy, and began creating short, punchy videos that showcased her quirky sense of humor and relatable personality. Her Shorts videos quickly gained traction on the platform, with some receiving millions of views and thousands of likes.
As a result of her success on Shorts, Kelly was able to attract new viewers to her channel and increase her engagement rates across all her content.
By being an early adopter of the feature, she was able to set herself apart from competitors and capitalize on the growing popularity of short-form video content.
Being an early adopter of new social media features can be a powerful way to increase your visibility and engagement on these platforms. By being quick to incorporate new features into your content strategy, you can set yourself apart from competitors and connect with new audiences in new and innovative ways.
Early Adopters of New Features Best Practices
Here are some tips for how you can get in quick and make the most of new platform features:
1. Stay Informed
Keep up-to-date with the latest platform updates and feature releases.
Follow official social media accounts or blogs for the platforms you use, and sign up for their newsletters or notifications.
This will help you stay ahead of the curve and be among the first to know about new features and updates.
2. Experiment and Test, Frequently
Once a new feature is released, don’t be afraid to experiment and test it out. Try different approaches when using the feature and see what works best for your content and audience.
This will help you find new and creative ways to engage with your audience and stand out from competitors.
3. Be Authentic, Don't Force It
When incorporating new features into your content strategy, be sure to stay true to your brand or persona.
Don’t force yourself to use a feature that doesn’t align with your style or content, as this will come across as inauthentic to your audience.
4. Engage With Your Audience
Encourage your audience to engage with your content by asking for feedback or input on how you’re using new features.
This will help you build stronger relationships with your audience and gain valuable insights into what they’re looking for.
5. Be Consistent And Stay That Way
Once you’ve found a new feature or approach that works for your content, be consistent in using it.
This will help you build a strong presence on the platform and make it easier for your audience to find and engage with your content.
6. Monitor And Adapt
Keep an eye on your engagement and metrics and be willing to adapt your approach if necessary.
If a new feature isn’t performing as well as you’d hoped, try tweaking your approach or experimenting with different types of content.
This will help you stay nimble and responsive to the changing demands of your audience and the platform.
Now you know that being an early adopter of new platform features can have a significant impact on your brand or persona’s visibility and engagement, so the next time a platform you use releases a new feature or sends out an email asking for beta testers, jump on it!
By staying informed, experimenting and testing, being authentic, engaging with your audience, staying consistent, and monitoring and adapting, you can make the most of new platform features and set yourself apart from competitors.
As we’ve seen from real-life examples, such as Instagram Reels, Twitter Fleets, and YouTube Shorts, being among the first to incorporate new features into your content strategy can lead to increased engagement rates, new followers, and even growth in your business or personal brand.
So, don’t be afraid to try new things and explore the full potential of the platforms you use!
