Don’t Post Without Reading This! 🚨

Fresh season, fresh content! Get the latest platform updates, a 60-second growth strategy, and trending ideas to keep your content blooming 🌸

March 19, 2025

Spring is in the air, and your content deserves a seasonal refresh! 🌸 Ready to bloom on social media? This newsletter has you covered with:

✨ The latest platform updates you need to know
⏳ A 60-second strategy to grow your audience—organically
📖 Three storytelling ideas to make your posts pop
🎵 Four trending Reels ideas plus the perfect audio to match

If you blinked, you probably missed another social media update. No worries—we’ve got you covered! Here’s what’s fresh on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube that Rhody small businesses need to know:

Instagram: More Creativity, Less Misinformation

  • - Community Notes 📝: Instagram is testing a crowd-sourced fact-checking system in the U.S. to combat misinformation.

  • - "Blend" for Reels 🎬: A new feature lets you seamlessly mix videos and images for next-level storytelling.

  • - Collages in Stories 🖼️: You can now combine multiple photos and videos in one story—hello, engagement boost!

  • - Captions in Stories 🔠: Perfect for accessibility and silent scrollers alike.

Facebook: Smarter, More Accessible Content

  • - Community Notes 🔎: Just like on Instagram, Facebook is testing a fact-checking system powered by users.

  • - Copyright Check for Reels ⚖️: Avoid takedowns with this new feature that ensures your content is copyright-compliant.

  • - Ambient Mode for Images 🌅: Background colors now adapt to images for a sleeker viewing experience.

  • - Collage for Stories 🎨: The same cool feature from Instagram is now on Facebook Stories.

YouTube: Expanding Your Reach & Monetization

  • - Auto-Dubbing 🌍: Videos can now be automatically translated and dubbed into multiple languages. Global audience, here you come!

  • - More Mid-Roll Ads 💰: Expect more ad breaks at natural pauses—great for monetization, but maybe not for binge-watchers.

  • - Voice Comments for Long-Form Videos 🎤: You can now respond with voice comments, making engagement more personal.

Sure, there are always trending sounds—but what are the actual trends taking over Reels right now? From behind-the-scenes peeks to weekend vibes and industry “red flags,” these trends are fun, easy to recreate, and perfect for showing off your brand’s personality To check out the audio on Instagram, just click the photo!

1. Trend: My Camera Roll

Trend Recap: This trend gives followers a behind-the-scenes look at your daily life with a simple scroll through your camera roll. Pets, coffee runs, or messy desks—keep it real and relatable!

Audio:

📌 Best for: Cafés, boutiques, artists, service providers


💡 Post Idea: Share a week in your business! Feature snapshots of your morning coffee, a favorite customer, a product restock, or a funny behind-the-scenes moment.

2. Trend: Meet the Team

Trend Recap: Running a one-person show? This trend is made for you! Solopreneurs and small teams are using it to highlight the many hats they wear.

Audio:

 📌 Best for: Solopreneurs, small businesses, freelancers


💡 Post Idea: Show all the roles you juggle—barista, marketer, accountant, and customer service pro—all in one fun Reel. Bonus points for humor!

3. Trend: Let Me Go

Trend Recap: This trending sound screams weekend vibes. Use it to show what a Friday afternoon or Saturday morning looks like in your world.

Audio:

📌 Best for: Restaurants, bars, fitness studios, salons


💡 Post Idea: Capture that weekend energy! Feature your Friday happy hour, a Saturday yoga class, or a busy brunch scene with customers enjoying the sunshine.

4. Trend: Red Flag

Trend Recap: This trending sound is all about sharing your biggest no-nos—perfect for playful industry advice or pet peeves.

Audio:

📌 Best for: Skincare brands, beauty salons, fitness trainers, retail shops


💡 Post Idea: “Red flags” in your industry! A spa could post “When someone says they don’t need SPF” or a boutique could share “When customers say they’ll ‘think about it’ and never come back.”

With winter finally on its way out, now’s the perfect time to refresh your social media with fun, local-first storytelling. The best spring content feels real, timely, and connected to your community. Whether you’re using humor, nostalgia, or engaging your audience, great storytelling makes your brand more relatable—and more memorable!

So, how can you tap into that energy and bring your brand to life? Here are three fresh, fun content ideas to boost engagement and build community through storytelling:

🌼 1. “First Signs of Spring” Series

Showcase the little moments that make spring feel official in Rhode Island. Think:
✔ The first day your café sets up outdoor seating (“Gloves are optional. Iced coffee isn’t.”)
✔ A customer ditching their winter coat in your boutique (“52°F? Practically summer.”)
✔ The first flowers blooming near your storefront (“We survived winter. Barely.”)

📸 2. “We Know It’s Spring When…” UGC Challenge

Encourage customers to share their first spring rituals and tag your business! Use their responses in captions, stories, or a fun giveaway.
Example: “We know it’s spring when Del’s Lemonade sales spike… and it’s still 40°F.”

🏕️ 3. “Spring Cleaning, RI Style” Before & After

Give your followers that oh-so-satisfying transformation content:
✔ A shop’s seasonal refresh (“Goodbye winter clutter, hello spring vibes.”)
✔ A restaurant’s menu swap (“From chowder season to fresh greens.”)
✔ A garden shop’s first big project (“Rhody yards emerging from hibernation.”)

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Got a burning social media question? Wondering how to get more engagement, what to post next, or if hashtags still matter? 🤔 Now’s your chance to pick a marketer’s brain – no consulting fee required! Drop your questions in our quick survey, and we’ll tackle the hottest topics in an upcoming newsletter. Whether it’s content creation, branding, or social media trends, we’ve got you covered.

Growing your social media following without breaking the bank? Yes, please! Try these simple strategies and watch your audience grow—no ads required!

1️⃣ Engage before you post – Spend five minutes interacting with similar accounts before hitting publish. It tells the algorithm, Hey, I’m here and active! (And the algorithm listens.)

2️⃣ Team up with micro-influencers – Rhode Island’s small biz scene is tight-knit, so slide into the DMs of a local foodie or lifestyle creator for a quick shoutout swap. A little cross-promotion goes a long way!

3️⃣ Turn customers into your hype squad – Run a UGC campaign (user-generated content). Ask customers to tag your biz for a chance to be featured—because nothing sells better than happy customers showing off your product!

Which aspect of social media marketing do you find most challenging?

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Spring is all about fresh starts, and your content deserves the same glow-up! 🌷 Try out these trends, tweak your strategy, and watch your engagement bloom—because your audience is ready for what’s next. ✨