Quick Hacks + Major Reach 😎

Get seen by non-followers (for free).

May 14, 2025

Feeling stuck in the scroll? Let’s fix that. Whether you’re refreshing your brand or just need something fun to post, we’ve got tools, trends, and tips to spark your next big idea. In today’s newsletter:

  • đŸ”„ Edits just dropped new features—here’s what’s worth trying

  • 📈 The social trends everyone’s talking about this week

  • 🚀 10 smart ways to reach people who don’t follow you (yet)

  • đŸ€Ł 10+ free meme templates to boost your brand’s personality—fast and funny

 Instagram’s “Edits” App Just Leveled Up

Instagram just gave its shiny new “Edits” video editing app a major glow-up—just a week after launch. Whether you're a cafĂ© owner, boutique boss, or event planner, here’s how these fresh features can help you stop the scroll and wow your followers:

🔠 Fonts Galore (125 of ’em!)
Now you’ve got a whole font buffet to match your brand’s vibe. A vintage shop might pick a retro typeface for a “New Finds Friday” reel, while a fitness coach could go bold and modern for their “Workout of the Week.”

đŸŽ™ïž 15 New Voice Effects
Make your voiceovers pop with effects that add drama or playfulness. A dog groomer could use a chipmunk voice to narrate a pup’s spa day, or a realtor might go deep and cinematic for a “Dream Home Tour.”

✹ â€œApply All” Editing Shortcut
Save time with one-tap filters and transitions across all clips. Perfect for businesses making weekly content like restaurant specials, real estate walkthroughs, or behind-the-scenes shots at local markets.

đŸŽ„ No Watermarks + Weekly Updates
Your videos stay clean, and Instagram promises even more goodies soon. It’s all free for now, but premium features might come later—so small businesses should get in while it’s hot.

In short: whether you're DIYing a promo video or flexing your brand personality, Instagram Edits makes pro-level content easier (and way more fun).

đŸ”„ Latest Trends: What’s Hot on Social This Week

If you're looking for easy wins on social this week, here's your cheat sheet. These trending topics are tailor-made for boosting engagement, growing your audience, and yep, landing more sales:

đŸ“č Lifestyle Reels w/ Advice: Instagram and Facebook love aesthetically pleasing Reels with real, useful advice in the caption. If you’re a personal trainer, share quick fitness tips. Interior designer? Drop a 3-step living room refresh. Just keep it polished and Insta-worthy.

🏡 Homebody Living Vlogs: These chill, cozy videos are taking off on YouTube. Bakers, crafters, and anyone who works from home—film yourself organizing, cooking, or working with soft music in the background. It’s the perfect “day in the life” content.

🎧 ASMR—but make it business: Whisper your startup story, unbox your product, or softly tap on your tools (looking at you, candle makers and jewelry designers). TikTok and YouTube viewers can’t get enough of sensory storytelling.

🩍 Gorilla vs. 100 Men Debate: It’s weird. It’s everywhere. It’s viral. Use it to spark conversation in your niche. A gym could poll followers on gorilla strength. A lawyer might break down the legal side of the fight. Get creative!

đŸ€– Text-to-Speech = Big Reach: Tell a brand story using AI narration, pair it with visuals and mysterious music, and boom—your TikTok/Facebook views might just take off.

♻ Repurpose That Content: Post the same video (or tweak it slightly) across TikTok, Instagram, YouTube Shorts, and Facebook. Don’t reinvent the wheel—just keep it rolling.

👗 Old Money Aesthetic: Fashion boutiques and stylists—this is your moment. Create short clips comparing classic vs. flashy outfits, or do a style guide for “quiet luxury.”

🧠 Psychology is Trending: From buyer behavior to burnout tips, everyone’s eating up psych-based content. Therapists, coaches, consultants—this is your time to nerd out in a relatable way.

TL;DR: Think cozy, authentic, and a little offbeat. Use trends as a launchpad, but keep it aligned with your brand. Rhode Island’s scroll-happy customers are waiting—go get those eyeballs. 👀

10 Face-Free Video Ideas That Still Sell

Don’t love being on camera? Totally fair. But that doesn’t mean your Rhode Island biz should sit out the video game. Here are 10 clever, face-free video ideas perfect for local makers, shop owners, service pros, and anyone who wants to stay behind the scenes but in front of customers.

đŸŽ„ Close-ups in Action
Zoom in on your product doing its thing. Think: a florist snipping stems, a baker slicing into a gooey brownie, or a jeweler showing off sparkle in the light.

📩 Pack an Order
Show the love and care that goes into each sale. Crafters and boutiques: film your pretty packaging. Baristas: throw in a handwritten note with that cold brew.

🛠 Behind-the-Scenes
Let folks peek into your process—no face required. Artists, mechanics, candle makers
 people love to see how the magic happens.

💬 Quote It
Turn a meaningful quote into a quick video with text on a branded background. Wellness coaches, stylists, even accountants can drop some wisdom or motivation.

🙌 Hands-On How-To
Film your hands doing the work—prepping a meal, applying skincare, fixing a bike. Just be clear, clean, and calm. Bonus points for captions.

⏩ Time-Lapse Transformation
Setting up your market booth? Restocking shelves? Renovating your storefront? Fast-forward it and let the glow-up do the talking.

đŸ§ș Flat Lay Showcase
Arrange your products artfully—top-down style. Think soaps, earrings, pastries, or tools. Add labels or prices to make it shoppable.

📝 Text Over Clips
Combine short tips or updates with simple background video (like your workspace). Great for salons, consultants, or trainers with advice to share.

🌟 Customer Reviews
Highlight written or voiceover testimonials with visuals of the product or service. Restaurants, groomers, and boutiques: this is your trust-builder.

🎹 Mood Board Vibes
Create an aesthetic mashup of your brand. Mix product shots, lifestyle clips, color palettes, and music. Ideal for new drops or seasonal promos. Need a quick way to grab attention and get a laugh? These free meme templates are ready to plug in your message and instantly boost your brand’s personality—no Photoshop degree required.

Free Memes for Real-Time Relevance

Memes aren’t just for laughs—they’re the internet’s favorite language. From TikTok bans to award shows, memes connect people during big cultural moments and drive way more organic engagement than traditional content.

When brands join those conversations authentically, they’re not interrupting the feed—they’re part of the moment. That’s why we’re sharing free meme templates you can customize fast—no design skills needed.

Presented by Rhode Island Energy

Turn Up the Comfort, Not the Costs

Rhode Islanders: Is your home as efficient as you’d like it to be? Rhode Island Energy's Home Energy Assessment program can bring you a full, no cost evaluation of your home's energy efficiency—and so much more.

In just two hours, an expert Energy Specialist will conduct a thorough inspection of your home, identifying areas for potential energy savings and improvements. During the assessment, you may receive energy-saving devices like thermostats, low-flow showerheads, faucet aerators, and advanced power strips at no cost. The specialist will also inspect your insulation and look for drafts and air leaks that could be wasting energy.

If insulation improvements are recommended, Rhode Island Energy will cover 50-100% of the cost. Air sealing may also be covered at 100%. And if you need a heating system upgrade, you may receive rebates on equipment and 0% financing.

To take advantage of this program, Rhode Island Energy customers can call 1-888-633-7947 to schedule their assessment. You can also request an appointment online at rienergy.com/saveathome.

Don’t miss your chance to make your home more energy efficient. Schedule your no cost Home Energy Assessment today to reduce your environmental impact, lower your energy usage, and increase your home’s value and comfort.

Got a burning social media question? Wondering how to get more engagement, what to post next, or if hashtags still matter? đŸ€” 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.

10 Ways to Reach Non-Followers on Instagram

Not getting enough eyes on your Insta posts? You're not alone. Good news: You don’t need to be a social media wizard to fix that. Here are 10 proven tactic:.

1. Use Low-Competition Hashtags (<50K posts)
Instead of drowning in the #Entrepreneur ocean, try #ProvidenceBakery or #RIWellnessCoach. Niche tags = longer shelf life + the right audience.

2. Add Alt-Text to Static Posts
Alt-text isn’t just for accessibility—it’s SEO for your Insta. A local florist could describe a bouquet with “spring wedding flowers Rhode Island” to pop up in search.

3. Ride the Trend Wave
Hop on relevant trends, but with your twist. A local brewery might remix a trending audio with a behind-the-scenes of their latest IPA.

4. Geo-Tag Everything
Tag your location! If you run a bookstore, geo-tagging puts you on the map—literally—for curious locals.

5. Ask with CTAs
“Save this tip for later” or “Tag a friend who needs this” gives people a reason to act. A fitness coach could drop a CTA like “Try this 10-min workout and comment your burn level đŸ’Ș.”

6. Stories > Perfection
Use Instagram Stories for real, unfiltered moments. A café might show their morning coffee rush or ask followers what pastry to feature next.

7. Post Reels with Trending Audio
Reels are the new king of reach. A handmade jewelry brand could show off sparkle in sync with viral tunes.

8. Go Live (And Be You!)
Lives feel personal and rank high in the feed. A home organizer could do a Q&A on clutter-busting tips—mess and all.

9. Collaborate with Other Creators
Partner up with a neighboring biz. A Newport spa + a yoga studio = a relaxing Insta giveaway collab that introduces you to each other's followers.

10. Pin Your Best Work
Make sure your profile shines at first glance. Pin your top post—like a glowing review, your best product demo, or a killer promo.

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

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That’s a wrap—now go turn those scrolls into clicks and chuckles. Catch you next time with more tools, trends, and templates to keep your brand moving forward.