Want more views? Try this Reels tip

Rhody, grab your coffee and your content calendar. The social media world just dropped a handful of updates, and we’ve rounded up the ones worth knowing. Think of this as your cheat sheet to what’s trending, what’s changing, and what you can try next. In today’s newsletter:

• What’s New in Social Media: The latest shifts straight from the Meta-verse.

• Plug-and-Play ChatGPT Prompts: Smart, ready-to-use commands to make content planning a breeze.

• Reel Talk with Mosseri: Tips from Instagram’s head honcho on how to get your videos seen.

• Reels Inspo: The “I Don’t Know If I Want Her or Her” trend that creators everywhere are jumping on.

What’s New in Social Media

1. TikTok Might Finally Have a Buyer

Reports say a buyer has stepped forward, which could mean the end of TikTok’s long standoff with the US. Nothing’s signed, sealed, or delivered yet, but the deal may be closer than ever.

2. TikTok’s Newest Power Users Are 45+

Surprise twist: the fastest-growing age group on TikTok isn’t Gen Z or even Millennials. It’s adults 45 and older who are scrolling, posting, and proving TikTok isn’t just a teenager’s playground.

3. Links in Instagram Posts Are Being Tested

Instagram is experimenting with actual links inside posts. After years of “link in bio” workarounds and a firm “never happening” from Mosseri, the platform may finally be softening its stance.

4. Carousel Shuffle Coming Soon

Regretted the order of your photo dump? You’ll soon be able to rearrange Instagram carousel images even after hitting publish. Big sigh of relief for anyone who’s ever buried their best shot.

5. Facebook Groups Get Topic Tags

Admins can now label posts with topic tags, making it easier for members to discover related content. It’s like adding a table of contents to your community.

6. Facebook Is Rewarding ‘High-Quality’ Content

Creators posting “high-quality” content will see their reach boosted. The catch? Facebook hasn’t exactly defined what qualifies as high quality, so users are still guessing the rules of the game.

7. Instagram Highlights Get Their Own Tab

No more scrolling past endless grids. Instagram Highlights will soon move into a dedicated tab on your profile, making them easier to find and showcase.

8. Goodbye, Community Chats

Facebook is officially retiring Community Chats inside Groups. Consider this one of those features that arrived quietly and is leaving just as quietly.

9. More Languages for Instagram Voice Translation

Instagram continues its global push by expanding its Voice Translation tool into even more languages. Content can now connect across borders with fewer barriers.

10. Edits Is Playing Catch-Up With CapCut

The editing app Edits is cranking out new tools every week in an attempt to rival CapCut’s popularity. Whether it will win over creators remains to be seen.

11. Instagram’s ‘Shots’ Expands Globally

Instagram’s new “Shots” feature (basically a BeReal copycat) has rolled out to more countries. Think of it as a no-edit, no-filter image-sharing option designed to spark spontaneous interaction in the app.

12. Instagram Stories Glitch Fixed

That frustrating glitch limiting reach on Stories when posting more than one in a day is gone. Time to go back to oversharing without penalty.

Plug-and-Play ChatGPT Prompts for Social Media Success

If you’ve ever stared at your screen wondering what to post next, you’re not alone. The good news? ChatGPT can take over the heavy brainstorming with prompts that are already optimized to give you better results. All you have to do is copy, paste, and add your niche or brand details.

Here are the upgraded prompts we recommend trying:

1. Content Calendar Creator

“Generate a 30-day social media content calendar for [your niche/industry] that includes engaging captions, 10–15 relevant hashtags per post, and an optimized posting schedule based on best practices for [platform, e.g., Instagram]. Keep the tone [playful/professional/local-friendly/etc.].”

2. Post Designer Guide

“Suggest 30 visually engaging post ideas for [your niche/industry] that align with [your brand aesthetic, i.e. clean, colorful, minimal, bold]. Include a mix of photo, video, carousel, and story concepts that don’t require Canva templates.”

3. Caption Master

“Write 30 short-form, scroll-stopping captions for social media posts in [your niche/industry]. Use hooks in the first line, include relevant keywords, and end with a call-to-action that encourages comments, shares, or saves.”

4. Hashtag Strategist

“Provide 15 high-performing hashtags for each post in [your niche/industry]. Include a mix of popular, moderately competitive, and local hashtags (specific to Rhode Island if relevant). Format them in groups I can easily copy and paste.”

5. Engagement Booster

“Generate 10 creative questions, polls, or calls-to-action designed to spark audience interaction for posts in [your niche/industry]. Tailor them to feel authentic and conversational, not salesy.”

6. Scheduling Assistant

“List the best posting times for each day of the week on [specific platform] based on recent engagement trends for [your niche/industry] and explain why those time slots perform better.”

7. AI Content Manager

“Combine the content calendar, captions, hashtags, engagement boosters, and posting schedule into a single 30-day workflow. Organize it in a simple table format I can copy, paste, and schedule in under two hours.”

Mosseri Spills the Reels Tea

Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, hopped on his Stories last week for an AMA, and someone asked the question we’re all thinking: “Any tips to make my Reels perform better?” His response was equal parts strategy session and content detective work. Here are his three takeaways:

• Sort it out: Divide your Reels into categories that fit your niche or brand. Mosseri uses AMAs, Announcements, and Hidden Gems as his buckets—yours could look totally different.

• Spot the winners: Once you’ve grouped your content, pay attention to patterns. Which categories get the most shares, saves, or repeat views?

• Dig into the data: Check the metrics that really matter—likes per impression, sends per impression, and average watch time. This helps you figure out who scrolled by versus who actually engaged.

Not sure how to break your Reels into groups like Mosseri suggests? Think of categories as little buckets of personality for your brand. For small businesses here in Rhode Island, that could look something like this:

• Behind the Counter: Quick peeks into the day-to-day—brewing coffee, prepping ingredients, unboxing new arrivals.

• Local Love: Shoutouts to other Rhode Island businesses, collaborations, or community events you’re part of.

• Hidden Gems: The lesser-known items on your menu, shelf, or service list that deserve a little spotlight.

• How It’s Made: From dough to décor, give followers the “backstage pass” treatment.

• Customer Favorites: Reels featuring your top sellers, best-reviewed products, or fan shoutouts.

• Seasonal Specials: What’s new for fall in Providence, summer by the shore, or the holidays in Newport?

• Tips & Tricks: Helpful advice related to your business—styling tips from a boutique, coffee brewing hacks from a café, or quick recipes from a local market.

• AMA Style: Answer FAQs you get from customers, just like Mosseri did.

The bottom line? Growth on Reels isn’t random – it’s about organizing, observing, and analyzing.

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.