WhatsApp adds shopping button
WhatsApp has taken a step closer to maximising its eCommerce potential with the addition of a new shopping button that allows users to explore a brand’s catalogue of products from within the app.
The new button stops short of being able to make payments through WhatsApp but there are indications that Facebook is looking to bring out a checkout feature next.
In India – WhatsApp’s biggest market – money transfers have just been launched after being given the green light from financial controllers and banks. It is now only a matter of time before WhatsApp’s social commerce ambitions come to fruition in other parts of the world.
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Instagram add Reels and Shop tabs to its home screen
Instagram is looking to lean further into the TikTok-led, short video trend by adding a new Reels tab on the home screen for all users.
While a lot of the discussion around Reels suggests that users find it to be an inferior version of TikTok, Instagram’s decision to give it more exposure on its home screen indicates that there is some momentum with the feature and it is being invested in.
Additionally, the platform is also adding a Shop tab along the lower function bar to further its eCommerce push. This links to Instagram’s evolving in-app shopping experiences allowing users to browse shops and make purchases from the app.
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Pinterest launches holiday gift guide
With Christmas just around the corner, Pinterest has launched its annual holiday gift guide, highlighting the most searched for Christmas gift ideas on the platform.
To help businesses plan their festive promotions, Pinterest has shared a list of the key trends including a 70 per cent increase in ‘self care package gift ideas’, a 30 per cent increase in ‘best skincare products’ and a 96 per cent increase in ‘learning toys’.
That could help provide brand’s some additional guidance as to where they should be focusing your efforts, as we head into the shopping season.
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TikTok predicted to surpass one billion users in 2021
New data has predicted that the booming social media app TikTok will surpass one billion global users over the course of next year.
The ByteDance owned app has seen a sharp growth in the number of users worldwide over the past few years and, in the third quarter of 2020, saw the second-highest consumer spend among non-gaming apps.
Assuming that TikTok remains operational, the platform would hold a strong position entering the new year. For marketers, this would open up new opportunities and present significant value as a brand promotion vehicle.
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Twitter debuts carousel ads with up to six images or videos
Twitter is bringing Facebook-style carousel ads to its platform, allowing marketers to use two to six images or videos in one advertisement.
Carousel ads are designed to help businesses more effectively reach their goals by engaging potential customers with a new and interactive ad format.
Twitter has said that this new feature is an early step towards Twitter building a more effective performance advertising platform, allowing advertisers more options to show and tell their brand’s story.
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