This week, I’ve been really investing more on growing the business via Twitter. Consistently tweeting and being helpful has been helping me have early conversations with new potential agency clients. Writing tweets daily is a cheat code for business.

I’ll expand on that in another issue, but for now here’s this week’s roundup:

Social media and the creator economy

• New year, new data on best times to post on Instagram. The crew at Later analyzed the best and worst times to post on IG for max reach and engagement. As a note, they didn’t analyze Reels. Spoiler alert, the results are the same: very early morning in your time zone (5-6AM).
• Staying on the topic of IG: This week, the company officially launched its test of an algorithm-free, reverse chronological feed. That’s a complicated way to say, “we made it the way it used to be.”
• Twitter is testing full-screen, visual tweet reactions. As video becomes ever more important online, Twitter is taking advantage. Now, when you quote tweet, you can also record and customize a unique video take.
• TikTok launched a series about the importance of audio on the platform. Volume one is here. Fun fact: 88% of TikTok users say sound is vital to the TikTok experience.
• A winning social strategy doesn’t have to only be based on organic OR paid tactics. This breakdown from AdEspresso details how to combine both for a winning strategy.
• You only get one chance to make a first impression on Instagram, and your bio is the main place that happens. The team at social agency Giraffe put together an infographic that shows how to set up your bio for success.

SEO & content marketing

• This one's for those of you who are in charge of content marketing at a company with multiple contributors: 7 Steps to a more strategic editorial calendar.
• Did you know Google’s search algorithm goes through hundreds of updates per year at this point? Here are the most notable updates from 2021, in handy infographic format. Little known fact: Google changed to mobile-first indexing last year—which means it judges the mobile version of your site first.
• Yoast SEO is coming to Shopify. The Yoast SEO plugin for WordPress is a time-tested favorite of many WordPress websites. Now, Shopify site owners can take advantage of its many features that help author search-friendly content.
• Speaking of SEO: it takes time to work effectively. Site owners should be willing to invest at least a solid year into continuous improvements for continuous traffic growth. Here’s a case study on how one SEO grew a site from 0 visits/month to 77K visits per year.
• Let’s not forget search’s less-mentioned engine, Bing. Microsoft released an IndexNow plugin for WordPress this week. What does that mean? Essentially: with this plugin installed, your website can get indexed by the search engine in real time.

Copywriting, branding & advertising

• It’s the top of 2022, which means the Super Bowl is looming (I think… I actually have no idea when this game is). The commercials are often the highlight of the game, which means it’s high stakes to create a Super Bowl ad. Here’s what it’s like to make one.
• Spotify launched clickable podcast ads this week. This could end up being major. How many times have you heard an ad during a podcast and opened a tab or taken a note for later. Now, the sponsoring company will get full-screen takeovers during the ad spot. I hope you’re ready for some sweet, sweet Squarespace ads in full screen.
• Big changes have been on the horizon for Google Ads. Here are 9 things to be aware of. Number one is the rise of Responsive Search Ads and elimination of expanded text ads. In short: machine learning is taking over, and our puny human-powered ads aren’t long for this world.
• About Google Ads, here’s an article showcasing the key differences between targeting and observation audience settings.

Just for fun

• How MudWtr makes $60M with a single product. This story is wild, and a masterclass in having an idea, learning how to do all the things, doubling down on what works, and really catching fire.
• Mental models are helpful frameworks to help you solve problems. Here’s a great thread on the most popular mental models to solve problems.
• A look into the business of reputation cleanup. Did you get yourself into some PR trouble? You can pay an agency to turn things around, and it turns out that takes significant effort.

Woo! You made it to the end. Thank you so much for being here for another week.

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