Has the algorithm changed?
My favourite question to search since starting this blog is “Has the algorithm changed?” and I know I’m not the only blogger in the world to have done this, in fact I think some have us have done this twice a week, maybe more.
The joys having social media play such an important role in getting your name out there, is that sometimes engagement can begin to flop and you jus don’t know why it’s happening. Is it something you’ve done? Have you been shadow banned? Sometimes stuff can go a bit awry and you just don’t know why.
A lot of bloggers began to comment on the lack of engagement after lockdown began to lift, thinking the algorithm had messed up or they weren’t posting the same quality of content they had over lockdown.
In some cases this might be true, but it was probably down to the fact many were beginning to slowly return back to life at work or school and just didn’t have the time to sit on Instagram all day looking at the lives of bloggers/influencers.
If you’re planning on making the most out of your online presence, then knowing your way around social media is vital. Anyone can post a photo of their food and call it photography, anyone can start a blog and call themselves a blogger. It takes time and skill to craft something that people really want to see- and unless you were birthed by the founders of social media, it’s something you’ve got to pick up along the way.
There’s a plethora of ways someone can pick up knowledge on social media. Apart from basic reading, you can do several things to ‘wise-up’ on all things internet; Facebook Blueprint, Google Skillshop, and the Pinterest Academy are just a selection of sites.
As a full-time marketer, I spend most of my free time drilling through these courses. Every time I finish one, there’s another that I need to sink my teeth into. It feels never ending and that’s because it isn’t. Social Media is conceptually still in it infancy, in ten years time the whole face of it could be unrecognisable.
That’s why it’s important to stay ahead of the curve, to know your stuff and not be afraid to put your skills to use.
Know your resources.
Get your certifications.
And learn your algorithms.
If you only fancy doing the latter of these three right now, then you’ve come to the right place! I’ve written about some of the top news sites for finding out about the algorithm.
Social Media Today
My favourite site for any information. Social media today is brilliant at providing you day to day updates on everything in the world of social media.
In light of the massive political changes going on in our world at the moment, it’s not surprising that a lot of the articles revolve around hate speech and the USA election. But SMT have actually been really impartial with their coverage. Although that should be expected from most news sources, its refreshing to see people take it seriously.
Social Media Today does have a contributor programme which help them maintain a high output of content, but you have to apply to contribute on the sight. The result is loads of high-quality, experienced writers who have a track record of providing educational content.
They also have a lot of content which helps build a ‘social media strategy’, everything from content calendars to graphic design trends. There is a plethora of free resources which help you get your feet off the ground.
Although I will say SMT isn’t too good at providing long-form algorithm updates. Their news coverage is more reactive and written for those who regularly check for updates.
The Drum
Compared to a lot of the other resources on this list, I would say The Drum is a little more marketing focused. But that doesn’t mean it’s just for Marketing folk, they post some genuinely thought provoking information for anyone interested in technology or commercialism.
The Drum is an award winning and award hosting company which aims to show the importance of Marketing in the modern age as well as the impacts it has on society.
If that butters your crumpet, or if you have an intrigue for the consumerist world we live in. I highly recommend flicking through The Drum from time to time.
Medium/Better Marketing
Don’t have Medium? You really should, it’s an amazing way to learn from likeminded individuals in almost any sector imaginable. Although Medium has been knocking about for a few years I feel like it’s been skyrocketing in popularity. It’s now a place for professionals and intellectuals to discuss their industry.
Pinterest is perhaps one of the most avid users of Medium and it’s known to be the place that they announce new updates.
Even if you’re not that interested in learning about social media, Medium is a great site for an educational or mindful read.
On of the main blogs on Medium I’d recommend is called Better Marketing . Everything from content marketing strategies, excellent case stories and nostalgia for marketing campaigns of the 90’s.
Hubspot Marketing
Content is king and it always has been. Thats why it’s not very surprising to see companies running extensive blogs alongside services.
Hubspot is one of the biggest CRM softwares on the market right now, but that’s probably not what you’re looking for. Their online free courses and marketing blogs are unmatchable. It’s quite popular, with over 4.5 million monthly users they are clearly doing something right!
Their blog covers everything a potential marketer/blogger would need, from the basics of writing your first blog post to building out an intricate email marketing campaign.