Say More Than Happy Birthday On Facebook
7 Articles To Improve Your Engagement On Social Media
In This Week’s Weekend Roundup

We know you’ve got a lot on your plate and maybe the thought of doing research about social media and the latest updates plus keeping up with what’s going on in your own industry is way too much.

We are your resource that helps you filter through all of that information. Each article selected has been handpicked with you in mind. It will feature the good stuff, the important stuff. The stuff that will make you want to do something, get a result as opposed to reading for information sake.

• North Social App Allows Facebook Page Administrators To Add Instagram Photos

• Facebook Lets Users Buy Real Things for Friends

• Facebook Starts Showing Birthdays And Selling Gifts At The Top Of The Mobile News Feed

• A Holiday Checklist For Brands On Facebook

• The ROI of Social Media for Direct Sales

• 10 Creative Ways to Use Instagram for Business

• ‘Belonging’ Is a Key Driver of Brand Love in Social

If you want even more than the 7 articles worth reading follow @tiffanydparson on Twitter and the Social Media Tools & Tutorials board on Pinteret.

Updates You Want To Know

1. North Social App Allows Facebook Page Administrators To Add Instagram Photos

Now that Facebook has acquired Instagram, a new app has been created so users of both sites can show off their Instagram photos on their Facebook page. Their friends or followers will be able to make comments and share these photos. This will allow users to engage more through visual storytelling.

2. Facebook Lets Users Buy Real Things for Friends

Who doesn’t love receiving many birthday wishes posted on their Facebook page from friends? Now friends will be able to use a new tool on the site to send actual gifts for a special occasion. The gift can be announced as a message on their page, or it can be done privately to let the recipient know that the gift will soon be arriving at their home.

3. Facebook Starts Showing Birthdays And Selling Gifts At The Top Of The Mobile News Feed

Now that Facebook has a new tool allowing test group users to buy gifts, this option is being prominently displayed at the top of their mobile news feed along with birthdays and other special occasion announcements. These are not virtual gifts, but actual gifts to be delivered to the recipient’s home. It will be interesting to see how successful the gifts option will be, and how soon users not in the test group will be able to see birthdays and other reminders in their mobile news feed.

Tips You Can’t Be Social Without

4. A Holiday Checklist For Brands On Facebook

Yes, the holiday season is quickly approaching, and some good news is that retail sales are predicted to increase over last year. Many consumers are already searching for deals right now and Facebook is one platform where you can reach these shoppers. Here, TabSite offers brands a checklist of things to consider adding to their marketing strategy this season.

5. The ROI of Social Media for Direct Sales

Being social is not a new concept in direct sales because getting someone to make a personal recommendation for your product or service has always been a very important part of sales. In this article by Cindy Ratzlaff, she explains how the time invested in social media builds trust and relationships, and in return leads to referrals and sales. She also explains some important rules to follow when using social media for direct sales.

6. 10 Creative Ways to Use Instagram for Business

Have you been waiting to see what happens with the popularity of Instagram before deciding to expand your web presence to this site? As the use of the photo-sharing site continues to rise, it could be time to make the move and start engaging with this community. This article gives 10 creative ideas for adding content on Instagram.

7. ‘Belonging’ Is a Key Driver of Brand Love in Social

Creating a sense of belonging for your customers can have a powerful impact on their loyalty and recommendations for your brand. By understanding a little more about human needs, you can use this information to create a more effective social media strategy. If you are interested in taking a more psychological approach to marketing, read on to discover how you can create more love for your brand.