Qode Social

08/01/2025

Meta's New Messaging Tools Help Brands Stay Connected

Meta has rolled out new features to help businesses better engage with their customers across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Brands can now upload their subscriber lists and send targeted marketing messages using Meta's Ads Manager, with the option to let Meta's AI optimize placements for the best results. The new Business AI can also provide personalized product recommendations and follow up with customers directly in WhatsApp chats, making it easier to answer questions and provide updates. These updates are designed to help brands build stronger relationships and drive more sales through social media.

Learn more from The Globe and Mail:

Detailed price information for Snap Inc (SNAP-N) from The Globe and Mail including charting and trades.

07/28/2025

Our team had the exciting opportunity to join an exclusive holiday workshop led by our partners at Pinterest. The session was packed with forward-thinking strategies and fresh creative insights to help drive impact during Q4. 🎯

We’re always inspired by the innovation Pinterest brings to the table, and proud to collaborate with a partner that keeps us at the forefront of digital marketing📱

Thank you, Pinterest, for an energizing and insightful session!

07/25/2025

Instagram Introduces Auto Scroll for Reels: Hands-Free Viewing Arrives!

Instagram is rolling out a brand new Auto Scroll feature for Reels, making it easier than ever to enjoy your favorite content without lifting a finger. Once enabled, Reels will play one after another automatically—perfect for multitaskers or anyone who loves to binge-watch short videos.

How does it work? Just open any Reel, tap the three dots in the bottom right corner, and select 'Auto Scroll.' The feature is currently being tested on iPhones and will soon be available for Android users as well.

But that's not all—Instagram is also introducing a 3:4 vertical photo format, giving creators more screen space and flexibility for their posts. Plus, new AI-powered editing tools and personalized feed controls are on the horizon, all designed to make your Instagram experience smoother and more engaging.

Stay tuned as these updates roll out to more users soon!

Read more:

Instagram is rolling out a new Auto Scroll feature for Reels, making it easier for users to enjoy content without swiping manually. The feature, currently testing on iPhones, will soon be available on Android devices.

07/18/2025

Instagram Rolls Out Powerful New DM Tools for Business Users

Instagram has just launched a suite of new direct message features designed to make business communication easier and more effective. You can now schedule DMs up to 29 days in advance, pin up to three important messages at the top of your chats, and translate messages in 99 languages right inside the app. Businesses can also invite people to group chats using a QR code and share music directly in DMs.

These updates are perfect for managing conversations across time zones, keeping key information visible in busy chats, and connecting with customers in their preferred language. If your business relies on Instagram for customer service or community building, these tools are a game changer.

Read more about these updates here:

Invite people to DM chats with a QR code.

07/15/2025

Some highlights from our Qode Social pickleball event at Fairgrounds! ✨🏓 Nothing beats good times, great competition, and some friendly banter on the court!

07/11/2025

YouTube Removes Trending Page: What It Means for Creators and Viewers

YouTube has just announced a major update: the platform is removing its all-in-one Trending page and Trending Now list. Instead, YouTube will now highlight popular content through category-specific charts, such as Trending Music Videos, Top Podcast Shows, and Trending Movie Trailers.

Why the change? YouTube says viewers now discover trends through personalized recommendations, search, and comments—making the old Trending page less relevant. The new approach aims to better reflect the diverse interests and micro-trends shaping today’s YouTube experience.

For creators, YouTube will continue to offer personalized insights and new features to help spot what’s popular and get discovered. For viewers, it means more relevant trending content tailored to your interests.

Read more about this update from TechCrunch:

YouTube is replacing these Trending lists with category-specific charts, the company announced on Thursday.

07/04/2025

Meta Adds Copyright Check to Facebook Reels Composer: What It Means for Creators and Businesses

Meta has just rolled out a new 'Copyright Check' feature directly within the Facebook Reels composer. This tool automatically scans your Reels for potential copyright issues before you publish, giving creators and brands a chance to address any flagged content in advance.

Why does this matter? Copyright claims can lead to takedowns or demonetization, which can disrupt your content strategy and impact your business. With this new feature, you can create and share confidently, knowing that Meta is helping you stay compliant and avoid surprises.

This update is a big step toward making content creation on Facebook safer and more transparent for everyone.

Learn more about this update here:

A simpler way to check for potential copyright violations before publishing. 

06/20/2025

Meta Launches AI Video Restyling Tools: Transform Your Videos with a Click!

Meta has just introduced a powerful new AI video editing feature available in the Meta AI app, the Meta.AI website, and the Edits app. This tool lets anyone transform short-form videos using over 50 preset AI prompts—instantly changing outfits, backgrounds, lighting, and even the style of your video. Whether you want to turn a rainy day into a dreamy scene, reimagine yourself as a comic book character, or create a video game look, it’s now possible with just a few taps.

The feature is designed for everyone, from casual users to content creators, making high-quality video edits accessible without any editing expertise. For a limited time, you can edit up to 10 seconds of video for free and share your creations directly to Facebook, Instagram, or the Meta Discover feed.

Meta’s new tool is a big step forward in creative video content, helping brands and creators stand out and connect with their audiences in fresh, engaging ways.

Learn more and see examples here:

We’re launching a generative AI video editing feature across the Meta AI app, the Meta.AI website and the Edits app to help you bring your creative ideas to life.

06/06/2025

The Effectiveness of Skippable vs. Non-Skippable Ads: What Marketers Need to Know

Recent research and industry analysis show that six-second non-skippable video ads are among the most effective ad formats on social media. These short, unskippable ads capture attention without frustrating viewers, making them ideal for brand recall and engagement. In contrast, longer ads should be skippable to avoid disrupting the user experience and to give viewers more control. For advertisers, this means focusing on concise, creative messaging that delivers value quickly. For viewers, it means a less intrusive and more enjoyable experience. As social platforms like Snapchat continue to innovate, understanding the balance between ad length and skippability is key to successful campaigns.

Learn more from this Forbes analysis:

Next are some strategies that your company can use to avoid or work around the problems with big digital platforms that reduce the stress put on viewers and help increase your returns on advertising investment (ROAI).

05/30/2025

YouTube Adds Google Lens Search to Shorts: A New Era of Visual Discovery

Google has unveiled a powerful new feature for YouTube Shorts: the integration of Google Lens search. Announced at the recent Google I/O developer conference, this update allows users to search for information about objects, products, and scenes directly from Shorts videos using visual recognition technology. This means you can now identify items, get more details, and even shop for products you see in Shorts—all with a simple tap.

This move is part of Google’s broader push to make AI and visual search a seamless part of everyday life, enhancing how we interact with content across platforms. The new feature leverages Google’s Gemini AI model, which powers smarter, more natural search experiences across Google’s ecosystem. With Lens in Shorts, YouTube is making it easier than ever to connect viewers with the information and products they care about, right from the video feed.

Learn more about Google’s latest AI-powered innovations here:

A day after OpenAI impressed with a startlingly improved ChatGPT AI model, Google showed off an equally stunning vision for how AI will improve the products that billions of people use every day.

05/23/2025

Instagram Introduces Voice Message Transcription and Longer Audio Clips in DMs

Instagram has rolled out new features to enhance direct messaging: users can now send longer voice messages and, for the first time, have their voice messages automatically transcribed into text. This update aims to make communication more accessible, especially for those who prefer reading over listening or are in situations where listening to audio isn't possible. The transcription feature is expected to improve inclusivity and convenience, while longer audio clips allow for more detailed conversations. These changes reflect Instagram's ongoing efforts to make its platform more user-friendly and versatile for all.

Learn more about how voice notes are changing digital communication in this article from The Washington Post.

Instructions for sending voice notes through text messages, WhatsApp, Meta’s Messenger and more.

05/16/2025

TikTok Launches 'AI Alive': Animate Your Photos with AI

TikTok has introduced 'AI Alive,' a new feature that lets users transform still images into dynamic videos using artificial intelligence. This marks TikTok’s first AI-driven image-to-video creation tool, making it easier for anyone to create engaging, animated content from their photos. 'AI Alive' is designed to empower creators and brands to produce more interactive and visually appealing stories, reflecting the growing trend of AI-powered creativity across social media platforms.

Learn more about this innovative feature and how it could change content creation:

TikTok's "AI Alive" is the platform's first AI-driven image-to-video creation feature.