3 Underrated Instagram Features to Elevate Your Brand’s Community
When it comes to marketing on Instagram, most brands are already using the usual suspects—Stories, Reels, and grid posts. But Instagram is constantly evolving, and beneath the surface are lesser-known tools with powerful potential. If you're looking to maximize engagement, build community, and drive brand performance, it’s time to explore some of Instagram’s hidden gems. Here are 3 underrated Instagram features to help elevate your brand’s reach and community building in 2025.
1. Broadcast Channels: A One-Way Megaphone
If you're not using Instagram's Broadcast Channels, you're missing out on a direct line to your most engaged followers.
What It Is:
Broadcast Channels are a one-to-many messaging feature that allows creators and brands to send text updates, polls, voice notes, and behind-the-scenes content to followers who opt in. Think of it as a private newsletter, except it lives on Instagram and thrives on real-time interaction.
Why It Works:
Instant Reach: Messages hit the top of users’ inboxes, ensuring visibility.
Exclusivity: Followers feel like insiders when they join a brand’s private channel.
Pro Tip:
Use Broadcast Channels for product drops, live event reminders, and exclusive tips. It’s a no-algorithm zone—just pure, unfiltered brand-to-fan communication.
2. Unlockable Reels: A Secret Code to Exclusive Engagement
This one is still in testing, but if you want to stay ahead of the curve, Unlockable Reels are worth watching and planning for.
What It Is:
Instagram’s new lockable Reels allow creators to hide content behind a secret code. Only users who know the code can unlock and view the Reel—creating an “IYKYK” moment with built-in exclusivity.
Why It Works:
Exclusivity Sparks Buzz: Fans feel special when they unlock content others can’t see.
Creative Campaign Potential: Perfect for secret launches, scavenger hunts, or customer reward codes.
Targeted Engagement: Great for superfans, regional audiences, or loyalty groups.
Pro Tip:
Before this rolls out widely, start building your private communities and email lists. When live, offer access codes to VIP customers, regional fans, or newsletter subscribers.
3. Close Friends: The VIP List That Builds Loyalty
When Instagram launched Close Friends in 2018, it was meant for party invites, outfit checks, and private rants. Fast-forward to 2025, and brands are using it to create VIP experiences that drive engagement, loyalty, and conversion—all without cluttering the main feed.
What It Is:
Close Friends allows you to share Instagram Stories with a hand-picked audience. Originally a personal feature, it’s now a powerful brand tool for private content, early access drops, exclusive discounts, and community-building.
Why It Works:
FOMO Meets Function: Followers feel like they’re getting insider access—because they are.
Algorithm-Free Visibility: No feed competition or noise, just your message delivered to people who want it.
Loyalty in Action: It rewards your most engaged fans in real time.
Pro Tip:
Use Close Friends for:
Early access to product drops
Secret discount codes
Invite-only events or pop-ups
Beta testing and campaign feedback
Behind-the-scenes moments that humanize your brand
Close Friends is your brand’s secret menu, offering intimate, algorithm-proof storytelling that strengthens bonds with your audience.
Bonus: Combine All 3 for Maximum Impact
Want to create an unbeatable Instagram strategy? Here’s how these tools work together:
Announce exclusive Reels in your Broadcast Channel
Deliver secret codes to view Unlockable Reels
Share bonus content through Close Friends Stories
This layered approach builds excitement, deepens engagement, and keeps your audience coming back for more.
By tapping into these underutilized features—Broadcast Channels, Guides, and Close Friends—you can unlock new ways to engage your audience, increase visibility, and build brand love. Good luck!
Want to work with an agency that strategizes and deploys these new Instagram features for you? Contact us today.
Instagram Edits App Review: Should You Use It?
It’s finally here: Meta’s answer to CapCut. Say hello to Edits, Meta’s new standalone video editing app built just for creators. We spent some time with the app and have compiled our thoughts, loves, and disappointments with it.
In this Instagram Edits app review, we’ll walk through:
What the Edits app is
Its main features (including what works/what doesn’t)
Honest Reddit user reviews
What features we hope to see added
Our final verdict of the app
What Is Instagram Edits?
Launched in April 2025, Edits is Meta’s take on a modern, mobile-first video editing tool. It connects seamlessly with your Instagram account and aims to streamline the entire content creation process, from idea to publication.
Key Features:
100% Free
No watermarks
4K video export
In-app camera
Audio overlays, text, transitions, and animations
Integrated project folders
Super-helpful inspiration and performance analytics tabs
Here’s What the App Looks Like
Let’s dive into how Edits is structured—and what each tab brings to the table.
Keep Track of Your Ideas
The Ideas tab is your creative brainstorming board. From here you can:
Jot down quick ideas using sticky notes
Save Reels from Instagram directly into the app
View saved content in a familiar, scrollable format
Collections stay synced with Instagram, so your saved categories transfer right over
This is a surprisingly useful feature. Instead of storing video ideas in your Notes app or screenshots folder, you get a dedicated, visual space to plan content. It’s one way Meta is trying to make Edits a one-stop shop for project creation.
Get Inspiration from Other Creators
The Inspiration tab is your standard feed of trending or followed Reels for content ideas. To be honest, we don’t see a ton of added value here. Aside from the option to use a Reel’s audio or save it as a sticky note for later reference, it feels pretty much identical to Instagram’s regular Reels feed.
Create Projects with a Variety of Tools
This is where the actual editing happens—and it’s got some hits and misses. For starters, Meta has made the process of creating green-screen social media content very smooth and intuitive.
One of Edit’s most impressive features is the CutOuts tool, which allows you to create cut-out elements from videos or images and superimpose them over other videos or images. This feature has real potential for creators to get creative and push boundaries.
Overview of the Edit app’s features
CutOuts: Isolate a subject and layer it over other media
Green Screen: Intuitive and ready to use with one tap
AI Animation Tool: Animate still images (though results are often blurry)
More fonts, transitions, and sound effects than the native Instagram editor
The Downsides of the Edits App
AI Animation still needs polish—blurred and low-res outputs were common
No multi-account support (a pain point for social media managers)
Can’t export videos with added audio
Auto-captions are tricky to edit and time correctly with your footage
In-app camera quality feels weaker than the phone's native camera
Gather Insightful Data on Your Content
The Insights section offers a bit more data than you’d find on the regular Instagram app including Skip rate, Retention, Share rate and more. For creators serious about content strategy, this gives a better sense of what’s working—without jumping into Instagram’s business suite or third-party tools.
Important to remember: Edits’ Insights tab only gives you analytics on your Reels content. It does NOT show you insights on stories, carousels, or static posts.
What We’d Love to See Added
Edits is promising, but with so many users already using CapCut’s vast library of features, there's room to grow. Here's our wish list for future updates:
Collaboration Tools: The ability to co-edit with a team would be a game-changer.
Keyframes: A must for creators who want complete animation control.
Desktop Access: Mobile-first is fine, but please give us a browser version.
Meta has hinted at some of these, but no ETA yet. Stay tuned.
✅ Final Verdict: Should You Use Instagram Edits?
Use Edits if you:
Create Reels often
Want a cleaner editing flow than the native Instagram editor
Like organizing your ideas and inspiration in one place
Stick with CapCut if you:
Need pro-level tools, templates, and audio editing
Post across multiple platforms
Value desktop access and team workflows
If you’re ready to improve your social media content strategy, request a proposal, and let us help you bring your vision to life.
CapCut or Adobe Express: The Best Video Editor for Your Social Media Needs?
Creating scroll-stopping social media videos doesn't have to mean mastering professional editing software. With intuitive, free-to-use tools like CapCut and Adobe Express, content creators—from beginners to seasoned marketers—can turn raw footage into polished posts in minutes. But when it comes to social media video editing, which one truly earns the title of best video editing app for social media?
Let’s break down the CapCut vs Adobe Express review, looking at everything from templates and effects to export options and ease of use.
CapCut, developed by ByteDance (the makers of TikTok), is tailor-made for social-first content. Its mobile-first design makes it wildly popular among everyday creators on TikTok and Instagram Reels.
Unlike many free video editing software options, CapCut enables multi-layer timelines that support text, stickers, filters, and overlays in a single view. This gives users more freedom to experiment with creative direction, mainly when producing high-volume content for varied platforms.
Key CapCut Features:
Drag-and-drop editing with multi-track timelines
Pre-made CapCut templates designed for TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube Shorts
A vast library of filters, transitions, text animations, and effects
AI-powered tools like auto-captions, background removal, and voice changers
Seamless integration with TikTok for direct publishing
Free? Yes—CapCut offers a robust free version with minimal watermarks or paywalls. A Pro plan at $9.99/month unlocks more advanced assets like additional effects, transitions, video templates, and more, but most casual users won’t feel the pinch.
✅ Pros of CapCut:
Mobile-first and highly intuitive
Ideal for short-form, trending video styles
Fast export and direct TikTok publishing
Strong AI tools for captions, editing, and effects
❌ Cons of CapCut:
Limited branding and design customization for businesses
Less ideal for horizontal/long-form videos
Some users report occasional app lag or crashes
New pricing options have limited once-free features (teleprompter, specific captioning options, etc.
Adobe Express (formerly Adobe Spark) brings Adobe’s design muscle to video editing, without the intimidating interface of Premiere Pro.
This program distinguishes itself by embedding design logic into every step of the content creation process. Instead of building around a video-first timeline, it layers motion and interaction into graphic-first compositions—an approach that resonates with organizations managing diverse content formats.
Key Adobe Express Features:
Clean, brand-ready Adobe Express templates for professional-looking videos
Easy timeline-based editing for quick social media cuts
Text overlays, stock music, and animations baked into the interface
Direct publishing to social platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok
Access to Adobe Fonts and stock photos
Free? Adobe Express has a strong free tier, though some premium assets and templates are locked behind a subscription. Premium tiers start at $9.99 a month.
✅ Pros of Adobe Express:
Professional, polished templates ideal for branded content
Easy for beginners and marketers to pick up quickly
Native access to Adobe Fonts and stock media
Consistent layout across web and mobile platforms
Great for teams and brand kits
❌ Cons of Adobe Express:
Limited editing flexibility compared to CapCut’s multi-track tools
Some key features require a subscription
Not optimized for short-form trends like TikTok/Reels
Video Editing Tools Comparison: Side-by-Side
Feature
CapCut
Adobe Express
Ease of Use
Beginner-friendly, mobile-first
Beginner-friendly, web-based
Templates
Trendy, short-form focused
Polished, brand-forward
AI Tools
Auto captions, voice effects
Basic animation & design tools
Platform Compatibility
Mobile & desktop
Primarily Web, mobile app too
Export Options
Optimized for TikTok, IG, YT
Multi-platform exports
Best For
Creators, influencers
Small businesses, marketers
Which Is More Beginner-Friendly?
Both platforms are designed with non-editors in mind. CapCut shines for creators who want quick, trend-driven content with minimal effort. Its drag-and-drop timeline and viral-ready templates make it ideal for those new to editing but eager to grow their social presence.
Adobe Express, on the other hand, offers more brand control—perfect for marketers or business owners who want consistent logos, colors, and font styling in their video content. If you’ve used Canva before, Adobe Express will feel very familiar.
Final Verdict: Which One Wins?
Choosing between CapCut or Adobe Express comes down to your goals and workflow:
Choose CapCut if you’re a content creator, influencer, or short-form video enthusiast who values speed, trends, and mobile-first convenience.
Choose Adobe Express if you’re a marketer, entrepreneur, or small business owner who needs on-brand, professional-looking content with design flexibility.
The good news is that both are free video editing software options worth trying. So why not test both and see which best suits your needs?
If you’re ready to improve your social media content strategy, request a proposal, and let us help you bring your vision to life.
How LinkedIn Is Empowering Creators: A 2025 Guide
LinkedIn has been undergoing a significant transformation in recent years. As we enter 2025, it's clear that LinkedIn is no longer just a place to connect with colleagues and search for job opportunities.
The platform has been evolving to become more creator-friendly, recognizing the growing importance of personal branding and thought leadership in the professional world. LinkedIn is now a space where individuals can showcase their expertise, engage with their audience, and build a strong online presence.
Why is LinkedIn becoming a creator-friendly platform?
LinkedIn's evolution into a creator-friendly platform is driven by the increasing demand for valuable, industry-specific content. Professionals are seeking insights, inspiration, and thought leadership from experts in their field—and LinkedIn is positioning itself as the go-to platform for this type of content.
By introducing features that support content creators, LinkedIn is fostering a community of thought leaders and innovators. The platform's algorithm prioritizes content based on professional relevance, ensuring that creators can reach their target audience effectively. This targeted approach sets LinkedIn apart from other social media platforms, making it an attractive space for professionals looking to build their personal brand and engage with like-minded individuals.
Creator-Friendly Additions to LinkedIn
New Video Features and Updates
Last year, LinkedIn implemented its dedicated video feed in the app. The feed displays content in a TikTok-style, full-screen format, leaning into the broader vertical video trend. Since then, LinkedIn has reported that total video viewership on LinkedIn is up 36% year-over-year.
Courtesy LinkedIn
With the rising popularity of its video feed, LinkedIn has now announced that it is bringing these video features to its desktop feed as well. Additionally, relevant videos will now be shown in search results. This is great news for creators on the platform as their content will have more opportunities to reach new audiences.
A smaller, but extremely useful addition that LinkedIn has added is the ability for creators to track average watch time on their videos.
Courtesy LinkedIn
Newsletter Metric Additions
LinkedIn has made great strides in making its newsletter feature an enticing and effective tool for creators. Most recently, LinkedIn has rolled out helpful metrics for newsletter creators to provide a better understanding of your content performance.
The newest additions have been the “Email sends” and “Email open rate” metrics. These are great tools for creators looking to optimize and enhance their newsletter targeting.
Live events on LinkedIn are gaining traction. The platform reported that the number of live events increased by 15.3% in Q4 last year. While LinkedIn live events seem to be more focused on organizations and brands, there’s no reason they can’t be a great tool for individual creators as well. Live events nurture engagement with one’s community, with the unique ability to engage directly with participants.
The “Top Voice” badge is one of LinkedIn’s attempted features to promote thought leadership, but it’s gone through several updates and changes within the last year.
The most recent update concerns the requirements for earning one of these badges on one's profile. According to LinkedIn, “Top Voices” badges will be evaluated twice a year to ensure that users are posting consistent and valuable content for the community.
How to Succeed as a Creator on LinkedIn
All of these new and improved features set the perfect stage for creators to start growing their audiences. Implementing these features and tactics into your own content strategy could help you enhance your personal brand and increase business and networking opportunities. Here are a few ways you can succeed as a creator on LinkedIn:
1. Leverage LinkedIn's video capabilities
LinkedIn's new video feed heralds a new era of content engagement on the platform. This swipeable feed has proven to be high-performing on other platforms (TikTok, Instagram, etc.) and its implementation on LinkedIn could be an exciting opportunity for LinkedIn creators.
To fully capitalize on these capabilities, creators should pay close attention to LinkedIn's advanced video metrics. These analytics provide a deeper understanding of how content performs, offering insights into viewer interactions and preferences.
2. Engage your audience effectively
To truly connect with your audience on LinkedIn, create posts that directly address the primary concerns and interests within your industry. This approach not only attracts attention but also solidifies your position as a leader in your field.
The platform's advanced algorithm plays a pivotal role in ensuring your content reaches those most interested in your insights. With personalized suggestions, your posts are strategically placed before professionals who are predisposed to engage with your subject matter.
3. Build a personal brand on LinkedIn
Crafting a personal brand on LinkedIn involves a strategic blend of sharing your own personal insights and actively participating in industry discourse. Start by developing content that positions you as a valuable voice in your field.
Active participation in discussions is essential for enhancing your visibility within the professional community. Engage with posts by contributing thoughtful comments and insights that add depth to ongoing conversations. Collaborating with respected figures in your industry can also expand your network and reinforce your credibility, as these interactions often lead to shared visibility and mutual respect.
As LinkedIn continues to evolve and empower creators, it's crucial to stay ahead of the curve and adapt your strategies accordingly. If you're looking to take your LinkedIn presence to the next level, we at That RANDOM Agency are here to help—request a proposal today.
Random Round-Up: Social Media Updates and News, January 2025
As we move into February, it’s time to recap the latest social media updates and news from January (spoiler: there’s A LOT to cover). 🫣
1. The Ongoing TikTok Saga
If you thought January was off to a quiet start, TikTok had other plans. On January 19, a Senate-approved bill went into effect that banned the app. U.S. users could still open the app but were met with this pop-up that stopped users from accessing app features.
But psych! The blackout didn’t last long, and 16 hours later, TikTok was back up and running. The app was granted a 75-day extension in order to work out…something? It’s pretty unclear what’s in the works now but it looks like the new presidential administration is hoping to find an alternative.
There has been speculation on suitable buyers from YouTube star MrBeast to Shark Tank investor Kevin O’Leary. Whether or not these potential buyers actually have a serious chance of purchasing the app is pretty unclear.
With tensions still high and TikTok’s fate hanging in the balance, one thing’s for sure—everyone is trying to take advantage of the moment. Especially Instagram…
2. Instagram is Trying to Steal the Show
With TikTok on the ropes, Adam Mosseri and his team have been working overtime to increase “creativity” and “connection” (i.e. win over TikTok users) on the platform.
To achieve this, Instagram has released a slew of new social media updates (too many to go into detail). Here’s a brief overview of the biggest ones:
Instagram Updates in January 2025:
Users can now publish reels up to 3 minutes long. Previously, Instagram advised that reels longer than 90 seconds have a negative impact on post-performance, but they have adjusted that with this new update.
Apart from the updates, there's also been some controversy on the platform and with Meta in general in the past month.
3. Is Meta Taking a Political Stance?
It seems that Donald Trump's re-election has influenced both small and large decisions at Meta. While these changes could be seen as adaptive business efforts to align with the current administration, it’s hard to ignore the possibility of political bias shaping the platform’s direction.
On top of all that, Mark Zuckerberg also announced that Meta is replacing fact-checks with Community Notes. According to Zuckerburg, this is an effort toward “restoring free expression on our platforms.” It also seems like an effort towards increased misinformation and decreased public safety. (uh oh)
With the new administration just barely taking office, we predict that Meta will make many more changes in the near future.
4. And now for the Drama-free updates…
Meta and TikTok have been absolutely dominating the headlines. Here are some social media updates that went a little under the radar and deserve some attention:
Threads is now testing ads on its platform.
YouTube is testing a new feature that allows creators to easily clip segments from long-form YouTube videos and INSTANTLY publish them as separate 16:9 videos.
Spotify is testing an option that allows users to share a video snippet from a podcast to their Instagram Stories.
Need expert guidance on the latest social media updates and trends? You’re in the right place. Get in touch with us today!
Is Bluesky the Game-Changer We’ve Been Waiting For?
Bluesky, the decentralized social media platform, has taken the digital world by storm. With its user base surpassing 24 million as of December 2024, the app is quickly becoming a formidable competitor to established platforms like X (formerly Twitter).
The rise of Bluesky can be attributed to a combination of factors. This includes controversial policy changes at X and a growing desire among users for a more transparent social media experience.
In this article, we'll explore the key features of Bluesky, its growth potential, and what its success could mean for the future of social media. We'll also examine how Bluesky stacks up against its competitors and what businesses and organizations can learn from its innovative approach.
What is Bluesky?
Bluesky is a decentralized social media platform that was conceptualized by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey. The platform operates on an open-source framework called the AT Protocol, which allows for transparency and a federated design. This means that users have more control over their experience and can choose from a variety of algorithms to curate their feeds.
Key Features and Differences from X
At first glance, Bluesky looks nearly identical to X. Features like following, liking, sharing, and retweeting are exactly how you’d expect them to work if you're familiar with X. Apart from that basic workflow, there are a few key differences (both big and small):
Content Differences
When comparing content capabilities, Bluesky and X are actually pretty similar, but here are a few notable distinctions:
Video Posting Limitations: Bluesky allows users to post only one video per post, with a maximum duration of 60 seconds. In contrast, X permits up to four videos per post, each up to 140 seconds long—or longer for X Premium subscribers.
Polls: Bluesky currently lacks the option to create poll posts, a popular feature on X that enables users to engage their audiences with interactive questions.
These differences highlight Bluesky's more streamlined approach to content formats while maintaining its focus on user-centric features.
Absence of Ads
One of the standout features of Bluesky is its commitment to keeping the platform free from sponsored or paid advertisements. Unlike X and many other social media platforms, Bluesky has yet to introduce a monetization model based on ads. This ad-free environment aligns with the platform's ethos of user control and transparency, allowing users to engage with content without the disruption of targeted ads or promotional content.
Algorithmic Choice
Bluesky's commitment to algorithmic choice is another factor that sets it apart from its competitors. By giving users the ability to select from a range of algorithms, the platform ensures that individuals have greater control over the content they see and engage with. This level of customization is particularly appealing to businesses and organizations looking to tailor their social media presence to their specific audience and goals.
Federated Design
The federated design of Bluesky is built on the AT Protocol, which enables a network of interconnected servers to communicate with each other seamlessly. This structure allows for the development of new social apps that can integrate with Bluesky. For businesses and organizations seeking to expand their reach and engage with new audiences, this interoperability presents exciting opportunities for growth and collaboration.
Direct Messaging and Enhanced User Autonomy
The addition of direct messaging marks a significant enhancement to Bluesky's communication capabilities. While currently limited to one-to-one exchanges, this feature lays the groundwork for more nuanced interpersonal interactions. Users benefit from a classic block feature that provides a sense of security, contrasting with X's recent changes that have caused user dissatisfaction.
Commitment to User-Centric Data Policies
Bluesky's approach to data usage reflects a strong commitment to user privacy and respect for personal content. By choosing not to utilize user content for AI training, the platform builds trust with its community. This focus on safeguarding user data differentiates Bluesky as a platform where privacy and user rights take precedence. One aspect of this feature is the option to choose what service hosts your user data.
The platform's emphasis on user autonomy, privacy, and ethical standards continues to attract individuals and organizations seeking a responsible alternative to traditional social media. As Bluesky evolves, these distinct features underscore its potential to reshape digital engagement.
Diversified Revenue Sources
Bluesky's revenue model includes various unique offerings. Among these is the option for users to obtain custom domains, providing them with personalized handles that enhance brand identity and visibility. This feature not only serves individual users but also appeals to businesses seeking a distinctive online presence.
The strategic financial boost from November 2024's $15 million Series A funding round underscores Bluesky's potential and supports its plans to introduce a subscription model. This model aims to deliver advanced features—such as enhanced multimedia capabilities or personalized user interfaces—designed to attract a diverse user base, from everyday users to professional digital creators.
The Exodus from X (formerly Twitter)
Bluesky's impressive growth can be attributed to a series of strategic missteps by X. Users have grown weary of X's recent changes, which have eroded trust and alienated its community. As a result, many are flocking to Bluesky, seeking a platform that better aligns with their expectations.
Reasons People are Choosing Bluesky over X
Several key factors have contributed to the migration from X to Bluesky:
Policy Discontent at X: Changes to the block feature, which now allows blocked users to still see public posts, have sparked concerns about privacy and safety. In contrast, Bluesky preserves a straightforward block feature, offering users enhanced control over their interactions.
Ethical Data Practices: The decision by X to permit third parties to use content for AI training has been met with criticism from privacy advocates. Bluesky sets itself apart by not engaging in these practices, resonating with users who prioritize ethical data management.
The Impact of the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election
The 2024 U.S. presidential election further intensified scrutiny on X, driving many users to explore alternatives. As political tensions rose, a significant number of users migrated to Bluesky, which experienced a notable increase in sign-ups. This trend highlights the public's search for a platform that offers integrity and user empowerment.
Bluesky's dedication to ethical standards and user control continues to draw individuals and organizations looking for a more conscientious social media environment.
The Future of Social Media
Bluesky is poised to redefine the digital landscape with its commitment to user empowerment. By enabling individuals to have more control over their online interactions, Bluesky challenges traditional models of social engagement. This paradigm shift allows users to craft their digital experiences more intentionally, aligning with a growing demand for platforms that prioritize transparency.
Catalyzing Innovation and Connectivity
At the core of Bluesky's transformative potential is its ability to foster connectivity through adaptable frameworks. By supporting the development of diverse applications, Bluesky encourages a wide range of social experiences that cater to various community needs. This adaptability not only enhances user engagement but also encourages developers to create novel solutions that integrate seamlessly with Bluesky's ecosystem, expanding the platform's reach and functionality.
Bluesky's dedication to fostering a respectful and inclusive environment offers a refreshing alternative to the atmosphere of other platforms. By prioritizing constructive dialogue, Bluesky sets a new standard where users can interact without the fear of hostility or misinformation. This focus on maintaining a positive user experience resonates with those seeking a more ethical approach to social media, positioning Bluesky as a leader in the evolution of digital communication.
Community-Driven Evolution
As Bluesky continues to expand, its community-driven model is likely to influence the broader social media landscape. By proving the effectiveness of a user-centric approach, Bluesky challenges other platforms to innovate and prioritize user well-being. This could lead to the emergence of new social media paradigms that emphasize transparency, diversity, and empowerment.
Request a proposal from our team at That RANDOM Agency, and let us help you navigate this exciting new frontier.
Find Your Next Influencer: Top 5 Tools You Need
Who runs the world? Influencers.
At least, that’s what it seems like on social media. In fact, the influencer marketing industry is projected to reach nearly $24 billion by the close of 2024.
For brands, collaborating with influencers is crucial in connecting with your target audience. But how do you find the right influencers to work with? With the right tools, you can streamline your influencer discovery process and find the most relevant creators for your social media campaigns. In this article, we'll explore the top 5 influencer marketing tools you need to find your next influencer and take your social media campaigns to new heights.
What are Influencer Marketing Tools?
Influencer marketing tools are software solutions designed to help brands connect with influencers more strategically and effectively. With features like extensive influencer databases, audience analysis, and engagement metrics, influencer marketing tools simplify the process of finding and assessing potential partners. They also help brands manage influencer relationships, automate outreach, and measure the success of their campaigns.
By using influencer marketing tools, brands can more easily identify creators who align with their values, target audience, and goals. This allows for data-driven decisions that lead to more authentic collaborations and better campaign results.
What are the best tools for finding influencers?
1. Modash
Overview: A robust influencer marketing platform designed for discovering and analyzing creators on platforms like Instagram and TikTok.
Key Features:
Extensive database with over 250 million profiles
Audience authenticity checks to identify fake followers
Campaign tracking to monitor influencer-generated content effortlessly
Use Case: Perfect for brands looking to ensure genuine partnerships through advanced influencer marketing tools.
Modash is a powerful influencer marketing platform that simplifies the process of finding and analyzing influencers across various social media channels. With its extensive database of over 250 million profiles, you can easily discover creators who align with your brand's values and target audience. The platform's advanced filtering options allow you to narrow down your search based on specific criteria, such as location, niche, and audience demographics, ensuring that you find the most relevant influencers for your campaigns.
2. CreatorIQ
Overview: This influencer marketing platform specializes in identifying and managing influencers while providing valuable insights.
Key Features:
AI-powered recommendations for influencer profiles
Advanced filtering options for targeted searches
Performance metrics to evaluate campaign effectiveness
Use Case: Best suited for brands wanting to leverage top influencer platforms for targeted outreach.
CreatorIQ is an all-in-one influencer marketing solution that combines powerful discovery tools with comprehensive campaign management features. The platform's AI-powered recommendations make it easy to identify influencers who are a perfect fit for your brand, while its advanced filtering options allow you to refine your search based on specific criteria. With CreatorIQ, you can access detailed performance metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of your campaigns and make data-driven decisions for future collaborations.
3. Heepsy
Overview: A user-friendly platform dedicated to finding influencers across various social media channels.
Key Features:
Powerful search filters to narrow down results based on location, niche, and audience demographics
Authenticity checks to ensure genuine engagement levels
Campaign management features for seamless outreach and tracking
Use Case: Great for brands aiming to utilize influencer search tools in their marketing strategies.
Heepsy is a dedicated influencer discovery platform that makes it easy to find and analyze influencers across multiple social media channels. With its user-friendly interface and powerful search filters, you can quickly identify creators who match your brand's specific requirements. Heepsy's authenticity checks ensure that you only work with influencers who have genuine engagement, while its campaign management features allow you to streamline your outreach and tracking efforts.
4. Upfluence
Overview: An integrated influencer marketing platform that combines influencer identification with campaign management.
Key Features:
Creator relationship management tools for effective collaboration
Detailed analytics to track influencer performance and ROI
Automated workflows for smoother campaign execution
Use Case: Ideal for eCommerce and D2C brands focusing on comprehensive influencer marketing platforms.
Upfluence is a comprehensive influencer marketing platform that seamlessly integrates influencer discovery with campaign management and relationship management tools. The platform's extensive database allows you to find the perfect influencers for your brand, while its creator relationship management features enable effective collaboration and communication. With Upfluence's detailed analytics and automated workflows, you can track the performance of your campaigns and streamline your execution process for optimal results.
5. NinjaOutreach
Overview: A powerful influencer outreach tool that simplifies the process of finding and connecting with relevant influencers.
Key Features:
Extensive database of influencers and their contact information
Automated outreach and follow-up sequences
Customizable email templates for personalized pitches
Use Case: Perfect for brands looking to streamline their influencer outreach process and build long-term relationships.
NinjaOutreach is a robust influencer outreach tool designed to help brands find and connect with relevant influencers efficiently. With its extensive database of influencers and their contact information, you can quickly identify potential collaborators and reach out to them directly. NinjaOutreach's automated outreach and follow-up sequences, combined with its customizable email templates, allow you to create personalized pitches and streamline your communication efforts, making it easier to build long-term relationships with influencers.
Finding the right influencers for your social media campaigns is crucial for success, and these tools will help you streamline your influencer discovery process. By leveraging the power of these platforms, you can identify the most relevant and effective influencers for your brand, saving time and effort while maximizing your campaign's impact. If you're ready to take your influencer marketing to the next level, request a proposal from us today, and let our team of experts guide you through the process of creating successful influencer partnerships.
7 Best Social Listening Tools to Unlock Brand Insights
Social media isn’t just for posting and calling it a day—it’s a vibrant hub of continuous conversations, opinions, and trends. For brands, keeping up with these discussions is crucial to stay relevant and connected with audiences. This is where social listening tools come into play, enabling you to monitor, analyze, and act on the conversations that matter most to your business.
What Are Social Listening Tools?
Social listening tools are platforms that track and analyze online conversations across social media, blogs, forums, and other online spaces. They help brands monitor mentions of their name, products, competitors, or industry-related keywords in real time. (Yes, it’s like magic!)
But it’s more than just keeping an eye on what people are saying—social listening tools dive deeper into sentiment analysis, trends, and audience insights, giving brands actionable data to refine their marketing strategy and respond proactively.
Long story short, these tools help brands:
Gauge customer sentiment around their products or services.
Stay on top of trends and conversations within their industry.
Track competitor performance and spot opportunities for growth.
Identify potential crises early and respond before they escalate.
The 7 Best Social Listening Tools
With so many options available, choosing the best social listening tool for your needs can be a daunting task. To point you in the right direction, we've compiled an in-depth list:
Coverage: Monitors conversations across 30+ social networks and 150 million websites globally
AI Capabilities: Offers AI-driven insights, real-time analytics, and image recognition
Best For: Brands seeking comprehensive coverage and advanced analytics
Talkwalker is a powerful social listening platform that provides extensive coverage and advanced AI capabilities. With its ability to monitor conversations across a wide range of sources and languages, Talkwalker is ideal for brands looking to gain a global perspective on their online presence.
Integration: Seamlessly integrates social listening features into its social media management platform
Features: Offers keyword tracking, sentiment analysis, and collaboration tools
Best For: Businesses seeking an all-in-one solution for social media management and monitoring
Hootsuite is a well-known social media management platform that offers integrated social listening capabilities. Its user-friendly interface and collaboration tools make it an excellent choice for teams looking to streamline their social media efforts while staying on top of important conversations. (after all, teamwork makes the dream work!)
Data Analysis: Provides in-depth analysis of consumer conversations across various digital channels
Features: Includes trend tracking, historical data access, and customizable dashboards
Best For: Brands requiring extensive data analysis and insights for strategic decision-making
Brandwatch is a robust social listening platform that excels at providing in-depth analysis of consumer conversations. With its ability to track trends, access historical data, and create customizable dashboards, Brandwatch empowers brands to make data-driven decisions and stay ahead of the competition.
AI-Powered: Utilizes AI to track mentions across social media, blogs, and news sites
Features: Offers real-time alerts, sentiment analysis, and influencer identification
Best For: Small businesses needing affordable yet effective brand monitoring solutions
Brand24 is an AI-powered social listening tool that offers an affordable solution for small businesses. (We all love a good deal, right?) Its features include real-time alerts, sentiment analysis, and influencer identification capabilities, helping brands stay on top of important conversations and quickly identify potential opportunities or threats.
Versatility: Combines social listening capabilities with a range of social media management features
Features: Includes engagement tracking, audience insights, and sentiment analysis
Best For: Brands looking to combine social listening with a wider range of social media management features
Sprout Social is a versatile social media analytics tool that offers social listening capabilities alongside an extensive suite of other features. Its engagement tracking, audience insights, and sentiment analysis tools make it an excellent choice for brands looking to gain a comprehensive understanding of their social media presence.
Media Intelligence: Provides insights from both social and traditional media sources
Features: Offers comprehensive search capabilities, sentiment analysis, and custom reporting
Best For: Brands looking to monitor their presence across multiple media types and channels
Meltwater is a media intelligence platform that offers social listening capabilities alongside traditional media monitoring. With its comprehensive search capabilities, sentiment analysis, and custom reporting features, Meltwater is ideal for brands looking to gain a holistic view of their media presence.
User-Friendly: Offers a user-friendly interface for monitoring brand mentions across social media and the web
Features: Includes advanced sentiment analysis, multilingual support, and influencer tracking
Best For: Brands focused on gaining insights from diverse online conversations, especially in various languages
Mentionlytics is a user-friendly social listening tool that helps brands monitor mentions across social media and the web. With its advanced sentiment analysis, multilingual support, and influencer tracking capabilities, Mentionlytics is an excellent choice for brands looking to gain insights from diverse online conversations in multiple languages.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right social listening tool depends on your brand’s needs and goals. Whether you’re a small business looking to stay informed or an enterprise requiring advanced analytics, these powerful tools can help you unlock valuable insights, stay ahead of the competition, and build stronger connections with your audience. Let us help you elevate your brand monitoring strategy - request a proposal from That RANDOM Agency today and take the first step towards unlocking your brand's full potential.
