We are here to empower your everyday expedition seeking knowledge about the latest features and services improved by the existing online platforms. In this edition, we have rounded up the recent updates from the online platforms we use day-to-day; also, this edition sheds light on the recent tools and functionalities of the online platforms and provides tips to utilize them in an appropriate way that benefits your projects, team or your business in general.
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LinkedIn
LinkedIn provides a Free Marketing Certification Program.
The U.S.-based business and employment-oriented online service now empower its users who are professionals to become accredited LinkedIn marketing experts by completing a free course. This marketing certification program can be pursued by anyone who wishes to become an accredited LinkedIn expert. Professionals who want to show they possess specialized knowledge in LinkedIn apart from their experience with social media marketing can take this program.
The new certification added to the user profiles helps employers and clients shed light on the proficiency a marketing professional has on advertising with LinkedIn.
“Getting certified enables you to showcase your LinkedIn marketing expertise, differentiate yourself from other marketers, and show your familiarity with our advertising tools. After completing a certification exam, you’ll receive a credential that’s added to your LinkedIn profile, distinguishing you as a proven expert.”
They did not provide any types of certifications last year when LinkedIn launched free marketing courses. Marketers were allowed to take the courses solely to enhance their skills without any accreditation upon course completion.
A touch on – LinkedIn Marketing Certification
Marketers will be able to display their expertise with LinkedIn Ads once they get certified with this course. To earn this certification, the marketers have to pass two exams on LinkedIn advertising and LinkedIn marketing strategy fundamentals.
People will be given 60 minutes to answer 60 multiple choice questions, and the certificate will be issued once they pass the exam.
LinkedIn Marketing Fundamentals Exam
The Fundamentals exams demand the marketers exemplify their expertise in LinkedIn advertising foundations, like launching a successful LinkedIn advertising campaign, optimizing targeting, and reporting.
Marketers can prepare for the exam with optional courses and a practical test. The optional course consists of:
- Introduction to LinkedIn Ads: Learn how to create an ad campaign, estimate its success, and optimize it to achieve its objectives.
- Using LinkedIn’s Ad Targeting: Learn how LinkedIn’s targeting works and its best practices.
- Reporting and Analytics for LinkedIn Ads: Learn strategies that enhance campaign analytics through optimization tips.
These courses are assessed at the “basic” level with an estimated completion time of 45 minutes.
However, they are entirely optional, so you will be able to skip this step and opt for the exam if you are well-versed in these subjects.
Market Strategy Exam
Marketers have to exhibit their proficiency in building a full-funnel LinkedIn marketing strategy.
Two optional courses and a practical test will be there to guide you through the preparations for the exam.
The Optional courses consist of:
- Using LinkedIn for Brand Awareness: Learn how to manage brand awareness on LinkedIn with organic and paid solutions.
- Using LinkedIn for Lead Generation: Learn to use LinkedIn to manage conversations.
These courses are assessed at the intermediate level and are considered to take 45 minutes to finish.
Further Details
You can pursue to write as many exams as you need to clear the exam; hence there’s no pressure to pass the exam on the first attempt.
Currently, LinkedIn Marketing Labs certifications are available only in English. Other languages are likely to be added in the future.
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Instagram
“We’re No Longer A Photo Sharing App”
Adam Mosseri, the Head of Instagram, revealed his plans to extend the app into a wider space such as video and shopping than simply sharing photos.
In a video published to social media, Mosseri put forth the idea for further expansion into video as he declared that his company’s application has more to it than just photo sharing and is building out new experiences in four major areas at this very moment.
The company’s priority is Creators and to help them earn a living through new monetization features. Mosseri apprehended the shift in power from the institutions to individuals across the industries, and he wants to steer Instagram in that direction.
Videos will be the second priority of Instagram; videos that are experiencing a massive amount of growth online on every major platform nowadays. Mosseri said Instagram has more aspects of learning regarding videos and explains how he plans to work it out.
A third area Instagram plans to stretch on will be Shopping. The pandemic has propelled the shift of commerce from offline to online, pushing the industry ahead by decades. Now Instagram is trying to make capital out of that trend.
The fourth and final area Instagram plans to expand is Messaging, which Mosseri states have become the primary way people connect with their friends on Instagram. Communication has drifted away from feed posts and stories and moved toward Direct Messages over the last five years.
Mosseri revealed further information about how Instagram plans to extend its video offerings and obtain new content in front of more users.
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Facebook
Facebook Groups can appoint Subject Matter Experts.
Now Facebook Group admins will be able to designate helpful members as Subject Matter Experts.
As an update to Facebook Groups, administrators can now nominate knowledgeable members to be Subject Matter Experts.
Individuals will be able to stand out from other members during group discussions once they are designated as an SME, which empowers them to be recognized easily as people who know a lot about the group topic and have a history of sharing that knowledge with others.
“There are more than 70 million admins and moderators running active Facebook groups around the world. Many of these groups are home to subject matter experts who love to share their knowledge, from fitness trainers to highly skilled crafters. Now, it’s easier than ever to help experts stand out in groups and offer ways for them to engage with their communities.”
Let’s look into further information about how to nominate a group member as a Subject Matter Expert and their capabilities once after being designated as an expert.
What is a Facebook Group Expert?
Facebook Group Admins will be able to designate any individual they believe in having profound knowledge on the subject their group stands for as the “Group Expert.”
Group Experts will receive a badge next to their profile names, making it visible for the group members to notice their comments and posts with special attention.
Also, the Group Experts will be able to collaborate with the admins to conduct Questions and Answers, share prospects on a topic, and respond to the questions.
Facebook is launching the following means for the Group Experts to take part with other community members:
- Answer Questions: Whenever a member writes a post that appears to be a question in the group, automatically, the post will be upgraded to a format that stimulates others to share their views.
- Live Audio Rooms: Live audio-only conversations will provide a low-pressure way for the Subject Matter Experts and communities in the Facebook Groups to obtain ideas and inspiration from each other from the upcoming Summer.
- Host Q&As: Conduct real-time question-and-answer sessions in a text-based format. Answered questions will be featured in an interactive, swipe-able stack, while all the questions will be viewed in the Q&A’s comment section.
Another perk group experts acquire the ability to send automatic invites. This empowers them to invite Page followers who were engaged lately to join groups they’re involved with.
How do I designate a member as a Group Expert?
Follow these steps to nominate a member as a Facebook Group Expert:
- Steer to the member list and search for an individual by profile name.
- Set “Make group expert” from the member menu.
- Please wait for the member to accept or decline the role you assigned them.
Preferably, admins can make someone an expert from the menu of a member’s post. Remember that this role can be revoked at any time.
Currently, Facebook is running a test asking people to recognize which topics they’re well informed about in fitness and gaming.
Admins managing groups associated with fitness and gaming can then search for those topics to find knowledgeable individuals and send them invites to join the group.
However, there’s no information on whether this functionality will extend to other subjects. It probably depends on the feedback from this initial test.
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Google
Google to consolidate desktop file syncing apps into singular Drive app
Backup, and Sync and Drive File Stream will be extinguished in the coming months, replaced by Drive for desktop.
Google has revealed that two of its file syncing desktop apps will be replaced with a new unified app called Drive for desktop, which will be used by all users.
At this time, Google provides two file sharing services: Backup and Sync, which is directed at consumers, and Drive File Stream, which was developed for the business users.
Scott Limbird – Google Drive product management lead described in a blog post saying, Google combined the apps into one unified app as it wanted to create an application that could “bring people the best and most used features” from the two older apps.
According to the tech giant, Drive for desktop will automatically sync local files to the cloud in the background, on either Google photos or Google Drive. This app will also be able to sync external storage devices to the cloud, such as flash drives, and external hard drives, in addition to mirror Drive files on desktops.
The launching of Drive for desktop has also commenced, with Drive File Stream users are already gaining access to the latest unified app.
Google stated that the Backup and Sync users should start to see prompts asking them to transition to Drive for desktop in the coming months.
Drive for desktop will be available for both Windows and macOS devices.
Google has also proclaimed support for several brand logos such as AOL, Fastmail, Mailchimp, Twilio SendGrid, and Yahoo, on the same day; as a result of a new agreement between Google and the AuthIndicators Working Group, which created the Brand Indicators for Message Identification (BIMI).
BIMI was already obtainable to the Yahoo users, however now it will be extended to the Gmail users as well, which will result in BIMI being accessible to over 2 billion inboxes. The organization is required to pass DMARC authentication checks for a logo to appear on its behalf.
