✛ Ready for Q4? Holiday Hacks from TikTok, Instagram & Meta

Hello Code-breakers,

This week marks the beginning of Q4 and the unofficial start of the 2024 holiday season. While the first official shopping holiday isn’t until November, as a business, you should be well on your way to planning your holiday marketing and promotions.

If you are among the 33% of businesses feeling the pressure to drive revenue in Q4 or one of the 79% of smaller businesses that felt uncertain about the effectiveness of their holiday strategy in 2023, you still have some time to get things on the right track.

🎁 Reply “Holiday” to this email, and I’ll send you a custom AI prompt that will help you generate irresistible Black Friday and Holiday offers that will have customers throwing money at you.

In today’s issue, we are covering:

• Meta’s bold moves in AI, VR, and AR

• TikTok’s holiday gift guide for brands

• Virtual influencers are changing the marketing game

• The best AI tool you’re not using yet

• Instagram’s new business profile best practices
  ...and more

Let’s dive in!

Meta's AI, VR, and AR Vision Unfolds

Meta is doubling down on blending AI with virtual reality, making digital worlds more immersive and interactive.

• AI-generated avatars and real-time speech translation are coming sooner than you think.

• Meta's Quest 3 headset will redefine the way we interact with digital spaces, bringing unprecedented realism to virtual worlds.

“Our AI systems are enabling new creative possibilities,” said Zuckerberg. – Read more

What this means to you: These advancements are not just for tech giants. They’ll trickle down, giving businesses new ways to engage with customers. Imagine virtual storefronts or interactive customer support powered by AI avatars. Time to start planning your brand’s AR/VR strategy.

What to watch for: Meta’s future updates on AI and VR integration for small businesses.

TikTok Calls on Brands for Its 2024 Holiday Gift Guide

TikTok is actively featuring brands in its 2024 Holiday Gift Guide, and it could be the boost your business needs.

• This curated guide promises to put brands in front of millions of eager holiday shoppers.

• It’s a golden opportunity for smaller brands to stand out in a crowded market.

“Don’t miss out on the chance to be a part of TikTok’s big holiday push,” TikTok’s team announced. – Read more

What this means to you: This is the time to strategize your holiday campaign. Being featured could mean explosive visibility, so start aligning your products or services with TikTok trends to increase your chances of making the cut.

What to watch for: TikTok’s upcoming holiday promo features and tools for advertisers.

Virtual Influencers Are Here to Stay—Are You Ready?

More brands are using virtual influencers, not just for novelty, but because they command loyal, engaged audiences.

• These digital personalities are cost-effective and entirely controllable by brands.

• Virtual influencers are also crossing cultural boundaries, making them ideal for global campaigns.

“We are seeing major shifts in consumer engagement,” marketing experts say. – Read more

What this means to you: If your brand hasn’t explored virtual influencers yet, it’s time. They can be hyper-targeted, infinitely scalable, and work 24/7. Think about partnering with one for your next campaign.

What to watch for: Expect more collaboration between virtual influencers and real-world creators.

NotebookLM—The AI Tool You’ve Never Used but Should

Google’s NotebookLM might just be the AI tool you’ve been waiting for. This under-the-radar tool turns data into insights, perfect for business owners juggling information overload.

• It organizes and summarizes massive amounts of data quickly.

• Helps entrepreneurs keep track of complex ideas and turn them into actionable strategies.

“It’s like having a personal research assistant,” a tech insider noted. – Read more

What this means to you: Use NotebookLM to stay ahead of your competition by turning data into action. If you deal with multiple projects or clients, this tool can streamline your workflow.

What to watch for: Google’s continued enhancements to NotebookLM, making it even more powerful for SMBs.

Instagram’s Best Practices for Business Profiles—2024 Edition

Instagram shares new tips to help brands maximize reach and engagement on the platform. From optimizing your bio to creating consistent Stories, there’s plenty of advice to help you make the most out of Instagram’s algorithm this holiday season.

• Visual consistency is key—brands that post regularly in Stories see 2x the engagement.

• Pinning posts and using Instagram’s native tools can significantly increase discoverability.

“Businesses should leverage pinned posts to highlight their most important content,” Instagram says. – Read more

What this means to you: If you haven’t refreshed your Instagram strategy lately, now is the time. Focusing on Stories and using Instagram’s latest features can help you connect more effectively with your audience and increase brand visibility.

What to watch for: More updates from Instagram as they tweak algorithms and add features for business profiles.

AI Awkwafina & Deepak Chopra Team Up for the Future of Content

AI-generated personalities are taking the media world by storm. From Awkwafina answering questions to Deepak Chopra reading bedtime stories, AI is now mainstream in content creation.

• AI celebrities are becoming a fixture in entertainment and education.

• This shift raises questions about the future of human-created content.

“It’s like nothing we’ve seen before,” say industry insiders. – Read more

What this means to you: As AI personalities become more prevalent, consider how your business can leverage them for customer support, content creation, or even influencer marketing. The future of content might be less human, but it’s definitely exciting.

What to watch for: AI personalities’ growing influence in marketing and branding.

🎁 Remember to reply “Holiday” if you’d like to receive the exclusive Holiday idea AI prompt.

Until next time,

Kofi

G. Kofi Annan

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