Day: July 20, 2023

Instagram updates Reels to simplify content creation

Instagram is rolling out new features on Reels that will make it easier for brands to jump on trends, increase reach and edit videos.

For the first time, you can search the Template Browser via category, making the Meta-owned platform far simpler to navigate.

You will also now have access to more editing capabilities than ever before as the platform has made it less time-consuming to customise templates.

Why we care. Finding out what videos are trending and adding to that conversation is a great way to maximize reach by capturing the attention of people who might not have otherwise been aware of your brand. These new features not only make it easier to see what videos are popular, but the new editing capabilities make content creation simpler and faster. In addition, if you want to cash in on a trend but are struggling to come up with an original concept, Reels’ new simpler browsing system means they can now explore how other people have recreated templates for much-needed inspiration.

Template Browser revamp. You can browse through different Instagram templates via category in the updated Template Browser. These categories will be organized into Recommended and Trending – as well as whatever templates or audio that you have saved to your account.

How it works. Users be able to access the Template Browser whenever they go to create a reel. Simply:

  • Tap on the create button from the home page.
  • Tap on REEL.
  • Tap the image in the lower left corner of the screen to open your camera gallery.
  • Tap on Templates.

You can also access the Template Browser via the Reels Tab. Tap on the camera icon and then select Templates.

Save your favorite template. If you see a template you would love to use, you can save that video and return to it later. Simply tap the Use Template button located on the Reel. That footage will then be accessible in the Template Browser.

Get inspired. Whenever you stumble across a template that you would love to use but and need some inspiration, you now have the option to check out the competition. By tapping on the Template by icon in their chosen reel, brands will be shown examples of how others have used the template and gotten creative to make that video their own.

New editing capabilities. When you create templates, the audio, number of clips, duration of the clips, and AR effects will automatically be added to your reel. This means they no longer have to manually add or recreate these features themselves, saving a lot of time.

Instagram has also announced that it will start adding text and transitions that were used in the original reel to templates, which will again help save you time. However, the templates will still be fully customizable so that you can add or remove clips, adjust timings and edit preloaded elements. This new feature is expected to be rolled out in the coming weeks.

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Added bonus. Meta also confirmed this week that Instagram Reels will now also be served on Facebook. People will also have the opportunity to write comments on these clips without switching between the apps. This means that brands now have the potential to reach more people than ever before across the Meta network.

What has Instagram said? The platform said via its announcement:

  • “Reels templates allow you to easily create a reel by reusing elements from another reel you love. Just drop in your own videos and photos to save time and put your own creative spin on a reel.
  • “We’re excited to share some upgrades to Reels templates that will help you more easily find inspiration and create engaging reels.
  • “Whether you’re joining in on a trend or want to create a fun reel to express your creativity, Reels templates can get you started in just a few taps.
  • “We’re always working on ways to improve your Reels experience. We’ll continue to build on the Reels templates feature to make it easier and more fun to create and share on Instagram.”

The post Instagram updates Reels to simplify content creation appeared first on Search Engine Land.

Original source: https://searchengineland.com/instagram-updates-reels-simplify-content-creation-429566

Microsoft’s Performance Max is now in open beta

Microsoft’s Performance Max is now in open beta. Select marketers can now access its full inventory and serve ads across its network.

Why we care. Microsoft’s Performance Max offers new features which aim to simplify marketers’ workloads and give them back time to focus on the creative and help them to reach untapped audiences. Being able to work directly with Microsoft on Performance Max campaigns will also give advertisers more transparency and detail into that asset level of reporting.

How to get started. Creating a campaign with Microsoft Performance Max consists of five steps:

  1. Set up Microsoft conversion tracking: While Google import is a great way to get started if you’re already using Performance Max there, you must ensure that conversion tracking is set up with Microsoft too as it’s a requirement. This can be done via UET or with offline conversion goals. This should always be the first set up and Microsoft advises making sure that you’ve set up the appropriate goals.
  2. Set budget and bid strategy: With maximize conversions within optional target return on ad spend goal, you can set and maximize conversion values with optional target CPA goals.
  3. Final URL expansion: Microsoft recommends turning this setting on because it helps drive consumers to the most relevant landing page. It also lets Microsoft create additional assets based on what’s working well on landing pages.
  4. Add assets: Next up, you should add text, images and ensure that their brand’s store is set up with Microsoft when using the Merchant Center.
  5. Audience signals: This helps Microsoft with regard to predictive targeting, which in turn can help you reach your target audience.

What has Microsoft said? Lauren Tallody, Sr. Product Marketing Manager and Automation Lead for Microsoft, told Search Engine Land:

  • “Since Google launched their Performance Max product in 2021, we took our time to understand if there was a need across advertisers for this kind of product on our side.
  • “We wanted to understand your needs, where we could differentiate and where we could focus. And this will continue to be a long journey.”

Timeline. Microsoft has been working on the creation of its Performance Max program since the fall of last year and has already seen positive results:

  • September 2022: Import Google PMAX campaigns using Merchant Center – As more advertisers started embracing the PMAX product in Google, Microsoft wanted to capture that demand and have a parity experience and so started importing Google Max campaigns as either smart shopping or local inventory ads.
  • October 2022: Import Google PMAX campaigns not using Merchant Center – Microsoft changes its approach slightly by importing Google Max campaigns as DSA campaigns.
  • May 2023: Closed beta launch of Microsoft’s Performance Max – The close beta launch went “very well” for Microsoft and the results encouraged it to continue building the product and import those campaigns in.
  • July 2023: Open beta launch – Microsoft’s Performance Max officially went into open beta a couple of weeks ago.

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Next steps. Microsoft is now looking to bring its Performance Max product to general availability and continue to build on more features. This includes:

  • API support.
  • Microsoft Advertising Editor support.
  • Expanded reporting like search term and domain reports.
  • Smart shopping campaign upgrade tool.

The post Microsoft’s Performance Max is now in open beta appeared first on Search Engine Land.

Original source: https://searchengineland.com/microsoft-performance-max-open-beta-429584

CEO of Cedar Creek Capital AJ Osborne Tells You Everything You Need to Know About Self-Storage Investing

Home Business Magazine Online

AJ Osborne
AJ Osborne

Word is circulating that self-storage is where people should be placing their money, but not many people understand why. Out of all the other sectors to invest in, why is self-storage the top choice? And if it’s so popular, is it too late to jump in?

Self-storage investing is a little different than other types of investing, and it makes perfect sense to be worried about having enough capital to get started or questioning whether it’s really that profitable. Regardless of what is holding you back or making you think twice, AJ Osborne, CEO of Cedar Creek Capital, is here to tell you all you need to know.

Osborne is a bestselling self-storage investment author and a renowned mentor within the space, and his well-documented start in self-storage is both inspiring and motivational. One day, Osborne was working at a high-paying insurance job, and the next he was paralyzed and unemployed. On his road to recovery, he relied on previous well-placed self-storage investments to keep his family afloat.

From the Ground Up

It was in this tough period that he realized he needed to do something new with his life, something that would help others who also sought financial stability, and it was with this in mind that Cedar Creek Capital came to be. He had a goal in mind to empower others and reshape capitalism, and his belief that self-storage investing was a wealth-building tool paired with his determination has helped him make that goal a reality.

Now, Osborne has 20 years of experience in self-storage as an owner, operator, and developer. He has played a significant role in establishing the largest self-storage co-op, Storelocal, and Tenant Inc., a self-storage property management SaaS tech company. With Tenant Inc., Osborne and other respected owners and operators within the industry came together and developed a self-storage software platform. Osborne’s coined term, “Universal Integration,” fully encompasses all the work he does and highlights his dedication to consistently improving the self-storage industry.

Osborne has taken the self-storage industry by storm and has significantly impacted the value of this asset class. He has cemented his role in this industry with his highly-acclaimed podcast, where thousands of listeners every month download his words of wisdom. Given all he has learned and accomplished, people may be hesitant to believe that he is truly interested in helping others join this space. Unlike many “mentors” in popular industries, Osborne does not only give snippets of his teachings, secretly hoping you fail. The fact of the matter is that he wants more competitors in the space, and he wants them to be educated when they enter it.

The Importance of Competitors

When asked outright why Osborne is open and educational with all content he puts out, his answer wasn’t what was expected.

“Consolidation of the asset class with monopolies would kill my business,” Osborne explained. “I need single owners to compete! We started the world’s largest self-storage resource center, which includes Storelocal and Tenant Inc., giving new self-storage owners the tools they need to succeed. It is my mission to teach people how to successfully join this space, because I know if that doesn’t happen, it will ruin the entire industry as a whole. There is no benefit to me for somebody coming into my market and failing. If you come in and build a storage facility in my area and fail, and that does happen, you give self-storage a bad name.”

And that’s really as simple as it gets. Industry leaders who view others within their industry as the enemy are actually hurting what they claim to admire and support. With more investors, owners, and developers entering the self-storage sector, and entering it educated, the entirety of the sector will flourish.

For those who are curious about self-storage — how profitable it is, how resistant it is to economic fluctuations, how to enter it, and all other pertinent information — you don’t need to look further than Osborne. While his podcast is a great tool, you’ll learn the most by reading his books. Osborne’s bestselling book, The Investors Guide to Growing Wealth in Self Storage: The Step-By-Step Playbook for Turning a Real Estate Asset Into a Thriving Self Storage Business, has received high praise on Amazon, with one reviewer claiming:

“​​This is a great book to read if you are just getting into Self Storage. It gives a great overview of what it will look like and the pitfalls to avoid along the way. It gives you the basic framework needed of understanding, but you will need to do a lot more study to put the meat on the bones. If you begin listening to AJs podcasts and videos after reading this book, your understanding of the Self Storage space and how to navigate it will grow in leaps and bounds.” — From Amazon reviews, by Franklin

Even better than this? Osborne is releasing a much-anticipated volume 2 this summer.

Even More to Offer

The second edition of Osborne’s book is expanded by 80%, which means that readers will get all the valuable information from the first edition and then some. In this new book, Osborne shares his Stacking Method to building your portfolio, he opens up about his underwriting process, gives case studies with never-before-seen information, and he breaks down everything you need to know about operating and managing a facility with low expenses using technology for automation.

Why the need for a second volume?

As Osborne puts it, “Prior to 2008, self-storage, as an asset class, was a child. After 2008, self-storage was a teenager. Now, it is an adult asset class that can compete with the big guys. It has gone through Covid, consolidation, new technologies, and more. I wrote the first book during the “teenage years.” This second edition holds new, invaluable information that informs readers of the post-Covid landscape. Not to mention, it is beginner and seasoned-investor friendly, and you can reference my podcasts to learn more about topics that interest you throughout the book.”

Osborne’s highly-anticipated book will be released soon, and there will be an accompanying audiobook voiced by him.

About AJ Osborne

AJ Osborne is the CEO of Cedar Creek Capital and has an impressive 20 years of experience as a Self Storage owner, operator, and developer. He is a founder and board member of the largest Self Storage Co-op, Storelocal, as well as Tenant Inc — a saas company supporting self storage facility management. AJ has also written the No. 1 bestselling book on Self Storage Investing and hosts the top rated and listened to self-storage podcast, Self Storage Income. Accredited investors can find more information here: https://www.cedarcreekwealth.com/

The post CEO of Cedar Creek Capital AJ Osborne Tells You Everything You Need to Know About Self-Storage Investing appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

Original source: https://homebusinessmag.com/success-stories-lifestyles/ceo-cedar-creek-capital-aj-osborne-tells-everything-need-know-self-storage-investing/

FREE Krispy Kreme doughnuts on England match days!

Free Krispy Kreme doughnuts on England match days 

Popular sweet treat business Krispy Kreme is giving over up to 225,000 doughnuts to football fans across England match days. What’s better than a mid-morning doughnut and a cuppa? A FREE mid-morning doughnut and a cuppa. Brew-tiful! 

As England fans gear up to support their team this weekend, Krispy Kreme are lining up a month of delicious deals. As matches are being played in Australia and New Zealand, the time different means Brits will be tuning into games in the morning – the perfect occasion for a sweet treat and a tea. 

To help fans get the most out of this year’s tournament, Krispy Kreme is giving away free hot drinks and Original Glazed Sharer Dozen on match days. The further England progress to the final, the more generous the freebies will become, with almost a quarter of a million doughnuts up for grabs. 

So, how can you get your free doughnuts?

It’s simple. During the group stage and the round of 16, all fans must do is go to their local Krispy Kreme store before midday, present their Krispy Kreme rewards app and claim a free cup of tea and 12 glorious Original Glazed doughnuts to share with fellow footie fanatics. The catch? You need to be one of the first 10 customers in store to redeem this fab freebie. 

However, if England progresses to the quarter-finals, this number will increase to the first 20 customers in store. If the team gets to the semi-finals, there will be 40 fantastic chances to claim your freebies – a free hot drink and Original Glazed Sharer Dozen. Our mouths are watering just thinking about it! 

If England go all the way and reach the final? Well, each Krispy Kreme store will be giving away 50 hot drinks and 50 packs of one dozen Original Glazed goodies.  

Australia

Best of luck to the England team for another successful year – and remember to head down to your local Krispy Kreme store to redeem some tantalising treats. Raise your spirits, fill your tummies and cheer on some of the best players in the world with these goodies.

Remember, the further England progress, the more free doughnuts you can claim. So, sit back, relax and enjoy the match. 

 

 

 

 

T&Cs UK 

This promotion entitles the first 10 customers to scan their Rewards app and request the ‘Brewtiful Game’ promotion to one Original Glazed dozen plus one regular-sized hot drink of choice. In locations that do not serve hot drinks, the promotion applies to the Original Glazed doughnut dozen only. Visit https://www.krispykreme.co.uk/find-store to see locations with coffee. Valid in Krispy Kreme retail shops in the UK. Excludes Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, Selfridges, Sainsbury’s, MOTO, Welcome Break, Roadchef, Euro Garages, Center Parcs, Krispy Kreme mobile events, Krispy Kreme Nationwide delivery, Krispy Kreme online, Deliveroo, Uber, Just Eat, Go Puff. Valid on England women’s team match days before midday on 22nd July, 29th July and 1st August 2023. Limited to one redemption per customer per day. No cash alternative. Customers must be aged 18 or over. No smiles can be earned through the Rewards program for this promotion. Not valid in conjunction with any other offer. Subject to availability. Krispy Kreme UK reserves the right to change, cancel or amend offers at any time.

Offer will be initially valid in locations across England on the following dates: Sunday 22nd July, Friday 28th July, Tuesday 1st August 

If England make it through to the Final 16, the offer will be valid on days when matches are played (11th or 12th August, 15th or 16th August and 20th August) 

 

 

 

 

The post FREE Krispy Kreme doughnuts on England match days! appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

Original source: https://www.moneymagpie.com/make-money/free-krispy-kreme-doughnuts-on-england-match-days