Meta's generative AI tools // State of social webinar // Community is queen article // Stop using hashtags?

Mari has the scoop for you... Greetings {NAME}, If you missed my 'State of the Social Media Union Address' free webinar that I led with the AWAI (American Writers & Artists Institute), the replay is now available for your viewing pleasure! Jade Trueblood, Director of Training at AWAI, and I had such a wonderful time. Would you like to watch? - [Watch on Facebook](=) (timestamps are in the first comment) - [Watch on YouTube]() (timestamps are in the description) We packed a lot into this FREE webinar, including 5 social media trends, 3 tactics that don't work and 3 that do, the impact of AI on writers and the social media industry and more. We had a ton of great questions and I answered as many as I could in the last 1/2 hour! If you have any questions yourself, you're welcome to reply to this email. [AWAI Webinar with Mari]() LATEST META UPDATES It was Meta's Q1 2023 Earnings Call on Wednesday. Zuckerberg made his usual opening remarks. I particularly noted how much emphasis he placed on AI (again). - Meta is exploring AI powered "visual creation tools for posts in Facebook and Instagram." (As well as video and multi-modal experiences coming at some point). - Generative AI will be added to ALL Meta's products as the company quickly strives to play catch up in the AI game. I've been including in many of my recent presentations that sooner or later ALL of the big tech / social media companies will bake generative AI tools right into their native content creation platforms, e.g. Meta Business Suite. This will include text posts, image posts, and video posts. - And, no, contrary to the narrative out there, Zuckerberg made sure we all know that he has not given up on helping to build the metaverse. That's still a mega plan of Meta's. - In fact, AI is an integral part of the metaverse - I think a lot of folks overlooked that bit! - Per Zuckerberg's announcement back in February, the company has a new TURBO-charged focus on AI now. (Read more on [my post]( from back then). A few other nuggets of note from this week's earnings call: - The Meta family of apps just passed the 3Bn daily active people (DAPs). They're at 3.02Bn DAPs compared to 2.96Bn last quarter. - Not to be confused with the mega milestone that core Facebook reached at the end of last year: 2Bn daily active users (DAUs). Now up to 2,037Mn in Q1. - Since Meta launched Reels, AI recommendations (a la TikTok style) have driven 24%+ increase in time spent on Instagram. - More than a billion Meta avatars have now been created. (Getting us ready for the metaverse... Meta is building 'AI personas' - maybe animated versions of our avatars?) You can read Zuckerberg's full [transcript of his remarks]() from the call if you're interested. Could you be a Certified Social Media Marketing Strategist? [Mari AWAI Certification ](=) A quick reminder in case you - or someone on your team - might be interested in becoming a [CERTIFIED SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING STRATEGIST](, I wanted to let you know that enrollment is only open through Friday, April 28th at midnight Pacific time. Then the program starts on Tuesday, May 2nd. I know - it's coming up super fast! Social media is booming like never before... and the #1 component that's missing in so many brands and businesses social media marketing efforts around the world is STRATEGY!!! This is where you come in with a well-respected (and well-earned!) credential as a Certified Social Media Marketing Strategist with me as your guide, in partnership with the AWAI. [Sign up]() to get Certified today and I'll help you to: - Master social media strategy so you can offer this as a service to your clients... - Generate traffic, leads, and sales on a regular basis for your own business and for your clients… - Generate significant revenue by attracting clients using my most effective strategic approaches! [Become A Certified Social Media Marketing Strategist]() Community Corner — Q&A with Mari Smith: Why content is king, but community is queen I recently did an [interview]( with the good folks at Emplifi all about about the ways brands can authentically incorporate community-driven marketing into their online strategies, and the potential benefits of this approach in 2023. After saying for the last 15 years that "Content is King, but engagement is Queen and she rules the house," I've recently changed my tune. With decreasing engagement rates across so many of the social media platforms, it was time to update my popular quote. What's more important today is to build a SOLID COMMUNITY to augment your social media marketing efforts. So, my updated quote is now: "Content is King, but community is Queen and she rules the house." Would you like to [read the article](? More News You Can Use I recently [received a couple of updates](=) from the Facebook Creator team after meeting with them for a private VIP roundtable. (I can tell you that the company is heavily pushing Professional Mode for personal profiles and Reels, in case you hadn't noticed. Lol!) Get answers to the two questions below [on this post](=)in my Social Scoop group. - Does receiving Stars on a Reel or video impact its reach/distribution? - Where can you assign a moderator for your lives? Is it available to professional mode creators? And check out this [Reel]() I recently shared in my group talking about: - STOP using hashtags! (that was the sensational cover image on the Reel). - The key message from the IG photographer influencer is to use lots of SEO keywords in your Instagram and Facebook posts instead of hashtags. BUT, my friends, I do not agree!! It's an ongoing debate about whether hashtags make a difference on IG or FB (I'm here to tell you, they DO!) and how many to use. [Check out the post]() with 80 comments for lots of great discussion and my own thoughts. - Btw, I first saw the Reel on Facebook but it's one of those auto-pulled in from Instagram... so click through to read the original post on IG. I'll be curious to know your own thoughts! Alrighty, that's all for now! You're welcome to reach out anytime. Be sure to come connect with your fellow marketers in my active and super supportive [Social Scoop Facebook Community](=) - celebrating 23k+ amazing members. Cheers 'til the next time, Best, Mari Smith CEO, Mari Smith International, Inc. Premier Facebook Marketing Expert Top Social Media Thought Leader Author, The New Relationship Marketing Coauthor, Facebook Marketing: An Hour A Day P.S. Remember, if you have any interest in becoming a [Certified Social Media Marketing Strategist]( with me as your guide in partnership with the AWAI, the doors for registration close at midnight PT on Friday, April 28th. This is a one-off opportunity and is geared towards professionals of all types, not just writers. If you have any questions at all, reach out to me - you can reply to this email. If it feels like a fit, I'd love to see you in class. P.P.S. On a personal note, I shared with you the other week that my partner Christopher and I spent some fun R&R time in [Ashland, Oregon](=). Wow, it was such a magical experience. We loved Lithia Park, a big 100 acre forested canyonland + so many wonderful organic cafés and restaurants, great Co-op, and such friendly people! Population is 22k and nearest airport is about 20 minutes away in Medord. Very nice! Highly recommended. Oh, and we went to opening night of a contemporary version of Romeo & Juliet at the Shakespeare Theatre. Oh my! ;) [Redwoods Lithia Park]() If you have any questions or feedback, you can reply directly to this email. If you prefer not to receive any emails from me, click to [Unsubscribe]( from all communications, including my Social Scoop newsletter. Mari Smith International 11956 Bernardo Plaza Dr., #201 San Diego, California 92128 United States