Welcome to the March edition of the seoplus+ Digital Digest—your go-to source for the latest digital marketing insights. From Instagram’s shifting priorities to AI-powered video tools, here’s what you need to know to stay ahead of the curve.
Hashtags Are Dead?! Not Quite, But Their Role Is Changing
For years, hashtags have been a staple of Instagram growth strategies, but according to Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri, they may no longer be the engagement driver they once were. When asked how to get more likes and followers, Mosseri said, “They don’t work.”
So, should brands abandon hashtags entirely? Not necessarily. While they no longer directly boost engagement, they still play a role in categorizing content and improving search discoverability. However, Instagram’s algorithm now prioritizes original content, Reels, and meaningful interactions over hashtag usage.
🔹 What This Means for Marketers: Instead of relying solely on hashtags, brands should double down on creating high-quality video content, interactive posts, and community-driven engagement to maximize visibility and reach.
Facebook Live Videos Will Now Expire After 30 Days – Here’s What to Do
Meta has announced a significant update to its Facebook Live video storage policy: Starting March 2025, Facebook Live videos will automatically expire after 30 days unless manually saved. This shift impacts businesses, content creators, and brands that rely on Facebook Live for marketing, engagement, and virtual events.
🔹 How to Keep Your Content Accessible:
- Download live videos immediately after broadcasts and re-upload them to owned platforms such as a company website or YouTube.
- Repurposing content into short-form clips for Instagram Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts to extend its reach.
- Alternative platforms like LinkedIn Live or YouTube Live should be considered for long-term video accessibility.
Meta states this update is intended to optimize platform performance and free up storage, but it also means brands must be more proactive about managing their video archives. If Facebook Live is a key part of your marketing strategy, implement a content retention plan now.
Google Unveils Veo 2: AI-Powered Video Creation for YouTube Shorts
YouTube Shorts is getting an AI-powered upgrade with Google’s new Veo 2 model, designed to help creators generate high-quality, short-form videos with minimal effort. This advanced AI tool enhances video production by improving:
🎬 Scene generation for more engaging storytelling
🎥 Smoother transitions and better overall video quality
🤖 AI-assisted editing to streamline the content creation process
This presents a massive opportunity for marketers to create compelling short-form video content at scale. As YouTube Shorts continues to dominate, leveraging AI-powered tools like Veo 2 can help brands produce eye-catching, algorithm-friendly content while maintaining authenticity.
Stay Ahead of the Curve
Digital marketing is undergoing a quiet but profound transformation. Staying competitive requires more than just keeping up– it demands adapting to platform updates, leveraging AI-driven tools, and prioritizing content formats that truly engage audiences.
Need help optimizing your digital strategy? Our team at seoplus+ is here to help! Contact us for expert guidance on social media, content marketing, and paid advertising strategies that deliver accurate results.
What are your thoughts on these updates? Share your insights in the comments or connect with us on LinkedIn!
