Hey Trendspotters,

Welcome to season 2! Yes, this newsletter has seasons, because it’s just not realistic for me to write a newsletter every single week of my life…

So after a summer break, today we’re back with a rebrand 🎨 and 18 content trends for you to try out!

In this issue, we’ll be covering why carousel posts are so hot right now and analyzing Q4 marketing trends like analog content (and why printers are new filters 🖨️), grocery basket flat lays, and the dynamic filming angles replacing cheesy hooks.

And to celebrate me finally sending out this newsletter…you can save $15 off my Content Strategy Playbook for the next 24 hours with code “SEASON2” 🍾 

Now let’s get into! Social news you might have missed:

• Instagram carousel posts have been having a major moment, and now posts with music will officially be shown in the Reels tab so you can reach more people. 🔥 Instagram recommends adding text to posts too, so here’s my tips for designing viral carousel posts.

• Looks like Instagram's finally admitting we're all secretly using it as a digital Rolodex – they've rolled out QR code business cards for profiles.

• Youtube is creating a user-generated algorithm that turns viewers into amateur talent scouts: you can now “hype” videos from micro-creators that deserve to be shown to more people.

🧠 How to sound smart to your boss/client:

• If you didn’t watch the Adam Mosseri (IG CEO) interview with Colin & Samir over the summer, add it to your to do list this week. TLDW? Your “send rate” is more important than watch time, likes, and comments, so you want to strategize your content for shares.

• The US election is only 15 days away, but Meta certainly isn’t counting. The Washington Post investigates how Instagram hides your political posts, where “even discussing how to vote isn’t safe.” That being said, my reel about Kamala’s social team hasn’t been affected (yet).

Let’s Get Digital Analog 🗞

It wasn’t thaaaat long ago that the Y2K aesthetic was EVERYWHERE and flip phones and Windows 95 suddenly became cool again thanks to Gen Z embracing pre-smartphone technology.

And now, we’re rewinding even further back to the good ole analog days where print is suddenly so not dead. There's a clear trend emerging: the use of physical, tangible marketing materials to cut through the digital noise.

Your printer is the hot new filter, so instead of adding overlay text to a video, savvy brands are hitting CTRL+P and going old school.

Newspapers, flyers, and even handwritten notes are being used to teased or announce launches. It's a clever way to blend the physical and digital worlds, creating content that feels both nostalgic and cutting-edge.

So if we can't beat digital fatigue, we might as well…print it? 🖨️

As we head into the busy season of Q4, think about how you can incorporate this trend into your marketing strategy with a few examples below!

Whether you're planning a product launch or gearing up for Black Friday sales, a touch of analog might be just what you need to stand out in the digital crowd:

The Bottom Line:

Next time you're tempted to add another floating text box to your reel, think about scribbling your message on a Post-it instead. Trust me, your engagement will thank you.

More analog content ideas: debut your new website, countdown to a launch, or create a word search tease.

Now Trending: move over, airport flexes – we're all about checkout chic now. The grocery cart flat lay is officially taking over as the new TSA flatlay, and it’s a lot more accessible than buying a TSA bin to fake it.

It’s an easy way to incorporate your products or a flyer you created, just take a cue from @martinamartian who nailed these flatlays (and check out her feed for more aesthetic analog inspo!).

And while you’re at the store….here’s some tips on how to film yourself grocery shopping. 🛒🍏 

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6 Cool Filming Angles to Try

Let's face it: we're all drowning in an ocean of content, desperately trying to catch our audience's eye before they swipe, swipe away.

But here's a little secret – you don't need to scream "WAIT!" at the start of every video to make people pay attention (though let's be real, we've all been there, done that, and probably will again. No judgment 😅)

In a world where everyone's fighting for attention, sometimes the best way to stand out is to literally stand somewhere different.

Enter the unsung hero of scroll-stopping content: the interesting filming angle. 📐

So grab your camera, find a weird angle, and start creating content that makes people say, "Wait, how did they do that?" instead of "Oh great, another reel."

Here’s why you should switch up how you’re filming your content:

1. An interesting angle is just as eye-catching (if not more) than that hook you've been relying on. Sorry not sorry, but "3 reasons why..." is SO last season.

2. It's a creative approach that doesn't require you to dance or point at floating text. No cringe here!

3. Switching up your angles is an editing best practice for keeping someone’s attention, resulting in longer watch through rates (which signals to the algorithms that this video is high quality content).

It all comes down to perspective, so here’s some cool filming angles to try out for your next short-form video:

The Bottom Line: 

Content creation isn’t about having the fanciest equipment or the biggest budget. It's about creativity, perspective, and maybe a little bit of neck strain from trying to film yourself from impossible angles. But hey, that's showbiz, baby✨

Other cool ways to film: like a stranger watching you on the subway, or push the crosswalk trend even further by using actual traffic cameras?!

My Content Strategy Playbook is a step-by-step guide to building your strategy, planning your content calendar, and setting up a stress-free workflow.

Now is the perfect time to run a content audit, update your pillars, and get strategic with your goals before the holiday season!

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