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    Meta insider Joana Jamil on navigating Instagram the right way

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    Life

    by Ruman Baig
    2 hours ago

    Joana Jamil, the Strategic Partner Manager, Global Partnerships at Meta, offers a unique perspective on the dynamic social media landscape of Instagram.

    How do you envision Instagram’s role in shaping the future of fashion in the Middle East?
    Instagram has already proven itself to be a transformative platform for the fashion industry, and its role in the Middle East will only continue to grow. The region is home to dynamic creators, designers, and influencers who use Instagram to express themselves, break barriers, and connect with global audiences. Instagram serves as a critical enabler and connector within the fashion industry in the region, empowering creators to not only showcase their work but also reach new markets and collaborate with brands through tools like Reels, Stories, and Shopping. But we don’t just enable onplatform; we actively connect the industry off-platform through initiatives like the industry roundtable dinner we hosted during Dubai Fashion Week and our participation in events such as the IG x Elie Saab collaboration, where we connected a global brand with regional creators. We also prioritise nurturing talents by providing creators with workshops and educational sessions that focus on how to best utilise our tools and features, ensuring they maximise the full potential of the platform.
    How can the platform be leveraged for authentic growth?
    Instagram empowers emerging talents by giving them direct access to a global audience through Reels, Stories, and Instagram Broadcast channels. We also host a series of workshops, roundtables, and 1:1 meeting with creators and creatives in various industries to hear from them and understand their needs and challenges throughout the year. We’re also constantly working on finding opportunities to bridge regional fashion creators with global moments in fashion, such as the Met Gala and Paris Fashion Week. For example, we had creators from the region fly to New York to represent us at the IG Met Watch Party.

    What bold strategies do you think Instagram has recently implemented for better user experience?
    Instagram has introduced several new features within Reels to provide a more bespoke experience for creators while creating content such as remixes and templates, which allow creators to easily create engaging and visually appealing content using pre-designed templates. These templates can be customised with text, images, and other creative elements, making it easier for creators to produce high-quality content on the go as well as be inspired by trending content in their niche. We also introduced our latest messaging tool, Instagram broadcast channel, which allows creators to create a more personal experience and engage directly with their community utilising multiple formats within their channels such as voice notes, pictures, videos and text.
    How do you see AI, AR, VR technology impacting the future of fashion shopping?
    At Meta, we see AI is a catalyst or accelerator for things we’re trying to do – whether it’s unleashing more creativity or working more efficiently. It’s not an end product in and of itself. When it comes to AR/VR technology, these tools are poised to revolutionise fashion shopping by making the experience more immersive and interactive. Imagine trying on clothes virtually using AR or walking through a virtual store using VR – these technologies can bridge the gap between physical and online shopping. In addition to AR/VR, AI plays a significant role in making fashion shopping more personalised. On Instagram, for instance, we’ve integrated AI-driven content recommendations that help fashion brands connect with their audience more effectively. AI analyses user preferences and suggests fashion related posts, stories, and reels tailored to users’ styles. Some AI-powered features that fashion brands can leverage on the platform include content recommendation, image and video recognition, generative AI tools, ad targeting and AI-powered captions and hashtags. With these tools, both AR/VR and AI will continue to shape the future of fashion shopping, offering brands and consumers more interactive, personalised, and efficient experiences.

    How can Instagram’s advertising platform be used more efficiently?
    Instagram’s advertising platform offers various targeting options to reach specific fashion demographics and preferences in the region. A number of vital ways include demographic targeting (age, gender, location, language), interest targeting (fashion, beauty, lifestyle), behavioural targeting (purchasing fashion items online, engaging with fashion content), lookalike audiences (based on existing customers or website visitors), location targeting, and many more options which allow fashion brands to create a targeted campaign that increases their engagement and conversion.
    Will the recent change in algorithm impact organic growth?
    The algorithm now prioritises content from accounts that users interact with most, which means that accounts may need to adapt their content strategy to increase engagement and reach. This could include creating more interactive content, using relatable topics and hashtags, and posting at optimal times. Additionally, accounts may need to focus on building a loyal community of followers who will consistently engage with their content.
    How can Meta effectively adapt Instagram’s strategies to capitalise on the growing popularity of Reels?
    Reels has a world of opportunities. In fact, it is our fastest growing feature on the platform! There are multiple ways to capitalise on the growing popularity of reels – to name a few best practices: Focus on creating original, engaging, and entertaining content; collaborate with other creators or users on the platform; utilise Instagram’s features (polls, quizzes, questions) for further engagement with your communities; post consistently – have a schedule that best suits you and your community. Monitor analytics to track learnings — fluctuations in reach are common, but if you’re using a Business or Creator Account, you can check your Instagram Insights to monitor trends and content performance. Watch out for patterns= and keep tabs on which pieces of content are getting more reach to help inform your content strategy. Within Insights, you can break down Accounts Reached by followers and non-followers so you can see how much of your reach is coming from people who don’t already follow you – and track that over time by changing the time frame selected. Experiment with different formats until you find your perfect fit. Get inspired! Make sure to keep an eye on rising trends and music through browsing other Reels and checking @Creators weekly Reels of roundup.
    Are the ‘save’ and ‘share’ features more pivotal for your content’s reach?
    Yes, the ‘save’ and ‘share’ features are important for a user’s content’s reach on Instagram. When users save or share your content, it increases its visibility and can lead to more engagement and followers.
    What bold approach do you think can help brands or individuals to stand out on Instagram?
    Be original. Focus on creating unique, high-quality content that tells a story and showcases your brand’s personality. This can include using creative visuals, experimenting with different formats, and leveraging user-generated content. Additionally, engaging with your audience through comments and DMs can help build a loyal community and increase brand awareness.
    This is The Bold Issue, what does being bold mean to you?
    For me, the formula is simple:being bold means taking risks and stepping outside of your comfort zone to achieve something remarkable. It means being fearless, confident, and unapologetic in your approach, even if it means going against the grain. Being bold is about embracing uncertainty and pushing boundaries to create something truly innovative and impactful.
    – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
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      Vision and Voice: Meta unlocks social media evolution and innovation potential

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      What drives the future of social media?Emirates Woman taps Meta’s Group Director FMCG, Luxury, Retail & E-Commerce (MENA), Anna Germanos, to unlock social media’s evolution and innovation potential.What do the first 30 minutes of your day look like, your morning routine?My day begins with a glance at my phone, catching up on messages from friends and family sent overnight, and reading the latest headlines. The morn- ing hustle then begins – waking the kids up and preparing them for school, a daily marathon of its own. I drop them at the bus and hit the gym at 7am at least three times a week. The 7-8am hour is my only time for fitness.Tell us how you got your start in the industry.My journey in Consumer & Retail began with an internship at Booz & Company during my MBA year. I found myself captivated by industries closely connected to consumers, leading me to focus the rest of my consulting career on consumer and retail projects across the MEA region. In 2017, an opportunity presented itself in Google’s consumer team. Leveraging both my industry expertise and engineering background, I made the transition into the tech sector. Since then, I’ve been advising global and regional clients in Consumer, Retail, E- commerce, and Luxury on their digital marketing transformation journeys.Anna Germanos, Group Director FMCG, Luxury, Retail & E-Commerce (MENA) at MetaHow does your role impact innovation and tech at Meta?In my role at Meta, I directly engage with consumers and advertisers, translating their needs into actionable insights which helps bridge the gap between user requirements and our product teams. These insights also play a pivotal role in shaping Meta’s innovation roadmap, ensuring our products resonate with a diverse regional audience. I also oversee the adaptation of innovations to specific markets, leveraging local nuances for maximum impact. Naturally, any innovation undergoes rigorous testing before its global launch, and in our region, advertisers frequently participate in testing alphas and betas, which help shape the end-product development.“Innovation is also about making our technologies accessible to users of all backgrounds and abilities.”What are the key goals to lead the change in terms of innovation in the tech industry?Ultimately, innovation has to be centered around people. Everything we do at Meta is about breaking down barriers and connecting people, empowering them to create. The concept of the metaverse, for example, underscores the ability to facilitate profound connections through social presence and natural interactions using voice, facial expressions and gestures. Innovation is also about making our technologies accessible to users of all backgrounds and abilities. Whether through advancements in virtual and augmented reality or improved accessibility features, our goal is to ensure that everyone can participate in the digital revolution.How has the Middle East region changed in terms of interacting on Meta platforms – has there been a shift in the way content is consumed?There has been a noticeable shift in content consumption globally and our region is not an exception. It would come as no surprise that there has been a steady rise in the consumption of short-form video content, such as Reels, across all platforms. For instance, people spend more than half their time on Facebook and Instagram watching videos. As we have moved almost entirely to mobile first, when it comes to social media, brevity and shareability has become key. We are also seeing creators explore new frontiers through the use of AR and VR, experiment with new formats and tools, and find new ways to monetise their work. Another big shift is the growth of e-commerce on social media. While people have been using our apps to buy and sell things for years, the integration of e-commerce tools such as shoppable posts and branded content tools on Instagram, Facebook Marketplace, live shopping, product stickers and integrated chatbots for customer support has made the experience more natural and seamless. E-commerce in MENA is projected to reach $50 billion by 2025, 1.7x from 2021 with KSA and UAE leading.How do you aim to positively drive the platforms forward in the region?The Middle East is a hub of immense potential, both creatively and in the business realm, and we are enthusiastic about deepening our collaborations with regional partners to expedite the development of the local ecosystem. We are deeply invested in amplifying the influence of the vibrant local creator community in the region – a community rich in talent and diversity. Initiatives like Creators of Tomorrow, Creator Lab, and locally flavoured campaigns are a launchpad that celebrate these talents and we aim to continue this momentum. We’re also constantly expanding on ways creators can monetise their content on our platforms. As our creator community thrives, so do the opportunities for brands and advertisers on our platforms. The regional success stories are compelling; brands leveraging our platforms have witnessed a substantial boost in ad effectiveness and sales. For instance, with AI-driven ad solutions, Home Center, a prominent home furnishings retailer in the GCC, experienced a 40% lift in return on ad spend using our tools. Similarly, Level Shoes, a luxury multi-brand footwear retailer in the UAE and KSA, reported a remarkable 92% higher return on ad spend in KSA. In addition to growth, we are dedicated to making our platforms a safer space, especially for minors. We’ve recently announced a new bundle of protections to give teens more age-appropriate experience, and overall, we’ve developed over 30 different tools and resources to support teens and their parents.UX/UI is at the core of Meta. How does the company approach digital innovation to ensure the content is fresh and engaging?We want to make the most of people’s time, and we believe personalisation is the way to go about it. We prioritise content that generates authentic interactions and that people seek out and return to on a regular basis. We use a wide variety of AI algorithms to ensure users get a good mix of staying connected to their close friends, while being engaged with new content relevant to their interests. We do that by analysing different factors including history of interaction, location and the user’s activity to try and predict what they will enjoy the most. Another aspect is giving creators better tools and helpful guides to empower them to engage with their communities and produce trendy, entertaining content. Features like Reel templates, Remix, Collabs and many more are all there to ensure we keep the bar high for quality content on our platforms. We also provide global guides via @creators on Instagram and creators.instagram.com to help creators get inspiration, learn how to best monetise their content, and stay ahead of the curve. Meta is also experimenting with incorporating generative AI post creation elements.Do you believe AI will be the defining technology of our generation or is this a passing trend?While it’s still early days for generative AI, the visible impact it is making leaves us anticipating positive changes across various domains, from business and healthcare to the delivery of public services. Far from being a passing trend, I firmly believe that AI is a transformative force here to stay. For over a decade, Meta has been a trailblazer in AI innovation, utilizing it to curate personalised content and ads for our users while ensuring safer experiences on our platforms. We’ve actively collaborated on over 1,000 open-source AI projects, contributing to the broader AI community. The transformative potential of AI is evident in its application by researchers, accelerating anti-biotic discovery and enabling the creation of detailed MRIs with significantly less raw data. Now, Meta is extending its AI endeavors with the development of new generative AI experiences. These innovations aim to make our platforms more social, more useful, and more immersive, further solidifying AI as a driving force in shaping the technological landscape of our generation.With social media use at an all-time high, what type of content stands out to you?The content that truly resonates with me is usually unique and genuine. I gravitate towards creators and influencers who can either in- spire or entertain me with their authentic passion. I prefer to engage with content that is specialised in a specific genre, rather than spans multiple areas. More broadly, content such as sports, fashion and beauty typically dominate in terms of popularity, followed by music and comedy. However, in our region, cultural events often bring other genres to the forefront, such as food and entertainment shows during Ramadan. I am also very intrigued by the emerging new technology and AI generated content that truly boosts engagement, similar to what Tom Jauncey (@tomjauncey) and Murad Osmann (@muradosmann) are creating on Instagram. Ultimately, content that is crafted with sincerity and passion is the most impactful.This is The Tech Issue – what technology has been a game changer in your life and how so?To me, WhatsApp is a revolutionary tool. Its user-friendly interface allows even the least tech-savvy individuals to connect effortlessly; case in point: my 93-year-old grandma is on WhatsApp! It really simplified my personal life management as a working mother. Professionally too, WhatsApp’s prevalence has expedited tasks, making communication more efficient than other channels. The benefits I’ve reaped in terms of connectivity, time-efficiency, and effectiveness through WhatsApp are immense.February’s – The Tech Issue with Christiana Maxion  – Download Now– For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and InstagramImages: Supplied More