Meta is turning up the heat in the short-form video space with its newly launched Edits app — a lightweight, mobile-first video editing platform tailor-made for creators, entrepreneurs, and business owners who want to streamline content creation. If you’re a small business owner looking to enhance your brand’s visual presence without spending hours in front of a computer, this app may be exactly what you need.
What is Edits?
The Edits app is Meta’s latest standalone product that empowers users to create, trim, and remix short-form videos directly from their phone. Unlike traditional editors, Edits is tightly integrated with Instagram and Facebook, making publishing seamless for Reels and Stories.
It’s designed with speed and simplicity in mind, perfect for entrepreneurs managing their own social media or small teams that need to create content quickly. Think of it as your on-the-go video assistant that helps bring your brand to life through polished, platform-ready videos.
How Edits Helps Business Owners
Whether you’re a boutique owner, real estate agent, personal trainer, or café manager, Edits can streamline your content creation workflow in the following ways:
1. Effortless Editing
Cut, trim, and splice together clips with intuitive drag-and-drop features. No video editing background required.
2. Smart Templates
Leverage pre-built templates optimized for Instagram Reels. These templates use trending formats and transitions, giving your content a chance to go viral without trying to follow every trend yourself.
3. Auto-Captions & Text Styles
Add automated captions to boost accessibility and engagement. Choose from various branded font styles that align with your visual identity.
4. Music and Voiceovers
Access licensed music from Meta’s library or easily record a voiceover directly in-app — a big win for brands looking to personalize their message.
5. Content Repurposing
Quickly remix older clips into new formats, helping you get more usage out of previous videos, photos, and user-generated content.
6. Instagram Integration
Because it’s a Meta product, Edits is natively connected to Instagram and Facebook. No need to export and reformat—your polished video is just a few taps away from publishing.
Edits vs. CapCut: What’s the Difference?
Meta’s Edits app enters a space largely dominated by TikTok’s partner app, CapCut, but the two serve slightly different user needs. Here’s a side-by-side comparison tailored for business owners:
Feature
Edits (Meta)
CapCut
Platform Integration
Native integration with Instagram & Facebook
Native TikTok integration
Ease of Use
Ultra-simplified for beginners
More advanced, more tools
Templates
Focused on Instagram trends
Heavily focused on TikTok styles
Audio Tools
Voiceover + Meta music library
Offers team collaboration features in the CapCut web version
AI Tools
Smart trimming, auto-captions
Advanced AI features like background removal, script suggestions
Audience Target
Business owners & creators on Meta platforms
TikTok creators & content-savvy users
Collaboration Features
Not yet
Offers team collaboration features in CapCut web version
When to Choose Edits vs. CapCut
Choose Edits if you’re focused on Instagram/Facebook and need a simple, fast, business-friendly editor.
Choose CapCut if you’re producing content for TikTok and want deeper control over effects and transitions.
Meta’s Edits app could be a game-changer for business owners who want to maintain a consistent video presence without hiring a content team. It strikes a sweet balance between functionality and user-friendliness, making it easier than ever to turn your ideas into engaging content that drives views, saves, and sales.
If you’re trying to do more with less — and stand out in a busy feed — Edits is worth the download.
Are you ready to take your digital advertising to the next level? In today’s competitive landscape, choosing the right platforms can make or break your marketing strategy. But with so many options available, how do you know which ones will deliver the best results for your business?
Welcome to the ultimate guide to choosing the best platforms for digital advertising. Whether you’re looking to drive more website traffic, increase brand awareness, or boost conversions, this comprehensive guide will help you make informed decisions.
We’ll dive deep into the top advertising platforms, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and suitability for different business goals. From social media giants like Facebook and Instagram to search engine powerhouses like Google Ads, we’ll break down the pros and cons of each platform. You’ll gain valuable insights on targeting options, ad formats, and performance metrics.
So if you’re ready to optimize your digital advertising campaigns and maximize your return on investment, keep reading. The perfect platform for your business is just a few clicks away.
Types of digital advertising platforms
When it comes to digital advertising, there are various types of platforms that can help you reach your target audience effectively. Understanding these platforms and their unique features is crucial in selecting the best ones for your business.
Search engine advertising platforms
One of the most popular types of digital advertising platforms is search engine advertising. These platforms, such as Google Ads, allow you to display your ads to users who are actively searching for products or services related to your business.
With search engine advertising, you can leverage keywords to ensure your ads appear in relevant search results. This type of advertising is highly effective in capturing the attention of users who are already interested in what you have to offer.
Social media advertising platforms
Social media platforms have become a powerful tool for digital advertising. Facebook Ads, Instagram Ads, LinkedIn Ads, and X Ads are just a few examples of social media advertising platforms that can help you reach a wide audience and engage with potential customers.
Each social media platform offers unique targeting options and ad formats. Facebook Ads, for instance, allow you to target users based on their interests, demographics, and behavior. Instagram Ads, on the other hand, provide an opportunity for visually engaging advertising through compelling images and videos.
Display advertising platforms
Display advertising platforms, like the Google Display Network, allow you to showcase your ads across a vast network of websites and apps. These platforms offer a range of ad formats, including banners, videos, and interactive ads.
Display advertising is particularly effective for building brand awareness and reaching a broader audience. By strategically placing your ads on relevant websites, you can increase your visibility and attract potential customers who may not have been actively searching for your products or services.
Factors to consider when choosing the best platforms for digital advertising
Now that you’re familiar with the types of digital advertising platforms available, it’s essential to consider certain factors when choosing the right ones for your business. Here are some key factors to keep in mind:
Target audience
Understanding your target audience is crucial in selecting the right advertising platforms. Different platforms attract different demographics and user behaviors. For example, if your target audience consists primarily of professionals and businesses, LinkedIn Ads may be the ideal platform for you.
Consider the age, location, interests, and online behavior of your target audience when evaluating advertising platforms. This will help you ensure that your ads are seen by the right people at the right time.
Budget
Budget is another important factor to consider when choosing digital advertising platforms. Some platforms, like Google Ads, operate on a pay-per-click (PPC) model, where you only pay when someone clicks on your ad. Others, like Facebook Ads, charged based on the number of times your ad is shown to users.
Evaluate your budget and determine how much you’re willing to invest in digital advertising. This will help you narrow down your options and focus on platforms that align with your financial goals.
Ad formats and targeting options
Different platforms offer various ad formats and targeting options. Consider the type of content you want to create and the specific targeting options you need to reach your audience effectively.
For example, if you want to create visually appealing ads, platforms like Instagram and YouTube may be your best bet. On the other hand, if you’re looking for precise targeting options based on user interests and behavior, Facebook Ads may be the ideal platform for you.
Performance metrics
Tracking and analyzing the performance of your ads is crucial in optimizing your digital advertising campaigns. Look for platforms that provide robust analytics and reporting tools, allowing you to measure key metrics such as impressions, clicks, conversions, and ROI.
Consider the level of reporting and analytics provided by each platform to ensure you have the necessary data to make informed decisions and optimize your campaigns for maximum results.
Google Ads: The leader in digital advertising
When it comes to digital advertising, Google Ads is undoubtedly the leader. With billions of searches conducted on Google every day, this platform offers immense reach and targeting capabilities.
Google Ads operates on a pay-per-click (PPC) model, allowing you to set a budget and bid on keywords relevant to your business. This ensures that your ads appear in relevant search results, increasing your chances of attracting interested users.
One of the key advantages of Google Ads is its extensive targeting options. You can target users based on keywords, demographics, location, and even specific websites. This level of granularity allows you to reach your target audience precisely and maximize the effectiveness of your ads.
Google Ads also offers a wide range of ad formats, including text ads, display ads, video ads, and shopping ads. This versatility allows you to create engaging and impactful ads tailored to your business goals.
With robust analytics and reporting tools, Google Ads provides valuable insights into the performance of your campaigns. You can track impressions, clicks, conversions, and other key metrics to optimize your ads and maximize your return on investment.
Facebook Ads: Targeting the right audience
With over 2.8 billion monthly active users, Facebook is a social media giant that offers immense potential for digital advertising. Facebook Ads allows you to reach a wide audience and target users based on their demographics, interests, behavior, and even connections.
One of the key advantages of Facebook Ads is its advanced targeting capabilities. You can create custom audiences based on various factors, such as age, location, gender, interests, and online behavior. This level of targeting precision ensures that your ads are seen by the right people who are most likely to be interested in your products or services.
Facebook Ads also offers a range of ad formats, including image ads, video ads, carousel ads, and collection ads. This versatility allows you to create visually appealing ads that capture the attention of your target audience.
In addition to its targeting and ad format options, Facebook Ads provides comprehensive analytics and reporting tools. You can track the performance of your campaigns, measure key metrics, and make data-driven decisions to optimize your ads for better results.
Instagram Ads: Engaging visual advertising
As a subsidiary of Facebook, Instagram offers a unique platform for digital advertising with a focus on visually engaging content. With over 1 billion monthly active users, Instagram Ads can help you reach a wide audience and showcase your products or services in a visually appealing way.
One of the key advantages of Instagram Ads is its emphasis on visual storytelling. You can create eye-catching image ads, video ads, carousel ads, and Stories ads to capture the attention of your target audience.
Instagram also offers various targeting options, allowing you to reach users based on their demographics, interests, behavior, and connections. This level of targeting precision ensures that your ads are seen by the right people who are most likely to engage with your brand.
With Instagram’s native shopping features, you can also tag products in your ads and drive traffic directly to your website or online store. This seamless shopping experience enhances the conversion potential of your Instagram Ads.
To measure the performance of your Instagram Ads, you can leverage Instagram Insights and Facebook Ads Manager. These tools provide valuable analytics and reporting functionalities, allowing you to track impressions, clicks, conversions, and other key metrics.
LinkedIn Ads: Professional networking and B2B marketing
LinkedIn is a professional networking platform that offers unique opportunities for digital advertising, especially for businesses targeting professionals and B2B audiences. With over 774 million members, LinkedIn Ads can help you reach a highly engaged audience in a professional context.
One of the key advantages of LinkedIn Ads is its targeting capabilities. You can target users based on their job title, industry, company size, seniority, and other professional attributes. This level of targeting precision ensures that your ads are seen by professionals who are most likely to be interested in your products or services.
LinkedIn Ads also offers various ad formats, including sponsored content, text ads, and dynamic ads. These formats allow you to create engaging and impactful ads that resonate with your target audience.
In addition to its targeting and ad format options, LinkedIn Ads provides robust analytics and reporting tools. You can track the performance of your campaigns, measure key metrics, and gain valuable insights into the effectiveness of your ads.
X/Twitter Ads: Real-time marketing opportunities
X, formerly known as Twitter, is a popular social media platform that offers real-time marketing opportunities for businesses. With over 330 million monthly active users, X Ads can help you reach a wide audience and engage with potential customers in real-time conversations.
One of the key advantages of X Ads is its real-time nature. You can leverage trending topics, hashtags, and events to create timely and relevant ads that capture the attention of your target audience.
X Ads also offers various ad formats, including promoted posts, promoted accounts, and promoted trends. These formats allow you to create engaging and interactive ads that align with your business goals.
In terms of targeting options, X Ads allows you to target users based on their interests, demographics, and even the keywords they use in their tweets. This level of targeting precision ensures that your ads are seen by users who are most likely to be interested in your products or services.
To track the performance of your Twitter Ads, you can leverage Twitter Analytics and other third-party tools. These tools provide valuable insights into the reach, engagement, and conversions generated by your ads.
YouTube Ads: Video advertising at its best
YouTube is the second-largest search engine in the world, making it a powerful platform for video advertising. With over 2 billion monthly active users, YouTube Ads can help you reach a vast audience and leverage the engagement potential of video content.
One of the key advantages of YouTube Ads is its reach. You can showcase your video ads to users who are actively searching for related content or watching videos relevant to your business. This targeting capability ensures that your ads are seen by users who are most likely to be interested in your products or services.
YouTube Ads offer various ad formats, including skippable in-stream ads, non-skippable in-stream ads, video discovery ads, and bumper ads. These formats allow you to create compelling and engaging video ads that capture the attention of your target audience.
In addition to its targeting and ad format options, YouTube Ads provides comprehensive analytics and reporting tools. You can track the performance of your ads, measure key metrics, and gain valuable insights into the effectiveness of your video campaigns.
Choosing the best platforms for digital advertising
In conclusion, choosing the best platforms for your digital advertising needs requires careful consideration of various factors. Understanding the types of platforms available, such as search engine advertising, social media advertising, and display advertising, is crucial in making informed decisions.
Factors such as target audience, budget, ad formats, targeting options, and performance metrics should be taken into account when evaluating different platforms. By aligning your business goals with the unique features and capabilities of each platform, you can optimize your digital advertising campaigns and maximize your return on investment.
Whether you choose Google Ads for its reach and targeting capabilities, Facebook Ads for its advanced targeting options, Instagram Ads for visually engaging content, LinkedIn Ads for professional networking and B2B marketing, X Ads for real-time marketing opportunities, or YouTube Ads for video advertising at its best, the key is to select platforms that resonate with your target audience and align with your business objectives.
So, take the time to explore the strengths, weaknesses, and suitability of each platform. Test different strategies, track your performance, and make data-driven decisions to continuously optimize your digital advertising campaigns. The perfect platform for your business is just a few clicks away.
November brings us into what is typically the busiest time of the year for many businesses! The last couple months of the year bring Black Friday, Shop Small Saturday, and Cyber Monday. When the pandemic hit it also changed shopping habits and amplified online shopping, as many retailers remained closed.
This trend will likely continue and your business should be ready handle the influx of customers as well as the changing trends.
1. Have a website
A Facebook Page isn’t enough. If you don’t have a website you’re going to be missing out on a huge number of potential customers! Customers are increasingly researching products and deals online. If you don’t have a responsive website, you won’t even be a part of those conversations and discussions.
Make sure your website has your updated hours and any additional procedures they should be aware of due to the pandemic. You should also include all of your Black Friday, Shop Small Saturday, and Cyber Monday deals on your website. Be sure these are listed using text and not an image or linked PDF, as Google can have trouble indexing those types of media. If Google can’t read it and show it to the appropriate shopper, it’s pointless. These types of media are often difficult to navigate on mobile devices as well, which is where the majority of shoppers are searching.
2. Consider deals and promotions
Consumers are looking for the best deal. The internet has made it extremely easy to research who has the best ones in a larger geographic area, before they even leave their home. A special deal or promotion could make your business more competitive with others. Consider a discount, giving a special gift to the first x number of shoppers, or something similar.
3. Make sure hours of operations are defined
We already discussed this a bit with your website, but I think it’s important enough to mention again. Ensure your website has accurate and up-to-date information. Double check your address (if you’ve moved recently), hours of operation, and contact information. Test your contact forms and ensure they’re working as expected. If a customer can’t get a quick response, they will move on. Having inaccurate information could cost you big!
4. Update your online directory listings
While you’re checking your website, make sure other online listings have updated information for your business as well. This could include your Google Business Listing, Yelp Business Listing, and other similar business listings online. Google also now allows you to include posts on your business listing on the search engine. Use this to increase the reach of those searching for products or services you sell!
Google Ads are another great example of digital advertising that is highly beneficial for businesses during the holiday season! Google Ads are pay-pay-click. Therefore, you don’t pay unless someone actually clicks on your ad. While social platforms are great for building awareness around your business, product, or service, Google users actually have an intent to already buy when your ad appears. This is important. Because your ad appears based on keywords, they are actually searching for your product or service at the moment your ad appears! That’s huge! And when consumers are researching on Google, you want to appear when your specific keywords are searched for in your area.
6. Send out a mailer
Mail is not dead. Many people are still working from home during the pandemic, making mail an even more important part of your marketing strategy. Include contact information and details about your deals or promotions. Be sure to include any details about who is eligible and any date ranges that are specific to the sale.
Mailers can come in many different sizes. Using a unique size, can help yours stand out in their inbox! You can also target mailing lists not only by geographic areas, but also household demographics as well. Only want to target households with pets? You can do that.
7. Ensure you have extra staffing
The holidays mean higher demand. Ensure you have extra staffing to handle the higher demand for online orders and to safely meet demand in store during this busier season. You can have an excellent deal and product, but if a customer can’t make the purchase or has a bad experience you can bet they’ll move on to somewhere else. Competition is too great during this time of the year for bad customer service. Keep this in mind when making those schedules!
Many businesses are experiencing a shortage of workers right now. If that’s the case for you, perhaps spreading your deals out over a longer period of time would be more ideal. Many big box retailers have begun to do the same as well to limit the large crowds that typically appear on these days.
8. Take advantage of stories
Stories are one of the most underutilized features by many businesses! Customers love to see behind-the-scenes. Share short clips of your staff putting out the holiday inventory, share special products that will be on sale, and other promos. Don’t worry about these being perfect. Since they will be gone in 24 hours, customers are used to this type of media being less-polished and actually prefer it. Professionally edited videos typically stick out as ‘ads’ and don’t perform as well. This can be an easy and quick way to get the word out about your holiday plans!
9. Use a geofilter
Geofilters are very inexpensive and fairly easy to setup! You can find design specifications on Snapchat. Then, just log into your Snapchat account online, upload your artwork, choose the area you want it to be visible in, and complete the purchase.
Placing a geofilter over your location or even a competitor’s location can help spread the word about your promotions and attract additional in-person customers. It’s also a great way for customers to share loyalty to your brand!
10. Ensure consistency across all marketing channels
Make it easy for customers to remember and distinguish your business when they see it. All of your ads, across all mediums, should have the same look and feel. Customers typically have to see your ad multiple times before deciding to make a purchase. This metric is called frequency. You’ll likely see it in your ad insights.
Whether they’re seeing a billboard or a Facebook ad, they should be able to immediately make the connection. This means using the same brand colors, models, fonts (the way the text looks), and logo. This also helps build brand equity that is beneficial after the holiday season is over as well!
Start with these tips and you’ll be well on your way to a successful holiday shopping season and beyond! If you’d like assistance with promoting your Black Friday, Shop Small Saturday, or Cyber Monday sales we’d love to see how we can help. Send us a message or give us a call at (318) 545-2600 and we’ll get the conversation started.
Instagram Stories’ analytics are important for business owners and marketers alike as it can help show you what your audience is connecting to and engaging with. To be fair, Snapchat does give you data on how many people viewed a snap as well as who viewed it; however, after 24 hours that data is gone.
Instagram keeps how many people viewed a story and more for 14 days, allowing you to gather more data from your followers. You can filter your stories for the past 14 days by impressions, reach, exits, and replies. If you want to filter the results even more, you can apply an additional filter for the last 24 hours, 7 days, or 14 days. The ability to see when viewers exit is huge! This can help you determine if your daily stories are too long or even what type of content your viewers don’t appreciate. Instagram does currently lack the ability the sort this data.
2. Stories Can Promote Your Main Profile’s Content
Instagram Stories have the ability to mention other accounts (clicking the username brings up a bubble with the username that will take you straight to their profile page) or even your own. In doing so, stories is an excellent way to appear at the top of your followers’ feeds, showcasing your latest posts, and directing them straight back to your business’ content.
Snapchat has yet to add any sort of tagging feature. There also is no core profile feature to direct users to in order to learn more about your products or services; stories is the snapchat product.
3. Boomerang
Boomerang was originally a separate app by Instagram that allowed users to record a short 3-second long clip that would repeat itself forward and backwards. It has since been baked into the flagship Instagram app. The effect has become immensely popular on the platform, particularly with millennials.
The effect is very reminiscent of GIFS, which are wildly popular with millennials on Tumblr and have even recently caught the eye of Facebook. With about 90% of Instagram’s user base under 35, it is an excellent platform to capitalize on that demographic. The popular effect is a great way for brands to get creative and produce native content as well!
4. The Design is More Intuitive and Customizable
Instagram is a creative community, made up vastly of designers and creators. The tools made available to users reflects this demographic with a large amount of options and customizations. One of the biggest perks is the ability to change text size. No more awkward, hanging words that take up a ton of space. Instagram also gives you the ability to add multiple text layers which has yielded some original text designs for posts. Users have used multiple text layers to create shadows and other effects, for example.
Simple, modern “stickers” allow users to showcase weather conditions, the time, or their location. There are also stickers for the days of the week and holidays; Instagram is constantly updating the collection to choose from. They also have multiple pen tools that allow you to draw or write in different styles. There is a thin marker style, a thicker, highlighter line with a slight opacity, as well as a line with a neon, outer glow. The ability to use all of these styles with any color you can imagine rounds out the customization options in Instagram.
5. Instagram Stories’ Filters
Instagram’s stellar filter options not only make posting fun but they also can make your photos look stunning! With filters that add gradient, color overlays, or increase brightness, or decrease noise, the filters are specifically designed to make photos or videos look great. They provide the finishing, professional touch, giving you the same freedom to edit your photos or videos as you would in the main app.
While snapchat’s main focus has been on geofilters and the use of facial recognition to overlay graphics onto your face or videos, Instagram focuses on the creative process of posting: choosing a subject and unique angle and then selecting one of Instagram’s several filters to polish your media before posting. Instagram Stories is ramping up it competitive offerings against snapchat by launching their own geofilters. While currently only available in select cities, the feature is sure to roll out more broadly very soon.
Instagram Stories’ analytics are important for business owners and marketers alike as it can help show you what your audience is connecting to and engaging with. To be fair, Snapchat does give you data on how many people viewed a snap as well as who viewed it; however, after 24 hours that data is gone.
Instagram is a creative community, made up vastly of designers and creators. The tools made available to users reflects this demographic with a large amount of options and customizations. One of the biggest perks is the ability to change text size. No more awkward, hanging words that take up a ton of space. Instagram also gives you the ability to add multiple text layers which has yielded some original text designs for posts. Users have used multiple text layers to create shadows and other effects, for example.