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PRNEWS asked some video experts for some tips for communicators who may not have an editing and production background, but can create engaging social video with some simple guidance.

The end of the calendar is a good time for making predictions and wishes. As we do each year, we asked PR pros for predictions. In addition, we asked them what their PR-related wishes for 2023 are. Here’s what they said.

Video continues to steal the show when it comes to engagement on social for brands in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) categories. 73% of the actions on the top 500 posts from CPG brands were either videos or reels, according to exclusive data from Shareablee powered by Comscore. This is compared to only 59% of all engagements on the top 500 posts in August 2021.

Instagram caused an uproar this week when it unintentionally released a glimpse of a potential update to feeds on the platform. On the morning of Dec. 27, some users found that their Instagram interface had shifted from its usual vertical layout to a horizontal one, in which users had to tap or swipe through one post at a time to get to the next—similar to the Stories feature. Rather than scrolling quickly through posts and ads that weren’t of interest, users had to interact with every post in one way or another.

Instagram announced that users can now send voices messages via the Direct messaging platform in the app. Audio messages can be up to one minute long and can be sent in private and group chats. A second announcement revealed Instagram’s beta testing of creator accounts for influencers, which will “give the app’s high-profile individuals specialized tools.”

For brands on Instagram, it might seem nearly impossible to compete with large corporations that can afford paid post after paid post in order to jump to the front of the line. But in reality, there are a few key ways to game the Instagram algorithm without breaking the bank.

Instagram recently announced a change to its algorithm so that posts will now appear in a more chronological manner, finally heeding years of user complaints. But does that mean your brand should now post more frequently? How will brands be impacted by this change? Carmen Collins, social media lead for the talent brand at Cisco Systems, weighs in.

Considering that Snapchat now shares analytics and insights with its network of influencers, its addition of “mentions” feels like another feature that will allow the platform to function as a serious tool for communicators. And considering that the company laid off over 120 engineers this week, it’s possible that the company might be content to continue beefing up its interface with innovations that already exist elsewhere.

This weekend, one of the most-viewed sporting events in the world kicks off in PyeongChang, South Korea. But it’s not just athletes that will be strutting their stuff on the world’s biggest stage. For the brands that serve as official sponsors, the Winter Olympics provide a perfect opportunity to combine storytelling skills with the natural drama of international competition. Here’s a look at how some of those brands are leveraging the games, using everything from influencer marketing strategies to virtual reality experiences.

In a move that was long overdue, Instagram announced that it would allow for scheduling of posts ahead of time—but with a twist. You can’t schedule a post directly on the app, but you can schedule through one of Instagram’s partners, such as Hootsuite, Sprinklr or Sprout Social. The feature, announced yesterday, has long been on the wish list of social media managers looking to simplify content management on the platform, and is the latest in a series of updates being rolled out for the Instagram Graph API redesign.