If you’re not stressed out right now…

Are you even a marketer?

We’ve officially entered Q4, and you know what that means. Black Friday. Cyber Monday. Holiday shopping. Boxing Day. It’s enough to make even the spunkiest of marketers break out in hives. But, never fear, your Q4 Survival Guide is here.

In today's newsletter:

• Your Q4 survival guide (how to get through the next few months WITHOUT a menty b)

• Instagram's 'best practices' tell you EXACTLY how to be good at--itself? (but is this new feature actually a positive thing or nah?)

• Trend plug - Non-linear storytelling

• Ask the Editor - How do I make sure I don't alienate anyone with my content? 

- Charlotte, Editor ♡

The end of 2024 is approaching faster than me to the local pub on a sunny afternoon.

Before we know it, Mariah Carey will have defrosted to do her annual rounds, and then the year will be over.

But before we get festive, we have to survive Q4.

This is the home stretch. It's the time when marketers pull out all the stops to boost year-end revenue and hit those targets, setting the stage for the oncoming year.

A strong Q4 can significantly impact the overall health of a business. It’s a time to assess the year’s performance, to meet your goals, clear out excess inventory, and realign for a successful start to the new year.

It’s no walk in the park, either. Q4 is the Super Bowl of sales, or in other words, it's competitive asf.

With Black Friday, Cyber Monday and holiday season all packed tightly into three months, it’s practically a non-stop frenzy.

And this means consumers are bombarded with endless offers and promotions.

So how does one stand out and connect in a meaningful way? Especially when the landscape we’re working with is the online version of an overcrowded street market? The busyness of this season alone is enough to send anyone into a menty-b.

But fear not. This right here is your Q4 survival guide – you’re so welcome x

[Keep reading]

-Sophie, Writer

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Instagram’s ‘Best Practices’ Tell You Exactly How to be Good At—Itself?

Looking to grow your following on socials? We sure hope so. I mean, you subscribed to this newsletter, after all!

This deep desire held by millions is why Instagram recently released 'Best Practices.'

This feature gives business and creator account-holders specific advice on how to grow their following on, well, Instagram.

Make no mistake, there's good reason to be taking tips from Instagram itself if you're looking for success on the app! But when it comes to garnering followers by making content more on your terms, there's a lingering question mark.

Hold on, doesn't Insta already tell me what I should or shouldn't be posting?

Yes, but we're not just talking about reminders on Insta's content guidelines. We're talking about Insta giving specific, even personalised tips on how to best take advantage of the app and its users.

To understand exactly how it works, I asked our scriptwriter and part-time content creator Buskey Sharma (@whoisbuskey) what kinds of tips he was receiving. Turns out, Insta thinks he needs to 'focus on deeper engagement' and make creating Reels 'part of [his] routine'! Interesting......

But is a platform telling creators how to make content a good thing?

We see this is a bit of a double-edged sword.

[Keep reading]

-Devin, Copywriter

Trend Plug - Non-Linear Storytelling

Today's trend is inspired by a literary technique where stories are told out of order.

TikTokers are now using 'non-linear storytelling' or 'subtle foreshadowing' to edit their videos.

In the world of film, this technique is often used as a playful version of foreshadowing. It's a way to hint about future events early on in the story. But in the world of TikTok, creators are using it to reveal the main point of the story right at the beginning, making it obvious what’s coming.

Now, TikTokers are using this new editing technique in their content, and somehow, it's working. Some examples are, 'Surprise birthday party' and 'Ceiling falls during podcast.'

 (just go watch and you'll get what I mean)

How to jump on this trend:

There's no trending sound or CapCut template to use, so you'll have to flex your editing muscles on this one. Use CapCut to rearrange and duplicate your clips. Then, add onscreen text of either 'subtle foreshadowing' or 'non-linear storytelling'. 

A few ideas to get you started:

• A clip where you realise you've deleted an entire project accidentally

• A clip of you having a mental breakdown

• A clip of you finding out there's no more coffee

-Carter, Intern

Today on the YAP podcast…

Want even more ‘YAP’ing? Check out the full podcast here.

Ask the Editor

Q - My niche (property) can be a bit contentious. There are a lot of opinions out there. How do I make sure I don't alienate anyone with my content? -Calvin

Hey Calvin!

I totally get that you don't want to push anyone away. Depending on your personality, you might be uncomfortable with ruffling feathers. But if you're too worried about pleasing everyone all the time, your content is always going to be forgettable.

So you need to decide what your stance is on the topics you're going to speak about. Then stick to your guns! Your strong opinions will resonate with the people you want to talk to. And they will definitely spark good conversation in the comments.

As for the ones who don't agree, they can keep scrolling. I'm telling you--being opinionated is what will make your content much more engaging! So fight the fear and just go for it.

- Charlotte, Editor ♡

For the group chat

😂Yap’s funniest home videos: #BringBackVine
✨Daily inspo: The easiest thing in life is to give up
😊Soooo satisfying: Satisfying rug transformation
🍝What you should make for dinner tonight: Crispy Chicken Caeser Salad and Fries 

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