LINKEDIN VIDEOS, TIKTOK DRAMA AND WHY YOUR CONTENT PROBABLY NEEDS SUBTITLES

While you were busy trying to figure out whether to film horizontally or vertically, LinkedIn decided to drop some video advice and TikTok continued its endless will-they-won't-they dance with the US government.

Plus, we've got team updates that'll make you smile and some exclusive email goodies you won't want to miss. But more on that later...👀

💎 LINKEDIN'S VIDEO TIPS

LinkedIn has kindly shared 13 tips for video content, so here's what caught our attention:

The Good Stuff: 

💎 Think beyond talking heads: Conference footage, quick how-to guides, and off-the-cuff takes on industry issues actually work better than another "Hi, I'm in my car with important thoughts" video 

💎 Mobile-first mindset: Vertical videos (9:16) are seeing a 24% boost in click-through rates. Your audience is scrolling on their phones, not watching on cinema screens 

💎 The 6-second rule: You've got six seconds to hook viewers before they scroll past. No pressure there 

💎 Subtitles save lives: 92% of people watch mobile videos with sound off. If your video doesn't work without audio, it doesn't work

 The "Thanks, Captain Obvious" Stuff: 

💎 Don't change orientation mid-video 

💎 Use a tripod for steadier shots 

💎 Keep background noise down 

💎 Be creative, be different, be funny

The Reality Check: 

LinkedIn's pushing video hard because watch time is up 36% year-over-year, and video gets 1.4x more engagement than other posts. 

Translation: if you're not doing video, you're missing out on eyeballs.

But remember, good video content isn't about following a checklist. It's about actually having something worth saying and saying it in a way that doesn't make people want to immediately scroll past.

💎 TIKTOK'S ENDLESS EXTENSION SAGA

Remember when TikTok was definitely getting banned? Well, that's still not happened. Trump's indicating he'll grant yet another extension because apparently this app has more lives than a cat with excellent PR representation.

The Timeline So Far: 

💎 April 2024: Senate approves the sell-off bill (79-18 vote) 

💎 January 2025: TikTok briefly banned, then immediately un-banned 

💎 Trump grants first 75-day extension 

💎 Then a second 75-day extension 

💎 Now he's suggesting a third extension

Why the endless delays? 

The cybersecurity concerns about data transfers to China haven't disappeared, but neither has TikTok's massive user base or its ability to influence elections. So here we are, with TikTok operating in legal limbo while politicians figure out what they actually want to do.

Bottom line: TikTok's not going anywhere soon, so you might as well make the most of it.

💎 EXCLUSIVE EMAIL TREATS (AND WHY YOU SHOULD CARE)

Here's something we haven't shouted about enough - we're now sending exclusive marketing tips and strategies straight to your inbox that you won't find anywhere else. Not on our LinkedIn, not on our Instagram, nowhere but your email.

Think proper insider knowledge, platform-specific strategies, and the kind of insights that actually move the needle for your business.

What you'll get: 

💎 Platform-specific tips that go beyond "post consistently" 

💎 Real strategies we use with our clients 

💎 Industry insights before they become common knowledge 

💎 Content ideas that don't make you want to hide under your desk

If you're not subscribed yet, head to our website and sort that out. And while you're there, tell us what topics you'd actually find useful - we're not mind readers (despite what our clients sometimes expect).

Head on over to the website!

💎 TEAM UPDATES (AKA THE GOOD GOSSIP)

Jem's Adventures: 

Our fearless leader managed to miss a hen do thanks to Covid - because apparently even in 2025, that's still a thing that happens. She's been busy planning in-person training for next month and plotting the next Social Games event (yes, they're coming back, and yes, you should be excited).

The woman's also been collecting LinkedIn wedding and birthday invites like they're Pokémon cards. Turns out when you make genuine connections online, people actually want you at their real-life celebrations. Who knew?

She's also got a holiday with the girls coming up in three weeks, which means we'll probably get some excellent "working from the beach" content that'll make the rest of us jealous.

Sarah (The Morgenmuffel) Updates: 

Sarah recently hit up a country music tribute with her friends, if you haven’t gathered by now, she loves her country music. She's still waiting for "beach weather" to arrive so she can finally jump in the ocean - we've promised her it'll happen soon, but British weather has other plans.

She also went on an emotional road trip to Luton (yes, Luton) to support a friend who was reuniting with her aunt after six years and dealing with her father's belongings. Sometimes the best marketing strategy is just being a good human, and Sarah's got that covered.

Between the emotional support and strawberry picking (because balance), she's been creating brilliant content for our clients. The woman never stops.

 Cath's Little Milestone: 

Our newest team member (the tiniest one) is now 4 months old and hitting all the major milestones - lying on her tummy, rolling over, and generally being adorable enough to melt hearts.

Cath's managing the whole new mum thing while still being brilliant at what she does. Four months of nappies, night feeds, and more love than you can imagine!

Sarah (Twinnie) Behind the Scenes: 

April and May have been absolutely mental for Twinnie - packed with family gatherings and celebrations. The highlight? She and Bryan celebrated their 7th wedding anniversary on May 18th (seven years of putting up with each other deserves a celebration).

Between all the family time and anniversary festivities, she's been spending quality time with her pups while working her magic behind the scenes at SocialJems. 

💎 SUPPORTING WAYNE 

Sometimes life throws absolute curveballs that remind us what really matters. Our friend Wayne Wright - known for his infectious smile, terrible jokes, and ability to brighten anyone's day - has been dealt one hell of a tough hand.

In February 2024, Wayne suffered multiple strokes that left him paralysed on his right side, unable to speak, and needing round-the-clock care. This is a man who was hitting the gym one day and fighting for his life the next. His wife Lynn and their four kids have been absolute warriors, caring for Wayne at home with minimal support.

Here's where you come in:

The brilliant Silverback Trek Team is taking on a 12-hour challenge at Ribblehead Viaduct to raise money for Wayne's ongoing care. We're talking about funding speech therapy, physiotherapy, and house adaptations that could genuinely change his quality of life.

Wayne's got that fighter spirit - his cheeky smile and sparkle are already coming back - but he needs our help to keep pushing forward with his recovery.

The Wrights were too proud to ask for help (sound familiar?), but this is exactly the kind of situation where throwing a few quid in the pot can make a massive difference. 

Want to support Wayne's recovery? Check out his GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/807b1861

💎 BEFORE YOU DISAPPEAR INTO THE INTERNET VOID...

Thanks for sticking with us till the end. If you need help with your marketing strategy, getting the most out of LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, or your emails and blogs, get in touch.

We won't just help with your content - we'll be your cheerleaders too. Because sometimes you need someone in your corner telling you that yes, your business idea is brilliant and no, you're not bothering people by talking about it.

Whether you want to build your brand, generate leads, create brand awareness, or just figure out why your posts get three likes and two of them are from your mum, we've got you covered.

Follow us for more marketing wisdom and questionable life choices: 

💎 LinkedIn 💎 Instagram 💎 Facebook 💎 TikTok

And don't forget to subscribe to our emails for those exclusive tips we mentioned. Your future self will thank you for it.😉