💻 Yes, Zoom Sucks [Online Biz Digest #13]

💻 Yes, Zoom Sucks [Online Biz Digest #13]

Zoom Fatigue, IG Usage Is Down, What’s Next for Online Biz Owner…

Tyler J. McCall • January 31, 2022

Today I want to take just a minute to tell you about what we’re working on next for OnlineBusinessOwner.com.

When we launched last fall, our goal was to create an independent and self-funded media company for the online business industry that helps entrepreneurs start and build thriving businesses. Today I’m excited to share that we’re right on track and doing just that!

In October we began publishing The Online Business Digest newsletter (that you’re reading now) and we launched season two of our podcast The Online Business Show.

Our next goal is to launch a blog at OnlineBusinessOwner.com.

A place where we can gather industry news, insights, education, tutorials, stories, and resources from diverse voices across online business.

We hope to make it happen this month.

Our commitment is to keep our content free so business owners from all walks of life, backgrounds, and skill levels can access the information they need to start and build their business. 

That means no content paywall now. No paywall ever. 

In the weeks ahead we’ll be opening up applications to join us as a Contributor at OnlineBusinessOwner.com. Stay tuned for more details on how you can share your expertise with others in the industry!

Now, for my request…

Today we’re launching a new way for you to support our work through the “Buy Me a Coffee” platform. Many of you have asked how you can support what we’re building and this is the simplest way to help out right now!

If you like, you can visit our page at BuyMeACoffee.com/OnlineBizOwner and make a contribution so we can keep creating and delivering news, insights, and kick in the pants motivation each and every week!

Your contribution ensures our content remains free by supporting our teeny tiny team.

Thank you!

Tyler @tylerjmccall

---

News + Happenings

Zoom Fatigue is Real (What To Do About It)

Image Source: www.unsplash.com/@magnetme

Zoom got ya down? You’re not alone.

New research in the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking not only confirms that Zoom fatigue (being exhausted from video conferencing) is real; but, that it’s worse if you don’t love the way you look.

So what causes Zoom fatigue? There are a few possibilities…

• Eye contact on video is unnatural.

• It’s difficult to send and receive non-verbal cues.

• Needing to stay in frame impedes our natural movements.

This newest study adds another possibility to the list of reasons you may prefer old school phone calls over Zoom meetings these days: “If you don’t like the way your face looks, staring at it on your computer screen for long periods of time is psychologically exhausting,” writes Dr. Renee Engeln for Psychology Today.

This latest research shows that women are most affected by Zoom fatigue due to concerns about their appearance. (And, sadly, you can’t use Zoom’s “Touch Up Appearance” feature in real life yet…maybe it will work in the Metaverse?)

It’s no surprise face lifts are…on the rise (see what we did there).

Why this matters for online business –

Zoom and Google Meet have always been and will probably always be part of our day-to-day life as online business owners. The nature of our work is inherently virtual.

But, here are some tips to help cut down on videoconferencing fatigue:

• Go audio only – not every meeting needs to be a video meeting!

• Create a safe space for customers, clients, and meeting attendees to join your calls sans video – say something like “You’re welcome to turn your camera on if you like; but, we don’t expect you to!”

• On Zoom and want to be on video but not see yourself? Hide your video on your display. (Just remember not to pick your nose…).

• Skip the real-time meeting all together and go fully asynchronous! While it may take a bit of a learning curve, platforms like Meetquo and Loom make it easy.

• Take your meeting while on a walk using Spot – a meeting platform designed for walking audio-only meetings (not sponsored or affiliated – we just think it’s neat).

• Pick up the phone instead of hopping on your computer (you can still use phones to make calls – who knew?!).

If you try out these tips make sure you let us know!

---

You’re Right – Instagram Usage IS Down

Have you heard the rumblings online over the past year? The ones about Instagram feeling…different these days? 

The lower engagement. The decreased reach. The fewer active followers.

You’re not imagining it – Americans are logging off of Instagram and rethinking their relationship with the photo-sharing (turned Live Video/Stories/Reels/Messaging) app.

“New research from insights agency Opinium shows that two in five Americans are cutting back on the time they spend on Instagram in order to improve their mental health,” according to MediaDailyNews.

The survey also found that nearly 20% of respondents have deleted Instagram from their phone entirely.

Another topic explored through the research was influencer marketing.

While half of those surveyed stated that they think influencer marketing is here to stay, “30% of those surveyed agreed that [influencer marketing] was ‘annoying’...while 26% said they found influencer content fun and/or interesting, yet dislike influencer culture.”

Why this matters for online business –

Don’t panic, Chicken Little – the sky’s not falling yet! 

Most social media platforms go through ebbs and flows. Months or years from now we’ll probably look back at this time on Instagram as one of those times. But, for now, Instagram seems to be losing some steam (that’s based on this research and our own hunch).

We all know that Instagram has been a go-to marketing channel for online business for years. And while the platform isn’t going anywhere, it may be worth exploring other spaces for connecting with your audience and finding new customers.

Now we’re not saying you should abandon a platform just because it’s different than it used to be! Don’t throw it away entirely! Instead, look for other places to show up and share your content. What platforms ARE trending and performing well these days? (We’re hearing great things about TikTok, LinkedIn, and Twitter for entrepreneurs at the moment).

And, it should go without saying, make sure you’re securing your own digital real estate off of social media so you’re not subject to the whims of Meta or Snap or TikTok or the next changing trends.

Prioritize building your own website and email list this year. And think about how you can create a content strategy like blogging or podcasting that allows you to own your content and your distribution.

---

Social Media News + Updates

📸  Instagram expands their “Remix” feature to all videos – not just Reels

📸  Instagram updates the algorithm to reduce reach of posts that “may contain bullying, hate speech or may incite violence” – raises concerns around censorship 

📸  Instagram refreshes their “Poll Sticker” to allow 4 options instead of 2, will also let users change poll question colors.

👥  Facebook’s attempt at launching their own cryptocurrency, Libra, is probably ending  

👥  Facebook is removing under-utilized profile video feature in February

⏰  TikTok is working on a new function that allows users to see who viewed their profile (the update is opt-in based)

⏰  TikTok is experimenting with their own Memoji/Bitmoji style avatar, possibly launching audio-only live chats

📺 YouTube is launching a new “MediaKit” display to provide creators with a native dashboard to help with brand partnerships

---

In Other News

✏️  Curious about writing on Medium for your business in 2022? Here’s the ultimate guide (Nick Wolny)

💸  The list of highest-paid YouTubers in 2021 is here – Mr. Beast is first with $50+ million in earnings (Forbes)    

📹  Substack – the popular paid newsletter platform – is launching video to help attract new creators (Axios)

📈 Inflation keeps climbing – here’s what’s causing it to reach 40+ year highs (Fast Company)

---

THE ONLINE BUSINESS SHOW

---

YOUR WEEKLY KICK IN THE PANTS

@melanie.johnsson

@nataliefranke

@loveoffering

---

About The Contributor

---

You May Also Like…