Since the beginning of COVID-19, social media apps like Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn have been rolling out new features to their platforms to help users during this time. Facebook is now rolling out a new gift card listing for small businesses to utilize. Gift card registries will be available via special newsfeed prompt allowing businesses the opportunity to stay afloat while they're closed. This feature began rolling out across the U.S. late last week.
Instagram has also been testing this feature for their paid ads as well as a gift card and support sticker that can be utilized in Instagram Stories but there is no confirmation as to when that will launch.
In addition to these features, Facebook announced its $100 million grants program to help small businesses. Facebook's COO Sheryl Sandberg announced: "In the US, we are committing $40 million to support 10,000 small businesses in 34 locations where our employees live and work.
Those local businesses can go to facebook.com/grantsforbusiness to see the eligibility for applications, which will start in the US next week."
Source: https://bit.ly/2UXmvbm
-Sarah Aiken
Associate Strategist