Facebook Mentions is now a lot more than just “mentions.” Its new name is now Facebook Creator, and it has new features dedicated to creators. There is also a new website dedicated to creators – Facebook for Creators.
In 2014, Facebook launched the Mentions App which was only available to verified public figures on the platform, giving them many extra features to allow them to connect with their fans on the go, share their stories by posting updates, sharing photos or videos, and hosting live Q&A’s and a lot more. The Mentions app was also a place where public figures on Facebook could try new features that were otherwise not available to normal users.
Now, Facebook is making the app more about creators on the platform, updating its name to Facebook Creator, and adding a host of brand new features that will help influencers build their video communities. The new Creator app is available on iOS only – for now – but Android is coming soon. So if you search for the Mentions app, you will only find it available on iOS. If you already have the Mentions app, its name and content will change as soon as you update it.
But that’s not all. Facebook has also launched a brand new website dedicated to creators, called Facebook for Creators. Chris Hatfield, Product Manager for Video at the company explained it as “a new website where creators can find resources and tips on how to create great videos, connect with fans, and grow on Facebook.”
On Facebook for Creators, influencers can learn the skills and techniques necessary to make their content shine, as well as find answers to common creator-specific questions. Creators are also invited to join the community here, “to be considered for early access to new features and tools.”
So, let’s take a look at Facebook Creator. What does it offer? Well, as Hatfield explains, it’s an app with which “creators can easily create original video, go live with exclusive features, and connect with their community on Facebook — all from their pocket.” Here are the new features:
Live Creative Kit
Live Creative Kit gives creators the ability to access exclusive tools to help them create better live broadcasts “with a personalised and fun feel.” Access exclusive tools that make it easy to create live broadcasts with a personalized and fun feel. They can now add intros and outros to their broadcasts, and even add custom live stickers that their viewers can interact with. Finally, they also get graphic frames to help them keep their brand consistent across broadcasts.
Community Tab
Community Tab allows creators to connect with their fans (and collaborators) through the app’s unified inbox, that brings all comments from both Facebook and Instagram into one location with messages from Messenger. This, I might add, is not a really new feature.
Camera & Stories
Camera & Stories allows creators to crosspost content to other platforms and use “fun camera effects and frames.” It also gives them access to Facebook Stories to engage further with their fans.
Insights
Last but not least, creators now also get access to metrics that will help them understand more about what works and what doesn’t. Insights also provides creators with analytics about their Pages, their videos, and their fans, making it easier to make informed decisions about future content, etc.
Creators on Facebook’s new Watch tab can log into Facebook Creator as their Show Page, but this feature is only in testing “with a set of creators” for the time being.
Facebook says that the app “is available to all Facebook profiles, and Pages that represent individuals (not organizations).”
