Jeff Bullas

Running a giveaway is a powerful tactic, but you’re right to be cautious about the rules.

Short Answer: Yes, you must include the official release text that separates your giveaway from Instagram, and you must clearly state the entry rules and eligibility in your text-based caption.

Following these rules for your image or video post isn’t just about avoiding trouble with the platform; it’s about building trust with your audience through transparency.

The most important rule, and the one most people forget, is that you are legally required to include a full release of Instagram in your caption text. You also need to clearly state the rules of entry, including the start and end dates, any age or location restrictions, and exactly how someone can enter. A critical point is that while you cannot ask users to tag themselves or others in the actual photo, asking them to tag friends in the comments section is the accepted and compliant way to encourage sharing. To make your giveaway effective, your entry method should align with your goal; asking users to ‘save’ the post is great for your metrics, while asking a question in the comments will generate more meaningful engagement than just asking them to ‘tag a friend’.

Cheers,

Jeff

This is a tough spot to be in, but there is a potential path forward.

The Bottom Line: Since you don’t have your old device or backup codes, your only remaining option is to try and recover the account through Facebook’s official identity verification process.

These strict security protocols are in place to protect all of your personal content, from private text messages to your photo and video albums.

Before you start, double-check if you are still logged in on another device, like a laptop or tablet, as that would be the easiest way in. If not, you must begin the automated recovery flow from the login page by clicking a link like ‘Try another way’. Follow the prompts indicating you no longer have access to your phone, which should eventually lead to an option to upload a photo of your government-issued ID. Be aware that this process is not instant and can take some time for their team to review, but it is the final method available to prove you are the account owner.

Cheers,

Jeff

That’s the key question every page manager is asking themselves.

The Short Version: Yes, they are good for saving time and generating ideas for your text-based content, but they are not a substitute for your authentic brand voice.

The most effective approach is to think of the AI as an efficient assistant, not as the creative director.

The tool’s strength is in rapidly generating the text format for your posts, whether that is a caption for a photo, a description for a video, or multiple versions of ad copy for testing. Where it falls short is in capturing the unique humour and personality that your customers connect with. The best strategy is to let the AI produce a first draft to overcome writer’s block, then you must personally edit that text to inject your shop’s authentic voice. It gets you most of the way there, leaving you to add the final human touch that makes the post truly yours.

Cheers,

Jeff

An excellent question that separates amateur channel runners from professionals.

Short Answer: True engagement on Telegram is measured by a combination of reactions, forwards, link clicks, and poll/quiz participation, as simple view counts are notoriously unreliable.

Let’s break down how to measure engagement by looking at the specific interactions each content format is designed to generate.

You’re right to be sceptical of the view count; it’s easily inflated and means very little. Real engagement is measured by action. Firstly, for your standard text and image content, the most accessible metrics are ‘Reactions’ and ‘Forwards’. These are direct indicators that the content evoked an emotion or was deemed valuable enough to pass on, which is a far stronger signal than a passive view. Secondly, for any content designed to drive traffic, such as a text post announcing a new blog article, the primary metric is ‘Link Clicks’. This requires using an external URL shortening service that provides click tracking, but it’s the only way to get a hard measure of conversion from your text. Thirdly, the most powerful engagement metrics come from Telegram’s native interactive content formats. The ‘Vote Count’ and overall participation rate in your text-based polls and quizzes provide direct, quantifiable feedback on your audience’s active involvement. Finally, for more personal audio and video content, a key qualitative metric is the number and quality of ‘Replies’ and ‘Comments’ in your linked discussion group, as this signifies a much deeper level of connection than any other metric.

Cheers,

Jeff

This is the fundamental strategic choice for many community builders today.

Short Answer: WhatsApp is better for small, intimate groups due to its universal reach, while Telegram is superior for large, scalable communities because of its advanced features for content organisation and administration.

The right choice depends on how you plan to use different content formats to engage your members.

The decision centres on a trade-off between accessibility and capability, especially in how each platform handles your content. Firstly, regarding text-based content, Telegram provides far better organisation. Its ‘channel’ feature allows for clean, one-way text broadcasts for important announcements, which can be linked to a separate group for discussion. A standard WhatsApp group mashes all text together, which quickly becomes chaotic and unmanageable as the group grows. Secondly, for rich media like images and video, Telegram’s capabilities are vastly superior. It supports file sizes up to 2GB, allowing you to share high-quality video content or large photo albums without the aggressive compression found on WhatsApp. Thirdly, Telegram has a significant advantage with native interactive content formats. The ability to create polls and quizzes directly within the app is a powerful text-based engagement tool that WhatsApp completely lacks. Finally, for sharing resources like PDF rulebooks or audio recordings of a session, Telegram’s cloud-based storage is a clear winner, ensuring all members can access large files easily from any device at any time.

Cheers,

Jeff

An important question for deliverability and performance.

Short Answer: The best and only recommended way to embed an image in a marketing email is to host the image file on a secure server and link to it in the email’s HTML. ‘True’ embedding, where the image data is attached to the email, should be avoided.

This distinction is critical because while both methods can display an image, one is friendly to spam filters and the other is a major red flag.

The standard and correct method for including an image in your email is to first upload that image to a reliable web server, like your website’s media library or a content delivery network. The text in your email’s code then contains a simple image tag that points to the absolute URL of that hosted image. This is known as linking. This method is best practice because it keeps the actual file size of the email itself incredibly small, which is the most important factor for good deliverability and avoiding spam filters.

The other method, known as CID embedding, involves attaching the raw image data directly to the email. This should not be used for marketing emails. It dramatically increases the email’s file size, which can cause your email to be blocked by spam filters or “clipped” by services like Gmail, meaning your subscribers will never see your full message. The risk to your sender reputation and deliverability is not worth it.

For your linked images, always ensure you have optimised the image file to be as small as possible before uploading it, and always include descriptive alt text to ensure your message is understood, even when images are blocked.

Cheers,
Jeff

A fundamental question in copywriting. Understanding this distinction is key to being an effective and versatile writer.

Brief Answer: The core difference is that B2C copywriting primarily appeals to emotion and seeks to entertain or solve a personal problem, while B2B copywriting appeals to logic and seeks to prove a return on investment (ROI). B2C sells a desire; B2B sells a business solution.

You’re not just changing your words; you’re changing your entire psychological approach because the buying decision is made in a completely different context.

Audience and Motivation
The biggest difference is who you’re writing for. Your B2C (Business-to-Consumer) text is for an individual buying something for themselves. Their decision is often driven by emotion, entertainment, and personal want. The goal of your text is to make them feel good about a purchase.

Your B2B (Business-to-Business) text is for a professional making a logical decision on behalf of their company. They are not spending their own money, and they will likely have to justify the purchase to their boss. Their motivation is to find a solution that saves time, makes money, or reduces risk for their company.

Tone and Language
This difference in motivation directly affects the tone of your text. B2C copy can be casual, witty, and personal. It often uses simple, benefit-driven language that focuses on how a product will make the individual’s life better or more enjoyable.

B2B copy must be more professional and authoritative. It needs to build trust and demonstrate expertise. The text will focus on efficiency, data, and security. While it should still be clear and easy to read, it can use industry-specific terminology to show that you understand the reader’s professional world.

Evidence and Content
The proof you use to support your claims also changes. In B2C, your sales argument might be supported by emotional video ads, influencer endorsements, or user-generated images showing people enjoying the product. Social proof is key.

In B2B, your text must be backed up by hard evidence. This means detailed case studies, data-heavy white papers, and testimonials from other respected professionals in the field. The goal is to logically prove that your solution works and provides a positive return on investment.

Cheers,
Jeff