Jeff Bullas

That is a great question.

Quick Answer: You can use LinkedIn’s 10-second name pronunciation audio to add a personal touch by stating your name clearly, and then adding a very short, impactful tagline or a friendly greeting that showcases your personality and professional value.

It is a subtle feature that most people overlook, but it is a rare chance to let people actually hear your voice, which can be a powerful way to make a memorable first impression. Here are some effective ways to use it beyond just the pronunciation.

First, the most popular creative use is the name plus tagline. After clearly pronouncing your name, you can add a concise phrase that defines what you do. For example, “Jane Smith, and I help brands create content that converts.”

Second, you can add a friendly greeting and highlight a key skill. This can make your profile feel more welcoming. For instance, “Hi there, my name is David Chen. I specialise in user experience design.”

Third, you can use it to signal your current goal. If you are looking for work, you could say, “Emily White, a project manager currently open to new opportunities in the tech sector.” This is a subtle but effective message for recruiters visiting your profile.

The key to making this work is that you must still say your name clearly first. Do not skip that part, as it is the feature’s main purpose. You also must be extremely brief, as you only have 10 seconds, so script it and time it before you record. And finally, record it in a quiet place so your audio is crystal clear.

In summary, the name pronunciation feature is a small but unique opportunity to add personality and a clear value statement to your profile. By adding a concise tagline or a friendly greeting after your name, you can make your profile much more memorable and inviting.

Cheers,

Jeff

That is a very important question.

Quick Answer: To make a long LinkedIn post easier to read, you must break up your text into very short, single-sentence paragraphs and use generous white space. This ‘one line, one thought’ approach is optimised for mobile scanning.

Readability is everything on a platform where people are scrolling quickly. The goal is to eliminate the dreaded ‘wall of text’ and create a visual rhythm that pulls the reader down the page. Here is how to do it effectively.

First, as mentioned, use very short paragraphs. For most of your post, this means writing just one sentence and then hitting ‘Enter’ twice to create a clean line break. This gives your words room to breathe.

Second, keep your sentences short and direct. The spacious formatting style works best with concise language. Avoid long, complex sentences with multiple clauses that are hard to follow on a small screen.

Third, you can use bullet points or numbered lists to break up information even further. You can use standard keyboard characters, like a hyphen, or simple, professional emojis for your bullet points, like a checkmark or a pointer.

And fourth, you should use emojis strategically to add a splash of visual interest and break up the text. You can use them at the beginning or end of lines, but do not overdo it. One or two per post is often enough to add some personality without looking unprofessional.

In summary, readability on a professional platform like LinkedIn is all about formatting for a mobile, scanning audience. By using short sentences, one-line paragraphs, and strategic emojis or bullet points, you can make even a long, in-depth post feel easy and inviting to read.

Cheers,

Jeff

That’s a fantastic question.

Quick Answer: To boost a call to action on Instagram, you must be direct, give your audience a clear reason ‘why’ they should act, and use the platform’s features like the Story Link Sticker or the ‘link in bio’ to make the action as easy as possible.

A strong call to action, or CTA, is what turns passive scrollers into an active community, but you have to guide them explicitly. Here are some effective ways to do it.

First, you need to be direct and start with a command verb. Do not be vague. Instead of saying, “My new blog post is up,” you should say, “Read my new blog post at the link in my bio.”

Second, you must tie your CTA to a clear benefit for the viewer. Give them a reason to act. For example, “Comment with your favourite tip” is good, but “Comment with your favourite tip for a chance to be featured in my Story” is much more compelling.

Third, you need to use the right tool for the right placement. For Instagram Stories, the interactive Link Sticker is your most powerful tool. For your feed posts and Reels, your primary call to action will almost always be ‘Visit the link in bio’ or ‘Comment below’.

And fourth, remember that a CTA can be a question. The best way to drive comments is to ask a specific and engaging question, not just a generic ‘What do you think?’. Ask something that is easy for your audience to answer and invites them into a conversation.

In summary, a strong CTA is an instruction, not a suggestion. Tell your audience exactly what to do, explain what is in it for them, and make the process as frictionless as possible. That is how you get people to move from liking to acting.

Cheers,

Jeff

That’s a good creative question.

Quick Answer: No, you cannot remix two different Reels together directly within the Instagram app. The Remix feature is designed to be a one-to-one interaction, where you can only remix one existing Reel at a time.

This limitation means that to create the kind of video you are describing, you need to use a simple workaround with an external video editing app. Here is the standard process for achieving that effect.

First, you need to download both of the Reels you want to feature. You can do this using various third-party applications or websites that are designed to save Instagram videos.

Second, you need to import those downloaded clips into a video editing app on your phone or computer, such as CapCut or InShot.

Third, in the editor, you would create a split-screen or picture-in-picture layout. You can then place the two Reels you downloaded on the screen and add your own reaction footage alongside them.

And fourth, once you have finished editing this new, combined video, you would upload it as a brand new, original Reel to Instagram. It is a good and ethical practice to be sure to credit the creators of the original two Reels in your caption.

In summary, while Instagram’s native Remix tool is limited to one-on-one interactions, you can easily create the same effect by downloading the source videos and combining them in a third-party editing app.

Cheers,

Jeff

That is a great, practical question.

Quick Answer: The most effective hook formulas for Reels are those that create an immediate knowledge gap, challenge a common belief, or promise a specific, valuable outcome to the viewer in the first three seconds.

The goal of a hook is to make a strong promise to the viewer that the rest of the video will fulfill, giving them a compelling reason to stop scrolling. Here are some proven formulas that work well.

First, you have the ‘You’re Doing X Wrong’ hook. This immediately grabs attention by challenging a common practice. Examples include, “You’re making your coffee wrong, here’s why” or “Stop setting your goals like this.”

Second, there is the ‘Here’s How I Did X’ hook. This is a results-oriented formula that promises a story or a solution. For example, “Here’s how I gained 10,000 followers in 30 days” or “This is the exact strategy I used to save $5,000.”

Third, you can use the ‘Unpopular Opinion’ hook. This works by presenting a strong, contrarian viewpoint that makes people curious to hear your reasoning. For instance, “Unpopular opinion: cardio is a waste of time for fat loss.”

Fourth, there is the ‘Secret’ or ‘Hack’ hook. This formula promises to share a valuable piece of insider information that will benefit the viewer, such as, “Here’s a website that feels illegal to know” or “One travel hack I wish I knew sooner.”

And fifth, you have the ‘Problem and Solution’ hook. This directly calls out a common pain point and promises the answer. An example would be, “If you struggle with procrastination, you need to hear this.”

In summary, a great hook is a promise. By using these formulas, you create a powerful reason for a viewer to stop scrolling and invest their time in watching your video to get the payoff you offered at the start.

Cheers,

Jeff

That’s a smart topic to ask about.

Quick Answer: Instagram Gifts are a feature that allows your followers to send you virtual ‘tips’ on your Reels and during LIVEs, which translate into a monetary payout. It is a direct fan-funding tool for showing appreciation.

It is a way for your most engaged fans to support your work financially with small, one-time contributions, and it is important to know if you are eligible to receive them. Here is a breakdown of how the feature works.

First, your viewers purchase an on-platform currency called ‘Stars’. They can then use these Stars to buy and send various animated, virtual Gifts directly on one of your Reels or while you are broadcasting a LIVE.

Second, when a fan sends you a Gift, you receive a share of the revenue from that purchase. Instagram collects this revenue on your behalf, and you will receive a payout once your total earnings from all monetisation features meet a certain threshold, which is typically around $100.

Third, to be eligible for this feature, you generally need to have a Creator or Business account, meet a minimum follower count which can vary by region, be over 18 years of age, and comply with all of Instagram’s Partner Monetization Policies. The feature must also be available in your country.

And fourth, to effectively encourage Gifts, you should occasionally mention the feature to your audience and thank people publicly when they send a gift, especially during a LIVE stream. The key is to consistently create the kind of valuable or entertaining content that makes people feel motivated to show their appreciation.

In summary, Instagram Gifts are a valuable ‘tip jar’ feature that allows for direct support from your audience on your content. To use it, you must first be eligible, and then you need to focus on creating content that builds a strong enough connection with your fans that they are inspired to send a gift.

Cheers,

Jeff

That’s a great question.

Quick Answer: Yes, using a voiceover on a static image can be an effective Reel strategy, but only if the audio content is exceptionally valuable and the visual is supported by dynamic, animated captions.

While the Instagram Reels algorithm generally prioritises moving video, this simpler format can perform very well because it’s easy to consume and feels similar to a mini-podcast clip. Here is what you need to do to make it work.

First, the audio must be the star of the show. Your voiceover needs to be incredibly engaging, insightful, or funny. It has to be strong enough to hold a viewer’s attention without any help from moving visuals.

Second, and this is non-negotiable for this format, you must use dynamic, animated captions. Since the background image is not moving, the text of the captions becomes your primary visual element. You should use a captioning style that reveals the words as you speak them to create a sense of motion and hold the viewer’s eye.

Third, the static image itself must be high-quality and relevant. It could be a professional photo of yourself, a clean graphic with the title of the topic, or an interesting image that relates to what you are talking about. A low-quality or boring image will cause people to scroll past immediately.

And fourth, you can add a subtle background sound element. Adding a trending sound turned down to a very low volume can sometimes help with the video’s initial discoverability, without interfering with your main voiceover.

In summary, this strategy lives or dies by the quality of your audio and the dynamism of your captions. If your voiceover is compelling and your captions are engaging, this can be a very effective and efficient way to create regular Reel content. If the audio is boring, it will not work.

Cheers,

Jeff

That is a great question.

Quick Answer: The ‘best’ call-to-action button for your Facebook Page depends entirely on the single most important action you want a visitor to take. You should choose the button that most directly and clearly describes that specific business goal.

Choosing the right CTA is about reducing friction and making it as easy as possible for a potential customer to do business with you directly from your Page. Here is how to think about it based on your primary objective.

First, if your goal is to generate leads or book appointments, then buttons like ‘Book Now’, ‘Sign Up’, or ‘Contact Us’ are the most direct and effective choices to use.

Second, if you run an e-commerce business and your goal is to drive direct sales, then the ‘Shop Now’ or ‘View Shop’ buttons are the best options, as they take users straight to your products with a clear intent.

Third, if your primary goal is to educate your audience or drive traffic to your website to learn more about a complex service, then the ‘Learn More’ or ‘Watch Video’ CTAs are excellent choices.

And fourth, for local businesses like restaurants or service providers, the ‘Order Food’ or ‘Call Now’ buttons are designed for immediate, high-intent actions that can lead to a direct sale.

The most common mistake is choosing a vague call to action like ‘Learn More’ when your actual goal is to get someone to book a call. You should always choose the CTA from Facebook’s list that most accurately describes the specific action you want the user to take next. Be direct.

Cheers,

Jeff