Social Media Updates You Need to Know for August 2025: Key Updates for Mortgage and Real Estate Pros

Social media is constantly evolving, but trying to keep up with the latest trends and updates can feel daunting and overwhelming. 

That's why every month, Team SocialCoach breaks it all down for you in a monthly session that covers the best content strategies, platform updates, and emerging video trends that you need to know to stay on the cutting edge of social selling.

Whether you’re a loan officer, real estate agent, or mortgage marketer looking for the latest insights, these tips are designed to help keep your social media strategy fresh and effective. 

All of this content is pulled from our monthly live sessions – if you'd prefer to watch the full insights, check it out here.

Here’s what you need to know for this month:

• 📈 Top Content Formats to Grow Your Reach on Instagram

• 🔗 The “Link in Bio” Confusion is Over

• 💬 DMs Are the New Comments

• 🔁 Boost Your Brand with Less Effort with Instagram’s Repost Feature
  

• 🔍 AI Search – Optimize Your Content for the Future

• 🚫 The TikTok Ban Is Back...Again

• 📱 4 Easy Video Trends to Try

📈Top Content Formats to Grow Your Reach on Instagram

Instagram has confirmed something we’ve been saying all along – short-form videos (Reels) and carousel posts are the top post formats for reaching new audiences.

Instagram recently shared this infographic showing that Reels and carousels are best for attracting new followers – though we believe these formats are also essential for keeping your current followers engaged.

🎯 Pro tip from the live session: Carousels are a hidden gem for two reasons...

1) Every time someone swipes through your carousel, it counts as an interaction, which helps boost your reach.

And 2) Carousels give you two chances to get someone’s attention. If they don’t engage with the first image, Instagram will show them the second one to give your content a second shot!

🔗 The “Link in Bio” Confusion is Over

There’s been a lot of speculation about whether using “link in bio” in Instagram captions hurts your post reach.

Well, the head of Instagram Adam Mosseri confirmed it’s totally fine to include a link in your bio and direct users to it in your captions and videos.

⚠️ But a big no-no: Don’t include URLs in your post captions. Instagram doesn’t like them, so they won't work properly on the platform.

Instead, try asking users to comment a word or phrase if they want you to send them the link directly, or direct followers to your link in bio for more info.

💬 Direct Engagement is Trending

Here’s something you might not know: Direct Messages (DMs) are becoming the go-to form of engagement.

If you’re stressing over low comments and likes, you’re not alone.

Silent engagement is on the rise, with shares now outpacing follower growth across industries – which indicates that people are preferring to share content through DMs or external messages instead of commenting publicly.

In fact, brands are replying to DMs 30x more than engaging in comments, as more people are sliding into DMs to ask questions or get advice.

🎯 Wondering how to drive more results from your content? Try using call-to-action (CTA) phrases like “DM me for more info” or “Comment ‘CONSULT’ if you want a personalized strategy session” to encourage more people to engage directly.

And try to shift your focus to think of it this way – a share or message means someone thought your content was valuable enough to pass on to a friend or colleague, which is essentially a mini-referral in the making!

🔁 Instagram’s Repost Feature – Boost Your Brand with Less Effort

Instagram’s new repost feature lets you easily share others' content to your feed, making it a perfect way to share relevant industry updates or referral partner content without having to create something new.

When you repost, you get to share valuable content with your audience while giving credit to the original creator.

🔍 AI Search – Optimize Your Content for the Future

Did you know that 77% of ChatGPT users in the U.S. now use AI for searching? AI search engines like ChatGPT are becoming the go-to resource for people looking for quick answers. So, what does that mean for your content?

Q&A-style posts and videos are the best way to optimize for AI search. Start by posing a question that people are likely searching for, then provide a clear, concise answer. For example: “How much down payment do I need for a home in California?” Answer it in your video or post, and AI will be more likely to pull your content in search results.

🎯 Pro Tip: Use targeted keywords in your profile and content to ensure you’re seen as a credible expert when people search for mortgage or real estate advice.

Want more advice on what keyword terms to use and where to add them in your profile and content?

We did a deeper dive on this in last month's session – or sign up for Boot Camp if you want to walk through it together!

🚫 The TikTok Ban Is Back...Again – Here's What You Need to Know

The looming TikTok ban is back on the table, with a deadline of September 17th.

If you’re concerned, don’t be. Our advice? Keep posting on TikTok for now, but cross-post your content to other platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook to make sure you’re reaching a wider audience.

🎯 Pro Tip: If you’ve been experimenting with TikTok, now’s the time to make sure you’re downloading your content and sharing it elsewhere.

That way, you’ll never lose your best videos, even if TikTok gets shut down.