“So, how’d you end up at SMU?” In reflecting on my four years—well, about four years—in Dallas, I can’t help but think back to my first time stepping foot on campus. The Georgian architecture immediately made me think of my hometown in Columbus, Ohio. My parents glommed onto the tour as I begrudgingly tagged along. But, I was not sold on committing to what would turn into my home away from home.

It is no secret that Instagram Live has taken over our quarantine daily lives. If you were following along with the NFL draft, then you would’ve noticed a different kind of live session pop up. But, not on Instagram. TikTok is getting in on live streaming too—but, there are rules.

Instagram Live views increased by 70 percent in the first week of April. Fitness gurus, foodies, and celebrities are all utilizing Instagram’s Live feature to create some sense of community during the quarantine. With screen time hitting an all-time high during quarantine, will this be the “new normal” after restrictions are lifted? Will the increased use of Instagram Live and screen time extend to other facets of our daily life?

“The time for buying stuff for the sake of it is over,” said rag & bone CEO Marcus Wainwright in a letter to loyal customers. Rag & bone is one of many retailers that cut prices 20 to 75 percent to take action during this pandemic. They are not the only ones. Brands worldwide are reevaluating their mission and how they can best serve the public during this time. Wainwright is one of many retailer CEOs that is sending strong messaging to consumers showing how their brand is working with this new normal.

People practicing social distancing are at a crossroads. Do you spend your time reading that new book? Do you fine-tune your creative writing skills? What about skipping that and spending endless hours on Instagram? COVID-19 has turned every person, for better or worse, away from strolling through the streets and instead to scrolling social media.

Companies worldwide are taking advantage of International Women’s Day. Across all social platforms, companies like Apple, Reebok, and Absolut are using March 8 to push female-empowering messaging. Even if these companies highlighting women today are not normally female-focused, they are using today to do so.

During the age of all things social media, it is no secret that targeted advertisements pop up daily. With more consumers turning to applications like Instagram to do their shopping, direct-to-consumer brands with a high following are gaining traction. What is even more interesting is how these brands are now making headway into brick-and-mortar stores through store concepts like Showfields. Self-labeled as “the most interesting store in the world”, Showfields is reimagining how shoppers interact with online-only brands.

Dallas is known for landmarks such as the American Airlines Center, its vibrant Deep Ellum district, and “Jerry World”, otherwise known as AT&T Stadium which hosts the Dallas Cowboys. But as of late, the “Leaning Tower of Dallas” has taken over social media, utilizing #leaningtowerofdallas in their posts.

SEO Tribunal states that Google has more than 90 percent of search engine market share worldwide. Receiving more than 63,000 searches per second everyday, Google is central to everyday research. Moreover, its analytics function is also highly used in marketing strategies. Understanding the results of a campaign can be difficult, but becoming Google Analytics certified helps. The Google Analytics Individual Qualification (GAIQ) exam certifies you as the go-to expert on all things Google Analytics.