Author Archives: Holland Bradley

My Time at SMU

Posted on by

As my time at SMU comes to an end, I reflect on my college years and the enormous growth I have experienced. I started my journey at Texas A&M University in College Station in 2016. How fitting that I end it back in my hometown of Dallas. It hurts to say goodbye- but only for now.

Starting Out

My freshmen year at A&M was a confusing transition as I tried to navigate college and adjust to life in a small town. Realizing it was not the place for me, I took the first semester of my sophomore year off. In January, I went straight into SMU spring sorority recruitment.

My time at SMU began with my recruitment into Delta Delta Delta and a whirlwind of activities. I was so nervous about making friends and doing well in classes, but I didn’t need to be. Everything eventually fell into place (as things often do).

Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

I remember two and a half years worth of laughs, long nights, and walks to class. In that time, we were all just figuring out who we were. My favorite classes were of course in my major’s department at Umphrey Lee, and I have had the best, most encouraging professors. I am going to miss so much.

I’ll miss seeing the dogs run around Dallas Hall Lawn (Bear included). I’ll miss complaining about the giant line at Starbucks. But most of all, from my time at SMU, I’ll miss the people I’ve met.

Reflecting: My Time at SMU

Not only have I made lifelong friends, but I know if I ever need anything, I have SMU to fall back on. I know that my professors only want success for myself and my classmates. What can I say at the end of my wonderful time at SMU? THANK YOU. Thank you to the friends I’ve made, the professors I’ve had, and the school that has shaped me into a person I am proud of.

my time at SMU
My friends and I during our time at SMU

Social Media Marketing Videos

Posted on by

According to PR Daily, eight out of ten businesses are using video to engage consumers. Social media marketing through videos is becoming even more relevant. There are a lot of elements that go into a social media marketing videos: content, subtitles, length, sound, and more. Even the most minute details can affect the response you get from consumers. Here are the best tips and tricks for creating them:

social media marketing videos

Size Matters

Whether you are posting a video on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook, you need to know specs, sizes, dimensions, and ratios for your videos. Making the best use out of these variables can lend itself to more engaging content. Therefore, you end up with a more positive response from consumers and a successful campaign.

Get Inspired

If you have been sticking with the same social media strategy for awhile, it’s time to get inspired! Search for some other successful marketing video campaigns to get your ideas flowing. Remember: fresh, timely content is usually the best route to take.

Add Extras in Social Media Marketing Videos

Most social media platforms allow for the adding in of cool effects on videos, such as filters and stickers. Using these effects can help your videos stand out. In addition, they can help consumers connect more meaningfully with your content. Be careful though, adding in too many effects can crowd your videos and your marketing message might get lost.

Storytime!

The “story” feature on social media platforms is also another great way to share video content with consumers, with a more casual approach. Stories are usually only up for 24 hours, so make sure to make it count. The “Live” feature on these platforms is also a good tool for connecting with your audience. However, a good social media marketing campaign through videos should be planned well in advance. Even though live feeds and stories seem casual and off-the-cuff, they must be planned ahead of time.

Digital Habits During Isolation

Posted on by

In today’s times of quarantines and lockdowns, our digital habits during isolation have changed. Without restaurants to go and eat at or movie theaters to spend our time in, Americans are spending way more time online.

While people want to keep themselves as entertained as they can, there has been a surprising decrease in phone and app usage. This could be due to all the time we are spending at home, close to our computers. Why use a smaller screen and keyboard when you have a bigger one right next to you? Popular websites that also have their own popular apps have experienced this decrease. Facebook, Netflix, and YouTube have all seen user numbers on their phone apps slow down or decrease, while their website usage has grown. This might be one of the largest changes in our digital habits since isolation.

digital habits during isolation
Source: The New York Times

Analysis of Digital Habits During Lockdown

As you can see, website traffic for all three has significantly increased recently, causing a large upward spike. In contrast, app usage for these three has been anything but predictable. App usage for Facebook, Netflix, and YouTube spiked toward the beginning of lockdowns and quarantines, but has taken a significant dip recently. This could be due to the initial lockdown, causing people to cling on to habits of constantly checking their phone. Recently, our digital habits during isolation have shifted to using popular apps rather than websites. Although we have a lot more free time for screens, people are preferring using their laptops rather than their phones. 

We have now become dependent on services that allow us to learn and work from home. Our schools and work areas have been moved to our bedrooms and living rooms. This has had another huge impact on our digital habits during isolation. For example, class time and meetings are happening on Zoom, Google Hangouts and Microsoft Teams. It will be incredibly interesting to see how our digital habits continue to change as we slowly begin to reintegrate into society.

Trusting Social Media?

Posted on by

When it comes to whether or not to trust social media, the first thing that comes to your mind is probably “fake news”. Fake news refers to a form of news that consists of deliberate disinformation spread via traditional news or social media. With the popularity of digital news in today’s times, fake news is more wildly rampant.

According to an article from The Hill, which interviewed Edelman CEO Richard Edelman, the distrust surrounding social media has become worse due to the coronavirus pandemic in the last few months. “Social media is deeply distrusted right now because there’s too much fake news,” Edelman told Hill.TV. “People trust those who have credentials. … Everybody wants to know specifics. They don’t just want to get facts through social media”.

So should we be trusting social media? Or not?

trusting social media

What to Do

While the answer to this question is not necessarily black and white, there are things you can do to ensure that the news you read from social media is credible. Firstly, a good rule of thumb is to not trust news from social media unless it comes from a credible source. Credible sources are educational or scientific. NEVER take coronavirus or health-related information from random websites or social media profiles. Ensure they are a reputable source before trusting social media news. Also, do not trust any medical advice or “cures for coronavirus” without checking the website for the CDC. The CDC website is full of credible information regarding the pandemic.

Rise in Agnotology Studies

In addition, novel coronavirus has become a popular subject for experts in “agnotology”. Agnotology is the study of the cultural production of misinformation. “Misinformation spreads rapidly, especially in a time of great fear,” says Robert N. Proctor, a professor of the history of science at Stanford and a pioneer in this field. “That’s always been true, from the burning of witches on up to hydroxychloroquine. When people are faced with a crisis, they become desperate.”

So, during this unprecedented time, when it comes to trusting social media, particularly news coming from it, make sure to do your homework on the source first. You health could depend on it!

Perfecting Your Social Profiles

Posted on by

The semester is ending, and with it, many seniors are graduating college and heading out into the real world. While we are living in an unprecedented time, recent grads are scrambling for job opportunities. One way to ensure you make a good impression on a potential employer is perfecting your social profiles.

Perfecting your social profiles

According to Monster.com, a study was done to determine the importance of social media profiles to employers. Employers in the communications and public relations field ranked social media as most highly, with 82% describing it as important. This further emphasizes the relevance of social media profiles while searching for jobs in the communications and public relations field and the importance of perfecting your social profiles.

The same Monster article also highlighted the importance of employers using social media to search for potential hires. This means that the first impression an employer gets of you could be one of your social profiles, which does not exclusively apply to LinkedIn. Organizations could look at your Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or even Tik Tok accounts! Here are some helpful tips for perfecting you social profiles:

Keep It Professional

Make sure that your profile, no matter the platform, gives an air of appropriateness and professionalism. Delete content that could possibly be considered inappropriate, a good rule of thumb is to ask the question for each post, “Would I want my mom to see this?”. Another good way to perfect your social profiles is to add a professional headshot photo as your profile picture.

Update, Update, Update!

Update your social profiles regularly to show enthusiasm and interest, especially if you are going into the communications or public relations fields. Commentary on interesting articles, promotion updates, and general posts of interest can not only increase your following, but also impress employers.

Include Contact Information

Something you may not have thought of when perfecting your social profiles is including your contact information. This does not have to be everything; a simple email address will suffice. As long as potential employers have a way to reach you, you’re in business!

Twitter During COVID-19

Posted on by
Twitter during COVID-19

Due to lockdown orders, people have been spending their time on social media now more than ever. Twitter during COVID-19 has been especially popular. The social media platform has been a go-to for information. It is a resource for people to consult in such a difficult time. It also gives a look into public opinion during this crisis.

Not everything on Twitter should be believed. However, according to Tech Crunch, Twitter has announced that it will be using its blue check verification mark by “…mobilizing the badge system to help signal more authoritative and verified voices that can provide credible updates on the topic of the coronavirus”. This adds to the recent efforts made by Twitter to rid itself of false information.

Using the blue check verification mark wields its power for credible sources only. A good source would be a verified expert. This also helps people determine what is factual on Twitter. Twitter is also working with global health authorities, such as the WHO and CDC, to identify these experts and ensure they are deserving of the blue check.

The social media platform is even making sure that factual information comes from other sources during COVID-19. Twitter announced that it would be donating $1 million, split equally, to the Committee to Protect Journalists and the International Women’s Media Foundation. This money will go towards advancing their important work. Specifically, work done by the media reporting during COVID-19. Twitter even told its employees to work from home to prevent the spread of the virus in early March.

Twitter’s response to COVID-19 has been a great example. Other social media platforms should learn from Twitter and fight the virus in any way they can. Even just making sure information about the virus on these platforms is correct could be a start.

TikTok During the Pandemic

Posted on by

As the pandemic COVID-19 causes panic around the world, people are finding new and different ways to entertain themselves during lockdown. Many social media apps are seeing spikes in usage, and therefore an activity rise has also been noticed in TikTok during the pandemic.

Celebrity Status

Celebrities and regular users alike have been flocking to the popular app to post sketches, sing alongs, dances, and anything in between. In fact, popular singer Joanna “JoJo” Levesque even released a parodied version of her well-known song “Leave (Get Out)” on TikTok called “Leave (Stay in)”. She released this in order to promote social distancing and other necessary practices to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Other celebrities, such as Reese Witherspoon, have also made guest appearances in popular TikTok users’ videos or made their own.

tik tok during the pandemic
Joanna “JoJo” Levesque promoting social distancing on Tik Tok during the pandemic

Tik Tok to the Rescue

In addition to a boost in content creation, TikTok has also taken steps of its own to help keep people busy through the current crisis. Two days ago, it was announced that during the pandemic, Tiktok will launch celebrity-hosted, daily live-streams to entertain users. The campaign, #HappyAtHome, gives users a chance to ask questions of experts and see their favorite actors, musicians, comedians, and more live on the app. It starts next week and runs Monday through Friday at 5pm. Each day has a new theme, like “Motivation Monday” and “Sound Check Friday”. Tune in next week to see stars like Tyra Banks and Megan Thee Stallion!

TikTok has also recently announced a partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) during the pandemic. It will add a COVID-19 information resource on the platform. As if that isn’t enough, TikTok has also pledged $10 million to the WHO to assist with coronavirus response efforts. So, if you’re looking for something to do during lockdown, TikTok might not be a bad place to start!

How to Network on LinkedIn like a Professional

Posted on by

Networking is a fantastic strategy to make connections within your job field that can help propel your career forward. Wondering how to network on LinkedIn can be daunting, but no need to worry! LinkedIn is a relatively easy social media platform to use. It can end up being extremely informative and advantageous to any job search, especially for young professionals fresh out of college and ready to work their way up the ladder.

According to an article from Business.com, “LinkedIn has more than 467 million users…On this professional platform, you can apply for jobs and connect with people in your industry as well as former co-workers”. LinkedIn also gives people the opportunity to connect and network with industry titans who you might never have had the chance to meet.

How to Network on LinkedIn

Here are some tips on how to network on LinkedIn like a professional:

#1 Have a Profile that Pops

A profile on LinkedIn is usually the first impression that people get, so make sure not only that it has professional language, but it also make it unique in order to stand out. In addition, an appropriate headshot is usually best as a profile picture.

#2 Join Groups

If you aren’t sure about how to network on LinkedIn and connect with other professionals, join some LinkedIn groups! Find a few groups that are relevant to your job or industry and participate in them. This is a sure strategy for getting more eyes on your profile, and opportunities could arise from it.

#3 Interact and Engage!

The easiest way to make connections on LinkedIn is to post engaging content and interact with other users and their posts. Create content that interests and educates people; show your own unique perspective and add some cool graphics or article links to spice things up.

Use these tips to help form some great professional connections, they might help you find your next job!

Twitter 101: How to Gain Followers

Posted on by

Even though Twitter has been around for about 13 years, people still wonder how to gain followers on this incredibly popular app. A higher follower count means more people are interested in reading your content. With more followers comes more influence in the “Twittersphere”. Twitter has an average of over 330 million monthly active users, meaning the opportunities are endless when it comes to growing your Twitter community size.

Here are some steps on how to gain followers:

#1 ABT: Always Be Tweeting

With every new tweet you create, you increase your chances of gaining followers. Coschedule states that the best tweet frequency practice is three to seven tweets per day. When it comes to Twitter, your content can be whatever you want it to be. Tweet a link to an interesting article, give your opinion on the season premiere of your favorite show, etc. By continuing to be active and engaging on the platform, you can show users that your content is worth following.

#2 Everyone Loves Pictures

There are a lot of different tips and information out there on how to gain followers on Twitter; however, a simple fact remains. People love pictures. Tweets that have a graphic or visual content usually receive more likes, retweets, comments, and shares. Interesting pictures that grab someone’s attention will encourage people scrolling down their timeline to check out your profile.

#3 Hashtag help

Hashtags can help direct people to your Twitter profile by simply clicking on them. Using them throughout your tweets can boost their popularity. Try using hashtags that are popular and relevant to your post.

how to gain followers

This is a good example of an engaging tweet sure to receive some attention. The tweet includes interesting content, a graphic, and relevant hashtags. These three tips should help any Twitter novice (or even a seasoned pro) gain followers. Remember: tweet content that you care about, and chances are others will too!

TikTok Tips & Tricks to Transform Your Content

Posted on by

Looking for some TikTok tips and tricks? Look no further! By now, everyone has heard about the latest social media app taking the world by storm: TikTok. Yes, I spelled it correctly. Not “tick tock” or “tictoc” but simply, TikTok. According to TikTok’s website, TikTok is “…the leading desination for short-form mobile video. Our mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy”.

With over 500 million active users worldwide, it’s no surprise that this app is becoming one of the fastest growing video sharing platforms. Famous users such as Charli D’Amelio, Loren Gray, and Riyaz Aly have racked up millions of followers through their quick videos, from dancing to singing to comedy and everything in between. So the question is: how do you create quality content on this popular app?

Tik Tok Tips & Tricks to Transform Your Content

Top Three Tik Tok Tips & Tricks

#1 Quality Content

When making your first TikTok, ask yourself what kind of videos do I like? And go from there. If you enjoy watching lip syncs, find a song you like and show off some cool dance moves. If you prefer more comedic videos, put some thought into a sketch or bit and maybe have some friends join in! Remember: if you don’t like the content you’re putting out there, others probably won’t like it either.

#2 Hashtag, Hashtag, Hashtag

One of the most essential TikTok tips and tricks is to utilize hashtags when posting your videos. Without hashtags, only your followers will get to see your content. Using hashtags, especially the popular ones, can be a great way to get exposure and likes on the platform. Some good hashtags that work for any video include the “for you” page, such as #fyp or #foryoupage. You can also get more specific with the hashtags depending on the content of your video.

#3 HAVE FUN!

It’s especially important to remember, out of all the TikTok tips and tricks, the most important one is to have fun. TikTok is an app that is meant to bring joy to people around the world, including you!