Let’s face it, life these days has been completely turned upside-down. COVID-19 has changed almost every aspect of our everyday lives and adapting to this new “normal” can be challenging. Young professionals have found themselves now working remotely or better known as working from home. This brings about new obstacles that many people have never faced in the office. There is an abundance of new distraction and realistically, you most likely aren’t the only person in your apartment working from home. It is important to establish a work routine and good habits during this time. Here are some tips on how to be productive when working from home!

Tackle These Social Media Challenges and Grow Your Brand

It has become widely accepted that social media has had a tremendous impact on business over the past decade. Although there are hundreds of success stories on the Internet, there are still many social media challenges you may encounter. Social media is an essential yet complicated part of a business’s marketing strategy. 

Building a personal brand requires time and consistent effort. Even though we all are busy jumping on Zoom meetings and online classes or dialing into conference calls, the quarantine has given us back the time we spent commuting, running non-essential errands, and meeting up with friends for dinner. A productive way to spend this new source of time is to work on your personal brand! While the face-to-face component of building a personal brand will have to wait, there are many opportunities to bolster your brand online.

Building a Personal Brand: Tips and Tricks

1. Building a personal brand starts with how you interact online. Ensure that your comments, images you like, and the accounts you follow are sharing a consistent message about who you are to your followers. Each of these components should share a story about you, so be thoughtful about all aspects of your online brand. Make sure that your profile showcases your values, passions, and personality.
2. Create an online portfolio or website. It is important to compile your work in a space that is easy for future employers to see your brand and value. Create a clean personal website, then let your work speak for itself. As obvious as it sounds, be sure that the pieces you include on your website reflect the characteristics you want employers and others to see such as your attention to detail, passion for the subject matter, etc. Click here for a helpful resource for building a personal website.
3. The quarantine also is a great time to create more content. Write a blog about a movie you watched or book you read, a screenplay, or some poetry. Make a collage, a new graphic design sketch, or paint a canvas. Launch a podcast or an Instagram Live series. Play around with new social media platforms like TikTok. In a world when we can’t socialize or venture too far from home, allow yourself to turn your focus inward. What really matters to you and how can you share your story with the world? Building a personal brand requires this self-reflection, and the quarantine has offered us a unique opportunity to do so.

Ultimately, use this time in quarantine to pursue your passions and reflect on how you want to present yourself to the world. Then, use social media and online platforms to highlight your accomplishments, work, and personality. Just remember to be consistent even in the midst of creativity! Click here for an insightful Forbes article about the golden rules of building a personal brand.

While COVID-19 has everyone working from home, it can be hard to know when to officially sign off for the evening. For most of us, working from home is unfamiliar territory. Now, we have to mentally divide our time in the “office” from our time at home. It can be difficult to relax at the end of the day, but that is why we are sharing five tips tp unplug after work.

It’s hard to enjoy working from home… especially when it’s not what you signed up for. In fact, one of the many reasons you started working was probably to get out of the house. Staring at a screen all day isn’t ideal for anyone, unless it includes liking memes on Instagram or learning dances on TikTok. However, the recent spread of CO-VID 19 has brought about a lot of unanticipated changes. It’s time to start thinking about how to make your remote work as painless as possible, starting with the following three suggestions.

1. You’ll Enjoy Working From Home a Lot More With Music

The idea here is to do all of the things you can’t do in the office. Of course you have your AirPods to lift your spirits at your desk, but that’s not always enough. There’s nothing like singing your favorite songs to your heart’s content while blasting it full-volume in your kitchen. Now, THAT sounds like fun.

2. Practice Self Care With Face-Masks, Reading, or Exercise

There’s no better way to spend your new-found time than by taking care of yourself. These next few weeks can be spent applying face masks, reading best-selling books, or going on runs with your dog. Now that you’re not always in front of co-workers, you can paint your face green with no repercussions! You’ll enjoy working from home more once you get yourself in better shape.

3. Spice Up Zoom Meetings By Changing Your Background

Send yourself to the beach, the moon, or even Hogwarts. At a time when even leaving your house is a questionable choice, utilizing virtual travel has never been a better choice. You can’t NOT enjoy working from home when you and your coworkers are virtually lounging in the sun. Not to mention, it’s definitely a good way to liven up your otherwise mind-numbing board meeting.

This unprecedented moment in history has led to the disruption of everyone’s work life. These small but effective additions to your new routine can help decrease stress and increase happiness while you’re social distancing.

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 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!

Confused on what to say on your business’ social media accounts during this global pandemic? We have got you covered. Keep reading to learn how to strike the appropriate tone on social media during Coronavirus.

Tensions are at an all-time high in our country. As people are stuck inside, feeling the economic effects, and worrying about loved ones, it is more important now than ever before to make sure your business’ social media isn’t missing the mark during Coronavirus.

Social Media Recommendations During Coronavirus

• Re-evaluate your scheduled content. Be sure to check any scheduled content you have at least once a week and adjust as necessary. Protocols and cultural sentiment are changing fast. Don’t let your content be behind the times.
• Realize your followers may have loved ones suffering at this time. Remain respectful by keeping your tone empathetic and upbeat. Support and encourage your community by reminding everyone that we are in this together.
• Avoid posting sales or asking people to purchase something for at least the next month. Stay sensitive to the job loss and financial problems people are experiencing. The last thing you want to portray is that you are only trying to profit during this outbreak.
• Feel free to mention Coronavirus or social distancing in your content. Not mentioning this massive news may seem unsympathetic. That being said, avoid talking about it in every post. Go for 40-50% that have at least a subtle mention.
• Empower your followers during social distancing. Provide helpful tips relative to your industry that people can try at home. For example, give home workout routines on Instagram Live or post fan-favorite restaurant recipes on Pinterest.

Long story short: watch your tone. Apologize if you made a mistake. Show empathy. Remember tensions run high during these trying times. The more understanding you can be, the better your business’ social media will survive Coronavirus.

For more in-depth advice on how to navigate marketing on social media during the outbreak, check out this guide.

The year 2020 has brought many more challenges nationwide. No one could have predicted the lasting effects of COVID-19. This pandemic has caused strains physically and emotionally. Social distancing has caused stress in the workplace.

Working from home doesn’t have to be difficult. While it might take some time to adjust to the new routine, these 7 tools will help you transition from office to home.

As society navigates through this unprecedented health crisis, businesses must adjust to a new normal. Kitchen tables have turned into conference rooms and platforms such as Zoom have increased in popularity. Online communication is an essential tool today for companies proceeding in this crisis. Additionally, fear is rising around this health emergency, however, inspiring acts are rising too. When thinking of where to proceed as an online consumer, here are a few companies that are giving back during the coronavirus.

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.

In recent weeks, the coronavirus pandemic forced almost all non-essential businesses in all industries to stop. One industry being the public relations field. PR professionals rely on social media now more than ever to communicate with their publics. This blog will cover how social media aids in communicating with the public during the coronavirus.

Why Having a Social Media Influencer Campaign is Vital

Influencer marketing presents a unique opportunity for brands to connect with consumers on a personal level. Social media influencers are individuals who have a large reach across one or more social platforms and have built a lot of trust in a specific industry. Relevant influencers in your niche market will help promote your brand and create an online buzz. Due to the fact that most industries have a social media influencer campaign, it is time to begin building your own.

Follow these four tips to kickstart your influencer marketing campaign.

Working from home is the new business reality in the midst of a global pandemic. While virtual teams have always had a role in major corporations, companies of all sizes are being forced to operate virtually. For companies, this means ensuring teams still communicate and operate effectively. For individual employees, this means maximizing spaces to make working from home a pleasant and effective experience. Keep reading for tips on working from home during quarantine and after.

Working from Home: Tips for Success

1. Each morning, map out a schedule for the day. Allocate specific times for work items you want to accomplish, meals, exercise, and anything else you would like to get done. When working from home for days on end during the quarantine, giving structure to the time warp is imperative for staying sane and productive. Try to work within the normal range of time you would if you were still going to the office!
2. Dress for success. Don’t sit around in pajamas all day. While you can certainly take on a more casual look, maintain your self-care and hygiene routines, put some clothes on, make the bed, and carve out time for breakfast before delving into your Zoom meetings for the day. Speaking of Zoom, click here for Stanford’s resources on how to lead and participate in inclusive and engaging Zoom meetings.
3. Moving around the house provides some wanted changes in scenery, but establishing one spot as your at-home desk is helpful when working from home. This indicates to your brain and family members that it is time to focus.
4. Move! In between meetings, set aside times to take breaks and get some fresh air. Eat lunch on your patio, take a quick walk around the block (with social distance, of course), or even open a window. When we are sitting all day, it’s important that we make efforts to move our bodies and get our hearts and blood pumping.
5. Nourish your body. Yes, we all deserve treats during this tumultuous time. However, ensure you are getting the nutrients and healthy boost your body needs. Indulge in the homemade cakes and cookies your families are baking. Don’t forget about protein, fruits, and vegetables to keep your energy levels high.

Working from home has its perks, but definitely introduces a new set of challenges. For even more incredible tips for navigating this period of working from home, check out this guide at theSkimm. Stay home, stay healthy, stay safe, stay focused!

Working from home can be challenging even when there isn’t a global pandemic to contend with. Here are some ways to make sure you’re on track at home.

Food delivery apps have revolutionized the way we eat and with that, you may be wondering: Are food delivery apps worth the convenience? With the drastic advances and changes in technology over the past 10 years, delivery apps have added convenience to all aspects of life. Hospitality Technology conducted a study finding that over 63% of young adults consistently use third-party food delivery apps. Companies such as Grub Hub, UberEats, and Door Dash are leaders in this market and there are many pros and cons that accompany this new phenomenon of food delivery. 

Companies shell out big bucks on influencer campaigns, social ads, and content creation. But most overlook their best marketing asset: their own employees. Keep reading to see how employee advocacy can play a critical role in your organization’s social media marketing strategy.

What is employee advocacy?

Employee advocacy is the promotion of a company by its own workforce. This can look like anything from employees sharing information about specific products or campaigns to employees talking about company culture online. Employees promoting companies on social media not only extends the reach of a brand’s messages, but significantly increases online engagement.

According to a study by The Marketing Advisory Network, brand messages reach 561% further when shared by employees versus when the message is shared over the brand’s social channels. The same study found that brand messages are re-shared 24 times more frequently when employees share content. 

Still not convinced? Check out these stats.

• The 2019 Edelman Trust Barometer found that more people trust a regular employee (53%) than a CEO (47%).
• Nearly 86% of employees participating in a formal advocacy program say it had a positive effect on their careers.
• LinkedIn discovered that employees of a company tend to have 10 times more followers than the company itself.

Employee Advocacy Best Practices

Although employee advocacy is crucial more than ever, many businesses face obstacles when it comes to motivating employees to promote company content. Follow these guidelines to maximize your company’s abilities.

• Make workplace culture a priority. Strong brand ambassador employees need to actually love their jobs, not just their paychecks. Evaluate company culture to see where your organization can improve.
• Give employees a reason to share. Employees might need some motivation to share content. Hold a company lunch or seminar where you discuss how advocating for their company and being active on social media helps them build their personal brands and establish themselves as thought leaders. 
• Make the process easy. Its essential to make company and industry content as easy to share as possible. Use an internal hub or cloud to make content available at employees’ fingertips.
• Recognize employee advocates. A little recognition goes a long way. Make your employee advocates feel appreciated for their efforts with a complimentary lunch or card.

If you want to boost brand recognition, make recruiting easier, and share your company’s culture, employee advocacy is for you. To learn more about employee advocacy on social media, check on this kickstart guide.

It’s 2:00 A.M. and the impending early morning hovers over your latest Netflix binge. The latest season of ‘Keeping Up with the Kardashians’ is in cue and ready to stream. Should you watch one more episode? Today, most Americans are suckers for reality television. In fact, reality shows such as ‘The Bachelor’ gain nearly 8 million viewers per week to watch 30 women fight for one man’s heart. Is it the drama that keep viewers tuned in? Is it the glitz and glamour? It is safe to say, reality television is popular in this digital world.