Covid-19 Effects on Businesses Worldwide

Covid-19 has caused chaos all throughout the world since it first appeared in late 2019. Now, over five months later, there are lasting effects that the novel corona virus has caused. Not looking at the virus itself, the corona virus has caused many businesses to stop operations and some to close for good. What can we do to help support these businesses that are closing due to the stay at home order and the fact that they do not fall under the essential business market?

Some of the ways we can help is by supporting our local businesses. Small, family owned businesses are especially hurting during these trying times. They have had to cut staff, move to curbside only pickup, and reduce store hours and operations to follow proper CDC guidelines. One way my family is helping our local businesses, is by ordering dinner to go at least once a week from a local restaurant around us that remains open for curbside ordering. If everyone bought a meal from a local restaurant once a week, it would significantly help these businesses out. We can also continue to donate goods to our healthcare workers on the front line. Donating masks, cleaning products, meals, etc. are just some ideas of donations. We're all in this together, so let's make it count!

On a positive note, covid-19 has caused greenhouse gas emissions and CO2 emissions to decline greatly due to the shutdown of factories worldwide. Will this last? Probably not. We are already seeing an increase within different areas and countries with factories and large companies opening back up for production and business. Hopefully, the economy will bounce back, taking into account the proper precautions to help keep greenhouse emissions to a minimum.

Written by: LeAnn Frank, Intern at Rebecca Adele PR & Events

Facebook Introduces New Partner, tbh

Facebook is doing their part to “spread posi vibes” by partnering with a new app called tbh. This app allows users to anonymously answer kind-hearted questions about their friends and then sends the results back to them as compliments.

For example, the question may be, “Who is the best to bring to a party?” followed by a multiple-choice option of 4 of their friends. The user will select their opinion and the app will then notify the chosen friend in the form of a compliment. The creators of tbh hope to spread more positivity through social media by teaching teenagers to highlight the good things in the people around them, as well as fuel self esteem.

Through tbh, young adults not only spread love, but also remind themselves to practice self-love. The founders of this app have expressed the importance that teenage mental health has to them.

That’s a cute idea, but will today’s young adults really be interested in something like that? Absolutely! Tbh was downloaded over 5 million times within the first 9 weeks and of that 5 million, over half have used it daily. The app has collected over 1 billion poll answers since its launch in August and it has topped the free app charts for teens and high school student users.

It’s a breath of fresh air to social media junkies that Facebook took on tbh instead of cloning it like they have with several other popular teen apps. The entire operation and style of this distinctive software sets it apart from its adoptive big sisters like Instagram and Snapchat.

An app like this could be the start of an entirely new species of social media. Encouraging young people to find the positive in things around them entices the possibility of altering their perspective of the world. By persuading teens to practice this form of mindfulness, it could not only enhance their lives, but also the lives around them.

 Written by Sarah Roberts of Rebecca Adele PR & Events

Pinterest Button Changes to Save

If you’re one of the 100 million active Pinterest users, there’s a chance you’re constantly switching between your work and your beloved Pinterest account, where you’re always noticing new outfit ideas, recipes and so much more! You also might have noticed something different in the last week: the iconic “Pin It” button that you’re always clicking on now says “Save.”

This red button is not only visible on Pinterest, but also on other websites, and allows users to pin content that they like, such as videos and photos, on boards for their followers to see. According to Pinterest’s product manager Steven Walling, more than half of Pinterest users are from outside of the U.S., so they are constantly working to make sure the website and app is easy for everyone to use. Unfortunately, the idea of “Pinning” photos and videos does not make sense in all languages around the world, so they decided to test a change with its users by swapping the “Pin It” button with a common word, “Save,” instead!

“We have a lot of love for out Pin It button, which has served us well for so long,” said Walling. “But the most important thing is for Pinterest to feel welcoming to everyone, and that’s why ultimately we went with the more understandable Save.”

After the change, Pinterest users have saved an astonishing 10% more with the button saying “Save” rather than “Pin It.” There are also now around 150 million “Save” buttons on the internet…definitely a successful change to celebrate!

Written by Caitlin Homcy of Rebecca Adele PR & Events

Say What?! Facebook Newsfeed Algorithm Decreases to 2%

Is Facebook on it's way to become a thing of the past when it comes to promotion for small businesses and nonprofit organizations? 

Recently announced, Facebook has once again changed their algorithm to a mere 2%, which means that only 2% of the people liking a page will receive news and updates from that page. Just 2 years ago it was at 16%. I don’t know about you but when I “like” a page, I expect it to show up on my timeline! 

Facebook has been active for over a decade as a means of sharing and promoting and connecting and now this $212 Billion company is asking for business (both big and small), and non profit organizations to pay to boost their posts!

Facebook has completely taken this out of the hands of the consumer and made it virtually impossible for small businesses and nonprofits to reach all their clientele that they spend a lot of time building up, for what? So that 2% of the people can see it? That is unless of course you “boost” your post and pay to have a higher percentage of people see what you're sharing as a company.

So the question remains.. How does Facebook expect small businesses or start up companies or nonprofits to reach their fan base if they are preventing it? Facebook doesn’t even give the user an option to allow us to see all the pages that we like regardless of the algorithm! Sure there is the page interest list on the sidebar on the newsfeed page, but it sure doesn't look like any of those pages have been showing up, at least in my feed!

All-in-all this new 2% algorithm, defeats the whole purpose of having a Facebook page... that is, in my opinion. It just doesn't seem fair to alienate and aggravate active businesses on Facebook that have already worked so hard to get fans, and then tell them fans won't be seeing their content. Exceptions should be made to the algorithm because not every Facebook page is alike. If this 2% algorithm stays, “Find us on Facebook” will become obsolete.

The last time I checked, I clicked “like” on a company's page for a reason. This just doesn't seem like an ethical business tactic on Facebook's end. What are your thoughts? Sound off in the comments section below!

Written by Victoria Ripepi from Rebecca Adele PR & Events