Facebook Messenger unveils usernames and scannable profile codes to the app

With the popularity of the Facebook Messenger app rising, the social media network has only been searching for ways to make it easier for users to connect with one another.

“Starting today we are taking another step forward in delivering a new solution to the more than 900 million people who use Messenger every month,” the company stated.

Facebook has been looking for a way to make the app more personalized. Just as with all accounts, Messenger accounts now have personalized links people can use to start a chat – all users can be located at m.me/[username].

In addition, Facebook is coming out with Messenger Codes, which are the app’s equivalent to Snapchat’s snapcodes. The Messenger Codes are a series of dots and dashes around your profile picture, and allows others to scan the code with their camera to add you as a contact! The codes can either be scanned phone-to-phone or scanned onto your phone if the code is up on a computer screen.

The advancement may not seem as big of a deal now, but is a huge deal when looking at the bigger picture of Messenger’s future. By the end of the year, Facebook wants messenger to not only be a way to connect with friends, but become a place for users to chat with companies and customer service bots, and have useful information sent to you.

The app’s come a long way in a short period of time. Who knows what else the company has in store!  

Written by Sam Velotta from Rebecca Adele PR & Events

Networking: The First Step to Getting Into an Industry and Succeeding

Whether you are a first-year graduate or the founder of a growing business, networking should be one of your favorite pastimes. We have all heard the saying, “It is not what you know, but whom you know” and if this saying stands true, then taking yourself out of your comfort zone and mastering networking is a must.

For graduates, landing a full-time job can be long and tiresome, with every extensive application sent, you can only hope your resume is being seen. It is time for you to get from behind your computer and show your face at events where the professionals of your industry of interest will be. Face-to-face interaction can go a lot farther that the keywords on your resume that may or may not stand out to a hiring manager. I am not saying these short chats will automatically land you your dream job, but here is what it will do:

1.     Give you more insight about the industry.

2.     Start a relationship with someone who has his or her foot already in the door, who can possibly pass your resume on to other contacts he/she may know.

3.     Give you practice talking to professionals about your desired career path

Networking should not stop once you have landed the job or have been in the business for years. Clients, media contacts, and any other driving forces of a business do not just pop out of thin air! Networking can allow you to make great relationships with people, whom in the long run (not necessarily right when you meet them) may help you when you are in need of assistance, such as a key introduction.  A growing list of contacts has never been a negative for a company!

Written by Mimi Rosenberg of Rebecca Adele PR & Events

5 Mistakes Companies Make When Using Social Media

Social media is a very powerful tool for companies to use, but only if it’s used correctly. Having a great social media presence can be a great advantage for companies not only with building brand equity but also with helping to boost sales. Here are 5 common mistakes that business make when using social media. If you avoid these mistakes then your company will be on its way to using social media to it’s full potential!

1.) Just using a platform because you think it’s the most popular or feel like you have to utilize it. Only create a social media profile on the platforms that are going to be the most useful for your business. Make sure the platforms are aligned with the marketing goals of the company and their initiatives and are going to reach the correct customer demographics and cater to their needs.

2) Forgetting to plan. Having a schedule and social media plan is critical to the success of your social media campaign. If you don’t plan ahead, you will feel overwhelmed when busy season comes and you’ll be scrambling to figure out what to post. Also trying to just “wing it” will not turn out well in the end. By developing a plan beforehand, it will make the campaign easier to manage as well as keeping consistent across platforms. Some helpful sites that can help you organize your social media plans are SproutSocial (https://sproutsocial.com/ ) and HootSuite. (https://hootsuite.com/ ).

3) Not catering the post to the platform. Social media sites are all used in different ways and they all have their own specific “language.” When you are posting on each of the platforms, make sure that the information you are writing in is in the specific language of that social media site. For example, you wouldn’t use Facebook and Instagram to necessarily convey the same message. All of the platforms have different features to them that can be used to reach different audiences.

4) Talking @ people instead of talking with them. The main reason social media is so great is because it’s interactive and you can really engage with your audience instead of just telling them information. By having conversations on social media, you are able to ask questions and are able to learn more about your demographics’ needs and wants. Asking questions on social media is a great way to generate conversation.

5) Forgetting to proofread. The worst mistake a company can do is to forget to proofread their posts and information that they put out there in the social media world. It looks unprofessional and puts a damper on the company’s reputation, which no one wants! Remember to have more than just one person proofread the post before it’s put on out there on your profiles.

Written by Kathleen Lawson of Rebecca Adele PR & Events

Greek Life to Real Life, Pledging Your Way to Professional Success

I hear the stereotypes all the time; “so, do you like pay for your friends?” “Do you guys party all of the time?” Obviously my answer to both is “absolutely not!”  Shaking off all of the stereotypes and media depictions aside looking back on my years in being in a sorority, I realized I have learned more than I ever could have imagined. More than I ever thought when I pledged 2 years ago.  Yes of course being in a sorority is fun and exciting, but through all of that, us sorority women learn something along the way. Who knew that my sorority would help me with my future endeavors? Here is a quick list of some ways being in a sorority has prepared me for the real world after college:

    Rushing AKA Interviewing 101

You don’t think about it while you are doing it, but going through recruitment for a sorority is basically going on tons of interviews! You need to shine through all of the other women that this girl is going to talk to today, and show what an amazing of a person you are! Keeping eye contact, actively listening to what she has to say, and being able to keep a conversation flowing, are all aspects of interviewing for a job in the future. If you can’t speak to someone without being able to establish some kind of eye contact, an employer won’t think you are as qualified, skilled or trustworthy!

Chapter Meetings- What to Wear to Work
When you get into the real world, you are going to have to put aside that comfy sweatshirt and jeans when you have to go to work (unless you work for someone that’s cool like Becki!). Having to dress up every week for sorority business meetings, extended my wardrobe to include stylish and professional pieces that I can use at internships and a future job. Since most college students rely on jeans, t-shirts and yoga pants to go to class, having a professional wardrobe already in place is a time saver later on! 

Networking Opportunities

When you join a sorority, you are joining an organization that has thousands of members all across the country. I am a part of my sorority’s LinkedIn group, and I get emails every day with postings of different jobs and opportunities. The best part is that  I get to utilize these opportunities to further my career. Plus, if I ever need helping making a connection or learning about job opportunities in a new city, I know that there is a sister out there that can help me! 

I never knew the benefits I would get out of being in a sorority until I joined one! I will always recommend it to someone, not only because I have made amazing friends, but also I've learned it can help you on your path to becoming a successful career woman!

Written by Lauren Cafarell from Rebecca Adele PR & Events