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

Tis the season: Use the holidays to give your social media presence a boost!

It's the most, wonderful time of the year! The holidays are coming up quickly, and these next few weeks are the perfect time to get that extra boost online presence for your business. Social media is an ever changing and constantly updating ways to interact with your customers and fans. Get into the holiday spirit by following these tips on how to use social  for the holiday season!

1. Show your holiday spirit!
This time of year is a great excuse to change up the look of your Facebook and Twitter pages! Update your cover photo to include a message of Seasons Greetings or Happy Holidays to remind your followers that you are in the holiday mood as much as they are! 

This cover photo is from the Sephora Facebook page. It is a clever way to promote the holiday season, without even using words! The caption on the photo is "This season, everything is a gift and everyone is gift-worthy. We invite you to get in the spirit." This can be done the same way on your Twitter page; post a cover photo and tweet it out to your followers.

2. Seasonal statuses and tweets keep the fun going!

Now that your page is decked out in your new holiday pictures, take the opportunity to create seasonal content! If you have a Fun Fact Friday, make your content relatable to your company and throw in some holiday knowledge along with it! This keeps your followers and fans learning about new things, while also giving it a fun holiday twist.  

Another way to get a conversation starting on social media is by using action words like "post, comment, like or tell us" in your Facebook statuses and tweets. These words have been proven to increase status engagement. Combine these words or phrases with relevant topics about the holidays create fun seasonal statuses! Look at this example on the DSW Facebook page; they combine the holiday shopping season with action words to create engagement with their fans.

3. Win those holiday gifts with Pinterest

Pinterest is a great social media tool, especially when you're promoting your own products! Having pinning contests amongst your followers for a special gift is a great way to get your company more coverage and promotions across the Pinterest website, as well as help your company gain new followers.

This is a current Pinterest giveaway contest being put on by the jewelry company Alex and Ani. This engages your followers and allows them to get wrapped up in the holiday spirit (and who doesn't like to win?). Contests like these can also be done on Facebook and Twitter pages. For example, "The 100th like on this photo wins free shipping!" or "If we reach 100 retweets, we will make all of our merchandise 20% for the rest of the weekend!" Especially around the holidays, everyone is looking for the best deal on their holiday shopping. If your business can incorporate this in with their social media presence, both the company and your customers win!

What kinds of ideas have you done in the past with your social media around the holidays?  Have any more tips and tricks? Let us know and post in the comments below! Happy holidays everyone!

Written by Lauren Cafarell from Rebecca Adele PR and Events.

Where I’m going, what I’ll be doing, how this internship will help, what I’ll take away from this internship

I can’t believe my last week at Rebecca Adele PR & Events is already here. As much as I wish I could stay, I’m leaving for a great reason! A few weeks ago, I was offered a full-time position being an event planner’s assistant at Buckeye Event Center in Dalton, Ohio. I’ll be working as the right-hand woman for the owner, who plans and does set-up for events like trade shows, banquets, and wedding receptions.

This internship is one of the main reasons why I was offered the job. When I explained that we did a lot of PR and social media work, along with helping to set up and run Becki’s art and craft shows, Sandy, the owner, was visibly impressed. She mentioned that my knowledge and experience with social media and PR would be a great asset for her future assistant to have.

I’ll be using the skills I learned from this internship to keep up with the social media sites Buckeye Event Center uses. There’s also a possibility that I’ll be able to start writing press releases for the vendors that participate in the shows. I’ll also be helping out with event set-up and managing the events and any problems that arise. Although I’ll only have worked two of Becki’s shows by the time I leave, I’ve already learned plenty of useful tips and tricks about running a successful event, and I can bring that knowledge to my new job.

What I’ll take away the most from this internship is that it takes a lot of hard work and dedication to be successful. Not only does this apply to my career, but to life in general. Becki’s success in starting her own business proves that if you’re determined and you believe you can do something great, you can make it happen one way or another. I hope to be that successful some day.

I’m going to miss everyone at this internship and I’m bummed that I didn’t get to know everyone better. I’m also going to miss the environment of the internship. I’ve had so much fun in my short time here and I know I won’t forget anything about it!

Written by Molly Carpenter from 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

Day One to Last Day: What I Learned This Summer

I will never forget my first day as an intern at Rebecca Adele PR & Events. It was my first day as an intern, period.  Having just finished my second year of college, I was jumping head first into a field with which I had little to no experience beyond intro college classes. I was nervous, inexperienced, and had no idea what was in store.

Now, as my summer draws to a close, and my internship with it, I cannot believe how much I have learned. I feel like a completely different person; more experienced, more grown up, and more confident – and I have Becki to thank!

From the moment I sat down at my desk on day one, I was given real work to do. From social media plans to press releases, Becki gave me countless opportunities to write and create; giving me guidance, but at the same time allowing me to learn things myself. 

My first social media plan seemed like it took forever, but now I can crank one out in no time! I learned from watching Becki in action that PR is fast-paced, exciting, and requires constant dedication and hard work. Not everything will be perfect, and you will make mistakes, but producing something that is received well by a client makes it all worth it.

I could not have asked for a better internship experience. I learned invaluable things about not only my aspiring career field, but life as well. Working with Becki every week was more like hanging out with a friend. From blasting Fiddler on the Roof while pounding out work at the office, to spending the day at the East Side Summer Avant-Garde show, every day was a fun learning experience.

Becki recognizes and invests in the strengths of each of her interns, and gives us work that will display the best of our skills. I have always loved writing, and now have a portfolio full of social media plans, press releases, and blog posts to show potential employers. This internship has only solidified my desire to become a copywriter, and Becki has done so much to encourage and strengthen this. Becki is truly an inspiration, and living proof that the only thing between you and your dream is hard work and dedication.

This internship has forced me out of my comfort zone, and taught me to be more confident, outgoing, and disciplined. I am extremely lucky to leave Rebecca Adele PR & Events with invaluable experience, a portfolio full of work, and a friend and mentor whom I will continue to email incessantly for career advice!

Written by Kate Glending from Rebecca Adele PR & Events

Life Lessons, Obstacles, and Life-Long Friendships as a Public Relations Intern

Starting off as a Public Relations intern for Rebecca Adele PR & Events, I expected to be stuck in an office for long hours and dress up every day. However, when I met with Becki for the first time in an interview, my summer took a turn for the better.

My first day on the job I realized that everyone I worked with was super laid-back. When you have a lot of things to get done in one day, one thing that helps is to be comfortable. Being able to come in to work in sweats in a relaxed environment makes for a productive day. I love to be able to listen to music and take a break with some girl-talk or play with the pets (Google is my favorite) when I get writer’s block.

Becki is not your ordinary boss. She not only taught me so much about my career and what it takes to be successful, but she turned out to be a role model, a mentor, and a friend. I can come to her with career or even life advice. I can truly say after a full summer internship with Becki that she is one of the most inspiring individuals I have ever met.

As an intern at Rebecca Adele PR & Events, I not only learned so much about but I learned so much about myself and what kind of career path I want to go into. With Public Relations being an extremely broad field, being exposed to all different types of related fields allowed me to find out what kind of niche I really wanted to get into. I learned that I love social media and writing plans for clients, but I am not a big fan on writing press releases. As embarrassing as it may be to see, I have also learned that I do not have much common sense, although it has gotten better after my internship.

The advice I would give to any Public Relations intern would be:

§       Ask LOTS of questions—The most valuable career advice I received was from conversations I have had with my supervisor in down time.

§       Take things one step at a time— When you have a lot of things on your plate, it is easy to get overwhelmed. Take a deep breath, make a list, and take things one at a time.

§       Practice Practice Practice— In Public Relations and any type of career path you choose, writing is a great skill to have. The only way to get good at writing is to practice! Creating a blog and posting regularly is a great place to start.

As I am finishing up with my internship and searching for a full-time job post-graduation, I am thankful that I have this wonderful experience under my belt and that I have acquired a lifelong friend. Thank you for everything, Becki!

Written by Rachel Ausperk from Rebecca Adele PR & Events

Today is My Last Day!

Today is my last day at Rebecca Adele PR & Events! I can’t believe how fast summer has flown by! I start my senior year at John Carroll University in a few weeks, so I obviously have a mix of emotions. I’m sad to leave my summer internships, I’m excited to start class and see my friends, and of course, I’m terrified to graduate and enter the real world.

Despite my anxiety, I’m feeling more confident about finding my first job after this experience. There’s so much I can talk about in an interview! I can now use HootSuite and SproutSocial. I love writing and Becki gave me ample opportunities to capitalize on this. My portfolio has doubled in size within these three months! It’s now full of press releases, social media plans, and blogs. Witnessing Becki work with clients was very enlightening, too. I learned little tips that I wouldn’t have picked up in a classroom.  And hey, playing with Google, Ollie, Jack, and Geraci was a pretty great perk!

As I reflect on my summer, I’ve realized that I’ve learned more in these past few months than I have in my past three years of school. You just can’t beat experience at a real company. I couldn’t be more grateful for this experience or to have Becki as a mentor. I look forward to picking her brain in the months and years to come. :)

Written By Maura Stewart from Rebecca Adele PR & Events