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The Apps of our Life Stages

18 Dec

The Apps of our Life Stages

Graduation. First job. First place. Fall in love. Get married. Have kids. Change careers. Move. Divorce. Lose someone. These are all life stages and whether or not they go in this order, one thing is true – we all experience them. A lot of them.

Through all of these life stages, technology is there. It helps us get information, facilitate conversations and get us from point A to B. But the relationship has grown since we’ve entered the world of apps. Today, according to Flurry, there are over 500,000 apps for the iPhone and iPad, over 300,000 on Android and thousands on other platforms. The average user has 65 apps. Techcruch calls it an app-ocalypse.

The combination of the number of apps and our close relationship with technology has enabled each and every life stage to have many apps of their own. While I haven’t been through all of the life stages listed above, I have experienced a few. And being six months pregnant, another (big) one is at my doorstep.

So here are my top apps that got me through some serious milestones. And while many of these apps are great no matter what stage you’re in, they’re especially helpful for these.

School

You may immediately think of calculators, notepads and custom apps for different colleges and universities, but there are hundreds of apps on this topic to help you study, sleep, eat and stop you from drunk dialing. I like this comprehensive top 100 list, but my favorites are:

  • iTranslate – perfect for those study abroad trips and as a refresher before Spanish class
  • Evernote – take pictures and notes and store them in the cloud for anytime access

First Job

From the search to the interview to the first day at the office, there are apps to help you stay cool in your new business casual garb. These are great:

  • Indeed – aggregates millions of jobs on multiple sites to serve up the ones most relevant to your job search
  • Bump – as you network and meet new people, capture you new acquaintance’s contact info just by “bumping” your phones together

Marriage

The wedding process is a blast but it can be stressful as the aisle draws near. These apps help you stay on track.

  • iWedding – save your arm a lot of pain from carrying around a wedding binder. Plan your budget, your to-dos, guest lists and more with anytime access
  • Etsy – I craved a personal touch for my wedding and I used Etsy to do it. The iPhone app works well so you can easily find your decorations, buy gifts and more

Buying a Home

While exciting, the amount of money you’re spending when buying a home can be heart-stopping. These apps kept my blood pressure down and got me excited for this new stage of life.

  • Trulia – search homes by location, price, type and more (and it looks amazing on the iPad). I love my new home but I still find myself peeking around on this app
  • Homebudget – with this app, calculating your mortgage payment is just scratching the home-buying surface. Forecast utility costs and bills, taxes, see payments over time with helpful charts and even use it after you’ve bought your house as a regular financial app

Pregnancy

Currently experiencing this lifestage, I find myself using these apps weekly, if not daily.

  • Babycenter – track your progress, your baby’s progress, check out the forums of other moms-to-be, get tips and so much more. Any pregnancy or baby question you’ve ever had can be answered with this app
  • Enfamil Expecting Baby – The simplicity of this app makes it helpful and engaging. It’s a quick checklist with a countdown to your due date, fun little quizzes and reminders, a contractions counter and hospital finder come labor time, a birth announcement maker and (the best part) it offers a free gift at the hospital when you show the app

If you want to see your future life stages, there’s the Project 0-100 app. It shows pictures of people of all ages and you can even age your own face. I don’t have the app but if I’m ever in the mood to see how I look at 50, I know where to click.

What apps have you used for your life stages? Do you have any recommended apps for my next stage in life?  Share them here! I love to download new ones (and beat the average of 65!).

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Tablet Size Communication

14 Aug

iPad2I recently got an iPad2 and it inspired today’s post. To me, this technological beast captured in a 7.31″ x 9.5″ metal frame is an impressive definition of technology and connection. It’s worth writing about.

We all know that technology has increased the capability to communicate, share and connect. But with more platforms available each day, our communication vehicles are like a growing sea of jellyfish with vastly-extending tentacles. Where do you start?

The tablet adds a sense of excitement to connecting. With a large screen, intuitive interactivity and a slew of applications, it truly makes for a fun technology experience.

The social aspect of the iPad is endless. The high-rated social media applications for Twitter, Facebook and Chatter are intuitive and beautiful in their design. Plus, the aggregating apps that meld these platforms together, such as Flipboard and MyPad, make it easy to catch up on the social scene from one place.

It seems like my laptop has gained 20lbs! This tablet is light and slim and with the addition of a bluetooth keyboard and case, you have suddenly created a streamlined laptop with touch screen capabilities. Sorry Macbook.

News and information sites such as Weather.com and USA Today give you everything you need right from the initial screen with brilliant pictures and simple navigation.

And don’t get me started on the games. Words with Friends, Solitaire and Angry Birds have never been this fun!

I am a huge fan of trying new things (I recently ate fried grasshopper) and the iPad is another great showcase of how technology continues to be awe-inspiring. Try something new.

And the fried grasshopper wasn’t that bad.

What other technology influences communication? Is the iPad the best form? Share your ideas.

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Tune into these Podcast Picks

24 Jul

The house is quiet. I have some draft blogs going and a few emails popping up. I turn up the speakers. It’s time. Podcast time.

I’ve been tuning into some great social media podcasts as of late and wanted to share my favorites. They all have their own tones, audiences, formats and specific interests. But they all have one thing in common (besides being a podcast): They’re like me. We are all glued to social media. We have to talk about it. Think about it. Share ideas and thoughts about it. A social media podcast is a great way to hear the latest news, views, ideas and discussions.

There are many social media podcasts out there. Just check out this laundry list. But you don’t have to click each link and hear each one to know the best. I’m nerdy enough to do that for you. So here are my top choices.

For Immediate Release is a weekly podcast hosted by Neville Hobson and Shel Holtz. They cover PR, technology and social media. It’s well produced and reaches an educated audience interested in the latest issues and news. The podcast is talk format with expert interviews. You can learn a lot and have a good time listening to these folks.

Managing the Gray – C.C. Chapman is a social media guru and in his spare moments, he produces this marketing podcast. From his mouth, he shares tips, news and insights. It’s laid back and simple with some great viewpoints.

6 Pixels of Separation – Mitch Joel, a digital marketing rockstar, showcases his social media expertise with an engaging podcast. In a kitchen table discussion style, he conducts great interviews with other leaders in the space such as Chris Brogan and Seth Godin. It’s truly entertaining with an insightful and often comical spin. This is my favorite one.

Do you tune into podcasts and if so, what are your favorites? Do you make your own? What topics do you like? Turn up the volume and share your thoughts!

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Geico goes Geocaching

12 Jun

You’re in the woods. GPS in one hand, compass in the other. Your shoulders ache from your heavy Camelbak bloated with water, trail mix, maps and bug spray. But you press on.  Yes, today you are geocaching and it’s off to the next find.

A Cache in Georgia

A cache in Georgia

Geocaching is a real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices. Participants navigate to a specific set of GPS coordinates and then attempt to find the geocache (container) hidden at that location. Check out Geocaching.com or my Patch post to learn more.

As a marketer, I naturally wondered how brands could be part of this program. It is hyper local and personal and there are over 1.4 million caches hidden worldwide. In a typical week, nearly 300,000 caches are logged by over 40,000 Geocachers. This concept has opportunity.

I read about Jeep and state parks utilizing geocaching for promotional purposes but had not experienced it first hand.

Until now.

Found the Geico travel bug

I was caching a few nights ago and found a Geico travel bug in a cache (a travel bug is a trackable tag that you can move from cache to cache). The Geico travel bug, much like other travel bugs, had a story attached to it. It was in the shape of the gecko and read, “I love meeting new people and helping them save money.” When I logged the tag code on the geocaching site, more branding and engagement was shared.

This sponsored trackable had a sweepstakes attached to it. Fill out a form and you’re entered to win a GPS unit. (Check it out here.)

It’s tough to get more personal than this. And while I initially thought brands relevant to geocaching such as Jeep and Garmin made the most sense, it seems other not-as-outdoorsy brands can make it work.

A geocaching sponsored trackable may not be the right fit for your brand, but it’s an option. To me, this tastes like guerilla marketing with a large helping of creativity on top.

While you’re thinking about that, I’ll be geocaching.

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My Pinteresting Obsession

6 Jun

Jen, aka @sophieandlili, is a trendy, doll-making, advice-giver with more ideas than sewing needles. She  introduced me to the highly-addicting world of Pinterest. (Thanks for the new obsession, Jen. At least it spawned a pretty blog post.)

It all stemmed from wanting to design my home office. I started a Google doc and shared it with my husband. We went back and forth sharing photos and links through it. It was not the most intuitive measure but I felt I wasn’t exactly acting prehistoric. I was using Google docs, after all.

But Jen showed me a much better way with a social spin. It’s Pinterest.com and according to the site’s co-founder Ben Silbermann, it’s  “a personal version of Cool Hunting.”

Their mission: make Pinterest the best place for you to share your taste with the world.

Consider it a virtual mood board for all aspects of your life. You “pin” things from around the Internet to collect and share — home decor, wedding inspiration, clothing, border collie stuff. You can proudly be an Internet garbage picker (but a trendy one!). As the site says, “You name it, people are pinning it.”

Suddenly my home office is taking shape and I’m sharing my vision with followers from Twitter and beyond. My home office is becoming a public display of personality, creativity and taste. No more private Google docs.


My “For the Home” Pinterest Mood Board

Social bookmarking is nothing new. But the idea and packaging of the site is critical for success. This site’s nuance lies in its creativity. It is a platform that is unique and creative for unique and creative individuals. Not to mention how it’s a breeding ground for repeat visitation and new follower growth. For now, it is a space of untouchable uniqueness. But we always have the opportunity to create something new and (p)interesting.

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Foursquaring on an Island Adventure

26 Mar

I’m writing from Tybee Island, GA and you probably haven’t heard of it. I hadn’t. But when it came to stopping somewhere on our spontaneous camping road trip, we happened to land on a place so tiny it could barely fit our 27-foot trailer. Picture a Cape Cod/Myrtle Beach hybrid zapped by the electromagnetic shrink ray from Honey I Shrunk the Kids.

20110326-093506.jpg

However, it’s wild to admit that this island is not too small four Foursquare. After all, a year ago I would have created nearly every location and been the mayor of most of them. The only capability would have been touting my many beach and restaurant stops and earning the Great Outdoors badge. And while I admit I still enjoy these features (especially my recent badge), Foursquare has changed for the better.

Today, there are 22 “specials” on this island. Everywhere I go, at least four people have checked in there too. Every location has a mayor.

But the “for the better” aspect is more than its growth in popularity. Foursquare’s new “explore” feature has quickly transformed me from newbie Tybee tourist to island-navigating native as it has provided me with an arsenal of tips and photos to nearby restaurants, beaches and shops. I’m choosing my own adventure with minimal sweat to the brow. The Foursquare 3.0 update, which occurred a few weeks ago, gives you what you need on request. Quoted from Foursquare’s blog, “Tell us what you’re looking for and we’ll find something nearby.” Perfect.

In simple terms, Foursquare surrounds my vacation experience and I embrace it because it makes the trip easier. Plus, my friends still get to hear about me sipping margaritas on the beach. Cheers to that.

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Sourcing Warmth

13 Mar

Since we bought our house late last year, we’ve been using our wood stove constantly. There’s nothing like a fire that’s cozy enough to curl up near yet warm enough to wear a t-shirt in December. And so, the wood stove became our mecca and go-to heat utility. That is, until we ran out of wood.

I’m know we’re not alone. Wood stoves are popular across America and wood is prevalent. Who hasn’t seen a salvageable dead tree ripe for the taking? Yet people (including me) pay for seasoned wood by the cord.

Move now to social media. This is a place where people share what they see, hear, feel, taste and know at every moment. There lies the opportunity. Why can’t wood be social? We can utilize the tools we have to save each other money. Post the wood spotting, which then enables someone to retrieve it before it rots. Understanding there is the minutia to keep in mind (private property, accessibility, etc.), there is the ability to merge two great things – the outdoors with social media. This idea has been done before – take geocaching for example – but not in this way. This is an opportunity to:

  • Help people be efficient with their heat source
  • Utilize the outdoors
  • Share

This all ties back to the idea that social media is not going away because the opportunities within it are so vast. We’re just taking the first few logs in the ginormous wood pile we call new media.

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