Social media junkie? There’s a phone for that.

Thanks to my iPhone, I am a certified news (of all kinds) junkie.  In all seriousness, I don’t know what I did before I got this thing a year and a half ago.  I think I should be in rehab because I am so addicted to it.

It's snowing in my office, thanks to Ogilvy's new iPhone app

This phone has its definite advantages.  It allows me to stay up-to-date on current events- from national politics, what my friends doing, social media news with the touch of a button (literally, I love the touch screen!).  Editing my blog posts on the go isn’t a problem either, thanks to the WordPress application.  And today, I just discovered a new FREE app created by Ogilvy UK called “White Xmas” that will magically add snow to any picture you take on the iPhone (sorry Blackberry/other smartphone users…).  I am truly amazed at how far technology has come.  (I highly recommend this app to anyone with an iPhone, it’s so fun!)

Having this kind of phone made me realize what kind of “frontier” there is out there in the way of mobile marketing and media.  My good friend writes blog posts for a mobile marketing company called Vesta Mobile in Baltimore, MD and has touched on some very important and insightful topics, ranging from music iPhone applications to the new frontier of mobile marketing.  And it’s true.  E-marketer.com reported that the average number of mobile internet sessions per month (in October 2009) was 20, up from 10 just a year before.

My iPhone use is also helping me grow as an aspiring professional in the Advertising/Public Relations industry.  Familiarity with various social media outlets, iPhone applications, etc. will only increase my knowledge and credibility in this industry.

“I spend a lot of time networking and increasing social media presence, but it’s only for my own good and advancement!” is a general idea of what I say to my mother when she complains about how much I’m on my phone, computer, etc. haha.  I know you all understand what I’m saying.

Even for those not in the Communications industy.  When I returned to Loyola College for my senior year in September 2008, I SWEAR everyone had new Blackberries or iPhones that they bought over the summer.  It simply amazes me.  Everyone wants to be connected to everything else 100% of the time.

For all you smart phone users out there, how has your phone increased your use of social media, if any?  Does it help you stay on top of new media?  Would you rather drop the phone and stick to “traditional” uses of social media?

Blah, blah, blah

I really do have a lot to say. According to my mother, that is. NYTimes was the first app I downloaded to my iPhone a year ago, CNN.com is my homepage. And of course, I scan the local newspaper every morning when I get into work.

Combine that with my increasing obsession and fascination with social media and you’ve got yourself a mouth that won’t stop running.

So here I am, with blog #2 and a whole new perspective…on everything. I recently started working full-time at a non-profit organization in Central New Jersey as the Communications Assistant there, and my boss and I sure have a lot to talk about other than social justice and Quark files. However, when I get home to my family, including an 11 year old boy playing the role of “brother,” the fun stops there. Needing another outlet for my word vomit (thanks, LiLo), I turned back to blogging. Let’s see how successful I am this time around.

Some food for thought: Ruder Finn UK’s Laura Strong wrote a post regarding social networking and partnerships between those sites, most recently LinkedIn and Twitter. More specifically, she mentioned three guidelines which I believe should become the “Golden Rules of Status Updating”:

Don’t be rude or abusive about people, projects or a company.
Don’t post rumours or revelations – Twitter never forgets.
Think before you type – some things are better left private.

How’s that for a little cerebral snack? As a recent college graduate (May 2009 represent!), keeping my social networks as clear and censored as possible was my number 1 goal while job hunting, and still is. The lines between audiences with regards to Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter are slowly blurring and while others see each audience for each site as the same, I do not. I think it’s only a matter of time before you crash and burn if you do.

Agree, disagree, or feel neutral? Dish it out here and give me something else to talk about.