South Jersey seniors using technology to stay in touch
Published: Thursday, June 30, 2011, 4:00 AM
By Kristina Pritchett/Gloucester County Times Gloucester County Times
Shirley Gregoris from West Deptford smiles at as she looks at a picture on Facebook, of her granddaughter and great granddaughter. Staff Photo by Tim Hawk/Gloucester County Times
Staying in touch with family members is proving to be easier for most senior citizens in South Jersey.
Grandparents are able to stay connected anywhere in the world by using Facebook, Skype, text messaging and emailing.
“I have a Facebook, a Myspace and a Twitter,” said Joe Ali, a 77-year-old resident of Clementon. “But I mostly use Facebook.”
Ali, who has been on Facebook for about five years, uses the social media website to stay in contact with his four children and 10 grandchildren.
“It’s easier to use these technologies because my one son is always traveling and he can read and then respond to me when he has the time,” Ali said.
Ali and his family are very close and socialize very often, and using the social media site helped link the family together.
“Even though my grandchildren swear I’m a spy for their parents,” Ali joked. “I’d never get them in trouble though.”
The uses of technology allows family members who talked once a week to now have the ability to talk once a day.
Dolores Quenzel, 79, who lived in Woodbury for 65 years and now lives in Astaro, Fla., connects with family everyday through the Internet.
“Facebook is my life line,” Quenzel said. “I get to see things I normally would miss. I get to see prom preparations and eighth grade graduations.”
Quenzel, who has four grandchildren and three children, stays in contact everyday through the website and text messaging.
“My granddaughter and grandson taught me how to text and sometimes we talk more than once a day,” Quenzel said. “It’s great.”
Jennifer Regina, a marketing professor at Rowan University, believes that people go to Facebook for communication because it has an easy learning curve.
“Even senior citizens realize how quick it is to become proficient,” Regina said.
Regina added that Facebook allows them to discover friends, people that they would not be able to find without the website.
“Facebook searches through high schools, colleges and job profiles that make it easy to find people,” Regina said.
Regina said the fastest growing market is 50 plus on Facebook and that the ease of use will continue to make it a great tool to stay connected.
Besides using the social media sites, seniors are looking to email as a way to stay in touch.
Originally from the Vineland area, Mary Lou Freshcoln uses Facebook and emailing to keep in contact with family and friends.
Freshcoln, 78, checks her email and Facebook everyday.
“Sometimes I get up to 50 emails a day, all of which I try to answer,” Freshcoln said.
Frescholn uses the technologies to stay in contact with her six children and 14 grandchildren, and all but one use Facebook.
“I use these things everyday so that I can see how my friends and family are doing. I check up on their health,” Freshcoln said.
Emailing not only has allowed people to stay in touch, but to separate the professional from the personal.
Kathy Smith, a 62-year-old resident of Williamstown, has been using the computer for over 10 years and has accumulated five email accounts.
“I have one for Facebook, one for Myspace, I have a Yahoo account, I have Gmail account and I have a Verizon account,” Smith said.
Smith said the reason behind all the email accounts was to be able to keep everything separated from one another.
“I tried to have different emails for different people. And I added more accounts when we had Comcast then switched to Verizon. So I made the Yahoo account because it was easier than emailing everyone about the Verizon email.”
For a faster way to communicate with family, seniors look to their phones for text messaging.
“Oh I text all the time, I had to go to unlimited otherwise my phone bill would be through the roof,” said June Peterson, a 64-year-old resident of Ocean City.
Peterson finds text messaging a more convenient way to speak to family, friends and co-workers.
“It’s a lot easier to send a text then to call and leave a voicemail. Then you have to hope they listen to the voicemail. With a text message you have a higher chance of them seeing it,” Peterson said.
Peterson has two sons and two granddaughters that she stays in contact with everyday.
“With my sons, I text them everyday, and then when we want to Skype we text a time then we meet up on Skype.”
Peterson said she uses Skype at least once a week to talk to her son in California or to chat with her granddaughters.
Text messaging has allowed people to be more comfortable during a conversation.
Tina Poole Finocchairo, a 59-year-old resident of Swedesboro, would rather send a text message than talk on the phone.
“I’ve always had this natural thing where I’d rather send an email or text. Phone conversations were never really my thing.”
Finocchairo has two children that she constantly texts everyday. She also sends messages to friends and other family members.
“My niece spends a lot of time in the hospital, (so) texting is our primary source of communication,” Finocchairo said. “It’s just more simple this way.”
Regina adds that the trend of social media and the use of technology to communicate is popular due to the fact that there is a higher response rate.
“Senior citizens are always looking for ways to make their lives easier and still allow them to keep in touch with their family and friends,” Regina said.
With generations living further apart, technology has filled the gap to tie families together, Regina said.
“Skype, texting and social media all allow people to keep instantly engaged and updated in lives that otherwise they would be missing out on,” Regina said.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Social Studies Article in SJBiz Magazine
Social Studies
by Jessica Beym
You may be a pro at working a room, but working a chat room requires a whole different skill set. Here’s how to start making social media work for you.
Whether they’re announcing dinner specials, posting recent real estate listings, offering information about new products or answering customer questions, more and more businesses throughout South Jersey are connecting with their clients through social media.
And those who aren’t tuned in to the benefits of Facebook or Twitter need to update their status immediately, says Jennifer Regina, marketing professor at Rowan University’s Rohrer College of Business.
“The key part of social media is communication. That’s the ultimate goal,” says Regina, who’s also chief executive of The Marketing of Everything, a social media consulting company.
Businesses that are just starting out can use social sites to build brand awareness, promote their services and products, establish relationships, bill themselves as experts, and share news. Even minimal investments in social media can yield substantial results. Here’s what you need to know to get started on the road to social success.
Select Your Site
Many businesses elect to use some combination of social media sites, including Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and YouTube. “Facebook has the biggest user base,” says Howard Yermish, a Burlington County-based Internet strategist and online marketing expert.
“Twitter isn’t for everyone,” he adds, noting that many people don’t understand how to connect with others on the microblogging network. Yermish likens Twitter to the ham radio networks of years past, where amateur users would broadcast messages to each other and tune in for specific conversations. Instead, on Twitter, users add the “#” symbol, known as a hashtag, to categorize a post under a given topic. This enables companies to latch onto trending topics, or even create a conversation surrounding their own business. This can allow the savvy to solicit ideas and opinions to help improve their products and services.
“Once you know how [Twitter] operates, you can do amazing things with it,” Yermish says.
Making Friends
Online contacts can include a mix of current clients and new prospects. If you’re just starting out, it may be helpful to offer incentives for new friends and those who recommend you, Regina says. She suggests business owners offer discounts to users who sign up.
As well, be sure to spread the word within your existing network. “The most important thing to remember when developing a business page is to suggest it to your friends,” Regina says. “Then, you want signage in your store saying, ‘Find us on Facebook.’”
Constant Contact
Once you’ve built up your friend count, it’s vital to keep the posts coming on a regular schedule.
Many companies create a Facebook page and post once a month or so, Regina notes. “That’s not enough,” she warns. “If you’re not in their news feed, they’re not seeing you. You need to be there so they click on your links.”
That’s just what Erin Kelley has been doing at the United Way of Camden County for the past two years on Facebook and Twitter. At least once a day they post something for their followers, whether it’s photos from a live event, links to articles about the United Way or news about upcoming initiatives. “We want to give people information they’re interested in and keep them informed about issues that are important in their lives and the investments they’re making through us,” Kelley says.
As a nonprofit, the United Way would normally need to set aside money for advertising efforts.
By contrast, Facebook is free. “And it’s fun. It’s not a huge e-mail you have to put together. Changing a status or sharing an article is a lot smaller of a job than to prepare a newsletter, and that’s how people want their information these days,” Kelley says. “Talking to my donors needs to happen all day every day, and Facebook is an easy way to do that.”
Building Relationships
The best social media users do more than just promote themselves to online friends; they build relationships. One example is the international gluten-free food company Schar, which is constructing U.S. headquarters in South Jersey. Schar frequently posts recipes for some of their latest products on Facebook.
When they held the groundbreaking for a new manufacturing facility in Pureland Industrial Park in Logan Township, they were quick to upload photos and video of the event. Many of their 5,000 Facebook friends commented back. They were excited to hear the news.
“Through Facebook, we can keep in touch with those customers who do not visit our website on a daily basis,” says Jasper Radeke, marketing communication associate for Schar USA, Inc. Since joining the network in July 2010, Schar has crafted plans to expand its online offerings, including posting videos on healthy gluten-free living ideas and offering advice for people recently diagnosed with celiac disease.
Most importantly, says Yermish, social media marketers need to focus on the quality of their interactions, not just the quantity. Twitter users should engage their followers, rather than limiting posts to promotional content. “To get people engaged, do what you would do at a networking event,” Yermish says. “Talk to people about things they find interesting. Ask questions people might comment on.”
And, be prepared to set aside the time required to respond to their comments and questions—turning the online interaction into a true conversation.
Published (and copyrighted) in South Jersey Biz, Volume 1, Issue 5 (May, 2011
by Jessica Beym
You may be a pro at working a room, but working a chat room requires a whole different skill set. Here’s how to start making social media work for you.
Whether they’re announcing dinner specials, posting recent real estate listings, offering information about new products or answering customer questions, more and more businesses throughout South Jersey are connecting with their clients through social media.
And those who aren’t tuned in to the benefits of Facebook or Twitter need to update their status immediately, says Jennifer Regina, marketing professor at Rowan University’s Rohrer College of Business.
“The key part of social media is communication. That’s the ultimate goal,” says Regina, who’s also chief executive of The Marketing of Everything, a social media consulting company.
Businesses that are just starting out can use social sites to build brand awareness, promote their services and products, establish relationships, bill themselves as experts, and share news. Even minimal investments in social media can yield substantial results. Here’s what you need to know to get started on the road to social success.
Select Your Site
Many businesses elect to use some combination of social media sites, including Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and YouTube. “Facebook has the biggest user base,” says Howard Yermish, a Burlington County-based Internet strategist and online marketing expert.
“Twitter isn’t for everyone,” he adds, noting that many people don’t understand how to connect with others on the microblogging network. Yermish likens Twitter to the ham radio networks of years past, where amateur users would broadcast messages to each other and tune in for specific conversations. Instead, on Twitter, users add the “#” symbol, known as a hashtag, to categorize a post under a given topic. This enables companies to latch onto trending topics, or even create a conversation surrounding their own business. This can allow the savvy to solicit ideas and opinions to help improve their products and services.
“Once you know how [Twitter] operates, you can do amazing things with it,” Yermish says.
Making Friends
Online contacts can include a mix of current clients and new prospects. If you’re just starting out, it may be helpful to offer incentives for new friends and those who recommend you, Regina says. She suggests business owners offer discounts to users who sign up.
As well, be sure to spread the word within your existing network. “The most important thing to remember when developing a business page is to suggest it to your friends,” Regina says. “Then, you want signage in your store saying, ‘Find us on Facebook.’”
Constant Contact
Once you’ve built up your friend count, it’s vital to keep the posts coming on a regular schedule.
Many companies create a Facebook page and post once a month or so, Regina notes. “That’s not enough,” she warns. “If you’re not in their news feed, they’re not seeing you. You need to be there so they click on your links.”
That’s just what Erin Kelley has been doing at the United Way of Camden County for the past two years on Facebook and Twitter. At least once a day they post something for their followers, whether it’s photos from a live event, links to articles about the United Way or news about upcoming initiatives. “We want to give people information they’re interested in and keep them informed about issues that are important in their lives and the investments they’re making through us,” Kelley says.
As a nonprofit, the United Way would normally need to set aside money for advertising efforts.
By contrast, Facebook is free. “And it’s fun. It’s not a huge e-mail you have to put together. Changing a status or sharing an article is a lot smaller of a job than to prepare a newsletter, and that’s how people want their information these days,” Kelley says. “Talking to my donors needs to happen all day every day, and Facebook is an easy way to do that.”
Building Relationships
The best social media users do more than just promote themselves to online friends; they build relationships. One example is the international gluten-free food company Schar, which is constructing U.S. headquarters in South Jersey. Schar frequently posts recipes for some of their latest products on Facebook.
When they held the groundbreaking for a new manufacturing facility in Pureland Industrial Park in Logan Township, they were quick to upload photos and video of the event. Many of their 5,000 Facebook friends commented back. They were excited to hear the news.
“Through Facebook, we can keep in touch with those customers who do not visit our website on a daily basis,” says Jasper Radeke, marketing communication associate for Schar USA, Inc. Since joining the network in July 2010, Schar has crafted plans to expand its online offerings, including posting videos on healthy gluten-free living ideas and offering advice for people recently diagnosed with celiac disease.
Most importantly, says Yermish, social media marketers need to focus on the quality of their interactions, not just the quantity. Twitter users should engage their followers, rather than limiting posts to promotional content. “To get people engaged, do what you would do at a networking event,” Yermish says. “Talk to people about things they find interesting. Ask questions people might comment on.”
And, be prepared to set aside the time required to respond to their comments and questions—turning the online interaction into a true conversation.
Published (and copyrighted) in South Jersey Biz, Volume 1, Issue 5 (May, 2011
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Quotes on Rowan Engineer Professor's New App Pikme
GLASSBORO — Attention all teachers: Ever have trouble remembering a student's name? Find it difficult to get your charges involved in the classroom?
There's an app for that.
Rowan University's Dr. Smitesh Bakrania has invented an iPhone app called Pikme that will help improve the way teachers learn students' names and encourage better student participation.
It all started with a bout of nervousness in 2008 after Bakrania, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering, joined the Rowan faculty.
"I was going to have over 35 new faces in my class, and I was worried that I would not be able to remember their names," he recalls. "While preparing for my first course, I came upon the idea for Pikme."
At first, Bakrania saved the names of his students and their photographs on his iPhone. Then he considered what other uses instructors might have for smart phones in the classroom.
Bakrania wanted Pikme to randomly select students to participate in class and get them involved in lectures. And he also wanted a way for professors to grade student input.
Last fall Bakrania enlisted the support of senior mechanical engineering student Ryan Sikorski to help develop the app.
Sikorski, of Blackwood, and a classmate, Mike Goldberg of Voorhees, designed, coded and programmed the app. About three weeks ago, Bakrania says, the app in its final form was submitted to the Apple Store and approved.
"It's exciting that the actual development of the app was done by Rowan students," says Bakrania. "Ryan made it into reality."
Bakrania says once the app is in place a teacher simply shakes the phone, and a student's face will pop up on the screen. After a question is asked and answered (or not answered), the instructor can apply a rating system based on how the student responded.
The app will select each student in the class once, then refresh itself and start over.
"I want my classes to be very interactive; I want everyone to be involved," says Bakrania. "And the app also allows me to get better feedback on how I'm doing -- whether or not I'm reaching the students."
But will the students like Pikme?
"I think everybody would be kind of afraid knowing that they're going to be picked (to answer questions)," said Zachary Toman, an engineering major from Flemington who will be a senior in the fall. "But I feel it could actually help with the classes because it would make sure the students are more prepared.
"And now no one can say the professor is singling them out. It's the app."
Jennifer Regina, an adjunct professor at Rowan, says anything that will get students more active in class is a plus.
It's a huge challenge nowadays for any professor to keep the attention of students.
"And they're scared to participate. But they love technology stuff. So I think for the student this will be a cool way for the professor to try and engage them. It gives the professor a cool factor.
"Also, it's a very organized way of keeping track of students," Regina added. "It will be a great tool for my iPad and I'll be using it in the fall."
The Pikme app is currently free from iTunes for the iPhone, iPod touch or iPad.
Reach Joe Cooney at (856) 317-7830 or email jcooney@camden.gannett.com
There's an app for that.
Rowan University's Dr. Smitesh Bakrania has invented an iPhone app called Pikme that will help improve the way teachers learn students' names and encourage better student participation.
It all started with a bout of nervousness in 2008 after Bakrania, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering, joined the Rowan faculty.
"I was going to have over 35 new faces in my class, and I was worried that I would not be able to remember their names," he recalls. "While preparing for my first course, I came upon the idea for Pikme."
At first, Bakrania saved the names of his students and their photographs on his iPhone. Then he considered what other uses instructors might have for smart phones in the classroom.
Bakrania wanted Pikme to randomly select students to participate in class and get them involved in lectures. And he also wanted a way for professors to grade student input.
Last fall Bakrania enlisted the support of senior mechanical engineering student Ryan Sikorski to help develop the app.
Sikorski, of Blackwood, and a classmate, Mike Goldberg of Voorhees, designed, coded and programmed the app. About three weeks ago, Bakrania says, the app in its final form was submitted to the Apple Store and approved.
"It's exciting that the actual development of the app was done by Rowan students," says Bakrania. "Ryan made it into reality."
Bakrania says once the app is in place a teacher simply shakes the phone, and a student's face will pop up on the screen. After a question is asked and answered (or not answered), the instructor can apply a rating system based on how the student responded.
The app will select each student in the class once, then refresh itself and start over.
"I want my classes to be very interactive; I want everyone to be involved," says Bakrania. "And the app also allows me to get better feedback on how I'm doing -- whether or not I'm reaching the students."
But will the students like Pikme?
"I think everybody would be kind of afraid knowing that they're going to be picked (to answer questions)," said Zachary Toman, an engineering major from Flemington who will be a senior in the fall. "But I feel it could actually help with the classes because it would make sure the students are more prepared.
"And now no one can say the professor is singling them out. It's the app."
Jennifer Regina, an adjunct professor at Rowan, says anything that will get students more active in class is a plus.
It's a huge challenge nowadays for any professor to keep the attention of students.
"And they're scared to participate. But they love technology stuff. So I think for the student this will be a cool way for the professor to try and engage them. It gives the professor a cool factor.
"Also, it's a very organized way of keeping track of students," Regina added. "It will be a great tool for my iPad and I'll be using it in the fall."
The Pikme app is currently free from iTunes for the iPhone, iPod touch or iPad.
Reach Joe Cooney at (856) 317-7830 or email jcooney@camden.gannett.com
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Article: New Global Communication Weapon May Be Mixing Street Protesting and Social Media
Newswise — With many Americans concerned about rising gas prices, state budgets and inflation — and with battle lines drawn in several states between governments and unions — the U.S. can expect more social media “wars" in the near future.
“Union protesters will take to the streets and use social media to communicate their message in order to build support,” said Rowan University (Glassboro, N.J.) adjunct marketing professor Jennifer Regina, who also is CEO of a marketing firm that specializes in social media (The Marketing of Everything, Washington Township, N.J.).
The subject of unions using social media is in its infancy, but organizers in Wisconsin have demonstrated success with it, and Regina expects more state groups to follow that example.
“The ease of creating groups and engaging participants is the biggest benefit of social media. Although it is easy to collect members, the key is to create an atmosphere where action is taken by those members,” Regina said. “It can be as simple as calling their government official, donating time or material or taking a stand in the streets or courthouse.”
Regina said organizers also can use Twitter to inform people on the route of a protest or what supplies and materials to bring. In a few short days, a very organized group can be formed and messages communicated on the fly.
Of course, both sides of the battle can use social media. State governments also can employ social media to create a more effective way to communicate their messages to their constituents.
“Officials will use social media to persuade residents what needs to be accomplished in order to turn the souring financial picture around,” Regina said.
Newark, N.J., Mayor Cory Booker has used Twitter effectively in the past to communicate with the state’s residents, Regina said. “In December 2010, he used Twitter to tell residents about the city’s snow emergency. He created an open channel of communication and asked people to tweet him information about the city. Many people asked for help during the storm and were helped after tweeting requests to Booker,” she noted.
Facebook, Twitter and other social media tools can be used in any forum or for any agenda. “As long as state governments create their social media channels as forms of open communication, they can create trust,” Regina said.
“Residents will feel that their comments and thoughts are taken seriously and, in return, they will be more open to listening to what government officials have to say.”
With many states facing similar issues compared to Wisconsin, the trend will be for both sides of a problem to air their fight publicly and in social media channels, the professor added. “There is a correct way to properly navigate these new communication methods,” she said, “and those who don’t embrace the rules will lose the social media war.”
http://www.newswise.com/articles/from-wisconsin-to-new-jersey-the-new-global-communication-weapon-may-be-mixing-street-protesting-and-social-media?ret=/articles/channels&channel=22&category=breaking&page=2&search%5Bstatus%5D=3&search%5Bsort%5D=date+desc&search%5Bchannel_id%5D=22
“Union protesters will take to the streets and use social media to communicate their message in order to build support,” said Rowan University (Glassboro, N.J.) adjunct marketing professor Jennifer Regina, who also is CEO of a marketing firm that specializes in social media (The Marketing of Everything, Washington Township, N.J.).
The subject of unions using social media is in its infancy, but organizers in Wisconsin have demonstrated success with it, and Regina expects more state groups to follow that example.
“The ease of creating groups and engaging participants is the biggest benefit of social media. Although it is easy to collect members, the key is to create an atmosphere where action is taken by those members,” Regina said. “It can be as simple as calling their government official, donating time or material or taking a stand in the streets or courthouse.”
Regina said organizers also can use Twitter to inform people on the route of a protest or what supplies and materials to bring. In a few short days, a very organized group can be formed and messages communicated on the fly.
Of course, both sides of the battle can use social media. State governments also can employ social media to create a more effective way to communicate their messages to their constituents.
“Officials will use social media to persuade residents what needs to be accomplished in order to turn the souring financial picture around,” Regina said.
Newark, N.J., Mayor Cory Booker has used Twitter effectively in the past to communicate with the state’s residents, Regina said. “In December 2010, he used Twitter to tell residents about the city’s snow emergency. He created an open channel of communication and asked people to tweet him information about the city. Many people asked for help during the storm and were helped after tweeting requests to Booker,” she noted.
Facebook, Twitter and other social media tools can be used in any forum or for any agenda. “As long as state governments create their social media channels as forms of open communication, they can create trust,” Regina said.
“Residents will feel that their comments and thoughts are taken seriously and, in return, they will be more open to listening to what government officials have to say.”
With many states facing similar issues compared to Wisconsin, the trend will be for both sides of a problem to air their fight publicly and in social media channels, the professor added. “There is a correct way to properly navigate these new communication methods,” she said, “and those who don’t embrace the rules will lose the social media war.”
http://www.newswise.com/articles/from-wisconsin-to-new-jersey-the-new-global-communication-weapon-may-be-mixing-street-protesting-and-social-media?ret=/articles/channels&channel=22&category=breaking&page=2&search%5Bstatus%5D=3&search%5Bsort%5D=date+desc&search%5Bchannel_id%5D=22
Rowan Article on How Social Media can Help De-Stress Moms Published in India Newspaper
Social media can help stressed-out and overworked mothers, says an expert.
Today's moms know that time is their most precious commodity. School, homework, activities, dinner and bedtime make for a grueling schedule that most moms have to face on a daily basis.
One solution to help with the burden -- and to help moms not pull out their hair -- is to become more organized and use technology to make life easier, said Jennifer Regina, an adjunct professor of marketing in the Rohrer College of Business at Rowan University (Glassboro, N.J.) and founder and CEO of The Marketing of Everything (Washington Township, N.J.).
According to The NPD Group, 79 percent of moms with children younger than 18 actively use social media, said Regina.
They rely heavily on blogs and Facebook to decide what to buy and what brands to promote through their word-of-mouth channels.
Additionally, 55 percent of moms have purchased a product because of a blog, and 40 bought a product because they saw it on Facebook.
“Word of mouth is critical for moms making purchases. The first place moms will go to are other moms in order to come up with the brands or products they should be considering in their product choices,” she said.
Social media, she said, have provided the platform that has allowed those word-of-mouth referral to flourish.
For example, Regina said, CafeMom is one of the largest resources for moms with any questions on a multitude of topics.
For the mom who has a very mobile lifestyle, social cell phone applications have been developed to make even life's milestones easier.
Pregnant women can use Mom 2 Be, which is a pregnancy app that tracks the baby's progress through statistics and even allows the mother-to-be to share tri-semester information with friends and family.
Every mother needs help in the kitchen, Regina said. The Mom's Shopping List cell phone application allows anyone to quickly create a shopping list.
Some fun mobile applications are available. The first is the Ask Mom app. This will not only entertain kids but also provide great conversation starters. It covers cute questions that kids would ask their mom.
“Even if a child can't read, the application allows him or her to tap on words, and the question is read out loud,” Regina said.
Another favorite app is Sit or Squat, which provides a very important service: help for moms to find the nearest bathroom for their toddler who is participating in toilet boot camp.
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/social-media-can-help-stressedout-overworked-mothers/767951/?sms_ss=facebook&at_xt=4d934fac4c578dfa%2C0
Today's moms know that time is their most precious commodity. School, homework, activities, dinner and bedtime make for a grueling schedule that most moms have to face on a daily basis.
One solution to help with the burden -- and to help moms not pull out their hair -- is to become more organized and use technology to make life easier, said Jennifer Regina, an adjunct professor of marketing in the Rohrer College of Business at Rowan University (Glassboro, N.J.) and founder and CEO of The Marketing of Everything (Washington Township, N.J.).
According to The NPD Group, 79 percent of moms with children younger than 18 actively use social media, said Regina.
They rely heavily on blogs and Facebook to decide what to buy and what brands to promote through their word-of-mouth channels.
Additionally, 55 percent of moms have purchased a product because of a blog, and 40 bought a product because they saw it on Facebook.
“Word of mouth is critical for moms making purchases. The first place moms will go to are other moms in order to come up with the brands or products they should be considering in their product choices,” she said.
Social media, she said, have provided the platform that has allowed those word-of-mouth referral to flourish.
For example, Regina said, CafeMom is one of the largest resources for moms with any questions on a multitude of topics.
For the mom who has a very mobile lifestyle, social cell phone applications have been developed to make even life's milestones easier.
Pregnant women can use Mom 2 Be, which is a pregnancy app that tracks the baby's progress through statistics and even allows the mother-to-be to share tri-semester information with friends and family.
Every mother needs help in the kitchen, Regina said. The Mom's Shopping List cell phone application allows anyone to quickly create a shopping list.
Some fun mobile applications are available. The first is the Ask Mom app. This will not only entertain kids but also provide great conversation starters. It covers cute questions that kids would ask their mom.
“Even if a child can't read, the application allows him or her to tap on words, and the question is read out loud,” Regina said.
Another favorite app is Sit or Squat, which provides a very important service: help for moms to find the nearest bathroom for their toddler who is participating in toilet boot camp.
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/social-media-can-help-stressedout-overworked-mothers/767951/?sms_ss=facebook&at_xt=4d934fac4c578dfa%2C0
My ABC Action News Interview with Amy Buckman on Mobile Money Apps
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/consumer/save_with_6abc&id=7957642
Monday, January 24, 2011
Action News Interview on GeoCoupon Apps with Amy Buckman - 2011
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/video?id=7895418&pid=7882840
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