BulletProofBlog the blog on crisis communications

The top six social media tips to know before you leave the office.

According to Facebook, more than 65 million users interact with the site through their mobile devices. The users are also 50% more active on the site, posting comments, pictures, and even video on the go. Twitter was built from the ground up to be used with mobile devices – its 140 character updates fit nicely within text message length restrictions. Meanwhile, Apple sold 42.5 million iPhones by the end of 2009. Palm’s Pre, Google’s Nexus and other Android-powered devices have joined the market already dominated by Blackberry, adding to the growing number of smart phones bringing the Web into our everyday lives.

Communications professionals can no longer wait to get back to their desks when crisis strikes. Because more individuals now access the Internet and its social networks from their phones, crises have the potential to spread even farther and faster as situations are documented in real time on the Web. It is therefore all the more critical to keep your customers up to date as well as to mobilize brand ambassadors as events unfold.

Just as these devices have empowered your customers to voice their opinions anywhere, they can aid your crisis communications team to monitor and respond anywhere they have cellular coverage. But is your phone armed with the right apps to manage a possible brand-damaging crisis away from the comfort of your desk?

This week’s 6@6 highlights six iPhone apps to transform crisis managers into certified iPhone power users. If you have a favorite app that’s missing from the list, add it to our comment section or share it with me via Twitter @DallasLawrence.

Wordpress

Your company blog is likely a key corporate mouthpiece that customers turn to for official information. During crises, it’s critical to update your blog as key audiences search for information. Wordpress – which allows you to provide updates in real time, moderate comments, upload photos, and edit pages – puts the power of the blogosphere in your hands. If you use Wordpress to power your blog, this app should be front and center on your phone’s home screen.

Instapaper

In the midst of a crisis, it’s difficult to keep up with the volume of news coverage, especially if you’re on the go. Instapaper provides a free application to seamlessly manage and save articles. It stores and converts the articles you find into iPhone-friendly documents that can be accessed offline. Trying to find essential talking points or contact information in the face of a crisis can be frustrating. By utilizing Instapaper, you and your team can develop a shared organized directory of such crucial information, optimized on iPhones, Kindles, and traditional computer screens.

AP Stylebook

Still can’t remember if it’s “e-mail” or “email?” AP Stylebook’s iPhone app is a solution. With searchable listings, punctuation sections, and the option to add your own notes and entries, this app makes writing documents on-the-go a breeze. Crisis communicators may no longer have the luxury of returning to their desks to write updates, but that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice quality. The Stylebook app ensures that, if you are on the road, working at an event, or triaging media requests from the crisis epicenter, you can still adhere to journalistic standards. You can also follow AP Stylebook on Twitter (@APStylebook) and tweet for assistance.

CardReader

Managing business cards is never easy and, during a crisis, it’s even more complicated. That’s why CardReader is a must-have app,very much worth the investment. It uses your phone’s camera to capture an image of the business card and convert the data into an entry in your address book. The app also stores the photo in your address book so you can browse the cards visually. It’s not 100 percent perfect, so you’ll still need to verify the data. But it does ensure that you can quickly upload key contacts into your phone and not risk losing track of someone’s card in the process.

Photoshop

Taking photos on the iPhone isn’t likely to win you any awards but, with Photoshop’s free app, you can make quick edits to improve their overall quality. The app features basic editing tools such as setting exposure, adjusting tint, and cropping. Combined with your photo-sharing app of choice, you can upload quality photos quickly to the Web during events. Or, if you need to send a photo to a reporter, you can be assured the image is up to snuff.

UStream

UStream is the first app that streams live video through your iPhone to the Internet. It’s a complete game changer, allowing you to operate like a one-stop broadcast shop. Some situations will still demand the highest production values but, when speed is the main priority, UStream is the ticket. The app also allows you to poll viewers and share video on YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter. Remember to setup your company’s UStream profile before downloading it, so you can use the service at a moment’s notice.

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Dallas Lawrence is Chair of the Social and Digital Media Practice at Levick Strategic Communications, the nation’s top crisis communications firm. He blogs on emerging digital media trends and best practices for social media engagement on BulletProof. Connect with him @dallaslawrence.