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Submit your stories and get free stuff!
One of the best parts of working on GroupMe is hearing all the amazing things our users are doing with it. You’ve found more uses than we ever could have imagined. We’ve even shared some of them right here on our blog — from keeping in touch with family, to stopping neighborhood crimes as they happen, to working on college projects, to getting the band together. You guys are awesome!
Now, we’re working on a new way to share your GroupMe stories with the world, to help us show people how GroupMe might benefit them. It’s going to be great. But we need your help. Could you take a minute and submit your story to us?
All you have to do is tell us about how you use GroupMe. It can be very general (who do you chat with?) or very specific (the time you did ____). If we want to use your story, we’ll get in touch, discuss it a little, and send you some free GroupMe t-shirts as thanks.
So what are you waiting for? Click here to submit your story. We can’t wait to hear from you.
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![Neighborhood watch group uses GroupMe to stop crimes as they happen
This week, we received an amazing email from Bob in Detroit, who is using GroupMe with his neighborhood watch group to stop crimes as they happen before the police can even jump into action.
We’re too amazed by this use case to try to summarize it any further, so we’re publishing it in its entirety. Please read his note:
Crime. Drugs. Murders. Corruption. Homelessness. Crappy schools. Everything you’ve heard about Detroit is true.
But there’s a lot you may not have heard about. Urban gardens. Bike culture. Green space development. A redeveloped riverfront. Growing neighborhoods. Arts. Music. Detroit’s a long way away from Shangri-la, but small pocket neighborhoods featuring low rent are attracting young professionals who want an urban experience.
My small neighborhood, Hubbard Farms, consists of about 250 homes and has been consistently solid for over a century. That’s not to say we haven’t had to face up to typical urban issues on a weekly basis. Car theft and B&E’s [Ed.: breaking and entering] are common. The infamous Hotel Yorba, a pay-by-the-week rental behemoth, sits at one end of the neighborhood. This is the last chance for most of the people there to have a roof over their heads. Many are fine citizens. But once in a while, you get some meatball who makes or draws trouble.
The neighborhood has a well-used listserv but email communication is not the best way to communicate emergencies. We wanted to reach each other faster, and GroupMe was our answer with group texting.
Since March, we’ve been able to stop a home invasion, interrupt a car theft in progress, and snap a clear photograph of a vagrant chucking bricks through picture windows, all due to our ability to amass a large number of persons very quickly to the scene of the action.
GroupMe has provided a sense of empowerment in our community. We always know we have dozens of eyes and ears on the street. And if there is trouble, we know our neighbors are just a text message away. Detroit has a long way to go, but with communities using technology that supports the more positive efforts, we are just that much closer to where we all want to see things go. Better.
Bob
Thanks, Bob. We’re humbled and inspired by your story.
As always, we want to hear how you are using GroupMe in your everyday life. Send us an email at stories@groupme.com.
Photo via bbcworldservice on Flickr.](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lmy5tgXo1J1qd3mjfo1_1280.jpg)
Neighborhood watch group uses GroupMe to stop crimes as they happen
This week, we received an amazing email from Bob in Detroit, who is using GroupMe with his neighborhood watch group to stop crimes as they happen before the police can even jump into action.
We’re too amazed by this use case to try to summarize it any further, so we’re publishing it in its entirety. Please read his note:
Crime. Drugs. Murders. Corruption. Homelessness. Crappy schools. Everything you’ve heard about Detroit is true.
But there’s a lot you may not have heard about. Urban gardens. Bike culture. Green space development. A redeveloped riverfront. Growing neighborhoods. Arts. Music. Detroit’s a long way away from Shangri-la, but small pocket neighborhoods featuring low rent are attracting young professionals who want an urban experience.
My small neighborhood, Hubbard Farms, consists of about 250 homes and has been consistently solid for over a century. That’s not to say we haven’t had to face up to typical urban issues on a weekly basis. Car theft and B&E’s [Ed.: breaking and entering] are common. The infamous Hotel Yorba, a pay-by-the-week rental behemoth, sits at one end of the neighborhood. This is the last chance for most of the people there to have a roof over their heads. Many are fine citizens. But once in a while, you get some meatball who makes or draws trouble.
The neighborhood has a well-used listserv but email communication is not the best way to communicate emergencies. We wanted to reach each other faster, and GroupMe was our answer with group texting.
Since March, we’ve been able to stop a home invasion, interrupt a car theft in progress, and snap a clear photograph of a vagrant chucking bricks through picture windows, all due to our ability to amass a large number of persons very quickly to the scene of the action.
GroupMe has provided a sense of empowerment in our community. We always know we have dozens of eyes and ears on the street. And if there is trouble, we know our neighbors are just a text message away. Detroit has a long way to go, but with communities using technology that supports the more positive efforts, we are just that much closer to where we all want to see things go. Better.
Bob
Thanks, Bob. We’re humbled and inspired by your story.
As always, we want to hear how you are using GroupMe in your everyday life. Send us an email at stories@groupme.com.
Photo via bbcworldservice on Flickr.
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![Families on GroupMe
Judging by the hundreds of emails we get from users every week, we’ve had a hunch for a while now that families are some of GroupMe’s biggest users. Plus, most of us here on the team have groups with our own families—it just seems like a natural fit.
So this week, we decided to go further than that and get the real story on families using GroupMe. At the end of last week, we tweeted a quick request for stories about families using GroupMe, and put it on our Facebook page. Within an hour, our inbox had dozens of awesome stories from people who are in groups with their families.
Right off the bat, users were telling us about how GroupMe had changed the way they communicate with the people closest to them. One email from a pastor in Illinois said “we just used GroupMe to set up our Memorial Day plans as a family!”.
Another was from a father in Washington who told us about his group with his “wife, 2 teenage daughters, father, 2 sisters, and 2 teenage nieces,” where every Friday, everyone sends around messages wishing everyone else a good weekend.
There are a lot of stories. So before we get into those any further, let’s take a step back and look at the statistics.
A search of our group database revealed that over 10% of groups are called “Family”, or something similar (“Parents”, “Siblings”). That’s huge!
Those family groups have an average of 4.5 members per group, accidentally lending credence to the old “2 parents and 2.5 kids” chestnut.
Now, 11% is a lot of groups, but without figuring out what the rest of those groups are for, it’s hard to say just how powerful GroupMe has become for families. That’s why we looked into the names of group members next.
A comprehensive top-level analysis of all groups on GroupMe (not just the “Family” ones) led us to some great findings, displayed here in this very complicated infographic:
That’s right. By a huge margin, Moms and Dads are the most popular people in groups. (For what it’s worth, numbers 3-5 are Chris, Mike, and Alex. Go figure).
And the stories we received totally back up these statistics, and then some.
Check out this one, for example:
My family is spread out from Oklahoma, Arkansas and Tennessee.
We are all super-close despite the distance. But it was hard to have to make 4 phone calls just to tell them what is going on.
GroupMe has made it SO much easier to keep them updated even on the small things of life that you would never really want to call about.
[…] Our ages range from 13 to 60. (Grandson to Grandpa)
It’s made it so nice, and kept us close. My whole family loves it and I constantly get texts from them!
Thanks GroupMe.
One of our other favorites is from Jayne, an American who recently moved to London. She writes:
I use GroupMe with my twin and little sister (well she’s 17 so not really little anymore) now that I’m living in London. It works – we send each other jokes and family/friend gossip. I miss them so it’s almost like we’re in the same room again when we text each other on GroupMe. So now I never miss an awkward moment to share or be shared with my sisters or ask them for advice *cheesy thumbs up* - but seriously - it makes home a bit closer for me.
Carol in California has lots of groups for different uses within her extended family. Last one, I promise!
We use GroupMe all the time. In fact we use several different groups within our family for different purposes. I come from a big family, so I have many sisters and brothers. Using GroupMe simplifies the process of communicating and staying in touch with family. Try coordinating 10 brothers and sisters for a simple event […] with GroupMe there is no question what the plans are or who was invited. We also have one that we use for our immediate family and I don’t have to worry that my husband has picked up my daughter […] We are all on the same group so when she says she’s out of school or any event she attends I know she’s ready and when she’s been picked up.We live in San Diego and about a year ago two young girls about my daughter’s age were picked up and killed right outside of her high school so you don’t know how much that peace of mind really means. I could go on and on with how we use GroupMe. GroupMe has really been a blessing to have. Thank you so much for this awesome communication tool.
Then there are stories from college students using GroupMe to keep in touch with their extended family while away from home, young parents using it to coordinate with babysitters and carpools, and whole family reunions planned and re-planned entirely over GroupMe. Families love GroupMe.
And needless to say, we love that families are using GroupMe to make their lives easier and more enjoyable, across generations and across oceans. Thank you all very much.
Of course, we want to hear how you are using GroupMe and feature it here. Send your story to stories@groupme.com.](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lm6gcpQEoP1qd3mjfo1_r2_500.jpg)
Families on GroupMe
Judging by the hundreds of emails we get from users every week, we’ve had a hunch for a while now that families are some of GroupMe’s biggest users. Plus, most of us here on the team have groups with our own families—it just seems like a natural fit.
So this week, we decided to go further than that and get the real story on families using GroupMe. At the end of last week, we tweeted a quick request for stories about families using GroupMe, and put it on our Facebook page. Within an hour, our inbox had dozens of awesome stories from people who are in groups with their families.
Right off the bat, users were telling us about how GroupMe had changed the way they communicate with the people closest to them. One email from a pastor in Illinois said “we just used GroupMe to set up our Memorial Day plans as a family!”.
Another was from a father in Washington who told us about his group with his “wife, 2 teenage daughters, father, 2 sisters, and 2 teenage nieces,” where every Friday, everyone sends around messages wishing everyone else a good weekend.
There are a lot of stories. So before we get into those any further, let’s take a step back and look at the statistics.
A search of our group database revealed that over 10% of groups are called “Family”, or something similar (“Parents”, “Siblings”). That’s huge!
Those family groups have an average of 4.5 members per group, accidentally lending credence to the old “2 parents and 2.5 kids” chestnut.
Now, 11% is a lot of groups, but without figuring out what the rest of those groups are for, it’s hard to say just how powerful GroupMe has become for families. That’s why we looked into the names of group members next.
A comprehensive top-level analysis of all groups on GroupMe (not just the “Family” ones) led us to some great findings, displayed here in this very complicated infographic:
That’s right. By a huge margin, Moms and Dads are the most popular people in groups. (For what it’s worth, numbers 3-5 are Chris, Mike, and Alex. Go figure).
And the stories we received totally back up these statistics, and then some.
Check out this one, for example:
My family is spread out from Oklahoma, Arkansas and Tennessee.
We are all super-close despite the distance. But it was hard to have to make 4 phone calls just to tell them what is going on.
GroupMe has made it SO much easier to keep them updated even on the small things of life that you would never really want to call about.
[…] Our ages range from 13 to 60. (Grandson to Grandpa)
It’s made it so nice, and kept us close. My whole family loves it and I constantly get texts from them!
Thanks GroupMe.
One of our other favorites is from Jayne, an American who recently moved to London. She writes:
I use GroupMe with my twin and little sister (well she’s 17 so not really little anymore) now that I’m living in London. It works – we send each other jokes and family/friend gossip. I miss them so it’s almost like we’re in the same room again when we text each other on GroupMe.
So now I never miss an awkward moment to share or be shared with my sisters or ask them for advice *cheesy thumbs up* - but seriously - it makes home a bit closer for me.Carol in California has lots of groups for different uses within her extended family. Last one, I promise!
We use GroupMe all the time. In fact we use several different groups within our family for different purposes. I come from a big family, so I have many sisters and brothers. Using GroupMe simplifies the process of communicating and staying in touch with family. Try coordinating 10 brothers and sisters for a simple event […] with GroupMe there is no question what the plans are or who was invited.
We also have one that we use for our immediate family and I don’t have to worry that my husband has picked up my daughter […] We are all on the same group so when she says she’s out of school or any event she attends I know she’s ready and when she’s been picked up.
We live in San Diego and about a year ago two young girls about my daughter’s age were picked up and killed right outside of her high school so you don’t know how much that peace of mind really means. I could go on and on with how we use GroupMe. GroupMe has really been a blessing to have. Thank you so much for this awesome communication tool.Then there are stories from college students using GroupMe to keep in touch with their extended family while away from home, young parents using it to coordinate with babysitters and carpools, and whole family reunions planned and re-planned entirely over GroupMe. Families love GroupMe.
And needless to say, we love that families are using GroupMe to make their lives easier and more enjoyable, across generations and across oceans. Thank you all very much.
Of course, we want to hear how you are using GroupMe and feature it here. Send your story to stories@groupme.com.
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![When Disaster StrikesStaying in touch when it matters most
Our users continue to surprise us with unexpected and utterly amazing uses for GroupMe. Today, we’re digging into some data and emails from our users to look at a vital use of our service: communicating during emergencies.
At the end of April, an outbreak of tornadoes in the American South devastated towns across the region, killing hundreds and causing billions of dollars in property damage. It already ranks among the most tragic natural disasters in American history.
As expected, GroupMe users nationwide were definitely talking about the tornadoes in their groups. Look at how the trend spiked during that period for messages mentioning “emergency”, “tornado”, or “disaster”.
With the news about the impending tornadoes spreading through the media and public social networks, talk about emergencies on GroupMe skyrocketed to nearly 4 times the usual level.
More interestingly, though, we also found that people on the ground in affected areas found a much more practical use for GroupMe. With the power out across most of the state, landlines didn’t work, and data networks were congested. In Alabama, simple SMS and cell phone calls were sometimes the only technologies that worked.
Indeed, our data shows that usage in Alabama spiked to over 208% normal usage levels during the tornadoes. The graph is stunning:
What followed were amazing emails carrying stories of people using GroupMe to check in with family and friends, or even communicate with first responders. Just look at this one, from a user in northern Alabama:
With power out across North AL I was introduced personally to GroupMe’s use and it is awesome when all that really works is text. I’m promoting use with small groups of people that are narrowly focused on specific relief pieces [… e]ven promoting it as a business continuity tool within my company since we lost touch with all of our staff and had a few people directly located within the path of the storms.
Or this one, from a county EMS coordinator in North Carolina:
During our recent tornadoes in North Carolina we were able to coordinate our emergency response group via GroupMe. The simple interface and rapid setup allowed quick use of SMS to get folks informed and moving in to help. I know this is not the “intended” use of the system, but when time is limited and the need is there to message and establish a group phone conference, things worked really well. SMS has become a unified message system with so many of our staff on different phone platforms. GroupMe helped unified our tasks as well as assisted in the timeline of events.
This use case is something we didn’t see coming, but we couldn’t be more proud that GroupMe is helping people stay in touch when they need it most. This kind of story is exactly why we are so devoted to making GroupMe the best way to keep in touch with your groups, anytime, anywhere.
Of course, the process of rebuilding after the damage is nowhere near done. Please consider donating to funds dedicated to helping affected areas in the south.
Also, we want to hear how you are using GroupMe and feature it here. Send your story to stories@groupme.com.
(photo via jamiesrabbits on flickr)](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lky0lhIhA31qd3mjfo1_r2_1280.jpg)
When Disaster Strikes
Staying in touch when it matters mostOur users continue to surprise us with unexpected and utterly amazing uses for GroupMe. Today, we’re digging into some data and emails from our users to look at a vital use of our service: communicating during emergencies.
At the end of April, an outbreak of tornadoes in the American South devastated towns across the region, killing hundreds and causing billions of dollars in property damage. It already ranks among the most tragic natural disasters in American history.
As expected, GroupMe users nationwide were definitely talking about the tornadoes in their groups. Look at how the trend spiked during that period for messages mentioning “emergency”, “tornado”, or “disaster”.
With the news about the impending tornadoes spreading through the media and public social networks, talk about emergencies on GroupMe skyrocketed to nearly 4 times the usual level.
More interestingly, though, we also found that people on the ground in affected areas found a much more practical use for GroupMe. With the power out across most of the state, landlines didn’t work, and data networks were congested. In Alabama, simple SMS and cell phone calls were sometimes the only technologies that worked.
Indeed, our data shows that usage in Alabama spiked to over 208% normal usage levels during the tornadoes. The graph is stunning:
What followed were amazing emails carrying stories of people using GroupMe to check in with family and friends, or even communicate with first responders. Just look at this one, from a user in northern Alabama:
With power out across North AL I was introduced personally to GroupMe’s use and it is awesome when all that really works is text. I’m promoting use with small groups of people that are narrowly focused on specific relief pieces [… e]ven promoting it as a business continuity tool within my company since we lost touch with all of our staff and had a few people directly located within the path of the storms.
Or this one, from a county EMS coordinator in North Carolina:
During our recent tornadoes in North Carolina we were able to coordinate our emergency response group via GroupMe. The simple interface and rapid setup allowed quick use of SMS to get folks informed and moving in to help. I know this is not the “intended” use of the system, but when time is limited and the need is there to message and establish a group phone conference, things worked really well. SMS has become a unified message system with so many of our staff on different phone platforms. GroupMe helped unified our tasks as well as assisted in the timeline of events.
This use case is something we didn’t see coming, but we couldn’t be more proud that GroupMe is helping people stay in touch when they need it most. This kind of story is exactly why we are so devoted to making GroupMe the best way to keep in touch with your groups, anytime, anywhere.
Of course, the process of rebuilding after the damage is nowhere near done. Please consider donating to funds dedicated to helping affected areas in the south.
Also, we want to hear how you are using GroupMe and feature it here. Send your story to stories@groupme.com.
(photo via jamiesrabbits on flickr)
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GroupMe Stories: NorCalFed
Hey everyone! This week, we’re honoring the dwindling days of football season by sharing this great letter we received from a youth football and cheer league in Northern California. Take a quick break from watching Friday Night Lights reruns and give it a look:
Hi,
I have been searching for a group texting program to quickly get information to the 11 members of the Board of Directors of our youth football and cheer league. Our directors are scattered all over Northern California.
I tried to get everyone on board with Twitter, but most had no desire to sign up. However, everyone did have texting and a cell phone. Setting up GroupMe took just seconds, and before too long the members were having a blast using it. Sort of like a message board by cell phone.
I got so excited that I created another group for high school score updates. I announce our local high school football games, and many of us, including our fans, like to know the scores from other teams in the North State. So I made a group of friends from each of the area high schools who attend their local games.
Before, I used to be the texting “hub”. Scores would be sent to me from everyone, and then I would have to forward them by text to everyone. I could never enjoy my game because I was busy forwarding and texting. GroupMe was perfect for us!!! All I have to do is text my update, and that’s it. Your system takes care of the rest, and everyone in the group is getting consistent updates.
Thank you very much GroupMe!!!
Sean Moore
NorCalFed Youth Football and Cheer
Thank you, Sean. We love making people’s lives easier.
You can learn more about NorCalFed on their website.
Periodically, we share stories from users about how they use GroupMe in their everyday lives. If you have something to share, email us at stories@groupme.com. We’re really nice.
Photo via StuSeeger on Flickr.
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GroupMe Stories: Ryan Byrne
Take a look at this great story we got from Fordham University student Ryan Byrne, who’s currently fundraising for an outreach trip to Belize City.
When I found out I would be leading a Global Outreach trip to Belize City over winter break, I had no idea how big the time commitment would be. Although I participated in the project last year, I didn’t realize how time consuming organizing meetings and fundraisers between 11 group members could be.
After my entrepreneurship professor Charlie O’Donnell showed GroupMe to my class, I immediately went home and created a group for my team. At first, a text from a mysterious number which, when replied to, texted everyone on the team with their names attached, really confused some members. After this initial confusion subsided, everyone was in love with GroupMe.
GroupMe allowed everyone to communicate together as a team whenever needed, and has become an important aspect of our team-building efforts. Members have been using it to joke around and contact each other in a less formal matter when needed. When you’re first getting to know someone, it’s a lot less awkward to address that person in a GroupMe group (like a group setting) than it is to text them individually.
Even though helping build community has been important, I think GroupMe has been more important to me in a different aspect—saving me time when organizing. As I mentioned earlier, leading has been a big time commitment, but this time commitment has been rapidly shrinking since GroupMe came into my life. I think this can be best illustrated with a recent example.
One fundraiser we had, a simple 4-hour bake sale at night targeted at students “going out,” ended up taking me a ton of time to organize. I texted everyone on my team and asked them when they would like to work. Too many people texted back overlapping times, and certain time slots were not filled by members. I had to text everyone back and give them an OK, or text them back and ask them to change times. They then responded and said if they could or could not do a different time, and I would have to text other people and try to see if they could switch, etc. I had 11 conversations going on at the same time just to try and set up a simple bake sale, and not even the bake sale itself—just the time slots.
Now, we recently held our first post-GroupMe fundraiser: a raffle for Broadway tickets. I literally sent one text that said “We need someone working at the table today and tomorrow from 1PM to 7PM. People texted the group back when they could work, and since they could see what slots were filled and what needed to be filled, there was no overlap. Plus, everyone knew who was coming to relieve him or her from his or her shift and didn’t need to contact me and ask what was going on. Everything worked so simply and efficiently and saved me enormous amounts of time and effort.
I’m pretty sure I don’t want to go back to a time before GroupMe, and I think my group would agree. Just last week the Global Outreach team for India followed suit and began to use GroupMe as well, and I am sure they too will benefit from it just as much as we have.
Find out more about Ryan by visiting his blog.
Periodically, we share stories from users about how they use GroupMe in their everyday lives. If you have something to share, email us at stories@groupme.com. We’re really nice.
Photo via Rick Goldman on Flickr
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GroupMe Stories: The Lighthouse and the Whaler
Check out this awesome story we just got from Caren Kelleher:
Dear GroupMe,
When I first heard about you, I must admit that I was skeptical your service would be of use to me. Everyone I know — in both my personal and professional circles — has a smartphone with email capabilities and I assumed we would keep in touch using pre-existing technologies.
I stand corrected.
As the co-manager of the indie band The Lighthouse and the Whaler (http://listn.to/thelighthouseandthewhaler), I’ve found GroupMe to be the best artist services tool I’ve used yet.
Trying to keep up with four traveling musicians, a publicist and two managers (while also managing relationships with booking agents, promoters, talent scouts and brand partners) can be unnecessarily complicated, especially when all those parties are spread across the world: Atlanta, Cleveland, New York, London, San Francisco… Since the band plays ten to twenty shows a month while all of us also hold day jobs, GroupMe has given us a way to stay on the same page and never miss the opportunity to communicate the little things - and trust me, its the little things matter most.
If the band is having trouble getting a sound check or makes a great business connection at a show, I want to hear about it so I can help from afar. Since the guys are always on the road — often in remote areas — it’s easier for them to send a text through GroupMe than wait for an internet connection to load-up. I value that constant line of communication so I’m not waiting until the next day to hear how a show went or how many CDs were sold.
But the best part is that GroupMe allows us to always feel personally, not just professionally, connected. We can share in jokes, send quick words of encouragement and exchange ideas in a snap.
Keep doing what you’re doing, GroupMe. You’ve got a spot on the guest list when The Lighthouse and the Whaler comes to your town.
Caren Kelleher
You can find Caren on Twitter here, and learn more about The Lighthouse and The Whaler here.
Periodically, we share stories from users about how they use GroupMe in their everyday lives. If you’ve got something to say, email us at stories@groupme.com. We’re really nice.
Photo courtesy of Caren Kelleher
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GroupMe Stories: Jared Zlotnick
Check out this great story we just received:
“Is this a scam where you ask me to wire some money to an account in Nigeria?” This was the first text on our Stratton 2011 GroupMe.
What exactly GroupMe is quickly became clear as the banter among our seven friends hit a fever pitch. Dougie is airing out his smoking jacket, Andy is saying hello as each new member arrives, Bryan is at The Rusty Knot, and James is now catching on.
We didn’t need GroupMe to heighten our anticipation for the upcoming ski season but this amazing SMS-based app will be critical as we caravan from NYC to Stratton, break for lunch on the slopes, plan dinners, and share ego-stroking tales of mogul jumps.
I’ve added Groups for family, college friends, nyc friends, hometown friends, and work friends. I’ll add a group for our party tonight and ditch it tomorrow. Every plancast, foursquare check-in, local tweet, facebook place, google place, and small business should have a GroupMe.
Who knows how we’ll be using GroupMe next.
Best,
@jaredzlotnickYou can find Jared on Twitter here.
You’ll be happy to know, Jared, that you no longer have to manually “ditch” a group that you create for a one-night party. With our new feature, short-term groups, you can set the group to automatically end after tonight. Pretty cool, right?Periodically, we share stories from users about how they use GroupMe in their everyday lives. If you’ve got something to say, email us at stories@groupme.com. We’re really nice.
Photo via lejoe on Flickr. -
GroupMe Stories: On Campus
We have a really great story to share today from Jake Brady, a student at business- and entrepreneurship-focused Babson College. He and a lot of his friends have been telling us about how they’ve used GroupMe in all sorts of contexts on campus, and today Jake took the time to send us this note.
My favorite thing to use GroupMe for is organizing my groups. I go to a business school and consequently do a lot of academic and club work in groups. I’m the kind of guy who hates scheduling 30 minute meetings via email and then showing up to find no one there (although, I think in college everyone is “that kind of guy”). Email is also a hassle. I have an iPhone but when I’m trying to have a conversation via email the experience just isn’t good enough. GroupMe makes this process much easier.
I’ll give you an example. I had a group project two weeks ago with six people. Now, finding a time to meet and divide up the work was hard enough with our 6 different schedules. On top of that, email never works because people either don’t check it or ignore it. Ever heard of the email monster? Neither have I, but apparently plenty of intelligent students and adults believe that he exists. How many times have you heard “I’m sorry I didn’t get your email.”? I’ve heard it about a million times and it’s very obvious the other person simply chose to ignore the message. However, we all act as though there’s some monster on the internet that is stealing emails.
I got my group members on GroupMe and the rest is history. We did all planning and updates via the service and the organization was a breeze. We never had to meet in person, and knowing what everyone was doing wasn’t a chore. All my updates were in a short format (people don’t want to text long messages unlike email), and no one missed an update. We all agreed after we got a great grade that our workload was made much more efficient via this service, and on top of that we had a lot of fun bantering over it.
So while there are many advantages to GroupMe, my favorite is that it has taken away one of my top ten pains at schools; trying to get groups to organize. It has created a lasting and immediate conversation in most of my groups that’s fun and better yet dead simple. And here’s the bonus round: my life has gotten a lot more spontaneous since using GroupMe because all it takes to start a party is one text and the next thing you know you’ve got 20 people in a room having a blast.
Thanks!
Jake
You can learn more about Babson College on their website.
Periodically, we share stories from users about how they use GroupMe in their everyday lives. If you’ve got something to say, email us at stories@groupme.com. We’re really nice.
Photo via cseeman on Flickr.
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GroupMe Stories: The Circus Freaks
Today, we have a neat story from Russ Sharek of the Circus Freaks, a Dallas-based troupe of circus-style performers. Russ initially contacted us with a support issue, but once he told us about how he uses GroupMe, we just had to ask him to share a story. After we fixed his problem, he shared this letter with us:
Herding circus performers is a lot like herding cats, except that a cat’s natural propensity for napping leads to the vague possibility of getting in a room with one long enough to hold a meeting.
Because we’re often out in the world doing insane-yet-entertaining things, email and other desk-bound social networking tools aren’t particularly effective ways to corral our out-of-control circus on a realtime basis.
GroupMe’s “mobile chatroom” allowed us to have a way to maintain constant contact, which means on a moment’s notice I know who’s available to breathe fire, walk on stilts or defy gravity for a client’s amusement.
And that means that so long as I have my cellphone, the show goes on.
Russ Sharek
Director, The Circus Freaks
http://www.circusfreaks.orgIf you’d like to know more about the Circus Freaks (and look at some cool photos), check out their website!
Every week, we’re going to share a story from one of our users about how they use GroupMe in their everyday lives. You can share your story by emailing us at stories@groupme.com.
