Social media on the mind? This is yourspace
 | Ryan Beene is a reporter for Automotive News. |
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If someone had told me seven years ago, when I joined Facebook as a college sophomore, that the social media site eventually would have more than 500 million active users around the globe, I would have said: "You're crazy."
But that's what has happened. Facebook and social media in general have become integrated into most of our lives in some way or another. The rise of social media has been aided and accelerated by the ubiquitous smart phone and burgeoning tablet computing technologies.
What does that have to do with Automotive News?
Everything.
Not only do social media and mobile computing technologies have a role in the auto industry; they are helping to redefine it. At this year's National Automobile Dealers Association convention in San Francisco, the hot topic was social media. Can Facebook help sell cars? Can it drive showroom traffic? Who's doing social media well? Dealers couldn't ask enough questions.
Automakers' marketing departments face a similar conundrum.
This weekly column will try to help pull the pieces together.
Being connected and creating a dialogue are the keys to social media, and I hope to do those things with this column. Don't hesitate to ask a question, suggest a topic or tell me what burning issues keep you up Tweeting at night.
Be sure to check back here next week. In the meantime, Facebook me.
Social brief
Kelley Blue Book hit a milestone in March when its vehicle price information mobile app hit its 1 millionth download.
The app runs on Apple's iPhone and Android-equipped smart phones and the Windows Phone 7. KBB's usual information -- including MSRP, invoice price, fair purchase price, private party and trade-in price data -- is installed on the app. But it also offers services that could prove helpful for a day of car shopping such as a dealer locator, car reviews and photos.
You can reach Ryan Beene at rbeene@crain.com. -- Follow Ryan on 
