Mashable: Latest 10 News Updates - including “Mashable is Hiring”

Mashable: Latest 10 News Updates - including “Mashable is Hiring”

Mashable is Hiring

Posted: 15 May 2011 08:55 PM PDT


As Mashable continues to grow our editorial, business and community teams, we're looking to fill a number of new roles in our New York headquarters and San Francisco bureau.

What's working at Mashable like? We offer a fast-paced and fun work environment with an energetic company culture, as well as competitive packages and benefits.

Mashable is always looking to add talented and driven individuals to our team. To stay up to date on the latest listings, visit mashable.theresumator.com. Read on for the newest job openings and how to apply.

Editorial

Tech Reporter (San Francisco, CA)
Mashable is seeking a stellar reporter for its fast-growing San Francisco bureau. Successful candidates will be self-starters, passionate about technology, with 2+ years experience in daily journalism and a year or more of using WordPress.

Working closely with the San Francisco bureau chief, you will deliver a wide variety of news and analysis stories every day, mostly for (but not limited to) the following sections: Tech & Gadgets, Startups, Mobile, Dev & Design.

Read more about the tech reporter position and apply here.

Editorial Interns (New York, NY)
Mashable is seeking ambitious and motivated undergraduate (rising juniors and seniors) and graduate-level editorial interns for summer 2011.

As an editorial intern you’ll have the opportunity to work with and learn from Mashable editors in Mashable’s New York City Headquarters. Responsibilities include research, fact checking, copy editing and writing.

Read more about Mashable’s editorial internship and apply here.

Community

Community Director (New York, NY)
Mashable is seeking a talented community director to lead the social media efforts of its growing community team. Successful candidates will be highly strategic, passionate about community and product, with strong technical knowledge and 4+ years of professional community experience for a brand or press organization.

Working closely with Mashable leadership, the director will be responsible for creating and implementing community strategies.

Read more about the community director position and apply here.

Community Assistant (New York, NY)
Mashable is seeking a talented community assistant to join its growing community team. Successful candidates will be self-starters, passionate about community and media, with 1+ year of community experience for a brand or press organization.

Working closely with the community manager, the community assistant will be responsible for monitoring and engaging with Mashable's community on the site and off, identifying emerging social tools, running contests and promoting Mashable content and events.

Read more about the community assistant position and apply here.

Community Interns (New York, NY)
Mashable is seeking ambitious and motivated undergraduate (rising juniors and seniors) and graduate-level community interns for summer 2011.

As a community intern you’ll have the opportunity to work with and learn from Mashable’s community team in Mashable’s New York City Headquarters. Responsibilities include moderating and engaging the Mashable community on the site and on its many social platforms, and working on community projects assigned by the community assistant or community manager.

Read more about Mashable’s community internship and apply here.

Sales

Regional Sales Director (San Francisco, CA)
Mashable is looking for a dynamic individual who will be responsible for the qualification, sales and growth of advertising partner relationships in the western region. The successful candidate will have a robust existing network of client/agency relationships and a proven track record building and delivering solid marketing solutions for their clients in an effective and scalable way. This person will have an understanding of the social/news space and experience selling standard and custom executions for top brand clients and agencies. A passion for social media is a must!

Read more about the regional sales director position and apply here.

Campaign Specialist (New York, NY)
Mashable is seeking a smart, self-motivated and resourceful individual to join our team as a campaign specialist. The campaign specialist will work closely with individual sales team members to drive ad campaign execution from start to finish, ensuring that sold ad campaigns are processed, trafficked and reconciled in a timely and accurate manner. This is a fabulous opportunity for an individual looking for career advancement and to be part of an innovative and dynamic digital media organization.

Read more about the campaign specialist position and apply here.

Business

Business Development Coordinator (New York, NY)
Mashable is seeking a business development coordinator who has a solid understanding of the digital media space and a tenacious drive to generate new business opportunities. This go-getter is in a key role helping evaluate opportunities as they come in, but also proactive in creating opportunities in collaboration with other internal teams and external parties.

Read more and apply here.

Executive Assistant (New York, NY)
Mashable is looking for an executive assistant, primarily responsible for providing assistance to the COO. Core duties and responsibilities include email organization, scheduling and note taking.

Read more about the executive assistant position and apply here.

17 Twitter Tips from Mashable Connect Attendees

Posted: 15 May 2011 06:35 PM PDT


While Twitter users have become more active in the past year, there are only a few who are consistently valuable, engaging and respected.

Becoming one of those users is a challenging task, but it’s also something that can pay big dividends. That’s why we asked the world’s leaders in digital for their advice on how to become a master Twitter user.

On May 12-14, several hundred of the world’s digital leaders gathered in Orlando for the first-ever Mashable Connect, an intimate three-day conference focused on the impact of social media and digital on entertainment, media, technology and society. Connect attendees, along with Team Mashable, had the chance to hear about the biggest trends in digital from the leaders of Syfy, HBO, Edelman, Gowalla, Tumblr, Buddy Media and more.

On Saturday, I walked around the conference floor, asking Connect attendees one simple question: “What one tip do you have for best using Twitter?” I got a wide variety of responses from CEOs, entrepreneurs and accomplished professionals in the digital world. Some had very simple advice, while others had proverb-like quotations. But each had something completely different to say about the world’s hottest microblogging service.

Here’s the sage advice our Connect attendees had to give:

Twitter Tips

  • 1) @jeffpulver, Casting Director, #140conf: “The secret to Twitter is to listen, connect, share and engage. It’s the conversations that matter.”
  • 2) @davepeck, Director of Community, Meshin: “Respond to everybody, positive or negative.”
  • 3) @michiganflavor, COO, MIFlavor.com: “Retweet, retweet, retweet. People love to see their stuff retweeted, and they’ll start retweeting you.”
  • 4) @shrmsocmedguy, Social Media Strategist, Shrm: “Use your tweeting to set up meetings.”
  • 5) @dstatusstalker, Chief Status Stalker, Status Stalker: “Start a conversation. Reach out to others, and say hello.”
  • 6) @kratzpr, Founder, Kratz PR: “Don’t think of it as a tool, think of it as a gateway for being social.”
  • 7) @ctreada, CEO, Notice Technologies: “Ignore it; they’re all pornographers anyway.” (Chris’s other tip: “Chill out.”)
  • 8) @jkrohrs, VP of Marketing, ExactTarget: “Don’t tweet if you can’t spell.”
  • 9) @moniguzman, Director of Outreach, Intersect: “Tweet what comes naturally. Don’t try to fulfill someone else’s expectations.”
  • 10) @shashib, Social Media Swami, Network Solutions: “More than an RSS feed, connecting with people on Twitter gives you interesting content that is validated by them.”
  • 11) @jennydevaughn, Director, Social Strategy, @HODES: “You need to have brand sacrifice if you want to be viewed as an expert in your field. Only tweet about 10 topics, events or ideas.”
  • 12) @robkey, CEO, Converseon: “Embrace your insignificance.”
  • 13) @zagrrl: VP Technology, Innovation Center for US Diary: “The best way to learn is to share.”
  • 14) @heidiotway: VP & Director Social Media, Salter Mitchell: “Follow the best, learn from the best.”
  • 15) @jonnorp, Director of Social Media, American Airlines: “Remember that it flies forever.”
  • 16) @chrisvary, Director of Emerging Technology, Weber Shandwick: “Don’t connect your Twitter to Facebook.”
  • 17) @joeyinteractive, Interactive Creative Director, Disney Parks: “Marketing doesn’t spread; stories do.”

More About: advice, mashable, mashable connect, twitter, Twitter Advice

For more Social Media coverage:

Review: iPhone Case Has Detachable Piggyback Battery [PICS]

Posted: 15 May 2011 04:48 PM PDT



If you’ve tried battery-extending iPhone 4 case/chargers, you’re probably familiar with their main drawback: excess size and weight. The Third Rail Mobility System ($90) has a two-piece solution for that problem, letting you carry its 1.4 oz auxiliary Smart Battery separately, only attaching it to your its case when you need it. We took it for a road test to see how effective that idea really is.

Without its piggybacked Smart Battery, this Slim Case ($40 separately), which the company calls “the world’s slimmest,” is an adequate performer. Although it doesn’t offer much protection for the iPhone‘s screen, its rubberized sides and back offer you ample protection for droppage while covering the iPhone’s unfortunate antenna zone that cause reception problems for some people.

The case is indeed slim and looks great — it probably is the world’s slimmest, because it would be difficult to make it any thinner. Skinny as it was, I was slightly disappointed with the back, which shows exposed copper contacts. Their coppery utilitarian looks weren’t quite in harmony with the high build quality of the rest of this case. Look at it in the gallery below and see what you think.

On a recent trip, I was using my iPhone 4 frequently, and knowing there was an auxiliary battery waiting for me in my laptop bag gave me a feeling of freedom. Hey, I could use my phone all I wanted, and if the battery ran out, I could just snap this small attachment onto the back of the case, and it would start recharging my phone. And it did that only when I needed it.

How long does it take this 1250mAh battery to recharge the iPhone, whose battery is 1440mAh? To give you an idea, I ran my iPhone down to about 10% of its capacity, and three hours after I connected the battery, it had replenished the iPhone’s charge up to 60%. That was as far as it could go — the Smart Battery had spent its power, which is about 87% of the iPhone’s. But after that, I could remove the battery and go on about my business, without having to lug around all that extra bulk. Power when you need it — that’s Third Rail’s mantra, and that’s what makes this case “system” different and worthwhile.

Of course, that little battery pack feels pretty clunky when you’re talking on the phone, making the iPhone clumsier and spoiling its inherent slimness, but that’s a slight drawback considering that you can continue using your phone with that additional battery power on board. And it’s easy to tell how much charge is left in the battery, with its five LEDs that display remaining power with a button push.

I also like the way you can plug a mini USB cable either into the battery or the case, and then charge both iPhone and battery pack at the same time. I don’t like the way you can’t use the iPhone in a dock anymore when you have it in this case, though.

On the plus side, I like the way the bottom of the case directs the sound toward the front of the iPhone, alleviating that problem I sometimes encounter where my hand covers the speaker, rendering it temporarily useless until I uncover then speaker. I also like the way the little battery can charge any device that uses a USB cable for charging.

If you want, you can keep adding more battery packs on top of each other, ad infinitum, if you have the money — but look out, they’re $60 apiece. Ouch. If you don’t mind spending a wad of cash, you can carry a handful of battery packs with you, effectively giving your iPhone unlimited interchangeable batteries that some of us wish it had all along.

Besides the quibbles I mentioned, this is an excellent product, and proved itself to be a valuable addition to my travel bag. Depending on a smartphone on the road can be challenging without replaceable batteries, and when you know you have that Third Rail Mobility System waiting for you, you don’t feel quite as vulnerable.

At the same time, you don’t have to carry around all that extra weight, hanging on your iPhone when you don’t need it. This is an excellent idea, well executed. Highly recommended.


Side View




The case itself is slim, but that battery pack makes it a bit too thick.


Snap It On




It's easy to mount and remove the "Smart Battery."


Riding Piggyback




There she sits, taking about three hours to bring a 10%-charged iPhone up to 60%. Why not 100%? That would probably require a bigger battery.


Copper Contacts




I guess there was no way around having those contacts exposed there for all to see. Too bad.


Mini USB Port




Plug it in here.


Smart Battery




There are contacts on the front of the battery too, so you can attach another one to it, and another, and so on.


The Old In/Out




Daisy chain is what it us.


Battery Bottom





Battery Top




More About: Battery Charger, iphone case, review, Third Rail Mobility System

For more Mobile coverage:

How Your Facebook Info Would Sound in the Real World [VIDEO]

Posted: 15 May 2011 03:29 PM PDT


Trying to imagine our online behaviors in an offline world has been the subject of many a viral video.

The latest installment in this vein is “The Offline Social Network.” This clip comes from Australian comedy show Hungry Beast and personifies the ubiquitous Facebook as the sort of earnest evangelicals who ask passers-by about the eventual destination of their eternal souls.

And the result? Let’s just say “What is your sexual orientation?” is as awkward a point-blank question as “Do you know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior?”

This video reminded us of a few other funny Facebook-as-real-life videos, so we’ve put together a brief gallery of viral clips for your enjoyment.

Watch and enjoy, but do try to get outside a bit as the weekend winds down… And whatever you do, don’t go “poking” anyone in person.


The Offline Social Network (HUNGRY BEAST)


Two guys walking around asking people the same questions they get asked when they sign up to Facebook. Will hilarity ensue? You betcha!


A LIFE ON FACEBOOK by Alex Droner


The story of a man told through Facebook's interface.


Facebook in real life


Idiots of Ants answer the question "What would Facebook be like in real life?"As seen on BBC Three

image courtesy of iStockphoto, RyanJLane

More About: facebook, humor, offline, online, video

For more Video coverage:

73 Essential Social Media & Tech Resources for Small Businesses

Posted: 15 May 2011 02:26 PM PDT


As a small business owner, your time is limited. Each week we put together a roundup of essential social media resources to help you stay on top.

We wanted to give you even more of a leg up with this megalist of our top small business resources from the past few months, including social media, tech, startups, marketing & advertising, dev & design and mobile posts that were written with small business in mind.

Of course, if you’re still hungry for more business resources, you can follow Mashable‘s business channel on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook. Happy reading!

Social Media

  • HOW TO: Poll Consumers on Facebook
    We collected some simple ways to poll your consumers on Facebook, as well as a mini-list of best practices.
  • HOW TO: Set Up a Foursquare Special
    There are now seven types of specials available on Foursquare — here’s an explanation of each special, along with some tips to help you get started.
  • 10 Proven Strategies for Greater Likeability on Facebook
    Here are 10 universal laws for brand likeability in social media.
  • HOW TO: Get Your Employees On Board With Your Social Media Policy
    It's not an easy job to help people reconcile their public and private lives on social media, and it all comes down to training, mentorship, and establishing guidelines and best practices. Here are some tips.
  • 5 Best Practices for Travel & Tourism Brands on Facebook
    Best practices for travel and tourism brands on Facebook — borrowed from the big players in the industry — that will help you attract gadling jetsetters and secure more reservations.
  • HOW TO: Create a Group Tumblr Blog
    Want to set up a company blog that contributors can post to from multiple accounts? Want to use a password-protected Tumblr internally? Here we show you how.
  • 5 Tips for Closing a Sale on Facebook
    How can you maximize the social network to close sales for your own business? Here are five tips to help you design a Facebook presence that makes buying your products more desirable and easy.
  • 14 Best Practices for Long-Term Social Media Success
    Following these best practices will prevent your brand from falling victim to the coming wave of customer unlikes and unfollows. But more importantly, focusing social channels and investing in the value of each will improve the customer experience and encourage greater engagement.
  • HOW TO: Start Marketing on Foursquare
    The most recent iteration of the location-based app, Foursquare 3.0, expanded the features and made it much easier for businesses to jump on the bandwagon and start marketing. Get started here.
  • HOW TO: Get Started With Photo Blogging
    We consume so much content in our digital lives, it seems we've developed a need for it to be presented in the simplest, most efficient way possible. Enter: the photo blog.
  • Social Media for Small Businesses: 6 Effective Strategies
    Many small business owners are either too busy for social media, or they don't truly understand Facebook, Foursquare or Twitter. So they choose to delegate these tools to interns or specialists. This may not always be in the best interest of the company.
  • How Tasti D-Lite Has Raised the Bar for Social Media Success
    Frozen dessert shop Tasti D-Lite has been heating up the social space over the past few years, introducing a series of innovative digital programs and campaigns. We spoke with Chief Marketing Officer Bill Zinke to get a taste for what the company is up to lately and what digital and social projects it's working on next.
  • How Small Businesses Can Use Social Media for Customer Service [INTERVIEW]
    Customer relationship management isn't just the domain of big brands, and these days, more and more companies are offering free online tools to make it easier for SMBs to keep track of and reach out to their customers.
  • HOW TO: Start Marketing With HootSuite
    As social media increasingly becomes optimized for brands, marketers are finding themselves juggling multiple accounts across a variety of networks. With so many statuses to update and so little time, keeping yourself organized is key.
  • 5 YouTube Marketing Tips for Better Engagement
    In addition to its incredible success as the de facto portal for video uploads and viewing, YouTube is itself a community. For brands, it provides an additional viable opportunities to spark discussion with followers. It's a place to build relationships and create a space for users to converse with each other about branded content.
  • 5 Tips for Recruiting College Students via Social Media
    More and more companies are recognizing the value of social media in building their employer brand in the minds of college students. From the Department of State (@DOScareers) to Google (@GoogleStudents) to MTV (@MTVNetworksJobs), organizations across many industries are taking to Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube and blogs to enhance their image and build a pipeline of talent from college campuses.
  • HOW TO: Add Social Sharing Buttons to Your Website
    For many sites, adding social sharing buttons is a simple and effective way to quickly boost pageviews and sharing stats. Unfortunately, it can also be a way to clutter up your pages, confuse your users, and cause massive bugs and layout issues. Here's a quick guide to best practices for adding social sharing buttons to your site or blog.
  • Should You Outsource Your Social Media Efforts?
    Hiring a social media consultant may not be as straightforward as hiring other types of professional service providers, such as a web designer or an accountant. Here are four questions to consider when deciding whether to outsource your social media.
  • How The Pros Measure Social Media Marketing Success
    The notion that marketing costs can't always be understood is an ancient one. John Wanamaker, a department store mogul who died in 1922, once mused, "Half the money I spend on advertising is wasted; the trouble is I don't know which half." Here are some tips to help you figure it out.
  • HOW TO: Get the Most Out of Facebook and Twitter Promotions
    As social media has worked its way into every aspect of our lives, we as a culture have come to expect that our favorite brands — from "Big Gay Ice Cream" trucks to national airlines and fashion houses — are easily accessible on the most popular social networks.
  • 9 Digital Marketing Lessons From Top Social Brands
    Big brands have already blazed trails in the digital marketing world. We spoke to social media and marketing experts at MTV, American Express, Xbox, NBA and AT&T to get the scoop on how they learned to hit the mark.
  • HOW TO: Use Facebook Social Plugins on Your Website
    One of the easiest ways to make your online presence more social is by adding Facebook social plugins to your website. There are many different Facebook social plugins to choose from — here are four of the top plugins for business and tips on how and when to use them.
  • How Businesses Can Survive a Product Recall Using Social Media
    These five tips will help companies maximize the potential of social media to protect consumers and their brands in the midst of any product recall situation.
  • HOW TO: Avoid and Prevent Facebook Spam
    Facebook is doing a lot to help curb app-generated spam, with platform spam down 95% in 2010, but no automated system is perfect. Here are some tips to reduce the amount of spam that you see on Facebook — and avoid contributing to the problem yourself.
  • 6 Common Email Marketing Mistakes Small Businesses Make
    For small businesses, email still represents a cheap, effective way to establish or maintain a relationship with clients. But the content has the power to either attract or repel — check out these tips before you hit “send.”

  • HOW TO: Launch Any Product Using Social Media
    Guy Kawasaki shares 12 things he did to launch his new book, including information about costs, vendors and analytics.
  • 5 Excellent Small Business Blogs To Learn From
    Here are five small businesses that are using a blog to reach local communities and showcase the company's experience and expertise. We've outlined exactly what they're doing right as a guide for other small businesses to improve their own blogging activities.
  • 10 Tips for Posting on Your Brand’s Facebook Page
    Once your brand is on Facebook, the question becomes: How you engage those fans and sustain a meaningful online dialogue with your customers?
  • Top 5 Mistakes to Avoid on Your Company Blog
    Corporate websites are often little more than interactive brochures that display basic information and describe what the business offers. But if you're looking to do more, then a company blog is a much better choice.
  • 5 Tips for Maintaining Brand Consistency Across Social Media
    As the recent foibles of Aflac, Chrysler and Kenneth Cole and others demonstrate, keeping an up-to-date, 24/7 presence on social media has its risks. A bigger risk though, is to ignore social media. So what is a brand to do?
  • The Pros and Cons Of Tumblr For Small Business
    More and more businesses have been getting hip to social blogging platform Tumblr, which may have you wondering, "Should I be on Tumblr, too?”

Business

Startups

  • HOW TO: Recruit All-Star Employees on a Startup Budget
    Your first few hires set the tone for your culture. What's more, it's often said that A-level hires get you more top quality hires in the long run. You don't just need to make time for recruiting — you have to be great at it.
  • How Startups Will Benefit if the SEC Relaxes Funding Regulations
    The areas that the SEC is going to review are general solicitation rules, the 500 share holder limit and regulations around crowdfunding. Easing these regulations will have a major impact on how startups raise capital and will help more startups raise funding.
  • HOW TO: Better Communicate With Remote Startup Employees
    Communicating with remote workers can be a challenge, but for any company that has employees or contractors working outside of the office, learning how to properly communicate is an important way to increase productivity.
  • HOW TO: Sign Up Users Even Before You Launch Your Startup
    In April, "stealth" social media startup Kohort announced its upcoming launch. Within a few days, the site received thousands of user signups, according to its founder Mark Davis. In the startup world, this itself perhaps isn't uncommon, but what made Kohort's story unique is the fact that those thousands of users had no idea what Kohort was when they signed up.

Tech and Gadgets

green qr image

  • 10 Best BlackBerry PlayBook Cases [PICS]
    If you're in the market for a cover for your new super-sized 'Berry then take a look through the photo gallery of available choices.
  • 4 Free Ways to Learn to Code Online
    Learning to code is something every tech-minded person should try at least once — and the wealth of online courses, many of which are free or surprisingly inexpensive, make learning about programming easier than ever.
  • 14 Tips for Hiring the Perfect CTO
    Hiring the wrong person for key company positions can cost a business thousands — or tens of thousands — of dollars and man hours. This is especially true when it comes to tech companies hiring the wrong chief technology officer.
  • Flip Alternatives: 5 Great Pocket Video Cameras
    While many are content to shoot casual videos with the cameras built into their phones, if you're looking for a standalone gadget that shoots true HD and is still easy on the wallet, check out these alternatives to the once-popular Flip.
  • Big Data: How New Technology Is Helping Marketers Create Better Consumer Experiences
    In this era of constant connectivity and tracking, we are creating huge amounts of data every second. Just like consumers, marketers are facing information overload. The big question is: How can we use this data to produce better, more relevant customer experiences?
  • 11 Excellent iPad Apps for Meetings and Presentations
    Here are 11 iPad apps that will enhance your presentations.
  • HOW TO: Make Your QR Codes More Beautiful
    QR codes are malleable and can be redesigned in truly extraordinary ways, while still maintaining their scanability. The truth is, QR codes no longer have to be checkerbox in appearance. We've entered a new phase of "designer codes" that can be integrated into marketing campaigns in an attractive way that isn't an eyesore.
  • Closed or Open Source: Which CMS is Right for Your Business?
    It seems there are new contenders vying to be the top content management system (CMS) every day. Making it easy to add products, articles and just about anything else is a mandatory development skill today. Inevitably, the question always arises: "Do we download something free and open source, or do we buy a solution?"

Marketing & Advertising

  • Why 5 Big Brand Marketing Campaigns Are Betting Big on Social Gaming
    In 2011, U.S. gamers will spark $653 million in revenue solely from purchasing virtual items. That figure is expected to reach $792 million in 2012.
  • 5 Marketing Jobs Worth Paying For
    Now, if you've started your own company, chances are you're the type of person who is willing to roll up your sleeves and get things done yourself. But there are some areas of marketing in which the experience of a professional — administered at the right moment — can really make the difference between a polished, awesome product and a complete mess.
  • The 5 Qualities of Highly Effective Community Managers
    Today, the role of community manager is common at companies of all sizes — from startups to multinational corporations. Despite their ubiquity, there is still a lot of confusion around what a community manager actually does and what employers should look for when hiring one.
  • 5 Digital Marketing Trends to Watch
    Small businesses plan to increase spending on inbound marketing in 2011, allocating money to initiatives such as Facebook campaigns and location-based advertising, but businesses will also experiment with a handful of new (and not so new) strategies.
  • 8 Ways to Improve Your Live Event With Social Media
    Whether you just want to generate a bit of buzz or instead have specific goals to increase ticket sales and attract top speakers and attendees, social media can make the planning process smoother by leveraging digital word-of-mouth. Here are eight tips for best results.
  • How 3 Companies Took Content Marketing to the Next Level
    There is a laundry list of issues that need to be addressed when it comes to improving corporate blogs, but here we’ve narrowed it down to 10 tips that companies should work on.
  • 6 Smart & Effective Email Marketing Tactics
    Successful brands are cross-pollinating email marketing strategies via email clients, social platforms and mobile devices. Brands still find email effective because it's inexpensive and universally accepted by people all over the world.
  • HOW TO: Get the Most Out of Google AdWords
    Often, small businesses set up a campaign and load it with relevant phrases, only to see little traction. Or worse, they get clicks (which cost money) but aren't converting them into sales.
  • Top 4 Tips for Creating a Podcast for Your Small Business
    Podcasts are an interesting challenge for small businesses. They require a little more know-how, energy and time than signing up for Twitter, Facebook or even Foursquare. But they're not nearly as daunting as you might think, and they offer an excellent opportunity to build a unique audience and generate leads for your business.
  • Top 5 YouTube Marketing Mistakes Committed by Small Businesses
    We've spoken to three top experts in the video marketing arena to get professional advice about the common mistakes that small companies make on the video-sharing platform so that you can avoid making those same errors.
  • 5 Tips for Creating Your Own Group Buying Deals
    Group deals have become a popular way to attract new customers and boost sales. While this phenomenon started with marketing service providers such as Groupon and LivingSocial, it has expanded to such diverse businesses as Facebook and The New York Times. The group buying market is now estimated at $4 billion.
  • 4 Innovative Ways to Use Web Video for Small Business
    How does a small business compete with disturbingly low attention spans and a whole Internet of viral videos? Read on for five ways that small businesses can take advantage of web video without blowing their budgets.
  • 4 Inspiring Small Business Video Successes
    Looking for inexpensive PR? We spoke to some PR pros to find out how to tap into the online media and get your biz a little exposure without breaking the bank.
  • 3 Podcast Success Stories from Creative Small Businesses
    Despite the challenges, there is value in video for small businesses, even if you're a video greenhorn. We found four businesses that have had real world success thanks to video.

Dev & Design

Mobile

For more business news and resources, you can follow Mashable’s business channel on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.

Image courtesy of iStockphoto, ewg3D

More About: advertising, business, List, Lists, MARKETING, online advertising, small business, social media, social media marketing

For more Social Media coverage:

All the News You Might Have Missed From Mashable Connect

Posted: 15 May 2011 01:25 PM PDT


Mashable staffers and Mashable Connect attendees have just wrapped up an action-packed conference at Disney World. And amid all the rides, games and cocktails, there were actually a few interesting news stories that broke from the Connect stage.

Here’s a quick roundup of headlines that represent the news from Connect in a nutshell. We’ve got compelling articles about design, marketing, startup strategy and more.

If you’d like a more behind-the-scenes look at the conference, check out the hashtag stream for #MashCon, where attendees have been posting pictures, fun facts, hilarious overheards and astute observations all weekend. And stay tuned for an upcoming post where we’ll feature the best social media tips from Connect attendees and speakers.

Will Ashton Kutcher's Twitter Following Help Two and a Half Men?

What you need to know: Christy Tanner, the general manager and executive vice president of TV Guide Digital, alluded to Ashton Kutcher's new role at Two and a Half Men in her presentation on the Connect stage. We spoke to her after the presentation to get more insight into the potential impact Kutcher and his social fanbase could have on the show.

Misunderstood & Overlooked? Gowalla Revisits Its Roots To Find Stories in Location

What you need to know: Gowalla's story has been defined by a tech press fixated on a Foursquare-Gowalla rivalry that may be non-existent. Our startup reporter, Jenn Van Grove, takes a more meaningful look at Gowalla’s strategy and roadmap, including how this LBS is thinking beyond the checkin.

The editorial team hard at work in the Connect Boardroom, alternatively known as the “Situation Room” or the “War Room.”

HOW TO: Make Your PR & Marketing Believable

What you need to know: During his onstage presentation, Ogilvy's SVP of Global Strategy & Marketing, Rohit Bhargava, talked about a "believability crisis" for PR and marketing professionals. To counter this crisis, Bhargava spoke about what he calls Likeonomics, which "explains the new affinity economy where the most likeable people, ideas and organizations are the ones we believe in, buy from and get inspired by."

Gaining Authority in the Age of Digital Overload

What you need to know: Steve Rubel, EVP of Global Strategy and Insights for Edelman, took the stage to talk about how users are now looking to find validated sources within the mix of information overload. Peers are less trusted than they used to be, and consumers are looking to find more credible sources for online information.

Connect attendees at one of the event’s many social gatherings.

Creatives: Build the Perfect Online Portfolio, No Code Required

What you need to know: From the Connect stage, Behance CEO Scott Belsky launched ProSite, an elegant and inexpensive tool for creatives of all kinds to build gorgeous, connected profile websites with a simple drag-and-drop interface. And if you think that’s too good to be true, just wait until the company’s API launches later this year.

Meetup To Launch Facebook Tab to Help Brands Mobilize Fans

What you need to know: Starting in June, Meetup will launch a tab for Facebook fan pages to help brands mobilize their followers via the more than 600-million-strong platform. With the app, a Facebook fan page administrator can declare a Worldwide Meetup Day directly from Facebook. The brand will not have a Meetup Everywhere page, nor will fans be required to navigate away from Facebook to sign up for or organize a Meetup.

Mashable CEO Pete Cashmore with — who else? — Mickey Mouse.

All images courtesy of Dream In Pictures, Michael Cummings

More About: mashable connect

For more Social Media coverage:

Two New Clues: Is This The Next iPhone? [RUMORS]

Posted: 15 May 2011 12:16 PM PDT



Clues about the next iPhone are piling up this weekend. First an analyst gave tantalizing details of the upcoming iPhone, saying it’ll be called the iPhone 4S, and then we saw this case design in the graphic above from Asian site Alibaba. Is it real or just another guess at what Apple might do, based on rumors and mockups?

We’d already dismissed the case as a fake, thinking it looked fishy because of its slightly bowed midsection in the graphic above. But then we found another tantalizing clue: Mac Rumors found a story [in Chinese] on Apple.pro comparing iPhone 4 camera parts to those it says are leaked from the next iPhone. As you can see in the graphic below, the flash unit is separated from the camera in the same manner that we see on the case design. The plot thickens.

Add this new pic to analyst Peter Misek’s earlier speculation about the upcoming iPhone’s dual-core processor, support for HSPA+ (but no LTE) wireless connectivity, improved cameras (could this be related to the relocated flash?), and a “subtle design change” (the edge-to-edge screen?), and this case design is at least plausible.

How about it, commenters? Are we looking at the next iPhone, or is this a rumor built on speculation based on another rumor, similar to a cat chasing its tail? Could this be a disinformation trick Apple is playing on case manufacturers to throw them off the trail of the real iPhone 5?

More About: AliBaba, case, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, rumor, speculation

For more Tech & Gadgets coverage:

10 Stylish iPad Cases Made From Recycled Materials [PICS]

Posted: 15 May 2011 11:13 AM PDT


If you’re looking for a greener way to protect your iPad then we have you covered. We’ve found 10 cases and sleeves that all started life as something else, before being transformed into ‘Pad protection by crafty types.

From billboards to clothing via vinyl records, our gallery shows off how great creativity and imagination can result in “upcycling” everyday materials into brand new, useful items. Or, if you’re feeling even more adventurous, you might want to attempt making your own iPad case from common materials.

Take a look through the gallery for our pick of the top recycled options out there and let us know about any eco-friendly options you’ve spotted in the comments.


1. Plaid Doctrine iPad Sleeve




You'd never guess, but this case's water- and stain-resistant fabric is made from recycled bottles.

Cost: $69


2. Kork Case




This lightweight case is made from recycled -- and recyclable -- natural cork.

Cost: 49.95 euros (approx $70)


3. My Green Monkey Reclycled Sleeves




Etsy seller My Green Monkey has a huge range of handmade iPad cases, all upcycled from old clothing and fabrics. This denim case was our top pick, but with a choice of fabrics, patterns and styles, there's bound to be something to suit you.

Cost: From around $29


4. Freitag F23




Used truck tarps are the material for Freitag's cool cases.

Cost: 65 euros (around $90)


5. Finders Keepers Computerwear




This adorable case is part of the "Computerwear" line. Find your iPad's perfect outfit at Etsy.

Cost: From $55


6. Aire Trashion Cases




One for film fans, this case has been crafted from recycled movie theater banners.

Cost: $39


7. Reveal iPad Purses




Reveal offers a range of super-glam iPad "purses." With satin and microsuede made from plastic bottles and even the zipper made from green goods, they are a guilt-free option for fashionistas.

Cost: $70


8. Proporta Recycled Leather Case




If you like the idea of an eco-friendly case without sacrificing style, then Proporta's recycled leather case is the grown-up option.

Cost: $49.95


9. Vindicated Vinyl




This gorgeous, colorful creation started life as a vinyl record. There are tons more to see from a variety of bands on Etsy.

Cost: From $99


10. Looptworks Device Sleeve




Finally, made from upcycled excess wetsuit material, there's a pun to be had here about surfing.

Cost: $26

More About: accessories, apple, cases, eco, eco-friendly, green, ipad, iPad 2, iPad 2 cases, ipad accessories, iPad Cases, recycled

For more Tech & Gadgets coverage:

3 Apps For Pleasure & Productivity This Weekend

Posted: 15 May 2011 10:10 AM PDT


The Spark of Genius Series highlights a unique feature of startups and is made possible by Microsoft BizSpark. If you would like to have your startup considered for inclusion, please see the details here.

Each weekend, Mashable handpicks a few startups that we think are building interesting, unique or niche products.

If you’re in a getting-things-done mood, check out LaundryLocal and SignNow. LaundryLocal will help you outsource one of your most dreaded chores, while SignNow lets you upload and sign documents in the browser or send them to friends and business contacts to sign.

If you’d rather relax and take the weekend to relive the past week’s events, test out Kaptur and try building a photo and media album from the social media updates of other event attendees.

Kaptur: Event-Centric Photo Albums

Quick Pitch: Kaptur lets you organize all media from an event into a single view.

Genius Idea: Create photo albums by grabbing pics and media from friends’ social media updates.

Mashable’s Take: Kaptur helps you create time-synchronized albums of photos, video and music around events using the social media content you and your friends have created.

Connect Kaptur to Facebook, create an album, add the friends that joined you in the event and then browse through their Facebook photos to select and add shots to your album. You can also later add music and videos from YouTube and Vimeo and photos from Flickr. Media is organized in chronological order, and albums can be viewed as slideshows, embedded elsewhere or shared on Facebook or Twitter.

It’s a nice idea, but Kaptur needs to be able to better discover media across more social networks and photo-sharing services — noticeably absent are Instagram and Twitter — if it wants to hook users on the experience.

LaundryLocal: Get Your Dry Cleaning Picked Up & Delivered

Quick Pitch: An online business that connects you to prescreened laundromats and dry cleaners that offer valet service.

Genius Idea: Laundry delivered.

Mashable’s Take: Your laundry and dry cleaning can be someone else’s problem this weekend. Use LaundryLocal to find prescreened laundromats and dry cleaners that will pick up your dirty delicates and return them to your doorstep fresh and clean.

The only downside is that the service is limited to users in New York and Los Angeles. If you’re in San Francisco, check out LaundryLocker.

SignNow: E-Sign In the Browser

Quick Pitch: Use SignNow to sign documents anywhere, and get documents signed online or on mobile phones.

Genius Idea: In-browser electronic signatures.

Mashable’s Take: SignNow makes electronic document signing as painless as possible. Simply upload a document and sign it yourself or send it to a business contact to sign — the receipt gets an email with a link where he can sign the document in his browser. Users are not required to create accounts and the service is free.

There’s a slew of e-signing applications available for mobile devices; most are hit or miss, but SignNow recently raised $500,000 in seed funding to build out its service. The startup’s mobile applications are expected later this month.

Image courtesy of iStockphoto, evemilla and Flickr, Wendy Copley

Series Supported by Microsoft BizSpark

Microsoft BizSpark

The Spark of Genius Series highlights a unique feature of startups and is made possible by Microsoft BizSpark, a startup program that gives you three-year access to the latest Microsoft development tools, as well as connecting you to a nationwide network of investors and incubators. There are no upfront costs, so if your business is privately owned, less than three years old, and generates less than U.S.$1 million in annual revenue, you can sign up today.

More About: bizspark, kaptur, laundrylocal, signnow, spark-of-genius, startups

For more Startups coverage:

9 Outstanding Websites for Design Inspiration

Posted: 15 May 2011 09:09 AM PDT


When it comes to web design and development, we’ve offered up our top picks for tools of the trade. We’ve shared great tips from pro developers. We’ve even wrangled exemplary sites to learn from.

But sometimes, a healthy dose of artistic inspiration is in order. If you’re a web designer (or web design afficianado) and low on creative juice, take a gander at some of these sites — recommended by top designers themselves — that push the limits of what artistic and technical expression can be on the web.

Have you come accross a truly spectacular site design that deserves the web’s attention? Share it in the comments below.


1. Lost World's Fairs - Atlantis




Take a journey 20,000 leagues under the sea via this compelling proof-of-concept.

"The Lost World's Fair project is a showcase of IE9 Web Open Font technology," says Jesse Thomas, founder and CEO of the design firm Jess3.

There are a few interesting projects from The Lost World's fair series, but Thomas picked Atlantis "because it was enjoyable to control how fast I processed the information. With this kind of responsive design, I can go slow the first time, and quick the next time."

Thomas also notes the aethetics. "The use of illustration is soothing. I really appreciate in these examples the attention to detail."


2. BeerCamp at SXSW 2011




Web designer Dan Rubin with code shop Webgraph suggested we take a look at this event promo site.

The design is unassuming at first, but the scroll bar packs a surprise.

"This is another stunning site from n'clud for an event at this year's SXSW. The scrolling effect is outstanding, taking you through the site with plenty of physical depth," says Rubin. "It's one of my favorite examples to show during workshops and presentations."

It's hard to explain just how impactful this website is unless you've experienced it. Go ahead. We'll be here when you get back.


3. Dmig 5




We've higlighted Design Made in Germany before when it won the first annual Web Font Awards, but it's so impressive it bears another mention.

Brad Colbow, an independent web designer and illustrator picked this one for our gallery.

"I'm a sucker for great illustration integrated onto a site, and this one does it really well," Colbow says. "It's using some transparency effects to change the backgrounds as you scroll down. This is one of those sites that looks great as you resize it in other browsers too."


4. Analog




Minimalism still rules the well-designed web, but that doesn't mean you should skimp on the details. The information site for web design shop Analog is the pick of UK web designer (and frequent Mashable contributor) Grace Smith.

"Analog is simple and elegant, with beautiful intricate details," says Smith. "However, it's the clever use of 'Easter Eggs' that make visiting this one-page site such a pleasure. The use of CSS3 transitions on the mugshots, along with the unique GeoIP implementation and Grid (try pressing G), make this a clear example of how to create a visually stunning site that utilizes current web development practices and encourages users to return."


5. Guide to the App Galaxy




WordPress developer Brian Casel (another design contributor to this site) pointed us toward this clever informational site from Google.

It's another effective use of the scroll wheel, and the graphics can't be beat. "It's both visually appealing and highly informative at the same time," Casel notes.


6. Octavo Designs




The web has seen its share of horizontally scrolling sites -- some better implemented than others. The portfolio for Octavo Designs bucks the trend of awkward side-scrollers, according to Kelli Shaver, a web/UI developer and regular Mashable contributor.

"The site is just full of texture and warmth, with very detailed, unique, often subtle illustrations," Shaver notes. "I think it works really well with the typography. Everything just comes together to create a very engaging experience."


7. One Bit Increment




A web full of shiny vectors and smooth white spaces can eventually get boring. Graphic designer Emily Caufield points out a more tactile approch in One Bit Increment's "gamified" homepage.

"I thought this site was a great fusion of meticulous handmade art and the wonders of modern technology," says Caufield, referring to the paper cut-outs that comprise the virtual landscape of this impressive Flash-based design. "It functions as a website, a body of art, and a game."


8. Ben the Bodyguard




Informational sites can become stale -- logo splash, navigation bar, some floating text, and a few graphic bumpers if you're lucky.

That's why "Ben the Bodyguard" is a step in the right direction, says Jacob Gube, founder and chief editor of the design blog Six Revisions and frequent Mashable contributor.

"It's a great proof-of-concept of what HTML5 and CSS3 can do," says Gube. "The site has a memorable user experience design; something that all websites should strive for, no matter how you execute it. Is it the most functional, beautiful or usable design? Definitely not. But did it succeed in its intended objective, which is to generate buzz about an upcoming web service? 13,000+ tweets says it does."

Take a stroll through this site to see what we're talking about.


9. Awwwards




Looking for a bubbling font of great design examples? LA-based web designer Soh Tanaka reccommends checking out the Awwwards (get it?), a site that recognizes and promotes the best of innovative design.

"It usually features sites that are very interactive and that push the limits of CSS3 and JavaScript," Tanaka says. "I feel most of these sites are pushing the boundaries of design and development on the web."

Interested in more Dev & Design resources? Check out Mashable Explore, a new way to discover information on your favorite Mashable topics.

Image courtesy of iStockphoto, skodonnell

More About: design, inspiration, List, Lists, web design

For more Dev & Design coverage:

57 New Digital Media Resources You May Have Missed

Posted: 15 May 2011 06:15 AM PDT

icons image

Hello and how are you from Disney World! With most of the Mashable staff in Orlando for Mashable Connect, we’ve had our hands full. However, that hasn’t stopped us from turning out another week of digital media tools and resources.

Have a look through this megalist for stories on YouTube alternatives, crowdsourcing and global communities, connected TVs and how social media has changed marketing campaigns.

Looking for even more social media resources? This guide appears every weekend, and you can check out all the lists-gone-by here any time.

Editors’ Picks

Social Media

For more social media news and resources, you can follow Mashable’s social media channel on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.

Tech & Mobile

For more tech news and resources, you can follow Mashable’s tech channel on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.

Business & Marketing

For more business news and resources, you can follow Mashable’s business channel on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.

Image courtesy of WebTreats Etc.

More About: business, facebook, Features Week In Review, gadgets, List, Lists, Mobile 2.0, social media, tech, technology, twitter

For more Social Media coverage:
 

Information Sharing Copyright © 2011