Spun » Marketing

2012 Grammys Embrace Digital, Mobile and Social Media

admin — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 04:39:55 +0000

The 54th Grammy Awards ceremony is only eight days away and the Recording Academy is kicking off the next phase of its digital and social campaign. Under the heading of “We Are Music” the Academy and its partners are harnessing the power of social, mobile and digital to make the… read more

4 Ways to Tweet as a Visual Brand

admin — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 08:06:00 +0000

This post originally appeared on the American Express OPEN Forum, where Mashable regularly contributes articles about leveraging social media and technology in small business.

Companies that rely on a visual or photographic web presence often find it difficult to convey their media on Twitter. Take, for instance, apparel brands that need… read more

Olapic’s Crowd-Sourced Photo Campaigns Becoming a Sports Trend

admin — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 07:45:31 +0000

Crowd-sourced social photo sharing appears to be the latest community engagement trend among professional sports teams, largely powered by the online startup Olapic.

Olapic’s service allows organizations to quickly and easily enable fans, readers or other types of audiences to submit photos of their own experiences at a game or… read more

10 Hot Web Startups Changing the Face of Retail

admin — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 07:07:24 +0000

Macala Wright is the publisher of FashionablyMarketing.Me, one of the leading fashion and retail industry business websites. She is a retail consultant and business strategist who specializes in marketing consulting for fashion, luxury and lifestyle brands. You can follower her on Twitter at @InsideFMM or @Macala.

In 2010, branded content was… read more

Donald Trump, Deion Sanders and Apolo Ohno Star in Century 21′s Super Bowl Ad [VIDEO]

admin — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 06:53:46 +0000

Each day, Mashable highlights one noteworthy YouTube video. Check out all our viral video picks.

Century 21 has enlisted a team of celebrities for its first-ever Super Bowl commercial.

Reality TV star and business mogul Donald Trump, Pro Football Hall of Fame member Deion Sanders and Olympic speed skater Apolo Ohno… read more

How Social Media Changed ESPN Audio’s Super Bowl Week

admin — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 05:21:44 +0000

Social and mobile technologies aren’t just important for guerilla marketing campaigns and grassroots outreach.

They’re also changing how the world’s biggest broadcast media companies do business.

Mashable recently spoke with top executives and personalities from the sports behemoth ESPN during the company’s biggest week of the year for Super Bowl… read more

GE’s Beth Comstock: Social Media Redefines the Focus Group

admin — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 04:43:15 +0000

Mashable’s Davos coverage is presented by BMW i, a new concept dedicated to providing mobility solutions for the urban environment.

GE’s Chief Marketing Officer Beth Comstock sat down with Mashable founder and CEO Pete Cashmore to talk about her role leading business… read more

5 iPhone Twitter Apps that Do More Than Just Tweet

admin — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 01:59:15 +0000

Leo Widrich is the co-founder of Buffer, a new way to publish tweets and Facebook posts at better times for more impact. He writes more about social media tips and tools on the Buffer blog. Follow him on Twitter @LeoWid or subscribe to his Facebook updates.

When Twitter recently launched the… read more

Atari Assemble! Super-Team of Veteran Developers Embrace Mobile Gaming

admin — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:16:49 +0000

The good old 8-bit band is getting back together. Seamus Blackley, the co-creator of Microsoft’s Xbox, has assembled a super team of Atari’s original programmers to form a game studio meant to re-revolutionize the gaming industry.

Blackley grabbed 11 of Atari‘s game creators to form Innovative Leisure, a gaming company focused… read more

Manage Your Money to Avoid Freelancing Failures

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:59:22 +0000

Business is always about monetizing one component from among a host of other important things. The reason behind every business is to make money or generate revenues. Given the inherent focus on revenues, when launching a business or a site, it is critical to understand how to manage finances, which… read more

How To Use Custom Post Types To Organize Online Marketing Campaigns

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:04:53 +0000

Custom post types add a level of flexibility to WordPress that makes this open-source Web development platform more useful on many levels. Whenever I have been faced with a Web-based task, especially one that involves organizing information, the first thing I do is examine WordPress to determine if it can… read more

Ask Freelance Switch: Building an Agency and Freelancing Internationally

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:00:55 +0000

In this issue of Ask FreelanceSwitch, we look at growing into an agency and freelancing internationally. Ask FreelanceSwitch is a regular column here that allows us to help beginners get a grip on freelancing. If you have a question about freelancing that you want answered, send an email to… read more

Email Marketing Best Practices

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:00:25 +0000

Email Marketing Best Practices is a post from: Free Email Templates

Email Marketing Best Practices

With the kind of fierce competition that is being experienced on the online market, every website owner has been forced to find more effective ways of keeping their clients hooked to their sites. However, this is not… read more

Why Context Is King in the Future of Digital Marketing

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:45:57 +0000

Jonathan Gardner is director of communications at ad company Vibrant Media. He has spent his career as an innovator at the nexus of media and technology, having worked in communications leadership roles and as a journalist around the world.

An avalanche of devices, platforms, channels, and information is crushing consumers as they go… read more

Google Kicks Off Super Bowl XLVI with Social Blitz

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:35:22 +0000

Google is suiting up for Super Bowl XLVI this Sunday by launching a set of football-focused features and services to help you get your game on.

Game Day with Google is a site offered through Google’s Inside Search. The specially-built site is… read more

HBO and Miso Bring “Game of Thrones” Fans to the Second Screen

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:07:26 +0000

HBO is partnering with Miso to bring Game of Thrones fans an awesome second screen experience.

Miso launched its new SideShow platform at the end of 2011. The idea is to allow fans or networks to create customizable, synchronized content to go alongside what airs on TV. This can include trivia,… read more

8 Things You Should Know Before Building a Mobile App

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:49:20 +0000

Seth Porges is a magazine editor and the creator of Cloth, an iOS fashion app for iPhone and iPod Touch. His Twitter handle is @sethporges.

App appeal is obvious. The barrier to entry? So low! The upshot of producing the next Angry Birds or beer-chug simulator? So high! Heck, with just… read more

Old Spice’s Terry Crews Crashes a Bounce Ad [VIDEO]

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:33:32 +0000

In the latest evolution of Old Spice‘s “what will they do next?” social media ad campaign, spokesman Terry Crews literally crashes an ad for Bounce.

The brand chose Crews, a former NFL player perhaps best known as Julius, the father on Chris Rock’s Everybody Hates Chris, to personify its… read more

Social Media Has Turned Super Bowl XLVI Teams’ Marketing Upside Down

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 07:50:10 +0000

The explosive growth of social media over the past four years has drastically changed how the Giants and Patriots market themselves and connect with fans compared to the two teams’ most recent Super Bowl trips.

“It’s a whole new world compared to last time,” Nilay Shah, the Giants’ director of digital… read more

Groundhog Phil Says ‘WTF’ to Groundhog Day [INTERVIEW]

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 07:18:25 +0000

In a hard-hitting interview (sarcasm), I dug up some exclusive responses from Groundhog Day‘s world famous critter, Punxsutawney Phil.

Twitter account @GroundhogPhil, which has 4,400 followers, reveals how he really feels about the Feb. 2 holiday and even trash talks fellow Twitter animals, including Bronx Zoo Cobra and NYT Sexy… read more

What to Do When Your Website Gets Hacked

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:54:55 +0000

Dallas Lawrence is the chief global digital strategist for Burson-Marsteller, one of the world’s leading public relations and communications firms. He is a Mashable contributor on emerging media trends, online reputation management and digital issue advocacy. You can connect with him on Twitter @dallaslawrence.

If an individual or activist group broke… read more

Steve Jobs Mocked in Ad for Android Tablet [VIDEO]

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 01:41:24 +0000

Steve Jobs, sporting a halo and wings, extols the virtues of an Android tablet in a Taiwanese ad that’s getting attention in the U.S. for its disrespectful treatment of the late Apple cofounder.

The 20-second ad, which hit YouTube this week, features Taiwanese comedian and impersonator Ah-Ken. Clad in… read more

Start Your Own Email Newsletter the Easy Way with TinyLetter

admin — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:00:04 +0000

Most of us have sent emails to multiple people at once, whether a holiday email to family or a marketing newsletter to fans and customers. Many of us have gotten emails with dozens of addresses at the top where the sender sent the email to their whole list by just… read more

Email Guidelines

admin — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:21:44 +0000

Email Guidelines is a post from: Free Email Templates

Email Guidelines

Granted, the social media hit the World like a Big Bang. Anyone who is anyone is now a chronic blogger, and anyone who is not in it looks like a dead man walking. This may very well be, but one… read more

How to make your type more appealing on the web

admin — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:25:01 +0000

Source

Instagram Users Snap Spectacular Shots at Sailing’s Toughest Event [PICS]

admin — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:32:41 +0000

An AbuDhabi highway shot by Liam Goslett, a 19-year-old photographer from Toronto whose Tumblr blog is called Liam… read more

Super Bowl Viewers Will Check Phones 10 Times During the Game [STUDY]

admin — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 03:27:22 +0000

Nearly half of Super Bowl XLVI viewers will check their mobile device as many as 10 times during the game, and almost a third of viewers under age 45 will watch the game “with device in hand.”

More than 80% of viewers say they’ll use their mobile device during the… read more

Best of Tuts+ in January 2012

admin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:00:55 +0000

Each month, we bring together a selection of the best tutorials and articles from across the whole Tuts+ network. Whether you’d like to read the top posts from your favourite site, or would like to start learning something completely new, this is the best place to start!

Psdtuts+ — Photoshop Tutorials

Create… read more

What Humans Want: More Domestic Robots [STUDY]

admin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 08:45:20 +0000

People would like to have their own Rosie the Robot — think The Jetsons — and would even borrow money to buy a robot that could complete domestic chores.

A survey from the marketing analytics firm Persuadable Research shows that 68%… read more

RIM Backtracks After Twitter Users Hijack Hashtag

admin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 03:42:51 +0000

Like McDonald’s before it, RIM has found there’s a reason open-ended Twitter campaigns are called “bashtags.”

The trouble started on New Year’s Eve, when the brand sponsored Dick Clark’s show and ran a billboard in New York’s Times Square: “Let’s #BeBold in 2012.” RIM claims it received more than 35,000… read more

4 Inspiring Examples of Digital Storytelling

admin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 02:38:31 +0000

Layla Revis is vice president of digital influence at Ogilvy PR Worldwide. Her specialties include international affairs, tourism and multicultural marketing.

In 2011, Sundance Film Festival created The New Frontier Story Lab, an initiative created to foster the development of a new style of media production. As media began to depart… read more

Finding Work on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter

admin — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:00:56 +0000

I love a good infographic, and this one created by Jobvite (view full infographic post or view it at full size) is really cool. It shows how Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter help people find work.

This research looks at how people are using social media to look for and find… read more

Polling App Makes Blog Feedback Painless

admin — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:59:03 +0000

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.

Name: Quipol

Quick Pitch: Quipol is a web application that makes creating and embedding polls on blogs easy.

Genius… read more

Giants? Patriots? Mobile and Social to Win Super Bowl XLVI

admin — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 09:32:09 +0000

The New York Giants and New England Patriots face off for gridiron glory this Sunday in Super Bowl XLVI. But the game’s real winners could be social networks and mobile technologies — as well as the marketers who best leverage those platforms.

A look back at how fans engaged with… read more

Top 5 Common Business Misconceptions On Online Marketing

admin — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 09:25:19 +0000

Top 5 Common Business Misconceptions On Online Marketing

6 Ways to Give Your App a Leg Up on the Competition

admin — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 08:44:56 +0000

Paul Baldwin is the chief marketing officer of Outfit7 Inc., a subsidiary of Out Fit 7 Ltd, the leading entertainment app developer. Paul has more than 17 years of experience developing, marketing and monetizing digital entertainment content.

Spend a few minutes browsing through both the Android and Apple app stores and… read more

Android Users Most Likely to Use Phones While in the Bathroom

admin — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:58:37 +0000

Can’t part with your phone even when you’re in the bathroom? You’re in good company. About 75% of Americans admit they use their phones in the bathroom, according to a new study.

A report by marketing agency 11mark found that three in four people are texting, emailing and even talking on… read more

Turn Your Facebook Timeline Into a Movie

admin — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 04:58:02 +0000

A browser tool launched Monday transforms content from your Facebook Timeline into a fast-paced movie.

In what will surely incite a roller coaster of flashbacks, Timeline Movie Maker from marketing agency Definition 6 lets you become a filmmaker with the click of a button. Definition 6 collaborated with Facebook.

After Movie Maker… read more

The Swarm: Short Horror Film Made Entirely on Phones [VIDEO]

admin — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 04:08:41 +0000

Each day, Mashable highlights one noteworthy YouTube video. Check out all our viral video picks.

The Swarm is all about shallow breathing, heavy petting and Xperia smartphones. The short horror film, shot entirely on Sony’s Xperia Arc S phones, follows a group of (mostly) horny teenagers in London who come face… read more

Who’s Winning? The Most-Shared Super Bowl Ads So Far

admin — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 03:54:05 +0000

We’ve just entered the Year of the Dragon, but Super Bowl 2012 is shaping up to be the Year of the Dog.

No less than five of the ads featured in Unruly‘s list of Super Bowl ads with the most traction star dogs, including the early favorite — Volkswagen’s “The… read more

How You Should Use Google+ for Your Business

admin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 23:00:31 +0000

Chris Brogan is the author of the new book, Google+ for Business: How Google’s Social Network Changes Everything.

As a Google+ skeptic (heck, I’m skeptical of all new social media) I was interested to learn more, so I sat down and watched this video where Michael Stelzner of Socialmediaexaminer.com interviewed… read more

5 Ways for Photographers to use an iPad to Jumpstart their Business

admin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:15:12 +0000

1. Editing On-the-Go

The iPad is never going to replace a desktop computer for photo editing. However, it does come in handy when you are looking to quickly edit a few pictures. I recently traveled home for the holidays. My parents wanted a picture for their Christmas card. I was able to… read more

The Psychology Of Color In Design

admin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:12:15 +0000

Have you ever wondered why you seem to be getting hungrier while waiting to place your order at a fast food place or why you eat faster than any human should ingest that poison? Have you ever heard of a “power tie” in business?

There are things that excite the human… read more

Pinterest Becomes Top Traffic Driver for Retailers [INFOGRAPHIC]

admin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 04:22:14 +0000

Pinterest, a two-year-old social bookmarking site that lets users collect and share things they like on the web, is driving increasingly significant amounts of traffic to retailers’ websites.

The service enables users to create online bulletin boards, or “pinboards,” for popular categories such as home decor, food and wedding inspiration. Members… read more

How To Avoid Hiring The Wrong Person For Your Startup

admin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 03:38:29 +0000

Chris Rickborn is the COO and co-founder for Unrabble, a cloud-computing hiring software company that helps busy startups make great hires.

In a startup, hiring a new employee can be a business-changing event. The smaller the organization, the more impact each employee has on its ultimate success.

Don’t get me wrong… read more

Tweet Your Best Shot to Make NBA’s Curry Your Voicemail Assistant

admin — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 21:15:12 +0000

How would you like to put an NBA star to work as your own personal phone operator?

That’s more or less the idea behind a Twitter-driven contest by Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry. Curry has called for fans to tweet him video clips their best moves from the game H-O-R-S-E,… read more

Tech Companies Ramping Up the Green Jobs [INFOGRAPHIC]

admin — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 01:40:07 +0000

If you’re looking for a new job, but you’re also a friend of the environment, there could be a perfect position for you in the tech sector. More than ever before, tech companies are committed to sustainability — they’re developing greener devices, increasing the life cycle of products and developing… read more

Before IPO, Facebook Takes the Fight Against Clickjacking to the Courts

admin — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 22:47:43 +0000

Facebook is turning to the courts to fight the “clickjacking” scourge which sometimes plagues the social networking site. The news comes as rumors are circulating that Facebook’s initial public offering (IPO) could be happening as early as this week, with a possible offering of up to $10 billion in shares.

If… read more

7 Lead Generation Trends For 2012 — What You Need to Do Right Now [SPONSORED]

admin — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 02:03:28 +0000

This post is brought to you by HubSpot, an inbound marketing software company based in Cambridge, MA, that makes a full platform of marketing software, including marketing automation tools. For more information on sponsored posts, read here.

You decide. Is this 2012 AD or is it 0008 FB — the eighth… read more

Interview with Freelance Marketer Danny Iny

admin — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:00:10 +0000

Want to boost your profile? Add additional income streams to your freelancing business? Release your own self published book? It’s time to have a chat with author and freelance marketer Danny Iny.

He quit school at the age of fifteen to start his first freelance web design business. The only… read more

5 Ways to Get Ahead of the Competition at SXSW 2012

admin — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:51:10 +0000

Mark Gilbreath is the co-founder and CEO of LiquidSpace, the mobile application that helps anyone find a great space to work now.

Approaching SXSW for the first time last year, we were not quite sure what to expect. I offered advice on what I know best — staying productive amidst the… read more

Cable Networks Embrace Social TV, Creating New Social Apps

admin — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 07:47:07 +0000

As the mid-TV season continues to roll out, cable networks like FX and USA are doubling down on social TV campaigns and show integrations.

Using mobile apps and tablet apps, social networks such as Facebook and check-in services like GetGlue and Miso, cablers are focusing on connecting fans with show… read more

7 Ways to Follow ‘The Hunger Games’ Movie on Social Media

admin — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 03:51:44 +0000

1. Capitol Couture

The newly launched Capitol Couture blog is dedicated to the styles featured in the upcoming film…. read more

7 Key Tips for Leveraging Big Data

admin — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 02:51:07 +0000

Dan Kimball is the Chief Marketing Officer of Kontagent, and an advisory board member for AppNation. Follow Dan on Twitter at @dmkimball05.

One of my company’s clients, the CEO of a top social and mobile game publisher, recently commented: “When you’re learning how to ski, you learn pretty quickly that… read more

Ferris Bueller at the Super Bowl? Online Tease Leaves Few Clues [VIDEO]

admin — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:43:30 +0000

We haven’t heard much from Ferris Bueller since 1986, but apparently he’s taken some time off to do a Super Bowl ad.

This 10-second teaser shows Bueller star Matthew Broderick asking “How can I handle work on a day like today?” and then cues a snippet of “Oh Yeah,” the… read more

Make Time for YOU – Part Two

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 22:00:55 +0000

It’s the beginning of the year and things are slow. You are hustling to get work and the work that comes your way you don’t feel you can turn down. By the time summer rolls around, you have been working your butt off and let things—like life outside of… read more

9 Steps to Starting Your Freelance Web Design Business

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:00:40 +0000

So, you want to be a freelance web designer? Ah, the glamor of it all.

Your own boss, answering only to the call of your creative muse… get up, feel inspired, do some work, go for a walk, laugh knowingly with other freelancers who have also discovered The Secret… read more

Creative Uses for QR Codes

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:29:17 +0000

Nowadays we look around and all over the places see QR codes embedded into the ads, buildings, billboards, newspapers, cups, clothes and even into the roads.

The usage of QR (Quick Response) codes in promotional marketing is a great idea and just one more awesome way to engage people… read more

Macworld Enters 3rd Year Post-Apple; Is it Still Relevant?

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:38:44 +0000

The annual Macworld exposition begins on Thursday in San Francisco, and for the twenty-eighth consecutive year will bring together Apple fans, users and developers. But this installment adds a new twist — and a new name.

It’s now billed as Macworld | iWorld, which better captures “the essence of what… read more

10 Tips for Building a Strong Online Community Around Your Startup

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 06:59:00 +0000

Megan Berry is Senior Marketing Manager for Klout, the standard for online influence. She also blogs at The Huffington Post and Brazen Careerist. You can follow her on Twitter as @meganberry.

Building a community around your startup can be one of the cheapest ways to create momentum for your product. A… read more

Boxee With Live TV Is a Cord Cutter’s Dream [REVIEW]

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 02:35:51 +0000

Home

The home screen in Boxee 1.5 now has a new “Live TV” option when the Live TV dongle… read more

McDonald’s Follows Twitter Fiasco With Another Hashtag Campaign

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:13:08 +0000

McDonald’s — whose last Twitter campaign, themed #McDstories, became a magnet for criticism of the brand — launched another hashtag campaign on Wednesday. The new drive is called #littlethings.

The fast food giant introduced the talking point with the following tweet, which hit at 11:42 EST: “No line at the bank,… read more

Risultati eccezionali per Apple nel Q1 2012. Ma per i soliti detrattori: “è solo marketing senza sostanza”

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:11:50 +0000

“Non riesco a capire come ci siano tante persone così ottuse che acquistino prodotti Apple”. E’ uno dei tanti messaggi che circolano su Twitter da qualche ora dopo che Apple ha reso noti i risultati relativi al Q1 2012 (ottobre-dicembre 2011).

Già, non si riesce a capire e a credere…. read more

Super Bowl Ads Will Get a Second Life on Facebook [INFOGRAPHIC]

admin — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 01:31:44 +0000

If you were a Super Bowl viewer in 1984 who left the room during Apple’s famous “1984″ ad introducing the Mac, you would have soon discovered you made a massive mistake.

In those days before YouTube, if you missed a Super Bowl ad, you really missed it. That was especially true… read more

What Successful Products Teach Us About Web Design

admin — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 21:01:04 +0000

Web design is a craft that is constantly evolving and yet also sometimes sabotaged. The moment a design is released, a new version is born. In the beginning, like a baby, it seems vulnerable and weak, but in time it grows up and becomes self-sufficient. Redesigning a website for its… read more

What Should You Do Before Launching a (Successful) Blog

admin — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:40:33 +0000

In the past few years, the Internet has developed more and more, encompassing new online presences everyday; this can make one think about this amazing trend and when it will present a lower growth ratio. It is practically impossible to state exactly how many websites are being created each year… read more

Web App Makes Paying with Nine Credit Cards Okay

admin — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:17:03 +0000

Name: Splitable

Quick Pitch: Splitable lets you divide the cost of anything with anyone online.

Genius Idea: Think of… read more

4 Things RIM’s New CEO Can Do to Fix the Company

admin — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 07:34:08 +0000

Research in Motion, better known as RIM, used to be one of the most dominating smartphone makers in the world. But it’s seen its market share — and reputation — flounder of late. So it wasn’t that surprising that the company finally did what many investors were asking for: get… read more

21 Essential Community Management Resources

admin — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 06:00:13 +0000

Today is Community Manager Appreciation Day, and we have plenty of resources for those who are managing their own communities.

With a bevy of social spaces to choose from, creating a potent and tight-knit community around a product or brand can seem daunting, even for those experienced in the social… read more

How to Register Your New Business Name

admin — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 03:38:16 +0000

You’ve brainstormed, polled your family and friends and conducted some kind of focus group testing. You’ve come up with a cool domain name. Finally, you’ve crossed one of the trickiest hurdles for any new business — finding the right name for your new brand.

But not so fast. Before you… read more

The Most-Shared 2012 Super Bowl Ad Teasers So Far [VIDEOS]

admin — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 03:26:37 +0000

With the Super Bowl less than two weeks away, advertisers are following one of two plays: Remain completely mum about what they’re going to do, or attempt to maximize that $3.5 million ad spend with teaser videos on YouTube.

Actually, there’s a third option as well: Run a contest with consumer-generated… read more

How Sites Like Contently Aim to Help Freelancers Find Work

admin — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 23:00:13 +0000

I had never heard of the freelance-writing online marketplace Contently until I stumbled across this piece of info from the Wall Street Journal:

Freelance-writing marketplace Contently has raised a $2 million Series A round led by Lightbank. Co-founder Shane Snow said he started the company to help resolve some of… read more

One Hello World: The Soundtrack to Your Voicemails

admin — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 04:20:31 +0000

If you think your voicemail inbox is intimidating when it’s full, try filtering through hundreds of voicemails on a regular basis. One Hello World is a collection of voicemails from strangers, revealing personal aspirations, deep secrets and confessions — all set to original score. Consider it the audio version of… read more

11 Ways to get Free Marketing for Your Photography

admin — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 19:29:03 +0000

One of the challenges of charging for your photography is figuring out how to get clients. You’ve got the technical know-how, but what about the business and marketing side? Strapped for cash and looking for ways to generate buzz about your photography? No problem. Marketing doesn’t have to cost much… read more

6 Things to Know Before Starting a Business

admin — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 05:10:10 +0000

This post originally appeared on the American Express OPEN Forum, where Mashable regularly contributes articles about leveraging social media and technology in small business.

An entrepreneur’s life can be a real roller coaster. Having started a few businesses in my career, I thought it would be useful to highlight some of… read more

Super Bowl XLVI Gets a Social Media Command Center

admin — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 04:50:28 +0000

Super Bowl XLVI host city Indianapolis has concocted a new way to deal with the madness that comes with managing the world’s biggest annual sporting event. The solution? The Super Bowl’s first-ever social media command center.

A team of strategists, analysts and techies will monitor the digital fan conversation via… read more

CoTweet Gone: Here Are 7 Great Alternatives

admin — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 03:07:06 +0000

The popular social media management application CoTweet will no longer exist after Feb. 15, but we’ve found 7 free or low-cost alternatives that’ll take its place.

What happened to the free Co-Tweet? The service’s parent company, ExactTarget, announced in a blog post this week that it will soon re-christen CoTweet… read more

GO App Lets You Anonymously Share Photos, Videos or Comments [PICS]

admin — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 11:03:30 +0000

If you’ve ever wanted to post a photograph, video or brief comment without your real name or online moniker attached to the content, a fresh mobile app now gives you that option.

GO, which rolled out Friday for Android and in November for iPhone, allows you to capture, share and discover… read more

StyleSeat Is OpenTable for Beauty Appointments

admin — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 10:20:28 +0000

Name: StyleSeat

Quick Pitch: Find and book beauty salon appointments online.

Genius Idea: Robust marketing tools that bring salon… read more

Why 2012 Is the Year of Mobile Advertising

admin — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 04:27:16 +0000

Ernie Cormier is the CEO and president of Nexage, the leading mobile advertising exchange. You can follow Nexage on Twitter @Nexage and read Nexage’s blog here.

Mobile advertising is coming of age. In many ways, it has been driven by the sheer force of the consumer’s insatiable appetite for all… read more

How Kodak Squandered Every Single Digital Opportunity It Had

admin — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 03:35:46 +0000

Kodak has finally formalized what had been expected for years — it’s gone bankrupt. In the past 15 years, digital technology changed photography dramatically, and Kodak, a former heavyweight in the analog film business, got left behind.

That’s the story of Kodak in the broadest of strokes, though it doesn’t capture… read more

Samsung Super Bowl Ad Going for Apple Tackle [VIDEO]

admin — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 01:00:49 +0000

Samsung, which tweaked Apple fanboys and iPhone-mania with a well-received ad last November, will go after the tech behemoth again in an upcoming Super Bowl ad.

Samsung’s first Super Bowl ad will build on the creative concept of that ad, according to a report by The Huffington Post. The… read more

3 Rules to Freelance Consulting Success

admin — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 19:00:26 +0000

When my father left his industry to become a consultant, he was as much of a business rookie as any of the new freelancers who visit this site. Since we’re talking about the early 1980s, business advice for solo practitioners wasn’t as plentiful as it is today.

So, my dad… read more

50 Inspiring Logo Designs

admin — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:58:12 +0000

A logo is an essential part of branding your website and marketing it offline and online. Some logo designs feature simple, beautiful typography whilst others more are fun and colourful. However, all logos should be memorable and able to integrate with your website design effortlessly.

One of the best ways of… read more

Pinterest for Brands: 5 Hot Tips

admin — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 09:40:36 +0000

This post originally appeared on the American Express OPEN Forum, where Mashable regularly contributes articles about leveraging social media and technology in small business.

We’ve all been hearing a lot about Pinterest lately, so you’re probably wondering whether you should take the plunge and create a profile for your company. We… read more

What’s Next for Digital Coupons?

admin — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 04:12:31 +0000

Jeff Hudson is co-founder of Grocery Coupon Network, one of the leading coupon communities on the web. By aggregating the best digital grocery coupons and special offers from local and national brands, the company provides a reliable source for those looking to save money and time.

Couponing had seen unprecedented growth… read more

Today’s Kodak Moment: Bankruptcy

admin — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 03:04:04 +0000

Eastman Kodak company, one of the Pioneers in both analog and digital photography, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Thursday. Despite holding onto patents estimated at $2 billion in value, the company never managed to capitalize on the digital photography field it helped create.

Kodak has been in trouble for… read more

Internet Users to Congress: We Hate SOPA

admin — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:44:25 +0000

With major websites such as Wikipedia and Reddit down Wednesday in protest of SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) and PIPA (Protect IP Act), millions of social media users took to the Internet to express their own opinion on the two bills. And they don’t like them one bit.

In a tweet… read more

Teach What You Know: How to Make a Living on Skillshare

admin — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 00:43:03 +0000

Nate Cooper is an independent academic and co-organizer of Reboot Workshop, an un-conference for nontraditional workers.

Skillshare is a platform for instructor-led, in-person classes. You can search for classes to take or propose to teach a class topic.

As the name implies, Skillshare is a community of experts and entrepreneurs; therefore,… read more

Apple Announces iBooks 2, iBooks Author And iTunes U App

admin — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 23:54:50 +0000

In what could be described as an extremely fitting venue for an education announcement, the Guggenheim Museum in New York, Apple announced today a range of tools designed to help people in education with their studies, namely an updated version of iBooks, iBooks 2, which is designed to integrate more… read more

SOPA: What You Need to Know

admin — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 21:00:01 +0000

Did you happen to see the Google logo on the search engine’s homepage yesterday? If not, here’s what it looked like:

Did you try to look something up on Wikipedia only to see a black screen? You can thank SOPA for both of those blackouts.

SOPA, which stands for Stop Online… read more

5 SEO Trends Writers Should Target in 2012

admin — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 19:00:20 +0000

Freelance writers need to deal with web content all the time, as more and more of publishing goes online.

Although the basic principles of good writing don’t change in the online realm, there are certain differences that writers should be aware of. One of the most important aspects of online… read more

How To Build a Customer Base

admin — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:26:20 +0000

Every business wants customers that bring a lot of website traffic and profits. A strong customer base is the foundation of a successful business. Whether you’re marketing for a blog or for a huge brand, every business needs to focus on its customers. Rome was not built in a day,… read more

How Celebrity Appearances at CES Backfired [INFOGRAPHIC]

admin — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 04:06:28 +0000

By now, you can easily name the celebrities who attended the Consumer Electronics Show last week. But don’t be surprised if you’re struggling to remember which brands they represented.

An overwhelming 85% of social media mentions about those celebrities did not reference the gadgets or companies they were promoting at CES,… read more

How to Grow Your Business With Mobile Paid Search

admin — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 02:58:12 +0000

Jamie Turner’s most recent book is Go Mobile, co-authored with Jeanne Hopkins, VP of marketing at HubSpot. He is also the founder of the 60 Second Marketer and a popular mobile marketing speaker at events and corporations around the globe.

Many business owners are trying to figure out how to use… read more

Printed Web: Print Design Inspired Websites

admin — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:05:44 +0000

It seems things are changing for website design. The minimalist style adopted by many websites is slowly being evolved into something a little more engaging. One of the main sources of inspiration for this change in the way website content is displayed has been print design, particularly newspapers and magazines…. read more

Facebook Stats Analysis: Is Fan Page Growth Slowing?

admin — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 06:58:30 +0000

Jim Tobin is president of Ignite Social Media, a leading social media agency, where he works with clients including Microsoft, Samsung, Chrysler, Verizon and more implementing social media marketing strategies. He is also author of the book Social Media is a Cocktail Party. Follow him on Twitter @jtobin.

We saw as early as April… read more

6 Tips for Handling Breaking Crises on Twitter

admin — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 06:09:00 +0000

If the past year has taught us… read more

Katy Perry Goes Virtual in New Sims Game

admin — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 04:17:57 +0000

Katy Perry in The Sims

Players can download Perry’s likeness and stage props.

Click here to view this gallery.

Any online… read more

5 Ways Businesses Can Use Social Media as a Tool for Progress

admin — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 02:55:07 +0000

Riley Gibson is the CEO and co-founder of Napkin Labs, a startup that helps companies discover insights from their fans, followers and customers. Follow Riley on Twitter or check out the company blog.

It seems like everyone talks about the value of social media, but very few businesses take full advantage… read more

CBS Opens App Store for Sports Geeks

admin — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 02:24:34 +0000

When CBSSports.com launches its 2012 Fantasy Baseball league platform later this month, fans will have a whole slew of new tools to give them an edge against competitors.

Starting Jan. 31, CBSSports.com is opening its own app store – CBS Sports App Central — to allow third-party developers to offer free… read more

Why Having a Mentor is Important for Freelancers

admin — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 23:00:18 +0000

There is only so much you can learn from a textbook. And with technology changing at break neck speeds—there is only so much you can learn in school before, inevetibally, technology changes again.

Internships are a great way for students to get hands on experience working in their chosen field—but… read more

21 Excellent Portfolios and Design Agency Websites

admin — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 11:10:36 +0000

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It has been a while since we last showcased Design Related Websites here, so today we decided to check out how is it that design firms, designers, and other creative agencies are presenting their work. From design studios to brand firms and freelance designer’s portfolios, you… read more

Want Half-Off Facebook Ads? Keep Users On-Site [VIDEO]

admin — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 03:42:56 +0000

Facebook offered advertisers a discount of as much as 45% on cost-per-click rates if they directed users to other Facebook destinations rather than to external websites during the fourth quarter of 2011, according to a report by marketing agency… read more

How to Pick the Right Name for Your Business

admin — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 01:00:03 +0000

Abstract or dead simple? Clever irony? Cute and playful? There are endless paths to take when brainstorming your new business name. But for many small business owners and entrepreneurs, the naming process is fraught with uncertainty and doubt.

Yet, the stakes couldn’t be higher. A business begins with a name… read more

5 Useful iPad Apps for Doctors, Patients and Med Students

admin — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 23:22:24 +0000

The days are gone when a doctor walked into a patient’s room and grabbed the paper chart at the end of his bed to check his medical history. iPads and tablet computing have revolutionized the way many companies do business, and the medical field is no different. The sharp, intuitive… read more

Are You Making These 8 Marketing Mistakes?

admin — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 23:00:54 +0000

It’s the beginning of a new year and you have decided to get serious about marketing yourself as a freelancer. Congratulations—that’s half the battle.

You have a lot of work ahead of you, and I found some tips in this article by Steve McKee for businessweek.com that will help… read more

4 Steps to Becoming a Freelance Copywriter

admin — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 22:00:44 +0000

If you are reading this, chances are, you’ve already made up your mind that you want to be a copywriter.

However I do have to warn you, it isn’t easy!

Most potential copywriters wish to take up the vocation because they love writing. When you have to write… read more

33 New Digital Media Resources You May Have Missed

admin — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 05:29:47 +0000

Did you keep yourself busy this week reading about all things CES? Well, just in case you missed anything outside of Vegas, it’s time for the weekly features roundup.

We have tips for navigating the dating scene with digital media, tricks for making your Pinterest cutting edge and pointers for getting… read more

Square Lets Entrepreneurs Round Out Their Payment Options

admin — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 04:22:29 +0000

This post originally appeared on the American Express OPEN Forum, where Mashable regularly contributes articles about leveraging social media and technology in small business.

If you’re an entrepreneur in the retail sector, you’ve no doubt heard the following phrase that has brought many transactions to a grinding halt: “Do you take… read more

Inside the Recruiter’s Head: What He’s Really Asking You During the Interview

admin — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 23:52:56 +0000

Jayne Mattson is Senior Vice President at Keystone Associates, a leading career management and transition services consulting firm in Boston, Massachusetts. Mattson specializes in helping mid-to-senior level individuals in new career exploration, networking strategies and career decisions based on corporate culture fit.

You applied for a new job, and you’ve been… read more

Our favorite tweets of the week Jan 9-Jan 15, 2012

admin — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 15:54:41 +0000

Source

5 Crucial Points Before Becoming a Freelance Web Designer

admin — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 15:10:13 +0000

Advertise here with BSA

A freelance career offers a plethora of opportunities and rewards for web designers like you, just itching to make it on your own. At the same time, it can lead to a lot of headache, even failure, if you don’t grasp a few basic skills… read more

Mentos Game Lets You Punch Spider from a Recent Ad

admin — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 02:45:16 +0000

The Mentos candy brand continues to forge its own odd path through social media marketing with its latest launch, an iOS game called Spider Swiper.

The free game, which went live on Saturday, is based on a year-old ad from BBH London that featured a guy who tries to kill a… read more

The Job Search and Confidentiality [INFOGRAPHIC]

admin — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 01:01:09 +0000

We know that social media is a huge part of the modern job search. But being active on social media also can prevent you from searching stealthily. Coworkers and bosses can see who you’ve recently followed on Twitter (handles of job boards could tip them off), Facebook friends can see… read more

Comics of the week #112

admin — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 15:02:22 +0000

Source

10 Creative Ways to Use QR Codes for Marketing

admin — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 11:13:31 +0000

Ekaterina Walter is a social media strategist at Intel. She is a part of Intel’s Social Media Center of Excellence and is responsible for company-wide social media enablement and corporate social networking strategy. She was recently elected to serve on the board of directors of WOMMA.

QR codes have been around… read more

5 Strategies for Creating Magnetic Online Content

admin — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 23:58:15 +0000

Frank Marquardt is director of content strategy at The Barbarian Group, a digital services and creation company. Find him on Twitter @tralition.

Traditional advertising worked through distraction — an interruption to our sitcom, a page between magazine articles, a banner teasing our attention at the top of a webpage.

Then entertainment… read more

How Commercial Plugin Developers Are Using The WordPress Repository

admin — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 22:35:29 +0000

A few weeks ago I wrote about how you can put together a great readme.txt for the WordPress plugin directory. In addition to using a WordPress readme as a tool to help out your users, you can use it to promote your commercial products and services. While commercial theme developers… read more

Tips for Making Clients Read Your Emails

admin — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 20:06:10 +0000

Email marketing is one of the in-vogue techniques in the online marketing world. Over time, it has turned out to be one of the best ways to interact with one’s audience, keep them informed and share updates. When people share their email addresses with you, a website administrator, they expect… read more

Free download: Balio Web UI Kit

admin — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:49:39 +0000

Source

How the Australian Open Is Acing Digital Media

admin — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 09:40:59 +0000

The 2012 Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament may just be the most digitally connected major sporting event of all time.

A Slamtracker already provides real-time updates of qualifying play that began on Wednesday, and fans can relive and share their favorite moments via Facebook and Twitter through a database… read more

5 Proven Ways to Generate Revenue From Facebook

admin — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 09:22:57 +0000

Brian Carter is author of The Like Economy: How Businesses Make Money With Facebook and co-author of Facebook Marketing: Leveraging Facebook’s Features For Your Marketing Campaigns. He is a keynote speaker, trainer and consultant.

Facebook, with its 800+ million users, presents a huge opportunity for business. But the first question people… read more

Google: Sorry, Twitter, We Don’t Index the @ Symbol

admin — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 07:54:46 +0000

If you haven’t noticed that Google+ pages are increasingly becoming a part of Google search results, you may have noticed Google and Twitter’s increasingly public spat about it.

Twitter argues that by promoting Google+ in search results, Google isn’t providing the most relevant social results. Meanwhile, Google has implied it would… read more

4 Short-Form Blogging Networks Perfect for Customer Engagement

admin — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 07:05:47 +0000

Anne Buehner is the associate social media strategist at Red Door Interactive, a strategic partner dedicated to ensuring businesses acquire, convert, retain and engage their customers wherever they are. Email her at abuehner@reddoor.biz.

Toasting the new year is not what it used to be. Which comes first – a kiss from… read more

I Can Has Cheezburger Turns 5, Plans to Go Black to Protest SOPA

admin — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 05:34:55 +0000

Exactly 14,683 “lolz” after launching in 2007, I Can Has Cheezburger is celebrating its fifth anniversary this week, just before all Cheezburger sites will go black Jan. 18 to protest the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA).

The humor website features the lolcat meme — photographs of cats with text placed on… read more

20 Impressive Free CSS/xHTML Website Templates

admin — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 04:25:19 +0000

20 Impressive Free CSS/xHTML Website Templates

Enter the Google Maps Labyrinth [VIDEO]

admin — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 04:22:10 +0000

Google Maps gets the low-tech treatment in a new ad that imagines the app as the classic Labyrinth game.

The online video spot, the first for Google from San Francisco ad agency Venables Bell & Partners, uses a wooden gyroscopic structure to help two players navigate a blue ball…. read more

3 Major Concerns for Brands Over ICANN’s New Domain Registry Options

admin — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 03:39:45 +0000

Jeff Ernst is a principal analyst at Forrester Research, serving CMOs and marketing leaders.

One thing’s for sure: ICANN’s gTLD program is a game-changer. The introduction of new .brand and .category gTLDs represents the biggest change to the Internet naming system since, well, since we’ve had websites.

The Internet Corporation for… read more

Four Tips for Improving Your SEO

admin — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 22:00:52 +0000

Search Engine Optimization—three words that can make or break your website. If you haven’t been paying attention on how to up your SEO by now, it’s time to start listening.

Search Engine Optimization is the process of improving the visibility of your website in search engines. Go ahead and look… read more

Announcement: Winners of Christmas & New Year Special Giveaway

admin — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 18:07:54 +0000

Few week ago, we created a contest at instantShift called Christmas & New Year Special Giveaway had announced the giveaway of some of the most famous hardware and design related prizes worth Over $20,000.

We’ve got more than 600 response comments. After voiding spam and non-legit comments we have left with… read more

10 excellent SEO plug-ins for every blog

admin — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 15:11:22 +0000

Source

10 Tips to Turn Twitter into a Marketing Tool

admin — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 07:45:19 +0000

10 Tips to Turn Twitter into a Marketing Tool

What to Expect From Mobile Marketing Tech in 2012

admin — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 03:40:18 +0000

Matthias Galica is CEO of ShareSquare, the leading platform among brand and entertainment marketers for incentivizing offline-to-online consumer engagement.

As new technologies emerge that seek to bridge the real world with the digital, the offline-to-online marketing learning curve only gets steeper.

For instance, what is the future of the QR code, and… read more

Cadbury UK Uses Google+ for Product Launch

admin — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 03:26:00 +0000

In what may be a first, Cadbury UK has used Google+ to introduce a new product.

“Remember this moment: the first time Cadbury revealed a new product on Google+,” the brand wrote on its Google+ Page Wednesday afternoon. “The delicious new Dairy Milk Bubbly, available with milk or white bubbles… read more

Google Fires Back at Twitter: You Took Yourself Out of Search

admin — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 02:08:51 +0000

The war of words between Google and Twitter escalated Wednesday, as Google responded to Twitter’s accusation that plans to further integrate Google+ into its regular search results is “bad for people.”

“We are a bit surprised by Twitter’s comments, because they chose not to renew their agreement with us last… read more

High-End Brands Are Missing the Boat on Mobile, Study Finds

admin — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 01:36:33 +0000

Prestige retailers are largely failing to keep pace with developments and consumer demand for mobile shopping capabilities, a new study from New York research firm L2 suggests.

In a ranking of 100 well-recognized fashion, beauty, hospitality, watch and jewelry, and retail brands, nearly half were deemed “feeble” in their efforts. Only… read more

The Secrets to Connecting on LinkedIn

admin — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 21:00:10 +0000

I’m fairly new to the whole LinkedIn thing. I’m on it, but I haven’t really been using it to my advantage. I get updates from my Alma Mater’s LinkedIn page each week, but I usually throw that email right in the trash. Is LinkedIn just another social network I… read more

Win a Wibiya Pro plan for one year!

admin — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 15:51:35 +0000

Source

Why Targeted Ads Must Account for Changing Consumer Context

admin — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 07:50:44 +0000

Tom Wentworth is chief marketing officer at Ektron Inc., a provider of web content management and marketing optimization solutions.

Millions of parents have bought Hannah Montana albums online for their young daughters and nieces. Marketers seized the opportunity to launch ads for Hannah lunchboxes and accessories — which unfortunately appear on… read more

Best Email Newsletter Templates for Your Brand Marketing Strategy

admin — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 03:05:19 +0000

Best Email Newsletter Templates for Your Brand Marketing Strategy

It Works For “You”: A User-Centric Guideline To Product Pages

admin — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 23:34:40 +0000

Product pages for e-commerce websites are often rife with ambitious intentions: Recreate the brick-and-mortar shopping experience. Provide users with every last drop of product information. Build a brand persona. Establish a seamless checkout process.

As the “strong link in any conversion” (Richmond), product pages have so much potential. We can create… read more

Make Your Website Mobile Friendly

admin — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 21:00:36 +0000

My husband gave me an iPad as a wedding gift. I thought it was pretty cool. I had no idea how much I would use it for my job.

I take my iPad with me everywhere. I do not have an iPhone, or even a smartphone. The thought of reading… read more

I Am Not a Web Designer

admin — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 19:00:22 +0000

I am not a web designer, and nor are you. Or a developer. Or a writer. Or whatever it is you think you are. You’re not – not in any meaningful way.

Full disclosure: I am actually a web designer, probably, but stick with me here.

I thought I was –… read more

The Top Brands on Pinterest

admin — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 05:48:20 +0000

On Pinterest? Follow Mashable to check out our favorite infographics, tech news, internet memes and digital culture!

There’s a hot new social networking property and, as usual, some brands have already colonized it.

As we embrace the new year, Pinterest has emerged as the answer to the question “What’s new in social… read more

13 Tips for Increasing Your Company’s Google Rank

admin — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 04:33:44 +0000

Scott Gerber is the founder of the Young Entrepreneur Council, a nonprofit organization that promotes youth entrepreneurship as a solution to unemployment and underemployment. The YEC provides young entrepreneurs with access to tools, mentorship, and resources that support each stage of a business’s development and growth.

It goes without saying… read more

Ways to Engage Your Clients

admin — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 23:00:23 +0000

We’ve been talking a lot about engagement lately, so when I saw this post on Mashable about 10 easy customer engagement ideas I was intrigued.

Engagement with your clients doesn’t happen overnight or all at once. It is something that needs to be worked on consistently over time. Engaging your… read more

How to Measure Blog Marketing Performance

admin — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 03:05:19 +0000

How to Measure Blog Marketing Performance

Top Freelance Jobs from Job Board – Week 1, January

admin — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 20:00:20 +0000

Looking for a new client? The FreelanceSwitch job board is a great resource of freelance gigs and opportunities. These opportunities are in various fields, from development to writing to design, and come from a wide range of potential clients. The job board is hand-moderated by dedicated staff and volunteers… read more

Best of the Week #204

admin — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 10:51:32 +0000

It’s time for our best news of this week. We have a lot of graphic and web design, a bit of architecture, ads, tech news, awesome reads and other crazy stuff! So take a look at the links we’ve selected for your inspiration and to keep you updated about what’s… read more

How to Find the Right Digital Training Tool for Your Company

admin — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 08:35:26 +0000

Peter Bray is the chief marketing officer of Trivantis, a provider of innovative e-learning software, including Snap! by Lectora PowerPoint to Flash software and Snap! Empower Flash interactions builder. Free trials of both solutions can be found at SnapbyLectora.com.

Corporate training helps to strengthen a business by focusing on one of… read more

In Sign of the Times, Puma Sends Bloggers to Cover Sailing Race

admin — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 07:54:52 +0000

As the “Everest of Sailing” reaches its third port of call in Abu Dhabi this week, major international media outlets aren’t the only ones covering the action. They will soon be joined by a small bevy of bloggers set loose by one of the competing boats’ sponsors to give documentation… read more

4 Execs Out in Sprint Reorganization [REPORT]

admin — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 05:17:05 +0000

A reshuffle at Sprint has prompted the ouster of four executives, according to a report.

The country’s number three telecom firm is merging the sales and marketing for its business and consumer operations, Reuters reports, citing a memo written by CEO Dan Hesse (pictured) that the news service obtained. As part… read more

Twitter to Host Its First Live Streaming Concert, Starring Tiësto [EXCLUSIVE]

admin — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 03:02:26 +0000

HP and Intel will be hosting the first-ever live stream of a concert on Twitter next week at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show. The headliner: electronic music master Tiësto.

The concert will kick off the launch of a new 10-episode series on YouTube called “In the Booth” — a behind-the-scenes look… read more

Sony to Name PlayStation Guru New President, Stringer Still CEO [REPORT]

admin — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 00:17:35 +0000

Sony CEO Sir Howard Stringer has stepped aside as president, and the company will name its current consumer products chief, Kazuo Hirai, to the position, a Japanese news service is reporting.

Nikkei business daily reports that Hirai could take over for Stringer as early as April. Stringer will remain CEO and… read more

Be Ready When Someone Asks, “What Do You Do?”

admin — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 22:00:36 +0000

I really like the 60-Second Solutions videos on Entrepreneur.com. I thought that the recent video by communications coach Carmine Gallo on creating a 60 second strategy to tell your story was especially useful.

Sometimes it’s hard to explain to people what it is you really do. Many people hear the… read more

Specialist or Generalist: What’s Your Route to Success?

admin — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 19:00:33 +0000

At the end of last year, a fellow freelancer and I were discussing how 2011 panned out for each of us.

“It was overall successful, but when I reviewed where my income came from, I realized I’d become too focused on just one market,” she told me. “I need to… read more

Nikon D4 to blow our minds?

admin — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 10:17:31 +0000

Jared Polin from FroKnowsPhoto.com has just handed me this press release from Nikon on their new D4! Which he says is pure awesome.

Sniff test it? Yes he did… Watch the video below for Jared’s reaction to the newly announced Nikon D4

Potentially available end of Feb 2012 and coming in at… read more

Facebook Business Cards Are Here: 200,000 Users Get Free Bundles

admin — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 04:04:00 +0000

MOO Cards, the makers of MiniCards—petite-sized business cards the size of a stick of gum—DIY business cards, and postcards, wants to make artsy business cards out of your Facebook Timeline.

MOO Cards has partnered with Facebook to make what are simply dubbed Facebook Cards. Each Facebook Card is made from a… read more

Create the Ultimate Landing Page With Unbounce

admin — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Launching a new product or service via the web is no easy task in today’s fast-paced market. There’s plenty of competition and many variables involved in determining whether yours will be a success or failure. One of the metrics marketers use to determine how well their promotional web pages are… read more

Facebook, NBC Joining Forces to Host Social Presidential Debate

admin — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 03:07:11 +0000

NBC and Facebook are teaming up to co-host a Republican debate Sunday night with a unique social media component.

The debate, moderated by Meet the Press host David Gregory, will air on NBC Sunday, Jan. 8 at 9 a.m. ET, two days before the New Hampshire primary. The debate will also be… read more

Starting a T-Shirt Line with No Money

admin — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 22:25:57 +0000

I have to admit right up front that the title of this article is a bit of hyperbole. You might be quick to think that a t-shirt line that can be started without any money cannot possibly be a good one. It’s true that we could easily end this post… read more

Why Customer Service is So Important for Freelancers

admin — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 22:00:34 +0000

The term customer service reminds me of wasted time spent on the telephone with some huge conglomerate that somehow messed up something I purchased. Right now I’m dealing with customer service for both my cable/TV company and my home/auto insurance. It’s infuriating.

But customer service isn’t just for big… read more

Ask FreelanceSwitch: Client Disputes and Lack of Communication

admin — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 19:00:43 +0000

In this issue of Ask FreelanceSwitch, we look at client disputes and lack of communication. Ask FreelanceSwitch is a regular column here that allows us to help beginners get a grip on freelancing. If you have a question about freelancing that you want answered, send an email to askfreelanceswitch@gmail.com.

Question… read more

Designers’ Guide to Float through the Invoicing Process Successfully

admin — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 14:44:33 +0000

Advertise here with BSA

Designers are one of the most interesting professionals of the world. They love their work and do it at their best; however, most of them absolutely freak out when the project comes down to the invoicing process. Basically, all creative professionals find it difficult to… read more

How to Get the Most Out of Google Analytics

admin — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 10:35:12 +0000

After we published a primer for using Google Analytics, readers said they were hungry for more.

Google Analytics has since revamped its design, giving it not only a cleaner look but also updated data sets. You can now find everything from real-time stats to details about which mobile device your site… read more

Citelighter Is Like a Highlighter for the Internet

admin — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 10:12:03 +0000

Name: Citelighter

Quick Pitch: Citelighter keeps information from multiple web sources in one place.

Genius Idea: Making it easy… read more

How to Win Friends on Facebook With Music and Movies — But Not Books [STUDY]

admin — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 01:52:19 +0000

Want more Facebook friends? Then make sure you’re listening to the latest hit music.

A recently published study by three researchers at Harvard examines how and why people make friends on social networks. The study shows that people who share an interest in music and movies are most likely to… read more

Quick Look: AgoraPulse

admin — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 00:00:58 +0000

Quick Look posts are paid submissions offering only a brief overview of an app. Vote in the polls below if you think this app is worth an in-depth AppStorm review!

In this Quick Look, we’re highlighting AgoraPulse. The developer describes AgoraPulse as a Facebook Marketing and CRM suite that helps Facebook… read more

8 Strategies to Get Your Business in a Distraction Free Zone

admin — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 20:00:53 +0000

Physical and mental distractions are stunting the growth of your freelance business. In line with getting focused on my writing career for 2012, I’ve vowed to cut out as many distractions as possible, at the computer and beyond.

Here are eight strategies to get your business in a distraction-free… read more

10 Easy Customer Engagement Ideas for Small Business

admin — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 08:01:53 +0000

Business and technology writer Efraim… read more

Pizza Hut to Pick Stars of Super Bowl Pre-Game Ad Via Facebook

admin — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 04:54:27 +0000

Like many marketers advertising in and around the Super Bowl this year, Pizza Hut’s game plan calls for a little Facebook.

The pizza chain introduced the TV spot below on Jan. 1 that threw down the gauntlet to fans: Do your own rendition of the featured song and your video… read more

Video Conferencing Service iMeet Makes Evernote Its Virtual Notebook

admin — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:12:26 +0000

In the physical world, people take notes and share documents during meetings. Video conference service iMeet is aiming to give virtual meetings the same option through an integration with versatile note-taking service Evernote.

iMeet users can now access any documents saved in their Evernote accounts during meetings. They can easily share… read more

6 Turnkey Tools for Content Distribution

admin — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 23:29:42 +0000

Shane Snow is a New York-based tech journalist and co-founder of Contently.com, a marketplace for brand publishers and journalists.

It’s never been easier to become a publisher, but being a publisher ain’t easy.

Today, the scarce resource in the publishing world is not infrastructure; it’s audience. To compete for reader attention, bloggers… read more

5 Best Practices for Digital Marketers in 2012

admin — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 22:28:40 +0000

Jonathan Gardner is director of communications at ad company Vibrant Media. He has spent nearly two decades as an innovator at the nexus of media and technology, having worked in communications leadership roles and as a journalist around the world.

The egg nog’s been drunk, the bells are done jingling, and… read more

Silent Marketing Tips for Photographers

admin — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 20:51:49 +0000

A Guest post by Agnese Aljena

We all know that word of mouth is the best form of marketing, but for creative industries it is even more important. The world has a perception – “artists don’t like to post advertisments around, they love to create art. And if somebody is hanging… read more

The Lazy Freelancer’s Guide to Market Research

admin — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 19:00:21 +0000

Do freelancers really need market research? After all, some freelancers – and even some businesses – manage to get paying customers without putting a bit of thought into how to acquire those customers. Maybe you could be as lucky as they are, your inbox always full of messages from… read more

Is the traditional business card dead?

admin — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 15:59:08 +0000

Source

Juggling Between Freelance Designer and Business Owner

admin — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 12:16:04 +0000

Advertise here with BSA

The world of digital design is full of both young and experienced talent. Freelancing has slowly become a more affordable career path for many web designers and developers. But it’s not enough to just create pretty websites in HTML/CSS. You also need to have some sense… read more

6 Steps for Protecting Corporate Reputation in the Social Media Age

admin — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 01:53:56 +0000

Layla Revis is vice president of digital influence at Ogilvy PR Worldwide. Her specialties include international affairs, tourism and multicultural marketing.

It takes years to build a good reputation, but seconds to damage it beyond repair, as executives at companies from Dell to Domino’s certainly have found out.

This was a… read more

Best Time to Send Emails

admin — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 00:57:41 +0000

Best Time to Send Emails is a post from: Free Email Templates

Best Time to Send Emails

For a business to run successfully online, designing an effective marketing campaign is very important. This is the only way to reach out to target prospects and to ensure a specific marketing message is delivered… read more

The Emotional Impact of Color

admin — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 19:00:19 +0000

via

Designing a new logo for a brand, especially travel/destination, requires careful consideration of the competitive set, content and how people perceive visual information. After shape, color is the most powerful element in creating brand recognition. It is also the most subjective element because it triggers strong emotions. And to further… read more

Facebook Timeline Is Basically Your Digital Resume

admin — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 04:38:22 +0000

Gerrit Hall is CEO and co-founder of RezScore, a free web application that reads, analyzes and grades resumes instantly to help job seekers write the best resume possible. Connect with Gerrit and RezScore on Facebook and Twitter.

For those of you who don’t know (have you been living under a rock?),… read more

5 Steps for Finding New Customers

admin — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 06:36:41 +0000

Ronald Brown is a successful startup CEO with an extensive background in technology and consumer marketing. His new book, Anticipate. The Architecture of Small Team Innovation and Product Success is available via iTunes, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo.

The subject of finding customers is one of the most mysterious in… read more

Just Did It: Nike Finally Opens a Twitter Account

admin — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 03:00:12 +0000

One of the world’s biggest brands, Nike, just opened its first Twitter account under that name on Thursday.

As of Friday afternoon, the account had around 14,000 followers, including big name athletes like Tiger Woods, Lance Armstrong and Steve Nash. Simply Measured has tracked some of the biggest followers in the… read more

4 Ways Small Business Websites Can Drive More Sales

admin — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 01:55:31 +0000

Aaron Sperling is CEO and co-founder of vFlyer, which provides online marketing solutions for small businesses and independent service providers. You can follow Aaron and his team on their Facebook page, Twitter and on the company blog.  

A scenario: You envision a phenomenal idea, put all of the necessary pieces into… read more

Are You a Natural at Social Media Marketing?

admin — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 01:00:05 +0000

Dave and Carrie Kerpen started their marketing company, Likeable Media, after they created a buzz selling sponsorships to their New York wedding. They raised $100,000 for their wedding and $20,000 for a charity.

The couple, who both had marketing backgrounds, were asked by so many people “what’s next” after their… read more

2011′s Biggest Winners and Losers in Ecommerce

admin — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 22:29:01 +0000

In-demand products, unparalleled site design and usability, competitive search engine marketing, continuous innovative, exciting holiday specials — these are just some of the variables that make up a successful ecommerce business.

On the other hand, some of the top pitfalls for Internet retailers include lousy service, uninventive products, confusing corporate messaging… read more

Express Yourself: Logo Development Best Practices

admin — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 19:00:29 +0000

Travel and destination brands operate in a complex environment. Not only do they compete within the world of travel, but also with many other categories that vie for our personal free and leisure time. This includes TV, movies, video, computer games, the comforts of home, recreational and leisure activities, family… read more

How to Build Your Ultimate Contact List

admin — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 13:40:05 +0000

Note: A few times a month we revisit some of our reader’s favorite posts from throughout the history of FreelanceSwitch. This article by Martha was first published April 12th, 2009, yet is just as relevant and full of useful information today.

A few years ago, articles of this sort were… read more

Now Public: Sexual Harassment Letter That Brought Down HP’s CEO [VIDEO]

admin — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 09:34:06 +0000

When Mark Hurd resigned from Hewlett-Packard in August 2010, it was a shock to the PC industry. HP’s board forced Hurd out when he faced allegations of sexual harassment against employee and reality-TV star Jodie Fisher. The alleged activity was outlined… read more

8 Ways Digital Will Improve B2B Sales in 2012

admin — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 06:19:48 +0000

Guy Nirpaz is the CEO and co-founder of Totango, which analyzes user actions on SaaS applications, providing sales teams invaluable information in qualifying prospects and prioritizing people to contact who are most likely to buy or renew.

How B2B products and services are purchased and sold is rapidly changing. Some call… read more

HP Wants to Print Your Twitter Wishes On Balloons and Set Them Free

admin — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 03:57:00 +0000

Would you be more likely to stick with your New Years resolutions if they were printed on balloons and set free in the Middle Eastern sky? Thanks to a festive marketing campaign from HP, you now have the opportunity to find out.

HP is printing tweets about New Year wishes on… read more

How to Launch a Social Ambassador Campaign

admin — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 01:31:07 +0000

Curry Smith is affiliated with NOLAbound, a unique program that immerses 25 professionals in New Orleans business to discuss the city’s entrepreneurial and social media influence. You can apply to be considered for a spot in the program at www.benolabound.com/apply.

As long as brands want to improve and increase social media… read more

Who Are Your 10 BFFs on Facebook? This App Will Tell You

admin — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 01:12:19 +0000

A Facebook app created by Visa in conjunction with the NFL will help you assemble a team of your 10 closest Facebook friends for a Super Bowl-themed video designed to promote a contest run by the credit card brand.

The “You+10 Draft,” which went live on Thursday, scrapes your Facebook Page… read more

How Mobile Games Are Sports Stars’ Newest Marketing Channel

admin — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 07:23:25 +0000

Heads Up with Cristiano Ronaldo — a mobile game featuring the Portuguese soccer star — has already been a hit for parent company RockLive after less than a month in the iTunes App Store. Users have spent more than 225 million minutes playing the game since its launch on… read more

13 Location-Based Marketing Tips for Entrepreneurs

admin — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 06:05:27 +0000

You want to deliver marketing… read more

Man Uses Google+ Game to Propose to Girlfriend [VIDEO]

admin — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 05:41:34 +0000

In what may be the first marriage proposal on Google+, a man asked his girlfriend to marry him on the network via the game Crime City. On the other hand, it could be just a clever marketing stunt.

According to Funzio, the… read more

Klout CEO Reveals How to Leverage Score for Fame, Fortune, Perks

admin — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 05:36:44 +0000

Klout is a hot-button issue in the social networking world, and it’s a touchy subject for many.

The two-year-old company— which provides social media analytics to measure a user’s influence across social networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn – is no stranger to criticism. Klout’s model hinges on giving… read more

Social Network for Robots Lets You Talk to Your Roomba

admin — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 03:37:33 +0000

It’s possible your Roomba has more to say online than you do.

A new social network, MyRobots, hopes to be the “Facebook for robots.” The network allows users to connect their robotic devices, which can then post status updates like, “The cat is in my way” or “my bin is full.”… read more