facebook application development

Now you’ve gone and done it. You’ve come across a list so enormous, so useful, and so awesome, our futile attempts to describe it have been lost in the tubes of cyberspace.

We’ll just say this: No matter what you’re into — Twitter, Facebook, Mobile Apps, Business Development, or good-old-fashioned YouTube hilarity — you will find it below.

So put down your barbeque, send out another huge thanks to our men and women in uniform, and limber up your scrolling finger — it’s a big one.

If you dig the uber-list, be sure to send some comments our way down below!

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Social Media

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• HOW TO: Disable Facebook’s “Instant Personalization” [PRIVACY]

  New menus on the Facebook home page this week took users by surprise, and left many concerned about the privacy implications of being suddenly more “connected” to their favorite sites and interests. If you’re looking for ways to opt out of these new features, this guide will show you how.

• HOW TO: Spring Clean Your Twitter Account

  An untended Twitter feed can quickly become overgrown with useless tweets and dead weight users. These great tools will help you streamline your Twitter account in no time.

• How Freelancers are Using Social Media for Real Results

  Social media can be a boon for those who make their living gig-to-gig. Sheer networking is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to landing work via the social web. We spoke to freelancers in a variety of fields to find out how they make it happen.

• 9 Essential Social News and Bookmarking Sites for Designers
  The design community is always hungry for content, inspiration, and tutorials. These nine networks are a great place to discover and share creative resources.
• 4 Ways One Non-Profit Uses Location to Increase Engagement
  The National Wildlife Federation has been getting creative with their social media awareness campaigns, particularly when it comes to location-based technologies. This post discusses some of their innovations.
• Tim Ferriss: 7 Great Principles for Dealing with Haters
  For all the personal connections and open sharing done on social networks, you’ll always find a fair share of scathing negativity. Tim Ferriss, author of The Four Hour Work Week, gave a talk at The Next Web ‘10 event in Amsterdam, and had these seven points to share on the subject.
• Gowalla CEO Talks About the Future of Social Media [INTERVIEW]
  We sat down with Josh Williams to discuss the origins of his location-based network, and what current trends in the space mean for the future.
• 5 Free Services for Pre-Scheduling Your Twitter Updates
  Whether for marketing purposes, event promotion, or just keeping your account fresh while you’re on vacation, a tweet scheduler can be a handy tool. Check out these five great ones, all of them free.
• How Twitter’s New Media Blog Aims To Teach By Example
  Twitter’s new blog highlights news organizations with smart Twitter integration in the hope of becoming a resource for the media. We spoke with Twitter about their strategies and goals.
• Top 10 LEGO Movie Tributes on YouTube
  Those stop-motion goodies are back, this time reenacting our favorite flicks in all their colorful plastic glory.
• Top 10 YouTube Cover Songs
  For better or worse, YouTube has become the ultimate repository of musical tributes. From guys in their bedrooms, to a capella cleverness, to guitar-wielding toddlers, this hand-picked list highlights some of the best around.
• 5 Ways to Support World Malaria Day Online
  The fight to end malaria in the developing world has become a rallying cause on the social web. Check out these five easy ways you can make a difference online.
• How Non-Profits are Using Social Media for Real Results
  Social media has become an essential tool for non-profits in their efforts to spread awareness and raise funds. Check out some real-world examples of how some organizations have put the social web to good use.
• Why Content Curation Is Here to Stay
  At times, content creators and content curators have been at odds. But the sheer volume of “stuff” and noise on the web has made curation essential. This post discusses the status of the curator on today’s social web.
• Social Enterprise: 5 Tips for Getting Execs on Board
  There’s no longer much question about whether corporations need to be engaged in social media, but convincing the head honchos of the value can be challenging. We spoke to some of the top names in social strategy and got some great tips on bringing the boardroom up to speed.
• How Does Twitter’s New Social Good Initiative Stack Up?
  The recent launch of Twitter’s Hope140 campaign has already done some good for important causes, but how effective is it when compared to other social awareness and fundraising campaigns? This post discusses the pros and cons of tweet-based charity.
• 5 Ways Facebook’s Open Graph Will Impact E-commerce
  Facebook’s new Open Graph technology could dramatically change how we interact with the web, especially when it comes to online shopping. These five predictions lay out what to expect from your favorite e-commerce sites in the near future.
• Top 10 Wedding Dance Videos on YouTube
  If you think you’ve seen some crazy nuptials, check out some of these dance moves, immortalized forever in the hallowed halls of YouTube.
• HOW TO: Find Long Lost Friends on Facebook
  400 million people are using Facebook. If you’re looking for someone, chances are you can find them there. Here’s how to do it.
• HOW TO: Make the Most of Your Twitter Profile Page
  There’s a lot more to Twitter than just sharing your favorite foods in 140 characters. If you’re looking to make an impression with your profile page, check out these tips.
• 5 Ways Government Works Better With Social Media
  Social media has the potential to make government more transparent and accessible. Here are five examples of how the social web can improve public services.
• 8 Tips for a Successful Social Media Cause Campaign
  Social networks can provide unprecedented reach to non-profits and their partner companies, but there are some strategies to note before diving into the next campaign. Check out these eight tips.
• 4 Tips for Integrating Social Media Into the Classroom
  Education has long faced resistance to new technologies, but social media can be a great resource in the classroom. Here are some tips on bringing it to the fore.
• Top 5 Social Media Tips for C-Suite Execs
  While your web-savvy employees may be hip to social media, getting upper management on board can be challenging. We gathered some expert advice, and lay out the value proposition in this post.
• Why the Fashion Industry Loves Foursquare
  Lifestyle brand Diesel recently launched a fairly tacit Foursquare campaign that demonstrates the great marketing potential for location-based services. This post details where they succeeded, and where they fell short.
• Why Hasn’t Location Reached the Mainstream Yet?
  Despite all the buzz about location-based services, most people don’t use them. Here are some of the reasons why, and a few predictions about the future of the trend.
• HOW TO: Turn Slacktivists into Activists with Social Media
  Non-profit Twitter and texting campaigns may be tapping thousands of new cause contributors, but is a $10 SMS really where their engagement ends? This post speaks to how non-profits can deepen that connection through social media.
• Social Media Parenting: Raising the Digital Generation
  Who are your kids friending on Facebook, and how much online time is too much? We asked the experts to weigh in on some concrete strategies for raising the first fully digital generation.
• HOW TO: Get Notified When Someone Hacks Your Facebook
  Did you know that Facebook can alert you when someone logs into your account from an unknown computer? Follow these simple profile steps to set up this important security feature.
• In Defense of Facebook
  With all the vitriol surrounding Facebook’s latest privacy gaffs, this post takes a moment to look at the people most responsible for our online privacy — ourselves.
• How Facebook Makes Edgy Concepts Mainstream
  Two years ago, the thought of sharing your location or credit card purchase history online would have seemed ridiculous. Today, it grows ever more mainstream thanks to major social networks like Facebook that make these early-adopter trends more comfortable for the average user.
• Why Twitter Needs to Do More to Save Trending Topics
  Twitter recently amended its trending topics algorithm in the hopes of producing more relevant and newsworthy results. But is this an interference in the natural development of popular topics? And is Twitter doing enough to remain a relevant source of real-time news? This post takes a hard look.
• How the U.S. Engages the World with Social Media
  You might be surprised to learn that the U.S. Department of State and many of its embassies around the world are having great success shaping America’s image abroad through social media. We spoke with some of the diplomats and officials who are making a difference through Twitter and Facebook.
• 21 Rules for Social Media Engagement
  If you’re creating a social media policy for your business, or even your personal brand, these 21 points are a surefire way to stay on track and on message in an online world full of noise.
• 5 Innovative Websites That Could Reshape the News
  While traditional journalism remains in upheaval, a handful of startups have provided a glimpse at what the future of news gathering might look like on the social web. Whether these models are sustainable remains to be seen. Check out this post for look at some of these innovators.
• 5 Essential Facebook Privacy Tips
  If you’re not cognizant of your Facebook privacy settings, you may be broadcasting things to the world (or even certain groups of friends or family) that you may not have intended. Note these important settings to ensure you stay in control of your social data.
• How Social Media is Changing Government Agencies
  Agencies around the world are finding that social media is more than a broadcast medium. Active engagement can serve the public in important ways. Here are some examples.
• EXCLUSIVE: Behind the Scenes at the “Married on MySpace” Wedding [VIDEO]
  We got an exclusive chance to go behind the scenes at the actual wedding of winning couple Dehlia and Graeham Ford-Feliz.
• TwitPic Founder Talks About the Future of Twitter Photo Sharing [VIDEO]
  TwitPic has become one of the most popular ways to share photos on Twitter. With a recent facelift and a lot of attention from prospective buyers, the company has some big plans in the works. We spoke to the founder, Noah Everett, to get his take on TwitPic’s rapid growth and future.

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Business

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• 10 Killer Tips for Creating a Branded YouTube Channel
  Video is the way to go for businesses on the social web. Be sure to give these rules a run-down before embarking on a branded YouTube adventure.
• 10 Dos and Don’ts for Brands on Twitter
  People expect different things from individuals and brands on Twitter, and crossing those streams could lead to a few common mistakes. Check out this list of tips to ensure your company plays by all the right rules.
• 5 iPhone Apps to Boost Productivity
  With the right apps in tow, an iPhone can be productivity powerhouse. Check out these five recommendations.
• 5 Tips for Making Your Presentations More Social
  Social media has opened up a wealth of opportunities to make business presentations more engaging. These five tips can transform your boring set of slides into a dynamic, real-time force of nature.
• What Twitter’s New Ad Model Could Mean for Small Business
  It’s easy to see the potential for large companies like Starbucks to leverage Twitter’s new advertising model, but what about small businesses? This post discusses the options.
• 5 Simple Tools for a Paperless Office
  Many small businesses are still beholden to paper for a variety of reasons, but there are some easy changes you can make to your document systems to dramatically reduce that consumption. Check out these tools and apps that can get your business moving in a greener (and cheaper) direction.
• 4 Ways Foursquare Can Improve Your Workplace
  Though mainly thought of as a location-based social game, Foursquare is showing some big internal potential for companies. Build camaraderie, enthusiasm, and knowledge among your team. This post can show you how.
• HOW TO: Cultivate Your Brand’s Super Users
  The customers who already use and love your product could be the most influential spokespeople for your brand. This post discusses how to identify these super users, and how to make the most of their passion.
• HOW TO: Make Sure You’re Tracking the Right Data
  The flood gates are open on social data, and if marketers don’t pay attention to the right things, the volume can easily get overwhelming. Here are some tips for honing in on the data the really matters to your marketing strategy.
• What Facebook’s Open Graph Means for Your Business
  Facebook’s latest big changes have big ramifications for marketers and businesses with a presence on the network and the web at large. Find out what these developments mean for your social strategy in this post.
• 10 Essential Tips for Building Your Small Biz Team
  Your business’s most important asset is your team, and hiring the right individuals can be a challenge. Check out this advice in your hunt for that new slam dunk employee.
• 5 Ways Small Businesses Can Leverage LinkedIn’s New Features
  LinkedIn’s new social feeds mean more opportunities to share and connect on the business network. Here are 5 tips for making the most of these new features.
• HOW TO: Get the Most Out of Offline Networking Events
  While online social networking is all well and good, don’t forgo an opportunity to translate your online reach into a meaningful offline connection. This post has some great pointers.
• Why Co-Working Makes Sense for Small Businesses
  Co-working is a great way for your small business to save on overhead costs while leveraging the natural synergies between your team and other professionals working out of the same space.
• 10 Must-Have BlackBerry Apps for Small Business
  The king of business mobile devices can do a lot more than just send e-mail and make calls. These 10 apps can boost your productivity, and keep you connected on the go.
• The Local Advertising War Will Be a Clash of the Internet Titans
  Google, Facebook, Twitter, Apple, and even Foursquare are on track for a cataclysmic battle for location-based advertising dollars. Here’s a look at where we stand, and what to expect.
• 5 Ways Small Businesses Can Use Tech to Save Money
  If you’re looking to trim a few dollars from this quarter’s budget, the resources you need may be starting back at you from you from this very screen. Check out these penny-pinching tech tips.
• How Venture Capitalists are Using Social Media for Real Results
  While you probably won’t learn the nitty-gritty details of a deal on Twitter, VCs and angels use social media extensively for research, promotion and other purposes. This post explores some of their strategies.
• Which Department Owns Social Media?
  Does a company’s social media presence belong to the marketing department? Customer service? Legal? We asked the experts how they categorize the versatile medium for business.
• 13 Essential Tips for Landing a Job on LinkedIn
  Are you effectively managing your LinkedIn profile? Here are 13 tips for making yourself visible and presentable on the business network.
• HOW TO: Market Your Small Business With No Budget
  The social web makes it more cost-effective than ever to get the word out about your business, no matter what industry you’re in. We spoke to the experts for their cost-cutting tips.
• 4 Tips for B2B Marketing on Facebook
  Even if you sell to other businesses, Facebook can still be a great place to engage customers and drive sales. Check out these four strategies.
• Why Your Company Needs to Embrace Social CRM
  Social media is changing the rules of customer engagement. Your company needs to understand and embrace Social CRM to meet the needs of the new social customer. This post discusses how.
• 5 Surprising Social Media Business Success Stories
  When most think of social media for business, fun, consumer-facing brands come to mind. But what about B2B and niche products? These five success stories may surprise you.
• 5 More Simple Tools for a Paperless Office
  Looking for ways to reduce your small business’ carbon footprint and operating costs? Cut your paper consumption with these five web-based services.

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Mobile

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• 4 Reasons the iPhone Is a (Video)Game Changer
  The iPhone has truly taken the video game world by storm, and there’s plenty yet to explore in mobile gaming. Check out this analysis of the current trends, and what they might mean for the future of the industry.
• HOW TO: Turn Your Android Phone Into a Killer MP3 Player
  If you shun the iMusic lifestyle, you can still keep all your favorite tunes at your fingertips with an Android device. This post will show you how.
• Top 10 iPhone Apps for TV Fanatics
  Whether you’re addicted to Lost, or have taken up the guilty pleasure of Gossip Girl, there are great TV tie-in apps that will keep you up to date, and tapped into some great bonus materials.
• 8 Best Android Apps for Health and Fitness
  Whether you’re looking to get in shape or stay that way, your mobile device can help. The Android Market is full of health-minded apps that can keep you on track toward physical fitness. This post reviews eight of the best.
• 10 Free iPhone Apps To Learn A New Skill In 10 Minutes
  Have you ever wanted to learn origami, CPR, or Morse Code? There are apps for those, and many more skills, so fire up your iPhone and check out this list of freebies.
• How Mobile Technology is Affecting Local News Coverage
  The news-gathering game has changed, thanks to the ubiquity of smart, multipurpose handhelds. Whether you’re using your own device to report and disseminate the news, or you’re tapping a social web of mobile updates and Twitpics for sources, the mobile-savvy journalist is out at the front of the industry.
• 7 Ways Journalists Can Use Foursquare
  While Twitter and Facebook have been established as great places to make and break news, Foursquare’s growing popularity offers some interesting location-based opportunities for journalists.
• 8 Best Android Apps for Photo Editing
  Looking to add a few tricks to your Android’s photography bag? Check out these eight apps that will have you cropping, filtering, and snazzing up those mobile snaps in no time.
• How the Next iPhone Will Improve Your Productivity
  The upcoming release of the new iPhone and its accompanying OS upgrade means a lot of important changes for power users. Here’s a breakdown of the key features.

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Tech

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• HOW TO: Give Your Inbox a Master Cleanse
  If your inbox is bursting with social media notifications, useless newsletters, and unsolicited messages, you’re certainly not alone. Use these tactics to bring your unread count back into a reasonable realm.
• HOW TO: Secure Your WordPress Blog
  WordPress is certainly a secure platform right out of the proverbial box, but there are always ways to protect your blog or site from the more nefarious denizens of the web. Heed these tips for more secure blogging.
• 5 Real-Time Location Trends to Watch
  The location game is heating up faster than you may think. Keep on top of things by noting these important trends, as relayed by Joe Stump, CTO of SimpleGeo, who spoke at The Next Web ‘10 event in Amsterdam.
• Why Schools are Turning to Google Apps
  The state of Oregon has made the bold move to embrace Google Apps for its entire education system. The reasons and benefits are compelling, and could open up a wealth of possibilities for schools around the country.
• 8 Ways to Repurpose Your Old Electronics
  Why toss your obsolete gadgets in the landfill when you could transform them into art, data storage, and other useful items? Here are eight suggestions for keeping your gadget habit in the green.
• 5 Quick Tips to Solicit Useful Design Feedback
  Designers can (and should) take their work very personally, but this often makes it hard to receive constructive criticism. Here are five easy ways to get the feedback you need to keep a project moving forward.
• 5 Charities for Donating Your Old Electronics
  Just because you no longer have a use for your second generation iPod doesn’t mean it should be headed for the scap heap. Take a moment to note these charities where your old gadgets can be put to new use.
• 7 Ways to Customize Your Real Life Online
  Sometimes, a startup can offer unique products that a big retailer or e-commerce outfit just can’t. These seven websites will customize all sorts of cool stuff — from shoes, to chocolate, to pet food.
• 10 Awesome Webcam Feeds From Around the World
  Live webcams offer a real-time, remote glimpse at some interesting locations. We’ve hand picked these ten great ones for your viewing pleasure.
• How Big Live Promises Big Change for Online Music Fans
  The soon-to-be-launched service Big Live aims to bring concert enthusiasts together on a social network-style platform. This post outlines some of the offerings of this ambitious project.
• NFC Technology: 6 Ways It Could Change Our Daily Lives
  Near field communication technology, which enables data to be transferred between mobile devices at close range, has been around for some time. Recently, it has been gaining traction as a practical way to shop, do business, and more. Check out these examples that could become commonplace in the near future.
• 5 Great Ways to Find Music That Suits Your Mood
  There are plenty of ways to generate a playlist based on artist, song, or genre. But what if you just need a tune-stream for a broken heart, or an energizing workout? These five web apps can do it with a few clicks.
• Why Much of Your Favorite TV Content Still Isn’t Online
  With web video consumption growing, why has TV been so reluctant to fully embrace online viewership? We spoke to researchers and TV executives for some answers.
• HOW TO: Add Facebook “Like” Buttons to Your WordPress Blog
  This post goes over several ways to implement Facebook’s “Like” buttons and other social plugins into your hosted WordPress blog or website, so that you can hook into the Facebook social graph.
• WordPress 3.0: The 5 Most Important New Features
  The official launch of WordPress 3.0 is almost here, and it packs a host of excellent new features. Peruse this list to find out what all the hubbub is about.
• 6 Free Websites for Learning and Teaching Science
  Release your inner science nerd and check out some of the web’s wonderful free resources for the pursuit of knowledge about our world. From genetics, to robots, to the infinite cosmos, these sites abound with information for students, teachers, and the just plain curious.
• 10 Awesome Vintage Video Games You Can Play Online
  We dare you not to kill some time with these fabulous classics from gaming’s golden yesteryears. Strap in and click through to start reliving your former 8-bit glory.
• 5 Tools For Integrating HTML5 Video in Your Website
  HTML5 is coming, and with it the coded potential to displace Flash as a viable medium for web video. These tools will get you rolling with the new format.
• Five Amazing App and Gadget Demos from Google I/O [VIDEO]
  Google and its partners are rolling out some amazing new products and toys in the near future. We were on the ground at the I/O conference to get a hands-on video look at some of these developments.

Image courtesy of iStockphoto, M-X-K

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Reviews: Android, Facebook, Foursquare, Google, LinkedIn, Twitpic, Twitter, WordPress, YouTube, iStockphoto, video

Tags: business, facebook, Features Week In Review, List, Lists, Mobile 2.0, small business, social media, tech, trending, twitter, youtube

Spare a moment from your fly fishing, or cricket playing, or whatever it is you actually do on the weekends and reflect back on all of the great content you missed out on because you were “too busy doing your job.” Whatever.

Fortunately for you, we’ve gathered up another boatload of great resources into one handy post, perfect for your weekend perusal. Scroll on down and pick out whatever catches your eye. This week you’ll find some important Facebook tips, a breakdown of the upcoming WordPress release, and some sweet BlackBerry apps for business.

Not enough? We’ve got wacky wedding dance videos too. You’re welcome.

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Social Media

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• Top 10 Wedding Dance Videos on YouTube
  If you think you’ve seen some crazy nuptials, check out some of these dance moves, immortalized forever in the hallowed halls of YouTube.
• HOW TO: Find Long Lost Friends on Facebook
  400 million people are using Facebook. If you’re looking for someone, chances are you can find them there. Here’s how to do it.
• HOW TO: Make the Most of Your Twitter Profile Page
  There’s a lot more to Twitter than just sharing your favorite foods in 140 characters. If you’re looking to make an impression with your profile page, check out these tips.
• 5 Ways Government Works Better With Social Media
  Social media has the potential to make government more transparent and accessible. Here are five examples of how the social web can improve public services.
• 8 Tips for a Successful Social Media Cause Campaign
  Social networks can provide unprecedented reach to non-profits and their partner companies, but there are some strategies to note before diving into the next campaign. Check out these eight tips.
• 4 Tips for Integrating Social Media Into the Classroom
  Education has long faced resistance to new technologies, but social media can be a great resource in the classroom. Here are some tips on bringing it to the fore.
• Top 5 Social Media Tips for C-Suite Execs
  While your web-savvy employees may be hip to social media, getting upper management on board can be challenging. We gathered some expert advice, and lay out the value proposition in this post.
• Why the Fashion Industry Loves Foursquare
  Lifestyle brand Diesel recently launched a fairly tacit Foursquare campaign that demonstrates the great marketing potential for location-based services. This post details where they succeeded, and where they fell short.
• Why Hasn’t Location Reached the Mainstream Yet?
  Despite all the buzz about location-based services, most people don’t use them. Here are some of the reasons why, and a few predictions about the future of the trend.
• HOW TO: Turn Slacktivists into Activists with Social Media
  Non-profit Twitter and texting campaigns may be tapping thousands of new cause contributors, but is a $10 SMS really where their engagement ends? This post speaks to how non-profits can deepen that connection through social media.
• Social Media Parenting: Raising the Digital Generation
  Who are your kids friending on Facebook, and how much online time is too much? We asked the experts to weigh in on some concrete strategies for raising the first fully digital generation.
• HOW TO: Get Notified When Someone Hacks Your Facebook
  Did you know that Facebook can alert you when someone logs into your account from an unknown computer? Follow these simple profile steps to set up this important security feature.

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

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Tech & Mobile

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• 10 Free iPhone Apps To Learn A New Skill In 10 Minutes
  Have you ever wanted to learn origami, CPR, or Morse Code? There are apps for those, and many more skills, so fire up your iPhone and check out this list of freebies.
• WordPress 3.0: The 5 Most Important New Features
  The official launch of WordPress 3.0 is almost here, and it packs a host of excellent new features. Peruse this list to find out what all the hubbub is about.
• 6 Free Websites for Learning and Teaching Science
  Release your inner science nerd and check out some of the web’s wonderful free resources for the pursuit of knowledge about our world. From genetics, to robots, to the infinite cosmos, these sites abound with information for students, teachers, and the just plain curious.
• How Mobile Technology is Affecting Local News Coverage
  The news-gathering game has changed, thanks to the ubiquity of smart, multipurpose handhelds. Whether you’re using your own device to report and disseminate the news, or you’re tapping a social web of mobile updates and Twitpics for sources, the mobile-savvy journalist is out at the front of the industry.
• 7 Ways Journalists Can Use Foursquare
  While Twitter and Facebook have been established as great places to make and break news, Foursquare’s growing popularity offers some interesting location-based opportunities for journalists.

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

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Business

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• HOW TO: Get the Most Out of Offline Networking Events
  While online social networking is all well and good, don’t forgo an opportunity to translate your online reach into a meaningful offline connection. This post has some great pointers.
• Why Co-Working Makes Sense for Small Businesses
  Co-working is a great way for your small business to save on overhead costs while leveraging the natural synergies between your team and other professionals working out of the same space.
• 10 Must-Have BlackBerry Apps for Small Business
  The king of business mobile devices can do a lot more than just send e-mail and make calls. These 10 apps can boost your productivity, and keep you connected on the go.
• The Local Advertising War Will Be a Clash of the Internet Titans
  Google, Facebook, Twitter, Apple, and even Foursquare are on track for a cataclysmic battle for location-based advertising dollars. Here’s a look at where we stand, and what to expect.

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

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Reviews: Facebook, Foursquare, Google, Mashable, Twitter, WordPress, YouTube

Tags: business, facebook, Features Week In Review, List, Lists, Mobile 2.0, small business, social media, tech, trending, twitter, youtube

Meaghan Edelstein has gained national media attention through her blog, I Kicked Cancer’s Ass, which she started to document her battle with end stage cancer. She is an attorney, the founder of the non-profit organization Spirit Jump, and the Social Media Director for Smashyn.com.

Cause marketing can be described as the mutually beneficial relationship between a business and a non-profit organization. Social media cause campaigns are similar, but not identical to traditional cause marketing, in that they allow for more flexibility. Small businesses can gain exposure without breaking the bank, and large companies can reach millions of consumers in a matter of hours. Social cause campaigns can be run by individuals and non-profits without big company sponsorship. They provide easier, faster involvement with supporters, and require fewer resources.

For example, the hugely successful Blame Drew’s Cancer campaign was started by a single person, cancer fighter Drew Olanoff. Drew gained national attention when he encourage tweeters to #BlameDrewsCancer for everything from bad weather to a sports team’s loss. When Drew decided to sell his Twitter handle for charity, TV star Drew Carey stepped in and offered to donate up to $1 million to LIVESTRONG in exchange for @Drew.

While there are many reasons why online cause marketing works, there are also challenges to keep in mind before launching a campaign. The transparency of online communities allows for easy public criticism. Donor fatigue has also become an issue with the number of cause campaigns increasing dramatically. Finally, being heard over the constant social media chatter can be challenging.

Why are some campaigns more successful than others? If you want to make a difference through social media, note these key tips before embarking on your mission.

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1. Create a Strong Theme with Clear Goals

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Themes should not be complex. A simple mission with a powerful message can take a campaign far. People will not get involved if they don’t understand how or why they should. Without a clear vision, it is difficult to encourage an audience to participate.

Recently, my own grassroots charity Spirit Jump sponsored a cause campaign, Cards 4 Cancer Day. The campaign name itself stated the theme: Make cards for people battling cancer. Our clear goal of delivering 100,000 cards to cancer centers around the world was set out from the start. Because the campaign theme was strong, it targeted specific advocates, and supporters understood how to participate and what the overall goal was. Even without large financial backing, our campaign was successful because its theme was uncomplicated and inspired people to act.

“You want to make it as easy for people to participate as possible; in social media, distractions fly a mile a minute,” said Melissa Jones, Social Media Specialist for the Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation. When there isn’t a strong campaign theme, it’s difficult to grab people’s attention.

Kiva’s #FollowFriday campaign is an example of one that lacked a strong theme. Kiva.org wanted to increase their presence on Twitter and called out to supporters to recommend them using #FollowFriday. Unfortunately, Kiva’s message was lost in the large amount of Twitter chatter surrounding this hashtag, and they received only a small number of new followers.

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2. Seek a Non-Profit Partner That’s Active in Social Media

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Campaigns partnered with causes that have a dedicated social media presence are more successful. It’s not the size of the non-profit that’s important, but rather their level of participation in social media and the campaign.

“We run more than 100 cause-driven campaigns a year, and the difference between modest success and massive success is often determined by the non-profit partner,” says Chris Noble of StudioGood. “Working with a non-profit that has a strong base of support, and knows how to mobilize that base, pays off for the sponsor every time.”

Many people support cause campaigns because they support the non-profit. If the non-profit isn’t active, or fails to engage their supporters, the campaign will have an uphill battle. Rather than just being a recipient of donations, the non-profit should play an active role in the campaign by rallying its supporters.

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3. Connect the Theme, Sponsor, and Non-Profit

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Unity of purpose helps streamline the coordination of the campaign. Those with a strong connection between the theme, sponsor, and non-profit organization will better resonate with the public.

The Pepsi Refresh Project is giving away millions of dollars in grants to individuals who come up with “refreshing” ideas that can change the world. Pepsi’s cause campaign is focused on improving communities around the world and rewarding individuals and non-profits alike for the creative ideas that receive the most votes.

Pepsi successfully connects their brand personality with social causes, and is attracting millions of people to their brand without asking them to purchase a single product.

Disclosure: Pepsi has been a sponsor of Mashable events.

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4. Identify and Utilize Your Best Social Assets

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Social media cause campaigns are challenging, and organizers should use the tools and people at their disposal effectively. Campaigns with funding must put their money where it will yield the best results. Facebook advertisements can be extremely helpful, but should only be used to meet specific goals. If a campaign calls for large-scale interaction with supporters, staff must be properly equipped to respond. When campaigns require voting, there must be an ability to rally people.

This is exactly what the homeless advocacy organization InvisiblePeople.tv did to win the SXSW Pepsi Refresh contest. “We won [the] challenge because Beth Kanter, Jessica Gottlieb, Kevin Hendricks, and far too many people to list, all of them equally important, rallied their networks to vote,” said Mark Horvath, Founder of InvisiblePeople.tv.

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5. Target a Well-Defined Audience

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Campaign organizers who know their audience, who listen to and engage them, will be more successful. Take time to determine who your audience is on each social network. Do not assume all social media platforms have the same participants or will respond in the same way. Facebook, Twitter, and blog networks must be treated as distinct entities. When using multiple platforms, pay attention to how each reacts to your messages and be ready to shift focus to the most responsive.

“Twitter is an excellent tool because it allows for fast and constant updates. Facebook, however, allows for more detailed messaging and is a better forum for dialogue. Oftentimes, our supporters engage in dialogue with each other. This allows us to step back for a moment and evaluate what resonates with them,” said Barb Alvarado, Development Director of Architecture for Humanity.

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6. Energize and Motivate Your Supporters

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The number of followers, subscribers or fans your campaign has does not represent the number of participants. A Facebook Fan Page can have 10,000 fans and be ineffective. A successful campaign motivates participation by asking supporters to vote for a favorite cause, join other platforms, donate money or share content.

Keep people energized throughout the campaign. Create mini-campaigns within the larger one to keep participants active. PayPal did this with their Regift The Fruitcake campaign, and gave away extra cash to charities that raised the most money on “Charity Tuesdays” via Twitter. Because they were able to motivate supporters throughout the life of the campaign, PayPal raised well over $70,000 for charity.

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7. Pay Attention to Timing

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Social media has its own timetable. Run campaigns for the time needed, and not a day longer. A successful campaign asks its supporters to participate sufficiently to achieve its goals, but not so much as to cause fatigue.

Judy Chang, Senior Manager of Vertical Markets for PayPal spoke directly to this. “Grabbing and keeping the attention of supporters over a multi-week campaign is definitely a challenge. We’ve seen our best results with campaigns that last anywhere from one day to two weeks, such as Check-in for Charity, #beatcancer, and Charity Smackdown.”

When campaigns ask supporters to partake in a cause campaign every day for weeks, even months, their excitement and passion for the cause can deteriorate.

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8. Follow Up

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When a cause campaign has ended, there is still work to be done. Evaluation of successes and failures is vital. This step allows organizers to prepare for the next cause campaign by enhancing what worked and fixing what didn’t. Requesting feedback from, sharing results with, and thanking supporters is also paramount to ensuring their future participation. One good campaign should lead to another.

Heifer International, an active non-profit since 1944, understands the importance of follow-up after social media cause campaigns. “We wrote a post-social cause campaign article on our blog to thank our supporters and include them in the celebration because we value our donors and volunteers as equal stakeholders in the organization — our success is their success,” said Noland Hoshino, Heifer International Portland Volunteer Coordinator.

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Conclusion

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Successful social cause campaigns, especially in a world of heavy social media chatter, require real imagination. According to Jones of the Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, “Social media cause campaigns are most effective when there’s a simple call-to-action and a creative idea.”

Cause marketing is dynamic. Implementing these elements can propel a campaign into a movement.

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For more social media coverage, follow Mashable Social Media on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook

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More social good resources from Mashable:

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- Donation by Action: The New Social Charity Model
- How Does Twitter’s New Social Good Initiative Stack Up?
- 5 Ways Non-Profits Can Increase Engagement With YouTube
- Why Sex-Ed Remains a Challenge for Social Media
- 5 Ways Mega Charity Events Can Harness the Power of Social Media

Image courtesy of iStockphoto, PinkTag

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Reviews: Facebook, Mashable, Twitter, iStockphoto

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