Summer storms got you down? Have you forgotten how we used to pass the time before the days of Instagram, Netflix and Pinterest? Here’s an idea: catch up on Mashable‘s features coverage from the last week and check out some resources you may have missed.
Saturday marks the third annual Social Media Day — so get in the spirit with stories on turning social media relationships into IRL ones, the state of social media in Europe and how the medium is impacting small communities.
Also be sure to check out our business coverage for hot tips on scoring those first 1,000 users, keeping an engaged audience online and mastering the art of Search Engine Optimization. Whether you work at a large company or are just sowing the roots of your start-up, we’ll definitely have something to boost your productivity this week.
And because we know you’ve been waiting for this with bated breath, we’ve rounded up six scented iPhone cases that are bound to tickle your senses. There’s no need to say thank you — we do it because we care.
Editor’s Picks
- 5 Ways Small Businesses Get Social Media Wrong
Here are five common errors that small businesses make when it comes to social media — and how to avoid them. - How to Get to Your First 1,000 Users
With the help of some smart marketers and entrepreneurs, we’re created a clear outline for attracting your startup’s first 1,000 users. - Moms Are Biggest Brand Boosters on Facebook [INFOGRAPHIC]
Moms lead the pack when comes to liking brands on Facebook, according to a recent survey by Burst media. - 10 Better Alternatives to Your iPhone’s Native Apps
Just like new computers come standard with Internet Explorer or iPhoto, iPhones contain in-house apps. Here are 10 alternatives to the norm. - 3 Ways to Protect Your Mac From Malware
The more users make the switch to Apple products, the more we can expect criminal malware to follow. Here’s how to protect your Mac.
Social Media
- 5 Tools for Turning Social Media Relationships Into In-Person Connections
It’s not always easy to transition a social media acquaintance into a real-life friendship. Here are a few tools that can make that happen. - Music Monday: Songs for Your Commute
We love listening to music to start the day. For Music Monday we decided to share a Spotify playlist of our favorite commuting songs. - 20 TV Shows With the Most Social Media Buzz This Week
Which TV shows generate the most buzz on social networks? Find out each week from our social TV chart. - 5 Home Devices That Connect to Twitter
You can connect your Twitter feed to your home appliances by using simple hacks or splurging on an Internet-ready device. - What Is the State of Social Media in Europe?
Join our Google+ hangout on June 27 at 8:30 A.M. EST to discuss trends and the state of social media with social media influencers from Europe. - 10 Skype Chat Tricks for Power Users
As we spend a bit of time chatting over on Skype, we thought we’d share some fun tips. - 7 Smashing ‘Incredible Hulk’ Twitter Accounts
Reuters may have pulled the @ReutersHulk parody, but there are still plenty of Hulk-style accounts that are worth following on Twitter. - 10 Tumblrs That Quit While They Were Ahead
Some of the best inside jokes of the web quit before burning out. Here are 10 memorable Tumblr sites. - 5 Ways Social Media Is Affecting Local Communities
In light of Mashable‘s Social Media Day mission to celebrate the digital revolution, we asked you how social media impacts your local community. - 10 Brands Dominating on Google+
Google+ came onto the social media scene a year ago. These 10 brands have used the platform to its fullest. - 6 Gamer Twitter Feeds to Follow
We found six figures in the gaming world you need to be following for hilarious updates and insider news about video games.
Business & Marketing
- Company Outings: Waste of Time or Great Investment?
Should you take your team to the park and to sporting events? Startups sound off. - Behind the Launch: Vungle Goes Live
We’ve been following Vungle for a couple months — today we see their product go from alpha to beta. - 4 Billing Systems Entrepreneurs Need to Know About
Four successful entrepreneurs shared the mobile payment apps they use to conduct sales and business, especially when they’re on the road. - How to Build — and Keep — an Engaged Audience [INFOGRAPHIC]
This infographic reveals all you need to know to start building an engaged audience online. - 3 Stellar Productivity Tools You Need to Try
No one understands more than engineers that complex workflows can be a real pain. Here are three productivity tools to counter that. - 3 User-Generated Campaigns That Got it Right
Companies are looking for new ways to break through the marketing clutter. One tactic is building a campaign around user-generated content. - Google Shows Startups How to Master SEO in 10 Minutes [VIDEO]
Google has released a video that provides startups tips and suggestions about how to master search engine optimization in just 10 minutes. - Catch Up on ‘Behind the Launch’ With This Recap
Missed earlier episodes of ‘Behind the Launch’? Catch up with our abridged version, then tune in to the finale. - 10 Personal Things Employees Do at Work
Personal tasks that may have once been considered taboo are now acceptable practices at work today, according to a study by Mozy. - Startup 101: What’s an LLP?
If you’re getting your startup off the ground, you should recognize there are several options for how to structure your business. - How to Get the Online Customer Service You Want
A recent study reveals customers don’t feel online retailers are providing sufficient customer service. - Why Media Disruption Is an Excuse for Ineffective Advertising
Here are three key methods for making your brand and its advertising something that can’t be skipped or disrupted. - Behind the Launch: What’s Next for a Newly Minted Startup
In the last episode of Behind the Launch, co-founders Zain and Jack reflect on the past few months and discuss Vungle’s future. - States With the Most Social Small Businesses [INFOGRAPHIC]
As the November elections approach, politicians will likely focus on several key issues, including small business. - 5 Ways to Get Creative With Native Ads
There are many opportunities for brands to “go native.” Here are five types of native advertising every brand marketer should consider. - How Social Music Marketing Can Help Your Brand
The smartest brands are now putting music to work as part of their social marketing strategy. Here’s how it works. - Top 10 Brands on Socialcam
Socialcam’s tagline is “the easiest way to take and share videos,” and these brands are taking note. - 5 Strategies for Marketing on the iPad
There are some basic best practices to keep in mind when coming up with how to market your business on the iPad. Here are five tips. - Managing Millennials: Why Gen Y Will Be Running the Country by 2020 [INFOGRAPHIC]
In just eight short years, 46% of the U.S. workforce will be comprised of millennials. This infographic shares how and why to manage them. - 7 Ways Brands Can Get Push Notifications Right
Push notifications, when done right, enable a brand to socialize with its most engaged customers anytime, anywhere. Here’s how. - Why ‘Do Not Track’ Measures May Still Track You
Users that activate Do Not Track may still be served targeted ads to prevent the same ad from appearing over and over.
Tech & Mobile
- 10 Google Maps of Your Favorite TV Shows
We’ve collected a selection of Google Maps that pinpoint the precise locations visited by some of the hottest characters on television. - 8 E-Reader Cases You Can Take to the Beach
We have found eight excellent covers that mean you can take your e-reader to the beach without fear of damage from sand or sea. - No Cellphones at Summer Camp – Acceptable or Archaic?
Today’s kids are part of the most connected generation ever, some having had cellphones and mobile gaming devices since grade school. - 5 Ways to Watch TV Without Cable
If you want to shift TV from your small-screen laptop to the giant flat-screen, there are alternatives to the cable box. - Google vs. Bing: Battle of the Search Engines
Both Google and Microsoft have dramatically overhauled the way each handles search over the past few months. - Mobile Payment Smackdown: Square vs. PayPal Here
Square revolutionized ecommerce with their mobile credit card reader. Now PayPal wants to do the same with the PayPal Here mobile service. - Why Supermarkets Are So 20th Century
Companies like Tesco and FreshDirect are reinventing the way we get our food. - 6 Scented iPhone Cases to Tickle Your Nose
Just when we thought phone accessories couldn’t get any wackier, we found these six scented iPhone cases. - Should You Pay Extra for Faster Internet at Home?
Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Verizon have packages with different Internet connections, so don’t waste money on speed you don’t need. - Are Cellphones Destroying Our Privacy?
Security vulnerabilities and data retention policies have experts concerned about the privacy risks of our smartphone obsession. - Tech Etiquette Rules For Commuters and Travelers
Experts reveal commuter tech etiquette rules travelers should follow for more joyful experiences on the bus or tube. - 8 Educational iPad Apps for Grade Schoolers
These educational iPad and iPhone apps for kids in grade schoolers will keep your kids fresh for the new school year. - 10 Patriotic 4th of July Tech Accessories
If you’re feeling particularly patriotic this time of year, try these 10 tech accessories. - 5 Ways to Instantly Connect With Doctors
5 applications and web platforms that are allowing individuals to call, text and email doctors when they need emergency medical advice. - Smackdown: Google Voice Search vs. Apple’s Siri [VIDEO]
Android 4.1 Jelly Bean brings with it voice search, but is it any match for Apple’s Siri?
