Open up your mind and say, ahh...

Photo: General Dynamics Land Systems

Photo: General Dynamics Land Systems

Photo: General Dynamics Land Systems

 

Did you get a new iPad for Christmas and don’t know where to begin downloading? Apple launched its 12 Days of Christmas App Monday, which lets you fill your new device with music, videos, apps and books for free.

Each of the downloads will only be available for 24 hours, so make sure to move fast to take advantage of these deals.

Day one offers some Coldplay music for download. Check back each day to see what else you can add to your new iPad.

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BONUS: So You Got an iPad 2? Try These 10 Hip Accessories

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The miFrame turns your iPad into an 8-inch by 10-inch photo frame. Available in black or silver, it’s a slimline storage solution for your iPad, even lending it useful, aesthetic functionality while you’re not using it.

Cost: $79

We’re always on the lookout for unusual accessories and we think we’ve found one with the “No. 1 Docker.” Made from soft, American dry-milled leather, this case looks and feels great.

Cost: $170

One of the exciting aspects of the iPad is its potential for art. This brush, with its specially conductive bristles, is a great accessory for budding iArtists.

Cost: $31

If you’re looking for a case that’s a little different, Maroo is worth a look. As well as in-house cases, such as the models pictured, you’ll also find edgy designs from TV’s Seth Aaron.

Cost: From $39.99

Boasting a 15-decibel audio boost, the Horn Stand is an eco-friendly desktop stand for your new tablet.

Cost: $29.95

Obviously designed for keen cooks, we love Belkin’s Chef Stand + Stylus, a washable kitchen stand that will display your iPad, whether you’re referencing recipes, listening to music or watching TV.

Cost: $39.99

If you’re looking to get more out of your iPad case, the iPag is a great option. Slimline and functional, it boasts a chic urban design.

Cost: Approx $70

This model is just one of many Wallee iPad accessories. Once you get the Wallee case, consider adding various stands, wall holders and even VESA mounts to your collection.

Cost: Varies

If you love to watch iPad content while curled up on the couch or in bed, you’ll appreciate just how handy this cushioned holder is.

Cost: $49.95

Finally, the ultimate iPad accessory for fans of vintage Apple style, the iStation offers stereo sound, a built-in Bluetooth keyboard, and some serious retro cool.

Cost: $85.90

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

While social media has been around for a while, there are still aspects of it that are very new, such as policy development. Such policies have to stand the test of time and evolve as the workplace — and the social media platforms and their usage — changes.

In August, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) released a report on the outcome of investigations into 14 cases involving the use of social media and employers’ social media policies. The NLRB is an independent agency in the U.S. government that protects employees’ rights to join together to improve wages and working conditions, with or without a union.

Here’s an overview of the report and some pointers on what your company should consider when it comes to social media policy development.

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Why Is This Report Important?

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Eric B. Meyer, a partner in the labor and employment group of the law firm Dilworth Paxson LLP, explains the report’s significance. “It provides a window into what the NLRB considers legal and illegal, not only with respect to employers who discipline employees based solely on social media content that employees publish, but also as to social media policies that employers implement.”

So the report isn’t exactly the law. But it is one of the first detailed explanations about how existing laws are applied to social media policies and practices at work. It gives specific examples of policies, statements and conduct that is and isn’t OK.

Heather Bussing, an independent employment attorney, outlines the advantage the NLRB report provides. “The law is statutes and published decisions by the courts. Agency decisions and regulations are also considered law as long as they’re consistent with the statutes and court decisions. An agency report explaining its thinking and how it has applied statutes and cases to specific situations is about as close to ‘the law’ as you can get. So having a bunch of examples issued lets us have a better picture of what will and won’t get us in trouble, and that is probably even more useful than the law.”

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Defining Media and Social Media

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One of the interesting aspects of the report is the mention of “employers’ social and general media policies.” Mark Neuberger, with Foley & Lardner LLP, a global law firm representing management in all aspects of labor and employment law, believes the report might suggest they are the same for the purposes of policy development. “The NLRB is concerned with protecting an employee’s right to engage in protected concerted activity, regardless of the medium in which that right is expressed. Before social media, Board case law dealt with expression in verbal speech, written speech and even symbolic speech — the use of inflatable rats being just one example of expressive speech.”

Bussing breaks down for us the definition of “protected concerted activity” and why we need to pay attention to it:

“Criticism of an employer’s practices about wages, hours and working conditions is protected no matter how it is expressed as long as it is ‘protected, concerted activity.’ ‘Protected’ is any statement about wages, hours or working conditions. ‘Concerted’ means the employee’s statements were ‘engaged in with or on the authority of other employees.’ So the statement has to be about working conditions — it can’t be a personal attack that is ‘so disloyal, reckless or maliciously untrue’ that it loses protected status. The statement also has to be directed to other employees or to the company on behalf of the employees — not just personal gripes, honking or wailing. But it doesn’t matter where or how the employee makes the statement if it is also ‘protected’ and ‘concerted.’”

And nowadays, that “where” includes Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and others. Bussing notes, “The report focuses both on where, how and to whom the statements were made. It also explains the limits of the protections — offensive and critical statements that are personal attacks rather than criticism of the wages, hours or working conditions are generally not protected.”

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For Businesses With No Policy

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Even if you don’t have a defined social media policy, this report might still have an effect on your decisions. Meyer says, “Regardless of whether you have a policy, the NLRB takes the position that — except in very limited circumstances — you can’t discipline employees who discuss workplace responsibilities and performance together online, even if the online conversation includes swearing, sarcasm or insults.

On the bright side, Bussing adds, “At least you won’t get in trouble for your policy. But before you fire someone for being a complete jerk, think about whether the employee was being critical of wages, hours or working conditions and was communicating to or for other employees.”

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For Businesses With a Policy

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For organizations with a policy currently in place, Bussing suggests that you “make sure it does not try to control what the employees can say and cannot say about the company. If it does, you can be in trouble with the NLRB.” She also mentions this could be the sign of other issues within the organization.

Meyer adds, “The NLRB does not believe that employers can generally prohibit employees from discussing the company, its employees or competitors — even if the comments are disparaging.”

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Don’t Make Your Policy Too Broad

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Another noteworthy aspect of the report is that the NLRB stated in five cases that the company’s social media policy was found to be “too broad” and therefore, unlawful. Bussing explains what could be described as “too broad” when it comes to policy: “’Too broad’ is generally translated from legalese to English as: ‘It covers so many things that it’s impossible to understand what the heck it means.’” When a court or enforcement agency says a policy is ‘too broad,’ that means it’s invalid, unenforceable and basically worthless. So all those well-intended protections are down the drain. And it’s worse than having no policy at all, since you could have a National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) violation because of the policy.

A no-brainer example of a policy that violated the NLRA was the blogging policy that prohibited employees from “making disparaging remarks about the company or its supervisors” and from talking about the company “in any media without the company’s permission.”

But another policy that violated the NLRA was one that prohibited employees from saying anything on social media that would ‘violate, compromise or disregard the rights and reasonable expectations as to privacy or confidentiality of any person or entity.” While this was probably intended to protect trade secrets and confidential medical or financial information, a tweet complaining about your cubemate’s smelly burrito (or its foreseeable consequences) could violate this policy.”

Meyer suggests, “To avoid this problem, an employer should carefully tailor his social media policy to serve a legitimate business interest which, at the same time, is not intended to interfere with the employees’ right to form a union or engage in other protected concerted activity.”

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A Caution About Monitoring

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Speaking of unions, Neuberger offers an additional observation about monitoring activity. “First, under the NLRA, employers are prohibited from engaging in ‘surveillance’ or monitoring employees in exercise of their right to form and join a union.” If an employer monitors social networking sites to determine who the union sympathizers and organizers are, they have engaged in an unfair labor practice. “The second is that when employers discipline or discharge for violations of a computer usage or social media policy, they can expect the employee to claim discriminatory enforcement. The problem employers face in defending such claims is that misuse of the computers and Internet is so prevalent in all workplaces that the employee stands a good chance of showing the employer ‘knew or should have known’ that there were other, more egregious violations of policy that were overlooked by the company.”

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Conclusion

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The National Labor Relations Board report isn’t designed to scare anyone. In fact, just the opposite. It’s been released to offer insights into and guidance for workplace social media. This will help to develop policies and use social media in a responsible way as we move forward and social media goes more mainstream.

It also means that like many of the guidelines and policies we have around the workplace, we must clearly define our expectations, communicate with and train our employees and hold people accountable.

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More Small Business Resources From OPEN Forum:

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- 15 Keyboard Shortcuts To Enhance Your PC Productivity

- 5 Services For Building Websites On A Budget

- 10 Accessories To Boost Office Morale

- Top 5 Foursquare Mistakes Committed By Small Businesses

- How To Use Social Media For Recruiting

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

Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising is key to most online marketing campaigns today, and it’s often expensive and overwhelming. If the tedious nature and large time commitment required to run a successful — or even unsuccessful — PPC campaign has got you down, you are not alone. However, a good ROI makes it all worth while. Here are 10 tips to help improve your PPC campaign in hopes of a gaining a greater ROI and making the whole process more enjoyable and fruitful.

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1. Run a Negative Campaign

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No, the idea is not to openly bash your competitors through ad copy. Instead, utilize negative keywords, one of the most underused features offered for PPC campaigns. Negative keywords allow you to choose words that won’t trigger your ad. For example, if you are a new car salesman, place the word “used” on your negative list to target customers looking for a new vehicle. When used correctly and updated often, negative keywords help pare down your clickers to serious buyers and save your PPC dollars.

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2. Location, Location, Location

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Why have your ad viewed or, even worse, clicked by someone in Iowa when you only sell insurance in California? PPC dollars are wasted because unsophisticated users don’t focus their impressions by location. Google, Microsoft and Yahoo all offer geo-location features, which allow users to target their markets based on IP addresses, geo-specific keywords or both.

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3. Make an Offer They Can’t Refuse

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With so much competition, you need to differentiate your ad. Are you running a promotion? Is shipping free? Offer value and then capitalize on it with a call-to-action. Use terms like “Learn More” and “Free Download” to draw in customers. Encourage searchers to act and let them know what to expect on the other side of the click.

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4. Be Dynamic

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Dynamic keyword insertion allows you to create more relevant ad copy by placing the exact phrase searched into your ad. When the potential customer sees the exact term they searched, they are more likely to click. While dynamic keyword insertion is very useful and can increase your click through rate tremendously, it is not for the PPC novice. If poorly executed, dynamic keyword insertion can result in ads that appear unclear and irrelevant and can drain your budget quickly.

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5. Utilize Long Tail Keywords

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Long tail keywords are three-to-four-word phrases that are specific to your product. The reason this works is that visitors using very specific search phrases are often further along in the purchasing process and can result in a higher conversion rate. Someone looking for shoes might search for “boots,” and then have it narrowed down to “black knee-high boots” when she’s ready to buy. Another benefit to long tail keywords is their lack of popularity among PPC novices. With less people bidding on your keywords, your cost per click decreases. Add high intent words to your long tail, such as “buy,” “price” or even “where to buy,” in order to grab those on the verge of a purchase. If you are stumped and need long tail keyword suggestions, visit Wordstream.

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6. This Is a Test

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Don’t just set up a PPC campaign and hope for the best — proper testing and analysis are required. Metrics allow you to better understand your campaign and results, so set up A/B tests to track what works. Remember to test multiple ads simultaneously, but only allow for one variable at a time and run your tests long enough to gather proper data.

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7. Timing Is Everything

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In addition to geo-targeting, PPC campaigns allow for time targeting. Analyze your metrics to determine when your ads are at their highest conversion rate. If you are receiving hundreds of clicks at 3 am, but making no sales, restrict ad impressions during those hours to save your budget.

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8. A Homepage Is Not a Landing Page

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I repeat … a homepage is not a landing page. Don’t throw away all your hard work by sending targeted customers to a non-targeted homepage. Create a simple landing page that picks up right where your ad left off. Don’t lose your visitor — and potential sale — by confusing them with unnecessary content.

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9. Get to Know Keyword Generators, but Not Too Well

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Keyword generators prove helpful in getting you started when mining keywords. Some great tools are the Google AdWords Keyword Tools, Microsoft Advertising Intelligence and tools by Market Samurai. However, do not rely heavily on keyword generators — often a human touch is what you need to target that human searcher. You know how you typically search, so go with your instinct.

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10. Google Quality Score: Recognize

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Your Google Quality Score determines the overall ranking of your AdWords account and helps determine where your ads will place on the search page. Keep your score high by following the rules set up by Google AdWords and continuously providing quality advertisements. Stay on top of your Google Quality Score, as an unexpected drop is a red flag.

These 10 steps cover the basics of increasing your ROI for PPC campaigns, hopefully your spirits and click rate are soaring as a result.

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More Small Business Resources From OPEN Forum:

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- 15 Keyboard Shortcuts To Enhance Your PC Productivity

- 5 Services For Building Websites On A Budget

- 10 Accessories To Boost Office Morale

- Top 5 Foursquare Mistakes Committed By Small Businesses

- How To Use Social Media For Recruiting

Image courtesy of iStockphoto, kemie

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

Businesses love cause marketing, and the belief is that supporting a good cause translates into stronger sales.

The Cause Marketing Forum has some pretty convincing numbers: In 2009, 72% of American consumers said they avoided purchasing products from companies whose practices they disagreed with. Accordingly, two-thirds of brands started engaging in cause marketing in 2010, up from 58% in 2009, according to a study by PRWeek and Barkely PR.

Consumers have taking a healthy shift towards doing good, with 86% of global buyers believing that businesses need to place at least equal weight on societal interests as on business interests, according to an Edelman survey. It’s not enough to make money — businesses also need to do good.

Okay, so you need to get on the cause marketing train. Unfortunately, the term has received a strange reputation thanks to cries of “greenwashing” and “cause-washing” — the act of hijacking important causes just to sell more stuff.

How do you run a successful cause marketing campaign that reflects well on your brand and also does some serious good? We’ve got five tips for you:

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1. Do Your Homework

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You can’t just pull off a cause marketing campaign overnight. It’s important to take a look at a several non-profits and causes and make sure that they have enough infrastructure to pair up with your business. This may not seem like a big deal for small business, but if you’re Pepsi or Justin Bieber, you need to make sure your non-profit partner can handle the increase in donations and web traffic without crashing our losing track of funds.

It’s also important to properly vet any non-profit to make sure their track record is above-board. Look them up on sites like GuideStar.org or request their financial records so that you know exactly with whom you’re going into business. Nothing can deflate your brand faster than launching a campaign that turns out to be a scam.

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2. What Is Your Brand About?

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Of course, the other part of doing your homework is making sure that the cause matches up with your brand’s target demographic and with your brand image. For example, KFC got some serious backlash for its partnership with Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Many were upset that breast cancer awareness would be associated with an unhealthy food like fried chicken.

By the same token, non-profits need to be careful of their corporate partners. You wouldn’t want a heart disease research non-profit accepting money from a cigarette company.

Think of partnerships that make sense. A sports equipment seller could pair up with a non-profit aimed at weight-loss or youth exercise. A technology company could pair up with non-profits focusing on education or startup support in developing countries.

Once you’ve found a non-profit that matches your brand image and customer base, it’s important to give the non-profit organizers a seat at the table, says Susan McPherson, the SVP of Fenton, a business consultancy that specializes in cause marketing and public interest communications. Not only does this show good faith, but the non-profit will know their cause better than you and can give you valuable information about how best to incorporate it into a campaign.

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3. Involve Your Employees

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If you business is embarking on a cause-marketing campaign, then your entire team needs to be on board. Talk to your employees about the causes that are important to them and make sure to get them engaged and motivated once you’ve picked a cause. Some companies offer their employees paid “volunteer” time, allowing them an hour each week, for example, during which they can volunteer at local charities or with the company’s partnered non-profit.

Once you’ve made a partnership, the cause is part of your business strategy. You’re not losing money by letting your employees contribute their time.

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4. Manage Expectations

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We’ve been speaking about cause marketing in terms of a long commitment. Most successful cause marketing campaigns aren’t one-offs, but rather sustained, mutually-beneficial partnerships between a business and a non-profit. This will be a less daunting proposition if you’ve done your homework and found a cause that syncs well with your brand image.

“For a cause marketing campaign or program to be successful, it must be planned and executed as a partnership,” McPherson says. “It must not be one-sided, and both the for-profit and non-profit partners must each have a stake to make it successful. Given that, a well-thought out and researched plan with milestones, deliverables and ROI built in needs to be created and agreed to at the get-go.”

It’s possible to run a one-off cause marketing campaign, but be clear what your goal is: Are you trying to make a difference in the world? Are you trying to sell more product? Are you trying to improve your brand image? These are each valid goals, but keep in mind that consumers are placing more and more emphasis on a business’ desire to do good, not turn a profit.

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5. If It Hits the Fan

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Sometimes things just don’t work out. If a partnership falls apart, it’s important for any business to take responsibility to their fans and be honest and transparent about what went wrong. If you find out your non-profit partner isn’t doing what they said they would, tell your audience and vow to find a way to keep supporting the cause.

If the partnership just wasn’t the right fit, like the KFC example above, tell your audience you made a mistake but stand by the message (being healthier, for example) and find another cause speaks to that message and syncs with your brand (sports training, for example).

Most often, people are turned off by cause marketing because it reeks of marketing lingo and has an uncomfortable PR sheen. Honesty and transparency will help combat this stereotype while drawing in your audience to get behind your chosen non-profit.

Cause marketing is a growing industry, but it can be susceptible to a “business-first” mentality. Anyone undertaking a cause marketing campaign will be fighting an ingrained preconceived notion that brands will just use non-profits to get more cash and fans. But when done properly, these partnerships aren’t just about profits and bottom-lines, but about making a real difference and putting brand power behind important issues.

Is cause marketing a win-win or a lose-lose? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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More Small Business Resources From OPEN Forum:

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- 15 Keyboard Shortcuts To Enhance Your PC Productivity

- 5 Services For Building Websites On A Budget

- 10 Accessories To Boost Office Morale

- Top 5 Foursquare Mistakes Committed By Small Businesses

- How To Use Social Media For Recruiting

Image courtesy of Flickr, Daniela Vladimirova

Anyone on the East Coast can tell you, this has not been a good March. Rain, cold, more rain … isn’t this supposed to be spring? Yet, rain or shine, Mashable is back with another round of tools and resources you may have missed.

This week we have stories on top digital marketing agencies, how to earn money from crowdworking, and even some baseball mobile apps to get you excited for America’s national pastime. Looking for even more social media resources? This guide appears every weekend, and you can check out all the lists-gone-by here any time.

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Editors’ Picks

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• Our Choice: The Funniest April Fools’ Jokes
  Here’s a roundup of the best April Fools’ Jokes played by major tech companies.
• Why the Cloud Is Actually the Safest Place for Your Data
  The Internet can feel like a dangerous place, but the cloud is quickly becoming the safest place to store your precious data. Here’s a look at why desktop virtualization may be the most secure route.
• Top 5 Innovative Digital Marketing Agencies
  Here’s a look at five interactive agencies behind some of 2010′s best digital marketing campaigns, which promoted a new TV show, a community giving project, gum innovation and more.
• Why Book Trailers Are Now Essential to the Publishing Industry
  Sometimes, “watching” can be a good way to get people reading.
• Facebook Profile Migrations: A Cautionary Tale
  Users who want to migrate from a traditional Facebook Profile to a Facebook Page might want to think twice before making the leap.

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Social Media

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• HOW TO: Avoid and Prevent Facebook Spam
  With more than 500 million users, Facebook has become a playground for spammers. Here are some tips to help get rid of bogus messages — and prevent spreading them.
• A New Era for Internet Domains: Why .XXX Is Just the Beginning
  ICANN’s approval of the .xxx extension will open up a new era of top-level website domain possiblities. Here’s a look at what may be in store for users, businesses, and brands.
• 20 Essential Online Resources for Finding New Music
  There are scads of music discovery services out there, just waiting to help you make a more adventurous decision.
• HOW TO: Add Facebook Questions To Your Brand Page
  If you want to get the Questions feature for your Facebook Page today, you can add it by following the simple steps listed here.
• The Future of Online Classifieds: 5 Ways to Beat Craigslist
  Craigslist is a web traffic powerhouse, but its simplicity is also its greatest limitation. Here’s a look at how web 2.0 businesses could do better.
• HOW TO: Stay Safe When Engaging in Political Activism on Facebook
  Facebook can be a powerful tool for change, but it’s also a platform that oppressive authorities can leverage.
• Why Vevo Acquiring MySpace Could Be a Very Good Move
  It’s buzzing through the grapevine at present that music video site Vevo is interested in taking MySpace off of News Corp’s hands.
• How Women Really Feel About Their Facebook Friends SURVEY
  Most women — 83% of respondents in this survey — are annoyed at one time or another by the posts from their Facebook connections.
• 10 Vintage Visions of the Future VIDEOS
  We’ve found 10 vintage videos that offer a glimpse of a future that, in many cases, never quite came to pass.
• April Fools’ Day By the Numbers INFOGRAPHIC
  Social media users, that April Fool’s prank you’re about to pull puts you in good company, with a surprising percentage of your fellow social media mavens creating stunts today.
• Top 5 Comics From the Mashable Caption Contest
  Mashable readers are hilarious! Check out the winning captions.

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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• A Tale of Two Infographics: Before and After Firefox 4
  The team at Pingdom put together their own Firefox infographic, this time showcasing the lead-up to Firefox 4
• The Futuristic Fashion of Diana Eng PICS
  Diana Eng, the former “Project Runway” contestant whose futuristic, technology-infused fashions we profiled at CES in January, is now building out her own line of innovative, wearable accessories.
• 13 Quirky iPhone Accessories PICS
  Whether it’s a stand with a witty design, a decal that evokes a retro tech, or a case that will put a smile on your face, we’ve got 13 seriously cool and quirky companion products for your iPhone.
• 7 Superb Short Films Shot With Cellphones
  Think you need a fancy camera to shoot a great movie? Think again.
• Amazon Cloud Player: First Impressions
  Here are some of our initial thoughts about Amazon Cloud Player and its companion Android app.
• 6 New Apps for Uncovering the Best Local Knowledge
  The latest generation of startups is marrying Q&A services with location. As a result, here are six ways you can get recommendations from people nearby.
• HOW TO: Use Amazon Cloud Player With iOS Devices
  Want to access Amazon’s new Cloud Player from your iOS device? We’ve found a serviceable, if still hackneyed, solution.
• HOW TO: Play Recorded Twitter Conversations In Sync With Your Favorite Shows
  Startup service TweePlayer allows you to play back the saved Twitter conversation surrounding an event while watching what you missed live.
• Why Trends & Crowdsourcing Remain Logo Design’s Hot Button Issues
  From brand new companies staking their identity to big players looking for a refresh, the complexities of logo design should not be underestimated. We spoke with industry pros about the process.
• HOW TO: Get Your Fans To Use Their Phone for Good During Concerts
  Chicago-based band Umphrey’s McGee will soon be holding its second, hyper-interactive UMBowl.
• 10 Essential Mobile Apps for Baseball Fans
  It’s the start of baseball season, and we’ve got a bevy of mobile apps for casual and superfans alike.
• HOW TO: Make an iPad Case Using Common Household Materials
  Even if you’re “craft-challenged,” we guarantee anyone can create a one-of-a-kind iPad case in about 15 minutes. Here’s how.

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 & Marketing

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• HOW TO: Land a Job at Amazon
  Amazon is on a hiring spree to accommodate its growing line of products and services. Here are tips and resources to help you land a job there.
• HOW TO: Hire a Great Web Designer, With Y Combinator’s Garry Tan
  A good web designer can be costly. Y Combinator’s Garry Tan has tips for finding the best talent for your company’s website.
• Top 5 YouTube Marketing Mistakes Committed by Small Businesses
  A viral video can be all it takes for a small business to go big. We spoke to three video experts about common YouTube marketing mistakes.
• HOW TO: Get the Most Out of Google AdWords
  Google AdWords can be a great and cost-effective way to promote your business — as long as you’re doing it smartly. Here’s a guide to help.
• Why Facebook’s New Questions Tool Is Good for Brands & Businesses
  Facebook Questions presents a major opportunity for brands and businesses to conduct market research and crowdsource their fans in a far more elegant way than was previously possible, said Ben Grossman, communication strategist for the marketing agency Oxford Communications.
• How Businesses Can Survive a Product Recall Using Social Media
  These five tips will help ensure that companies maximize the potential of social media to protect consumers and their brands in the midst of a product recall situation.
• 6 Common Email Marketing Mistakes Small Businesses Make
  Before you jump into an email marketing campaign, figure out how you can make the most of it.
• HOW TO: Hire Top Talent in Emerging Industries
  How can you find talented, experienced employees if your industry is only a few years old? Here are some ways to leverage the social web in your search for an all-star team.
• 5 Excellent Small Business Blogs To Learn From
  Here are five small businesses that are using a blog to reach the local community and showcase the company’s expertise.
• HOW TO: Launch Any Product Using Social Media
  The social web is an effective way to promote your wares, but you need a multi-faceted approach, and there are many cost factors to consider.
• Scaling Instagram: How the Photo Sharing Startup Avoided Catastrophe in Its First Days
  Instagram is one of the most popular photo sharing apps out there. Here’s a look at how the startup has scaled and handled demand since its October launch.
• 8 Ways Companies Can Contribute to Open Source Communities
  How can enterprises evaluate which communities to work with and how to get involved? Here are some suggestions.
• 7 Tips For Growing a Two-Sided Online Marketplace
  In the early stages of your business, how can you cater to buyers and sellers at the same time without alienating either one?
• How the Pros Measure Social Media Marketing Success
  Brands are pouring money into social media marketing programs, but there’s no standard way to assess success. Here, three experts weigh in on ROI.
• 18 Ways to Earn Money From Crowdworking
  Join the crowd. You may not be able to get rich quick, but there’s money to be made from crowdworking if you can match your talents to the right platform.
• 6 Tips for Creating Valuable Branded Content
  Content is still king, but you should be making it for users, not search engines. Here are a few pointers.
• 5 YouTube Marketing Tips for Better Engagement
  Like Facebook and Twitter, discussions are happening on YouTube around video content. Here’s how your brand can tap in.
• HOW TO: Recruit All-Star Employees on a Startup Budget
  Getting top talent should be a number one priority. Here are some tips to get an all-star team on a budget.

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

Image courtesy of Flickr, metaroll

The iPhone boasts a pretty decent camera, backed up by a ton of really cool apps, but there’s no doubt there are a few specialized areas of photography — shooting video and still life, for example — where the iPhone could use a helping hand.

We’re not suggesting anyone buy the entire set of accessories we’ve listed below, but you may find one or two items could really improve the shooting capabilities of Apple’s mobile.

So, take a look at the add-ons we’ve found, and let us know in the comments any iPhone accessories that have helped you with your iPhotography.

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1. iPhone Tripod Holder

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This tripod holder is one of a few options available, but its real selling point is its low price, making it ideal for anyone who might have an occasional need to stick their iPhone on a tripod. For just under $10, you’ll get a simple but useful sturdy mount that features durable brass threads for a secure attachment.

Cost: $9.95

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2. Owle Bubo

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The Owle Bubo is a fairly major accessory for the iPhone. It transforms the mobile device into a camera with some comprehensive features. It adds a full-size lens, an external microphone, four tripod mount points and an integrated cold shoe for adding lights and the like. Finally, with an ergonomic design, the added weight the Bubo provides increases control for a more camera-like experience.

Cost: $169.95 for iPhone 4, $159.95 for 3G/3GS

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3. Flip-Cage with iPhone 4 Mount

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This folding tabletop stand for your iPhone 4 or 3GS model can be used as a small tripod and doubles as a desktop stand for watching movies or making Facetime calls. In addition, the iPhone mount can be removed so you can use your phone on any tripod.

Cost: $38.90

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4. Factron Quattro Cases

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The high-end Factron case for your iPhone will add some metallic and leather chic to your mobile, giving it a classic camera look and feel. The five interchangeable lenses (sold separately) will add more effects to your shooting repertoire. The case is available in 15 different colors and finishes and is made of “duralumin,” which certainly sounds rugged.

Cost: Approx $220

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5. Zacuto Zgrip iPhone Jr. Handgrip

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The Zgrip iPhone Jr. is a handgrip system for shooting more stable video on the move with your iPhone, and it also offers a thread to mount the handgrip to a tripod for stationery shooting. There’s also another thread on the top for mounting other accessories such as a light.

Cost: $69

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6. USBFever’s Special Effects Lenses

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If you can’t afford to splurge on Factron’s case-and-lenses system above, then USBFever offers some affordable alternatives. Its range of detachable lenses for mobile devices include fish eye, wide angle, macro and telescopic. The success of the results will no doubt vary, but there’s certainly some fun experimentation to be had.

Cost: From $13 to $22

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7. Griffin Clarifi

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Designed for iPhone 3G and 3GS, Griffin’s Clarifi case boasts a built-in lens that claims to give your iPhone a boost in camera resolution. Macro and close-up shots are instantly finer in detail, while you can still slide the lens aside for normal photography.

Cost: $34.99

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8. Joby GorillaMobile for iPhone 4

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Joby is now offering a product especially for the iPhone 4. The stand-alone bumper protects your phone, while the detachable, flexible tripod offers adaptable positioning. In addition to photography, the GorillaMobile can also be used as a desk stand, or even, suggests Joby, attached to a treadmill to watch your favorite show while working out.

Cost: $39.95

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9. ZoomIt SD Memory Card Connector

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This clever dock connector accessory (and the free app) allows you to use SD memory cards with your iPhone. It lets you view, access and share all of your photos (and other files) from your SD cards on the go without the need to connect to your camera, Mac or PC. It’s slightly pricey, but a fab solution for anyone who favors the SD memory card format.

Cost: $59.95

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10. Glif

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The soon-to-be-released Glif (enabled by Kickstarter) offers two functions: letting you mount your iPhone to a standard tripod and using a kickstand to prop your phone up at an angle. It’s a simple and elegant solution that’s seen some positive backing. You can pre-order yours now.

Cost: $20

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As laptops overtake desktops in the home computing arena, consumers keep looking for more ways to both work and play more comfortably with their own portable PCs.

A “lap desk,” or lap table, offers a handy solution for when you want to work on your computer from the floor, sofa, or even in bed. It keeps the laptop’s heat off your legs (helping you avoid the dreaded Toasted Leg Syndrome), and it provides a stable platform for all your PC needs.

We’ve taken a look at 10 of the top lap desks available to suit all styles and needs. Have a look through our selection and let us know which would suit you and why, in the comments below.

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1. Winsome Wood Bentwood Bed Desk

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Finished in a modern shade of light oak, this stylish “bed desk” offers not only a platform for your portable PC but a side slot for files, magazines, notepads or whatever else you might need to store. It’s not the most portable option, but it is a great choice for around-the-home work, especially if you need a place to store your other papers.

Cost: From around $60

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2. Room It Up Portable Lap Desk

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Aimed at dorm room dwellers, but suitable for anyone who enjoys a funky fabric and wants an affordable option, Room It Up’s lap desk includes a cup holder, boasts a cushioned underside to help protect against heat and looks great in your choice of colorful finishes.

Cost: $24

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3. Logitech Speaker Lapdesk N700

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Logitech calls the N700 a “lap theater.” The high tech lap desk offers built-in speakers to boost your laptop’s audio abilities and a fan to help keep things cool during prolonged multimedia use. All this wizardry is powered via a single USB cable, with on/off controls for the speaker and fan, as well as volume controls. If you watch a lot of movies on your laptop, this is the portable platform for you.

Cost: $79.99

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4. Belkin CushTop

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Available in Belkin’s typically contemporary colors, the CushTop offers padded comfort when you’re using your notebook on your lap. A very simple but clever design features a storage pocket inside for power cables and other accessories, while the trapezoid shape means you can reverse it to suit larger or smaller machines.

Cost: $34.99

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5. Bamboo Wood Contour Lap Desk

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This gorgeous, simple option gives you a bamboo top and a detachable cotton hopsack cushioned base. This lap desk also doubles as an ordinary tray. The curved lines mean there are no awkward edges to dig into you during use. Its 22-inch width should be large enough for most laptops with room left over for a mouse.

Cost: $39.95

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6. LapDeskLady

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The “LapDeskLady” over on Etsy is an expert in handmade lap desks, and her shop is perfect for anyone who would rather buy “small” over corporate. The “jumbo” model is a whopping 30 by 18 inches, offering plenty of space and cushioned comfort. If you’re looking for something a little different or customizable (you can choose your own fabric patterns), be sure to get in touch with her to start your negotiations.

Cost: Approx $39.95 to $59.95

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7. LapDawg X4

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Described as the “Swiss Army Knife of lap desks,” this Meccano-esque portable tray can be positioned in pretty much any way you’d like, thanks to 360-degree rotating legs with push-button, auto-locking joints. The tray is versatile too, with one side featuring a rubber stopper to stop things from slipping around, while the other boasts a curled bottom edge, ideal for holding books and magazines in place.

Cost: $89

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8. SPI Lighted Lapdesks

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The big selling point for SPI’s popular lighted lap desks is the built-in goose-neck lamp, offering you some portable illumination while you tap away, read, make notes, etc. Other features include a carry handle and a wrist rest that should help with those all-important ergonomics.

Cost: From around $29.99

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9. Old School Lap Desk

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This wonderful, old-fashioned mini-desk is modeled after school desks. The desk lid opens to reveal a felt-lined storage space underneath for your pencil case or other accessories. Made from heavy, cherry-stained wood, it’s one desk meant for the home. It will add a fun, scholarly touch to any living room.

Cost: $51.49

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10. IKEA BRADA Laptop Support

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IKEA’s BRADA is the cheapest lap desk we’ve selected at just a penny under $10. For that, you get a functional objet from the clever Swedes. The legs fold out from a slimline storage position to provide a slightly tilted, wipe-clean work surface, and the cheerful, polka-dotted design adds a dose of fun.

Cost: $9.99

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Designing and critiquing logos for web-based companies and startups is a pursuit of endless fascination for many of us. Over the years, we’ve seen enough startups come and go (and rebrand and merge) to fill a volume with how and how not to develop and execute a logo for a web company.

We’ve also picked up some knowledge about trends in this field. Some of the trends are good; others, regrettable. Others still are simply overused, which is the saddest scenario of them all. We hate to see a good design trick or typeface grow hackneyed over the course of a few months, but it happens all the time, unfortunately.

In this article, we’ve identified 11 trends in web company logo design. Hopefully, you’ll see a few here that apply to the startups and web apps we write about every day. And of course, we’ve included some handy illustrations as a sort of field guide to the logos of the web.

Take a look, and let us know what you think of these trends — and what trends we should have included — in the comments.

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1. Badges and Buttons

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We’ve moved away from the once-ubiquitious BETA! button, but location-esque badges, app-like icons, and “play” buttons are still showing up all over the web. These logos tend to be quite “shiny,” thanks to a few carefully-blended white gradient layers. The square logos have rounded corners. Some appear to glow as if lit from within, which is a compelling and trendy effect in itself. All in all, the badge-and-button set look quite touchable.

Still, this trend’s days may be numbered, if only due to overuse and association-bordering-on-marriage with the Apple/iPhone brand. See also: Wet floor effect.

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2. Speech Bubbles and Megaphones

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If social web apps are all about communication, then it stands to reason that many social web company logos are all about talking. We see fewer logos that revolve around listening (if you happen to see a giant ear logo in the wild, do let us know), but megaphones and speech bubbles abound.

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3. Fun With Opacity!

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Remember the first time you discovered Multiply and Overlay blend modes in Photoshop? If that moment changed your life forever, then you probably understand the beauty of a simple, elegant logo that delicately plays with opacity.

While this logo treatment won’t work for every web app, it’s a versatile and timeless way to present classic shapes in a new light. We’re seeing this basic effect used simply in MasterCard-reminiscent designs, and we’re seeing much more complex opacity effects used in logos for HTML5 and Microsoft Silverlight, for example.

Playing with blending modes, opacity and overlapping shapes can also be a fun way to experiment with analogous color schemes.

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4. Kawaii Illustration

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Calling all woodland creatures: You’re wanted on the Internet. In fact, the only time you’ve been in greater demand than you are now was when Disney was making those saccharine “princess” films.

Why are these wide-eyed, adorable critters making their way into logo design? Apps are for adults, right? Especially apps such as Seesmic, a powerful web app dashboard for power users and the enterprise, and GitHub, an industry standard for source code hosting.

We don’t know exactly how, when or why kawaii made a comeback into serious-business logo design, but with logos this cute, who are we to complain?

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5. Scripts, Slabs and Other Cool Fonts

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Say it with me: “I will not use Archer for a web company’s logo design.”

Archer and its ilk were used to great effect over the past couple years on a number of memorable web company logos. That being said, the Year of the Slab is definitely not over. In fact, it’s more of an epoch than a traditional Gregorian year at this point. Slab serif fonts — if they’re unique fonts — are still a viable alternative to been-there-done-that sans serifs in logos, and the web community still enjoys them.

That being said, a good, juicy script can be one of the liveliest, most unexpected logo choices yet, particularly if your logo is solely typographic. Rephoria uses my personal favorite, Candy Script, a swash-heavy number that’s almost too voluptuous for work but which still makes the cut for a single-word logo.

Just remember: When using more unusual fonts for logo design, restraint and legibility are key.

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6. Verdant and Plant-Inspired

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Plants and leaves aren’t just for green tech companies, folks. When you’re trying to project growth, one of the most obvious logo choices is flora. A shy set of leaves, a furling bud, a sprouting seed — what could better convey your company’s fresh problem solving and rapid expansion?

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7. Quadrangles

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It’s not a rectangle, it’s not a square, but whatever it is, it’s popping up everywhere. Quadrangles are, if the web is to be believed, the new dots. From rhombuses to parallelograms to indescribable yet angular blobs, these shapes strive for post-modern and consumer-friendly.

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8. Retro Game References

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Perhaps it’s because the newer crop of web designers are also children of the late eighties, but we’ve been seeing a lot of pseudo-retro, video game-inspired logo work lately. While these designs are definitely quirky, geeky and cool, beware using them for a general audience; not everyone feels the same nostalgia we do for an 8-bit, pixelated graphic of a mushroom.

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9. Color-Coordinated Compound Words

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Web startup names and logos are inextricably linked. We’re a couple years past the compound word phase (which was most virulent right before the tragic “missing vowel” phase that gave birth to web companies with names like “Packg” and “Clevrr”), but we haven’t left behind our love for merged-word logos in two snappy, coordinating colors.

This trick is one of the oldest in the book. It was notably used for Vignelli Associates’ 1967 rebranding of American Airlines, whose two-word name became a one-word logo in red and blue.

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10. Logotypes

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The big boys of the web, sites such as Google and Facebook, have inspired the logo design of a generation with their utter simplicity. In many cases, those initial logotypes were less legitimate logo design and more “put our startup’s name in a simple font and stick it up on the web, we’ll deal with branding later.”

The name-in-a-sans-serif look says your company has nothing to prove and that you focus on product over promotion. If it’s well-executed, it’s a powerful statement to make. However, if poorly executed, it looks hasty, sloppy, juvenile and amateurish.

Logotypes can also be a great excuse to play with exciting typefaces and trendy treatments, such as the embossed or letterpress look that’s getting so much play these days, thanks to CSS3.

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11. Nodes, Spokes and Hubs

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Between concepts such as linked data and the synaptic web, you had to see these designs coming. They remind us of molecular structure and K’nex, an updated take on the crop of mid-century modern Sputnik-inspired designs of the 1950s. These logos are usually intended to represent the interconnectedness of people and content on the web, or, in a more literal interpretation, computer hardware circuitry.

An excellent study of this concept is Bernard Barry’s designs for the 2010 f8 conference.

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What Trends Are You Spotting?

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What trends are you seeing in web company logos these days? What are you already sick of, and what do you want to see more? Please share your observations in the comments.

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An iPod is only as good as its speakers, even when what matters to you is cool factor more than audio fidelity. Apple has described the iPod touch as the “funnest” iPod ever, and in that spirit we’ve rounded up 10 unique iPod speakers to compliment your device. If you’re looking for something novel, playful, or just downright silly, odds are high that there’s a speaker to match.

Whether you want to listen to music at your desk, in the garden, at the beach or even in the bath, we’ve got a speaker to suit. Once you’ve picked a favorite, all that’s left to do is to pick your “funnest” tunes, sit back and enjoy.

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1. Mini Amplifier Speaker

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This super-cute speaker looks like a tiny amp and stands just 5-inches tall. Since it uses a USB hook-up, you can use the amp with your laptop or MP3 player. Yes, the volume does go up to 11.

Cost: $25

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2. Retro Block iPod Speaker

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In no way officially branded, this “retro block” speaker will sit at the end of your ‘Pod or ‘Phone looking like a super-sized bit of LEGO.

Cost: $25

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3. Rock-It

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The “Rock-It” takes music from your device and turns it into vibration sequences. That means you can turn any object (such as a window, a cardboard box, even a filing cabinet) into an impromptu speaker by channeling those vibrations. We never leave home without one.

Cost: $49.99

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4. iPod Boombox

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This speaker comes flat-packed for some build-your-own fun. Once you’ve assembled it, the speaker resembles a retro boombox. Slide in your iPod and get ready for a dance off.

Cost: $29.95

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5. iDuck

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If you like to listen to music in the bath but are terrified your iPod or iPhone might go for a dunk too, then you might need the iDuck. The duck is a wireless, waterproof speaker that will float around your tub as your device (and the required transmitter) sit safely on dry land.

Cost: Approximately $37

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6. DJ Speaker

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Perfect for any DJ heros out there, this tiny turntable speaker will pump out your tunes in style. What it lacks in size, DJ Speaker makes up for in novelty with the ability to add pre-programmed sound effects like voices, siren noises — and oh, yes — scratching.

Cost: $19.99

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7. Burton Lil Buddy Bag

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Think of Burton’s weather-resistant Lil Buddy as a party in a bag. It offers an internal beverage cooler bag big enough for 12 cans, a bottle opener, and a built-in speaker that you can hook up to your iPod. Beach, here we come!

Cost: Around $80 from Zappos

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8. Funkyfonic Cassette MP3 Speaker

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Another retro, music-themed gizmo, this speaker shaped like a cassette brings some Eighties chic to your cutting edge iPod.

Cost: $22

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9. Ceramic Pig Speaker

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Novelty animal speakers are ten a penny, but this porcine audio device rises above the rest with its ceramic construction and civilized aesthetic. Resembling a sculpture, this speaker would be a great addition to any pig-lover’s desk. Mmmmm, bacon.

Cost: $49

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10. Headphonies

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The words “vinyl” and “collectible” always get our geek pulses racing. These stylish speakers won’t blow your head off with great sound quality, but they sure look funky.

Cost: $19.95 each

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