Facebook has just announced Places, a new feature that will allow users to share their location with other Facebook users via their smartphones. A lot of questions have been raised over this new feature, so here is a helpful guide Mashable put together that explains what Places is and what it will mean for businesses, you, and your privacy.

First of all, in order to use Places you will have to have a smartphone. This feature works best on the iPhone, but if you don’t have one, you can still access Places through Facebook’s Mobile Touch Site as long as your browser supports HTML5 and geolocations. Facebook plans to release versions of Places for Android and Blackberry devices, but no official dates have been released yet.

The first time you click on the Places tab on your iPhone or your Mobile Touch device, you will be asked for permission for Facebook to know your locations. Once you accept, you will be taken to the Places interface. From here, you can share your location with friends, find where your friends are located (provided they are using Places), and discover new areas around you. You have the options to add places, check into existing places, and tag people who are with you.

In order for businesses to show up on Places, they must submit an official document such as a business license or a Better Business Bureau accreditation. Facebook also plans to launch an API so developers can incorporate this feature into their applications. Working with sites such as Yelp and Gowalla, this feature will allow third-party apps to pull information and run queries from Places’ data.

So what happens when Places goes wrong? If Places displays a wrong location, or you feel that it is infringing on your privacy, you can report this incorrect data and it will be flagged for removal. Unfortunately, this removal is not immediate, but you can immediately untag yourself from these locations.

One of the main concerns with Places is user privacy. While this feature is designed to share your location with your friends only, your checkins will automatically show up in your newsfeeds and status updates. Friends can also check you into locations without your permission. Steps to make places more secure are available; however, you just have to know where to find them. By carefully going through the various “Customize Setting” for Places, you will be able to control who sees your locations and who can tag you.

This new feature is generating a lot of hype and is sure to raise many questions. Check out the full article for more on Places.

In today’s busy online market, good branding is vital. Having a logo that is clean, eye-catching, and compelling can mean the difference between good business and no business. After all, when it comes to online marketing, your logo is the face of your business. Choosing the right logo, however, can prove difficult. A recent article by Matt Silverman on Mashable.com provides four things that should be considered when considering a new logo.

One thing to remember is that your logo is a first impression. Before consumers know anything about your company, the first thing they notice is your identity. Instantly, consumers know if they want to continue or click away. As Silverman states, “Like the clothes you’d wear to a business meeting, your logo has to say, “I’m smart, I’m savvy, and I can compete,” at first glance.”

This is especially important for small businesses because they have to compete with large, multi-national corporations. This is a great opportunity, however, for small business owners because they can adapt to an ever-changing online market much easier than a large corporation. That’s why it is so important for small businesses to stay up-to-date on current market trends.

Another thing to know when it comes to your logo is what makes a logo “sticky.”  This means that your logo will “stick” in the consumers’ minds. When they see your logo they automatically associate with your brand. Making your logo memorable can be tricky, but thinking outside of the box can help. Try to be unique. Avoid what has been done countless times, and try to create something that is specific to your business.

Read the full article for more tips on creating the perfect logo for your company.

The iPhone is one of the most popular smartphones on the market, and much of its popularity is due to its App Store. The App Store allows iPhone, iPad, and iPod users to download applications for free or for a cost. These apps range from business apps to games and entertainment apps.

One app in particular is starting to generate a lot of buzz. This app is Talking Tom Cat. Created by Outfit7, Talking Tom Cat is a fun, entertainment app that allows users to interact with a 3D cat on their iPhone. You can interact with Tom by petting, poking, punching and tail pulling. Each action will get a different reaction from Tom. These range from Tom purring to yelling OUCH! If you poke or punch him too many times, he will fall to the floor dizzy. If left alone for too long, Tom will begin to yawn or sneeze to get your attention. Additional props, such as a glass of milk, also surround Tom.

This simple interaction is amusing, but the real value of Tom is his ability to mimic everything said to him. Tom records what is said and replays it in a humorous cat voice that varies in pitch based on the voice of the person being recorded. Whenever Tom is recording, he will turn a listening ear and a paw to the screen.

This feature gets even better by allowing you to record up to 30 seconds of Tom in action and send it directly to Facebook, YouTube, or send a direct email of the video. Sending this video to a friend is sure to get a few laughs. This fun and entertaining app is free to download and is a must have for people wanting to liven up their iPhone.

Check out Talking Tom Cat for yourself.

In this ever changing world of social media, it can be difficult, if not frustrating, trying to keep up with all the terms and applications. Luckily, Hubspot was nice enough to compile a list of 101 common terms used in social media marketing. Read this article for a convenient glossary that will hopefully make your day a little easier.

No matter what you do, there will always be someone who finds a way to criticize it. This applies to both personal life and business alike. So in this information age where millions of people are brought together by sites such as Facebook and Twitter, it’s no surprise that you may encounter a few critics.

When it comes to business, online criticism can have a major impact on your company. Whether this impact is positive or negative is determined by how you handle it.  Taken one way, criticism lets you know what you are doing to make your customers happy or unhappy. Taken too seriously, and criticism can damage your image and drive business away.

A recent article on Hubspot provides 4 tips on how to successfully take criticism and turn it into something positive.  When dealing with people, criticism is bound to happen. How it affects your company, however, is entirely up to you.

No matter where you look it seems like everyone has a cell phone in their hands. Whether they are talking, texting or playing games, people know cell phones are the latest crazy. It’s no surprise then that mobile apps are a hot commodity. A recent study shows that 21% of American wireless subscribers have smartphones, and even those who don’t are heavily adopting mobile app use. So just which app is leading the mobile app war? Facebook of course. Check out this article to see more stats and figures on the most popular apps.

Back in April, Google announced they were changing their Local Business Center to Google Places. The tool enables business owners to manage their presence on Google. Google is making the push to become the de facto directory for local businesses on the web. The launch introduced a whole bunch of new features including local search and map listings, real-time updates, custom quick response (QR) codes and coupons, and even photo shoots for businesses. While Geo startup Foursquare (and even Twitter) is taking a social approach to local business listings, coupons, and offers, Google is approaching this from the search side. It is powerful as a search tool a far as that goes, but it is clear the location war is just beginning.

Yesterday was a big day! Google got a new look and some hot new features, including a new mobile search.

What’s new and improved? The latest version of Google has some major differences – design changes, the addition of a left-hand navigation, and a more integrated search experience.

The design focus remains simple. So simple, in fact, you probably won’t notice the revised Google logo.

The addition of the left-hand navigation is a nice touch. You can see the types of search options available, such as Image Search, Shopping Search and Books Search. The coolest feature of the new menu? It’s dynamic. Your search options change based on your search topic.

The integrated search is designed to help you refine results by adapting to your search needs and streamlining the search experience. When you click on any of the menu items it won’t take you to a wholly different results page. Instead the left-hand menu stays put as you search which should make it easier for you to navigate the page.

What do you think of this new Google? Let us know in the comments.

Would you stand in line for hours, perhaps days,  to get a chance to buy the latest gadget from Apple? If your answer is yes, you are what the technology industry aims to charm – an early adopter.

 So do you fit the profile of an iPad wannabe? Here are some early sales results.

 Are you a current Mac user? 74% of iPad purchasers think Leopards are far superior to Windows.

Do you have an iPhone? 66% of purchasers can’t get enough of those iphone apps.

Do you Kindle? 13% who bought the iPad love to cozy up to a warm E ink screen instead of a paperback.

Fortune’s survey takes a bite of the apple…

A landing page is any page on a website where traffic is sent specifically to respond to a call to action or prompt a result. When you send your audience to a landing page, you get direct response, you’re in control, and you get information. The landing page is one of the least understood practices of internet marketing. Many businesses do not realize the power that lies behind a thoughtfully crafted landing page.  Inside the Mind of a Landing Page gives you some useful insight into the value of creating a well-designed landing page.