Mark Zuckerberg takes questions from Stephen Hawking, Arnold Schwarzenegger in bizarre Q&A

Well, that got... weird.

Facebook held one of its regular Q&A Townhall sessions with Mark Zuckerberg Tuesday. Rather than a live event with Zuckerberg answering questions from a live audience, the question and answer session was in AMA format on the CEO's timeline.

But Tuesday's Townhall took a turn for the weird when a handful of Facebook's more high profile users, including Stephen Hawking, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Arianna Huffington, chimed in with their own questions for the Facebook boss.

See also: Facebook says your rainbow profile pictures won't be used to sell ads

In what must have been a well-orchestrated PR move from the social network, Hawking, Schwarzenegger and Huffington kicked things off by asking Zuckerberg about his take on science, workouts and journalism, respectively Read more...

More about Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, Social Media, Tech, and Apps Software

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20 jumpstagrams that will lift your spirits

Last week, Mashable partnered with Hilton to bring you an exciting photo challenge themed around jumping

We asked you to capture photographs mid-air, whether coordinating a group jump on a cliff or practicing parkour

See also: 21 Instagram photos that capture common objects as works of art

"I can see from the submissions that everyone had a blast taking and jumping for the shots," said photographer Can Ahtam, our guest-host. "I am happy to see many creative jumps out there that inspired me for my future shots; there was the use of culture, color, minimalism and most importantly joy in all of the photos." Read more...

More about Photography, Instagram, Social Media, Mashable Photo Challenge, and Mashable Photo Challenge Guest Series

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The Key to Driving Consistent Growth: Understanding Costs

I have a confession to make. I’m a revenue (sales) guy. I can think about, conceive and vision growth opportunities without even trying. On the other hand, thinking about (and understanding) costs doesn’t come so easily to me.

I’ve learned that understanding your costs is crucial to creating profitable revenue consistently, sustainably and scalably. Unfortunately, very few small and mid-sized companies understand their sales cost structure well enough.

via HubSpot Marketing Blog http://bitly.com/1Nv3am6

Can't Focus? 5 Ways to Overcome Distractions at Work

How often have you or one of your coworkers uttered the phrase, "I wish there were more hours in a day"?

Between work, your commute, the gym, cooking, kids, happy hours, baseball games, knitting, your band, and whatever else it is you try to squeeze in -- oh yeah, I almost forgot sleep -- it can be hard to accept that 24 hours in a day is all you get.

via HubSpot Marketing Blog http://bitly.com/1KqEzRD

Happy Social Media Day 2015!

It's that time of year again: Happy Social Media Day from all of us at Mashable.

Mashable first launched Social Media Day in 2010 to commemorate and celebrate the ways social media has changed our world, both big and small.

See also: Here's where Social Media Day is official this year

This year marks the sixth-annual global celebration, and it could just be the largest yet, with hundreds of events around the world bringing thousands of people together to discuss the growth and proliferation of social media.

Wherever you're located, there may be an event happening in a United States or international location near you. But if you can't attend an event in person, you can still join the global conversation online through the hashtag #SMDay Read more...

More about Events, Community, Social Media, Social Media Day, and Smday

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Why People Like, Share, and Comment on Facebook [Infographic]

Of Facebook's 1.25 billion monthly active users, 44% Like their friends' posts at least once a day -- and 29% do it multiple times a day. That's hundreds of millions of people interacting with content on the social network on a daily basis.

So what motivates people to Like Facebook posts -- and share them, and comment on them? And why should businesses care?

via HubSpot Marketing Blog http://bitly.com/1C4AOie

10 Publishers Killing It on Instagram

Instagram isn't just for celebrities and teenagers anymore. In fact, it’s now the fastest expanding social network showing strong growth in nearly every demographic. Instagram's population now encompasses 53% of all online adults between the ages of 18 and 29, and 25% of all online adults between the ages of 30 and 49. Even better, nearly half of Instagram's users check it daily.

via HubSpot Marketing Blog http://bitly.com/1C4AO1U

Slack, Shopify & Tough Mudder: Business Lessons From 3 High-Growth Companies

How can we take what we have and make it grow?

It seems like a simple enough question. But growth is hard -- especially in the corporate world.  

Between increased competition, shorter cycle times, and growth hackers finding innovative ways to disrupt a market in record time, scaling your business has become increasingly challenging (and more imperative than ever before).

via HubSpot Marketing Blog http://bitly.com/1HrRVLb

Conservative Russians are putting flags on profile photos to offset the rainbows

KIEV, Ukraine — In Soviet Russia, love doesn't always win.

Responding to the wave of pride rainbow-embossed profile photos that washed across social media in wake of the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling that legalized same-sex marriage in America on Friday, some conservative and homophobic Russians are shading profile images the colors of their country's flag: white, blue and red.

See also: 12 same-sex marriages that just made history Read more...

More about Social Media, Russia, Facebook, Twitter, and Us World

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How to Avoid Being Awkward on the Phone [Infographic]

Talking on the phone, especially with people you don't know, can be intimidating.

I have the utmost respect for my friends in Sales, Support, and other departments who spend most of their days talking on the phone -- usually with complete strangers. How do they set a positive tone and earn respect using only their voice? And how do they do it without being awkward or making the other party uncomfortable?

via HubSpot Marketing Blog http://bitly.com/1eVlvhu

5 Reasons People Say 'No Thanks' After Your SaaS Free Trial

"We're different, there's no-one else like us in the marketplace."

"As soon as people use our product, they'll want to buy."

"Our product is so good it sells itself."

When you're a marketer who works closely with companies in the SaaS/cloud technology space, you get used to hearing these phrases. Every emerging SaaS business is passionate about its product and convinced it has exactly what the market needs.

These businesses also buy into the widely accepted wisdom about the SaaS sales process, which goes something like this: it's much shorter and more transactional than traditional software sales, customers are ready to buy 'off the page' without the involvement of a salesperson, they just want to test out the product and then get started.

The result of this thinking is the ubiquity of the FREE TRIAL button.

via HubSpot Marketing Blog http://bitly.com/1LyaCOW

The 12 Weirdest (and Best) Things You Can Get For Free

This post originally appeared on HubSpot's Sales Blog. To read more content like this, subscribe to Sales.

People say the best things in life are free. They also say, however, that there’s no such thing as a free lunch.

So who’s right?

via HubSpot Marketing Blog http://bitly.com/1U0fxMc

A Critical Look at Ecommerce CTAs: What Works and What Lacks

 

An inspiring call-to-action is equal parts design and psychology. Prompting the desired response is never easy, especially as consumers become savvy to the tricks and tactics that online retailers use. The last thing you want is for your CTAs to be labeled “click-bait,” but you have to get buyers to convert somehow, right?

via HubSpot Marketing Blog http://bitly.com/1GHzOMw

How to Answer 11 Common Marketing Questions Using Analytics

When it comes time to assess your marketing efforts, it's not uncommon for you to run into a ton of questions.

How are your contacts trending month over month? Was the time you spent creating social media graphics for that campaign worth it? And what about your email marketing efforts? How are those stacking up against your paid initiatives? 

via HubSpot Marketing Blog http://bitly.com/1CDZ59v

Job hunting? 170+ openings in New York, San Francisco, L.A. and more

Are you looking for a new career? The Mashable Job Board is the ideal place to search for your next big move. More than 3,000 employers in tech and digital have posted on our board, and they're looking to fill positions from Mashable's community.

Twice a week, we highlight five recently posted openings. Check out some of this week's newest, below, and be sure to read our Job Search Series for valuable career tips.

Position: Data Analyst - Marketing
Company: StyleSeat
Location: San Francisco, California

StyleSeat is the leading marketplace & platform for service providers in the $78 billion beauty and wellness industry. We're continuing to experience hyper growth, and have processed over a billion dollars worth of transactions since being founded. Consumer-facing StyleSeat.com and the StyleSeat Apps are fast becoming the OpenTable/standard for beauty & wellness appointments. We're well funded by blue chip investors, including: Founders Fund, Lowercase Capital, 500Startups, Lightspeed, Ashton Kutcher, Sophia Bush and the founders of Uber and Path. StyleSeat’s environment is highly agile and fast-paced, but also balanced and highly collaborative. Read more...

More about Communications, Social Media, Job Board, Business, and Jobs

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Shia LaBeouf shows off freestyle rap skills in new video

A video hit the Internet this weekend that shows actor/artist Shia LaBeouf freestyle rapping for a group of onlookers in an appearance that's slightly more subdued than his recent "pep-talk" green screen video

See also: Shia LaBeouf Recounts the Absurd Tale of His Arrest

In the video, LaBeouf can be heard rapping lines like "Nah, none of that/ Transformers is the dummy rap and I'm so past that," "I'm so underground the rap kids call me Tubman," and "Half-assed cash/ You can get the fast cash/ But I got a gas mask/ So you know I got the last laugh."

Shia LaBeouf got BARS http://pic.twitter.com/xs8ZSftlP4

— Kimberlié Alexis (@iKimmyJongUn) June 28, 2015 Read more...

More about Film, Music, Social Media, Facebook, and Youtube

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The 100 Most Popular Emojis on Instagram [Infographic]

This post originally appeared on HubSpot's Agency Post. To read more content like this, subscribe to Agency Post.

The internet can seem like a cruel place some days. Unkind comments and Twitter spats are common, and publications are known to use a person's most embarassing moment as a driver for clicks and views.

via HubSpot Marketing Blog http://bitly.com/1HpjSFm

The Most Common Keywords Found in the Top-Shared Articles [New Data]

This post originally appeared on HubSpot's Agency Post. To read more content like this, subscribe to Agency Post.

Crafting a clear, relevant, and click-worthy title is the most important thing you can do to ensure that the article you spent hours and hours researching and writing performs well. 

via HubSpot Marketing Blog http://bitly.com/1JpuF2z

How to Promote an Event Using Online Marketing [Infographic]

Preparing to run an event can sometimes feel like you're sprinting a marathon. Months before you even announce your event to the public, you and your team have already started concepting the event, booking the venues, procuring speakers and activities, creating the materials ... and so on and so forth. There's no denying that organizing the logistics of an event is a ton of work.

But checking all the logistical boxes ahead of your event is only part of the battle.

via HubSpot Marketing Blog http://bitly.com/1KhPptc

9 SEO Tactics That Just Don’t Work Anymore

It's 2015 and SEO hasn't gotten any easier for digital marketers. With Google's Panda and Penguin algorithm updates that have happened in the past few years, it's no surprise that the search engine optimization aspect of digital marketing is constantly changing.

This volatility requires digital marketers to be agile with their tactics, frequently adapting to the latest guidelines that search engines implement into their algorithms. Throughout this post, I will help you understand which tactics you should not be using, because, let's face it-- they just don't work anymore!

via HubSpot Marketing Blog http://bitly.com/1GxgXoc

White House updates official Facebook photo to celebrate gay marriage vote

Just minutes after the Supreme Court announced its landmark decision to strike down bans on gay marriage nationwide, the White House showed its support on Facebook.

The image is a vibrant illustration of the White House colored in with the colorful stripes of the iconic Rainbow Flag.

See also: Gay marriage is the law of the land in America Read more...

More about Facebook, News, Pics, Us, and Same Sex Marriage

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New Age networking: 3 strategies more effective than asking someone to coffee

Before those who read this title think I've abandoned everything I stand for: Don't worry, I still love coffee. I am the stereotypical remote worker who seeks refuge from writer's block in a coffee shop. I drink nearly as much as Lorelai Gilmore, and whenever I want to catch up with a friend I suggest we meet for coffee

However, I'll admit that this isn't always an effective networking strategy. As the writer Deborah Copaken Kogan includes on her contact page "but please refrain from asking her to…go on a coffee date…it's hard enough to find an hour to have coffee with a friend."

Therein lies the problem in asking networking contacts to meet for coffee: There's a good chance they'll respond that they're "too pressed for time." And, it's no doubt true. (Seriously, look no further than here, here, and here). So, if you're hoping to connect with someone new or particularly busy, try moving your requests online. You'll get the same results (new connections!) without all those the back-and-forth "when and where" emails. Read more...

More about Networking, Job Search, Social Media, Twitter, and Lifestyle

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12 of the Best Marketing and Advertising Campaigns of All Time

I’ve always been a little leery of proclaiming anything "the best." I never declared anyone my best friend as a kid because I was afraid my other friends might assume I thought less of them.

So it was a little difficult for me to come up with just one "best" marketing campaign of all time -- which is why there are 12 in this post instead.

Why are these 12 marketing campaigns some of the best of all time?

via HubSpot Marketing Blog http://bitly.com/1GwNdrv

7 Creative Content Ideas for Your Ecommerce Site

Big brands realize they need so much more than a picture and description to sell products. They’re all about selling a lifestyle, and that means bigger, better content is needed to engage consumers. If you’re not sure what that looks like or how you can use creative content for your ecommerce site, we have some pretty spectacular examples for you.

via HubSpot Marketing Blog http://bitly.com/1LziYH7

Building a Content Marketing Team for Your Startup? Here's Who You Should Hire First

Startups that want to build a powerful content marketing strategy must first build a powerful content team within the marketing organization.

Seems simple right? I wish. It takes time -- and time is something most fast-growth companies don’t have. You need to build the right content marketing team, right now.

via HubSpot Marketing Blog http://bitly.com/1JnoImG

6 U.S. Social Media Day events you should attend this year

On June 30, 2015, the global celebration that is Social Media Day returns. As has become a yearly tradition, the sixth annual Social Media Day will comprise of hundreds of global events, as thousands of people reflect on the ways social media and digital innovation have changed our world.

See also: Save the date for Mashable's 6th annual Social Media Day

If this is your first exposure to Social Media Day, there are a number of ways you can participate in this global event, whether that’s connecting with others online through the #SMDay hashtag, or through in-person events across the world.

Below we’ve highlighted a variety of U.S. Social Media Day events taking place on or around the June 30 holiday. If you’d like to attend an event, but can’t find an event on the list near you, you can connect with the Mashable Meetup Organizers group to find an event close by Read more...

More about Events, Community, Social Media, Social Good, and Social Media Day

via Social Media http://on.mash.to/1RBTis4

Facebook disappoints with new diversity numbers

Facebook now lets you add links on its mobile app without opening a browser

Facebook on Thursday rolled out an update to its mobile app that lets you find web links to share without having to switch over to your web browser

Now all you have to do is look for the small link symbol that appears above the phone's virtual keyboard alongside the "Tag Friends" button. Tapping that brings up a new screen where you can do a keyword search for links.

See also: You no longer need a Facebook account to use Facebook Messenger

"We think this feature makes it much simpler to share web links with your friends on mobile, whether it's an interesting news article, a funny video, or a favorite recipe," Facebook engineer Tom Whitnah wrote in a company post. Read more...

More about Social, Facebook, Social Media, Apps Software, and Dev Design

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A New Visualization of Today's Marketing Technology Solutions

When you're looking for a tool, software, or piece of technology to solve a specific marketing problem, where do you go to find it?

Typically, marketers turn to colleagues, friends in the industry, and/or analyst reports to figure out what best fits their needs. But the problem with sources like these is that feedback is scattered. It's spread across 15 different emails in your (already overcrowded) inbox, or across 20 tweet replies from people of varied reputability.

via HubSpot Marketing Blog http://bitly.com/1KcWKc7

How to Unsend an Email in Gmail [Quick Tip]

Ever wish you could unsend an email? I have. I can't tell you how many times I've hit "Send" only to discover a silly spelling or grammar mistake. 

Well, I have some good news for you. If you use Gmail, now you can unsend emails up to 30 seconds after you hit "Send."

via HubSpot Marketing Blog http://bitly.com/1Rzwx7W