10 photos that show off our dazzling, magical sky

Last week, we challenged our Instagram community to capture beautiful skies in their photos

We saw breathtaking rainy day window shots, silhouette portraits against warm sunsets, starry nights hiding behind thick fog and more.

Our guest host was Brighton Galvan, a creative director and photographer from California.

"There are so many great photos here from the challenge, I'm honored to have been a part of it," Galvan said. "I love seeing people post great work on social media — it always inspires me."

Check out Galvan's favorite #MashPics_Skyscape submissions below.


Galvan says: The colors are amazing in this photo. Read more...

More about Photography, Instagram, Sky, Social Media, and Mashable Photo Challenge

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Why You Should Invest In Inbound Marketing Before CRM Implementation

Since the beginning of time, humanity has sought to answer unanswerable questions, like which came first, the chicken or the egg?  Recently, I’ve come across a question with increasing frequency, that may not be as significant, but is probably even more important if you’re looking to embark upon a journey of accelerated sales growth.

What should you focus on first, building an effective inbound marketing/lead generation process or implementing a CRM to manage your sales and customer acquisition process?  While both are important, the question is should you focus on one before the other? 

via HubSpot Marketing Blog http://bitly.com/1NlH1te

Get to Know Women in Tech: 33 Facts About Female Leaders in the Tech Industry [Infographic]

For a long time, the tech industry was heavily dominated by men. Nowadays, though, more and more women are entering both regular and high-level positions in tech. In fact, the eight largest tech companies are hiring women 238% faster than they are men, including Google, Apple, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

Who are these women? How about Sandra Kurtzig, the first female entrepreneur to take a Silicon Valley company public?

via HubSpot Marketing Blog http://bitly.com/21p0OxZ

Overwhelmed by Email? Here Are 11 Great Tools for Organizing Your Inbox

Most people have a love-hate relationship with their email inbox. On the one hand, email can be exciting -- whether you're making progress with a client, replacing a meeting with a (much more efficient) email thread, or receiving an invitation to a fun social gathering.

On the other hand, though, email can be overwhelming -- especially if you lose control.

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

How to Write With Clarity: 9 Tips for Simplifying Your Message

There’s something missing from a lot of content.

It’s clarity.

Clarity means making your content easy to understand. If people can’t understand what you’re trying to say, then your content is not useful, right?

via HubSpot Marketing Blog http://bitly.com/1HzB63k

The Best Times to Send Business Emails This Holiday Season [New Data]

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

We’ve finally found an effective email strategy. Our open and clickthrough rates are optimized -- or so we thought.

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

How to Create a 'To-Don't' List: A Productivity Trick for Focusing On What Really Matters [Infographic]

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

When I got my first job, I was given one piece of advice over and over again: Say yes. Say yes to every opportunity that comes your way, raise your hand for side projects, and generally go above and beyond.

via HubSpot Marketing Blog http://bitly.com/1MKt7zq

Instagram is testing support for multiple accounts on Android

Instagram may finally be adding support for multiple accounts.

The photo sharing app is testing support for multiple accounts for Android users. The feature appears to be limited to some Android users who are part of Instagram's beta testing program, at least for now.

See also: New Instagram video viewer takes a swipe at Snapchat and Twitter Moments

First spotted by Twitter users @fro_rogue — who reports the test has been live for some time — the feature allows users to add multiple accounts from the app's main settings menu. Once added, you can browse and post from different feeds within the app Read more...

More about Facebook, Social Media, Tech, Android Apps, and Instagram

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Why Last Year’s Holiday Ecommerce Sales Numbers Are Changing 2015 Expectations

You don’t need anyone to tell you that the holidays are a major opportunity for retailers everywhere (online or offline). But you might be surprised by the level of importance they carry and how some of these trends are changing.

via HubSpot Marketing Blog http://bitly.com/1QKX6ez

Drinking with Dan: An interview with The Fat Jew

"The Internet is a liar," says Josh Ostrovsky (a.k.a. The Fat Jew) in the latest Drinking with Dan episode. Ostrovsky has made a name for himself by sharing jokes and memes on social media. He explained his brand of humor to Dan Rather over a glass of rosé. Read more...

More about Social Media, Dan Rather, The Fat Jew, and Josh Ostrovsky

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The Right Way to Reduce Your Churn Rate

Some customers are past saving. They’ve made their decision to leave, and they'll be out just as soon as they can find the “cancel” button.

Of course you don't want them to leave -- nor do you want more customers following suit. 

To prevent more customers from leaving, you need to ask yourself tough questions: How did your churned customer get to that point? And once they’re at that point, is there anything you can do to save the account?

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

How to Generate More Leads With Content Marketing [Free Online Course]

According to research, 93% of B2B marketers use content marketing, but only 42% are actually effective at it. 

Why such a big gap? As with most things, it comes down to a lack of education on what actually works and how to plan and execute on your campaign in the most effective way.

via HubSpot Marketing Blog http://bitly.com/21jxbye

Happy Thanksgiving, tweets Washington NFL team

Newton once theorized that, in addition to the law of universal gravitation, there was another invisible force at work in our world: This force is most evident when a national holiday and a brand come in contact on Twitter, and, like gravity, it involves falling — or, as we call it in 2015, failing.

Sometimes the brand and holiday combination is just embarrassing. Sometimes, in the case of the Washington Redskins on Thursday, it's a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad idea.

Wishing you and your family a Happy #Thanksgivinghttp://pic.twitter.com/qI3U7hbGhK

— Washington Redskins (@Redskins) November 26, 2015 Read more...

More about Nfl, Washington Redskins, Social Media, and Twitter

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Why Gratitude Is the Secret to Good Health & Happiness [Infographic]

"Gratitude means thankfulness, counting your blessings, noticing simple pleasures, and acknowledging everything you receive," wrote Marelisa Fabrega in her book How Gratitude Can Change Your Life.

Practicing gratitude doesn't just make you a more likeable person, but it can also benefit your health. In a study of character strengths, gratitude was found to be the best predictor of wellbeing.

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

Google has received nearly 350,000 URL removal requests so far

In May 2014, Google complied with the EU's ruling that enabled citizens to request certain URLs to be removed from search results

A year and a half later, in its bi-annual Transparency Report, Google has announced it received 348,085 such requests, the bulk of them coming from France and Germany, followed by the UK, Spain and Italy

See also: The inside story of why Google is becoming Alphabet now

The total number of URLs Google has evaluated for removal is 1,234,092. Google does not give exact numbers on how many of those it actually removed, but it says that 42% of the URLs that have been "fully processed" have been removed Read more...

More about Google, Transparency Report, and Social Media

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4 Strategies to Help Maintain Lead Quality in Your Database

When you first implemented inbound marketing for your business, you knew that you were building a system that utilized high quality content to help generate high quality leads from your website. Flashes of the film Field of Dreams probably kept running through your head as you optimized your website for conversions and started pumping out blogs and offers at a regular basis.

If you build it, they will come.

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

Mo' Mustaches, Mo' Growth: The Rise of the Movember Movement [Podcast]

It all began as a bet in a bar. 

Let's round up a group of people and see who can grow the best mustache in just 30 days.

Twelve years later, this bet has blossomed into Movember: More than five million people all over the world have joined the movement to raise awareness and funds to benefit men's health initiatives. 

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

Make the sky pop with colors and texture for our photo challenge

Look north of the horizon line to add a special element to your photos for this week's Mashable Photo Challenge.

Find a time and place that will make the sky really pop — you might capture the shimmering stars, set up silhouettes against the sunset or catch #cloudporn at its finest.

See also: 13 landscape and portrait photos that embrace Instagram's latest update

Our guest host is Brighton Galvan, a creative director and photographer from California. His feed is a magical abyss of dream-like skyscape shots — many of them captured right at dusk and with long exposure settings

Read more...

Tips from Galvan

More about Photography, Instagram, Sky, Social Media, and Mashable Photo Challenge

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How to Take Good Pictures With Your Phone: 17 Tips & Tricks to Try

In order to take a great photo, you used to have to buy a fancy camera and editing software for your desktop computer. Then, you had to invest some serious time and energy into learning how to use them.

Thanks to smartphones and editing apps, we can now take high quality photos and edit them without any bells and whistles.

via HubSpot Marketing Blog http://bitly.com/1N7FbHU

The Holiday Marketing Tips You Need to Sell More This Season [Infographic]

Between Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday, the coming week will be filled with holiday shopping.

With more and more holiday shoppers turning to their smartphones, the influence of social media on holiday shopping can’t be ignored. 

via HubSpot Marketing Blog http://bitly.com/1P8GqNE

Sick of Bad Stock Photos? Here's a New Resource You'll Want to Bookmark

As marketers, we know that content with images performs better. A lot better.

Tweets with images get 150% more retweets. Facebook posts with photos account for 87% of interactions. And when optimizing social media posts to increase engagement, images and photos are the most important tactic. 

via HubSpot Marketing Blog http://bitly.com/1XcraE2

Why the Islamic State isn't invincible online

The Islamic State's efforts to become more tech-savvy came under intense focus after the Paris attacks.

Many have suggested that attackers planned the assault using encryption technologies that hide online communication. And the hacking collective known as Anonymous launched a "war" on social media accounts linked to ISIS, which disseminate propaganda designed to recruit more fighters

See also: The Unlikely Alliance of Hackers Fighting the Islamic State

Some of the hysteria surrounding ISIS' digital abilities and online battles has been overblown, though there are a few strategies worth attention. We broke down the group's abilities and who they're fighting with online. Read more...

More about Anonymous, United States, Social Media, Russia, and Iran

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How to Search in Google: 31 Advanced Google Search Tips

If you’re like me, you probably use Google many times a day. But chances are, unless you're a technology geek, you probably still use Google in its simplest form. If your current use of Google is limited to typing in a few words and changing your query until you find what you’re looking for, then I’m here to tell you that there’s a better way -- and it’s not hard to learn.

On the other hand, even if you are a technology geek and can use Google like the best of them already, I still suggest you bookmark this article of advanced Google search tips. 

via HubSpot Marketing Blog http://bitly.com/1PWW90Z

6 Stats to Sum Up The State of Digital Publishing [SlideShare]

From crumbling paywalls to the rise of ad blockers, the digital publishing industry in the midst of a turbulent time. From circulation to sales, every aspect of the business has seen dramatic changes over the past few years. 

via HubSpot Marketing Blog http://bitly.com/1NpG19w

12 Go-To Tips for Saving Your Phone's Battery Life

When it comes to preserving phone battery, people have been known to get a little crazy.

In fact, back in July, a Long Island teen actually hopped on stage at a Broadway show in an attempt to charge his cellphone using an outlet he'd spotted. And in an even stranger turn of events back in May, a New Jersey man snuck into a home and hid under a bed for three days to charge his arsenal of four cellphones. 

via HubSpot Marketing Blog http://bitly.com/1I815yV

The cutest Facebook page ever: Aussie mums reviewing groceries from ALDI

We've been told there's an app for everything, so we suppose it should apply that there's a discussion page for everything as well.

Meet ALDI Mum, the Facebook page dedicated to Australian mothers who love to shop at German supermarket chain ALDI.

See also: The original Wiggles are reuniting for an adult-only pub tour in Australia

The premise is simple, but has taken off for Queensland mum and ALDI advocate, Sam Jockel, whose page has more than 95,000 followers

Jockel picks a selection of products from her regular run to the shops and posts photos of them on Facebook, asking for reviews and comments from other like-minded mums. Read more...

More about Facebook, Social Media, Parenting, Australia, and Lifestyle

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YouTube spotlights climate change videos with #OursToLose campaign

YouTube users will notice a new icon at the top of the video platform this week as part of a new campaign to highlight how climate change "affects the things we love."

In the lead-up to the high-stakes U.N. Paris Climate Summit that will start on Nov. 30, YouTube has launched the #OursToLose campaign, showcasing videos about climate change and the environment, and encouraging its mostly youthful users to get involved in the issue.

See also: Liam Neeson is 'Ice': New short film personifies casualty of climate change

The new polar bear and globe icons at the top of the homepage lead users to the YouTube Spotlight page, which features curated videos on a range of related topics, from understanding global warming's implications for future generations to visual explanations of the science behind climate change. Read more...

More about Youtube, Social Media, Climate Change, Social Good, and Business

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12 Tips for Writing With Unforgettable Personality

The best writers aren’t necessarily the smartest, the smoothest, or those with the biggest vocabulary. The best writers are those that possess an unforgettable personality.

A writing personality is just as real, unique, and nuanced as your personality in everyday life -- expect you only release it when you create content. And if you can create content that brims with personality, I guarantee that people will love reading it.

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

Holiday Homepage Designs: 12 Cheerful Examples From Real Businesses

78% of holiday shoppers used the internet to research gifts last year, and 40% of all holiday shopping happened online, according to Google's data and research from the 2014 holiday season.

That means a lot of eyes are going to be on your website in the upcoming weeks. The smartest marketers will prepare for this not only for by prepping their website for higher-than-normal traffic on the back end, but also by giving their website design a dose of holiday cheer.

via HubSpot Marketing Blog http://bitly.com/1I69rXR

10 Science-Backed Tips for Rocking Your Next Public Speaking Opp

“I read a thing that actually says that speaking in front of a crowd is considered the number one fear of the average person. I found that amazing. Number two was death. That means to the average person, if you have to be at a funeral, you would rather be in the casket than doing the eulogy," jokes Jerry Seinfeld.

And it's true. Experts estimate that 75% of the population has some level of anxiety regarding public speaking.

via HubSpot Marketing Blog http://bitly.com/1PV686R

Facebook should be able to handle names like Isis and Phuc Dat Bich

Facebook has a well known "real names" policy, but what if your name turns out to be a bit too real for Facebook?

Take the experience of Isis Anchalee, a San Francisco-based engineer, also known for kicking off the #ILookLikeAnEngineer campaign earlier this year that promoted women in STEM.

See also: BMW's front-wheel drive sedan concept redefines 'ultimate driving machine'

On Tuesday, she wrote on Twitter that Facebook had closed her account. Anchalee suggested the reason was because her first name is the same as the shorthand for the Islamic State — ISIS — the group responsible for the recent Paris attacks, among other atrocities. Read more...

More about Facebook, Australia, Social Media, and Us

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