Facebook, despite having more female users, has zero women on its board of directors.
A recent Bloomberg report compared the Facebook board’s gender imbalance with that of LinkedIn and Google, both of which have at least one female board member.
Facebook’s CFO Sheryl Sandberg, however, is of course a woman. Yet Sandberg admitted in a 2010 TED Talk that women are highly underrepresented at the top of corporations.
What do you think Facebook could gain by adding a female director — or two? Let us know in the comments.
More About: Facebook, facebook ipo, women
A New England Patriots wide receiver who was shockingly released from the team less than a day before Super Bowl XLVI will instead tweet updates and reactions as he watches the game on television. The bizarre turn of events will provide a wholly unique experience for fans who follow Tiquan Underwood on Twitter.
“It won’t get in-depth as far as what happened in practice and stuff like that,” Underwood said. “But it will basically be comments on the game, only from someone who will obviously have a bit more knowledge about it than a regular fan.”
In an interview with Mashable hours before the Super Bowl XLVI kickoff, Underwood was positive, upbeat and gracious about a strange past day.
The team hopes to bring Underwood back next season, according to the Boston Herald, but released him because of a late decision to add another defensive lineman to their Super Bowl rotation.
Underwood went from two weeks of preparation for the game, to receiving the bad news, to receiving some 5,000 new followers overnight after he posted this series of classy tweets on Saturday afternoon:
This Is Nothing But MOTIVATION….
— Tiquan Underwood (@TiUnderwood) February 5, 2012
I Been Thru A LOT…But There Are Ppl In This World w/ More Serious Problems So I Cant Hang The Head….Thank You Lord #Blessed
Before, during or after the Super Bowl game, take a stab at turning Patriots coach Bill Belichick into a meme.
We know football fans are full of wit and humor. So tackle this challenge with all the knowledge you have about the Patriots, Giants, NFL and hoopla surrounding the Super Bowl. A prize package of Mashable swag will go to the best meme. Check out the hilarious early submissions at the bottom of this post.
We’ll be using Reuters photographer Jim Young’s image of Belichick at a Feb. 1 practice for this contest.
You can play along in two ways:
- 1) Use this altered image and add text to the photo like you see with other memes. We took the original photo, cropped Belichick out and placed him in a saloon. Cheers!
To add text, use QuickMeme or Google+ (here are examples of memes created on Google+).
- Example:
- 2) Plop this cropped image onto a background of your choosing with or without text.
Once you’re done creating your masterpiece, drag it into our Olapic widget at the bottom of this post. Or, you can tweet us @mashsocialmedia with the hashtag #SuperBowlMeme.
Will your creation reign supreme? Give it a shot and win Mashable swag (and, of course, bragging rights!).
Loading …(function() { var Olapic_ob = document.createElement('script'); Olapic_ob.type = 'text/javascript'; Olapic_ob.async = true; Olapic_ob.src = 'http://www.olapic.com/widget/render.js.php?data='+escape('{"key":"be09e9d3c01f3d33c6c47ac72eba78ef65429637","event_key":"g2wyek3","mode":"full","origin_title":"'+escape(document.title)+'","origin_url":"'+escape(document.location)+'"}');(document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0] || document.getElementsByTagName('body')[0]).appendChild(Olapic_ob); })();
More About: football, humor, memes, nfl, sports, Super Bowl, trending
For more Entertainment coverage:
- Follow Mashable Entertainment on Twitter
- Become a Fan on Facebook
- Subscribe to the Entertainment channel
- Download our free apps for Android, Mac, iPhone and iPad
Tony Morrison is the Vice President of Business Development at Cachinko, a unique professional community where social networking and job opportunities come together. Find him on Talent Connection and connect with Cachinko on Facebook or Twitter.
Social media is awesome, isn’t it? It does so much and asks so little. And using social media the right way can hook you up with the right people, in the right place, at the right time. When used to its fullest potential, actively engaging a network online can transcend your social media game from person to personality — someone who engages his circle and provides interesting and relevant content to the masses.
However, like most good things, social media can be a real killer for job seekers who use it inappropriately. Any big no-no on a profile can be an ultimate deal-breaker in a matter of seconds, with no recourse and no notification. Are you sure your social media game is helping — not hurting — your cause? Check out these five ways that your social media efforts could be killing your job search.
1. You’ve Got Friends in Low Places (Thanks, Garth Brooks)As much as you might love your fraternity brother who never really grew out of the Animal House phase, your prospective boss might not. Employers will not judge you solely based on your connections, but having a wild child as an online friend posting inappropriate status updates and photos still can kill your chances for landing a plum job.
Pay attention to how you interact with your friend and how they work with you. If you sign on to find the occasional profane comment or dirty picture tag, it’s time to set some limits. Talk to your friend about who is reading your profile and/or change your settings to restrict who can post/tag what.
2. Is Anybody Out There?It’s one thing to join a social network; it’s another thing to participate. If you don’t have the time for social media, don’t make an account. An empty or barren social media profile says that you start things you can’t finish and aren’t taking advantage of the tools you have.
More and more employers are searching candidates on Google, so that MySpace profile you started and thereafter neglected will pop up. Hit the basics by including a current (and appropriate) picture, basic info, and updating at least once a week. If you can’t do that much, delete any accounts that are not adding value.
3. T.M.I (No More Need Be Said)On the flip side, a common problem many job seekers run into is putting too much out there on social media. While it might be awesome to share all those wickedly funny party photos and NSFW videos with your friends, your current or potential employer might not appreciate the humor.
Additionally, the job search is a lot like dating. When you’re gainfully employed, your current employer isn’t going to want to see you actively job-searching on Facebook. If you’re shopping around, many recruiters and hiring managers will lose interest if they see you getting cozy with another company.
Know what to share, when to share it and with whom. Be discreet. Your privacy and how you value and protect it is also a critically important attribute of your online brand.
Maintain a certain level of professional aloofness by limiting the content you upload and checking your privacy settings frequently.
4. Man of Many TalentsWe’ve all seen statistics describing social media as a great tactic for all job seekers. However, remember that the job search should only be about 20% online, and social media is just one part of that.
You have many talents. You cannot demonstrate the various facets of your personal and professional brand exclusively via online tools, no matter how sophisticated the social networking platform or your digital marketing skills. So make it a point to practice all of your networking skills, and get away from the keyboard once in a while to talk with someone face-to-face.
If you rely on social media too heavily, you’re going to become a one-hit wonder real quick. Employers want to see candidates who are well-rounded with their branding and job search methods.
5. It’s a Time-SuckAdmit it, you’ve spent a little too much time friending on Facebook, tweeting on Twitter, pinning on Pinterest, or grouping into circles on Google+. That’s fine. Social media wasn’t meant to simply be a job search tool — it’s a place to have fun, connect with friends and, maybe, see how that girl you knew in high school is doing now.
However, be aware that five minutes can turn into an hour on social media, which can seriously hurt your job search efforts. Stay focused on your job search, and set time aside in your day for “fun” social media so that it doesn’t run away with you.
What do you think? What other ways can social media kill your job search? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Social Media Job ListingsEvery week we post a list of social media and web job opportunities. While we publish a huge range of job listings, we’ve selected some of the top social media job opportunities from the past two weeks to get you started. Happy hunting!
- Administrative and Executive Assistant / HR Manager at Pixable in New York City
- Marketing and Communications Manager at Miami Heat in Miami
- PR Manager at 180LA in Santa Monica, California
Image courtesy of iStockphoto, Talaj
More About: job search series, jobs, SMO, social media jobs
As you watch Super Bowl 2012 (on NBC tonight at 6:30 p.m. EST), notice how high technology continues to ease its way into your favorite weekend NFL smackdowns.
There’s instant replay, sophisticated communications equipment, spectacular camera rigs and super slow motion technology, and there’s even talk of the NFL adopting high-tech football helmets with a Head Impact Telemetry System (HITS), letting doctors monitor the condition of the human brain as the game is played.
However, too many human beings are being injured in the process of slamming into each other at high speed, so perhaps someday there will be a solution to all of the grisly casualties that occur on the gridiron.
That’s where our editor-in-chief and chief cartoonist Lance Ulanoff steps in with his own unique solution.
How about you? Do you think football is so violent that something drastic must to be done to curtail the injuries?
More About: comics, Super Bowl, Super Bowl 2012, Super Bowl XLVI
On Sunday night, millions of people will be watching Super Bowl 2012 on their televisions, while others might be watching it on their smartphones.
This year marks the first time the Super Bowl will be streamed live online, and with the trend of sports becoming more social, you will be able to participate along with the game while you watch.
Many companies have developed mobile apps, so when you tune in on Super Bowl Sunday, you’ll have the opportunity interact with both the game and advertisements.
Here is a roundup up of the top apps to keep you up to date while the New England Patriots and New York Giants battle it out for the title of Super Bowl XLVI champions.
NFL Mobile App
If you are a Verizon Wireless customer you are in luck. The NFL Mobile app, powered by Verizon Wireless and NFL, allows you to watch a live stream of Super Bowl XVLI this Sunday. All you need is a smartphone on the Verizon Wireless network.
Click here to view this gallery.
Whether you’re watching the big game at home, online, on your phone, or you’re lucky enough to attend the game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, these apps can help enhance your Super Bowl XLVI experience.
Tell us how we did. What’s your favorite Super Bowl app this year? Are there any other apps that should be added to the list? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
More About: apps, nfl, Super Bowl, Super Bowl XLVI, trending
Even in the richest countries on the planet such as the U.S., not everyone has easy access to this cornucopia of connectivity, the Internet.
The Internet is a tremendous growth engine, responsible for 21% of economic growth in the more advanced countries in the world, according to a McKinsey study.
While those of us in the United States complain about how we have to pay more for Internet service that’s slower than those of other first-world countries, within the United States there’s a gaping chasm between the haves and the have-nots.
In this infographic by OnlineITdegree.net, an ad-free website describing itself as “an online informational resource for individuals looking to pursue IT degree of related education and careers,” you’ll find surprising information about the differences in Internet access in the United States.
There are vast gaps between Internet accessibility in cities and rural areas, racial disparities in Internet access (which isn’t as pronounced as it was a decade ago), and the growing gap between rich and poor and its influence on who goes without computers or Internet access.
Beyond that, you’ll see more information about how the U.S. lags behind other countries in Internet technology, broadband speed and access. This is the part that has us scratching our heads. Why do you think the United States lags behind less-wealthy countries when it comes to Internet access? Do find that as frustrating as we do?
What do you think should be done about this persistent digital divide? Let us know in the comments.
Infographic courtesy OnlineITDegree.net
More About: digital divide, infographic, internet, trending
It’s never been easier to get your pigskin fix on the internet than Super Bowl XLVI. The NFL’s biggest sporting event, airing Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET on NBC, is shaping up to be the most socially connected in football history. It’s also the first to feature official live video streaming over the internet. Social media is staying in lockstep with the festivities as well, leading to a vareity of options that will adequately satiate or supplement your Super Bowl 2012 coverage.
From the pregame hype to post-victory analysis, nearly every facet of Super Bowl XLVI will be available to the public — complete with some great opportunities to interact with fellow fans and perhaps win some coveted loot in the process. When it comes to the big game itself, there are also plenty of ways to stay up to date with the game on an astounding number of different platforms and devices. This Super Bowl is all about the second screen, and social media is helping to fuel the fire with plenty of ways to keep up with the action on the field.
Ready to order your pizza, sit down with a beer, and make your Super Bowl socially supercharged? Dreading the moments when you will have to pull your eyes away from the screen and run errands? Here is a roundup of easy (and free) ways to follow the Super Bowl through social media — both on computer and via mobile. What’s your favorite way to interact with sporting events socially? Let us know in the comments.
Follow the Super Bowl on Twitter
Twitter is a perfect option to keep up with the action if you’re without a visual device -- or to get up-to-the-minute commentary from your favorite sports luminaries. Aside from the @SuperBowl official Twitter account, there are ten different official hashtags, including #SuperBowl, #superbowl46 and any mashup of the team names. Any of these outlets are sure-fire way to recieve fast updates and information during the game.
For those looking for a little more in-depth sports knowledge, check out this roundup of must-follow accounts to keep your Super Bowl connected.
Click here to view this gallery.
More About: features, getglue, mashable, nfl, sports, Super Bowl, Super Bowl XLVI, trending, TV
For more Mobile coverage:
- Follow Mashable Mobile on Twitter
- Become a Fan on Facebook
- Subscribe to the Mobile channel
- Download our free apps for Android, Mac, iPhone and iPad
This post originally appeared on the American Express OPEN Forum, where Mashable regularly contributes articles about leveraging social media and technology in small business.
The most effective consultant/client relationships tend to morph into partnerships, in which the consultant is truly an extension of the internal team. However, elevating a relationship from “vendor” status to a meaningful collaboration isn’t always as easy as it sounds. Thankfully, there are some handy tools available that can help you establish an effective team.
1. IM-ing for BusinessIf you’re using GChat, AOL or another instant-messaging service, it might be time to consider one of the “IM-ing for business” tools, such as Hipchat, Yammer or Chatter (part of Salesforce).
These services are particularly helpful for teams in distributed locations and/or working on multiple projects. Companies can create “rooms” in Hipchat, or “Groups” in Yammer, for various projects, departments or areas of focus, with privacy settings determining who can access the room. Only want to give certain people in the company access to product development details? Make that a private room. Want a room where anyone can offer suggestions? That’s doable, too.
By “@mentioning” someone in a discussion, it’s easy to pull the right people into a conversation. Supporting real-time collaboration and faster response times, users can be notified when they’re mentioned in a comment. Conversation histories are available and searchable, making it easy for people to get up to speed. The services are also available via desktop, mobile web and phone apps.
According to brand strategist Nick Westergaard, the opportunity to be “brought inside” a company is extremely valuable: “Chatter and Chatter groups provide a great way to feel in-sync despite unshared geography,” he explains. “Whether it’s sharing simple casual updates (“Jane’s leaving early,” “Cold out there today!”), or having the online equivalent of a quick 15-minute stand-up meeting, it offers a simple way to build a closer connection on a day-to-day basis. That’s invaluable in our business.”
2. Thinkfuse: Removing Status Quo from Status ReportsThinkfuse adds a collaborative group element to status reports. You may ask why you need another service if you’re already emailing status reports. The answer is that it’s not just about reporting specific tasks and to-do items to a small group of people. With Thinkfuse, status updates become another point for collaboration. Reports are sent to a larger group of people, giving everyone (or a specific cross-section) of people in the company an update. It helps to understand what everyone else is working on, identify opportunities to improve efficiencies or work together, and see how each person is part of the bigger picture. Thinkfuse lets managers create report templates, send due-date reminders and collect feedback and comments in one location, without having to worry about whether the right people are CCd on an email.
3. Basecamp: Collaboration and Teamwork
As a project management software service, Basecamp puts the emphasis on collaboration and communication in addition to getting tasks done. The dashboard provides an overview; project files are housed in one central location and deadlines are trackable on the master project calendar. Within the service, users can create benchmarks and milestones to ladder up to a larger project deadline.
Big Red Rooster, an interactive and creative agency, uses the Basecamp to share files and status updates with clients. Additionally, “Hosting the files in one location avoids confusion and ensures version control among all partners,” says Rebecca O’Dell, Big Red Rooster’s communication coordinator.
4. Facebook Groups: Collaboration at No CostIf you’re looking for a free collaboration tool — on a familiar platform — Facebook Groups can fill the need. Jason Falls has used Facebook Groups on multiple projects, including coordinating a team of writers for his blog, SocialMediaExplorer.com.
“I use Facebook Groups to communicate and have group discussions with my team of 12 blog authors. The group helps us stay connected and aware of what each other might be working on, thinking and the like,” Falls says. “I hate email threads and back-and-forth in the inbox. Threaded discussions in a group takes that annoyance away.”
Facebook Groups can be open, closed or secret. The latter two are preferred for internal communication, as it makes it easier for team members to be added and request to join the group.
Collaboration Improves EfficienciesAs PR consultant Shonali Burke discovered, Facebook Groups created an additional layer of accountability with clients. For example, Burke established a Facebook Group to facilitate communication between “champions” for a non-profit project she was leading.
“Having our client as part of our group showed her in real-time how we were working and communicating with the champions. It added to the effectiveness of our ‘offline’ communications, such as weekly calls, since we wouldn’t have to go over items we’d already discussed in the group to any great extent,” she says. “And it added transparency to our work, which is always a good thing.”
Put another way, increased collaboration improves efficiencies, meaning agencies can spend less time revising drafts and more time implementing. As Westergaard notes, “We share drafts and concepts and are able to dramatically cut down on notes and iterations, as it’s easier to get on the same page faster.”
What collaboration tools are you using to improve communication between your company and its consultants?
More Small Business Resources From OPEN Forum:
- Pinterest for Brands: 5 Hot Tips
- Social Learning Trends to Watch in 2012
- 6 Things to Know Before Starting a Business
Image courtesy of iStockphoto, lisegagne
More About: collaboration, communication, coworking, features, mashable, open forum, Small Business
The New York Giants official website accidentally announced the winner of Super Bowl XLVI more than 24 hours before Sunday’s big game even started, by the look of images floating around the web.
The error was immortalized Saturday in this TwitPic screenshot (above), which Jeff Frias posted to Twitter. No signs of the mistake are left on the team’s site other than a reported link that leads to the image below.
SEE ALSO: Turn Patriots Coach Bill Belichick into a Super Bowl Meme [CONTEST]
Bloomberg obtained this statement from the NFL regarding the malfunction. “It is common practice for both teams to create web pages in advance of the conference championship games and Super Bowl. In this case, the hidden URL for the page was inadvertently available for a brief period of time while it was being positioned on the NFL server for possible post tomorrow night.”
While online blunders have cost people their jobs in the past, this misstep shows that the Giants organization is unsurprisingly ready to financially capitalize on a possible win.
The tweeted image displays championship garb traditionally sold after national sporting contests. Giants quarterback Eli Manning and three other players are cropped into the image along with the Super Bowl’s most-coveted prize, the Vince Lombardi Trophy. The image is emblazoned with these words in all caps: “The Giants are Super Bowl champions!”
SEE ALSO: Super Bowl 2012 By the Numbers | How to Watch the Super Bowl Online
The Feb. 5 broadcast of the Giants vs. New England Patriots game kicks off at Indianapolis Lucas Oil Stadium at 6:30 p.m. ET and will be followed by many post-game breakdowns of the games and commercials. One Super Bowl post-game analysis will occur within an NBC-backed Google+ Hangout. Participants will dissect the commercials, which this year cost $3.5 million each.
Did you notice the premature winner’s announcement before it was taken down? Sound off below.
BONUS: 10 Athlete Gaffes Aided by Social MediaOnline whammies in the sports world are not uncommon. Here are a few recent memorable digital mistakes.
Cappie Pondexter
After a tsunami devastated Japan this March, Cappie Pondexter of the WNBA's New York Liberty tweeted, "What if God was tired of the way they treated their own people in there own country! Idk guys he makes no mistakes." Later she continued hypothesizing with this tweet: "u just never knw! They did pearl harbor so you can't expect anything less." Predictably, Pondexter's tweets sparked a strong backlash, and she eventually took to Twitter again, this time to apologize (left).
Click here to view this gallery.
More About: Entertainment, football, sports, Super Bowl, trending