Ali BULUT

During 2008, we’ve tried to bring you the best how-tos for achieving more with social media tools: everything from Google products to blogging to online video to productivity and beyond. Twitter, Facebook, StumbleUpon, Friendfeed, and Delicious all got the How-To treatment.

Today, as the year draws to a close, we bring you a hand-picked selection of Mashable’s () social media How-To articles in 2008; some holiday reading, perhaps, or something to refer back to once you restart the daily grind in 2009. Enjoy!

---

Google How-Tos

---

How to Sync Google Services With Your Mobile Device

HOW TO: Use Google Reader Like A Rockstar

HOW TO: Get the Most Out of Google Maps

How to Preview New Google Chrome Features

How to Install Google Chrome Greasemonkey Scripts (Windows Only)

HOW TO: Optimize a Pre-Existing Google AdWords Account

---

Facebook How-Tos

---

HOW TO: Add Facebook Connect to Your Blog in 8 Minutes

HOW TO: Search for Facebook Images Based on Shape, Color, Keywords

---

Twitter How-Tos

---

HOW TO: Build Community on Twitter

HOW TO: Win Friends and Twinfluence People

How to Improve Your Twinfluence and Twitter Grade

HOW TO: Quiet the Twitter Noise

HOW TO: Go Back in Time, Twitter-style

HOW TO: Turn Your Photos, Videos and Tweets into Stories

HOW TO: Use Twitter for Social Bookmarking

HOW TO: Track Expenses Using Twitter

HOW TO: Auto-Follow People on Twitter

---

Blogging How-Tos

---

How to Live Blog a Conference

HOW TO: Convert Your Blog Into a Podcast on iTunes for Free

HOW TO: Use Your Blog’s Domain as a Lifestream

HOW TO: Market to Bloggers According to Timothy Ferriss

---

Online Video How-Tos

---

How to Live Stream Your Life: 20+ Tools and Resources

HOW TO: Create Online Video That Works

How to Master Screencasts in Seven Steps

HOW TO: Add Live Video to Your Applications (Stickam API)

HOW TO: Convert Videos for Your iPhone (or Any Mobile Device)

How to Get Incompatible Videos to Your Apple TV Without Lifting a Finger

---

Social Networking How-Tos

---

HOW TO: Save Time With Website Registration and Profiles

How to Connect Your Email Address to Your OpenID Account

HOW TO: Get the Most Out of StumbleUpon

HOW TO: Get the Most Out of FriendFeed

HOW TO: Get the Most Out of Technorati

How to Get the Most Out of LinkedIn

---

Business How-Tos

---

How to Track 500 Business Blogs in 10 Minutes a Day

How to Manage Your Social Profiles and Create Virtual Business Cards

How to Build Your Online Brand

How to Execute (Against) Your Resume

HOW TO: Market a Web Company in a Down Economy [Video]

HOW TO: Send Top Secret, Highly Classified Email Over the Web

---

Productivity How-Tos

---

HOW TO: Use Web-Based Office Tools Offline

How to Despam Your iPhone Email

25 Resources for Learning How to Customize Your Browser

10 Essential Sites for Tips and How-To’s

---

Social Media How-Tos

---

How to Turn Your Business Trip into a Social Media Experience

How to Know if You Should Fire Your Social Media Consultant

How to Measure Social Media ROI for Business

HOW TO: Grow a Startup 300% in 3 Days? SocialMedian Tells All

How to Develop a Social Media Plan for Your Business in 5 Steps

---

Best of the Rest

---

How to Chase Hurricane Fay Online

How to Find a Babysitter Online

HOW TO: Patch Your Applications

HOW TO: Instantly iPhone-ize Your Website

HOW TO: Make a Widget From Any New York Times Feed

HOW TO: Find Your Way Around Any New City

Continuum continues their series Open for Branding, where they are sharing, from start to finish, their latest branding project for the new, nomadic Design Museum Boston. They're asking for your input, so don't hesitate to leave your feedback in the comments below.

Now, we're in the concept phase. Here's when things begin to take shape--and our weeks of research, discussion, and brainstorming start to come together. The concept phase channels all of this work into sketches, and we create actual designs.

In other words, the work up to this point has allowed us to create rules and parameters for designing so that when we start to develop the brand identity, we'll create meaningful, on-point concepts deeply aligned with the mission and vision of Design Museum Boston.

With our initial ideas on paper, we are gearing up for our first concept presentation to Design Museum Boston early next week. Check out this graphic, which shows the evolution of our thinking and the three big-picture directions we're taking for the concept sketches that you'll see and weigh in on next week. Let us know what you think.

CONCEPT 1: ALL ABOUT D.

The "D" is a bold, distinct, and ownable experience.

Like going to the "MET" or the "MFA," its name becomes its identity. Best in its purest form, it only takes one letter to communicate its central focus.

"I'm going to the D tonight."

CONCEPT 2: DESIGN IS EVERYWHERE

Design is everywhere

It's in the park.
It's at the store.
It's beyond the city limits.

Where there's design, there's Design Museum Boston.

CONCEPT 3: TAKE NOTICE

Design demands your attention.

It's easy to take it for granted. But now, Design Museum Boston calls out design in context and shows the impact it has on our world.

Mila's Daydreams by Adele for her little daughter Mila.

Adele says, "This is my maternity leave hobby. While my baby is taking her nap, I try to imagine her dream and capture it. "

My-wardrobe: looking for international agencies

The retailer's UK marketing will continue to be handled in-house, but the brand has confirmed it is looking to appoint international agencies in the next 12 months, to ensure that campaigns in overseas markets are 'culturally specific'.

It is unclear at present what the retailer's marketing budget is for its expansion, which will include entering France and Germany in 2011.

Positioned as an ‘accessible luxury’ retailer, My-Wardrobe.com launched in 2006 and is currently gearing up for its biggest marketing drive to date, following a £6m investment from Balderton Capital.

In the UK, My-wardrobe plans to roll out a heavyweight direct marketing, CRM, social media, affiliate, paid search and PR activity, and live events, as part of its acquisition and retention efforts.

The site has run CRM activity in the past, but is now focusing on a more comprehensive programme to drive loyalty. This will be handled by CRM manager Katie Palmer.

Balderton, which also has investments in Betfair and LoveFilm, confirmed its funding last week.

Honda Billboard with SMS and Bluetooth Interaction

This billboard appeared in Dublin for Honda, where customers could “start” the car by texting to an SMS shortcode and could also download information by Bluetooth. The campaign was created by GT Media and JC Decaux using technology provided by Púca.

(Link)

McDonald's Piccadilly Circus Sign

McDonald's has recently launched a new interactive sign where passers-by can interact with images displayed on McDonald's giant LED screen, so visitors can take an interactive role at one of London's most photographed locations.

(Link)

Nike's UNICEF Interactive Billboard

Nike demonstrates that even in philanthropy, it stands for athletes. In an interactive billboard (by BBDO) publicizing a charity 10k run in Argentina, the athletics powerhouse invites passers-by to have a run on a treadmill that logs a communal kilometer count. For each kilometer run, Nike donates a set amount to UNICEF, urging that Training for the 10k doesn't only help you. For each kilometer run, you will be helping UNICEF. (Link)

Big in Japan Interactive Billboard

Big in Japan is a reality TV powering Swedish in Japan. In order to promote the broadcast of channel TV6 Office, the agency has installed an interactive screaming which takes pictures, thus simulating a delirious Japanese crowd whenever a passer-by was captured by the billboard.

(Link | Via)

Billboard for a Lingerie Store Bustop

Billboard is the best advertising system, because it allows the advertiser to create and actual 3D advertisement that can interact with the environment it is placed in. The brand is a lingerie clothing company and when wind blows past the billboard it lifts up the skirt and reveals one of their underwear products underneath. (Link)

Nikon Interactive Billboard

At a busy Seoul subway station, Nikon mounted a huge interactive, light-box billboard displaying life-like images of paparazzi. Huddled together as if at a premiere, the "paps" appear to be jostling and competing for the best celebrity snap. The celebrities in this case were the passers-by, who automatically triggered a deluge of flashing camera lights as they walked past the billboard. The accidental superstars then followed the red carpet all the way out of the station and into a mall - directly into the store where they could purchase the new D700. Mission accomplished. (Link)

Nokia Interactive Billboard at Lisbon Airport

YDreams developed a billboard for Nokia's N90 campaign that combines video, animation, graphics and text with a gripping x-factor: interactivity. The applications takes audiences by surprise by snapping their pictures and displaying them on the billboard. It also lets them download content such as images, videos and music onto mobile devices via Bluetooth or infra-red technology.

(Link)

Adobe CS3 Interactive Billboard

For the 3rd release launching of their Creative Suite Adobe Software, Adobe came up with a great “Out of Home” promotional solution.

As pedestrians walk past the wall, infrared sensors will lock on to the person closest to the wall, who will then be able to control a projected slider button at the bottom of the wall. As the selected pedestrian continues walking and moves the slider along, the wall will start displaying colorful animation and playing music, effects that will grow or recede at the pace that the person advances or retreats.

(Link)

BBC World Interactive Billboard

BBC World created some very innovative and engaging ads to promote the launching of BBC World in America. A billboard was setup with challenging questions that passers-by were invited to respond to by texting a message. The billboard tallied the results in real time. (Link)

“Slower is Better” Interactive Billboards

Elm Grove Police Department in Wisconsin developed an outdoor campaign to promote the concept, “Slower is Better”. Interactive billboards were placed by roads where speed had become an issue, feeding back to motorists the possible implications of their driving habits. The die-cut signs were placed over roadside radar trailers and were triggered by speeds above 25 mph. (Link | Via)

HBO / Big Love: Audio Billboards

Interactive audio billboards featured everyday people walking on a city street. A jack built into each person's head invited passers-by to use headphones to plug in and hear their secret thoughts, which ranged from the innocuous to the dramatic. The boards also featured an HBO-branded jack with audio promoting the new season. Installations ran simultaneously in NYC (42 panels in the Times Square subway station) and LA (Hollywood & Highland and Venice Beach). (Link)

Mini Billboard Interactive

The boards in a sign in San Francisco, which usually carry typical advertising, are programmed to identify approaching Mini drivers through a coded signal from a radio chip embedded in their key fob. The messages are personal, based on questionnaires that owners filled out: “Mary, moving at the speed of justice,” if Mary is a lawyer, or “Mike, the special of the day is speed,” if Mike is a chef.

Mia Landingham: the 300 lb woman who killed her boyfriend by sitting on him

The details are shocking and hard to believe, but a woman -- who was believed to weigh around 300 lbs. at the time -- sat on her 120 lb. boyfriend, Mikal Middleton-Bey and killed him. It happened during an altercation between the couple, who share three children together. According to her defender, there was a long history of domestic abuse between his client and her late boyfriend. He also pointed out she has no prior criminal record. She did told the judge she was sorry for squashing the father of her children. "I just want to say that I am sincerely sorry about this situation... I wish I could take it back." The judge sentenced her to three years' probation and 100 hours community service and she was immediately released from jail. While Middleton-Bey's family hoped Landingham would eventually be able to take part in her children's lives, they were surprised that she got no additional jail time. (Link | Via)

Chalie Simon: the teenager who was arrested for squeezing her ex boyfriend's balls

Does this woman look like a testicle crusher? Well, that's what cops claim University of Colorado student Chalie Simon did to a former boyfriend during a confrontation at a campus apartment. Simon, a 19-year-old sophomore, went to Job Donkor's home at about 4 AM and became irate when he sought to remove her from the residence. That's when Simon grabbed his testicles and squeezed hard. Donkor, 23, replied, "Yeah, it hurt a lot," when a cop asked about Simon's squeeze play. Donkor had dated Simon "on and off" during the prior 18 months, and they had broken up "approximately 20 times." Simon was apparently angry because Donkor had not, as promised, called or sent her a text message by 3 AM (police noticed that another woman was sleeping in Donkor's bedroom when they arrived). Simon was arrested on assault, trespass, and domestic violence charges. (Link)

Dianne Craven: the woman who faked her death to dump a boyfriend

Dianne Craven pretended to have her lover's baby - then ditched him by faking her own death. The married mum of three made out she was her brother when she sent a text saying she had suffered a fatal brain hemorrhage. She then sent other texts giving lover Stuart Shortland details of her funeral. He was so shocked he developed alopecia and went bald.

Former barman Stuart, 45, was living in Portugal when Dianne, 49, texted him last year from the UK to say their "baby" girl Ruby was born on November 10. Dianne even nicknamed her Roo and said she looked like Stuart. But when he flew to the UK to see mum and baby they had vanished. Five days later he got the text from Dianne's phone saying: "im di's bro dave theres no easy way to say this so here goes. She died last Saturday afternoon brain hemorrhage they say." Stuart then got texts about the funeral - but when he tried calling there was no answer. Stuart could find no record of the death or birth. She had moved to Bali with husband Gary. And we photographed her in Hull visiting her family. She refused to comment. The couple, both from Hull, met in 2004 and started an on-off affair that lasted years. At one point Dianne left hubby Gary, 49, to live with Stuart in Portugal. But she returned two weeks later. (Link | Via)

Kimberly Jernigan: the woman who attempted to kidnap ex-virtual boyfriend

33-year-old Kimberly Jernigan of North Carolina was apparently distraught after her online relationship with a 52-year-old man from Claymont, Delaware, came to an end. The pair apparently met online in "Second Life." A virtual relationship began between the victim, whose character was a Lion, and Jerrigan, whose online persona was said to be a virtual woman. When the two met in reality several months ago, the victim ended the relationship, sending Jernigan into a downward spiral. In the beginning of August, Jernigan drove to the victim's Pennsylvania workplace and attempted to kidnap him at gunpoint. While she was unsuccessful, she returned two weeks later to track down the victim's Delaware address.

With her dog Gogi in tow, Jernigan cut and removed a screened window in order to enter her virtual ex's apartment. When the victim arrived home, he saw someone pointing an object at his chest that was projecting a laser beam. He immediately fled the apartment and contacted police. Officers arriving at the scene discovered a pair of handcuffs, a roll of duct tape, a Taser and a BB gun as well as the suspect's dog. Jernigan had bound her dog Gogi with duct tape and put him in the bathroom as he was making too much noise. Jernigan is currently facing charges of attempted kidnapping, burglary and aggravated menacing. (Link)

Agnes Bermudez: the lady who turned herself and her BF into human fireballs

Agnes Bermudez, 50, set herself and her boyfriend into human fireballs - killing three others in the inferno, with one victim seen falling to her death as caught on camera. She is now accused of killing ex-lover William Salazar, 32, in a horrific 2008 Father's Day blaze that took the lives of three neighbors and left her lucky to be alive but with terrible burns. Everything was recorded by CCTV footage. It shows Bermudez and Salazar running out of their apartment in balls of flame, and Salazar then running into Z-Star Deli in the basement of their building in a desperate hunt for water. As he runs outside deli owner Mohammed Almatari and good Samaritan George Zugajewicz, follow him out and pour gallon jugs over him. Once the flames are out, Salazar, 32, paces around, holding his head. He died four days later in New York Hospital's Burn Center having suffered burns to at least half his body. Bermudez remains on the ground, curled into a ball of flames throughout, but somehow surviving. Off camera, a third-floor tenant, Flor Sandoval, 48, was hanging from her window - and is then seen plunging to her death before firefighters can get to her. Her husband, Heriberto Garcia, 57, and their 20-year-old son, Felipe Garcia Sandoval, were also killed by the flames. (Link | Via)

Amanda Monti: the woman who ripped off ex-boyfriend's testicle and tried to swallow it

Amanda Monti, 24, flew into a rage when Geoffrey Jones, 37, rejected her advances at the end of a house party. She then pulled off his left testicle and tried to swallow it, before spitting it out. A friend handed it back to Mr Jones saying: "That's yours." Jones had ended his long-term but "open relationship" with Monti a year ago. The pair remained on good terms and one night she picked him up from a party in Crosby and went back for drinks with friends at Jones's house. An argument ensued and Jones said there was a struggle between them. She then grabbed his genitals and "pulled hard”. A friend saw Monti put Mr Jones's testicle into her mouth and try to swallow it. She choked and spat it back into her hand before the friend grabbed it and gave it back to Mr Jones. Doctors were unable to re-attach the organ. In a letter to the court, Monti said she was sorry for what she had done. She was jailed for two-and-a-half years. (Link)

The woman who stabbed her boyfriend after disappointing sex

A 40-year-old man from Lulea received life-threatening injuries after being stabbed in the lung by his 28-year-old Russian girlfriend. The pair was staying at the man's apartment in the northern Swedish town when they got into a heated argument about their relationship. The 40-year-old says that his girlfriend was disappointed with the quality of their sex that evening. Having acquired a short-term visa for herself and her young son, the woman came to Lulea for a holiday. She worked at a chicken farm back in Russia. But on the night in question a discussion about their relationship ended up in violence. She grabbed a knife and stabbed him. She claimed that she grabbed the first item that came to hand, only realizing later that it was not a pen or a fork as she had initially thought. She later hid the knife in a wardrobe and contacted some neighbours, who called the SOS number. The man was able to recover from his injuries after a successful emergency operation. According to the couple, the dispute stemmed from dissatisfaction with their sex life. The man claims that her fury was borne of disappointment with the evening's sex. (Link)

The woman who threw her boyfriend's puppy into traffic after an argument

Los Angeles resident Danielle Graham, 21, was arguing with 24-year old Inglewood resident Hakeem Funtua during noon when she dragged his female pitbull puppy by the chain attached to its collar and threw the dog into ongoing southbound traffic on Prairie Avenue, near the intersection of 130th Street. Two Hawthorne police officers witnessed the incident and attempted to arrest Graham, who resisted. In the ensuing physical struggle in a nearby parking lot, Funtua joined the skirmish in an apparent attempt to aid Graham. The officers pepper sprayed the couple and called for backup when Graham and Funtua continued to fight with officers. Graham was arrested on suspicion of animal cruelty and assaulting a peace officer. She was held on $50,000 bail. (Link)

Ten Creative Packaging Concepts

Imagine Ferrero Rocher being sold in plastic wraps instead of the gold foils; totally unappealing! The way you package and present your product really makes an impact on many economic equations and its market presence. Designers understand this only too well, which is why we have so many creative innovations in the packaging sector. In a way Industrial Design and Product Design is quite dependent on Packaging. Synergistic packaging can not only enhance a product’s appeal, it can also increase the brand-value and pricing focus. Here are Ten Creative Packaging Concepts for you to examine.

10) 2008 Safe Sex Awareness Campaign – New York City Condoms by Fuse Project

Talking about sex is still a closed-door matter for some sections of the society. It is the dark ages for many! The open and friendly dispenser, plus street smart packaging of the condom itself, makes this 2008 safer sex awareness campaign quite effective.

9) Google Envelopes by Rahul Mahtani & Yofred Moik

Google Envelopes that can be sent through G-Mail itself. What better way to send your mail than in Google!

8 ) Flexio Solar Radio by Wu Kun-chia, Wang Shih-ju, Chen Ming-daw & Liou Chang-ho

The Flexio Radio packaging accomplishes many things at one go. You almost forgive the radio for playing only one station, and accept the city-centric approach it has. It’s touted as the ideal souvenir.

7) Expiry Date Milk Carton Packaging by Ko Yang

Most of us don’t keep a track of the expiry date on milk cartons, this innovative packaging keeps a track of the freshness and represents it graphically on the pack.

6) DogPot Poop Scooper by Young-Long Choi

If its dog poop that you must scoop, then it needs to be done in a stylish way! It needs to be packed and disposed via this clever DogPot.

5) Eco Coke Bottle Design by Andrew Seunghyun Kim

The beverage bottle has always been round, never square. Andrew takes a futuristic leap with a radical change in design that promises to be eco friendly, stackable and shelf-smart.

4) Hanger Tea by Soon Mo Kang

Teabags are meant to be dipped, and the Hanger Tea just gives a whole new meaning to the motion. Cute as a button, most of you simply loved this packing.

3) Universal Packaging System or UPACKS by Patrick Sung

Those who send parcels on a regular basis will really understand how important it is to securely pack the contents. Forget about pilferage, the packing material needs to be tough enough and the right size to endure the journey. UPACKS provides a suitable solution, now only if we can get it at the post office.

2) CookSoo Instant Noodles Packing by Junggeun Ahn, Jeongmi Lee, Hyunseok Moon & Donghee Suh

Cup noodles can’t get savvier than this! A collapsible, disposable and tight box that cooks and serves your perfect portion.

1) Yogurt Spoon Package Design by Cho Hye-seung

I really adore this design for its convenience and effective use of materials. You were as it is going to discard the cup cover, so you may as well fashion it as a spoon and use it to dig into the yummy treat. No extra spoons required!

Earlier this year, we wrote about Shisheido's Digital Cosmetic Mirror, installed at a Tokyo department store to let women test makeup without actually applying anything to their skin. Following in Shisheido's augmented reality footsteps is L’Oréal, which will be trying out digital mirrors in the UK this summer.

How it works? Customers snap a digital self-portrait using the mirror's camera. They can then scan a product's barcode to see it 'applied' to their self-portait, using the system's touchscreen interface to select different colours or get recommendations for shades or products that match their skin tone or eye colour. Customers will also be a

Besides offering customers a convenient and hygienic way to try new shades and products, the mirror could help prevent buyer's remorse and therefore reduce (costly) product returns. The system used by L’Oréal was developed by EZface, which has also partnered with Boots and Walmart. As reported by Brand Republic, "L'Oréal will be trialling the kiosks later this month offering products from brands such as Maybelline, ahead of a possible commercial deal."

Letting customers try before they buy (dubbed tryvertising by our sister-site trendwatching.com) can be a remarkably potent way of advertising products. And a virtual approach, using augmented reality, seems like a natural fit for the fashion and beauty industries.

Website: www.ezface.com
Contact: business@ezface.com

Long gone are the days when "online" was synonymous with social isolation. In fact, we're now witnessing the opposite: technology is driving people to connect and meet up with others in the "real world". This mass mingling makes for an interesting trend, begging to be turned into new services for consumers. Here are five such services:

1. MEETUP EVERYWHERE — Meetup's new service, Meetup Everywhere, is an open and free platform that helps people build communities based on a common interest. Organisers can map offline gatherings and share announcements and updates through Facebook and Twitter accounts. One recent initiative: ReadyMade magazine partnering with Etsy.com to encourage DIY crafters to host local "craft-ups".

2. GATSBY — Gatsby is a mobile app that introduces people according to shared interests and locations, using Foursquare. Users tell Gatsby their Foursquare account details and describe their interests. Gatsby then searches for like-minded people locally and texts them with first names and what they have in common.

3. LOOPT MIX — Loopt Mix is a free iPhone app for finding and chatting to other users nearby. Users identify shared interests by means of tags and preferences on their personal profiles. There's also a set of search filters for ad hoc link-ups. Favoured contacts can be flagged to provide users with quick access to their core social circle.

4. STREETSPARK — Another iPhone app using location to get people in touch, StreetSpark has a specifically romantic intent. Users describe themselves and the kind of person they hope to meet. The app then informs them when a possible match is nearby. No contact information is divulged automatically; people can chat and choose whether or not to identify themselves.

5. LOVESTRUCK — Also in the match-making business, UK-based Lovestruck is aimed at single professionals. The website and mobile apps use work locations as a base to link potential lovers. Customers can display their availability through status updates, and iPhone owners can also see if other users are in their current vicinity when they're on the move.

For more examples of MASS MINGLING, read this month's trend briefing by trendwatching.com >>

Insurance companies, courts and lawyers all require detailed depictions of traffic accidents to successfully resolve claims for compensation. Currently in public beta, AccidentSketch is a free online tool that allows users to graphically document car accidents with ease.

Using a simple drag and drop template system, recreating the circumstances of a collision using AccidentSketch is much like putting together pieces of a puzzle. First, road 'pieces' are added to a grid to create an accurate depiction of the road, including curves, intersections and more. Next, vehicles are placed on the road map, with specification of vehicle colours and inputting of license plate numbers optional. Final details are then added, such as bicycles, pedestrians, traffic signs, lights, arrows and braking marks. AccidentSketch also allows users to create a text report explaining the details of the accident. The finished sketch can be printed out or downloaded as a PDF file.

Developed by German claim management services provider ClaimMS, AccidentSketch makes consumers' lives easier at a time when they need it most. Insurance companies: one to partner with? (Related: Smartphone app serves as video "black box" for cars — iPhone app helps State Farm users submit a claim.)

Website: www.accidentsketch.com
Contact: info@claim.ms

Spotted by:  R. Stein