This post originally appeared on the American Express OPEN Forum , where Mashable regularly contributes articles about leveraging social media and technology in small business. There are a lot of WordPress themes out there. Whether you’re looking for a souped up, paid premium template or a free alternative, it seems everyone and their grandma has created a tweak on the basic two-column or three-column WordPress model…  Read More →

Normally, we assume you’ve missed a few posts here and there because you’ve been outside enjoying the last days of summer. But given the impending Hurricane and crippling heatwave, we sincerely hope you’ve been inside this past week. So what’s your excuse? If you still have catching up to do, we’re back with another list of resources from the past week …  Read More →

As the world’s largest marketplace, eBay has hundreds of millions of listings live at any given moment. Since its founding in 1995, the company has grown from just one curious computer programmer to over 15,000 employees. Over the past 15 years, eBay has become one of the largest companies in America, consistently ranking in the Fortune 500, and is one of the most recognized brands around the world. Throughout the years, the world…  Read More →

Not all YouTube channels are created equal. Some were born for greatness just like the musicians and performances they showcase. Within the viral genre of people hurting themselves in backyards and kittens eating their way out of things is a sect of YouTube channels devoted to unique, extraordinary musical performance. Making this list was harder than expected, and essential performances had to be left off. For example, Pavarotti’s performance... 

With Facebook ’s ever-changing layout, and the fact that other social sites are encroaching on its real-time update strangle-hold, it’s easy to forget that there are some pretty nifty tricks you can pull using your humble Facebook status. We’ve pulled together 10 great how-to tips that will help you get the most out of your status update, from official features to apps, Easter eggs, jokes and more. Perfect for newer Facebook... 

What are the most visited places by location-based social networkers? Besides major transit hubs like airports and rail stations — which always top the charts — Gowalla users are a global bunch who check-in at a variety of interesting locales. Using compiled data directly from Gowalla, we’ve rounded up the hottest spots in the network’s 10 most popular cities. Have you checked-in at any of the locations featured? Let... 

If you’ve been shirking your social media reading responsibilities this week, here’s your chance to make it right. See below for a week’s worth of guides, lists, and analysis you need to stay on your social game. This batch includes some great Twitter trend trackers, a peek into the future of the “smart home,” and some sound social business strategies. If you need…  Read More →

For continuous World Cup coverage, check out Mashable’s 2010 World Cup Hub , which will be updated throughout the games. As World Cup pool play continues, games are becoming more electrifying as each and every goal scored counts for the nations trying to earn the highly coveted football title and trophy. Football aficionados and novices alike can enhance their experience of each game with World Cup visualizations that help to bring the action... 

Whether you subscribe to the cult of Mac or not, Apple’s immense influence on technology and popular culture is indisputable. But there’s one area in which Apple’s reach may even surprise fans — the art world. iPods, Macs, and even His Jobsness himself have all recently turned up in sculpture, digital art and even oil paintings. Flip through our gallery to find out more and let us know of any other Apple-themed art you’ve... 

Ning, the network of social networks that boasted 20 million visitors a month, is making massive staff cutbacks and has announced a complete end to free services for its users. Those who pay for premium services will be asked to pay more, and those who are getting their social networks free of charge will be asked to fork over or phase off the Ning platform. For a while now, we’ve been seeing…  Read More →

Social media can be a huge boon for non-profits, NGOs and causes. Many are finding ways to let folks help those in need with small actions and donations. Here are nine ways you can make a difference in people’s lives with just a few minutes of your time or a few dollars from your PayPal account. Of course, if you want to spend more than five minutes or $25, you could do a lot more good for folks in need. But this is a great way to begin... 

This series is supported by Gillette. Learn more about Gillette and its products at Gillette.com . No matter how much quality information or witty repartee we send out into our social networks, first impressions are almost always visual. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand that the first thing we see when checking out a new Twitter follower, Facebook friend, or LinkedIn connection is a profile photo. And in a world of quick... 

On Thursday, March 25, the second annual Twestival Global charity event will kick off in over 175 cities across the world. Thousands of people will get together at events around the globe to help raise money for Concern Worldwide , and help the estimated 72 million children around the globe that are not enrolled in school gain access to education. Last year, Twestival helped raise over $250,000 for Charity: Water , and including last fall’s... 

Geoff Livingston co-founded Zoetica to focus on cause-related work, and released an award-winning book on new media Now is Gone in 2007. Despite some initial flaws, Google Buzz continues to show promise as a social marketing platform. It has a significant (though somewhat latent) user base, with an increasing number of loyalists who swear by it. When a green field lies before you, so does opportunity. Some non-profits stand to gain from being... 

This post originally appeared on the American Express OPEN Forum , where Mashable regularly contributes articles about leveraging social media and technology in small business. 25% of small business owners said they plan to spend more on social networking in 2010, according to the Ad-ology Small Business Marketing Forecast . Facebook ranked as the most beneficial social network for small businesses, followed by LinkedIn and Twitter , according...