With all the events going on this summer, now is the best time to experience the city! The forecast is calling for sunny days so go outside and enjoy the weather. Here are a few of our top picks for events going on right now:

2010 Yerba Buena Gardens Festival

Celebrate the 10^th anniversary of the gardens with music, theater, circus, dance, poetry, family festivals and children’s programs with artists from around the world. Free admission through October 31.

The Taste of San Francisco Tour

Tour the ethnically diverse neighborhoods of San Francisco and experience a variety of histories and cuisines. Includes Italian, Chinese, Mexican, seafood and others.

San Francisco Bicycle Musical Festival

Saturday July 31 from 10 a.m. – 2 a.m. enjoy the largest 100% bicycle-powered musical festival in the world. The event begins at Marx Meadow and continues at different parks all around the city. Check out the schedule online for performances and locations!

San Francisco Giants vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

Cheer on your team and enjoy the luxuries of AT&T Park. First pitch is at 7:15 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Hang Out at Pier 39

When it’s nice outside the pier is the place to be. It’s the perfect place to eat, shop, visit the sea lions, go to the aquarium, or take a whale watching tour.

What are your weekend plans? Any other suggestions for fun events in the city?

For some organizations, creating an online brand presence can seem daunting. However, many managers have realized the affect of their employees and are now actively looking for ways they can use social media both personally and professionally to generate hype.  While this is both cost-effective and clever marketing, there are a few simple rules needed to ensure a positive brand reputation.

1. Don’t Force It

In its early stages professional social media use created mixed signals and communication, resulting in cautionary policies within companies. These days, most employees have a clear understanding of what is considered professional and or inappropriate when interacting online.  Encourage your employees to mention the company on social media platforms but don’t create a formal policy outlining the do’s and don’ts.

2. Show Them How

While this might contradict the rule above, not every employee engages in social media. Make sure you demonstrate how to use each platform and provide resources that explain the best and most interesting ways to interact online. If you provide good tools for your employees, you will receive good feedback.

3. Identify Your Internal Brand

This basically means that if customers are supposed to identify with your brand shouldn’t those marketing your brand also be connected? Social media use under the company name will engage employees, creating advocates who understand and promote the brand in a relatable manner.

What other ways can employees generate brand recognition through social media platforms? Which platform do you think is the most useful?

On June 24 CNET reporter Daniel Terdiman began his journey up and down the East Coast in search for new and interesting technology, research and development. Throughout the tour Terdiman will stop at NASA, the Naval Academy, Washington D.C., and Philadelphia. His latest stop was the Media Lab at MIT where he took a look at some groundbreaking technological advances, a few of are definitely worth mentioning:

-NETRA, or near-eye tool for refractive assessment, is a smartphone application and device combo that would provide large numbers of people around the world with quick and easy eye tests, similar to what is available in a doctor’s office. An application of this kind could easily serve the 2 billion people with refractive issues, especially those in rural areas.

-Electrodermal sensors fitted to autistic children will help occupational therapists during sessions better understand the child’s emotional moods and work constructively. These sensors are the combination of biosensors, artificial intelligence and assistive technologies.

-The CityCar, better referred to as the folding vehicle, can fit into the tiniest parking spaces and could radically change urban environments. The battery-electric car is expected to average at least 150 miles per gallon, can rotate on its own axis- 360°- park sideways, and because there is no central engine it can be folded into a smaller vehicle.

What could the CityCar mean for the energy crisis? Do you think applications like NETRA will help developing countries become more competitive?

VEVO and YouTube have once again partnered with American Express to launch a five-concert series of live performances this summer. “Unstaged: An Original Series from American Express” will kick off with a live-streamed performance by Arcade Fire at Madison Square Garden on August 5. Earlier this year YouTube and VEVO united with American Express to stream both the Alicia Keys and The National performances which contributed to the decision to create another concert series.

The summer series will feature the work of several acclaimed directors, and some cool social media features like “Choose Your Cam” which will allow viewers to control their experience by switching between camera streams. Other performances will include The Roots and John Legend.

Do you think this concert series will help establish YouTube and VEVO in the online music community? What performances would you like to see streamed?

Take a look at the teaser for the live-streamed concert by The Nationals in Brooklyn last May.

The non-profit aid group CrisisCommons has inspired people from around the globe to join together and help communities facing disasters. On July 16 more than 80 tech-industry leaders from five countries convened for the first international CrisisCongress in Washington D.C. The event was held to look for new and better ways to provide aid to both governments and citizens affected by crisis. One of the plans discussed was the implementation of additional social media and technology strategies in the event of future disasters or humanitarian issues.

Thus far the group has been successful through its use of social media tools to build a dedicated community spanning 10 countries, create CrisisCamps and eventually the Congress itself, and recruit and retain volunteers. The online community allows different countries to learn from other nation’s experiences and successes in order to prepare for and handle their own situations. Social media has also proven instrumental during a disaster because of the speed necessary to create and deploy tools and applications in the field.

While the Congress is a step in the right direction, CrisisCommons faces the challenge of preparing younger, less advanced countries for major catastrophes. As the internet and the use of social media continue to grow worldwide, one can only hope that these young international governments can learn from CrisisCommons and prepare themselves before the next major disaster strikes.

What are some other social media strategies CrisisCommons could look into?

A popular blog is like a popular person. When you think of the “it-crowd” in high school, what was it about them that made them popular? Well, for one thing they were well-liked. To put is simply, people like to spend time with people they like, just as people read blogs that they like. While your success depends on content and accuracy, what’s more important is your likeability. How you present yourself, the vibe you put out and the personality you convey are all a part of gaining the coveted popular kid status. Dean Rieck of copyblogger offers a few secrets on how to attract readers and make your blog popular.

Be Conversational
Instead of lecturing and talking down to your readers; write your posts as if you were engaging in a conversation with a friend. Keep posts informal and easy to read and you’ll avoid the boring teacher reference.

Keep It Light
The goal here is to entertain readers and leave them feeling just a little bit happier after reading your blog, so they’ll keep coming back for more. Don’t be afraid to crack a joke here or there, or show your sense of humor!

Share Yourself
While people read your blog to find information, they visit to learn about you. This means you need to share a little about yourself, with the occasional photo or note, to keep readers connected to you.

Don’t Be A Diva
Whoever said the nice guy never wins was wrong. In the world of blogging, the polite response is usually the best course of action. Make sure you answer your e-mails and respond to comments, and don’t let the rude people get to you. Simply delete inappropriate comments or feedback and move on.

Help People
Helpful people are popular people. Why? Because they’re willing to help when everyone else turns you down. Therefore, helpful blogs are popular blogs. Blogs are a great tool for readers because they offer lots of information, without expecting too much in return.

Love Your Blog
No matter what you should enjoy writing your blog. When you stop writing a little bit for yourself, you lose the connection needed to affect your readers. Don’t stress about how successful you are or need to be, and just concentrate on the blog. Popularity comes to those who relax!

What are some other secrets on how to create a popular blog? How have you applied these tricks?

The fact that you are reading this blog proves one thing: You’re hooked on technology! Don’t feel bad about it because pretty much everyone else is too, but when was the last time you unplugged, unhooked and shut down long enough to participate in a technology free activity? If you’re like me, the answer is not in a while.

Technology is undoubtedly one of the most important factors in our lives today, but some scientists say the constant juggle of e-mail, phone calls and other incoming information can change our thoughts, behavior, and ability to focus. A recent article in the New York Times discussed that while the negative effects are often minor, like spacing on dinner plans, information overload can cause work, family and relationship issues. Research has also shown that technological multitasking can cause the brain to think less creatively and deeply.

On the other hand, technology has shown itself to be good for the brain too. Studies show that Internet users are more efficient at finding information, video gamers have better visual acuity, and, as I think most would agree, the cell-phone and computer have pretty much solved the issue of boredom. In this case the good and bad don’t outweigh each other so it’s important to find a balance between technology and creativity so it doesn’t take over your life. Like the saying goes, “stop and smell the roses.”

How do we keep ourselves from falling too deep into information overload? Can technology inspire creative endeavors?

Web startups are the young, sexy, exciting side of small business culture, creating products known and used worldwide. While not all entrepreneurs share the same characteristics as web startups, there are a few lessons you can learn and apply to your company. Here are five ways to grow your business based on web startup successes.

1. Have Fun
For most small businesses the most important thing is to produce and sell great products and services. But make your company culture and workplace fun to foster a sense of enjoyment and camaraderie, and increase employee productivity. Think work hard, play hard!

2. Working From Home Is Good
Many web startups have a loose definition of the term “office hours” with some working afternoon to early morning or simply doing work at home. Consider creating more flexible work hours that will please both your early birds and night owls, as long as you trust your employees to complete work on time.

3. Money Isn’t Everything
Ever heard the phrase “Penny-wise, not pound-foolish”? Well it definitely applies here. As a small business owner you need to remember to take care of your employees as much as you can. This includes salary and benefits, but also the workplace. Remember the first tip and have fun.

4. It’s OK To Change Your Mind
As entrepreneurs, we’re often single-minded when it comes to our ideas, but it’s important to remember that things change. Consumers don’t like the product, the market is too big or you decide to go in a different direction. Take your idea and run with, but be prepared to adapt and change your mind before you finally settle down.

5. Some Risks Are Worth It
Web startups often take bigger risks than most small businesses, but they do it out of passion for their company and ideas. Pay attention to unorthodox suggestions from employees or unconventional marketing strategies, and if the time is right, go ahead and try one! While not every risk will pay off, the right risk might just be the jumpstart your company needs! Keep in mind that sometimes small gambles can return a great reward.

How did you grow your small business? What other lessons have you learned from web startups?

Last week Yahoo! Movies released the first full-length trailer for The Social Network, written by Aaron Sorkin and directed by David Fincher.

The film is an adaptation of the book The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook A Tale of Sex, Money, Genius and Betrayal by Ben Mezrich. The Social Network is about the early days of Facebook, and addresses some of the issues facing the company today. The film also draws parallels from the fictionalized account of its start in The Accidental Billionaires.

Mezrich recreates the foundation and rise of the Facebook phenomenon, although loosely connected to real events, which tells the story of two Harvard undergrads who revolutionized how we connect to others. The road to the initial Facebook concept was paved with betrayal, vast amounts of cash and two friends who wanted nothing more than to be cool. It’s juicy, fast-paced and if the book is any indication, the film is going to be a must see!

What do you think of the trailer? Are you going to see the film in theaters this October?

We all know social media is fun and great for, well, socializing! But as an increasing number of event professionals are adapting marketing strategies to include social media, it is important to acknowledge why this is good for event planners.

There are a few concepts you need to know to understand the benefit of social media. The first describes social media success as measurable through determining what is working and what is not. Many social media sites create a forum for clients to offer feedback and provide helpful insights about the outcome of an event in order to choose future action. Client feedback, if positive, can also be used for promotion to demonstrate client satisfaction.

Additionally, many social media sites, such as WordPress blogs, offer services that measure overall page effectiveness. Effectiveness can be determined by successful search engine optimization (SEO) which refers to the process of improving the quality and increasing the traffic of a website or page. Quality sites feature content and design to attract and retain viewers through original, creative and engaging subject matter. SEO also refers to how many search engines link to your website. Incorporating social media into company policy is an excellent tool to enhance event management and marketing strategies. Determining the outcome of an event influences the strategies used for future events and the ultimate success of event planners.