Google is taking over the world. And, if it makes my life easier, I am totally cool with that.

Think about it. Everything we search for on the Internet, share with one another on social space, collaborate on projects… well, they can all be traced back to Google. And to digital marketing professionals like me? Well, Google is the Bible. And it seems like Google is always keeping the users’ best interests in mind.

Which is why Google Places just fits so naturally in the mix.

Let’s say I want to go to a restaurant in Philly. I Google it, and up comes its location on a Google Map. With one hover and click, I can see reviews of the location, get directions, get a phone number so I can make a reservation, and  – most importantly – see what others think of the food and atmosphere.

Plus, Google reviews aren’t just about restaurants – they are about any place. Shopping, restaurants, businesses – basically, anyone who creates a Google Places page for themselves is open to reviews.

And, following the personalization trend Google so much enjoys, the more you review, the better Google gets to know you and can make recommendations for you when you log in. And, let’s be honest, aren’t we all busy enough? It’s nice to not think and have someone (Google) do the work for you. You pick the place, Google, and just get me there is what I like to say!

Amazon was really one of the pioneers in getting people to review products, and today? None of us would ever dream of purchasing something or eating at a restaurant without first checking out the reviews.

But reviewing places on Google Places is so much easier than other sites.

Plus, we are already on Google looking up products, articles and things happening in our neighborhood. Why go to another site with more log-ins and passwords when you’re already on Google doing your thing?

Do you read reviews of restaurants? When you find one you love, do you tell people about it?

Follow Google Philly on Twitter.

Sign up for the Google Philly Newsletter to stay on top of trends and find out what’s hot in your ‘hood.

Review what you love on Google Places.

Please take this very short survey, rate your favorite places in Philly, and be entered for a chance to win a prize worth $400.

Google Philadelphia is an official sponsor of Girls’ Lunch Out.

Join us this Thursday, May 17th at 1pm ET for our monthly #GLOParty twitter party! This month’s theme is hassle-free travel!

There’s nothing worse than dealing with chaos while traveling away from home.

Let’s get our tweet on!

When: Thursday, May 17th 1pm EST

Follow: @GirlsLunchOut, @UPS & @TheUPSStore

Hashtag: #GLOParty

Tweetgrid Link: http://bit.ly/JdAjD4

Prizes

2 {two} winners will each receive a $25 gift card to The UPS Store PLUS a Premium Annual Membership to UPS My Choice.

This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.  Winners will be chosen randomly from those participating with the party tag.

Once upon a time, I spent long Sunday afternoons having Bloody Mary-filled brunches at my favorite pubs.

Then I had kids.

So, when Zagat recently asked us to fill out this survey about bars in Philly for a chance to win $400 in prizes, I was a little shocked. I mean, after all, who wants my opinion about bars?

It turns out, I have a lot of experience with bars in Philly. I left reviews for about 40 bars in the Philly, and it took me all of about 5 minutes to do so.

You can share your bar know-how too! Simply take this very short survey, rate your favorite places in Philly, and you are entered for a chance to win a prize worth $400.

And, if you’re like me, it will be fun to take a trip down memory lane and remember all the great times you had in Philly bars.

Have fun!

Zagat is a sponsor of Girls’ Lunch Out.

A Huffington Post article recently reported that a post on one of the most popular social media sites, Facebook, led to a street fight in Sacramento, with over 30 women, armed with “baseball bats, bottles, rocks, and other weapons” according to witnesses.

Can't we all just get along?

The cause of this drama?  A Facebook comment.

“According to Sacramento Police Department Officer Michele Gigante, the fight reportedly began when a woman saw what she interpreted as a suggestive post on her husband’s Facebook account from another woman.”

While the fight had broken up before the Police arrived, two people were hit with bats and ended up going to the hospital for stitches.

While situations like this are overshadowed by the positives of social media, it does pose the concern that too many people are airing their dirty laundry online.

Do you think Social Media provokes fights like this?

This year, I am going to seven weddings. SEVEN. And that’s not even including my own. Because most of them are out of town, I am just never at home. Traveling is great, don’t get me wrong, but with so much to do (particularly with my own wedding planning), leaving town can be a little inconvenient.

Now that summer is approaching, I’m sure I’m not the only one with trips on the horizon. Summer vacations, Memorial Day and Labor Day getaways, Fourth of July trips – they are great, but wouldn’t it be wonderful to take a trip without worrying about what’s going on at home?

On May 18, UPS is proud to be a part of the Girls’ Lunch Out (GLO) party. It’s a networking event for women, and an opportunity to break from the blogging and connect with other busy women, moms and business owners who want to find the same solutions.

And UPS is here to deliver help. Services like UPS My Choice™ can act as the personal assistant you wish you had. I signed up soon after registering for my wedding. It didn’t take long for packages to start coming to my house, and I was almost never there to sign for them. Now I get advanced delivery notices, I can waive the signature authorization, I can reschedule my deliveries based on my schedule, and I can redirect my packages to the nearest The UPS Store location. Genius!

With My Choice, you won’t miss those must-have shoes or that new laptop for your business while you’re out of town. No more waiting on the delivery when you have important places to be, like for example, the Girls’ Lunch Out party!

The UPS Store also helps women on-the-go with professional printing of business cards and other materials, and mailbox services, which include a mailbox with a real street address, package receiving from any carrier and text and email notifications when you have packages. There’s also The UPS Store Luggage Box, a convenient way to leave the suitcase behind and ship your clothes, souvenirs and conference swag home, reducing the hassle of long lines, security searches and, potentially, luggage fees.

So register for the Girls’ Lunch Out party to mingle with other women in social media and for your chance to win some great prizes! UPS is giving away two gift cards to Zappos worth $300 and $200! Both prizes include a premium membership to UPS My Choice so you can shop for great products and enjoy the convenience of delivery on your terms!

Join Girls’ Lunch Out and UPS on May 18 at Marathon Grill for a free networking event. Register here.

This post was written by Emily Libman. Emily works at UPS and is busy planning her fall wedding and singing in her blues-rock band, Pale Blue Lights.