When using a low value ceramic input filter capacitor, it should be located as close to the V_CC pin of the IC as possible. This will eliminate as much trace inductance effects as possible and give the internal IC rail a cleaner voltage supply. Some designs require the use of a feed-forward capacitor connected from the output to the feedback pin as well, usually for stability reasons. In this case it should also be positioned as close to the IC as possible. Using surface mount capacitors also reduces lead length and lessens the chance of noise coupling into the effective antenna created by through-hole components.