Latinos and Hispanics in Social Media

nuvoTV partners with Ooyala to deliver English-speaking Latino viewers a premium multi-platform social viewing experience

2012-01-31T17:25:00.000-05:00

LOS ANGELES & MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Jan 30, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- nuvoTV, the only English-language Latino entertainment television network, and Ooyala, the leading provider of digital video technology, services and analytics, have partnered to launch an innovative marketing campaign through which cross-device, social TV experiences increase viewership and drive overall fan engagement for hit shows like Operation: Osmin and others.

Debuting earlier this month, nuvoTV delivered the first-ever multi-platform launch of a season premier both on-air and on Facebook with the first episode of the new season of Operation: Osmin. Using an interactive Facebook app and"Ooyala's personalized viewing experiences optimized for multiple devices and platforms give us a strong marketing platform to drive significant audience growth and engagement," said Rafe Oller, senior vice president of marketing for nuvoTV. "Combined with the deep level of consumer insights we get from Ooyala's analytics, we're now able to deliver the best personal viewing experience anywhere."

"This is a great step forward for social television," said Bismarck Lepe, co-founder and president of Ooyala. "nuvoTV's innovative strategy underscores the tremendous power and potential of multi-platform, cross-device viewing. The convergence of digital video and social this year will enable networks to inspire deeper and more interactive engagement with their content."

"Ooyala technology is enabling us to harness the power of social networks for promoting our content throughout the season and grow leadership in our demographic," Oller added. "Broader, quality exposure to programming is critical, but it is only part of the equation. You need to engage viewers on a personal level and create an emotional connection with your program's brand."

About Ooyala

Ooyala is the leader in online video management, publishing, analytics and monetization. Our integrated suite of technologies and services give content owners the power to expand audiences and the deep insights that drive increased revenue from video. Ooyala serves hundreds of global media companies and consumer brands including Dell, ESPN, Fremantle Media, News International, Sephora, Telegraph Media Group, Vans, Whole Foods and Yahoo! Japan. For more information visit www.ooyala.com or connect on Facebook and LinkedIn, follow @Ooyala on Twitter and read our blog.

About nuvoTV

nuvoTV is the first and only English-language television network created for American Bi-Cultural Latinos 18-49.

Vibrant. Bold. Driven. nuvoTV embodies the spirit and lifestyle of today's Bi-Cultural Latino. From lifestyle and comedy to music and movies, nuvoTV's unique line-up consists of 70% original programming all shot in high-definition.

nuvoTV is available in major markets including Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Chicago and San Francisco/Bay Area, as well as all of the top 15 Hispanic DMAs. Major distribution partners include AT&T U-verse, Comcast, Cox, Dish Network, Time Warner Cable and Verizon FiOS.

SOURCE: Ooyala

Social media use by Hispanic Americans grows 38% in one year

2012-01-30T10:00:00.000-05:00

Jan 26, 2012 | by Marissa McNaughton

A recent report by 360i Digital Connections examines Hispanic digital influence, and how the rapid growth of the US Hispanic population presents an opportunity to reach a “dynamic and engaged audience” with “ever-increasing purchasing power.” The report also looks at the challenge of “understanding the cultural nuances” of a population with unique digital behaviors.

Between 2000 and 2010, the Hispanic population accounted for more than half of the US’s population increase. Their economic influence doubled from $212 billion in 2000 to $978 billion in 2009, and is expected to reach approximately $1.3 trillion in 2014. According to the report, moving into digital media is an “effortless extension” of cultural habits centered around “living extremely social lives filled with family and friends.”

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Can social media reveal your race? US program targets Hispanics

2012-01-26T07:28:00.000-05:00

Jan 25, 2012 | by Tom Foremski

Dana Oshiro, publishing analyst at advertising network NetShelter, poses an interesting question: “How do you determine race and ethnicity online? “

This question arose from her recent attendance at the White House Hispanic Community Action Summit in San Jose, CA where plans were discussed on how to use social media and online marketing to target the Hispanic population. The goal is to offer programs that will raise the number of Hispanic students in colleges by 4.5 million over the next ten years.

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Telemundo takes social TV strategy to next level with new novela 'Relaciones Peligrosas'

2012-01-24T19:07:00.000-05:00

Jan 24, 2012 | by Georg Szalai

NEW YORK - NBCUniversal's Telemundo Media is looking to make 2012 a banner year for its social media strategy with its latest original telenovela, Relaciones Peligrosas, being its biggest effort ever.

The Spanish-language media company's Telemundo broadcast network is integrating Twitter in new ways into the drama, which premieres on Tuesday at 10pm, and also using Facebook and YouTube to engage viewers.

One innovative approach will see 16 “character” Twitter handles, managed by the Telemundo social media team, send nightly tweets live during both the East and West Coast broadcasts of the show. The content of the tweets will relate directly to on-air events as they were prepared by the writing team of the novela.

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Leading Latino social media industry news platform Hispanicize.com relaunches and appoints Editorial Director

2012-01-24T08:49:00.000-05:00

MIAMI, FL, Jan 23, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- Hispanicize.com, the nation's leading news and industry insights platform about Latino social media trends in technology, marketing, entertainment and media, has relaunched its website with expanded coverage and the appointment of Bill Gato as editorial director.

As part of its major redesign, Hispanicize.com, the editorial content division of Hispanicize, LLC, will produce more original news, multimedia stories, interviews with industry leaders, technology features and reviews.

"Beginning with today's relaunch, we will work even harder to chronicle the trends and trendsetters that use social media to influence Latinos and multicultural audiences in media, marketing, entertainment, blogging, technology and social affairs," said Cristy Clavijo-Kish, CEO of Hispanicize, LLC. "This robust platform will strive to be inclusive of the many entrepreneurs, leaders, companies and voices that together comprise the world of Hispanic/multicultural social media."

Coinciding with the web site's overhaul is also the appointment of digital marketing entrepreneur, marketing consultant and award-winning journalist Bill Gato to the post of editorial director. Gato is also the former president and co-founder of Hispanic Digital Network (HDN), the first national network of Hispanic newspapers and magazines online now owned by PR Newswire.

"Bill is an outstanding talent who is well respected in the Hispanic digital media space and has the unique combination of entrepreneur and journalist needed for this post," said Clavijo-Kish, a former business partner of Gato's at HDN and its sister company Hispanic PR Wire.

The new Hispanicize.com will continue to feature stories from longtime contributing blogger/entrepreneur Michele Ruiz and PR professional Natalia Flores while adding more posts from other industry thought leaders.

The new Hispanicize.com also will include:

News: This includes news about new Latino or multicultural Facebook programs, Twitter initiatives, executive job appointments, marketing account wins, technological breakthroughs and more.

Start-Up Latino: Content from this new category is to feature a wide variety of stories of particular interest to Latino entrepreneurs and start ups. This will underscore one of Hispanicize's key educational goals for entrepreneurs.

How To Stories and Videos: A new key content category on Hispanicize.com is the "How To" content. This category will focus on social media stories that are step-by-step and intended to support the growing Hispanicize blogger network. Case studies will be highlighted as part of the series.

Research: The Hispanicize team will devote more focus to developing credible research that illustrates the impact and growth of Latino social media programs, issues, and more across many disciplines.

Tutorials/Webinars: Hispanicize.com will continue with its tradition of creating industry-leading webinars and tutorials that demystify how to conduct social media programs.

Latino Blogger News: These blogger news roundups will spotlight the projects, campaigns and initiatives involving Latino and multicultural bloggers.

About Hispanicize, LLC

Co-headquartered in Miami and New York, Hispanicize (#Hispz) is one of the leading Latino social media platforms in the United States. The Hispanicize brand consists of: 1. social media editorial content (Hispanicize.com), 2. digital communications services and 3. the annual Hispanicize Latino trends event.

Hispanicize.com, the editorial division of the company, is the nation's leading news and industry insights platform about Latino social media trends in technology, marketing, entertainment and media.

Through its Hispanicize digital services division and ownership stake in Being Latino (#BeLatino) and Latina Mom Bloggers (#LatinaMoms), Hispanicize offers marketers a 360-degree digital solution for their Latino social media initiatives. Hispanicize services include Latino social media influencer programs, branded Twitter parties, Facebook community initiatives, Facebook advertising, blog ambassadorships, research, blog product reviews, conferences and much more.

The annual Hispanicize event, held every April in Miami, is nationally recognized as the annual event for Latino trends and newsmakers in social media, marketing, entertainment and innovation. Hispanicize 2012 brings brands, media, marketers, celebrities, filmmakers, innovators and bloggers together in a unique creative environment focused on ideas and best practices.

To connect with the latest Hispanicize updates visit Hispanicize.com, the Facebook fan page via http://www.facebook.com/hispanicize , the Twitter handle @Hispanicize or the hashtag #hispz.

SOURCE: Hispanicize, LLC

Nissan social media growth & engagement outpaces industry competition

2012-01-19T06:50:00.000-05:00

FRANKLIN, Tenn., Jan. 18, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Celebrating success on the brand's social media channels, Nissan North America recognized how important tools like Twitter, Facebook and YouTube have become to build brand loyalty, engage directly with consumers and generate website click-throughs. Nissan credits the recent achievements for being responsive to the communities and offering what they've wanted: car enthusiasm and exclusive access inside the brand.

Top Brand on Twitter

As reported in Mashable(1) last week, Nissan ranked #8 on list of Top 15 Brands on Twitter for 2011 as indexed by HootSuite(2). The recognition aligns the company, the only in the automotive industry on the list, with top social media players including Twitter itself, Apple and Nike. Nissan currently converses with more than 75,000 Twitter followers combined, across accounts for the brand @NissanNews and vehicle models @NissanVersa, @NissanJuke, @NissanQuest and @NissanLEAF.

"Nissan is proud to be earning recognition among such recognized leaders in the space," said Jon Brancheau, vice president, Marketing, Nissan North America, Inc. "We look forward to using this momentum to lead our new product launch efforts in the months to come."

Facebook Community Exceeds 500,000

Nissan proudly crossed the threshold into a half million likes on the brand's Facebook page at Facebook.com/Nissan. The growth, predominantly organic, took a jump with the all-new Pathfinder Concept revealed on the Facebook page in series of videos during the North American International Auto Show.

Among closest industry competitors, Nissan leads in Facebook page growth over past three months by more than 10 percent(3). More importantly for the brand, Nissan also leads in the interactions per fan, clearly fostering an engaged community.

"It is not just about the most number of fans for us," said Erich Marx, Director of Social Media and Interactive Media. "While we hope to continue our growth, we are more interested in the engagement; the interactions the fans have with the content we share. We want to use social media in one of the best ways possible: a two-way communication with potential and current customers."

Among those customers, Nissan recognized the importance of this social media channel within the Hispanic community and launched a Spanish-language Facebook page to connect with the Latino community at Facebook.com/NissanEspanol. Nissan also manages active Facebook communities for individual models including: LEAF, Altima, cube, JUKE, Quest, Versa and Nissan Performance (including Z and GT-R).

YouTube Surpasses 10 Million Views

The YouTube.com/NissanUSA channel also celebrated a numeric milestone with ten million views. Although newer on the channel compared to competitors, Nissan has earned more views in a shorter amount of time which the brand attributes to the content, media focus, search strategy and strategy of integrating the same video content on NissanUSA.com website and Facebook pages.

Launched Google+ Presence

While Facebook, Twitter and YouTube continue to drive most-active users in the social sphere, Nissan also launched a Google+ channel to participate on the new channel. Nissan is testing what different types of content the audience wants and expects on Google+, such as introducing a moving GIF image with the iconic GT-R.

Nissan North America founded a dedicated social media presence in fall 2009, enjoying solid growth by mainly organic means due to devoted fans. Nissan North America is supported by Omnicom Agencies Zocalo Group, TBWA/Chiat Day and Team Ignition for social media support.

About Nissan North America

In North America, Nissan's operations include automotive styling, design, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program 2010 and has been recognized as a 2010 and 2011 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency. More information about Nissan in North America and the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles can be found online at www.NissanUSA.com and www.Infiniti.com .

About Nissan

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Japan's second largest Japanese automotive company by volume, is headquartered in Yokohama, Japan and is an integral pillar of the Renault-Nissan Alliance. Operating with more than 150,000 employees globally, Nissan provided customers with more than 4 million vehicles in 2010.

With a strong commitment to developing exciting and innovative products for all, Nissan delivers a comprehensive range of fuel-efficient and low-emissions vehicles under the Nissan and Infiniti brands.

A pioneer in zero emission mobility, Nissan made history with the introduction of the Nissan LEAF, the first affordable, mass-market, pure-electric vehicle and winner of numerous international accolades including the prestigious 2011 European Car of the Year award.

For more information on our products, services and commitment to Sustainable Mobility, visit our website at http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/ .

(1) Mashable, The Top Brands on Twitter in 2011 [Infographic]. January 10, 2012 from http://mashable.com/2012/01/10/top-brands-twitter/

(2) HootSuite. Twitter 2011 Trends from What the Trend: Part 2 featuring Brands and Hashtags. January 10, 2012 from http://blog.hootsuite.com/twitter-2011/

(3) According to Conversocial Facebook Page Profiler Interactions per thousand fans (IPM) metric

SOURCE: Nissan North America

LosTweens.com launches to help raise kids in a 'diverse World'

2012-01-18T13:33:00.000-05:00

Jan 17, 2012

A new interactive website--LosTweens.com--launched recently to help parents of diverse backgrounds raise multicultural children ages 7 to 12.

"As a Latina mom I realize that this is the age where any cultural links I attempt to establish outside the 'norm' will be most challenged," writes co-founder Cristy Clavijo-Kish. "If you don't focus on schoolwork, friends, coolness, discipline, spirituality (the list goes on) AND culture- the teen years certainly will not be the place to start emphasizing its importance ... I can support my child's learning to have an open mind if I anchor my efforts through presenting cultural understanding- starting with my own."

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impreMedia introduces a multimedia redesign of all of its websites

2012-01-17T07:32:00.000-05:00

LOS ANGELES, Jan 12, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- impreMedia, the leading Hispanic news and information company, announced today the relaunch of its websites with improved content, navigation and multimedia features.

Among the improvements consumers will find more content updated every four minutes, enhanced video offerings, deep content channels based on user interests, more social engagement tools, photo galleries, local guides, coupons and advertising offers, weather and traffic information, as well as enhanced capabilities for mobile users.

The redesign comes after a year of tremendous growth in audience and engagement across all impreMedia properties. The full network of sites showed a 191% increase in unique visitors over the past year.

"We have made substantial progress over the past year, and this relaunch should result in increased traffic, time on site and user engagement," stated Monica Lozano, CEO of impreMedia. "It will also provide advertisers with the opportunity to better reach our target Hispanic audiences."

Advertisers will have increased opportunity to reach customers based on their desired profiles through behavioral targeting tools and social media.

As part of the relaunch, impreMedia will introduce their election site "Voto 2012" which includes candidate profiles, special features, breaking news, statistics, opinion and commentary, blogs, and daily polling. In addition, impreMedia is collaborating with Latino Decisions on national voter surveys throughout the year and is organizing town halls in key swing states in partnership with NALEO.

impreMedia is heavily promoting the new websites through billboards, bus sides, radio, social media, web campaign, and its own print and online properties.

impreMedia.com will serve as the national gateway to its local brands that include: www.laopinion.com , www.eldiariony.com , www.laraza.com , www.laprensafl.com , www.elmensajero.com , www.rumbotx.com , and www.vistamagazine.com .

About impreMedia

impreMedia is the leading Hispanic news and information company in the U.S. in online and print. impreMedia's multi-platform offerings range from online to video, social media, mobile, audio, newspapers and magazines. Twenty-five percent of U.S. Hispanic adults use an impreMedia network product. The network is also the nation's largest Hispanic newspaper publisher with newspapers in top U.S. Hispanic markets, reaching 15 markets total that represent 59% of the U.S. Hispanic population. Its leading publications include La Opinion in Los Angeles and El Diario La Prensa in New York. For more information, visit: http://www.impremedia.net .

impreMedia's websites include: www.impremedia.com , www.laopinion.com , www.eldiariony.com , www.hoynyc.com , www.laraza.com , www.laprensafl.com , www.elmensajero.com , www.rumbotx.com , www.vistamagazine.com , and www.contigola.com and www.lavibra.com .

SOURCE: impreMedia

Social media winners and losers 2011

2012-01-10T22:31:00.000-05:00

By: Silvina Moschini, CEO & Founder Intuic | The Social Media Agency

There are hundreds of online networks. Many of them are niche networks, others are massive; some are exclusive, others are open to any user. Day by day, new platforms appear, each with an original proposal promising to revolutionize the online social world. A few succeed; most of them fail before they even begin. Here is a brief review of the Internet’s winners and losers during 2011.

The big winner: Twitter

The crown this year goes to Twitter, the microblogging social network that, according to comScore, has doubled its users since 2010. Part of this surge was due to online interest in following natural, political, and social dramas such as the tragedy in Japan, the Middle Eastern uprisings and European protests, and the British royal wedding. Twitter proved itself ideal for getting dynamic, first-hand information in real time. Despite its noteworthy growth and popularity, however, the platform keeps evolving: last month it launched a new design that promises to be simpler, encouraging those who are not using Twitter to join the experience.

The big question: Facebook

Yes, with 800 million users, Facebook is the dominant social network. The platform created by Mark Zuckerberg continues its amazing growth in markets such as Latin America. In fact, according to comScore, this is the region of Facebook’s strongest development. But in other markets, such as the United States, Facebook is beginning to stagnate. The numbers provided by Inside Facebook are clear: the company went from 155.2 million users in the US at the beginning of May to 149.4 at the end of that month, a 5.82% drop. A certain degree of maturity and user anxiety about information security are threats that the current social media queen will have to answer in the near future.

During 2011, Facebook offered some innovation in its look and the way it presented updates, but it did not make any changes that qualified as “revolutionary.” Going into 2012, the company is counting on a new wall that will radically change the current look of the platform, giving more importance to videos and pictures. The million-dollar question is this: Can Facebook continue to grow and attract users, or it will begin to lose ground to its competitors?

The promise: Google+

The most promising tool is Google+, launched at mid-year. Google’s social network, it has already achieved almost 44 million users in just a few months. With this platform, the company expects to generate a new kind of social search, where Internet users’ interactions on the network will influence directly the results delivered by the browser. But to be effective, Google+ must reach a users’ base of critical size. Its growth to date is important, but it still isn’t a threat for giants like Facebook. There is no doubt that 2012 will be a vital year for determining whether Google’s application can become a reality or whether it will remain a promise.

Fallen soldiers

In the online universe, there are more failures than successes. Nobody seems to remember the first kind of effort, except in cases where great expectations were generated but not realized. A prime example of a promise that did not grow enough is Quora. The questions and answers social network was born at the end of 2009, with a functioning structure that allowed membership by invitation only. This promised to turn it into a very effective tool for finding users with specific and specialized knowledge, adding value in comparison with other platforms such as Yahoo Answers. At the beginning of 2011, many of us wondered if Quora was going to be the next big startup, but halfway there, the network seemed to lose strength.

Another platform that has not fulfilled expectations for 2011 is Diaspora. The open source social network project, with strict security and privacy rules, was to put its code at the community’s disposal with the objective of optimizing and improving it. The platform seems not to have launched, though, and its destiny is unknown.

Innovation, simplicity, and impact are some of the characteristics a social network needs if it is to stand out from the crowd and occupy a prominent place online. The capacity to change, adapt, and improve continuously is another element of success in the world of social media. This year ends with winners and losers and promises. In 2012, the web will show us new projects that will change the way we relate, communicate, and spend online.

About Intuic

INTUIC | The Social Media Agency is a multinational interactive marketing agency specializing in online visibility and social media. It was founded in 2003 by Silvina Moschini as part of KMGi, the award-winning online visibility corporate group that includes KMGi Studios, Wikiexperts.us, Publicity Guaranteed, The Syndicated News, and All Online Advertisers.

INTUIC is positioned in the market as an innovative and cutting-edge agency, with the knowledge and experience needed to develop holistic and interactive marketing and communication campaigns. It has offices in Mexico, Argentina, USA, Italy, Spain, and England, with significant support in five additional locations.

e.lifeMonitor launches in US as the first free iPad app monitoring brand presence

2012-01-03T02:59:00.000-05:00

Boston, MA, December 30, 2011 --(PR.com)-- Social Media Monitoring Beyond Automation: The Value is in the Human Analysis

Real, human analysis is needed beyond automated software and tools and e.lifeMonitor is the first free iPad app monitoring brand presence E.life, the leading company in South America, Spain and Portugal in the field of market intelligence, monitoring and analysis of social media for brands, products and services – has launched e.lifeMonitor in the U.S., a free iPad app that monitors the presence of brands on Twitter. The app is already available for the iPad, and will soon be ready for tablets using other operating systems. The app will also shortly be extended to monitor brand presence on Facebook and other social networks.

Jairson Vitorino, Chief Technical Officer at E.life said: “The decision to choose Apple’s tablet as our application’s launch platform wasn’t simply by chance. Until now, there has been no similar app for sale in the iPad app store.”

In addition, E.lifeMonitor offers brands access to a group of trained analysts who are social media specialists. These analysts provide market intelligence reports based on a proven method, E.life’s own customized tools, and their own experience and knowledge. Each report is unique and is offered as an added-value service for an additional monthly fee.

e.lifeMonitor includes six types of reports: top users ranked by followers, locations, top retweets, top terms and daily volume charting. Users can register up to three brands and compare their tweet presence. As an option, "negative" or "positive" terms can be used to track sentiment. For corporate users of e.lifeMonitor app, E.life is giving away 500 free trials of their Tweetmeter web-based system.

Brands and social media: The importance of analysis

Software is an essential ally in monitoring social networks. These tools include quality graphics, real-time reporting and even automated analysis of users’ opinions about brands, but social media managers can feel overwhelmed by the amount of data they receive.

“The benefits of automatic software solutions have been exaggerated. It takes an enormous amount of time to debug the data, correctly analyze and interpret the data, and create valuable summary reports for marketing directors and brand managers who want to decide their future social media strategy,” points out Vitorino. “Our competitors are wholly-focused on the tools. Without a human behind them, tools do not offer true market intelligence. We offer e.lifeMonitor for free for iPad because what really matters is the service. Software and data without intelligent analysis have no positive effect on a company’s social media strategy, and might even end up taking them in the wrong direction,” added Jairson Vitorino.

To download the e.lifeMonitor app for free, visit iTunes and search for e.lifemonitor under the "social networking" category.

SOURCE e.lifemonitor

Report confirms social media explosion in Latin America

2011-12-23T19:59:00.000-05:00

Dec 22, 2011 | by Adam Daley

comScore, Inc. released a report Thursday analyzing the current state of social networking activity around the globe, and found that Latin American countries dominate the top 10 global markets when ranked by average social networking hours per visitor in October 2011.

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Companies worldwide plan to increase social media marketing

2011-12-14T21:01:00.000-05:00

Dec 13, 2011

Social media is becoming an important part of business around the world, and companies in many regions are planning to increase their use of it in the coming months.

For its “International Business Report,” Grant Thornton LLP spoke to senior executives from across the globe in August and September 2011 to determine how their companies used social media.

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Ticket to growth: social media optimal for small businesses

2011-12-13T17:19:00.000-05:00

Dec 13, 2011 | by Rebecca Villaneda

Facebook pages and Twitter accounts are no longer optional. Actions such as "like," "hashtag," "follow" and "check-in" are golden tickets to a business owner.

They are part of the growing lingo of social media, which has become an essential marketing tool in growing a business.

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Latinos love social media and we're good at it!

2011-12-04T21:14:00.000-05:00

Dec 02, 2011 | by Monique Frausto

With cell phone cameras recording and photos being taken of the Los Angeles Police Department's every move, hundreds were evicted from City Hall. All while Occupy L.A. protesters chanted "The whole world is watching! The whole world is watching!" I've never heard such truer words.

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Walmart unleashes Shopycat holiday gift finder

2011-12-04T21:04:00.000-05:00

SAN BRUNO, Calif., Dec. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ -- Walmart today announced the launch of Shopycat, the first social shopping app from its recently-formed @WalmartLabs unit. Shopycat gives Facebook's 800 million users the ability to quickly find gifts for friends and family based on their tastes and interests as they rush to finish their holiday shopping. The app uses social data to recommend items from Walmart.com, Walmart stores and other sites including RedEnvelope, Barnes & Noble and ThinkGeek.

Shopycat is designed to trigger gift ideas for friends ranging from music, books and movies to games and electronics, making gifting more fun and saving on time and the pressures of discovering the perfect gift. A friend who might have shared interests in the movie "Super 8," yoga and parenting, will have Shopycat recommend an exclusive edition of the movie, a fashionable yoga mat tote bag and a book on scream-free parenting. For people who are not active on Facebook with their likes and interests, Shopycat will recommend gift cards from Walmart.com as well as iTunes, Starbucks and Zynga.

"As human beings, we are inherently social and shopping is one of the most social activities we engage in. Our vision is to delight consumers and Shopycat is a first step in that direction with social and shopping coming together on the scale of Walmart," said Venky Harinarayan, senior vice president of Walmart Global eCommerce and co-founder of @WalmartLabs. "At Walmart, we see social commerce fueling the next generation of e-commerce where online and retail stores bring a continuous shopping experience to millions of users. We plan to continue experimenting with products as we build new social apps over the coming year."

Shopycat Features

Shopycat is based on @WalmartLabs' Social Genome platform that captures the connections between people, places, topics, products and events as expressed through social media be it a post, like or profile update. It is designed to help people find at least one gift for their friends, making gifting hassle-free and more enjoyable.

With Shopycat, users can:

• Find and buy gifts for friends: See customized gift recommendations for any friend on Facebook, quickly get product information and purchase items from Walmart.com for home delivery or see availability at your local Walmart store and drive over to purchase the item.

• Get the gifts you really want: Under the "My Info" tab, you see what Shopycat is recommending to your friends as gifts to get for you. Update your profile and interests to receive the gifts you want.

• Shop for gifts based on general interests: For friends who have general interests such as "golf," get recommendations and purchase items that any golf enthusiast might like such as a book on "501 Answers to Golf's Most Intriguing Questions" or the "Golf Liar's Dice" game for post-golf relaxation.

• Invite friends: Invite your friends into Shopycat to share interests and get gift recommendations.

Shopycat is available immediately at www.facebook.com/shopycat. For images and video, visit http://www.walmartlabs.com/for-the-press/.

Since its founding in May of this year, @WalmartLabs has been building market momentum through new products, acquisitions and expansion. In November, Walmart announced a new mobile app for the iPad and updates to its iPhone app to make shopping online and in stores easier. Walmart recently acquired Grabble and OneRiot, to add to the team's social and mobile efforts. A few weeks ago, @WalmartLabs India opened a technology center in Bangalore to hire approximately 100 technologists.

About @WalmartLabs

@WalmartLabs is based in the heart of Silicon Valley. The business unit creates platforms, products and businesses around social and mobile commerce to support Walmart's global strategy of seamlessly integrating the shopping experience between brick-and-mortar stores and e-commerce. For more information, visit www.walmartlabs.com.

About Walmart

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. serves customers and members more than 200 million times per week at over 9,700 retail units under 69 different banners in 28 countries. With fiscal year 2011 sales of $419 billion, Walmart employs 2.1 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting http://walmartstores.com and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/walmart. Online merchandise sales are available at http://www.walmart.com and http://www.samsclub.com.

SOURCE Walmart

Spanish Insurance, LLC launches EspanolSeguros.com

2011-11-28T10:53:00.000-05:00

Boston, MA — November 28, 2011 — Today, Spanish Insurance, LLC announced the launch of their headline website, http://EspanolSeguros.com to serve as a platform for United States based Hispanic consumers searching for information on auto insurance by connecting with bi-lingual insurance professionals. Founder, Andrew Laine says, “We are excited that there is now a platform where Spanish speaking consumers can connect with bi-lingual insurance professionals. Our platform not only serves as an informational resource, but connects these consumers instantly with multiple local professionals.” Through a national network of bi lingual insurance agents, EspanolSeguros.com will provide consumers with multiple local insurance agents who have can walk them through the often times complicated insurance process.

About Spanish Insurance, LLC

Spanish Insurance, LLC was founded in 2011 with the goal to connect the Hispanic population with bi-lingual insurance professionals. We provide consumers with an educational platform with both Spanish and English content and a national network of insurance agents to walk them through the insurance process.

SOURCE Spanish Insurance, LLC

How mainstream Media Outlets use Twitter

2011-11-16T16:47:00.000-05:00

Nov 16, 2011

Mainstream news organizations have made the social media tool Twitter a daily part of how they communicate with audiences. But how do those organizations actually use the technology: How often do they tweet? What kind of news do they distribute? To what extent is Twitter used as a new reporting tool or as a mechanism for gathering insights from followers?

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Minorities more active on mobile web

2011-11-16T16:33:00.000-05:00

Nov 16, 2011

While whites make up the lion’s share of US mobile phone and mobile internet users, a new eMarketer forecast estimates Hispanic, Asian and black mobile users in the US access the mobile internet more often than their white counterparts, and that they will continue to outpace whites in mobile internet adoption through 2015.

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Lopez Negrete Communications named Best Hispanic Agency using Social Media to reach Latinos

2011-11-16T05:46:00.000-05:00

HOUSTON, Nov. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Lopez Negrete Communications has been named Best Hispanic Agency Using Social Media to Reach Latinos by LATISM, the largest organization for Latinos and Latinas engaged in social media. The prestigious award presented on behalf of leading Latino social media influencers was announced at Chicago's Navy Pier November 10 at LATISM's 3rd annual awards gala conference.

"The digital emergence of 13.5 million Latinos on Facebook* and 8.1 million on Twitter,** along with the emergence of an enormous community of Latino bloggers has revolutionized the marketing landscape forever. Our clients' brands are competing for the moment and competing for relevance in a time when attention is a precious commodity. Hence, we have made it a strategic imperative to be an innovator in this space and to have the best people in the industry, setting models and standards in the use of social media targeting Latinos," stated President, CEO and Chief Creative Officer Alex Lopez Negrete.

Lopez Negrete's award-winning, full-service digital unit leads the strategic and operational social media efforts for diverse major clients. The agency's most recent accomplishments include social media platforms for Verizon (Somos Verizon FiOS on Facebook and @SomosFiOS on Twitter), in addition to interactive websites for Verizon (www.EnciendeteFiOS.com), Sonic Drive-Ins (http://espanol.sonicdrivein.com), and Pernod Ricard's Chivas Regal (www.nochesdebrotherhood.com). Lopez Negrete also maintains a robust and interactive online agency presence with friends and fans on Facebook (Lopez Negrete) and Twitter (@Lopeznegrete).

"We are honored and humbled to receive this award. This recognition is a timely distinction for our firm, and it is yet another testament of Lopez Negrete's swift and bold evolution into a 'connected agency,'" says Leonardo Basterra, executive director of Digital at Lopez Negrete. He added: "This award is unique because it comes from the community of Hispanic content creators and curators - bloggeros, twitteros and facebookeros - who follow our work and who bring to life the social media space for Latinos."

The LATISM 3rd annual conference brought together hundreds of Latino bloggers, influencers and social media thought leaders in a national forum designed to explore the latest trends in the social media arena. The LATISM awards recognized blogging, outreach, marketing, mobile and new media, with award nominees selected by voting LATISM members. Top honors, including the award bestowed upon Lopez Negrete Communications reflected the popular votes of thousands of Latinos throughout the United States and Latin America cast this past month.

About LATISM

A pioneering social media organization, Latinos in Social Media (LATISM) has been hailed as the most influential online movement in the new multicultural Web. LATISM, the largest organization for Latinos and Latinas engaged in social media, is a 501(c) 4 nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to advancing the social, civic and economic status of the Latino community. LATISM also serves corporate brands, NGOs and government entities, with a broad range of services including research, event sponsorships, and leadership training. One of the most popular hashtags on Twitter, the #LATISM hashtag captures over 10 million impressions on a daily basis and enjoys the largest Latino network on Facebook.

About Lopez Negrete Communications, Inc.

Lopez Negrete Communications, Inc. is an independent, Hispanic owned and operated, full-service agency specializing in Hispanic marketing. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, with a second office in Los Angeles, California, the company's billings are $160 million. Since 1985, Lopez Negrete has offered a full range of advertising, marketing and public relations services to industry leaders, including Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., Bank of America, Verizon Communications Inc., Georgia-Pacific (Quilted Northern), Kraft Foods (Kraft Singles, Maxwell House), MillerCoors (Miller Lite), NBC Universal Motion Pictures Group, Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Tyson Foods, Sonic Drive-Ins, and others. With over 200 employees, Lopez Negrete Communications, Inc. is a proven leader in providing fully integrated national Hispanic marketing and communications services. For more information, go to www.lopeznegrete.com .

* http://socialmediaspanish.com/blog/how-many-hispanics-on-facebook-latinos-on-facebook-page/

** http://socialmediaspanish.com/blog/how-many-us-hispanics-on-twitter/

SOURCE Lopez Negrete Communications

Neighborhood activist reaches out to Latino teens via YouTube

2011-11-11T11:42:00.000-05:00

Nov 08, 2011 | by Kevin Milliken

Ramón Pérez is used to reaching out to Latinos and others as a neighborhood organizer for United North. But Pérez, 55, is now targeting teens through technology—with a series of YouTube videos they can see on their computers.

The first video involves encouraging young people to register to vote. Pérez even draws some high school students into the presentation, which can best be described as informal and on their level. Pérez even colors his presentation with a little slang and Spanglish to remain relevant.

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CNN en Español connects with audiences through CNNEspanol.com

2011-11-03T15:28:00.000-04:00

Starting today, CNN en Español reinforces its multi-platform content strategy with the launch of CNNEspanol.com, where users can find the latest breaking news, the network’s best videos, exclusive interviews and news stories from around the globe, all with the high standards that CNN and its team of journalists deliver. CNNEspanol.com is the latest addition to the CNN Digital Network online.

Cynthia Hudson, Senior Vice President and General Manager for CNN en Español and Hispanic Strategy for CNN/U.S. said: “This is a new platform available to our audience to get all the breaking news they have come to expect from us and at the same time an invitation to establish an enhanced level of engagement with CNN en Español. Now our massive social media following has a space to interact directly with our network and gain privileged access to our content.”

CNN en Español (@CNNEE) has the number one Spanish-language news account in Twitter with nearly 1,5 millions of followers, and almost 850.000 fans on Facebook.

CNNEspanol.com offers the most relevant news headlines and multimedia content specifically curated for its users. In addition to news, photo galleries, videos, and polls, the site provides exclusive content from each show and interviews beyond what is broadcast on CNN en Español, as well as opinion articles written by the network’s contributors.

Through CNNEspanol.com, users will also be able to watch the behind the scenes, news and events from the perspective of CNN en Español’s anchors and reporters, in order to connect more closely with the network. Moreover, CNNEspanol.com will provide users with a platform to interact with news anchors and reporters through social media and to become CNN reporters through iReport by sending their videos, photos and stories from wherever they may be.

Visit http://www.cnnespanol.com.

About CNN en Español

CNN en Español, CNN’s independently produced 24-hour network in Spanish, provides continuous news coverage of major world events, live breaking coverage supported by context and in-depth analysis, worldwide business and financial news, global weather updates, sports and feature programming on such topics as health, technology and entertainment. It is currently available in 27 million cable and DTH households throughout Latin America, and 7 million households across the United States. In its 14 years, the network has set the standard for credible, timely and relevant news coverage that offers viewers a unique way to engage with their world, providing them with all the news, information and actuality they need to stay informed and make smart decisions to secure their futures.

CNN Digital is the top destination for online and wireless news, drawing from the resources of CNN Worldwide and its many partners to provide consumers with the most enriching, immediate interaction with news anywhere. Whether online at CNN.com, on mobile through CNN Mobile’s website and apps or through CNN iReport, the network’s user-generated news community, CNN Digital seamlessly combines articles, live and on-demand videos, images, interactive features and user-generated content across its platforms. CNN Digital has been widely recognized with recent awards including a Peabody Award, two EPpy awards, four CableFAX Best of the Web awards, a National Headliner award, and Edward R. Murrow awards for CNN.com.

SOURCE CNN en Español

CredAbility announces National Hispanic outreach initiative for 2012

2011-11-01T17:58:00.000-04:00

ATLANTA, Nov. 1, 2011 -- /PRNewswire/ -- CredAbility announced today the launch of its 2012 "Reconstruye tu Futuro" campaign, guided by their mission and commitment to serve Hispanics nationwide. The campaign will leverage grassroots efforts, social media networks as well as traditional media communication to reach the Hispanic community.

With more than 50 million Hispanics in the United States and a downturn economy, Latino individuals and families have been more deeply impacted than other minority populations. Despite the current financial climate, there is still hope. By leveraging key financial tools from CredAbility, a national non-profit, Latino individuals and families and communities can begin to lay a solid foundation and recapture their American dream.

"When reports show that 1 million Latinos have already lost their homes or are in danger of losing their homes, it is our responsibility to ensure that we reach this community in need," said CredAbility President and Chief Executive Office, Phil Baldwin, whose agency counseled nearly 73,000 Hispanics in 2010 alone. "Because we offer a bilingual website and bilingual counselors available 24/7, we can serve those looking for financial experts who can speak the same language and can empathize with their experiences."

CredAbility's national initiative aims to build bridges to create connections utilizing such vehicles as a new Spanish-language CredAbility Facebook Page to foster dialogue, implementation of culturally relevant educational events, and the development of online education courses, live chats and podcasts in Spanish.

Marisa Salcines, CredAbility Director of Hispanic External Affairs, added, "Our 2012 focus will be to assist those in financial crisis help renew and rebuild their financial dreams, cultivate savvy Hispanic consumers, and educate today's youth who will be instrumental in the stability of this country's future."

CredAbility offers free individualized advice and financial education to consumers; helping consumers to develop and balance budgets, manage money, use credit wisely, handle debt and build savings plans. In the last four years alone, the agency has helped over 1.4 million individuals facing such financial crises as bankruptcy, foreclosure and mounting credit card debt. Of these, more than 250,000 were Hispanics located all over the country.

Atlanta-based Hispanic marketing, PR and events firm Lanza Group, LLC will be handling the campaign.

About CredAbility

CredAbility is one of the leading nonprofit credit counseling and education agencies in the United States, serving clients in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, in both English and Spanish. In addition, we provide in-person counseling through our branch network of more than 25 offices located across the southeast. Founded in 1964, CredAbility is a family of Consumer Credit Counseling Service agencies that includes CCCS of Greater Atlanta, CCCS of Central Florida and the Florida Gulf Coast, CCCS of Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast, CCCS of East Tennessee, CCCS of Jackson (Mississippi) and CCCS of Upstate South Carolina.

The nonprofit agency is accredited by the Council on Accreditation and is a member of the Better Business Bureau and the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC). Governed by a community-based board of directors, CredAbility is funded by creditors, clients, individual donors and grants from foundations, businesses and government agencies. Service is provided 24/7 by phone at 866.616.3717 and online at www.CredAbility.org.

SOURCE Lanza Group, LLC

The other side of social

2011-11-01T14:46:00.000-04:00

Nov 01, 2011 | by Giovanni Rodriguez

This past weekend, in Santa Maria - a small city with an interesting story on the central coast of California - I was reminded of the big opportunity that most marketers are missing, and what Latinos can do to educate them.

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Latin America to reach 116.8 million mobile social network users by 2015, Pyramid finds

2011-10-28T10:43:00.000-04:00

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Oct. 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Mobile devices will become the platform of choice for accessing social networking sites in Latin America. In fact, if the mobile social network market continues to develop as it currently, the region can achieve 116.8 million mobile social network users by 2015, according to a new report from Pyramid Research.

Mobile Social Networks Set to Experience Rapid Growth as Mobile Penetration Rates Rise outlines the current state of mobile social networks in Latin America and the changes that Latin American operators and device manufacturer need to make to catch up with the developed world, where mobile social networking is increasing business opportunities. This report discusses those changes and how much progress LA operators have made thus far.

Latin America has an extremely high penetration of social network users: 96 percent of the online population accesses some social network in the region and that number is expected to grow to about 98 percent, or 229.1 million users in 2015. "With strong adoption of social networks and a culture that highly values the ability to be connected to others, Latin America provides fertile ground for opportunities and growth in mobile social networking," indicates Vinicius Caetano, Senior Analyst at Pyramid Research. In fact, many of the conditions that are key to mobile users getting the best use of their social network applications are already being met by operators. The recent deployment of 3G, new data plans offered by operators and the increasing popularity of smartphones are some important examples. "The right evolution on these fronts will soon place Latin America among the largest markets for mobile usage of social networks," says Caetano.

Mobile Social Networks Set to Experience Rapid Growth as Mobile Penetration Rates Rise is part of Pyramid Research's Telecom Insider Report Series and is priced at $595. Download an excerpt or purchase the report here. For more information, contact Jarka Justova or Lorena Marani (for those in Latin America).

About Pyramid Research

Pyramid Research offers practical solutions to the complex demands our clients face in the global communications industry. Our analysis is uniquely positioned at the intersection of emerging markets, emerging technologies and emerging business models, powered by the bottom-up methodology of our market forecasts for more than 100 countries – a distinction that has remained unmatched for more than 25 years. As a telecom research arm of the Light Reading Communications Network, Pyramid Research contributes to the only integrated business information platform serving the $4 trillion global communications industry.

About Light Reading communications Network

Light Reading Communications Network combines the most trusted telecom research brands with award-winning online communities and a rich events portfolio to deliver the only integrated business information platform serving the global communications industry. With the power of this platform, leaders who build, deploy, finance and regulate next-generation telecom networks are able to make more informed decisions on emerging market and service opportunities. The Light Reading Communications Network is a division of UBM TechWeb, the global leader in technology media and business information.

SOURCE Light Reading Communications Network

LULAC initiative will help the Latino community get healthy

2011-10-24T09:50:00.000-04:00

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With the goal of reversing the rate at which Latinos are becoming obese or overweight, LULAC today announced a community health education initiative focused on healthy food options, the importance of physical activity and raising the awareness of the health disparities faced by Latinos. The initiative Latinos Living Healthy: Salud Es Vida is a series of workshops, health fairs and a public education component that will take place over the next year. The program is being launched with the support of a $500,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation.

"Our communities increasingly suffer from obesity-related chronic diseases. The real option of making healthy choices should not be afforded only to the affluent sectors of our society but to all families regardless of socioeconomic background," said Brent Wilkes, LULAC national executive director. "The obesity epidemic in this country is predominately among the underserved and minority communities. This is no random act – an alarming amount of people in low income communities cannot afford healthier food options, lack knowledge about nutritious foods, and often live in rural areas that don't have access to fresh fruits and vegetables."

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Hispanics are 16% (50.5 million people) of the total U.S. population, the fastest growing and largest minority group with the highest number of children under the age of 18 years. Per the Office of Minority Health, one of the most pressing issues affecting this growing segment of the population is health; disparities in access, quality of service, and burden of chronic and infectious diseases. The epidemic isn't only focused on adults. Among Latinos, the impact of the epidemic is disproportionate as almost 43 percent of Mexican-American children are obese or overweight, compared with 37 percent of white children. Research from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation indicates that 1 in 3 children in the U.S. are obese or overweight.

The LULAC Initiative, Latinos Living Healthy: Salud Es Vida, is designed to reach Latinos across the United States and Puerto Rico. Through this initiative and the partnership with the Walmart Foundation, LULAC will implement a comprehensive approach that will educate the Latino community and expand on its community health education component to raise awareness around today's healthy food options.

Health Festivals: LULAC will host two health fairs over the next year to educate the community on healthy living. The first will be in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Oct. 22nd, 2011, with another health festival early next year.

Workshops: LULAC will conduct three health education workshops in New York City, Los Angeles and San Antonio and one workshop at the 2012 LULAC National Convention in Orlando.

Public Education: through webinars, LULAC News, social media, LULAC e-members and LULAC's 900 councils and 55 community tech center outreach, LULAC will bring the workshop and health fairs to audiences across the nation.

"We're committed to providing our customers with healthier and more affordable food options because no family should have to choose between food that is healthier for them and food they can afford," said Andrea Thomas, senior vice president of sustainability at Walmart. "Walmart believes that giving customers healthier food options and supporting programs that give people the skills and knowledge to make healthier food choices is critical to healthy eating in America and the Hispanic community."

About LULAC

The League of United Latin American Citizens, the oldest and largest Hispanic membership organization in the country, advances the economic conditions, educational attainment, political influence, health, housing and civil rights of Hispanic Americans through community-based programs

About Walmart

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) serves customers and members more than 200 million times per week at over 9,700 retail units under 69 different banners in 28 countries. With fiscal year 2011 sales of $419 billion, Walmart employs 2.1 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting http://walmartstores.com and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/walmart. Online merchandise sales are available at http://www.walmart.com and http://www.samsclub.com.

SOURCE League of United Latin American Citizens

Latinos in Social Media (LATISM) Awards finalists unveiled

2011-10-19T18:49:00.000-04:00

WASHINGTON, DC (OCTOBER 12, 2011) – The year’s most influential Latinos, brands and community leaders in the social media arena – from parenting, lifestyle and political bloggers to Fortune 500 companies – are among the finalists announced today for the annual LATISM Awards.

The high-caliber and diverse scope of the nominees reflects how the Internet and social media have become the driving force shaping everything from business to Latino daily lives. Now in its 3rd year, the LATISM Awards are the top honor recognizing Latino achievement in the use of blogging, outreach, marketing, mobile and new media.

This year’s nominees were those with the most votes as selected by LATISM members who voted online from September 12 to September 30th. Starting today, thousands of Latinos around the US and Latin America will also help decide via votes who takes home a LATISM Award. The public has until October 30th to vote for the top nominees at http://conference.latism.org/latism-awards/.

Winners will be announced on November 10, 2011 at the LATISM Awards Gala, to be held during the LATISM Annual Conference, in a ceremony sponsored by Toyota Motors USA. The ceremony will be broadcast live online; viewers at home will have a front row seat as the ceremony will be livestreamed.

Many of this year’s nominees represent the sweeping impact of Latinos in every aspect of Latino culture, particularly those who are taking strides in social media, from marketing to small business, from non-profit and civic work to community building. Finalists earning multiple nominations include Kmart, the Text4Baby mobile campaign and Univision.

“If you want to check the pulse of Latino burgeoning online culture, look no further than this year’s LATISM Awards nominees,” said Ana Roca-Castro, LATISM’s Founder and Chair. “Over the past year, these finalists have dominated the social media conversation, changed how the world looks at Latinos and their online savvy, and have created entire new categories for themselves and their businesses.”

List of nominees here

About LATISM
Latinos in Social Media (LATISM) is a 501(c) 4 nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to advancing the social, civic and economic status of the Latino community. LATISM also helps to raise awareness among corporate brands, NGOs and government entities about using social media to reach Latinos. Our partnership initatives include research, event sponsorships, and leadership training. A pioneering social media organization with over 140,000 members in its network, LATISM has been hailed as the most influential online movement in the new multicultural Web. To learn more about the Latinos in Social Media (LATISM) organization, visit http://latism.org

About the LATISM ’11 Conference
The LATISM ’11 Conference is LATISM’s centerpiece, fully bilingual event of the year. This national event will consolidate LATISM’s mission and audience of health providers, government officials, educators, community members and thought leaders. Since 2009, the Latinos in Social Media (LATISM) events have taken place in cities all around the United States, including New York, Orlando, Washington, DC, Los Angeles, CA and Silicon Valley, featuring more than 400 speakers to date. Participants have included over 5,000 in-person attendees, with thousands more engaging via social media.

SOURCE: LATISM

How do you scale Social Media? Ask the Latinosphere

2011-10-18T18:59:00.000-04:00

Oct 18, 2011 | by Giovanni Rodriguez

Latinos online are like a country. Let's call that country the Latinosphere, and let's try to understand its laws, its language, and its leaders. Do that, and you may get a better sense of how to leverage one of the most interesting phenomena in digital marketing: as a group, Latinos are growing faster than any other in the world we call social.

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Plus Three continues to build National support for American Latino Museum

2011-10-18T18:47:00.000-04:00

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Plus Three, a leader in social media and technology for nonprofit and political organizations, marks the conclusion of Hispanic Heritage Month by highlighting their continuing partnership with and services for the Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino (FRIENDS).

FRIENDS seeks to create a museum in our nation's capital dedicated to the history, culture, and contributions of Latino leaders, pioneers and communities to the American fabric. Plus Three began its work with the Congressionally mandated National Museum of the American Latino Commission, which presented its Congressional Report in May of this year, and within a few months built national support for the museum to 50,000 people. Now, under the banner of the FRIENDS, Plus Three has designed and helped launch americanlatinomuseum.org and the organization is now on the verge of surpassing 200,000 supporters—already more than any of the existing Smithsonian museums.

"At Plus Three we are privileged to work with so many virtuous non-profit organizations and important political causes, and this Hispanic Heritage Month we are especially proud of our work with the Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino," said Juan Proano, president and co-founder of Plus Three. "With our help, the effort to build a Latino museum in Washington, D.C. has found thousands of supporters across the country. The museum will one day inspire a new generation of Latino leaders, and we are delighted to take part in the effort to build it."

Plus Three has also recently launched the website of the HBO special The Latino List which tells the American Latino story through the eyes of some our nation's most celebrated Latino icons, elected officials and celebrities. This month also saw the launch of a project for the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR) to raise awareness of its Insider Game documentary project on diversity in the highest echelons of corporate America. Finally, Plus Three is proud to continue its work to enhance the online presence and outreach of the oldest Latino civil rights organization in the nation, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). With over 700 chapters in the U.S., Plus Three is working to ensure that LULAC has the capabilities to promote its public policy priorities and mobilize its members.

About Plus Three

Founded in 2002, Plus Three is a state-of-the-art web-design and technology company that helps nonprofit, membership, and political organizations promote social change in America. Plus Three's demonstrated commitment to developing innovative and effective online fundraising and advocacy tools has helped its clients raise over $250 million and engage over 12 million people – educating them and moving them to act in support of the causes and candidates they care about. To learn more, please visit: www.plusthree.com

SOURCE Plus Three

NMAC marks National Latino AIDS Awareness Day

2011-10-17T09:20:00.000-04:00

Washington, DC — Saturday, October 15 is the ninth annual National Latino AIDS Awareness Day (NLAAD). Established in 2003, NLAAD falls on the last day of Hispanic Heritage Month each year and is a grassroots social media campaign aimed at raising awareness of the impact that HIV and AIDS has had and continues to have on the Latino community. This year's theme is "Latinos Unite! Let's stay Healthy! Get Tested for HIV!"

"For the last month, Americans have been celebrating the many positive contributions Latinos have made to our society," said National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC) Deputy Executive Director Daniel C. Montoya. "NLAAD is an opportunity for all of us to consider ways that we can contribute to positive health outcomes in the Latino community. Despite making up just 17 percent of the population, Latinos account for 20 percent of all new HIV infections in the United States. The epidemic is even more severe among gay and bisexual Latinos. For the first time in 2009, the number of infections among gay and bisexual Latino men was higher than those among African American women."

As the fastest growing segment of the population, as well as the largest minority group in the country, the health disparities that persist within the Latino community, especially in relation to HIV and AIDS, demand immediate attention.

"It is critical that we do more to address the needs of this community," continued Montoya. "Latinos face significant barriers to accessing quality health care and prevention services, including socio-economic, cultural and linguistic challenges. These barriers are often intensified among undocumented populations. NMAC is proud to stand with the entire HIV community in commemorating NLAAD and urges all of its Latino brothers and sisters to get tested and get involved. Together, we have the power to end this epidemic."

About The National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC)

NAMC represents a coalition of 3,000 faith based and community based organizations as well as AIDS service organizations advocating and delivering HIV/AIDS services in communities of color nationwide. Since 1987, NMAC has developed leadership in communities of color through a variety of advocacy campaigns, public policy education programs, national conferences, research programs, capacity building, technical assistance and trainings, and digital and electronic resource materials. For more information visit www.nmac.org .

SOURCE: NAMC

HPRA, WOMMA and Hispanicize announce free 2011-2012 U.S. Hispanic Social Media Guide and Webinar Series

2011-10-17T09:12:00.000-04:00

MIAMI, FL, Oct 14, 2011 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- The official 2011-2012 U.S. Hispanic Social Media Guide, the second annual "How To" guide to Hispanic social media marketing, is now available for free download by registering at www.hispanicize.com .

Produced by Hispanicize and the Hispanic PR Blog in partnership with the Hispanic Public Relations Association (HPRA) and the Word of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA), the 62-page guide explores current and upcoming trends in the Latino social media and marketing. Among this year's highlights are unique content directly from the Hispanicize 2011 conference as well as a surprising, first-of-its-kind report on how Fortune 100 companies are using various social media platforms to reach Hispanics.

Among the articles featured in this year's guide are "TheTen DOs and DON'Ts of An Effective Hispanic-Targeted Social Media Campaign"; "The Rules for Engaging Latina Mom Bloggers" and "Is the Press Release Dead? Insights from a News Director and the role of Social Media." The guide features contributions from some of the leading voices in Hispanic social media marketing, including: Jose Villa of Sensis; Gaby Alban of Conexion; Patricia Perez of VPE; Midy Aponte of the Sanchez Ricardo Agency; Cristy Clavijo-Kish of Hispanicize; Lance Rios of Being Latino and more.

Hispanic Social Media Insights Webinar Series

To accompany the guide, Hispanicize and HPRA are launching the second annual Fall Hispanic Social Media Insights Webinar series. The Fall series will feature webinars in November and December. Webinar information is available at www.Hispanicize.com .

"Our guide and webinar series will provide marketers and agencies with solid, actionable information about social media planning and execution to connect brands with Latinos online," said Manny Ruiz, guide co-publisher and the organizer of the annual Hispanicize 2012 event.

"HPRA is proud to co-produce these resources because they are invaluable tools for the communications professionals we serve," said Lourdes Rodriguez, HPRA-LA president.

Guide and Webinar Sponsors

This year's guide was made possible through the generous support of Disney Parks, Sprint, Fleishman-Hillard, Revolucion, Sensis, TeleNoticias, Republica and Conexion.

About the Hispanic Public Relations Association (HPRA)

HPRA founded in 1984 as a non-profit organization to establish a network of Hispanics employed in the public relations profession. HPRA has more than 250 members representing public relations, marketing and advertising professionals from agencies, government, non-profit and corporate companies. HPRA is dedicated to the advancement of Hispanic professionals and provides educational seminars and workshops throughout the year. The organization has awarded more than $220,000 in scholarships to Latino students pursuing a career in communications during the last 25 years. HPRA strives to be a resource for communications professionals and for those seeking insights into the Hispanic market.

About the Word of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA)

WOMMA, http://WOMMA.org is the leading trade association in the marketing and advertising industries that focuses on word of mouth, consumer-generated, social media platforms and marketing techniques that include buzz, viral, community, and influencer marketing, as well as brand blogging. The organization is committed to developing and maintaining appropriate ethical standards for marketers, identifying meaningful measurement standards and defining "best practices" for the industry.

About Hispanicize

Co-headquartered in Miami and New York, Hispanicize (#Hispz) is a national, leading Latino social media news content and digital services platform.

Content on its daily web site -- Hispanicize.com -- and its social media channels on Facebook (facebook.com/Hispanicize and Twitter (@Hispanicize)), Hashtag #hispz -- delivers the latest trends, thoughts, programs, features, issues and questions surrounding social media and technological initiatives that impact and inspire Latinos online today.

Through its digital services division and ownership stake in Being Latino (#BeLatino) and Latina Mom Bloggers (#LatinaMoms), Hispanicize offers marketers a 360-degree digital solution for their Latino social media initiatives. Hispanicize services include Latino social media influencer programs, branded Twitter parties, Facebook community initiatives, Facebook advertising, blog ambassadorships, research, blog product reviews, conferences and much more.

SOURCE: Hispanicize

Likeable Media & Red10 announce joint venture: Likeable Tu launches as a full-service social media agency for Spanish language

2011-10-13T19:39:00.000-04:00

New York, NY, Oct 12, 2011 (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX) -- Likeable Media and Red10 announced today the formation of Likeable Tu, a full-service social media firm to serve enterprise customers in Mexico and Latin America as well as Hispanic-focused clients in the United States market. Likeable CEO Dave Kerpen will kick off the new venture by keynoting Red10's Social Media Fest on October 27th in Mexico City, alongside Red10 CEO and co-founder Arian Gonzalez, Red10 VP and Co-Founder Jonas Ortega, social media entrepreneur and actor Ashton Kutcher, and an expected audience of over 300 marketers. Jonas Ortega will lead Likeable Tu as CEO.

Likeable Media is a leading social media firm based in New York, Boston and Chicago. Its client list includes over 100 brands such as 1-800-Flowers.com, Neutrogena, Verizon FiOS, Things Remembered, Restaurant.com, HarperCollins, Entenmann's, The Pampered Chef, Penguin Books, and Mally Beauty.

Red10, based in Mexico City, is a social platform that rewards its users with benefits (such as free cellular airtime and SMS) in exchange for interacting with brands, viralyzing and participating in promotions. Its client base includes over 100 companies such as Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Bimbo Brands, Frito Lay, Lenovo, Domino's Pizza, Caribe Cooler and Citi (Banamex) among others.

Dave Kerpen, CEO and New York Times Best Selling Author of Likeable Social Media, commented on the announcement, "We're thrilled to have a full-service spanish language social media solution to add to our array of client solutions. For global organizations, social media marketing requires a multilingual, nuanced approach, and this partnership allows us to offer just that, while contributing to our mission of using social media to build a more likeable world."

Red10 VP and Co-Founder Jonas Ortega added, "We are happy to partner with a best-in-class U.S. social media firm in Likeable, and our goal is that Likeable Tu will quickly gain as strong a reputation in Mexico and Latin America as Likeable Media enjoys in the U.S."

Likeable Media's mission is to leverage social media and word of mouth marketing to create more transparent, responsive, likeable companies, organizations and governments. As a full service social agency, Likeable's core competency is helping brands go from communities to customers. They create, distribute, cultivate and respond to text, pictures and videos which drive buzz, growth & action: hence the term, likeable media.

SOURCE: Likeable Media

Winning the Mayorship of Latino Marketing

2011-10-11T18:31:00.000-04:00

Oct 11, 2011 | by Gustavo Razzetti

In a world in which consumers have become broadcasters of their own lives, it's no surprise that sharing the places they visit has become so popular. Foursquare has already over 10 million users and more than a billion check-ins and continues to evolve.

And Latinos are not shy; taking advantage of all the benefits that Foursquare, Gowalla, and Facebook Places have to offer. Hispanics are 80 percent more likely than the total population to use a check-in service, according to comScore. And it seems that their passion for geo-location is not limited to one tool: 61.5 percent of Latino Foursquare users also use Facebook Places.

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98% of Online Adults 18-24 Use Social Media

2011-10-08T18:49:00.000-04:00

Oct 08, 2011 - THUNDER BAY – The data may not be particularly surprising, but it sure is impressive: fully 91% of online U.S. adults access social media in a typical month, according to a new study by Experian Simmons. That’s 129 million people, or 41.37% of the total U.S. population of 311.8 million; the figure doesn’t include millions of people under the age of 18 who use social media. As one might expect, among adults ages 18-24, the proportion using social media in a given month is 98% (which has me wondering about the elusive 2%).

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Oscar Mayer targets Hispanics with Facebook app

2011-10-08T18:46:00.000-04:00

Oct 07, 2011 | by Tim Peterson

Meat products brand Oscar Mayer added an app to parent company Kraft Foods' Spanish-language Facebook page on Oct. 7 that is geared toward Hispanic consumers. The brand worked with digital agency 360i on the initiative.

Those who interact with the “Sandwichemos” app are asked to assign a sandwich ingredient to a family member. They can then share the completed sandwich on Facebook.

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Latin American consumers flock to Facebook

2011-10-07T11:05:00.000-04:00

Oct 06, 2011 | Marketers looking to the Latin American market can seek to reap larger revenues and consumer engagement through advertising their products, services and brands on Facebook, according to new reports.

Internet users throughout the continent are heading online in record numbers and largely to use the social networking site, claims eMarketer.

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Latina Bloggers celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month by launching BlogFrog Community

2011-10-04T15:24:00.000-04:00

Boulder, CO (PRWEB) October 03, 2011 | In recognition of National Hispanic Heritage Month, Latina Bloggers Connect is teaming with BlogFrog to launch the first social networking community that brings together Latina bloggers, their readers and Fortune 500 brands seeking to create alliances with one of the fastest growing female audiences online.

According the US Census, Hispanic spending is projected to reach $1.2 trillion by 2012. Latinas play a key role in that purchasing behavior which has propelled brand advertisers to eagerly pursue the individuals within Hispanic communities who have a voice and influence on their peers.

Ana Flores, a Houston, Texas native born to parents from El Salvador, recognized this and almost a year ago, in November 2010, she founded Latina Bloggers Connect to give Hispanic women and mom bloggers a powerful and united voice. Interest has grown rapidly and the community, now 300 members strong, is actively creating effective campaigns that speak the same language of their readers while telling stories with passion, brains, substance and assertive influence.

Led by 14 Community Leaders, all well-known and influential Latina bloggers, the new BlogFrog community forum also helps to boost blogging careers forward. For example, Yolanda, author of SassyMamaInLA, leads a StumbleUpon group; Carrie, author of TikiTikiBlog, holds a bi-weekly writing/vlogging prompts; and Yoly, author of Cuponeando and Las Blogueras, has started discussions in Spanish for blogueras to discuss their unique tech preferences.

In addition to professional content, the community is also a place where bloggers can discuss topics relevant to Hispanic women and mothers, such as raising bilingual children, balancing work and family life, photography, fashion, design, beauty, food and recipes, frugal living, giveaways and more.

“Latina Bloggers Connect is where you come to find out what’s happening and who’s who in the influential Latina blogosphere,” said Flores. “The BlogFrog community adds an interactive, social layer to our group of influential Latina bloggers allowing us to collaborate, share and join brand conversations pertinent to Latinos across the nation.”

“Women are the heart of the household in any culture and it’s never been more apparent than in the Latino community in the United States,” said Holly Hamann, co-founder and vice president of marketing at BlogFrog. “Hispanic women are one of the fastest growing demographics online so the Latina Blogger Connect community represents an extremely powerful and influential group of women.”

The community is open and free for all - Hispanic and non-Hispanic, women and men - to join the conversation in Spanish, English or Spanglish. To join the Latina Blogger Connect community please visit: http://www.latinabloggersconnect.com/the-community.

You can also ‘Like’ Latina Bloggers Connect on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/LatinaBloggersConnect or follow on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/lbconnect.

About BlogFrog

BlogFrog is an online community platform used by bloggers and brands to enable readers to interact with each other, engage in like-minded discussions, and share rich media content. The company’s community and sponsored conversation technology platforms help brand marketers build relationships and trust among women and mom consumers online. BlogFrog is a private company headquartered in Boulder, Colo. Visit http://theblogfrog.com or follow @theblogfrog.

SOURCE BlogFrog

Verizon unveils bilingual Facebook and Twitter sites

2011-10-04T00:22:00.000-04:00

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., Oct. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- To provide additional information and entertainment services to the Hispanic community, Verizon today launched two bilingual social media properties, each of them in English and Spanish, on Facebook and Twitter.

The Facebook fan page Somos Verizon FiOS (We Are Verizon FiOS) and the Twitter site @SomosFiOS (We Are FiOS) will engage Verizon's Hispanic audience by providing a forum for emerging technology that also offers the best in culturally relevant entertainment content and online community connections. The bilingual properties are only part of the story. The remaining story will be crafted by the fans and followers of Verizon FiOS service.

FiOS is Verizon's all-fiber-optic-based combination of home phone, the nation's fastest Internet and crystal-clear TV services. Somos Verizon FiOS and @SomosFiOS complement the FiOS bicultural website, www.EnciendeteFiOS.com , an informational site with versions in English and Spanish that users can easily toggle between.

"Our Facebook and Twitter pages are venues where Hispanics can learn, inform and share their opinions about technology and discuss how it is shaping the future of the things they feel most passionate about," said Orlando Zambrano, Verizon multicultural marketing manager. "We aim to fulfill our community's need to know about the latest and greatest trends of the future by preparing, empowering and inspiring them to learn, create and share their own vision."

Somos Verizon FiOS will kick off with a promotion in partnership with HBO Latino. People who become fans of the Facebook page can register in a sweepstakes for a VIP trip to Los Angeles and dinner with Ana de la Reguera, star of the HBO Latino series "Capadocia." Fans of Somos Verizon FiOS will be treated to regular content updates, promotions, customer support links, special offers and an interactive tab called MontajeFiOS, where fans can upload their photos into a mosaic and share with friends. A partnership with the Hispanic Scholarship Fund will provide educational and informational subject matter to inform users about college funding, educational opportunities and success stories.

On Oct. 11, @SomosFiOS will host its first of many Twitter parties to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Attendees will discuss a variety of topics regarding culture, icons and lifestyle. There will be a chance for participants to win tech gadgets and gift cards, and five winners will be chosen.

"When reaching out to Hispanics, it's not only about language, it's about the overall experience," said Zambrano. "Verizon maintains a large presence in the Hispanic sphere, as many Hispanics crave technology, entertainment and community involvement - three big pillars for Somos Verizon FiOS and @SomosFiOS. We will continue to foster two-way dialogue between the brand and our Hispanic consumers through social media tools that allow customers to engage with FiOS on their own terms."

To experience these new Hispanic social media platforms firsthand, and to become a fan of the new Facebook page, visit www.facebook.com/SomosVerizonFiOS , and follow Verizon FiOS at www.twitter.com/SomosFiOS .

For the latest news, updates and information about FiOS TV, visit www.verizon.com/newscenter and http://www.verizon.com/athomeblog .

About Verizon Communications Inc.

Verizon Communications Inc.( NYSE, NASDAQ:VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to consumer, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, with more than 106 million total connections nationwide. Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers integrated business solutions to customers in more than 150 countries, including all of the Fortune 500. A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of nearly 196,000 and last year generated consolidated revenues of $106.6 billion. For more information, visit www.verizon.com .

VERIZON'S ONLINE NEWS CENTER: Verizon news releases, executive speeches and biographies, media contacts, high-quality video and images, and other information are available at Verizon's News Center on the World Wide Web at www.verizon.com/news . To receive news releases by email, visit the News Center and register for customized automatic delivery of Verizon news releases.

SOURCE Verizon Communications Inc.

Latinos tweeting their issues, ideas to top

2011-10-02T19:02:00.000-04:00

Oct 01, 2011 | by Nick Valencia (CNN)

As a musician and social justice activist, online social media has helped Maria Isa sell more CDs and mobilize the growing number of Latinos in her home city of Minneapolis.

Isa wasn't surprised that a study published this summer said Hispanics are among the most active social media users.

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'Social Media Both Sexy and Important' for Minority Businesses

2011-09-30T17:20:00.000-04:00

Sep 30, 2011 | by Elliot S. Volkman

Entrepreneurs and successful businesses know how important communications and technology are in our current market, but the most vocal are not necessarily the same thing (See Spiral of Silence). During MED Week, three representatives of minority-owned companies provided insight on social media and how it has allowed them to create a different kind of platform for communications and marketing.

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Google+ membership skyrockets, adds privacy setting

2011-09-29T08:46:00.000-04:00

Sep 28, 2011 | by Laurie Sullivan

Google has opened the doors to Google+, allowing anyone to fill out a profile and join the site. The move promoted a surge in traffic to the three-month-old site. Recent numbers from Experian Hitwise suggest that those attracted to either Google or social media continue to flock through the door.

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Why Oscar de la Renta is so “Haute” on Social Media

2011-09-21T23:08:00.000-04:00

Sep 20, 2011 | by Lauren Indvik

That iconic American fashion house Oscar de la Renta has emerged as one of the leaders in social media marketing in its industry has proven to be something of a surprise. Leaders in progressive online marketing tactics tend to be those with vast marketing budgets or those who target young, digitally savvy consumers — not brands whose staple, as CEO Alex Bolen says, are $4,000 cocktail dresses.

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Latin America's social networking market sees 88 percent gain in engagement in the past year

2011-09-21T21:03:00.000-04:00

SANTIAGO, Chile, Sept. 20, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- comScore, Inc. , a leader in measuring the digital world, today released the report The Rise of Social Networking in Latin America. The report examines the state of Latin America's dynamic social networking landscape, providing insights into trends at a global, regional and individual market level. The 35-page analysis also reveals how social media has shaped the larger digital environment through its influence on other social web activities and its role in the dissemination of marketing messages.

"Social networking has become an essential part of consumers' digital lives over the past several years," said Alejandro Fosk, comScore senior vice president for Latin America. "As it has become more widely adopted throughout the region and across demographic segments, it has redefined the way consumers interact with content and with each other. Social media is also changing the way marketing messages are disseminated and offers a new channel to engage with current and potential customers, which presents a variety of attractive opportunities for brands to effectively integrate social into their digital strategies."

To download a complimentary copy of the comScore report, The Rise of Social Networking in Latin America, please visit: http://www.comscore.com/social-networking-in-latin-america

Latin American Social Networking Audience Grows 16 Percent in Past Year

In June 2011, 114.5 million people in Latin America visited a social networking site, representing 96.0 percent of the entire online population in the region. In the past year, the social networking audience in Latin America has increased 16 percent while the total time spent on social networking sites has increased 88 percent.

Key findings highlighted in the report include:

Latin Americans are strongly engaged with social networking. Half of the top 10 worldwide markets ranked by time spent on social networking sites are in Latin America, with Argentina leading the region at 10 hours per month in June 2011.

The Latin American social networking audience is nearly equal in its composition of males and females, but females account for a larger share of social networking time spent (53.6 percent) compared to males (46.4 percent). This trend was most significant in Brazil where females accounted for 58.7 percent of all social networking time spent.

People age 15-24 demonstrated the strongest engagement on social networks, accounting for nearly half (48.0 percent) of all time spent in the category. This trend was most significant in Venezuela where visitors age 15-24 accounted for 3 of every 5 social networking minutes (58.2 percent).

Facebook.com strongly led the social networking market in Latin America, reaching more than 91 million visitors. Windows Live Profile ranked #2 with more than 35.5 million visitors in the region. Orkut held the #3 spot with 34.4 million visitors, largely driven by the site's popularity in Brazil, while Twitter.com ranked #4 with 24.3 million visitors.

Five of the top 10 markets ranked by Facebook.com reach are in Latin America. Facebook reached 90.9 percent of all online users in Chile, ranking as the most penetrated market in Latin America.

In Brazil, Orkut ranked as the most-visited social networking destination, reaching 35.7 million visitors, an increase of 20 percent from June 2010. Facebook.com, which is the second largest social networking site in Brazil, witnessed strong growth increasing 192 percent to 24.5 million visitors.

Venezuela is the only country in Latin America in which Twitter.com rises to second place in the social networking ranking. One in four online users in Venezuela visited Twitter.com in June (26.5 percent reach).

Recently launched Google+ reached 28 million visitors worldwide in the first 33 days of its public existence (June 29, 2011 to July 31, 2011). Brazil ranked as the sixth largest market for the site globally, contributing 793,923 visitors.

comScore experts will present insights from the report via live webinar. Please see below for dates and session languages:

The Rise of Social Networking in Latin America presented by Alex Banks, comScore vice president for Brazil. Tuesday, October 25, 12:00pm-1:00pm ET. This session will be presented in Portuguese. For more information and to register, please visit: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/471509217

The Rise of Social Networking in Latin America presented by Alejandro Fosk, comScore senior vice president for Latin America. Wednesday, October 26, 11:00am - 12:00pm ET. This session will be presented in Spanish. For more information and to register, please visit: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/533613600

About comScorecomScore Inc.

comScorecomScore Inc. is a global leader in measuring the digital world and preferred source of digital marketing intelligence. For more information, please visit www.comscore.com/companyinfo .

SOURCE comScore, Inc.

Verizon salutes Latino Leaders during Hispanic Heritage Awards at the Kennedy Center

2011-09-20T01:35:00.000-04:00

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., Sept. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, Verizon partnered with the Hispanic Heritage Foundation's 25th Annual Hispanic Heritage Awards to recognize and celebrate Hispanic leaders who represent the drive of the Hispanic community to be ahead in the development and progress of the country.

"This is an exciting time in our nation's history, as Latino achievement, culture and traditions continue to play a major role shaping U.S. culture," says Oscar Madrid, director of multicultural marketing at Verizon. "Verizon is dedicated to the Hispanic community through a longstanding history of community support, recognition of Hispanic achievement, and as a company passionate about advances in technology and communications that enrich and empower Latinos to move ahead in all aspects of life."

In step with nationwide celebrations that began September 15 and will continue through October 15, Verizon presented the business award to Jorge Vergara at the Hispanic Heritage Foundation's 25th Annual Hispanic Heritage Awards on September 15 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.

Madrid added: "Jorge is a business owner, film producer, sports team owner and philanthropist. His contributions exemplify the Latino entrepreneurial spirit that propels our community to greater heights."

Vergara is the founder of Grupo Omnilife, one of the top 200 corporations in Mexico and owns the football (soccer) clubs Club Deportivo Guadalajara of Mexico, C.D. Chivas USA of Major League Soccer, and Chivas Hefei. He has also produced internationally recognized movies such as The Assassination of Richard Nixon and the Oscar-nominated Y tu mamá tambien.

"We are thrilled Verizon has partnered with us to honor yet another class of inspiring Latino leaders," said Jose Antonio Tijerino, president and CEO of the Hispanic Heritage Foundation. "The Latino community throughout history has made a positive impact in America and the world. The Hispanic Heritage Awards were created by the White House 25 years ago, and we will salute the past honorees as we pay tribute to this year's recipients. We are grateful to all our sponsors, who understand the important role Latinos play in moving America and the world forward."

Dr. Elizabeth Molina Morgan, Juanes, Ruben Blades, Hugo Sanchez, Roberto "Chespirito" Gomez Bolanos, and Dr. Juan Andrade, Jr. were also honored at this year's Hispanic Heritage Foundation's 25th Annual Hispanic Heritage Awards celebration.

In addition to sponsoring the Hispanic Heritage Awards, Verizon is also paying tribute to Latino consumers with the launch of its first bilingual Facebook and Twitter social media platforms and will host a Hispanic Heritage Month Twitter party on Tuesday, October 11 at 8:00 p.m. CST using the hashtag #SomosFiOS. Party guests will be invited to compete for prizes and discuss their favorite Hispanic customs, traditions, and why they are proud of their heritage.

To learn more about Verizon's sponsorship of the Hispanic Heritage Awards and its commitment to the Hispanic community, visit www.enciendetefios.com/heritage .

For the latest news, updates and information about FiOS TV, visit www.verizon.com/newscenter and http://www.verizon.com/athomeblog .

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, with more than 104 million total connections nationwide. Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers seamless business solutions to customers around the world. A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 196,000 and last year generated consolidated revenues of $106.6 billion. For more information, visit www.verizon.com .

VERIZON'S ONLINE NEWS CENTER

Verizon news releases, executive speeches and biographies, media contacts, high-quality video and images, and other information are available at Verizon's News Center on the World Wide Web at www.verizon.com/news . To receive news releases by email, visit the News Center and register for customized automatic delivery of Verizon news releases.

SOURCE Verizon Communications Inc.

How to monitor your social media presence in 5 easy steps

2011-09-19T10:11:00.000-04:00

Sep 09, 2011

Monitoring your social media presence is incredibly important - but many business owners and marketers are concerned it will take too much time.

You don't need a whole team devoted to social media monitoring - with some tools and these free tips, even one single person can keep an eye on your social media presence. Cover these 5 steps over a cup of coffee and you'll build social media into a healthy daily inbound marketing routine!

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Universal Music Group named Best in Cross-Channel Marketing for Email, Social Media Campaign

2011-09-19T10:03:00.000-04:00

Sep 14, 2011

Global interactive marketing provider ExactTarget awarded Universal Music Group (UMG), the world’s leading music company, the Cross-Channel Marketing Campaign of the Year today for its integrated email and social media efforts for recording artist Lil’ Wayne.

The top honor in ExactTarget’s annual Subscribers Rule Awards, Universal Music Group’s award-winning campaign was selected from entries around the globe for its integrated Facebook and email campaign that added more than 6,000 Facebook fans and more than 400 email subscribers in less than three weeks.

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Madrina's Multicultural Brands rolls out new product line and website

2011-09-15T23:54:00.000-04:00

ST. LOUIS, Sep 15, 2011 (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX) -- Inspired by traditional and popular Latin American flavors, Madrina's Multicultural Brands (MMCB) is innovating and shaping the Multicultural New Age Beverage category through its expanded line of distinctive drinks that celebrate the rich diversity seen and lived in today's America along with the launch of a new website, fully integrated with the social media platforms where most of today's consumers socialize.

Joining Madrina's Horchata, a cinnamon infused rice water drink and Madrina's original beverage, are two additional flavors for consumers to savor and enjoy: Madrina's Cafe con Leche and Madrina's Mango. For coffee lovers, Madrina's introduces the first product in its Cafe line, Madrina's Cafe con Leche.This combination of coffee and milk is a robust caffeinated drink with a light, smooth finish served chilled to perfection. Just as sweet and delicious as a handpicked mango, Madrina's Mango is the perfect complement to a lunch, dinner or happy hour.

Madrina's products are specifically targeted towards 18-34 year-old Hispanic Americans known as New Generation Latinos (NGLs) and general market consumers interested in multicultural products. NGLs are a group of Hispanic Americans whom frequently blend their Latino mainstream American values with popular urban culture. NGLs create new and unique expressions to form a different kind of lifestyle.

"Madrina's products are as much American as they are Hispanic," said Paul Corona, Madrina's Brand Strategist. "Our popular recipes and flavors are a celebration of contemporary multicultural America."

All Madrina's products are available in shelf stable 15 oz. cans at independent grocery stores, select chain grocers and convenience stores in Chicago, Omaha, Milwaukee, Kansas City, St. Louis, Little Rock, Dallas, Houston, Austin, Atlanta, and Miami for $1.49-$1.79 each. To introduce consumers to these unique new tastes, sampling has taken place throughout the summer months and continues in September, October, and November in all current markets. Additionally, Madrina's street team has spread the word about the brand in urban hotspots like Chicago's Millennium Park and North Avenue Beach along with appearances at community events in launch markets.

To accompany the rollout of the two additional flavors, Madrina's website, www.madrinashorchata.com , is complete with social media integration and product information to further connect with consumers and trade partners. Taking on a youthful and urban look, the website contains specific product information as well as a quick background on Madrina's and its community work. The website also includes a newsroom filled with easy to access links to press releases, quick facts, downloadable images and much more. In the near future, consumers will be able to visit the site and enroll for a chance to win free products and other great prizes.

"We wanted to create distinctive beverages that would complement our young, urban consumer and his or her lifestyle," said Rich A. Davis, J.D., President and Founder of Madrina's Multicultural Brands. "At the same time, we wanted to bring to life the fun and unique flavors that more accurately reflect our present society."

Fusing the New Age category born a generation ago with multiculturalism, Madrina's is helping shape the Multicultural New Age Beverage Category as well as providing alternatives to carbonated soft drinks to children of the 80s and 90s. Multicultural New Age Beverages are driven by the changing cultural landscape of America and its influences on the beverage industry. As a leader in the category, Madrina's is connecting consumers with beverages that reflect and celebrate the changing culture.

About Madrina's Multicultural Brands

Madrina's Horchata, Cafe con Leche, and Mango are products of Madrina's Multicultural Brands (MMCB), a subsidiary of Citrus Springs Beverage Solutions, a firm based in St. Louis, Missouri. Launched in 2011, MMCB is helping shape a new category: Multicultural New Age Beverages, which are traditional Hispanic products brought to market with modern packaging, modern branding, and with a modern message. The company and the category were founded by Rich A. Davis, J.D. MMCB products are not just Hispanic; but Hispanic-American; celebrating the past while embracing the trends of today and the future. To learn more about MMCB, visit www.madrinashorchata.com .

SOURCE: Madrina's Multicultural Brands

Knowing our consumers through their own stories: Hispanics and content creation

2011-09-15T23:51:00.000-04:00

Sept 15, 2011 | by Maria-Gracia Inglessis

Content production and distribution are now accessible to most people everywhere. Thanks to modern communication technologies, those who used to be passive spectators are now becoming active creators. In the U.S., Hispanics are driving this change.

According to 2010 Forrester's report, "Social Media is Mainstream for Hispanics," this population is ahead of the curve in what it calls high-order activities.

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Kmart® celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month by launching the Latina Smart Fund

2011-09-15T09:08:00.000-04:00

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., Sept. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- In its commitment to the Hispanic community, specifically Latina women, Kmart is launching the Latina Smart Fund in celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month. Promoted through Kmart's Latina Smart Facebook page, the Latina Smart Fund will award $25,000 in scholarships to graduating high school seniors and/or students currently enrolled in college, technical or trade schools.

According to The Pew Hispanic Center, dropout rates are the highest among Hispanics; and although nine out of 10 Hispanic young adults surveyed said that a college education is important for success in life, less than 50 percent had plans for secondary education.(1) Latina Smart Fund seeks to improve these statistics by motivating young Hispanic women to pursue higher education, providing financial support through scholarships and offering encouragement through its social media channels.

"Kmart recognizes education is a passion point within the Latino culture," said Nydia Sahagun, multicultural marketing director, Sears Holdings Corporation. "Through the Latina Smart Fund, we aim to further engage and empower the Hispanic community that represents some of Kmart's most loyal customers."

Between Sept. 15 and Oct. 31, eligible candidates can apply for the Latina Smart Fund scholarship by either submitting a 750-1,000 word essay or uploading a two minute video of themselves answering a topical question to Kmart's Latina Smart Facebook page. The top 50 contestants, or most "Liked" entries, will be rated by the Latina Smart Ambassadors (Blogueras) based on criteria such as originality, style, and enthusiasm. The top 20 selections will then advance to the final round where a panel of experts in the areas of business and education will choose one $10,000 scholarship recipient and three $5,000 runner-up awards. For more information, please visit www.facebook.com/latinasmart .

About Kmart

Kmart, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sears Holdings Corporation SHLD +6.19% , is a mass merchandising company that offers customers quality products through a portfolio of exclusive brands that includes Jaclyn Smith, Joe Boxer, County Living, Route 66 and Smart Sense. For more information visit the company's website at www.kmart.com or the Sears Holdings Corporation website at www.searsholdings.com .

(1) The Pew Hispanic Center is a nonpartisan research organization that seeks to improve public understanding of the diverse Hispanic population in the United States and to chronicle Latinos' growing impact on the nation.

SOURCE Kmart

Batanga, Inc. acquires Hispanic social network MetroFlog

2011-09-12T11:10:00.000-04:00

MIAMI, Sept. 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Batanga, Inc. today announced the acquisition of MetroFlog and partner sites, MetroBlog and MetroPostales. On the heels of acquiring two leading online media companies, Adfunky and I-Network, Batanga, Inc., has now added all three premium Hispanic-focused properties to its roster of owned and operated websites. The latest acquisition increases the company's audience by over six million unique visitors a month.

MetroFlog.com is a social media platform that allows users to create individual spaces where they upload personal photos and share them among all other users. To date, MetroFlog users have published over twenty million photographs, uploading an additional sixty thousand photos daily. The photo blogs serve as catalyst for comments, guest signatures, making friends, and are at the core of the social experience on MetroFlog.com.

MetroBlog.com was developed on a common platform, enabling users to publish personal blogs as a means for social interaction. Users are encouraged to publish their thoughts, writings, and journal entries to share with other users such as themselves. MetroPostales provides users with hundreds of electronic greeting cards to share with friends and loved ones. Each of the properties provides Hispanics online with unique opportunities to communicate and network with one another.

"Our latest acquisition further solidifies our commitment to developing and delivering relevant and quality content to the Hispanic online audience. MetroFlog provides users with an alternative social experience that allows them to communicate and express themselves," said Rafael Urbina, Chairman and CEO, Batanga, Inc. "We are thrilled to add such a dynamic social platform to the Batanga, Inc. family of sites and eager to introduce them to advertisers."

Batanga, Inc. is now the largest independent digital media company serving U.S. Hispanic and Latin American markets. Their continued investment to these markets provides advertisers with priceless insights and value, in addition to countless opportunities to not only reach, but engage with Hispanics online.

MetroFlog and its partner sites have demonstrated the ability to build social experiences while growing audiences at exponential rates. Combined, the sites have approximately seventeen million registered users and disseminate over one million unique emails daily, notifying users that their contacts have posted a new photo or blog. Batanga, Inc. will leverage those technologies and resources across their current portfolio of properties starting with Batanga.com.

About Batanga, Inc.

Batanga, Inc. is the largest independent digital media company serving the U.S. Hispanic and Latin American markets. Its holdings include Batanga Network, Batanga.com, Adfunky and I-Network. Batanga Network reaches the most U.S. Hispanics online, across all categories and demographics. Adfunky is the fastest growing advertiser-centric ad network and marketing solutions provider in Latin America, while I-Network is the largest, independent digital rep firm and ad network serving the fast growing Andean, Caribbean and Central American markets. Batanga, Inc. maintains offices in Miami, Mexico City, Bogota and Buenos Aires, with sales offices in Cali, Caracas, Chicago, Guatemala, Lima, Los Angeles, Managua, Medellin, New York City, Panama, Quito, San Francisco, San Jose, San Salvador, Santiago, Santo Domingo, Santa Cruz, Sao Paulo and Tegucigalpa. For more information visit www.batanganetwork.com.

SOURCE Batanga, Inc.

The holy grail of SMB marketing technology? Location, location, location.

2011-09-09T00:38:00.000-04:00

Sept 07, 2011 | by Heather Clancy

Often, small businesses focus on the power of the mobile phone strictly as a productivity device. But the marketing types within SMBs shouldn’t overlook the technology’s emerging potential as a market device. The holy grail of this platform? Location-based services, which use a person’s location to serve up recommendations or travel information specific to that place.

Despite recent controversy — just this week, Microsoft was sued over the privacy implications of the Camera app in Windows Phone 7 — a new study published by the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project finds that close to 30 percent of American adults are using some sort of mobile or social network location application. That is, they are using their phone to search location-specific directions or recommendations. A smaller group, about 5 percent, is “checking in” on a service such as Foursquare or Gowalia to let people know their location.

Here’s the summary data:

The data comes from a survey of 2,277 American adults during April and May 2011.

So, even though people tend to get a bit wigged out over sharing their location explicitly on social media, they are exposing it in other ways that they may or may not realize.

If you poke into the data a bit more deeply, you learn that smartphone users share the most about their locations. Approximately 55 percent have used the location-finding features in their phone to get directions or find recommendations. This is well above the average, as you have already discovered.

It may interest you to know that minority groups are more likely than whites to share their information. Pew notes that approximately one-quarter of Hispanic mobile phone users are using what it calls geosocial services and another 31 percent have enabled automatic location-tagging. Their motivation wasn’t explored by Pew.

It is useful to consider this data in conjunction with the findings of other research out a few months ago from technology research firm Gartner about mobile advertising. That data suggests that mobile advertising will reach $3.3 billion this year, in large part because of the whole location thing.

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How Social Media users engage with Marketers on Twitter

2011-09-06T13:42:00.000-04:00

As Twitter evolves its advertising platform, with the latest development being Promoted Tweets to followers, there is concern as to how consumers will react to seeing ads from brands in their Twitter feeds.

Market research firm Lab42 surveyed US Twitter users in August 2011, asking about their habits related to brand engagement. Only 11.1% of US Twitter users said that following brands was the leading reason why they use the site. The top reasons include following friends (17.4%), to get a good laugh (15.6%), to get the news (15.1%) and to share the news (13.9%).

Additionally, about half of US Twitter users follow between one and 10 brands on the site. Only 10.6% of respondents said they don’t follow any brands, while 8.2% of US Twitter users follow more than 50 brands on Twitter.

However, when it comes to consumers’ attitudes toward Twitter’s primary ad product, Promoted Tweets, things are promising. Only 10.9% of US Twitter users said Promoted Tweets are “annoying and take away from the Twitter experience.” More often, Twitter users are open to Promoted Tweets, with 24.8% reporting that they have seen Promoted Tweets from brands that are relevant to them. More than one-fifth of users said they have gotten a discount (21.6%) or have found out about a new brand through a Promoted Tweet (21.2%). Additionally, 14% of respondents said they have retweeted a Promoted Tweet.

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The Latino Social Hurricane

2011-09-02T11:35:00.001-04:00

August 30, 2011 | by Gustavo Razzetti

A couple of days ago, I got a call from a journalist that wanted to learn more about the phenomenon of Latinos in social media. He said he's been reading the Marketing to Latinos column at ClickZ and was curious about what was driving the explosion of Hispanics in social media.

At the same time, while I was finalizing this column, another phenomenon came to life. I'm talking about @irene, a major natural event, which persuaded me to change the topic of my column and turned it into what you are reading right now.

Why Latinos Are Social?

I mentioned that, of course, age is a key factor. Latinos are younger than the general population, so it makes sense that they are more open to new technologies and interact more with other people.

Another reason includes having friends and family that are all spread out. Many have friends and family in their country of origin (or their parent's one). Also, if you take a look at the dynamics of population, Latinos have been migrating to non-traditional Hispanic DMAs such as North Carolina. Their social network is more diverse (browse the names of any Latino's Facebook friends and you'll know what I'm talking about).

Also, considering the social nature of Latinos, it seems obvious that this is a key driver. If you look at the statistics, Latinos spend much more time than the average American tweeting, posting on Facebook, etc.

Hmm…tricky question: is this social nature exclusive to Latinos?

Hurricanes Go Social

Many times, as marketers, when thinking on social media, we tend to put more emphasis on the media portion rather than on the social aspect. This recent event is a great example of why "social" goes before "media."

It might have been an interesting one for Irene Tien. As a pioneer in social media, she has the Twitter handle with her first name, @irene. And when the news spread around about the chances of a hurricane hitting the East Coast, she started to receive tweets directed to her, as if she was actually the natural catastrophe. Following the advice of her colleagues, she decided to "lend" her Twitter handle for some days, so that it could be used to share safety information and advice related to Hurricane Irene (the real one). Combining useful tips and links with a sense of humor drove her account past 11,000 followers.

The Latino Hurricane

The Latino Twittersphere was also very active. Natural threat aside, it was an interesting thing to watch. Kind of a live version of the reasons I had explained to the journalist mentioned above.

I evidenced an increased interaction between friends and family living in Latin America and in the U.S. I saw a back and forth between speaking in English and Spanish as a consequence of that. The social spirit of Latinos was at its peak; people sharing advice, information, and sending "bendiciones" for those who had families on the East Coast.

There was also room for humor as well. One friend, after the storm, was saying that what happened was nothing compared to how his hometown in South America got after a "regular" rainstorm. Another friend was bragging, saying that "se ahogaron en un vaso de agua" (they got drowned in a glass of water) and that category one storms, Caribbeans eat those for breakfast.

Providing help, emotional support, and also their sense of humor, Latino social nature was at its best around Irene.

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Hispanicize acquires Stake in Being Latino to create influential Latino social media community platform

2011-08-31T19:04:00.000-04:00

MIAMI, Aug. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Social media content and blogger marketing platform Hispanicize has acquired a significant stake in Being Latino, one of the nation's leading Hispanic community and social media platforms and publisher of the online magazine Being Latino. The acquisition immediately combines the communities and resources of these influential and innovative Latino social media entities.

"With this stake in Being Latino combined with our Latina Mom Bloggers network and our national conference Hispanicize 2012, our platform now features 360-degree digital solutions for Latino social media initiatives and allows us to build economies of scale that benefit our growing client roster," said Hispanicize CEO Cristy Clavijo-Kish. "We're extremely honored to have Lance Rios and the Being Latino team join our growing family of companies. Together our group exemplifies the kind of social media leaders, thinkers, bloggers and entrepreneurs that will help us continue building market share and driving solutions.

Founded in 2009 by Rios, Being Latino and its 145 sister Facebook fan pages represent more than 150,000 fans combined on Facebook alone. The community platform also counts on a growing following through the Being Latino Online Magazine as well as through other social media platforms including YouTube and Twitter.

"This is a great fit for Being Latino and Hispanicize due to the mutual commitment for building a positive, progressive platform for Latinos to engage online," said Rios, who remains Being Latino's CEO and now is a Hispanicize partner. "Through Hispanicize we will be able to expand our platform's scope while also accelerating revenue growth."

As part of the acquisition, the companies also announced the creation of a new Twitter hashtag, #BeLatino, that will be utilized through the Being Latino, Hispanicize and Latina Mom Blogger platforms for cultural discussions and to unify Latino voices online for virtually any topic. The Hispanicize hashtag #Hispz will focus strictly on Latino and multicultural digital culture, social media and technology.

A tangible benefit of the joint expansion will be its impact on Hispanicize's community partnership programs such as the "Latino Social Media for Social Good" – a national initiative with Univision Network. With an aim to support non-profit organizations achieve their communications and fundraising goals via social media training – the Being Latino community will play a central role in driving discussion and support.

"Our non-profit partners need support to help deliver their services, messages and resources for Hispanic and multicultural communities. We will continue extending our network to enable them to strengthen their outreach," added Clavijo-Kish. "On the flip side, we continue dedicated to supporting new and established bloggers extend their audience, reach, and revenue opportunities with ongoing brand and marketing opportunities."

About Hispanicize

Co-headquartered in Miami and New York, Hispanicize (#Hispz) is a national, leading Latino social media news content and digital services platform.

Content on its daily web site - Hispanicize.com - and its social media channels on Facebook (facebook.com/Hispanicize and Twitter (@Hispanicize) delivers the latest trends, thoughts, programs, features, issues and questions surrounding social media and technological initiatives that impact and inspire Latinos online today.

To connect with the latest Hispanicize updates visit Hispanicize.com, the Facebook fan page via http://www.facebook.com/hispanicize, the Twitter handle @Hispanicize or the hashtag #hispz.

About Being Latino

Being Latino on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/beinglatino is a community and communications platform designed to educate, entertain and connect all people across the global Latino spectrum.

Founded in 2009 by CEO Lance Rios, Being Latino (#BeLatino) and its 145 sister Facebook fan pages represent more than 150,000 fans combined on Facebook alone. The community platform also counts on a growing following through the Being Latino Online Magazine as well as through other social media platforms that include YouTube and Twitter, among others.

SOURCE Hispanicize

Study: women on Facebook click more, youth ‘like’ more and advertisers need to tailor to the segments

2011-08-31T00:22:00.000-04:00

August, 30, 2011 | by Erin Griffith

A Facebook ad proclaims your friend has "liked" a brand. Your options? Ignore it, "like" the brand yourself, or click on the ad to see what that brand is. According to a study released today from Facebook ad agency SocialCode, both men and women "like" brands equally, but women are 11 percent more"like"ly (get it?) to click on the ad before committing to an official "like."

“It shows a deeper psychological trend where women are more considered purchasers or actors,” SocialCode CEO Laura O’Shaughnessy said. SocialCode’s research is derived from four million data points from 50 of its clients in a range of industries.

The research also showed that younger users tend to "like" brands more often. Unsurprisingly, 18-to-29-year olds click "like" 9 percent more than their elders. While the 30-plus crowd may still be learning what exactly a thumbs-up entails, they’re more discerning about their "likes."

The lesson for advertisers is that when targeting a certain demographic on Facebook, they can tailor their campaigns to the user segment. “If you want to attract a younger male audience, you want to focus on text that gets users to ‘like’ within the ad,” O’Shaughnessy said. The inverse: When targeting the older set, or women, it's best to optimize the landing page to stimulate behavior after a click-through.

The question remains as to whether Facebook users young, old, male, or female actually like—and here we mean enjoy—brands infiltrating their social networks to begin with.

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New Pew survey shows social media driven by women, Latinos and blacks

2011-08-30T00:01:00.000-04:00

August 29, 2011 | LatinaLista -- With every natural disaster, juicy celebrity gossip or disruptive political happening, the role of social media takes on greater importance. Yet, there are two other things people do online that overshadow the popularity of social media -- send and check email and use search engines.

That's according to the latest study by the Pew Internet & American Life Project.

In the new report released last week about people's usage of social media, the Pew researchers found that now 65 percent of online adults use social media. It's a significant figure because now, according to the Pew, "for the first time in Pew Internet surveys it means that half of all adults (50%) use social networking sites."

Guess which gender is the biggest user?

If you guessed men, you're wrong!

The research found:

"Women are also more active in their use of these sites, with almost half of female internet users using social networking sites on a typical day (48%), compared with 38% of male internet users."

While there wasn't a huge gap between white, black and Latino users, blacks at 69 percent topped social media users with Latinos coming in from behind at 66 percent and whites trailing at 63 percent.

Of course, it almost goes without saying that the age group best represented among social media users is the 18-29 generation BUT older users are increasing their numbers.

"However, among the Boomer-aged segment of internet users ages 50-64, social networking sites (SNS) usage on a typical day grew a rigorous 60% (from 20% to 32%). And unlike the general growth in SNS adoption among those ages 65 and older, the frequency of use among the oldest group of internet users did not increase significantly over the past year."

And unlike in the past when the older generation would pass judgement on the latest technology in derogatory terms -- ever hear people refer to the television as the "boob tube"? -- most everyone likes using social media.

When social networking users were asked for one word to describe their experiences using social networking sites, "good" was the most common response.

Overall, positive responses far outweighed the negative and neutral words that were associated with social networking sites (more than half of the respondents used positive terms). Users repeatedly described their experiences as "fun," "great," "interesting" and "convenient." Less common were superlatives such as "astounding," "necessity," and "empowering."

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How valuable are Social Media Sponsorships?

2011-08-29T09:56:00.000-04:00

August 29, 2011 | HispanicAd.com

Paying for mentions in social media, or social media sponsorships, has become a more popular marketing tactic. By late 2009, it had attracted the attention of the US Federal Trade Commission, which released regulations requiring bloggers and certain other online publishers to disclose when they receive cash, free products or other compensation for a product or brand mention. But marketers are still interested in this form of outreach.

In Q2 2011, social media advertising company IZEA surveyed marketers and publishers about their preferences for such practices and the value they place on certain sponsorships. The survey found that 48.8% of marketers have used a sponsored blog post, while 32.5% said they would use it, and 39.4% have sponsored a tweet, while 35.6% said they would use that social media sponsorship. Additionally, only 23.2% have sponsored an online video, but 50.2% said they would use such a social media sponsorship.

These marketers are carefully monitoring these mentions and measuring how well they influence sales and business results by looking at quality and sentiment of content, cost-per-click, shares, cost per acquisition and more. Quality of a post was the most important measure of success, with 80% of respondents saying it was very important or important. Only 5.9% said it was not important. Clickthrough rates were also important or very important for 74.9% of respondents. Only 4.3% noted clickthrough rates as not important.

After measuring these activities, marketers put a monetary value on the different types of social media sponsorships. Blog posts and videos were the mentions with the most value, calculated to be $114.71 and $112.46, respectively, while Twitter edged out Facebook. Tweets were valued at $63.64, compared to $55.16 for a Facebook update.

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Cristy Clavijo-Kish tapped CEO of leading Latino social media platform and services company Hispanicize

2011-08-25T16:50:00.000-04:00

MIAMI, Aug. 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Hispanicize, a leading platform for Latino social media content and communications services, has tapped Cristy Clavijo-Kish to lead its management team as CEO and partner.

Clavijo-Kish will guide the company's expanding management team as it introduces new services for social media marketers, a research division and an enhanced editorial product for Hispanicize.com. Sister network Latina Mom Bloggers also will report into Clavijo-Kish.

"Cristy is a talented Latina with extensive communications, media and business expertise who will lend her own style of leadership and mentoring to our growing team," said Manny Ruiz who immediately transitions from CEO to chairman of Hispanicize. "Hispanicize has been a catalyst in the evolution of Latino social media and we're proud to have Cristy spearhead the next phase of its growth."

Until June, Clavijo-Kish led PR Newswire's Multicultural Markets division as senior vice president, a role she was appointed to following the 2008 PR Newswire acquisition of Hispanic PR Wire, LatinClips and Hispanic Digital Network- all companies that she co-founded and spearheaded.

"Hispanicize is evolving as an innovative company, and I'm energized to strengthen our focus on strategic partnerships with bloggers and organizations while overseeing further development of our digital marketing services and online content platform," said Clavijo-Kish. "Throughout my career I have enjoyed working with countless companies and groups on their community outreach and grassroots initiatives, I'll rely on this experience and my strong desire to see our diverse communities continue to flourish as fuel for my goals."

Among her first projects, Clavijo-Kish is directly overseeing implementation, training and promotion of the new partnership between Hispanicize and Univision Communications- "Latino Social Media for Social Good." With a goal to help non-profit organizations more strategically use social media channels to reach their communication and fund-raising goals- the training program is traveling nationwide to six key Hispanic markets.

Clavijo-Kish is a contributor on several platforms regarding Hispanic and multicultural marketing, communications and social media trends and issues. A marketing, media and communications practitioner with more than 15+ years experience, she helped found the Hispanic marketing practice at Porter Novelli and managed Latin America-focused and general market programs at two Miami-based agencies. Currently she serves on the PRSA Miami Board as co-chair of the Hispanic committee and will be a panelist at the 2011 PRSA International Conference in Orlando, Florida. Clavijo-Kish is a Girl Scout Troop leader and volunteers with other community organizations. You can follow Cristy on Twitter via @latinomarketing. She will be an ongoing contributor to the @hispanicize and #hispz Twitter posts.

About Hispanicize

Co-headquartered in New York and Miami, Hispanicize is a leading Latino social media news content and marketing services platform.

Ongoing story features on Hispanicize.com include in-depth industry news for marketers and bloggers, webinar trainings, blogger technology guides and online forums.

Hispanicize's digital services division features Latino social media influencer programs including blog ambassadorships, branded Twitter parties, Facebook community initiatives, research, blog product reviews, conferences and much more.

SOURCE Hispanicize

Telemundo and Fan Appz partner to enhance of advertisers and leverage network´s growing 2.5 million fan base

2011-08-25T09:18:00.000-04:00

August 25, 2011 |Partnership Further Expands Telemundo's Social Media Footprint Through Social@Telemundo.

Telemundo announced today it has partnered with Fan Appz, one of Facebook's Preferred Developer Consultants, to leverage the network's growing social media fan base, which currently exceeds 2.5 million fans, and offer clients another way to connect with target consumers.

"We are always looking for strategic opportunities that will expand our footprint in the social media landscape while enhancing our " said Borja Perez, vice president, digital media and integrated solutions, Telemundo. "This partnership with Fan Appz provides our Social@Telemundo team with the tools to exponentially grow our fan base and offer our clients an opportunity to tap into consumers across another lifestyle touchpoint."

Social@Telemundo will implement Fan Appz publishing tools to provide clients and sponsors with ways to reach and connect with consumers across Telemundo's social media platforms through exposure via custom content, sweepstakes, and promotions in addition to interactive and engaging activities such as quizzes, polls and custom tabs.

"Fan Appz is the leading provider of social media marketing solutions for entertainment, sports, and media organizations. We are thrilled to be partnering with Telemundo to provide an interactive social experience to the fast growing U.S. Hispanic internet audience of over 29 million people through Social@Telemundo," commented Jon Siegal, Fan Appz Founder and CEO.

This partnership also provides Social@Telemundo with vehicles to reward Telemundo fans with entertaining giveaways strategically tied to network initiatives. One recent example is the iPad giveaway pegged to the launch of Telemundo's original novela "Flor Salvaje."

Social@Telemundo, which launched in February 2011, focuses on delivering its fans across Facebook and Twitter interactive experiences tied to TV programming. With dedicated social media resources tied to each of Telemundo's shows and novelas, Social@Telemundo aims to take the entire TV viewing process to a more engaging level. Building off the success of its Interactive Broadband Series, "Telemundo Live," and mobile social initiatives, Telemundo plans to expand its focus on sharing more access to its studios, shows and talent in Spanish and English.

Over 29 million U.S. Hispanics are online, and U.S. Hispanic Internet audience growth outpaced total U.S. online population by 50%.* 84% of Hispanics have a broadband connection versus 79% of non-Hispanics.** Entertainment, particularly video, plays a critical role in Internet use among U.S. Hispanics, and the Hispanic community overindexes in this area compared to the general market. 37% of Hispanics watch video on the Internet compared with 31% non-Hispanics, while 42% of Hispanics watch entire TV shows online compared with 28% of non-Hispanics. Additionally, Hispanics overindex in their use of smartphones, with 45% adoption compared with 27% adoption among general market consumers.***

About Telemundo

Telemundo Communications Group, LLC & Subsidiaries ("Telemundo"), a division of NBCUniversal, is a world-class media company, leading the industry in the production and distribution of high-quality Spanish-language content across its multiplatform portfolio to U.S. Hispanics and audiences around the world. Telemundo's multiple platforms include Telemundo, a Spanish-language television network featuring original productions, theatrical motion pictures, news and first-class sports events, reaching 94% of U.S. Hispanic viewers in 210 markets through its 14 owned stations, 1 independent station (WKAQ in Puerto Rico), 46 broadcast affiliates, and over 1,000 cable affiliates; mun2, the preeminent voice for bicultural Hispanics in the U.S., reaching over 35 million U.S. TV households nationwide on digital and analog cable, and satellite; Telemundo Digital Media, which leverages Telemundo's original content for distribution across digital and emerging platforms including mobile devices and and ; and Telemundo Internacional, the company's international distribution arm which has positioned Telemundo as the second largest provider of Spanish-language content worldwide by syndicating content to more than 100 countries in over 35 languages.

Source: comScore October 2010; Forrester Hispanic Technographics® Online Omnibus Survey, 2009; Nielsen 2011

5 Reasons Marketers Should Pay Attention To Google+

2011-08-11T14:00:00.000-04:00

August 11, 2011 | by Lee Van | Media Post

As the fastest-growing site in history, Google's month-old social networking platform Google+ is something Hispanic marketers should follow closely. Although not open to businesses yet, Google+ will soon be rolling out an offering for brands that will represent a real opportunity for Hispanic marketers for the following reasons:

1. Hispanics are active social media users

There is ample evidence that Hispanics are avid users of social media. Hispanics have been at the center of the social media phenomenon since it began, using social media to connect, share and express their unique culture. Today, social media sites Facebook and YouTube are the second and fourth most popular websites among Hispanics, I would not be surprised if Google+ also become popular among Hispanics who have taken to social media.

2. Hispanics are early adopters

When it comes to technology, Hispanics are eager and open to try new things. As I pointed out in February, Hispanics, regardless of language preference, are leading the way when it comes to mobile adoption. What's more, research from the Center for Hispanic Marketing Communication at Florida State University signals that Hispanics are early adopters of tablets and e-readers, therefore it is likely that Hispanics will try out Google+.

3. Unprecedented launch and adoption of Google+

At only a month old, Google+ has become the fastest-growing website in history, attracting 25 million global unique visitors. Early adopters of Google+ tend to be male, 18-34 and from high-tech cities such as Austin, Texas, and San Francisco's Bay Area. Although Hispanic adoption data of Google+ is not yet available, my hunch is that Hispanics are well represented among the early adopters.

4. Facebook has become a viable platform for engaging Hispanics

Countless brands, organizations and government agencies are successfully engaging with Hispanics via Facebook Pages and Facebook Advertising. Facebook has created an effective platform for marketing to Hispanics via social media and at the same time carved out a share of Hispanic online marketing budgets. Google is certainly aware of this and if Google+ is successful, Hispanic marketing dollars are sure to follow.

5. It's Google

True, Google's previous foray into social media with Google Buzz was a failure. But Google's massive reach among Hispanics is impressive and puts them in an enviable position to launch a new social network. In July 2011, Google.com was the most popular website among Hispanics reaching 25.7 million Hispanics or near 80% of the market. Hispanic marketers have been successfully using Google Adwords for years and the combination of Google+ and Google Adwords is certainly alluring. In addition, 7.2 million Hispanics visited Gmail in July representing a solid "built in" audience for Google+.

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Buckaroo adds social media capability for small business promotional marketing -- Facebook & Twitter feature increase reach for Buckaroo users

2011-08-10T14:37:00.002-04:00

San Jose, CA- August 10, 2011. - Buckaroo announced the release of Buckaroo social media promotions. In addition to custom email marketing campaigns, merchants can now run promotions through their Facebook and Twitter accounts.

As an alternative to daily deal sites like Groupon and LivingSocial, Buckaroo lets users run their own promotions, giving them full control over promotional terms, transactions and list management. A variety of popular promotion types are designed to drive new customers to the business.

“Buckaroo is designed with the small business user in mind, a user who can devote only a few minutes per week to promoting their business.” – Alan Fisher, Chairman, Buckaroo (Iron Speed, Inc.)

The addition of social media capability will offer another avenue of growth for Buckaroo users by extending their reach to new potential customers.

“Facebook and Twitter have opened doors for small, local, and emerging businesses to connect with consumers in a way not possible before. With the addition of our social media feature, Buckaroo aims to help businesses standout in an increasingly noisy marketplace.” – Alan Fisher, Chairman, Buckaroo (Iron Speed, Inc.)

Buckaroo is free during the beta period and is currently available at www.buckaroo.com.

About Buckaroo

Buckaroo’s parent company, Iron Speed, Inc. (www.ironspeed.com), founded in 1999, is well funded with a capital base of over $20M and strategic investors that include Arrow Electronics and Avnet, as well as executives from AMD, Excelan, Onsale, and Oracle. The company is based in San Jose, CA.

SOURCE: Buckaroo

Kmart produces YouTube miniseries, en espanol

2011-08-09T17:47:00.003-04:00

August 9, 2011 | By Brigid Sweeney

(Crain's)—Sears Holdings Corp. is testing its Spanish fluency with a slew of new social media efforts targeted toward Hispanic consumers.

The Hoffman Estates-based company, which owns both the Sears and Kmart retail chains, is launching a Kmart-branded back-to-school YouTube miniseries styled after Spanish telenovelas.

“The Hispanic community is rapidly growing online and we thought it was time to provide them with some content,” said

Nydia Sahagun, Sears' director of multicultural marketing. The show “is really about the bond between Latina friends and family.”

The eight-part series, called Madres y Comadres, follows two Latina mothers as they raise families in America while retaining their Hispanic identity.

The scripted, documentary-style shorts, filmed in Spanish with English subtitles, are accompanied by 12 video interviews with real mothers from Mexico, Peru, Guatemala and Colombia coping with the nuances of raising American children.

Shot in Darien, Conn. in a “Desperate Housewives”-style suburban enclave, Madres y Comrades features story lines including the mothers' reactions to finding out their carefully made tamales have been traded for classmates' tuna sandwiches or to a child's report card that shows an “A” in Chinese—but a “C” in Spanish.

Last week, the retailer also announced the creation of a Hispanic Facebook channel (Facebook.com/SearsLatino) and Twitter handle @SearsLatino, which communicates in both English and Spanish.

Kmart has also partnered with Latina celebrities Selena Gomez, a tween Disney channel star, and Sofia Vergara of the ABC sitcom “Modern Family” on clothing lines over the past year.

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Sears Expands Online Efforts with Launch of Sears Latino Social Media to Engage Hispanic Customers

2011-08-03T20:24:00.000-04:00

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., and SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Aug. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- As part of its far-reaching efforts to address the needs of the growing Latino market, Sears Holdings is announcing the launch of its Latino social media channels. With the launch of Facebook.com/SearsLatino as well as its Twitter handle @SearsLatino, Sears is showcasing its commitment to better engage with customers culturally and strengthen relationships within the Latino community.

"The Latino market is a vitally important customer segment for us. Given its population growth and high adoption of social media, this is a natural extension of our online initiatives," said Oscar H. Castro, director/GM International eCommerce. "We want to create an engaging community for all of our Latino customers, whether they prefer English or Spanish, and whether they are in California, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Brazil or elsewhere in the world. We want to embrace the diversity within the community and facilitate interesting conversations that will help them enjoy shopping with us even more."

In order to make online shopping more accessible and convenient for Latino customers, Sears encourages them to share stories and ideas, provide feedback and learn more about Sears' Latino initiatives while they connect with other Latinos who love the Sears brand. Conversations occur in both English and Spanish on the Facebook page, which serves as a forum to engage with U.S. Hispanics and customers in Latin America and Puerto Rico.

Sears also debuted a new Facebook experience titled "Mama Back to School", on Aug. 1, 2011. It will feature fashion trends 101; essential must-haves to complete an outfit; tips on accessorizing; and sale highlights to help customers prepare for the busy back-to-school season.

To entice and reward new followers to visit the Facebook page, Sears is teaming up with Whirlpool to offer exclusive deals and prizes to its new fans:

The Whirlpool Washer and Dryer Sweepstakes launches July 25. Fans can enter for a chance to win a Whirlpool washer and dryer. One winner will be selected at random.

The Whirlpool Kitchen Suite Recipe Contest launches Sept. 9. Fans can submit their favorite comfort food recipes. Ten finalists will be selected. The finalist with the most votes will win the Whirlpool kitchen suite.

A recipe gallery launches Oct. 3. All recipes submitted to the Whirlpool Kitchen Suite Recipe Contest will be available to fans via a tab on Facebook.

As an industry leader in e-commerce, Sears currently runs three websites that serve the diverse Latino market:

Sears Espanol: Launched in 2009, it serves Spanish-speaking customers in the continental United States.

Sears PR: Launched in 2010, it ships merchandise only to the island of Puerto Rico. This site serves island residents as well as customers in the U.S. who want to send gifts to someone on the island. The experience is available in English and Spanish.

Sears Internacional: Launched in 2009, this portal serves customers around the world, including 25 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. The site handles multiple currencies and is available in English or Spanish.

About Sears Holdings Corporation

Sears Holdings Corporation is the nation's fourth largest broadline retailer with approximately 3,900 full-line and specialty retail stores in the United States and Canada. Sears Holdings is the leading home appliance retailer as well as a leader in tools, lawn and garden, home electronics and automotive repair and maintenance. Key proprietary brands include Kenmore, Craftsman and DieHard, and a broad apparel offering, including such well known labels as Lands' End, Jaclyn Smith and Joe Boxer, as well as the Apostrophe and Covington brands. It also has the Country Living collection, which is offered exclusively by Sears and Kmart. We are the nation's largest provider of home services, with more than 12 million service calls made annually. Sears Holdings Corporation operates through its subsidiaries, including Sears, Roebuck and Co. and Kmart Corporation.

SOURCE Sears Holdings Corporation

Comcast adds Hispanic Networks

2011-08-02T21:43:00.000-04:00

August 01, 2011 | By Angelique Flores

Comcast Corp. is expanding the carriage of eight Latino networks.

When Comcast acquired NBC Universal, one of the commitments made was to expand the distribution of at least three networks that are owned or controlled by Latinos or target the Latino community by at least 10 million digital basic subscribers. Comcast will surpass that goal by 40% by adding about 14 million subscribers to eight Latino networks.

The eight networks that have expanded carriage on Comcast systems are Azteca America, Galavision, HITN, LATV, mun2, Telefutura, Telemundo and Univision.

Comcast, which serves more than 23 million U.S. subscribers, provides more than 60 Latino or Spanish-language networks on most of its major cable systems. Broadening the reach of these networks is the latest in a series of moves by Comcast to increase the availability of minority-focused programming on its cable systems.

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Pepsico’s Social Media Transformation

2011-07-31T03:44:00.000-04:00

July 29, 2011 | By Quentin Hardy

What kind of assumptions should a traditional consumer products company make about how much social media will change its business? At Pepsico, the assumption is that social media will change pretty much everything. The trick is to figure out how that will happen, and find cost-efficient ways to learn what is valuable.

“Long term, every product may be a computer, with a small chip inside the packaging for inventory data or a consumer message,” says Bonin Bough, director of social media at Pepsico (who also contributes to Forbes here). “We have opportunities for the package to be a kind of two-way media. We may be deploying more technology than Apple -we can have relationships with consumers like we’ve never had before.”

There is a lot of learning between here and there, but the point is to start engaging. I recently spent a couple of days looking at Pepsico’s efforts in social media. It’s a big, diffuse effort, involving hundreds of brands, from Pepsi and Propel to Quaker Oats and Doritos a la Turca –a brand of Doritos in Turkey, one of 200 countries where Pepsico operates. Pepsico has a significant presence not just in the grains and fruit of Fritos corn chips and Tropicana orange juice, but in an expanding Russian dairy business and grains, like drinkable oatmeal in Latin America.

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Kontagent announces partnership with global Latino social network Quepasa

2011-07-28T22:39:00.000-04:00

SAN FRANCISCO, July 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Kontagent, the leading user analytics company, today unveiled a partnership with Quepasa, Latin America's only publicly-traded social network and gaming platform for the Latino community with 35MM members globally. Quepasa also recently merged with teen social network MyYearBook.com, another Kontagent customer.

Under the new partnership, Kontagent will be given exclusive rights to power Quepasa's casual game portal Quepasa Games with its kSuite user analytics platform. kSuite is Kontagent's powerful user analytics platform that drives deep behavioral insights and usage patterns enabling developers to make data-driven decisions on game development and tuning.

Under the new partnership, Quepasa Games will be able to leverage the kSuite dashboard to gain insights into arbitrary user segments through custom event tracking and path analysis. Armed with this deep level of data, its developers will be able to gain insights they need to optimize their games around critical player retention and engagement metrics.

The kSuite analytics solution solves the persistent problem application developers face today in processing and filtering through massive data sets to find the most actionable metrics and insights. By teaming up with Kontagent, Quepasa is now able to access the company's sophisticated scalable data processing and its best-practices framework for analyzing user data.

"We're proud to partner with Quepasa to offer kSuite to a wider group of game developers for the Latin American audience. We believe this deal will allow thousands of game developers to gain unprecedented levels of insights to optimize user experiences and drive higher ROI," said Jeff Tseng, co-founder and CEO of Kontagent. "With the explosion of online data, a data-driven philosophy is becoming a significant requirement for people at all levels of an organization. We will continue to bring to market the best products and services for our clients and partners."

About Kontagent

Kontagent is the leading user analytics platform for developers, marketers, product managers and strategic partners across the social and mobile web. Our proprietary platform kSuite has been built from the ground up to provide deep social data pattern visualization and analysis that delivers actionable insights via an on-demand service. Kontagent tracks more than 1,000 social applications, over 150 million monthly active users, and in excess of 15,000 messages every second. Kontagent is funded by ALTOS Ventures and Maverick Capital, with additional funding from Facebook and other well known angel investors. Founded in 2007, the company is headquartered in the SOMA district of San Francisco with additional offices in Los Angeles and Toronto, Ontario. For more information, go to www.kontagent.com.

About Quepasa Corporation

Quepasa Corporation is a social media technology company which owns Quepasa.com, the leading online social network and game platform for the Latino community, Quepasa Games, a cross platform social game development studio, and Quepasa DSM, a cross platform social advertising and contest platform. Quepasa.com provides fun, interactive, and easy to use social tools, and rich multimedia content in English, Spanish and Portuguese to embrace Latinos everywhere, and empower them to connect online, compete in contests and games and share their interests, ideas, and activities. Quepasa is headquartered in West Palm Beach, Florida with offices in Miami, Los Angeles, Scottsdale, Hermosillo, Mexico, and Curitiba, Brazil. For more information about the company, go to www.quepasacorp.com, or join for free at www.Quepasa.com.

SOURCE Kontagent

AP Capital Partners Acquires Controlling Interest In New Futuro

2011-07-28T08:30:00.000-04:00

Orlando, FL. (PRWEB) July 27, 2011

AP Capital Partners announced that it had successfully completed the acquisition of a controlling interest in New Futuro, LLC. New Futuro is the nation’s premier one-stop resource for bilingual, culturally relevant information about education and career development for Latinos. To those ends, New Futuro provides Fortune 1000 clients and government agencies with the nation’s most compelling social and digital media center for reaching Latino consumers. The deal was officially consummated in early 2011. Management retained substantial equity in the company. No other deal terms were disclosed. New Futuro became eligible for Minority Business Enterprises (MBE) status, as an AP Capital Partners (APCP) portfolio company.

“We are extremely excited to bring New Futuro into the APCP portfolio,” said Frantz Alphonse, Co-founder and Managing Partner of APCP. “APCP invests in operating companies and executives alike that, before partnering with us, have a demonstrated track record for outstanding performance, while providing excellent service and driving significant value to their clients among the Fortune 1000 and government agencies”. Mr. Alphonse assumed the position of Co-Chairman of the Board along with New Futuro Co-founder, Martin R. Castro. President Barack Obama recently appointed Mr. Castro Chairman of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. Mr. Castro is also Chairman of the Illinois Human Rights Commission by appointment of Gov. Pat Quinn.

New Futuro

New Futuro is a purpose driven, integrated media company that provides Latino families with the knowledge, guidance and professional social network they need to get their students into college and beyond. To accelerate scale, New Futuro operates national outreach programs that engage millions of Latinos in their communities and create bridges to the New Futuro online platform. To ensure sustainability, New Futuro partners with non-profits, educational providers and corporate sponsors to build a valuable ecosystem that operates within the New Futuro platform. New Futuro is currently partnered with more than a dozen national and community-based Latino organizations and education providers many of which are also members of New Futuro’s National Advisory Board. New Futuro’s corporate partners include Fortune 1000 companies and world-class organizations such as Allstate, Univision, Sylvan Learning, The Tribune Media Group’s Hoy and others.

Peter Wilkins
Pete Wilkins is the Co-founder and CEO of New Futuro. Wilkins incubated New Futuro several years ago in partnership with Sterling Partners, a private equity firm with $4 billion under management and a preeminent investor in for-profit education enterprises. Prior to New Futuro, Wilkins was employed by Kohlberg Kravis & Roberts (KKR) Capstone, KKR’s operation group, where he served as President of PRIMEDIA Healthcare. KKR is one of the world’s leading private equity firms with over $60 billion under management. While at the helm of PRIMEDIA Healthcare, Wilkins turned the organization around from record losses to record profits and built one of the premier online physician communities in the world. Separately, Mr. Wilkins had also served in executive roles for two technology companies that collectively sold for over $2.8 billion.

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TwinCitiesList.com the online source for local business in the Twin Cities

2011-07-27T03:22:00.001-04:00

July 26, 2011 | by Anthony Carranza | The Examiner

Minn. (MN)—TwinCitieslist.com the local business directory website catered to the Twin Cities and Metro Area, leverages strong community engagement through social media and claims to have the best business information in Spanish and English that is easily accessible online.

Founded and launched in January 2011, the idea of a dedicated Latino business directory stemmed from a conversation between the founder and President Manuel Collaguazo with several entrepreneurs from various industries within the community.

In an area of economic struggle it’s important to identify the demographics and understand social media behavior to find a list of potential clients to generate business.

The state of Minnesota undergoing major demographic changes in the last census, the Latino population grew 4.7 percent. In other words, a 74.5 percent increase in the last decade alone. This data standing on its own represents opportunities to start a business in the Twin Cities.

The president of TwinCitieslist.com saw an immediate opportunity to grow the business in the Latino community; while it capitalized on social media strategies that can make businesses more profitable.

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10 Concerns About Pay-As-You-Go Internet Service

2011-07-26T17:25:00.000-04:00

July 25, 2011 | By ISP

Pay-as-you-go Internet service isn’t a new idea; versions have been available for years. One of the attractions of the method is that there are no contracts necessary, another is that the consumer doesn’t pay for unused service. Pre-paid service, like telephone calling cards, may also work well for people who travel a lot. There are a number of concerns about pay-as-you-go, however, and some of those are presented here.

Cost – In general terms the average home-user will find that pay-as-you-go plans are much more expensive than other plans, though people who don’t use the computer much may actually benefit from pre-paid plans.

Hostage Situation – There are legitimate concerns about ISP’s virtually forcing a more expensive service down the throats of unwilling customers by cutting back on unlimited service offerings.

Price Hikes – Some of the plans now offered by ISP’s have pricing structured so that any over-usage results in dramatic price increases, and customers may not be aware of extra charges until it is too late.

Tracking Usage – Keeping up with cell phone use is difficult enough, but trying to track how many gigabytes a customer is using is nearly impossible for the average user.

Netflix – Publicly, Netflix says it has no problem with caps on use plans, but they do say the rates in Canada, where Netflix hopes to be a major player, are often prohibitively high.

Politics – Consumer advocates point out that ISP’s stand to profit handsomely at the expense of consumers, while ISP’s defend their right to turn a profit, and claim that consumers are actually being given more options than ever before.

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Spanish Social Media Can Serve as a Substitute to a Full Blown Translated Retail Site

2011-07-26T04:29:00.000-04:00

Nissan Americas is launching a Spanish-language Facebook page, offering Spanish-language information on Nissan's vehicles. The reason, according to Erich Marx, Nissan's director of interactive marketing, is obvious: "Research shows that Latinos - who make up a rapidly growing demographic segment with a high proportion of young people — are using social media to find their voice and engage with consumer brands," he says. "We view our Spanish-language presence on Facebook as a critical channel for connecting with the Latino community."

Indeed, social media could prove, in some cases, to be the only channel by which a brand needs to connect with the Latino community.

Foreign Markets

Social media, of course, has long been recognized as being a good vehicle for companies to make inroads into foreign markets. However, there is also data that suggests it serves just as well when targeting Hispanics outside of their traditional markets. Lee Vann, founder and CEO of Captura Group, has found that it doesn’t makes sense to provide a complete Spanish language version of an e-commerce site. Rather, he wrote for Mediapost, targeted Hispanic advertising including social media, Spanish language customer support and relevant Spanish language content "can go a long way in building relationships with online Hispanics."

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48 Essential LinkedIn Tips Your Teachers Won’t Tell You

2011-07-25T14:01:00.000-04:00

LinkedIn is a great tool for college students, whether they’re freshmen or getting ready to head out and start a career. Many professors are good about promoting the use of LinkedIn, but even the most web-savvy of them doesn’t know everything. We’ve collected 48 excellent LinkedIn tips that you should put to work for the future of your career.

1. Remember LinkedIn isn’t Facebook: LinkedIn is a professional website. It can be fun, but it should be professional, and so should your actions on LinkedIn.

2. You can set up job alerts: Set up alerts to get notified of recommended jobs, and you’ll see them on your profile as soon as you log in.

3. Even students need a LinkedIn: You may not be actively searching for a job now, but when the time comes around, it’s too late to start making a networking effort. Get started on LinkedIn now, and the connections will be there when you need them.

4. Write your profile for your future: Make a good impression by writing your profile with the future in mind.

5. It’s not enough to build your profile and walk away: Update often so your connections always know what’s going on with your professional life.

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PlayStation®Store, PlayStation Blog and Website Officially Launch in Brazil

2011-07-25T05:18:00.000-04:00

FOSTER CITY, Calif., July 22, 2011 -- /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC (SCEA) announced today the launch of PlayStation®Store in Brazil on the PlayStation®3 (PS3™) system as part of the plans to extend digital entertainment throughout Latin America.

Brazil will be the second country in Latin America to enjoy digital content from PlayStation®Network for PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system and PSP™ (PlayStation®Portable) handheld entertainment systems. PlayStation Network in Brazil already has multiplayer online gaming, chat functionality, social networking links, trophies and friends list. PlayStation Store in Brazil will offer a great variety of digital content to purchase and download, such as games, game demos, and PSone™ Classics, among others.

PlayStation Network users in Brazil will get access to a variety of content in the PlayStation Store without leaving home, and purchases can be made by using credit cards and soon-to-be-announced PlayStation Network pre-paid cards that will be available at a variety of local retail stores. Brazilian users will have the option to view the PlayStation Store in English or fully localized Brazilian Portuguese. Prices for the digital content are displayed in local currency, Brazilian Real.

PlayStation Store in Brazil will launch with around 200 pieces of content for the PS3 system, from Sony Computer Entertainment and various third party publishers, including Ubisoft and Capcom. There will be weekly updates to the PlayStation Store, and more downloadable games for both the PS3 and PSP systems will also be added starting August 2.

"Our game selection was made specifically with the Brazilian gamer in mind", said Mark Stanley, General Manager for Latin America. "When Brazilian users sign in to PlayStation Store, they will find the best and most popular titles such as God of War™: Collection, inFAMOUS™, Assassin's Creed II: Deluxe Edition. PSone Classics like Metal Gear Solid and Street Fighter Alpha. Brazilian consumers will also be able to test new releases such as Heavy Rain, Killzone™3, God of War™3, LittleBigPlanet™2 and demo upcoming titles. We will continue to develop and load more and more regional content as PlayStation Network expands in Brazil."

In addition to the launch of PlayStation Network in Brazil, SCEA is also announcing the launch of the PlayStation Brazil Blog (http://blog.br.playstation.com/) where Brazilian media and consumers will find official news and PlayStation Brazil Website (www.br.playstation.com) where all Brazilians will be able to access product information, the customer service knowledge center and the most recent information from the official source in real time.

As part of our PlayStation Network launch, we are happy to announce our Welcome Back program for our Brazilian users. Brazil users that had an account prior to the PlayStation Network outage will be eligible for the following free games:

Selection of 2 PS3 games from the following list:

Dead Nation™

inFAMOUS

LittleBigPlanet

Super Stardust™ HD

WipEout™ HD + Fury

Selection of 2 PSP games from the following list:

LittleBigPlanet (PSP)

ModNation™ Racers

Pursuit Force™

Killzone™ Liberation

We also offer a bonus free dynamic theme titled Pixel Wonderland. Everyone that comes to PlayStation Store (whether they have an established or new account) will see and be able to download the free dynamic theme. The Welcome Back "category" on the PlayStation Store will remain active through midnight on Sunday, August 21st, giving users a full 30 days from the official PlayStation Store opening to take advantage of this Welcome Back offering. In case you need assistance downloading games, please send your questions and needs to the PlayStation Brazil Blog (www.blog.br.playstation.com).

About Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

Recognized as the global leader and company responsible for the progression of consumer-based computer entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) manufactures, distributes and markets the PlayStation®game console, the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, the PSP™ (PlayStation®Portable) handheld entertainment system and the PlayStation®3 (PS3™) system. PlayStation has revolutionized home entertainment by introducing advanced 3D graphic processing, and the PlayStation system 2 further enhances the PlayStation legacy as the core of home networked entertainment. The PSP system is a handheld entertainment system that allows users to enjoy 3D games, with high-quality full-motion video, and high-fidelity stereo audio. The PS3 system is an advanced computer system, incorporating the state-of-the-art Cell processor with super computer like power. SCEI, along with its subsidiary divisions Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd., and Sony Computer Entertainment Korea Inc. develops, publishes, markets and distributes software, and manages the third party licensing programs for these platforms in the respective markets worldwide. Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, SCEI is an independent business unit of the Sony Group.

PlayStation is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. PSP and PS3 are trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

SOURCE: Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC

New Hope's MyYearbook.com sold for $100M

2011-07-21T17:27:00.000-04:00

Thursday, July 21, 2011 | By Crissa Shoemaker DeBree

MyYearbook.com, the New Hope-based social networking site focused on teens, will be sold to Quepasa Corp. for $100 million, the two companies announced.

The deal between MyYearbook and Quepasa, owner of the Latino social network Quepasa.com, will allow both companies to expand globally and increase revenues generated from users, executives said.

“What this really gives us is global reach,” said MyYearbook CEO Geoff Cook. “At the end of the day, what we’re after is creating the leading global platform for social discovery. You can’t do that if you’re just in the United States. This expands our coverage dramatically. We’re going to have a much stronger user experience and a global brand.”

Together, the two companies had annual revenue of $33.6 million and earnings of $5.9 million as of March 31. They also had 2.4 billion monthly page views.

Quepasa, headquartered in West Palm Beach, Fla., is a publicly traded social networking company dedicated to Latino users. It has a large base of members in Mexico and Brazil.

MyYearbook, founded in 2005 by siblings Catherine and David Cook when they were still in high school, is the leading social networking site for teenagers and one of the Internet’s top sites by page views. Last month, Catherine and older brother Geoff won Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year award for Greater Philadelphia.

Quepasa will pay $82 million in stock and $18 million in cash to fund the acquisition. The deal, which requires shareholder approval, is expected to close in the fourth quarter.

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The 10 Essential Emoticons Everyone Should Know

2011-07-20T12:54:00.003-04:00

July 19, 2011 by ISP

I probably don’t need to tell you what a headache it can be to have something you’ve written be misread or taken out of context – the back-pedaling, the awkward explanations, and then explaining the explanations. Yes, communicating online is a tricky thing.

Since the creation of emoticons, thankfully, we’ve had some visual cues at our disposal to help convey feeling or intent more clearly. Emoticons, or icons that indicate emotion by the use of keyboard characters, have become an integral part of our online lexicon. As a textual shorthand for everything from instant messaging to text messaging, there are 10 essential emoticons you need to know:

:-) The Smiley Face – This one is the grand-daddy of them all, the first-born of our “iconic” lingo. It tells the reader that whatever is said in association with it is intended to be read in a friendly/jovial/non-threatening tone.

;-) The Wink – Another versatile character, this emoticon expresses anything from playfulness, flirtation, to a sort of “just between you and me” confidentiality. It’s also frequently used, as is the smiley face, to say “just kidding”. Careful with these two. Use them too often, and it becomes obvious to the recipient that you’re really not just kidding.

:-( The Frown – Expresses sadness, disapproval, sympathy, or “I just figured out that you really aren’t just kidding”. I told you to be careful.

:-D The Laughing Face – Self-explanatory, but context is important here. You’d like to know, after all, whether you’re sharing in the laugh – or being laughed at.

:^* The Kiss – When you’ve moved beyond the simple smile or flirtatious wink, it’s time to pucker up with this little number. This can be used to maximum effect when combined with:

( ) The Hug – A parenthetic embrace, the hug conveys affection or empathy. Additional parentheses can be used for emphasis, but use this one sparingly, lest it lose its charm. Also, as in the case of all emoticons, the hug is not recommended for business correspondence. You could be labeled a suck-up … or worse.

<3 The Heart – Another emoticon for saying ‘I love you’. When used in conjunction with the kiss and the hug, now you’re really getting sappy. Easy does it. You can’t take these things back, you know.

:-O The Surprised Face – This one expresses shock or dismay, as in:“I can’t believe you just e-mailed hugs to the GM, you suck-up”. Combine this with the laughing face when someone shares a bawdy joke or story.

:-/ Confused Face – Bewilderment, apprehension. “How am I going to explain those hugs to all my co-workers, and what the heck was I thinking using Reply All, anyway?”

{ } No Comment – Empty brackets indicate that you’ve got nothing to say in response. You probably should have learned the difference before replying to that office email from the GM.

Mayo Clinic launches Spanish-language healthcare social media initiatives

2011-07-20T10:18:00.000-04:00

Mayo Clinic, a stalwart in healthcare social media, announced Tuesday it launched two social media sites in Spanish to target the Hispanic social media community (That first sentence, by the way, means “Are you feeling better?”). The sites will help connect Mayo’s Spanish-speaking patient base, which continues to be an important source of revenue for the health system.

About 30 percent of Mayo’s international patients are Spanish-speaking. Many American patients speak Spanish too, through Mayo officials could not say what percentage American Spanish-speakers are among their entire U.S. patient base.

According to the U.S. Census, 16 percent of the U.S. population is Spanish speaking, making them the largest minority. More and more companies are targeting them with focused communications strategies. In the 2011 TeleNoticias-Latino Wire Hispanic social media survey, 81 percent of respondents said they plan to increase their use of social media as part of their overall Hispanic marketing program next year.

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starMedia Launches Fully Redesigned Portal to Keep Entertaining and Connecting Hispanic Communities

2011-07-19T15:10:00.002-04:00

MIAMI, Jul 19, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- New and redesigned channels, improved services and a range of interactive and social media features.

Paving the way to launch new services and integrate new content providers in the second half of 2011, starMedia today announced a major redesign of its portal, www.starmedia.com, to bring a new online experience to Hispanic communities looking for relevant local content, interactive services and social media connectivity. starMedia.com is a global portal connecting almost 25 million users across US and Latam countries with over 50% growth rates on yearly basis.*

In the most significant redesign that starMedia has ever undertaken, all media web channels have been revamped with a new, fresh and simplified look and feel. Recognized for its broad range of channels, quality content and extensive information, starMedia is further extending this area with the addition of new channels dedicated to technology and automotive. In addition well known 'classic' starMedia services like LatinChat, LatinGames, LatinCards or LatinMail have been updated along with popular student channel Rincon del Vago.

Commenting on the portal redesign, Josep Sole, Director of starMedia portal, said, "Our portal redesign builds on starMedia's strengths in providing fast access to up-to-date local content, an interactive and fun online experience and services for sharing information and keeping in touch. By integrating the latest technologies and putting social media at the heart of the redesign, starMedia paved the way to launch new services and embrace innovations in the second half of 2011."

This global redesign is just the first step in a period of investment and innovation for the portal. Plans include developing the portal for mobile or tablet platforms, providing a more personal experience and anytime, anyplace access. In another development, starMedia will bring on board new content partners, in order to extend its service into the English as well as Spanish language.

"This global redesign is just the first step for us. We have further exciting changes planned as we build the starMedia portal into a truly social Latin community that can be accessed and shared anywhere, at any time with the best content for users in the US and Latam countries," concluded Josep Sole.

The redesign was also undertaken with the needs of advertisers in mind. The clean and simple layout makes advertising stand out and gives greater opportunity for strong branding and the interactive elements give the opportunity to engage with starMedia's audience of 26 million.

Giuliano Stiglitz, CEO, Orange Advertising Network Americas, commented, "starMedia is one of the most important sites of our network and we are sure the new layout and look and feel will not only improve the user experience but also facilitate a better connection between our advertisers and the visitors of this traditional and famous Internet destination."

*CommScore May'2011

About starMedia.com

starMedia.com is a free-to-web global portal connecting more than 26 million Spanish-speakers through the Internet as well as providing them with the most relevant and extensive information and services. starMedia has local operations in Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Chile, Spain, and throughout the United States (Los Angeles, Miami and New York); and, is wholly owned and operated by Starm Interactiva S.A. de C.V. (a company located in Mexico) and Eresmas Interactiva, Inc. (a company located in Florida, USA), two companies which are part of the France Telecom Group FTE +1.29% .

About France Telecom and Orange

France Telecom Group is one of the world's leading telecommunications operators. Its key brand is Orange. With almost 131 million customers, the Orange brand now covers Internet, television and mobile services in the majority of countries where the Group operates.

Orange operates some of the leading web properties in the world, reaching a global audience of 67 million unique visitors each month. Orange currently has the largest web audience in Europe out of any operator, with 44.4 million visitors every month. It is Orange's digital strategy to help our customers get the most out of their digital lives -- acting as our customers' digital coach by delivering content and services across multiple screens that are relevant and tailored to the individual user. Our current portfolio includes Orange-branded country-specific websites for Orange customers such as www.orange.fr and www.orange.co.uk , as well as national and multinational portals reaching the broadest possible audience such as www.starmedia.com for Latin America, www.starafrica.com for Africa, www.cityvox.fr in France and www.wp.pl in Poland.

SOURCE: starMedia

Latino Facebook Users Increase by 167 Percent in One Year

2011-07-14T17:19:00.000-04:00

July 14th 2011, by Jorge Rivas

It’s no secret that Facebook has been mostly white since its inception. The social media site was founded at Harvard University and quickly expanded to other Ivy League schools across the nation, places that aren’t exactly known to be beacons of racial diversity. Until recently.

“Latino Facebook users grew 167 percent compared to 21 percent among non-Hispanics from April 2010 to April 2011 according to comScore,” said Juan Proaño, President of Plus Three, a web design and technology company that works with organizations to promote social change. They recently conducted a survey of social networking sites to determine the growth for Latinos.

Like many of their white counterparts, “Latinos are using Facebook to stay connected with family and friends and to stay connected with their identity,” Proaño said in a press release.

Plus Three also surveyed the top 1,000 Facebook fan pages and found 32 Latinos celebrities among the top 1,000. Only three Latinos broke into the top 100. Shakira was the top Latina celebrity with 35 million fans and ranked number eight on the overall list followed by Selena Gomez at number thirty-five and Enrique Iglesias at number forty-eight.

These demographic changes online can have lasting affects on social networking sites, and can even make sites more racially segregated.

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Hispanics in Social Media

2011-07-13T12:51:00.000-04:00

By Max Kelerstein, 360° Digital Influence

As the Hispanic market continues to expand in the U.S., more and more companies are targeting this ever- growing segment of the population through social media initiatives. A 2011 TeleNoticias-LatinoWire Hispanic Social Media Survey found that when marketers employ social media to engage with Hispanic consumers they turn to Facebook (84%), Twitter (62%), YouTube (42%) and Blogs (40%)

As a Hispanic who spends a rather large amount of time in the online space, I find it interesting that often we are still lumped together as one big group of people, as if we all behaved the same. It might come as a surprise to some but some of us like to get our messaging in English. Don’t get me wrong, I am fully bilingual, 100% proud of my Mexican background and I communicate with some friends and family in Spanish in person and online, but I like my promotions in English. Some friends of mine, on the other hand, are much more interested in Spanish promotions.

So why does this matter?

More often than not Hispanics are targeted on the basis of language and/or culture, and as Jose Villa from MediaPost.com points out, “most online Hispanics are comfortable reading and writing in English.” Moreover, the growth of the Hispanic market is happening thanks to the American-born children of immigrants, who are “bilingual, bicultural and increasingly influential within their multi-generational households.” so it is important that you know who in the Hispanic market you are targeting.

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