Latino Rebranded: Latinos and Social Media

Since, I’m an experimenter in the cocina, I recently started using the hashtag #ethnicfood on Twitter to keep track on some of my food-capades .

In the above pic, I enjoyed a Corona, pastel from PR, including homemade hot sacue.

Here are a few more links to share w/ you:

• An online coquito recipe from a good pal of mine.

• Here’s a good one for Puerto Rican hot sauce, but be careful if your a light weight.

• Mostly burrito’s here at the Burrito Blog.

UPDATE 12/30/2009 17:38 : Should we be still using ‘ethnic’ in relation to food these days? In retrospect, I reconsidered and will start using #cocina (special thanks to @nueva_voz for suggestion)

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Subtitle: Latino Leader Interviews

I’m extremely honored to be listed as a “Rising Star” among other great Latino innovators.

For the first time in its 10-year history, Latino Leaders Magazine has published a digital version of its magazine. Although new, the digital version provides all of the same content, interviews and images readers have come to expect from Latino Leaders. Beginning with our December edition, Latino Leaders will be available in both print and digital.

Sign up, and check it out.

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As impressive as the numbers are of the increasing involvement of Latinos on the web are (22% of the internet population), I think the one common denominator is population growth (45.5 million people).  All of the below, are summaries of what I’ve discussed via my social media portals throughout the year.

Spanish Language Content

With more Latinos now on the web, it only makes sense that we’ll start seeing more Spanish content. This may be misleading because those who access the web are generally more acculturated (78%), but there are those who are entering exclusively via mobile devices and it is this population that we’ll see more targeted material directed toward.

Latino Organizations Including Social Media

There will be more Latino organizations including ’social media’ within their agendas and conferences.  This year there was a conference from LatinVision:  Convergence 2009 Digital & Social Media Conference,  and then there is the upcoming  The 2010 Hispanic Public Relations & Social Marketing Conference. I know of another conference in Florida, and yet another in California that follow the same suit (not to mention the bold and ballsy LATISM group).

Multicultural Marketing

It’s always been a numbers games, because numbers equal influence.  With over 45.5 million Latinos in the US, with a buying power to reach $1 trillion by 2011, combined with an impressive adoption of technology, Latinos are poised to be the sweethearts of big business and professionals alike, if not already.  There will be huge increases toward targeting the Latino population and their money through 2010.

More Latinos in Social Media

With the recent release of Facebook demographics showing the trend of increasing diversity, it only makes sense that it won’t slow down.  Latinos are social, and are adapting social media by storm.  This also means more Latinos on micro-networks, and more blogs.

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Subtitle: Giving Back

In an error of Change, where people are once again thinking globally, here’s your chance to give back, now and always – once you start to care, you will never stop caring.

I truly believe that the world will change with the power of non-profit organizations, and humanitarianism.

So, If you’re a blogger, Latino/a (Hispanic/Xicano/Cuban/Boriqua/Taino…human and care about children), then post this widget (hit copy), on your blog or social media site (customizable here).

If you don’t do social media, then just give.

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I’ve been saying that v-v-video is the new communication platform. Especially for us men, since we are visually inclined creatures.

My pal Julito outdone himself this time:

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Another huge project I am working on:

Latinos in Social Media and Being Latino presents:

Our 1ST ANNUAL THREE-KINGS DAY ONLINE TOY DRIVE & FUNDRAISER to benefit The Children’s Aid Society’s Latino Outreach Initiative
[http://www.childrensaidsociety.org] and the United Nations Children’s
Fund [UNICEF] [UNICEF: http://www.unicef.org/]

January 6th, the traditional day for gift-giving in Latin American tradition, to bring joy to disadvantaged Latino children in the US and Latin America.

The Toy Drive & Fundraiser will have two levels:

1st Level: Thanks to generous donations from our sponsors Time To Play,
Ingenio and Discovery Toys we will be donating new unwrapped bilingual Educational toys to the Latino Outreach Center of the Children’s Aid Society, located in Washington Heights, New York City. The toys will be distributed to poor Latino children in the area.

2nd Level: We will be collecting donations from our growing online
networks. This monetary donation will benefit UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund, and be distributed through UNICEF to centers aiding disadvantaged children in Latin America.

LAUNCH DETAILS:
• WHAT: Live Twitter Party
• WHEN: December 30th 2009, 8pm – 10pm EST
• WHERE: Twitter (use hashtag #latismtoydrive or enter latismtoydrive in
TweetChat.com – you must have a Twitter account).

HOW YOU CAN HELP:
• Donate ONLINE through our Chipin/PayPal account (http://bit.ly/7B8yL0).
Donations accepted until January 3rd, 2010. Donations accepted until January 3rd, 2010.

• Make a toy donation by sending new, unwrapped toys to: The Children’s
Aid Society -105 East 22nd St. Please use codename: LATISMTOYDRIVE. Toy donations will be accepted until January 4th, 2010.

• Follow and Retweet our Toy Drive message using #latismtoydrive on Twitter

• Write about it on your blog

• Post up toydrive widgets on your blog (http://bit.ly/5urQXF) and social networks.

All Toy Drive, Donations totals and ceremony pictures will be posted on
our Latism.org and Being Latinos website on January 6, 2010.

We thanks our sponsors Time To Play, Ingenio and Discovery Toys for
their generous toy donations, and our social media community for their
support!!

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With this new series, Latinos who are at the forefront of influence will be asked a series of questions to get to the core of their drive and passion.  It is from their direction I believe, that we will find a source of inspiration and encouragement.

Recently, I had the pleasure of meeting Jose Marquez, and his team of leaders from LISTA.  Just this month in NYC, they had a great conference and a superb gala.

Who are you and what do you do?

I am Jose Marquez President, founder and CEO for Latinos in Information Sciences and Technology Association

Why Technology?

In a techno economic society such as ours the currency is data, our community need to understand science, math and Technology in order to level the playing field and prosper in the US.

Why LISTA?

LISTA is an organization of thought leaders everything from engineering software to web development LISTA has members in every field. As an organization LISTA gives back our members talent to educate our community and give them the tools to empower themselves to conquer the digital divide.

What is some of your personal goals that coincide w/ national Latino agendas?

LISTA goals are simple to educate, motivate and encourage the latino community with the use of technology for their empowerment to close the Digital divide. Our focus is to make sure our community has a place at the table when the y are making decisions that affect us. Our agenda like everyone is health care for the many Latinos without, Health Technology and how it will affect us directly and broadband access for all Net Neutrality.

Where can we find you online?

www.a-lista.org
www.technocentro.org
www.techlatino2030.org

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Subtitle:  Promoting Latino Authors with Social Media

Social media has many great potentials.  I’m constantly amazed by the innovation that individuals display.

Again and again, I see come across very unique ways individuals are using social media to engage the market.

A while back, we saw how one individual came up with how to learn a different language, with social media.  For this entry, here’s a mention of a virtual book tour promoting Latino authors.

The purpose here is to promote authors in the Latino market, and get other blogs on board to promote the same.

I have to mention that Jo Ann, is steadfast in promoting this – I get an email daily from her concerning this.  That’s commitment!

Her name is Jo Ann Hernández and when she’s not reviewing books for Latina Lista or writing her own novels or blogging on her own site, she has always been advising other Latina/o authors how to promote themselves. Now, she’s created a special site just to help those same authors launch their careers — starting in cyberspace.

BronzeWord Latino Virtual Book Tours is a one-stop shop for authors who want to reach the Latino market. The way the virtual book tours work is Jo Ann and her staff contact various Latino bloggers about hosting a virtual book tour on their site with a particular author. The author makes a commitment to visit those blogs during the scheduled times and interact with the blogger and their readers.

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Subtitle: Represent

Why social media?  Why Latinos?

Latinos especially should be taking advantage of new media capabilities.  The leverage created by new media tools are profound, they are the “great equalizers” of the internet age.

This realization is important, because as Latinos we are doing more than just adding individual commentary and opinions on daily events, but representing and adding our voices and culture to the national dialogue.  This means we are telling our stories, and are not leaving it up to someone else to speak for us.

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Subtitle:   “I always feel like, somebody’s watching me…” -MJackson

At this time, if you are a Latino in social media, it may not be such a straight forward deal.  Unknowingly you may have been recruited to be the representative voice for your locale or culture as a whole.

In the form of page visits and clicks there’s an audience watching and learning.  Many companies and individuals pick and choose which online site, group or individual will be their representative ‘lab-Latino.’

For instance, here’s a live one:  “Meet Tony, The Intern”

We recently hired an intern named Tony to help us with a couple of projects here at Captura Group. As I have gotten to know him, I realize that he personifies the online Hispanic consumers that we marketers are trying so hard to reach.Below, I introduce you to Tony and to the millions of Hispanics like him online today.

[excerpts...]

Tony is bilingual and bicultural
Tony is a proud “American Latino”
Tony is tech-savvy
Tony says “Don’t try too hard”

There are many examples of this.

I’m not saying this is a bad thing at all, but an interesting fact.  What better way to learn about the market than to study those who are identified as the key individuals?

Are you a lab-Latino?  How do you feel about being a possible study specimen?  Good?  Bad?  Why?

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