African-Americans Major Influence in Tech, Media and Buying Power

According to a comprehensive BET survey of the African-American community recently released, African Americans in 2008 accounted for a 10% increase in population from 2008 versus 2000, while African-American buying power increased more than 55% during the same period to $913 billion. By the year 2013 black buying power will reach $1.2 trillion dollars, a 35% increase versus 2008.

The “African Americans Revealed” study of more than 80,000 African-American consumers on multi-media engagement and digital applications, shows African-Americans are very tech savvy, with roughly 31% of African American discretionary spending dollars, or $39 billion, going toward the purchase of computers, cell phones and electronics – a proportionally higher percentage when compared to non-African-Americans.

African Americans:

* Spend more weekly time online (18 hours) than watching television (15 hours)
* 93% go online traditionally via their PC’s, while 76% access the web via their cell phones
* 60% have downloaded music, a TV show, movie or ringtone in the previous month
* 50% regularly update and access a social networking account

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Legit Web sites team up with shady operators

The link below leads to an example of why we created the “Online Social Responsibility” fan page on Facebook. In the article it’s noted that Fandango, after paying a hefty fine due to its relationships with unscrupulous web loyalty programs, has instituted a number of safeguards within its site and has ended its relationships with those programs. Fandango said it is “pleased to play a leadership role…to promote responsible marketing practices for the e-commerce industry related to online membership programs.” eDebit Pay aka EDReporting, when busted by the Feds for “piggy-backing” paydays loans with its debit cards, started a “web ethics” site, and advertised itself as a ethcis leader. 

These companies and these actions make it harder for the rest of us to make an honest living.

The pupose of the “Online Social Responsibility” fan page is to create an awareness that the web is an environment, and like the three dimensional world around us, it’s vulnerable to pollution, and other types of degradation. We want to create an association of companies that care about the future of the web. This is still a work in progress. Much needs to be defined and, in fact, we depend on your thoughts and opinions. We’d like it if you became a fan of “Online Social Reponsibility”. 

The article, Legit Web sites team up with shady operators

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eBrand Media launches “Online Social Responsibility” Facebook fan page

eBrand Media endorses Online Social Responsibility for the purpose of creating an awareness that the web is an environment, and like the three dimensional world around us, its vulnerable to pollution, and other types of degradation. Therefore Online Social Responsibility not only applies to interactions between marketers, companies and users of the web, along with our relationships with one another on Social Networks, but also to the interaction between the eyes, mind, feelings, and thoughts. eBrand Media will always support freedom passionately but we’re ardently against immoral means of manipulation meant to cause an action that an end-  user will later regret.

Online Social Responsibility is about connecting with individuals, companies and organizations who abide by the principles of transparency, honesty, and fair play. Our code of ethics and our beliefs are the conscience, heart, and backbone of eBrand Media. Companies who affirm Online Social Responsibility live by the core values listed on the next page.  Do you? 

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Trends and Insights On Web 3.0

Software applications provider ICON believes that the next generation of the web, or “Web 3.0,″ promises more recommendations, free services, intelligent (semantic) searches, and tailored information. In an effort to heighten awareness about Web 3.0, Gege Gatt, the founder and director of ICON, recently identified some broad trends that are in tune with Web 3.0.

“To put the list in context,” says Gatt, “we’ve identified some broad trends that dominate the new crop… and which are in tune with the next generation of the web… which is no longer random data, but tailored, highly intuitive and delivered in real time.” 

According to Gatt, these trends are:

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New Chart: Perceptions about Social Media are Changing – How Social Media is Perceived at Budget Time

By Sergio Balegno, Senior Analyst

The question was — Which statement best describes how social media marketing is perceived within your organization at budget time?

Considering that social media is at a very early stage in its lifecycle, a 7% confidence rating that it is producing measureable ROI and should be funded liberally is outstanding.

Conservative budget increases by half of all organizations at budget time — based on the promise that social media will eventually produce ROI — is another vote of confidence in the medium for the longer term.

The 17% of organizations who still believe social media marketing is basically free and should stay that way, are destined to get what they pay for.

Not surprisingly, those who have reached the strategic phase of social marketing maturity are far more likely to be producing measurable ROI or at least seeing signs of a return on their investment on the horizon.

On the other hand, marketers in the trial phase of social marketing maturity are more than four times as likely to not recognize the value this tactic has for organizations willing to invest appropriate time and resources.

Social Media Budgeting Importance

For additional research data and insights about social marketing, download and read the free Executive Summary from MarketingSherpa’s 2010 Social Media Marketing Benchmark Report.

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