News (Noticias) Tagged ‘social media’

BabySpot.com announced today the launch of BabySpotLatino.com, a new social networking site for Latino parents and their families, which successfully debuted on the #1 Hispanic morning show, Univision’s Despierta America on Thursday, September 25th at 9:38am EDT. Within the first fifteen minutes after the show aired, over 100 Latino families joined the site. View the show at tinyurl.com/babyspotlatino .

Not only did the usage of social networking sites by Hispanics soar by more than 200% in 2006 according to Forrester Research, but they also suggest that U.S.-based Hispanic consumers are significantly more likely to participate in online social media than their non-Hispanic counterparts. BabySpot Latino addressed this surge by providing Latino parents and their families with a free, safe and secure forum (a Baby Spot) in which to celebrate the joys of becoming and being parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, as well as for networking and educational purposes to include sharing advice and experiences, staying in touch with relatives abroad and creating lasting friendships and business opportunities.

Zameer Upadhya, CEO of BabySpotLatino.com states, “Debuting on the leading Spanish language morning talk show as we are about to launch this new site is simply amazing. Our main goal is to provide an intimate, culturally relevant networking environment that allows for Latino parents and their families to safely connect on various levels with their family members and friends who are experiencing the same joys as they are.”

“NacerSano.org, the March of Dimes’ Latino arm, is going to provide BabySpot Latino with rich educational material on pregnancy and baby health issues designed to help keep families and their children happy, healthy and safe,” notes Mr. Upadhya.

Forrester Research notes that certain aspects of Hispanic culture attract Hispanics to the world of online social networking. Traditionally, Hispanics are early adopters of leisure technologies, which corresponds to using online social networking features. Furthermore, Hispanic culture emphasizes the group over the individual, hence looking to others for guidance.

Mr. Upadhya continues, “The unique features employed on BabySpot Latino are designed to cater to many Latino cultural aspects. Unique site features include options to facilitate in-person events, connection via live chat and blogging, Twitter-like micro-blogging for posting baby blurbs and profile updates, unlimited storage for videos and pictures and the latest in web 2.0 technologies which have been made easy to use. Features also include customizable private or public web page profiles, group formation and various organizational tools.”

A new report from Forrester Research shows U.S. Hispanics are active online social networkers. Three thousand online Hispanics were surveyed, and results showed 69% of Hispanic’s, compared to 42% of non-Hispanics, were characterized as spectators, meaning they peruse what others do, suggesting that this is a level where interactivity starts to increase. 40% of Hispanics, compared to 12% of non-Hispanics, were characterized as creators, meaning they actively pursued social networks by blogging, uploading photos and videos and creating personal web pages.

Additionally, research shows that out of 4 million US births, 25% of those were Hispanic. BabySpot Latino provides a cultural outlet for these families in order to add to the quality of their lives. “

General Mills Inc., today announced the launch of a year-long partnership with the Univision Network, the country’s leading Spanish-language television network, which will expand the reach of its highly successful Hispanic marketing platform, including the Spanish-language lifestyle magazine, Que Rica Vida, into television. The network’s Despierta America (”Wake-up America” M-F, 7 a.m. ET/PT; 6 a.m. Central) co-host Karla Martinez will be its new spokesperson. As such, Ms. Martinez will star in a series of 30-second vignettes that will air coast-to-coast over the next 12 months. Like the popular magazine, the vignettes will provide viewers with cooking- and nutrition-related tips, each featured by one of Que Rica Vida’s 14 participating General Mills brands.”As a young mother who has created a new life for herself and her family in the United States, Karla is the perfect person to facilitate Que Rica Vida’s conversations with consumers; the kind of person anyone would like to have as a friend,” said Que Rica Vida editor Ursula Mejia-Melgar. “We are excited to have her represent our initiative, which strives to be, ‘Una Amiga Para Siempre’ or ‘a friend for life’ to other Latina moms.”

Translated, Que Rica Vida means, “What a Good Life.” The magazine, along with its website (www.QueRicaVida.com), is the cornerstone of General Mills’ two-and-a-half-year-old, multi-brand Hispanic marketing initiative of the same name. Together, they constitute an important resource for Hispanic moms, who seek lifestyle tips, culturally relevant recipes, and solutions that preserve their heritage and traditions. With an overall quarterly circulation of 350,000, Que Rica Vida is distributed free of charge via direct mail, as well as at stores and community-based venues. Starting in 2009, a condensed version will also be distributed to more than 600,000 households as a free standing insert in various newspapers around the country.

In addition to venturing into the world of television, this year the publication also has enhanced its online presence with the creation of various Spanish-language brand micro-sites within www.QueRicaVida.com. The website will also include state-of-the-art graphics, podcasts and blogs written by several of the magazine’s regular contributors.

“All our research shows that since its inception two-and-a-half year ago, Que Rica Vida has been extremely successful in helping Latina women,” said General Mills Multicultural Marketing Director Rudy Rodriguez. “We want to build on that success by engaging our readers on other fronts, as well. The Internet especially allows for greater interaction - an on-going dialogue around a virtual dinner table, which for Hispanics is very familiar, and which they call a sobremesa, meaning, ‘over the table’.”

Sobremesas to Latinos are similar in tone to the water-cooler conversation that takes place in the general market, in which personal events and stories of the day are exchanged in a chatty way. Part of that conversation, both online and off, will include a new section sure to put a smile on readers’ faces. “Recetas para la Vida(TM)” or Recipes for Life(TM), is a unique, personal advice column in recipe form that will begin running in the magazine, as well as on the website. Created and written by two San Diego-based Latinas, Mexican-born Becky Krinsky and Argentine-born Iliana Berezovsky, their recipes “provide nourishment for the soul.”

“Life is a great kitchen, from where we all eat, which is why it’s so important to keep bettering its flavor,” the two authors explain. “It’s not always necessary to make drastic changes in our lives to be happier, just spice things up with new ingredients. Sometimes we can greatly improve our quality of life, simply by removing certain condiments that may be ruining our emotional palate. That’s what our recipes try to do.”

In addition to these enhancements, Que Rica Vida will also be launching this month a culturally-relevant health education initiative for Latinos called, Mente Sana en Cuerpo Sano (Sound Body, Sound Mind). The program is being co-sponsored by the Latino Nutrition Coalition, the Bell Institute of Health and Nutrition and 14 community-based partners from Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and Northern California. It is expected to provide vital health and nutrition information at the grassroots level to more than 10,000 people in its first year, alone.

About Que Rica Vida

Now in its third year, the Que Rica Vida initiative is an important resource designed to provide Latina moms with culturally relevant lifestyle information and expert advice on Education, Holiday Occasions, Health & Wellness and Family - issues of great importance to Hispanic families in America. The program was developed by General Mills to help the Hispanic mother succeed in creating a healthier, easier, richer life for her and her family. The cornerstone of the Que Rica Vida initiative is its free quarterly lifestyle magazine and website of the same name, www.quericavida.com

About General Mills

One of the world’s leading food companies, General Mills operates in over 100 countries and markets more than 100 consumer brands, including Cheerios, Haagen-Dazs, Nature Valley, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Green Giant, Old El Paso, Progresso, Cascadian Farm, Muir Glen, and more. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.A., General Mills had FY2008 global net sales of US$ 14.9 billion, including the company’s $1.2 billion proportionate share of joint venture net sales.”

Marketwire, a full-service newswire and communications workflow solutions provider, today announces the debut of NoticiasDigitales, the newswire industry’s first real-time business-to-consumer digital news service to publish Spanish-language news on Latin American websites. An enhancement to its Spanish-language press release distribution circuits, Marketwire’s NoticiasDigitales displays press releases on more than 100 leading newspaper, financial and economic news, and media websites and portals that bring corporate news to millions of influential Spanish-speaking viewers across North America, Central America and South America.

“With the rapid growth of social media and ‘citizen journalism,’ the future of the newswire industry depends on leveraging new technologies to offer effective business-to-consumer news delivery solutions,” commented Marketwire Vice President of Emerging Markets Hector Botero. “Ethnic, emerging and international markets represent enormous, untapped opportunities for an online digital news distribution service, and we are extremely excited to launch an industry first to our clients who target Spanish-speaking audiences.”

Participants in the large web network at the core of Marketwire’s NoticiasDigitales include major news media, business, finance and technology websites published in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Uruguay and Venezuela. Examples of participating websites are Caracol Radio, Clarín.com, Dinero.com, El Universal.com and Nacion.com.

A 30-day testing period revealed that between June 11 and July 11, 2008, Marketwire’s NoticiasDigitales received more than 4 million total impressions from visitors in 21 countries. Thirty percent, or 1.2 million of those impressions came from visitors in Colombia, an economy growing at 6.8 percent a year (two full points faster than the Latin American average); 29 percent, or 1.18 million of the impressions were from the United States; 13 percent, or 520,000 impressions, came from visitors in Argentina, a country that has experienced four consecutive years of more than 8 percent growth in GDP; and 11 percent, or 431,000 impressions, came from Mexico, a country counting the United States as its largest trading partner.

Now, by adding more than 100 websites and 3 million-plus monthly views to its comprehensive Latin America distribution circuits that, combined, reach more than 80,000 media points in Latin America, Marketwire reinforces its position as the leading Latin American market press release distributor. NoticiasDigitales is included in all of Marketwire’s Spanish-language press release distribution circuits: five Latin America/South America distribution packages; newslines to 17 Latin American countries; and its industry-leading North America Hispanic newsline that reaches more than 5,000 journalists and editors through Marketwire’s NoticiasFinancieras news syndicate generating news for print publications with combined circulation exceeding 3 million daily, and readership, including web properties, exceeding 10 million.

About Marketwire

The only fully integrated North America-based global newswire, Marketwire, Inc. is a full-service partner to IR, PR and MarCom professionals seeking top-tier news distribution, media management, multimedia and monitoring solutions. Marketwire’s customer-centric corporate philosophy focuses on being the best by infusing every aspect of its business with the following core attributes: precision, adaptability, innovation and simplicity.

Marketwire delivers its clients’ news to the world’s media and financial communities, fulfilling disclosure requirements in North America in compliance with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX), and serving as Primary Information Provider (PIP) with the UK’s Financial Services Authority (FSA). With a reputation for technology leadership, Marketwire offers innovative products and services — including Social Media, Search Engine Optimization, Dashboard Mobile Financial, News Dashboard coverage reports, exclusive access to networks such as the Canadian Press Wire Network, Easy IR and Easy PR workflow solutions, and more — that help communication professionals maximize their effectiveness while ensuring accuracy and best practices.

Having merged companies (Market Wire and CCNMatthews) in April 2006, and enjoying a combined history of 25 years of service, Marketwire is now majority-owned by OMERS Capital Partners, the private equity arm of one of Canada’s largest pension funds. Marketwire distributes the majority of press releases issued by publicly traded companies in Canada and serves more than 8,000 clients worldwide through 19 offices on four continents. For more information, visit us at www.marketwire.com. “*

The National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP) has signed a two-year agreement with VivaReal, operated by Bilingual Marketing Group, an online real estate media company, that will give its 15,500 members prominent placement on the recently launched Spanish-language web site VivaReal.us (www.vivareal.us). The online portal, which is in beta, provides Hispanic home-buyers with home-buying how-to videos, podcasts and educational content all in Spanish and links them with bilingual local real estate professionals and property listings they are interested in.

“VivaReal.us offers a perfect online meeting space for NAHREP members and Hispanic buyers that want to learn about the home-buying process, connect with experts and search for properties,” said Timothy Sandos, NAHREP President & CEO. “This is a great benefit for members because it also gives them a forum to share their expertise in their local markets through social media networking tools.”

Under the agreement, NAHREP members will be able to create a professional profile, upload property listings and generate a blog on the Hispanic home-buyer network that is gaining popularity with potential homebuyers.

“The sub-prime crisis has highlighted the need to educate Latinos at every step of the home-buying process,” said Brian Requarth, CEO of Bilingual Marketing. “We understand the growing need to have one reliable place online where Hispanics can start pursuing their dream of owning a home. VivaReal’s partnership with NAHREP brings together information specifically for Hispanic home-buyers, property listings and local professionals to help them make educated decisions to make that dream come true.”

VivaReal.us features user-friendly audio and video content in Spanish that communicates clearly with Hispanic home-buyers who want to learn more about the home-buying process. Topics such as “Choosing an Agent,” “Getting Prequalified for a Loan,” “Looking for and Finding the Right Home,” “Negotiating an Offer,” are just a few of the subjects covered.

The Spanish language web site currently has listings in major markets and, with recently agreed partnerships, will increase its database by over 100,000 listings in the coming months.

Under its partnership with NAHREP, Requarth and his company will teach bilingual agents how to create an effective blog that builds their profile in the online real estate community with other Spanish speakers. The service is free for NAHREP members.

According to a study issued earlier this year by the Pew Hispanic Center, more than one-in-two Latinos goes online and 76 percent of bilingual Hispanics use the Internet.

About VivaReal.us

VivaReal.us is where Spanish speaking professionals and home-buyers go to learn about buying and selling homes.

VivaReal is operated by Bilingual Marketing Group, which is a privately owned California company with offices in Santa Rosa, California and Bogota, Colombia.

About NAHREP

The National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals, a non-profit 501c6 trade association, is dedicated to increasing the homeownership rate among Latinos by educating and empowering the real estate professionals that serve them. Based in Washington D.C., NAHREP is the premier trade organization for Hispanics and has more than 15,500 members in 48 states and 62 affiliate chapters. “*

Public relations practitioners from all areas of the industry and aspiring students gathered at the Alumni Center at UCLA Thursday, June 12 for the Hispanic Public Relations Association’s (HPRA) third annual professional development seminar. The seminar provided a forum for news and industry trends, but also brought to light the networking trends of Latino professionals in their career advancement.

Among the 60 attendees, 53 percent agreed networking was the way to get recommendations or leads for employment. Of those, 47 percent agreed that social media was the way to increase job leads and networking opportunities, citing Facebook and Linked In as sites where they have a professional profile.

While social media may be the new frontier in professional networking, face-to-face interaction remains a strong preference. More than 80% of the seminar’s attendees cited networking being one of the main incentives for attending the seminar. Attendees also cited the seminar’s association with a Latino organization like HPRA as another reason for attending since more than 85 percent noted being a bilingual Latino as a helping factor in their current employment.

“Professional development and networking opportunities for our members are a key component of the mission of HPRA,” said Ivette Zurita, HPRA President. “With this seminar and our ongoing CHARLA program we hope to bring continued education for our members and communications professionals.”

On the professional development side, the half-day seminar featured industry leaders and media experts presenting three insightful workshops on key topics to enhance communications and career-building skills.

The first workshop, “Latino Issues in the General Market Media,” presented strategies and tips on how to place stories with a Latino interest in the general market media. Led by Julio Moran, Executive Director of the California Chicano News Media Association (CCNMA), the panel included: Hector Becerra, Los Angeles Times, East Los Angeles County Bureau Chief; Minerva Navarro, New York Times, West Coast Bureau Reporter; Carolina Garcia, Daily News, Executive Editor; Christie Fajardo, KTTV-TV Fox, Reporter; and Jose Mayorquin, KABC-TV Vista L.A. / Eye on L.A., Producer. The panel presented trends in the news helpful ways to re-position stories with a high Latino interest and make them relevant to General Market media. The panel also stressed the continuous need for bilingual practitioners who can relate to and communicate news agenda items relevant to the Latino community, such as legal immigration.

“It’s important to continue to meet the need for bilingual practitioners, and programs like this seminar and organizations like this [HPRA] can continue to promote the need for this,” stated Hector Becerra, Los Angeles Times, East Los Angeles County Bureau Chief.

The second workshop was a “Crisis Communication Roundtable” that included some of the industry’s leading crisis management professionals presenting case studies and valuable lessons learned, as well as crisis communications plans and tips on how to work with the media during a crisis. The roundtable was led by Manuel Valencia, Partner, Valencia, Perez & Echeveste PR, and included industry leaders such as: Joann Killeen, APR, Fellow PRSA, President, Killeen Furtney Group; Steve Hawkins, Managing Partner, PainePR; and Sebastian White, Spokesperson, JetBlue Airways.

The third and last workshop of the day, “Strategies to Building Your Career and Your Network,” was presented by networking expert Hank Blank and addressed the need and ways to maintain professional marketability by building business relationships.

Leading companies participated in the exhibitor area to showcase new resources to the Communications field. Among the companies in attendance were Cision, PR Newswire, Marketwire, Innovative Productions, UCLA Extension and the College of Communications at the California State University, Fullerton. Special thanks to Cision, RL Public Relations, Sportivo, and Edelman Worldwide for graciously sponsoring the program and PR Week, Tu Ciudad, and Cybelle Wines for donating services.

The event concluded with a dinner that allowed attendees to speak with panelists one-on-one, meet colleagues from the California Southland, and interact with the exhibitors.

The next event for HPRA will be a Political Forum talking about the Latino vote on Thursday, August 21st hosted at and by the Los Angeles Convention Center. For more details about HPRA, please visit www.hpra-usa.org .
“*

Greater Cincinnati integrated public relations and marketing consultancy firm Eisen Management Group has been named agency of record (AOR) for the Cincinnati Chapter of the National Society of Hispanic MBAs. The professional organization has hired EMG to develop and implement a new communications program and advocacy initiative designed to awareness, sponsorships and membership.

According to EMG president Rodger Roeser, one of the main thrusts of the campaign will be to build better general understanding of NSHMBA, and to bring a more “human element” to the chapter by sharing the benefits of professional development, networking and education offered by the organization to sponsors, current and prospective membership.

“It’s an incredible group of some of the best and brightest in our city, who are passionately dedicated to building understanding and fostering leadership,” Roeser says. “We as an agency look forward to utilizing our expertise to share those stories with fellow business leaders and the general public.”

NSHMBA Cincinnati chapter president Gema Bahns explained that Eisen was chosen not only because of its success in working with other professional organizations, but also because of the shared passion for their craft between agency and client. “You can see it in their eyes and their actions how much the group at EMG cares about its craft and its clientele,” Bahns said. “We know and appreciate that we are not the largest client in the world, but they make us feel like we are. We are a passionate group of hard working professionals dedicated to something larger than any of us individually, and EMG quickly understood what we needed, and put us into motion to achieve that.”

Roeser explained that the three main communications initiatives as part of the public relations campaign are:

• You need neither be Hispanic nor an MBA to join the chapter;
• it is a powerful networking, educational and sponsorship opportunity for businesses and leaders seeking to learn, profit and reach out to a high level, diverse audience, and;
• that stereotypes regarding Hispanics need to be addressed and overcome.

Roeser said he expects the agency to implement a social media and online campaign, combined with general operations and brand alignment, local publicity, and literature development.

There are currently 200 members of the Cincinnati NSHMBA chapter.

About NSHMBA

The National Society of Hispanic MBAs (NSHMBA) was created in 1988 as a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization. Widely known as the “Premier Hispanic Organization,” NSHMBA serves 32 chapters and 7,000 members in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. It exists to foster Hispanic leadership through graduate management education and professional development. NSHMBA works to prepare Hispanics for leadership positions throughout the U.S., so that they can provide the cultural awareness and sensitivity vital in the management of the nation’s diverse workforce. It’s vision is to be the premier Hispanic MBA professional business network for economic and philanthropic advancement, and its mission is to foster Hispanic leadership through graduate management education and professional development in order to improve society. More information can be accessed at www.nshmba.org.

About EMG

Eisen Management Group is a fully integrated public relations and marketing firm, providing strategic communications and marketing counsel, implementation and brand development. The firm specializes in creating growth opportunities for small to medium sized businesses, governmental and public affairs organizations, professional services, restaurant, retail and CPG. The firm also offers a full suite of in house graphic design, audio design and podcasting. Expert team, with guaranteed best agency rates in a fully integrated, responsive environment. More information can be accessed at www.BestCincinnatiPRFirm.com or by calling 859.291.4302.

Sonico, a Buenos Aires-based social network which we covered last month as it announced a substantial growth milestone within the Latin American market, has announced today that it has closed its Series A funding round. The network raised a total $4.3 million from DN Capital, a venture capital firm Boats-for-Busy-Sailors located in London, as well as private investors Fabrice Grinda (Zingy, OLX), Alec Oxenford (DeRemate, also OLX), and Martin Varsavsky (FON, Ya.com).”*

Professionals interested in Hispanic marketing are starting their day with a fresh Cup O’ Mambo (mercurymambo.com/blog/)from Mercury Mambo, the premier Hispanic event marketing (www.mercurymambo.com/mamboevents.html), sales promotion (www.mercurymambo.com/sales-promotions.html) and branding agency. With a track record (www.mercurymambo.com/services.html)of representing America’s most prestigious retail products, Mercury Mambo publicly launches its way into the blog world with content that provides the public and marketing professionals with the latest trends in Hispanic marketing.

Music, film, culture and current trends (not chisme) are just a few of the topics that will be featured in the blog, Cup O’ Mambo, which is being launched simultaneously with Mercury Mambo’s new, social media friendly Web site.

As marketers turn their focus on the increasing Hispanic market, “Cup O’ Mambo” will provide a daily dose for readers with regular posts relevant to the Hispanic community. Austin-based Mercury Mambo is kicking off their blog Mambo-style with a special music series beginning in May, Austin’s Latino Music Month. The posts will include pictures, video clips and the latest trends in Austin’s diverse Latino music scene, which is becoming nationally recognized. Mambo will be out in the field to provide their audience with up-to-the-minute information on a range of musical acts from different genres, including Norteño, Tejano, Latin Alternative and Salsa, amongst others.

Mercury Mambo’s launch into the Web 2.0 world will include RSS news feeds and interactive features set to roll out in the summer. The updated features will enhance the company’s conversations with its clients, consumers and extensive team of brand ambassadors in key Hispanic markets throughout the country.

The Web site also incorporates the agency’s favorite color, verde, which is more than a color, it’s a mission. The eco-friendly agency recently did a green renovation of a new office building to account for their expanding staff, a sign of growth that Mercury Mambo Agency Partner,Liz Arreaga (www.mercurymambo.com/people.html), says is a reflection of the marketplace.

“Hispanic consumers are not a ‘one size fits all’ demographic and they continue to be a significant group for the American economy. As a result, marketers are increasingly turning to agencies like ours who can provide expertise and strategy to effectively reach the Hispanic consumers from the bottom up,” stated Liz Arreaga.

Mercury Mambo, whose motto is “Where Culture and Commerce Collide”, is excited about the blogging possibilities. “Our agency has been reaching Hispanic consumers successfully since 1999. Having an online resource to share our expertise, as well as our ‘Mambo Magic’, is exciting for us,” stated Becky Arreaga (www.mercurymambo.com/people.html), Agency Partner.

Mercury Mambo, who represents top retailers such as Cadbury Schweppes Americas Beverages plc, U.S. Cellular, The J.M. Smucker Company, Anheuser-Busch, and Diageo, provides marketers with expertise in event marketing programs and brand experiences that empower Hispanic consumers. Cup O’ Mambo fans can expect consistent posts that are rich in experience and understanding of the Hispanic consumer and culture.”*

Hispanic homebuyers will now connect with bilingual real estate professionals, property listings and Spanish language home-buying how-to videos and podcasts online at http://www.VivaReal.us/. The new Spanish-language web site introduced this week by Bilingual Marketing Group is the first online forum to use the power of social media tools to teach Latinos about the home-buying process and connect them with practitioners and experts.

VivaReal.us features user-friendly audio and video content in Spanish that makes it easy for Hispanic homebuyers to learn about the home-buying process. Topics such as “Choosing an Agent,” “Getting Prequalified for a Loan,” “Looking for and Finding the Right Home,” “Negotiating an Offer,” are just a few of the subjects covered.

The Spanish language portal will also soon feature property listings of real estate agents that are clients of Bilingual Marketing Group and will include links to their web sites. The Santa Rosa, California-based company builds bilingual, culturally appropriate web sites for professionals that work with Hispanic homebuyers.

“Our goal is to create a search engine optimized, online community that connects Hispanic homebuyers with easy-to-understand information about the home-buying process and the real estate professionals and experts that can help them buy a home,” said Brian Requarth, CEO of Bilingual Marketing.

“VivaReal.us takes consumer education to the next level by making the information widely available to homebuyers in audio and video formats,” said Timothy Sandos, CEO of the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals. “Tools like this will help take the fear factor out of the process and foster a real understanding of home-buying for Spanish speaking consumers.”

Today there remains a shortage of homebuyer resources in Spanish in the marketplace despite the fact that Hispanic homebuyers are expected to drive the first-time buyer market in the years to come. According to the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, Hispanics will account for as much as 40 percent of all new homeowners in the coming decade.

The online portal also features reputable Spanish-speaking experts in lending and real estate that explain the various aspects of the homebuying process in simple terms. Other features soon to be added include blogs, social networking and actual property listings.

“VivaReal.us is totally tailored to the Latino experience,” adds Requarth. “Unlike many sites that translate English content into Spanish, we wrote everything in Spanish with the Latino homebuyer specifically in mind.”

According to a study issued earlier this year by the Pew Hispanic Center, more than one-in-two Latinos goes online and 76 percent of bilingual Hispanics use the Internet.

Bilingual Marketing Group is a privately owned company with offices in Santa Rosa, California and Bogota, Colombia. In addition to the Hispanic consumer-focused VivReal.us, the company also specializes in culturally appropriate, Spanish language web sites for real estate professionals. Bilingual Marketing Group (http://www.BilingualMarketing.com) is the preferred technology partner of the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP).

“Batanga, the leading media and entertainment company reaching New Generation Latinos based in Miami, Florida, announced today it has raised $30 million Series C financing. Tudor Ventures led the round and existing investor H.I.G. Ventures also participated. The funds will be used for the expansion of Batanga’s marketing efforts and the development of social media products and online content catering to the bicultural Latino consumer.

“The Hispanic online marketplace is one of the fastest-growing segments in the US media market and Batanga is one of the fastest-growing companies in it. The Latino demographic trends are so powerful that we foresee strong growth for years to come and hence are very excited to add Tudor to our already strong institutional backing. Tudor shares our vision of the market and their involvement will enable us to invest heavily. This ensures we maintain a leadership position in the space and build the first true Latino online brand,” said Rafael Urbina, Chairman and CEO of Batanga.

In connection with this financing, Carmen Scarpa, a partner at Tudor Ventures, will join Batanga’s board of directors. “I look forward to serving on Batanga’s board. Batanga’s competitive advantage lies in the quality of its content and its keen ability to speak to its growing audience. Batanga’s team of professionals knows the ever-growing Hispanic market like no other online media company,” said Mr. Scarpa.

Since January 2007, Batanga has been aggressively building their marketing department with completion of staffing slated for August 2007. Making preparations for the expected market growth has been the focus that has pushed Batanga to drive quality content on what their audience seeks – music, social networking, and entertainment in a variety of platforms.

“There is no question Batanga has the combination of elements to position it as the leader in the Latino online entertainment sector. Their strong relationship with the music industry and their ability to provide innovative solutions for advertisers will keep them on the cutting-edge and promote accelerated growth,” said John Kim, managing director at H.I.G. Ventures.

Batanga’s leadership position stems from its unique synergy of attributes that speak directly to the New Generation Latino. This synergy produces the following:

* Batanga deftly reaches Hispanics online regardless of language preference by offering content in English and Spanish.
* Batanga.com welcomes 4.5 million+ unique visitors per month
* Boasts an amazing growth rate of 217% over 18 months
* Streams 90 million+ songs per month
* Streams 10 million+ videos per month
* 100,000 myBatanga members as of August 2007

“We had a tremendous amount of interest in this deal. Batanga has aggressively staked out an extremely attractive position in a fast growing and highly profitable market,” said Richard Wood, Vice President at Thomas Weisel Partners Group which advised Batanga on the financing. Brad Raymond, Richard Wood and Erik Zech lead the transaction on behalf of Thomas Weisel Partners Groups, Inc.

About Batanga

Batanga is the leading media and entertainment company reaching New Generation Latinos through a multiple platform approach - online entertainment destination (www.batanga.com), social networking, nationwide live events, and targeted Hispanic publications. Batanga boasts the largest inventory of streaming (video/audio) media featuring over 20 exclusive online Latin radio stations, more than 5,000 user-programmed radio stations, and thousands of on-demand videos. For more information on Batanga, please visit www.batanga.com or call 305-476-2974.

About Tudor Ventures

Tudor Ventures, established in 1996, is the venture capital and private equity arm of Tudor Investment Corporation, an internationally recognized, diversified investment management firm with total assets under management in excess of $20 billion. Tudor Ventures manages approximately $700 million in equity commitments and has invested over $400 million in 48 companies. Tudor Ventures invests in information technology and rapidly growing companies providing capital for expansion, acquisition and founder liquidity. For more information about Tudor Ventures, visit www.tudorventures.com.

About H.I.G. Ventures

H.I.G. Ventures partners with entrepreneurs to provide the capital, expertise and relationships necessary to build market-leading businesses. With over $550 million in dedicated venture and growth capital under management, the firm’s team invests nationally in early to growth-stage information technology, healthcare and service businesses. H.I.G. Ventures is the venture capital affiliate of H.I.G. Capital, a leading private equity investment firm with over $4 billion of capital under management. H.I.G. Ventures has offices in Atlanta and Miami. For more information, visit www.higventures.com.

About Thomas Weisel Partners Group, Inc.

Thomas Weisel Partners Group, Inc. is an investment bank, founded in 1998, focused principally on the growth sectors of the economy. Our business is managed as a single operating segment and we generate revenues from three principal sources: investment banking, brokerage and asset management. Our investment banking group is comprised of two disciplines: corporate finance and strategic advisory. Our brokerage group provides equity and convertible debt securities sales and trading services to institutional investors, and offers brokerage, advisory and cash management services to high-net-worth individuals and corporate clients. “

Brooklyn, NY–(SOFRITO PR WIRE)–July 5th, 2007—The Founders of Capicu Poetry announced today the launch of a new online radio show, Radio Capicu! which will air every other Wednesday evening at 6:30pm-7:30pm starting on July 18th, 2007 on BlogTalkRadio.com .

“Radio Capicu” hosted by Capicu Co-Founder George “The Urban Jibaro” Torres promises to keep listeners captivated with the latest in news, information, cultural events and items of interest in the urban & Latino community nationwide. Segments will include open mic poetry, in depth interviews and discussions with prominent people in the urban Latino community about issues relevant to the evolution of our culture as well as the preservation of our heritage.

Listeners can also access “Radio Capicu” 24/7 on our newly launched host page at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/radiocapicu (please bookmark!). The site will be updated weekly to provide audiences 24 hour access to archived shows.

**Don’t miss “Radio Capicu!” which will air every other Wednesday evening at 6:30pm-7:30pm starting on
July 18th, 2007 on BlogTalkRadio.com**

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About Capicu Poetry

First things first.. what does Capicu mean? In the game of Dominos, el Capicu is a very special winning piece that covers all ends, it is the ultimate finishing move. Any piece can become the Capicu, with the right mixture of skill and fate. The Fichas (as dominos are sometimes called) is often slammed down on the table for emphasis, in celebration!

The Capicu Poetry Series is a collaboration between the creators of EspacioLatino (on MySpace) and SofritoForYourSoul.com, also supported by some of NYC’s most powerful poetry artists, including some of the elders from Nuyorican Poets Cafe. We welcome all styles and poets, though it is themed around our Nuyorican origins.

Ultimately, our goal is to develop the event to the point where it is a place where all kind of urban artists can play, paint, or otherwise express themselves.

Currently on hiatus, The Capicu Poetry Series is currently being developed to encompass different forms of cultural expression and to expand the reach of our mission nationwide. The Poetry Series is a smaller piece of a bigger puzzle, which will include charity work and community events, as our network grows and people welcome the idea of solidarity.

About BlogTalkRadio
Social Media
The explosion of niche, social media is a massive cultural phenomenon. Blogging, social networking and video sharing are changing the face of the print and television industries. Similarly, the most fundamental impact on the $40b radio industry may arise from the social radio movement, which allows anyone, anywhere to broadcast or listen to radio.

MEDIA CONTACT:
George Torres
phone: 718.371.0671
email: CapicuPoetry@gmail.com
web: www.CapicuPoetry.com

“The Latino youth market represents one of the most elusive yet growing segments of the Hispanic Market and no one is better equipped to help you reach them than the entertainment media outlets that specifically cater to them. Join Hispanic Market Pro for a national teleseminar that will feature a top Hispanic youth entertainment media panel that will provide actionable advice on scoring coverage in their media outlet.

Participants will learn the key differences between various Hispanic youth media, the top do’s and don’ts when pitching each of them, what stories they want and what horrible mistakes to avoid. The audio conference, “Meet The Press: The Nation’s Leading Hispanic Youth Media Outlets,” will take place on Thursday, June 14 at 3pm ET.

Moderated by Romina Bongiovanni, vice president, Edelman Multicultural, the stellar panel includes Jose Tillan, Senior Vice President of Music and Talent for MTV Networks Latin America (MTVNLA) and MTV Tr3s; Enrique Kike Posada, Publisher, BOOM! Magazine; Flavio Morales, Vice President of Programming, mun2; Demian Bellumio, founder and president, Hoodiny Entertainment Group (elhood.com); Luis Moreno, online NY market editor in chief, LaMusica.com-Spanish Broadcasting System, LaMega.com/ 931amor.com; and Ricardo Villanueva Cruz, president, In The House Magazine, Inc.

Here are a few of the practical topics that the expert panel will cover:
– What are the leading trends among today’s Latino youth? What are their preferences for media and entertainment?
– How has the surge in social media affected the way that you communicate with Hispanic youth?
– What makes each outlet unique? How does each outlet reach its target audiences?
– What are the topics that are most relevant for your outlets and your respective audiences?
– What are some tips for submitting content or story ideas to your outlets?
– What role does your online presence play with your print publication or programming?
– What should PR pros avoid when pitching your outlet?
– How does your outlet get involved with the local community or grassroots efforts?

Access rates per teleconference call-in site are $110; $35 for educators and students.
To register for the teleseminar, click here. www.hispanicmarketpro.com/hispanic/details.php?file=9

Registration Details
Your teleconference registration includes:
– A site license to attend this 60-minute national conference from the comfort of your office. Invite as many colleagues as you like to join you around a speakerphone, at no extra cost
– The opportunity to connect with the speakers during the audience Q&A session.

Registration deadline is 24 hours prior to the teleseminar. Cancellations before 5 p.m. PT, two business days before the date of the audio conference will receive a full refund less a $25 service charge. All cancellations must be e-mailed in writing to cancel@hispanicmarketpro.com or by calling HMP at 305.971.2622. “

“So what does this mean to us? We need to take a look at what seems to be a generation gap. The study revealed that 75% of U.S.-born Hispanics were online, as opposed to 43% that were born outside the U.S. One key to predicting online usage seems to be language: Those who speak English fluently tend to go online, while only a third of Latinos who just speak Spanish go online.

The younger U.S.-born Latinos tend to really embrace the Web and all it has to offer. They consume and embrace online video and audio, mobile applications, and forms of social media. Sites like QuePasa.com and MiGente.com have remained popular and shifted with the times to provide users with a more modern approach. QuePasa offers bilingual content. Both seek “members.” Go on to either, and it looks something like a MySpace or Facebook hybrid with a Latin twist.”

“Leading companies in the Latin American marketplace will gather on Tuesday, January 30 at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel in Miami Beach, FL, for the Electronic Retailing Association’s 3rd annual Latino Awards of Excellence. Honoring the top achievements in the Latin American direct response market, this prestigious ceremony will be held during the closing reception of the ERA’s 15th annual Mid-Winter Leadership Conference & EXPO. The ERA’s Mid-Winter Conference, held from January 28-30, brings together the most profitable companies in the industry to discuss changing consumer behavior and to highlight the latest trends in social media and mobile devices.

This years awards ceremony will be co-hosted by Latina celebrity Rashel Díz, a popular top model and entertainment reporter from Hispanic television. One of Spanish-language television’s most recognizable personalities, Díz began her career as a regular on Univision Television Network’s immensely popular Sábado Gigante variety program. Most recently, Díz began hosting the new late night television show, “Desvelados,” a one-hour late night Miami Spanish-language program that promises to deliver a new brand of late night television.

Created by the ERA’s Latin America Committee, judged by industry experts, and supported by the Latin American Council, the Latino Awards of Excellence honor the top achievements in Latin American retailing production, Internet, suppliers, and media. This year’s notable award categories include:

· Best Overall Latin American Long Form Show Produced in Latin America
· Best Overall Latin American Short Form Spot Produced in Latin America
· Best Overall Long Form Show Produced Outside of Latin America
· Best Overall Short Form Spot Produced Outside of Latin America
· Best DRTV Radio Spot
· Best DR Print Advertisement
· Best Service from a Product Supplier
· Best Service from a Media Network
· Best Website in Support of DRTV
· Best Catalog of DRTV Products
· Biggest Contribution to the Industry, Latin America

For more information on the Annual Latino Awards of Excellence and on the ERA Mid-Winter Leadership Conference & EXPO, visit ERAs website at www.retailing.org.

Registration for the ERA Mid-Winter Leadership Conference & EXPO is now available online at https://www.expotracker.net/era/index.asp. Registration is complimentary for credentialed members of the news media. There will be no on-site media registration. All media must register no later than January 18th, 2007.
“