Black Web 2.0 - Latest Comments

Re: Wyclef Jean’s take on Technology and the Music Industry

craigspva3 — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 01:08:48 -0000

Interesting post. I have stumbled this for my friends. Hope others find it as interesting as I did.

Re: Is Your Content Safe Under The “Fair Use” Doctrine?

twitter-14483068 — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:33:56 -0000

Great post.

Re: How to: Build Track-able Links for Google Analytics

twitter-14324787 — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:06:38 -0000

Google are going to steal your keywords, or check which sites you own and are linking to each other., then they slap you hard.

Great tutorial, but be very leary of google.

Matt Cutts , went to a conference and told everyone who owns which web property.

Analytics is not really free, google uses that inforamation for its own commercial benefits, I would rather pay.

Re: 10+ Tips to get the most out of an Ad Network or Rep

Akeet-Music Lovers Forum — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:45:53 -0000

Ok, and I already knew that... ~ Smile ~

Re: 10+ Tips to get the most out of an Ad Network or Rep

facebook-636672531 — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:44:08 -0000

Hi Akeet,

I think it is important to note that ad networks and rep firms apply to all most websites not just blogs/blogger. Thx for commenting.

Re: How to: Build Track-able Links for Google Analytics

Brian May — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:14:56 -0000

Good info. This is probably one of the biggest mistakes made in online advertising is not tracking links and other data. It's hard to improve your campaigns if you do not have tracking setup. Great post!

Re: 10+ Tips to get the most out of an Ad Network or Rep

Akeet-Music Lovers Forum — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:44:06 -0000

Well I'm no blogger... Have regular websites...

I work with; Casalemedia, Valueclick, and Burst Media...

On the black side; Essence, and BET...

Can't forget; Google Adsense...

Re: 10+ Tips to get the most out of an Ad Network or Rep

Villager — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:40:30 -0000

I've been working with Common Sense Media as the ad firm used by my blog since back around the time of the 1st Blogging While Brown conference. I've been happy with their responsiveness ... the types of ads that they promote fit the theme of my blog. I get a small residual check on a monthly basis from them with a clear/documented report on my earnings.

They are low-maintenance and the ads don't muck up my blog.

Who are other competitors out there?

peace, Villager

Re: 10+ Tips to get the most out of an Ad Network or Rep

Akeet-Music Lovers Forum — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:37:15 -0000

I personally had to threaten AdGroups after I smelled some “shady” dealings/practices. “I don’t care if you’re Black owned, where is my money?”
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Thats my friend story also... Monthly having to beg for thy money...

Anyway thanks for the tips...

Re: How to: Build Track-able Links for Google Analytics

yahoo-CWQVEGUXOIH6ODFH3OBSUZEC4M — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:43:58 -0000

very useful indeed. :) thanks for sharing.

Re: Mediatakeout.com Blocked by Firefox for Installing Malicious Software

Trumenas — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:47:55 -0000

Oh remember having this problem too. I could not browse MediaTakeOut.com. I thought that this page has broken down... Well now is everything clearly for me. Thanks a lot for the interesting and useful article. Despite of the fact that it is written before several months, it is very interesting to know that the problem was.

Sincerely,

Jeremy Peterson from software development

Re: How to: Build Track-able Links for Google Analytics

twitter-15006960 — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:51:37 -0000

Thank you. This is helpful to the authors I coach who are just getting into this sort of thing! Google is king. :) Thanks! http://bit.ly/pamfanpage HIT ME up!

Re: Black Media, Instead of Mimicking Blogs Why not just Acquire?

Eric Easter — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:36:55 -0000

And I appreciate your criticism and listen closely. Nine times out of 10 I agree with it, as do the people on the mag side. It's always important to separate what decisions get made by the people holding the purse strings from those who are on the ground doing the work and pushing the ideas. The mag and the site have been sitting on substantial redesigns/functionality/content changes etc. for months as restructuring and other issues have pushed those efforts to the back. That's the case in nearly every major media company I know. I can happily - finally - say that those changes are about to be made and you'll start to see them across platforms soon, if not soon enough. And send me your info, I try to give a shot to everybody when I'm able.

Re: Black Media, Instead of Mimicking Blogs Why not just Acquire?

JS — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:22:21 -0000

I really appreciate your response. I wish you and Ebony/Jet the best. I was raised on the publication and have major respect for the doors you have opened and your legacy.

I still believe a new redesign would really help the publication in more ways than one. I am sure those that are often mentioned on this site would be more than happy to help you and your team out, if you let them.

Again best to you.

Re: Black Media, Instead of Mimicking Blogs Why not just Acquire?

twitter-16331500 — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:54:44 -0000

You'll have to ask the conferences about that but my guess is that trying to turn around a battleship is always an interesting story. If you've really read my posts then they should answer your questions and give insight as to why digital teams at old media companies hit brick walls when trying to make real and effective changes (financial, legal, refusal to be decisive, etc..). Hopefully they are a guide not for what changes big media can make, but which mistakes you should not make as a growing entrepreneur, and which opportunities you have based on the fact that old media companies will almost by definition be slow to adjust and perpetually behind. If you're looking for any old media company to suddenly "get it" then forget that notion. As long as the bigger check comes from print that's where the focus will be, unfortunately.

Re: Black Media, Instead of Mimicking Blogs Why not just Acquire?

JS — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:17:34 -0000

EbonyJet - I am intrigued by all of your comments. Mainly because I feel Ebony/Jet does not get it, in print and definitely on the web. I have been over to your site on numerous occasions and the structure and layout of the site is just so..... (photo gallery setup/integration, related articles sidebar, home page layout, ad spaces, and your featured blogs have not changed in months. Sadly I could go on.)

My question to you is what is your property doing to lift up out of the dead pool. I really think instead of commenting you and the team should be taking some notes for a redesign and editorial direction shift.

And this post if not to be disrespectful, but I feel if you have some of the answers and commentary on others, why is Ebony/Jet in such a terrible situation.

I am also puzzled why you and the Ebony/Jet team are invited to speak at digital/bloggers conferences. When clearly you should be an attendant and not a speaker or panel participant.

Re: Black Media, Instead of Mimicking Blogs Why not just Acquire?

twitter-16331500 — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:27:07 -0000

Writer4life deals with another major issue. Blogs don't make enough to get sued for some of the things they do. Once you bring a blog into the Big House all bets are off in terms of use of copyrighted material. It would be the equivalent of putting a target on your back. Almost immediately you'd be talking about satisfying a $100 - 600/day photo rights expense based on paying AP or Corbis or Wire Image $35-50 per picture on top of whatever amount you pay to acquire. That adds up after a while. That's why "safe" big publisher blogs can be so boring, they have much less flexibility to use tools that make independent blogs more fun.

Re: Black Media, Instead of Mimicking Blogs Why not just Acquire?

writer4life — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:09:09 -0000

This one is easy. Owners of print magazines are typically dinosaurs who don't really get the internet, much less what makes blogs successful. The talented editors who help the dinosaurs are trained to go through a slow process of editing news, fact checking, getting photo credits for images, etc. This is what keeps mags from getting sued.

Bloggers don't think about any of that..Many of them don't have original content and it's a rip and run process. You're asking two totally different mentalities to come to some agreement, where the dinosaurs pay the hip bloggers to break every rule they've implemented since they entered the business. Not gonna happen. They'd rather create their own "safe" blogs.

Or maybe you want the dinosaurs to make hip bloggers rich and take over their operation. It's a recipe for disastor. And when you add the African-American element, you bring in entrepreneurs who see their magazines as their nest egg or legacy. Who'd jeopardize that for some kooky online experiment they barely understand and can't manipulate?

Re: Creating a new generation of technology entrepreneurs Part 1: Changing the Value Proposition for Urban Youth

teenbizcoach — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:06:50 -0000

Thanks for sharing this post. Interesting to see the thread of comments here.

I come from a wireless background (a dozen years in one company....think back to the days of 457 MhZ pager) and since 2005 I have been working with urban youth in "entrepreneurship". I work with kids ages 10-19 across the globe, mostly boys. Many of my kids have overcome some life challenge or hardship but they are beating the odds in school, life and business. My teens have written and published books, designed and manufactured products and built companies from scratch up to over 5 figures per month.

Yes, in America it is easy to start a company.....very easy. But it is not easy to grow and run it. Technology and entrepreneurship are both very abstract- meaning the lingo, the rules, the non universal approach to things. It is easy to get turned around in that space. And when you are overwhelmed and confused and everything is an exception or a rule that you learn along the way, you feel cheated or don't really know if you are moving forward and making progress or not.

Instead of using traditional courses and 'technical lingo' I am making entrepreneurship (and any business you can dream of) accessible to ALL young people regardless of where they are in the world and whether or not they have access and understanding of technology and entrepreneurial terminology. In terms of entrepreneurship I encourage my teens to LIVE IT vs. learn it. When they realize that entrepreneurship is not a course or a class but a level of consciousness that directly impacts their quality of life or lack thereof regardless of whether or not they work for themselves or someone else they take a different approach. Entrepreneurship is not about owning a business, but about owning your life. I have been saying that since my program started back in 2005 and more and more I am seeing other youth organizations spokespersons adopt my language (sincerely flattered, btw).

I think too many people focus on all the things and technical mumbo jumbo and certifications they need to be done or learned before they get their recognition or the reward when that is not necessary. Because you don't lack training, background, certification or something or other does not make you 'less' or inadequate. In business, the marketing is more important than the mastery. When you are out there and people know that you are trying to do something, the people and support you need will appear.

I have been able to stimulate and engage my teens by showing them out the gate the value of themselves and their intellectual property and how they protect it and get paid for those things one way or another. Ever since I started my program I have always given them recognition, credit and shout outs first. I support them in seeking out media exposure (TV, Print, Radio), getting them on the panels at conferences and workshops, lining up opportunities for them to speak at their schools and making warm introductions to high profile people in my network and their industry that they want to pursue (all of this and they might not even have paid me any money or closed their first client). It is how you build trust and 'prompt their emerging voice'.

It’s the strength, character and trust in the people within your network that fosters trust and reciprocity. When trust is the norm, people engage in reciprocity, doing for others without any immediate expectation of repayment. This directly impacts people’s health and happiness and levels of economic development among other things.

It is THIS experience they need to develop so that they realize they have the POWER now and today to do whatever they want to do and other people who TRULY align with their cause will support them selflessly.

Getting continuing education or specialized training is only going to make them more confident, more refined and allow them to play competitively with the bigger guys. However, it is for them to decide on their own time when they are ready to go that path. The reality is they are OK and 'enough' as they already are. Too often we are focusing on IMproving Ourselves when in reality we just need to APprove Ourselves!

As many people struggle in working and communicating with teens, I will leave you with this bit of insight:

When teens act like they don't know something it is usually a 'defense' mechanism. By playing stupid or answering questions in one or two words they expect AND hope that people will leave them alone. They don't want to 'share' and be open. If they are poor they grow up in a world where they often have to fear for their life when they do that. If they are in the middle class, it is a 'mind game' and they don't know what is the motive that parents/teachers/adults are seeking....so they tell the 'commercial truth' - what they think you want to hear. Teens have that sixth sense and it is the tone, the energy and asking the questions indirectly that puts them at dis-ease. And besides, what purpose does it serve to share their opinion, intellectual property, ideas, dreams and contributions with the mainstream when most people don't believe them, support them or give them credit anyway?

So for those looking to have better communications with teens - try removing the invisible hierarchal barriers that often exist between youth and adults. While they are young people they are PEOPLE first. Lead with that thought in mind the next time you enter a conversation with them and I can assure you that the way they respond to you will be completely different.

@teenbizcoach

Re: Breaking: Essence Laysoff Digital Team

blacksmithie — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:00:12 -0000

It's called business and management. In today's world, that is the reality. I think I people need to be aware of when you are working on projects, if you are working yourself out of a job! It happens everyday.

Re: Creating a new generation of technology entrepreneurs Part 1: Changing the Value Proposition for Urban Youth

blacksmithie — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:57:13 -0000

NW- I guess you will just have to get out there more. I think it takes "real" people talking to youth and exposing them to opportunities. You gotta keep hitting the speaking circuit. Just in terms of entreprenuership (sp), Angela Simmons has exposed a lot of young adults to opportunities out there. But her upbringing, social and economic connections, would allow many to rationalize why they can't do what she is doing. Also, Obama could not be a better role model--modest means, single parent-household, even dabbled in a little drugs. But his smarts, some supportive mentors, and persaverence got him where he is today.

Re: Creating a new generation of technology entrepreneurs Part 1: Changing the Value Proposition for Urban Youth

mikeydigital — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:38:45 -0000

@Jon - I agree with you, however I'm not too sure if removing the image part from the entire equation will always work for urban youth.. It may work more for some, but not all.. I say this because what many of the kids have said when researchers have interviewed them is they don't see representation of themselves in the technology space..

Truthfully, many of them only see the successful tech people from other races, gender, etc.. However, they don't see themselves.. So perhaps a better approach is balancing everything out, showing them successful IT people that look like them as well as successful Asians, Indians, ect.

Re: Breaking: Essence Laysoff Digital Team

bizziemommy — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:02:18 -0000

man that is so so wrong - especially in today's world

Re: The SEO Rapper on Design Coding

antonfkip — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:43:30 -0000

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Re: Creating a new generation of technology entrepreneurs Part 1: Changing the Value Proposition for Urban Youth

facebook-604003 — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:47:02 -0000

This is a great article and I believe this problem extends itself to a number of other areas in out community as well. I agree with mikeydigital. The main point being that we as successful Black people are not doing a good job of making our successes visible to our community. For example, we should some Ron Brown Scholars on the cover of magazines, looking fly, getting paid, etc. Whatever imagery is attractive now, we need to transfer that imagery to those areas that need attention (ie. technology entrepreneurship). The media spends too much time and energy on death, destruction, and celebrity fluff when the media could be using their influence to promote positive behaviors. That being said, since the goal of the mainstream media is not to improve the lives of Black children, it is up to us to create media channels ourselves and start promoting more positive imagery. As an Ivy League graduate and an entrepreneur, I feel a cultural responsibility to create and promote media that celebrates mentors and positions my peers as leaders and role models. I have personally committed myself to working towards that goal and other successful Black people should do the same. This is one of the reasons I appreciate Black Web 2.0 because it promotes an industry that I am starting out in and provides that "imagery" for me to aspire to. Keep up the good work.