AG Communications Group

How can we communicate effectively without diversity?

Adrianne — Mon, 24 May 2010 00:58:57 +0000

Successfully marketing to diverse audiences is a business imperative. Multicultural consumers dominate major markets, our largest states and many of our most valued consumer segments, such as new moms and households with children. Any projection for meaningful growth must include and factor in diverse consumer segments to be remotely achievable. The continued growth of our brands depends on our focus and inclusion of multicultural consumers.

–Mark Addicks, senior vice president and chief marketing officer of General Mills.

More good news in the online advertising world – Sales of Display Ads Surge

Adrianne — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 09:16:38 +0000

As reported by the Associated Press, first-quarter earnings for the Internet company Yahoo nearly tripled as its revenue edged up for the first time in more than a year.

The performance reflected an increase in online advertising, the main source of Yahoo’s income. Advertisers have been spending more freely amid signs that the economy has emerged from its worst recession in more than 70 years.

Display advertising, a category that includes online billboards and other visual marketing campaigns, surged 20 percent from last year, the company said.

Naturally this is good news for advertisers targeting Internet savvy black women and expatriates. Their capacity and inclination to spend, which has always been high, is increasing along with the recovering economy.

The recently launched AGCG Advertising Network is perfectly poised to help you reach those markets.

A new medium for advertising to two huge markets

Adrianne — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 12:27:59 +0000

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Good news from the advertising world for website owners

Adrianne — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:00:27 +0000

This is my first blog post of 2010. I spent the first month of the year in the capital of the United States and while I worked on a client project, I spent the rest of my time basking in the glow of being with my family and old friends. I didn’t want to spend any more time on the computer than absolutely necessary. So I limited myself to work and correspondence with the ones I love in Sweden, and arranging social activities in Washington, DC.

February took me to Lappland and the Ice Hotel and I was on the look out for the Northern Lights and all of the other magic associated with northern Sweden. Again, no motivation to blog during this once in a lifetime (for me) trip.

But today I read an article in Forbes online magazine that predicts an increase in digital advertising spending, and for the first time, that more money will be spent online than in print. Written by Dirk Smillie the headline reads:

Web ads to get a 10% boost in 2010. For the first time advertisers will spend more on digital than print.

We’ve been waiting for this: A study by Outsell, to be released Monday, reveals that U.S. advertisers are spending more this year on digital media than on print. Long predicted, this Madison Avenue milestone has finally arrived thanks to a 9.6% boom in digital advertising in 2010.

That number comes from Outsell’s annual advertising and marketing study, which collected data from 1,008 U.S. advertisers (both consumer and B2B) in December 2009. Of the $368 billion marketers plan to spend this year, 32.5% will go toward digital; 30.3% to print. Digital spending includes e-mail, video advertising, display ads and search marketing. “It’s a watershed moment,” says the study’s lead author, Outsell vice president Chuck Richard.

Read the full article on Forbes.com.

I, like every other website owner, welcome this news. Particularly since I am focusing on leveraging the wide reach of the AG Communications Group (AGCG) Advertising Network. The AGCG Advertising Network includes 8 websites that focus on black women, and expatriates. Specifically these websites focus on black women in Europe, women of the African Diaspora, black expatriates and expatriates in Stockholm and other parts of Sweden.

Niche is in, especially when spending money on advertising. Advertisers want to be sure that they are getting their message out in front of the right people.

oDesk helps manage your life as a global consultant

Adrianne — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:27:58 +0000

I am trying oDesk as an additional tool to find interesting clients I can help using intergrated marketing communications strategy and implementation.

I am excited about using oDesk not only because it will enable me to find International clients but also build an International team:

The Solution — A Marketplace and a Workplace.

oDesk’s unique approach enables companies to hire, manage, and pay remote contractors as easily as if they were working in the same office. The oDesk work diary and team room provide accountability across a distributed team, giving you full visibility into work done and the time spent doing it. Individual profiles offer a verified work history and feedback to help you make informed decisions in selecting team members or companies. oDesk’s payment system is simple and headache-free, so you can trust that your time—and money—are well-spent. This combination of accountability, credibility, and trust is the foundation for the oDesk Guarantee.

While the administrative support, client selection process and online working tools oDesk provides are innovative, these two guarantees are equally impressive:

We guarantee work to employers that every hour billed is an hour worked.
We guarantee payment to providers that every hour worked is an hour paid.

oDesk has also created a community via their blog, forums and groups and is also leveraging other social media tools like widgets and Facebook connect. Since I travel between the US and Sweden fairly regularly as well as to other destinations I am excited to be using a new tool that will help me manage life as a consultant.

If you are or want to be a remote worker and you are a web developer, writer, translator, customer service, software developer, sales and marketing, administrative support, business services, networking and information services, and design and multimedia; why not try a free oDesk account? Join the On Demand Global Workforce.

Coca Cola goes social media with Expedition206

Adrianne — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 16:28:41 +0000

The Coca-Cola Company is sending a team made up of three young explorers on a quest to find out what makes people happy. The team will visit 206 countries in the world where Coca-Cola is sold within 365 days. The journey begins in January 2010.

The big mission is to discover an answer to the proverbial question of what makes people happy around the world. From meeting new people, seeing amazing places, experiencing different cultures and attending local events, the team will be taking part in all kinds of experiences–some planned, some unplanned. They’ll be blogging, uploading videos and photos along the way.

www.Expedition206.com

Press Release: Women of the African Diaspora Website and Social Network Celebrates Second Anniversary

Adrianne — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:34:33 +0000

Social Network Boasts Over 600 Members Around the World.

Rotterdam, NL/Stockholm, SWE November 3, 2009 – Women of the African Diaspora website (http://www.WomenOfTheAfricanDiaspora.com) and social network (http://www.BlackWomenUnite.ning.com) is having a birthday complete with gifts for its readers and members. The website and social network, which celebrates Black women, has visitors and members from across the globe.

“Women of the African Diaspora website and social network continue to grow,” says Sandra Rafaela, Women of the African Diaspora’s co-founder and co-editor. “We are constantly working very hard to improve our website to provide information, inspiration and more for Black women around the world.” Women of the African Diaspora website leverages the global reach of the Internet, social media and widgets to share relevant news, event notices and showcase a wide range of talented Black women including authors, artists, musicians, entrepreneurs, and others. And with Black women living on virtually every continent, it certainly has a large and influential market.

“Women of the African Diaspora’s website content strives to be very compelling and shine a positive spotlight on Black women that main stream media far too often ignores,” says Adrianne George, Women of the African Diaspora‘s co-founder and co-editor. “The number of visitors to the site continues to increase each month, and social networks like Facebook give us a platform to network we didn’t have when starting out. We continue to be the perfect choice for advertisers who want to reach the important market of Black women consumers.”

The year has again been marked with highlights for the Women of the African Diaspora co-editors, with Ms. George’s Black Women in Europe blog (http://blog.blackwomenineurope.com) being a finalist for a 2009 Black Weblog Award for Best International blog as well as being a featured blog on Ebonyjet.com. “We’ve come so far in just two years,” explains George. “Our social network has over 600 members in North America, Europe, Africa and beyond. Rafaela explains, “We really enjoy meeting accomplished and positive Black women while providing them with a unique platform for exposure. We’re ready to take on year three.”

Let Adrianne and Sandra know what the Women of the African Diaspora and Social network mean to you to get prizes from their sponsors:
http://spreadsheets.google.com/a/womenoftheafricandiaspora.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=dGhSaFZQOFNRYjUwSERtUDBqTEFLckE6MA

Anniversary gifts are provided by Sheabutter Cottage, Greatness By Design™, Sisay International, Author M.H.A. Menondji, Northwest Scents Natural Black Hair Care, Creating Tomorrow, Simplicity Mastered™, and Donna Elmore’s Send Out Cards. Businesses with products or services for Black women can participate in the anniversary celebrations by purchasing an advertising package for the website and social network at a 20% savings. More information is available at http://womenoftheafricandiaspora.com.

Contact: Sandra Rafaela sandra@womenoftheafricandiaspora.com
Adrianne George adrianne@womenoftheafricandiaspora.com

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Press Release: Black Women in Europe™ Blog and Social Network Celebrates Second and Third Anniversaries

Adrianne — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:41:47 +0000

Social Network Boasts Over 600 Members While Website Visitors Come From Every Corner on Earth.

Stockholm, SWE November 3, 2009 – The multiple award winning Black Women in Europe™ Blog (http://blog.blackwomenineurope.com) and its companion, the Black Women in Europe™ Social Network (http://blackwomenineurope.ning.com) is having a birthday complete with gifts for its readers and members. The website and social network, which celebrates Black women living in Europe, has visitors and members from around the world.

The Black Europe in Women™ Blog turns three and the Social Network turns two this year. “Two and three successful years on the Internet is more like 572”, jokes Adrianne George, Black Women in Europe™ founder. “The Black Women in Europe™ Blog and Social Network are growing daily,” she says , “I am humbled by and grateful for the faithful readers and members and take great pride in raising the profile of Black women living and thriving in Europe. Yes there are Black women in Europe!”

The Black Women in Europe Blog and Social Network leverages the global reach of the Internet, social media and widgets to share relevant news, event notices and showcase a wide range of talented Black women from all walks of life including politics, social activism, entertainment, journalism and more. And with Black women living in virtually every country in Europe, it certainly is a large and influential market.

“The Black Women in Europe™ Blog and Social network are an important part of my life and identity,” says Adrianne George. “In the not-too-distant future I plan to obtain a non-profit status for the Black Women in Europe™ Social Media Group (http://BlackWomenInEurope.org) to enable the sharing of information from Black women’s organizations across Europe. I want to be the funnel through which this information flows.”

The year has again been marked with highlights for the Black Women in Europe™ Blog and Social network, notably the granting of the trademark for the name of Black Women in Europe™. The blog was also a finalist for a 2009 Black Weblog Award for Best International blog, was a featured blog on Ebonyjet.com, and was a guest blogger on PBS’s Tavis Smiley blog.

Tell me what the Black Women in Europe Blog and Social Network mean to you to win prizes from our anniversary sponsors.

Anniversary gifts are provided by IronSun Organics, Creating Tomorrow, Morganna’s Alchemy, Sheabutter Cottage, Simplicity Mastered™, Donna Elmore’s Send Out Cards, and Zhana’s Success Books. Companies who would like to participate in the celebrations can purchase advertising for a 30% discount. More information is available at http://blog.blackwomenineurope.com.

Contact: Adrianne George contact@blackwomenineurope.com

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A Social Entrepreneur can win free office space and coaching – XING Stockholm Group After work Business Networking Blow Out

Adrianne — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 11:23:03 +0000

We are having our 4th and most likely our last after work networking event of the year. So we are going out with a bang by presenting two incredible opportunities for one deserving social entrepreneur: free office and meeting space in Östermalm and a day of sales & venture capital coaching; 8 hours + 2 follow up coaching calls (1 hour).

What makes this opportunity even better is that the office space is at The Hub Stockholm, worth between 13,800 to 16,800 SEK; and the coaching is from the experts at Startup Sales Systems worth 40,000 SEK. So that adds up to at least 53, 800 of incredibly helpful services available to a social entrepreneur in Stockholm. It’s good to be a social entrepreneur, isn’t it?

Not sure if you are a social entrepreneur? Here are two examples of Hub Social Entrepreneurs:
http://www.the-hub.net/people/giovanna.gomersbach
http://www.the-hub.net/people/olivier.gaillard

About The Hub
http://www.the-hub.net
Hub World is a social enterprise with the ambition to inspire and support imaginative and enterprising initiatives for a better world with locations in 18 cities around the world. In Stockholm, we support an increasing number of diverse people to actively engage with each other – locally and globally – in meaningful and innovative ways, creating imaginative and entrepreneurial initiatives for a radically better world.

About Startup Sales Systems
http://www.startupsalessystems.com/
We help startups in Technology, Telecoms, Internet, & Clean Energy to acquire customers and reach profitability faster by using – specially developed – industry specific – sales tools and processes. We also help startups boost their sales using our extensive network of potential clients, sales channel experts, specialists and business partners to open doors in local, regional and international markets.

How you can win this package:
To be considered as the social entrepreneur to receive 3 months free office and meeting space, and a day of sales & venture capital coaching 8 hours + 2 follow up coaching calls (1 hour); email the name, concept and description of your social enterprise to adrianne@agcommunicationsgroup.com. Everyone who enters must be a member of the XING Stockholm group and attend the November networking event to be eligible to win. Follow this link to join: http://www.xing.com/group-23121.519786/3509921
We also have several gifts for everyone who attends! You’ll see them listed below.

WHO: Official XING Stockholm Group
WHAT: After work Business and Social Networking Event
WHEN: 18 November @ 17.30-19.30
WHERE: Scandic Malmen Atrium, Götgatan 49–51, 102 66 Stockholm
WHY: Make new business contacts and solidify others. Connect with new friends and catch up with old ones. Learn about The Hub Stockholm, an innovative work space for social entrepreneurs.

AGENDA:
17.30 – Networking
18.30 – Welcome by XING Stockholm Ambassador, Greetings from Anna Spjuth, General Manager of Scandic Malmen and Presentation by Kent Edquist of The Hub Stockholm who will also announce the social entrepreneur winner.
18.50-19.30 Networking and distribution of gifts

SPONSORS AND GIFTS:
>Scandic Malmen – networking space and snacks
>The Hub Stockholm – 3 months free work and meeting space
>Startup Sales Systems – a day of sales & venture capital coaching 8 hours + 2 follow up coaching calls (1 hour)
>Derricknym offer from Derrick Hayes, author of 1 WORD Is All It Takes™ (Fall 2009), and publisher of The WORD
>Free one-hour coaching session with Justin Sachs (worth $500)
>CDs on On-Camera Media Mistakes to Avoid in Business with best-selling author Elisabeth Fayt; and Crisis Communication, with Shawne Duperon, Media & Gossip Expert and Alan Stevens, both donated by Shawne Duperon

RSVP:
https://www.xing.com/events/4th-xing-stockholm-work-business-networker-2009-win-office-space-surprises-409730

Ford Motor Company’s Use of Social Media in the US

Adrianne — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 06:56:53 +0000

I did a brief stint in the Public Affairs office of Ford Motor company before social media exploded in society. I am very impressed with Ford’s use of social media. For example, their social media director (first of all they have an executive position slotted for social media) was at Blog World!

Introducing Lyle’s Stained Glass© Works of Art

Adrianne — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 09:14:24 +0000

A dear friend has an incredible talent for creating beautiful works of art in stained glass.

I offered to create a social media campaign to help get the word out about the holiday ornaments he is now creating.

He’s leery of too much private information being made public via social media so I convinced him to let me create a Facebook gift application so that I could give all of my Facebook friends a piece of his art best suited to their taste.

So look for the “Lyle’s Stained Glass” application on Facebook to give beautiful works of art to your friends. Here is a sample of the gift collection:

Social Media gives power to the people

Adrianne — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 10:55:49 +0000

Helsinki Commission to Hold Briefing on New Media

WASHINGTON—After a year in which Twitter and Facebook catalyzed protest movements in Iran and Moldova and authoritarian regimes around the world unleashed new tools of Internet control, Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission), and Co-Chairman Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) will hold a public briefing:

“Twitter against Tyrants: New Media in Authoritarian Regimes”
Thursday, October 22, 2009, 2:00 p.m.
1539 Longworth House Office Building

This briefing will consider the ways in which new media and Internet communication technologies affect the balance of power between human rights activists and authoritarian governments. Panelists will focus on new media’s role in protests and elections, the ways in which it empowers civil society activists, and the darker side: how dictators use new technology to control and repress their citizens.

The following panelists are scheduled to speak:

· Daniel Calingaert, Deputy Director of Programs, Freedom House
· Nathan Freitas, Adjunct Professor, New York University Interactive Telecom Program; developer of
groundbreaking technology for protests
· Evgeny Morozov, Yahoo! Fellow at Georgetown University’s E.A. Walsh School of Foreign Service;
contributing editor, Foreign Policy
· Chris Spence, Chief Technology Officer, National Democratic Institute

###

The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the U.S. Helsinki Commission, is an independent agency of the Federal Government charged with monitoring compliance with the Helsinki Accords and advancing comprehensive security through promotion of human rights, democracy, and economic, environmental and military cooperation in 56 countries. The Commission consists of nine members from the U.S. Senate, nine from the House of Representatives, and one member each from the Departments of State, Defense, and Commerce.

www.facebook.com/helsinkicommission

The Fun Theory is a theory I can live with and by.

Adrianne — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:55:27 +0000

Here is a great example of using social media to not only reach your audience but affect their behavior. The social media used in this case was YouTube which has the power of viral marketing.

SilverFoxDates.com is a new client!

Adrianne — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:25:55 +0000

AG Communications Group is pleased to announce the acquisition of SilverFoxDates.com as a new client!

SilverFoxDates.com is the premiere dating website for classy singles over the age of 50. In the competitive world of online dating we are proud to help SilverFoxDates reach singles over 50 via social media channels including Facebook, Linkedin, Slideshare, Twitter, and YouTube.

Silver Fox Dates Presentation 1 With Video

Join the SilverFoxDates.com community on:

BlogWorld Expo and New Media Expo have merged!

Adrianne — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 07:41:26 +0000

The 2009 BlogWorld & New Media Expo will take place at the Las Vegas Convention Center, beginning with the exclusive “Social Media Business Summit”(TM) conference on October 15th and continuing with the BlogWorld & New Media Expo and Conference October 16th-17th.

This is first and only industry-wide tradeshow, conference, and media event dedicated to promoting the dynamic industry of new media including: Blogging, Podcasting, Social Media, Online Video, Music, TV, Radio, Gaming, Entertainment and Communities.

In addition to the only industry-wide new media industry exhibition, BlogWorld & New Media Expo features the largest new media conference in the world including more than 50 seminars, panel discussions and keynotes from iconic personalities on the leading-edge of online technology and internet-savvy business.

If you are currently blogging, podcasting, vlogging, producing other forms of new media content, entering the new media industry, or researching ways to leverage new media for your large or small company, then you need to be at the only comprehensive new media convention–BlogWorld & New Media Expo. Located in the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center at: 3150 Paradise Road, Las Vegas, NV 89109.

Save 20% NOW on BlogWorld and New Media Expo 2009 registration with the code “BWESEP20″

Customize your Twitter profile page

Adrianne — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 07:53:20 +0000

Face it, the standard Twitter profile options are boring. You can get creative for free or get a professional degisn from MyTweetSpace.

And while you are there choose a free Follow Me button for your website/blog/MySpace.

huitter’s Mutuality2 let’s you bulk un-follow non-followers on Twitter

Adrianne — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:40:08 +0000

Twitter etiquette dictates that you follow Tweeple who follow you. But what about the Tweeple you are following that don’t follow back? Consider it rude? Just use huitter’s Mutuality2 to unfollow them in bulk.

Why am I reluctant to use Twtri.com?

Adrianne — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:43:44 +0000

There are literally hundreds, if not more, Twitter applications. I seem to be introduced to a new one every week.

This week I have discovered Twtri.com which “updates your email, twitter or facebook with your flight status so you don’t have to“.

Why am I reluctant to use Twtri.com? Actually I will use it via email. Certainly my family and my friend who is meeting me at the airport will want to know if my flight is ontime or delayed.

But do my Facebook friends or Twitter followers really want to know? Do I really want them to know? I think not.

What is your Twitter grade?

Adrianne — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 15:19:18 +0000

Twitter Grader is trying to measure is the power, reach and authority of a twitter account. In other words, when you tweet, what kind of an impact does it have?

Here is my Twitter grade:

Use Twollo to follow Tweeple like you

Adrianne — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 09:31:43 +0000

Never miss out on a conversation. No longer hear only one side of the story. Tell us what you like, and we do the hard work of finding the conversations that you should be involved in.

Cool Things you can do with Twollo:

Discover Tweeple talking about your favorite topics or interests;
Engage with Tweeple talking about another Twitterer;
Follow Tweeple talking about a hashtag.

http://www.twollow.com

Because it’s everybody’s business

Adrianne — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 08:33:07 +0000

ExecTweets is a resource to help you find and follow the top business executives on Twitter. Created by Federated Media, in partnership with Microsoft, ExecTweets is a platform that aggregates the tweets of top business execs and empowers the community to surface the most insightful, business-related tweets.

Who are the top executives worth following? View ExecTweets exclusive list and see if you agree, and if you don’t or have other suggestions, they want to know. Contact them via:
@exectweets or email at exectweets@federatedmedia.net

Recommend your CEO, if s/he Twitters.

New logo for the Woman of the African Diaspora brand

Adrianne — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 10:18:55 +0000

We are pleased to announce a new logo for the Women of the African Diaspora website and social network.

The logo was designed by Mark Derek McCullough. He also designed the Black Expat logo and enhanced the AG Communications Group logo.

Visit his website to see his portfolio and to order your design services:
http://mderekmccullough.wordpress.com/

Hash Dictionary for Twitter

Adrianne — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 14:57:48 +0000

Tweeple, people who are serious about Twitter, are using hashtags to agregate and monitor tweets on particular subjects.

Twitter is the premier microblogging platform that answers the question, “What are you doing”?

While it is possible to search Twitter using keywords, such as XING Stockholm, clever Tweeple are using hashtags, for example #xingsthm to find out what is being said about XING Stockholm on Twitter.

Hash dictionary allows Tweeple to define their hash tags.

Automate your Twitter Account

Adrianne — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 22:05:02 +0000

Twitter has emerged as a very poerful social media tool. But it can be time consuming sending out regular tweets. Tweet Later is a tool that lets you set up your tweets, automate your Tweets from your blog RSS feeds and more.

I am experimenting with this tool now. I believe in using tools that save precious time.

New Issue of Black Expat Magazine Now Online

Adrianne — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 10:06:54 +0000

Q1 March 2009 :

• Expat Interview: Lesley-Anne Brown – Denmark
• Chuck Johnson – Kickin’ Butt in Japan
• Sokari Ekine – A Nigerian in London
• Back in the Day: Black Emigrants & Expats in early 20th century South Africa
• Re-launch Special 2009 – Camille Acey – Living in Wheelville: Slovenia

See them all here:
http://blackexpat.com/new/magazine-archives/2009-new-year/

Enjoy!

Feedtwister is a great source for mashing multiple RSS Feeds

Adrianne — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 09:43:37 +0000

In a nutshell, this is what you can do:

Mix your favorite feeds and show their latest posts on your website.
Create as many lists of feeds as you want.
Add up to 50 feeds per list.
Assign an image to each feed.
Choose the output charset encoding.
Order posts by date or title.
Limit the posts shown and establish a posts per source maximum.
Fully customize how the posts are displayed with our template system.
Data is cached so it loads fast and updated so you get the latest info.

Here are my Feedtwisters:

Why use this tool? It’s a great srouce for syndicating your blogs on your website, in your social networks, and you get listed in a directory. You never know who is interested in your posts.

BlackExpat.com Relaunches with New Design

Adrianne — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 17:06:09 +0000

Online magazine celebrates the diversity of the Expat community.

Stockholm, SWE February 11, 2009 – BlackExpat.com is revealing a new look. The online magazine, which unites Black Expats around the world, has been redesigned and revamped for an enhanced reading experience ahead of the release of its second issue.

"I think that your first issue was both educational and much needed. I look forward to your second addition", says reader Ilyaasah El. "Any and all information that you can provide will be greatly appreciated".

Internationally renowned artist and designer Mark Derek McCullough joins the BlackExpat.com team in the role of creative director. A long time Expat, who recently returned to Los Angeles, McCullough brings world class web design to the project. "I believe that first class material should have the same high caliber of presentation", he explains. "The face and interface of BlackExpat.com is just as important as its content." He adds, "with my own Expat experience it seemed only natural to get involved with the site. The net has shrunk the world so much, giving an easy interchange of information; our site will grow, serving as an invaluable Black Expat global knowledge base."

Created by Reggie Smith, a former Expat in China, BlackExpat.com has grown its readership base by filling a niche. "The trends of globalization have made intercultural exchange and movement essential and many people of all colors are realizing this. Though Black expats face the same challenges and problems as all expats, their small numbers and sometimes special situations have made many people clamor for such a resource as Black Expat.com."

The future looks bright for BlackExpat.com with new articles to be released each quarter and additional tools introduced on the website including a question and answer section powered by user generated information.

BlackExpat.com is building a community around the Expat life that is often only understood by other Expats. By peering into the lives of other Expats, past and present, BlackExpat.com aims to be a source of information coupled with inspiration for future Expats as well.

"I lived in London and Brussels before moving to Sweden and know firsthand how difficult it can be for an outsider to fit into a new country," says Adrianne George, BlackExpat.com co-editor. "The Internet is a great resource to find information. I strive to make BlackExpat.com a survival guide through example."

Contact: Reginald Smith and Adrianne George editor@blackexpat.com
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Mobile post sent by BlackWomenInEurope using Utterli. Replies.

It’s called Twello – hello!

Adrianne — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 12:41:44 +0000

Just when you think that no one could come up with another social media application, I would like to introduce you to Twello. Hello! You haven’t heard of Twello? Basically it is Twitter in your neighborhood:

Working for you

Twellow.com has been designed from the ground up to help you “cut through the clutter”. From our home at Twellow headquarters, we’re actively searching and categorizing millions of inter-personal exchanges available on the internet every day. Twellow.com is thereby able to assist you in finding real people who really matter. We’re doing the hard work of sifting out people who can help bring your vision to reality, whatever that vision might be.

How does it work?

Twellow.com is currently grabbing publicly available messages from the Twitter.com micro-blogging service. We then analyze and categorize each of the users responsible for those messages into the various categories found at Twellow.com. By adding these people to specific categories we help you narrow your searching into specific niches where you can find who you are looking for. In addition to Twitter, we’re actively working on adding more social media services to broaden your capacity to find people who matter.

Check it out.

Do you place adverts on your website?

Adrianne — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 22:15:53 +0000

Google AdSense is not the only game in town. Another ad provider Chikita thinks using their ads along with AdSense is more effective than using AdSense or Chikita alone. They are so convinced that they are giving away the latest, coolest phones to prove it. Find out more.

Google is #1 in search, can Gmail be #1 in webmail?

Adrianne — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 10:49:44 +0000

Big companies with cult followings don not rest on their laurels. As least google does not. They recently launched a new idea to promote Gmail, find out where their users are, as well as strengthen their cult following. All with stickers:

Not too long ago, one of the Gmail engineers broke out her vinyl cutter and made some Gmail m-velope stickers. Pretty soon, they were pasted to our desks, stuck on our laptops, and adorning the walls around the office. Then other people started asking us about them — first it was just other Googlers. But when a guy I was sitting next to on an airplane asked where he could get a Gmail sticker, we realized other people might like them too. Read on and get yours.

When you are as big as Google you can certainly give something away.

Video Plaza Offers Up AdServer for Video

Adrianne — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 20:25:47 +0000

Say what?

Monetizer is an adserver for managing, displaying and tracking advertising around your online video content. It provides out-of-the-box ad formats for any Flash or Silverlight video player and an easy-to-grasp interface for managing your advertising campaigns.

Want to know more? Contact the man behind it all:

Sorosh Tavakoli, CEO
sorosh@videoplaza.com
+46 739 – 241 352

Video has gone interactive

Adrianne — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 01:51:07 +0000

I met Roger and Emily at the Internet Marketing Conference in Stockholm last week. They flew in from the States to present about interactive video that connects you to the content.

What does that mean. It means Klickable.TV and it is here now.

If you use more than one micro-blog solution, Hello Txt is the only solution

Adrianne — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 11:15:12 +0000

I was having a hard time keeping up with all of my micro-blogging. When I pondered my dilemma on Plurk someone told me about HelloTxt.

HelloTxt lets you send status messages to 29 micro-blogginp sites.

You’ll still have to visit those sites to check your replies. Where’s the solution for that?

I don’t know if ping.fm is ping.fm, but gave up setting it up when their Facebook application link didn’t work.

Looking for one or two Europeans…

Adrianne — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 09:59:51 +0000

…to be “columnists” on the EurObama blog I am launching in January.

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730 newspaper front pages from 66 countries

Adrianne — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 17:05:49 +0000

The Newseum has a collection of front page images from 730 newspapers on 5 November 2008:
http://www.newseum.org/…rchive.asp

It is interesting to see how many made Obama’s victory a front page story.

It may be safe to assume that there would have been front page coverage of the election results in as many papers if the outcome would have been different.

What is interesting is the headlines used when reporting on Obama’s victory. I like the headline from one of the papers in Syndey: “Everyone’s a Winner”.

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World leaders welcome Obama presidency

Adrianne — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 13:52:39 +0000

World leaders hail Barack Obama’s historic victory.
Leaders around the world have congratulated Democratic candidate Barack Obama on his landslide victory in the US presidential election.

Just hours after news spread that Obama will be the first African-American to take office at the White House, leaders from around the world hailed the prospect of change in US policy.

Seoul congratulated US President-elect Barack Obama on his victory and said that it was a sign of Americans’ hope for change.

“The government evaluates Obama’s election as a result of the American people’s support for new changes and hope,” said a statement, issued by the South Korean President Lee Myung-bak.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono also welcomed Barack Obama’s election to the US presidency and expressed hope that the change in US leadership would help solve the global economic crisis.

“I want to congratulate Senator Obama for his success in being elected as US president. I also want to congratulate US citizen,” Yudhoyono said in a speech broadcast on national radio.

“Indonesia hopes the US can take concrete measures to settle the global economic crisis and the financial crisis in the United States.”

In Europe, German President Horst Kohler congratulated Obama and said the US president-elect could count on Germany as a ‘trustworthy partner and long-time friend.’

B.W.I.E NOTE: Swedish TV reported that French President Sarkozy was the first European leader to make a congratulatory call to President Obama.

Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso also sent his ‘heartfelt congratulations’ to Barack Obama on his election as president of the United States.

China’s President Hu Jintao did the same and said closer relationship between Beijing and Washington could ‘benefit Chinese and American people and people around the world’

South African President Kgalema Motlanthe also congratulated Obama’s presidential victory. “Your election… carries with it hope for millions of your countrymen and women as much as it is for millions of people of … African descent both in the continent of Africa as well as those in the diaspora”, Motlanthe said in a statement.

Source: http://www.presstv.ir/…etail.aspx

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The Death of BlogRush

Adrianne — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 10:07:28 +0000

After careful consideration, we have decided to shutdown the BlogRush service. If you have the widget code on your blog you will need to remove it.

When BlogRush launched in late-2007 it spread like wildfire all over the Web. Thousands of bloggers were talking about it and the service exploded to become one of the fastest growing free services in the history of the Web. During the first year of the service it successfully served 3.4 Billion blog post headlines and the BlogRush widget could be found on blogs all over the world; even up until the moment we closed down the service.

BlogRush didn’t grow without its fair share of problems — from security issues to abusive users trying to ‘game’ the system to much lower click-rates than expected. We also had some problems with trying to fairly control the quality of the network, and in the process made many mistakes in deciding what blogs should stay or go. All of these issues, ultimately, limited the service’s full potential.

Our team worked very hard to try and build a service that would truly help bloggers of all sizes get free traffic to their blogs. This was our primary focus. Not once did we ever try to monetize the service with ads or anything else. BlogRush never made a single penny in revenue. We wanted to be able to help our users FIRST and then worry about monetizing the service later. Unfortunately, the service didn’t work out like we had hoped. (It happens.)

I want to say “Thank You” to all of the great bloggers that at least gave BlogRush a test to see if it would work for them. We sincerely appreciate you giving the service a try.

We have received several offers & inquiries about acquiring BlogRush, but we are choosing not to go that route. While many might think this is crazy, we truly feel it’s the ‘right’ thing to do for our users. Believe it or not, it’s not always about the money. In fact, BlogRush will have lost a small fortune when it’s all said and done, and it was by choice. There were many things we could have done to monetize the service but we wanted to make sure it was going to benefit our users first.

Last but not least I want to say that I hope the failure of this service doesn’t in any way discourage other entrepreneurs from coming up with crazy ideas at 4AM (like I did with this one) and from “going for it” to just try and see if something will work. Without trying there can be no success. And as we all know, ideas are worthless without action. The Web wouldn’t be what it is today without entrepreneurs trying all sorts of crazy ideas.

On behalf of the entire BlogRush team, we wish the best of luck to everyone with their own blogs, ideas, and crazy ventures.

Sincerely,

John Reese

http://twitter.com/johnreese

Women of the African Diaspora Website Celebrates

Adrianne — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 08:27:42 +0000

Website for Black Women is about to unveil a new look for its anniversary.

Rotterdam, NL/Stockholm, SWE October 29, 2008 – Women of the African Diaspora website is having a birthday complete with gifts for its readers. The website, which celebrates Black women, will unveil its new look and a new domain name on November 1, 2008.

"Women of the African Diaspora website is simply better than ever," says Sandra Rafaela, Women of the African Diaspora’s co-founder and co-editor. "We are working very hard to create a website that provides information, inspiration and more for Black women around the world."

Women of the African Diaspora website leverages the global reach of the Internet to share relevant news, event notices and showcase a wide range of talented Black women including authors, artists, musicians, entrepreneurs, and others. And with Black women living on virtually every continent, it certainly has a large market.

"Women of the African Diaspora’s website content is very compelling and shines a positive spotlight on Black women that main stream media far too often ignores," says Adrianne George, Women of the African Diaspora‘s co-founder and co-editor. "The number of visitors to the site has increased each month over the past year, and our new look and new domain name make us the perfect choice for advertisers who want to reach the important market of Black women consumers."

The year has been marked with highlights for the Women of the African Diaspora co-editors, with Ms. Rafaela’s Afro European Sisters Network blog (http://afroeuropeansistersnetwork.blogspot.com/) being awarded blogged’s “great” rating. Ms. George’s Black Women in Europe blog (http://blog.blackwomenineurope.com/) was a member of a credentialed blogging team at the Democratic National Convention in Denver. Her blog also won the Helping Hand Award, a 2009 Black Web Award for Best European Website, and was a finalist for a 2008 Black Weblog award.

Within the next year, Ms. Rafaela and Ms. George have big goals for the website: to introduce new categories including a section showcasing photographers, increase the number of visitors, attract quality advertisers, and continue to fill every page of Women of the African Diaspora with inspiration and information for Black women.

"We’ve come so far in just one year," explains George. "We haven’t just built a website, we’ve built a community with the Women of the African Diaspora Social Network. Rafaela explains, “We have really enjoyed meeting accomplished and positive Black women while providing them with a unique platform for exposure. We’re ready to take on year two."

Anniversary gifts are provided by Creating Tomorrow, iPavilion, Marsha T. Jenkins, Lutishia Lovely, and Victoria Wells.

More information is available at http://womenoftheafricandiaspora.com/.

Contact: Sandra Rafaela
sandra(at)womenoftheafricandiaspora.com
Adrianne George
adrianne(at)womenoftheafricandiaspora.com

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Closer to the Dream – Obama event in France

Adrianne — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 10:55:13 +0000

LAST CHANCE to sign up for next Harvard Club event – screening of “Closer to the Dream” film on Barack Obama HLS ‘91

REMINDER

RSVP today for this coming Monday’s screening of "Closer to the Dream", a new documentary film about Harvard graduate (HLS ’91) and US Presidential candidate Barack Obama.

Kindly note the request below to RSVP to cgardner@xoli.com.

"Closer to the Dream"
by Hervé Cohen and Guetty Felin

a new documentary film about Harvard graduate (HLS ’91)
& US Presidential candidate Barack Obama

- light refreshments to follow -

Date & Time: Monday, October 27th, beginning at 7:30pm

Place: American University, 31 avenue Bosquet, 75007 Paris, in the "Grand Salon", 2ème étage

Price: Members* & their guests: 10 € / Non-members: 15 € (*Dues-paying Harvard Club of France members)

About the film: Captivated by a new spirit of hope in America, Franco-American filmmakers Guetty Felin and Hervé Cohen leave their home in Paris to plunge into the heart of the Obama movement in "Closer to the Dream". Journeying from state to state during the Democratic primaries, they unearth the personal, compelling stories of an array of politically inspired citizens on the ground. As the film unfolds, their personal stories allow us to see Obama’s historical candidacy through the eyes of ordinary Americans.

Please note that the event will be held in an informal, classroom setting at American University. "Closer to the Dream" is an independent documentary film. The opinions expressed in it are solely those of the individuals filmed and of the filmmakers. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the Harvard Club of France.

Please note that the film will be screened in its English-language version.

To sign up for the event, please RSVP today by sending an email today to Carole Gardner at cgardner@xoli.com.

Harvard Club of France

For more information, visit:
http://clubs.harvard.edu/…/hcfrance/

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Join in the discussion on election night

Adrianne — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 16:15:15 +0000

Black Women in Europe will be blogging "live" in Stockholm on election night.

We will be at the Democrats Abroads dinner and election watch event at the Scandic Anglais Hotel at 10pmCET. There will be Swedish/American celebrities and Swedish TV4 is convering the event.

Then at 4.30amCET we will go to the American Embassy/American Chamber of Commerce breakfast at the Hilton Slussen.

Join us with your thoughts and observations:
http://www.coveritlive.com/index.php" target="_blank

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Join in the discussion on election night

Adrianne — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 16:06:35 +0000

Black Women in Europe will be blogging "live" in Stockholm on election night.

We will be at the Democrats Abroads dinner and election watch event at the Scandic Anglais Hotel at 10pmCET. There will be Swedish/American celebrities and Swedish TV4 is convering the event.

Then at 4.30amCET we will go to the American Embassy/American Chamber of Commerce breakfast at the Hilton Slussen.

Join us with your thoughts and observations:
http://www.coveritlive.com/index.php" target="_blank

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We won!

Adrianne — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 12:39:59 +0000

One of the AG Communications Group’s brand, Black Women in Europe Blog, has won another award. See all of the awards given to the Black Women in Europe Blog.

Brand and Branding – A Fundamental Difference

Adrianne — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 11:09:18 +0000

The common misconception in branding is that your brand and branding your company are the same thing. They are definitely related, but they are definitely not the same thing. When you can grasp the fundamental difference between the two, you can leverage your brand more effectively. Confusion between the two can lead to problems establishing your brand because you might overlook something very important.

First, in their most basic sense, a brand is a concept and branding is communicating a brand concept. Did you catch it? A brand in an idea and branding is implementing that idea. To use an analogy, the brand is the bullet and branding is the gun. Branding applies the brand to your target market just like firing a gun at an intended target.

Let us define what a brand is. Essentially it is a concept developed in the consumer’s head about your company as a result of their experience with your company. Now this concept can just occur naturally without any purpose or brand development from you, which could be a huge liability, or you can be proactive in creating and developing your brand concept that you want the consumer to have.

Now let us look at branding. It is the transmission of the brand concept to the consumer through the use of brand elements and brand signals. Branding will happen even if it is intentional or not. Proper branding will be successful in transmitting the brand concept to the consumer without losing the integrity of the brand concept.

Source: Branding

How To Improve Search Engine Rankings

Adrianne — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 10:46:55 +0000

by Jennifer Ledbetter

Search engine rankings are a large factor to the success of your web site. If you desire free organic search traffic from the search engines you will have to learn how to improve your search engine rankings. The main search engine you should be focused on improving your rankings in is Google.

Why Google? Fact is, Google currently holds a 77% market share of the search engine business. Google handles 300 MILLION search queries every DAY. With over 8 billion pages in the Google index (with thousands being added daily), you need to have your ducks in a row and learn how to improve your search engine ranking or else you will get lost in the Google index. Without better search engine rankings, your web site will remain a virtual ghost town.

There are so many myths out there pertaining to unproven theories of how to better your rank in the search engines. We all already know that Google likes the following factors of a web site – and ranks a site with these factors in mind:

URL containing your keyword

Keywords in content (and close to each other)

Link Popularity (links pointing TO your site)

Keywords used to link to your site

Over-all theme of the site or page

Now, I have to mention that Google doesn’t mention optimizing meta tags, however,it is my experience that taking the time to optimize title tags and description tags can help… and certainly can’t hurt.

Improve Search Engine Rankings – The Myths

There is plenty of false information going around about how to boost the rank of your site in the search engines. Your first step in learning how to improve your rankings is to learn what is fact – and what is NOT.

These are some of the search engine ranking myths that you need to get out of your head:

Myth #1: Google Knows and Sees Everything

Myth #2: Google Will Not Rank Duplicate Content

Myth #3: You Must Get Links From Related Subject Sites to Rank

Myth #4: Your Site Must Focus On One Subject To Rank

Myth #5: High PageRank Means Good Rankings

Myth #6: To Maintain Good Rankings, You Must Add New Content

MYTH #7: THE BIGGEST MYTH: Ranking In Google Is Hard!

Improving your search engine ranking is not hard

Thankfully, getting better rankings in Google is not hard – if you know what you’re doing. Think about Google, and what their goal is. The goal of Google is to provide their users with the fastest, most relevant search results possible. They certainly are one of the only websites that I can think of that has the primary goal of getting visitors OFF their site as quickly as possible!

If you learn effective ranking methods – take time to learn what Google wants – and de-program yourself of all the inaccuracies regarding better search engine rankings, you will do fine. Improved search engine ranking will be easy for you to obtain.

About the Author:

Visit PotPieGirl.com and learn how to get better search engine rankings. PotPieGirl teaches how to improve search engine rankings.

Source: SEO

Black Women in Europe

Adrianne — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 10:59:31 +0000

A blog post from the European Union Commissioner for Employment Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, Vladimir Spidla (http://ec.europa.eu/…tem_en.cfm:

Recently a friend of mine lent me an interesting book on the history of New York. It’s packed with historical maps, pictures and photos showing how Manhattan was settled, and its various building booms and economic highs and lows through the ages. What struck me in particular was the gulf in living conditions between the different social classes in the different eras – grinding poverty on one side of the tracks and gilded luxury on the other.

New York is of course famous as a place where, for over 150 years, countless different nationalities and ethnic minorities have lived together, cheek by jowl. Still, life in the melting pot was by no means free from social tensions. The book contains this description, by New Yorker Gerrit Smith, writing some time around 1860: "Even the noblest black,“ he wrote, "is denied that which is free to the vilest white. The omnibus, the bank, the ballot box, the jury box, the halls of legislation […] are all either virtually or absolutely denied to him."

For over a hundred years, these words held true. But things have since changed, both in America and in Europe. We have seen the universal declaration of human rights, equal opportunity laws, measures to combat discrimination and successive campaigns to change people’s opinions. Today we know that discrimination is a horrendous waste of talent.

Yet despite all this progress, in reality, in our daily lives, many things still do not meet this ideal. This was highlighted by a 2007 study showing that black people still face bigger obstacles than all other ethnic groups. Especially black women, who often suffer multiple discrimination – on account of both skin colour and gender, or even sometimes their religious beliefs. Indeed, women’s organisations dealing with discrimination often fail to give sufficient attention to these specific problems of black women.

This was one of the reasons for the founding of the Black European Women’s Council in Brussels on 9 September 2008. Its mission is to help black women by informing the public about the specific issues they face. I was asked to make a speech to mark the occasion – something I was only too happy to do.

I know from conversations with black women that even when their families have lived in the UK, Belgium or Holland for generations, they can still be treated like foreigners. I want that to change, so that someday soon black women can enjoy the same kind of freedom in Europe as they do today in downtown Manhattan.

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Racism & Discrimination against Blacks in Europe

Adrianne — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 11:00:34 +0000

September 24, 2008
Contact: Lale Mamaux
Phone: (202) 225-1901
Cell: (202) 279-0442

Hastings Urges Increased Support for Combating Racism and Discrimination against Blacks and Other Minorities in Europe(Washington, D.C.)

Today, Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL), Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission), introduced a resolution (http://blog.blackwomenineurope.com/…H.RES.1496) calling on the United States government to increase support for public and private sector initiatives focused on combating racism and discrimination against blacks and other minorities in Europe.

“Black Europeans are a population of more than 7 million. Increasingly, they have become the targets of violent hate crimes, many resulting in death,” said Chairman Hastings. “It is imperative that the U.S. government increase its support for European efforts to combat racism and discrimination.”

The introduction of the resolution coincides with the launch of the (http://bewnet.eu/) Black European Women’s Council (BEWC) and their effort to fight for equality. In an effort to raise public awareness at the national and international level, BEWC brought together over 130 Black women from across Europe to “insist on the recognition and inclusion of Black Europeans economically, politically, and culturally.”

The resolution also urges European governments to implement recently introduced anti-discrimination legislation and action plans, including a fund for victims incapacitated as a result of a hate crime.

“Like African-Americans, Black Europeans continue to be hampered by inequalities in education, housing, employment, and the criminal justice system, (e.g., racial profiling). Few Blacks are in leadership positions and political participation is limited for many, providing additional obstacles for addressing these problems. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution recognizing Black Europeans, their numerous contributions to society, and the struggles they face daily,” said Chairman Hastings.

On April 29, Chairman Hastings held a hearing entitled, “The State of (In)visible Black Europe: Race, Rights, and Politics,” (ctrl+click for link) focusing on the challenges and opportunities experienced by Europe’s Black population amidst reported increases in racism and discrimination, anti-immigration and national identity debates, and growing security concerns. Additionally, the hearing examined the impact of anti-discrimination measures as well as diversity initiatives aimed at ensuring and protecting equal rights for a population many do not know exists. Additional information on the hearing can be found at http://www.csce.gov/.

###

The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, is a U.S. Government agency that monitors progress in the implementation of the provisions of the 1975 Helsinki Accords. The Commission consists of nine members from the United States Senate, nine from the House of Representatives, and one member each from the Departments of State, Defense and Commerce.

Lale M. Mamaux, Communications Director Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe Helsinki Commission)
Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (FL-23), Chairman
Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (MD), Co-Chairman
234 Ford House Office Building
202-225-1901 (phone)
http://www.csce.gov/

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Vote From Abroad

Adrianne — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 08:59:59 +0000

The whole world is watching to see who the American people will choose as their next President. In fact they are even voting:

http://www.voteforpresident.org/
Vote For President

While their votes don’t count towards electing the US President, the votes of Black American Expatriates do. Are you prepared to cast your vote?

Whether you are a student studying abroad, active duty military, a long time expat, or just traveling abroad during the election you can register to vote and/or request your absentee ballot online using the Vote From Abroad website:

http://www.votefromabroad.org/
Vote From Abroad

States deadlines to request your ballot or to register are fast approaching, so sort yourself out today.

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Women of the African Diaspora Site Anniversary

Adrianne — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 12:28:21 +0000

Dear Sisters,

Sandra Rafaela of the Afro European Sisters Network (http://www.myspace.com/aesn) and Adrianne George of the Black Women in Europe Blog (http://blog.blackwomenineurope.com/) are pleased to announce that their jointly created Women of the African Diaspora (WAD-http://www.aesn.eu/bwie) website and social network (http://blackwomenineurope.ning.com)will/ celebrate their one year anniversary on 1 November 2008.

During the first year the WAD website has featured dozens of contributors and the network has grown to enjoy hundreds of members around the world. Anniversary celebration plans include a new look and domain name for the website, and new featured sections to highlight more talented women of the African Diaspora.

Additionally we would like to offer our readers and users "gifts of thanks" for their support and participation. We also want to encourage buying within our community by asking for Black Female Entrepreneurs to provide WAD Anniversary Sponsorships of product and service gifts and discounts.

Appropriate examples include discount coupons to your products and services, as well as free subscriptions to your magazine or associations and free products or services. Any and all gift sponsors will receive recognition and thanks on the WAD website and social networking that includes your logo and link to your website.

To participate as a sponsor please submit your logo, link and prize, along with directions on redemption, to Sandra Rafaela:sandrarafaela(at)aesn.eu.

Thank you for helping to celebrate the Women of the African Diaspora website and social network!

Kind regards,

Adrianne George
Sandra Rafaela
Women of the African Diaspora Founders

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Use Keywords In Page Titles

Adrianne — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 05:35:59 +0000

It is recommended to use keywords in page titles itself. This title tag is different from a Meta tag, but it’s worth considering it in relation to them. Whatever text one places in the title tag will appear in the title bar of browsers when they view the web page. Some browsers also append whatever you put in the title tag by adding their own name, as for example Microsoft’s Internet Explorer or OPERA.

The actual text you use in the title tag is one of the most important factors in how a search engine may decide to rank your web page. In addition, all major web crawlers will use the text of your title tag as the text they use for the title of your page in your listings.

If you have designed your website as a series of websites or linked pages and not just a single Home Page, you must bear in mind that each page of your website must be search engine optimized. The title of each page i.e. the keywords you use on that page and the phrases you use in the content will draw traffic to your site.

The unique combination of these words and phrases and content will draw customers using different search engine terms and techniques, so be sure you capture all the keywords and phrases you need for each product, service or information page.

The most common mistake made by small business owners when they first design their website is to place their business name or firm name in every title of every page. Actually most of your prospective customers do not bother to know the name of your firm until after they have looked at your site and decided it is worth book marking.

So, while you want your business name in the title of the home page, it is probably a waste of valuable keywords and space to put it in the title line of every page on your site. Why not consider putting keywords in the title so that your page will display closer to the top of the search engine listing.

Dedicating the first three positions in your title for keywords, while avoiding the stop words like ‘and’, ‘at’ and the like is crucial in search engine optimization.

Follow these few simple steps in using keywords in your page titles and this will without a doubt help to improve your search engine rankings.

Get a Good Domain Name

Adrianne — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 03:32:50 +0000

Selecting a domain names has become a major problem these days. If you wish to have a certain domain name, then it makes you feel terrible when you find out that it is taken by some one else. There are many tools that can help you to find a good combination of the domain name that you are searching. These tools do not always give you the best solution, so you should find out for your self. These tools have limited options as well as capabilities. So you should not rely totally on these tools and software’s.

One thing that can make a difference is that when you buy a Dot com domain name instead of others domain names like dot info. People find it is easy and preferable to type the domain names that have a dot com ending. So one must buy a dot com domain name instead of others. While you choose a domain name, you should not use double hyphens. People will not like to type domain names that will contain double hyphens. On the other hand, if you choose to have a single hyphen, then it can be acceptable. Nowadays you will find few domain names that will contain a single hyphen. People are getting use to domain names with a single hyphen. So a single hyphen domain name is an option that can be considered. However, it’s best to not use one. Users are very use to with the domains names that ends with a dot com. So it is good to pick a dot com for a domain name.

Choose a domain name that is not hard to remember and it must be simple. For example consider the domain name for Yahoo.com. It’s easier to remember as well as typing the address for the domain name of Yahoo.com. So you must think as a user before selecting a domain name. Try to select a domain name that’s not too long. People do not prefer long names as it is hard to remember for them as well as it is also not comfortable to type them too. One more thing is to select a name that will describe the idea of our website.

Try to select a domain name domain name registration that is very much chosen to the idea behind your site. How great it well be if you can select a name that can expressed the basic idea of your website and at the same time is easy to remember because of its fact which is not too long. These aspects play an extremely important role in your success for your web site. Think that if your site becomes a heavy traffic site one day and thousands of users will come every day. However, this is only possible if you select a decent domain name.

Sell Yourself on MySpace

Adrianne — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 03:31:20 +0000

MySpace is a wonderful online community which is free of charge for members. Members of this service are able to create personal websites which can be used to tell other members of the community about their interests. Additionally, members can include pictures, video and music on their websites. Members can also include a blog on their website which they can use to express their opinions, share their thoughts or vent about their personal affairs. All of these different components of MySpace enable members to let others learn more about them. The purpose of creating a website on MySpace may be to find career opportunities, just make friends or network with those who share their business interests. In all of these cases it is important for the individual to really sell themselves through their MySpace website so others will be interested in joining their group of friends or learning more about them.

Launch Your Career with MySpace

MySpace was created as an online community for people to make new friends and connect with existing friends but it has turned into so much more. Some have found they could launch their careers through MySpace. While those with aspirations in the entertainment industry are most likely to be the ones who market themselves through MySpace there are others who have more traditional careers in mind who include resume type information on MySpace in an attempt to find a new job or career.

In either case the MySpace website should be designed to catch the attention of those in the chosen industry. For example, an individual seeking a career in the profession of library science may have outrageous interests and hobbies but designing a website to reflect these hobbies may detract from those who might otherwise consider the education and past work experiences of the individual. Similarly someone who wants to break into the fashion industry should strive to create a MySpace website which is trendy and edgy as opposed to mundane.

Increase Your Circle of Friends with MySpace

Those who use MySpace just to make friends can also benefit from designing a website that really promotes themselves. This website design should not only promote the owner of the website but should also be tailored to suit the tastes of the type of friends the individual would like to make. For example a diehard Yankee fan might want to incorporate a Yankee themed background to the website and include a song such as I Love New York into the website. This will make the website, and the individual, more desirable to those who share their interests.

Similarly those who want to make friends on MySpace who share a passion for a particular band might consider including the bands music on the website and posting new information about the band in a daily blog. This will attract fans of the band to your MySpace website and can help you to make friends with those who share your interests.

Network with MySpace

The MySpace community provides members with a wealth of networking opportunities. Although these opportunities exist, it takes a savvy user to not only find others with whom they would like to network but also convince these users to join in the networking opportunity.

Individuals who sell Avon cosmetics can be considered as an example of the importance of networking online. These salespeople are prohibited by MySpace to selling their products through the MySpace website but they can certainly find other members interested in the sale or purchase of Avon products and network with these individuals. Entering the term, “Avon cosmetics” into the MySpace search feature may reveal a list of other websites which use this term. Members can review these websites and determine whether or not they believe networking with these individuals would be beneficial. If it seems as though it would be beneficial, the member can either place a comment on the website or send an email or instant message to the other member.

This can help to get a conversation started and may lead to more meaningful interactions which may include sales techniques or other industry tips.

Generating Traffic to Your MySpace Website

Adrianne — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 03:29:38 +0000

MySpace is an exciting online community where members can make new friends, reconnect with old friends, network or even find potential romantic partners. While there are some MySpace members who join the community simply for the ability to stay in touch with their old friends and are not looking to make new friends. These members may keep their websites private to not allow other users to view their personal information and may not spend a great deal of time visiting public websites of other members. However, most MySpace members are interested in making a great deal of friends online and are always looking to generate more traffic to their website.

Create an Interesting MySpace Website

One of the simplest ways MySpace members can generate increased traffic to their website is to create a website which is both aesthetically appealing and interesting to others. The aesthetic appeal of a website can greatly influence the amount of repeat traffic a MySpace website receives. For example members who use garish colors and fonts which are too small or otherwise difficult to read may not receive repeat traffic even if the content of their website is very interesting and engaging. This is because other members may lose interest in the website quickly.

The other part of an excellent website design is interesting and intriguing content. A website which is aesthetically appealing may entice visitors to peruse the content but if it is simply not interesting and engaging the visitors are not likely to spend much time on the website and are also not likely to return. However, MySpace members who fill their website with exciting content are likely to keep visitors interested. When visitors are interested in the content they are likely to return and also to encourage others to visit the website as well.

Visit Members’ Websites

Another way to generate increased traffic to your MySpace website is by visiting the websites of other members. You can use the search feature to find other members who share your interests. By visiting their websites you will get a better idea of whether or not you are interested in being friends with these members. When you encounter other members you might be interested in meeting you can sent them an email or instant message commenting on their website and asking to be added to their network of friends. You can also suggest they visit your website as well. Those who make an effort to meet other members are likely to increase their own web site traffic.

Invite Friends to Your MySpace Website

Finally, MySpace members can generate additional traffic to their website by inviting others to visit them. They can speak directly to friends and family members and encourage them to view their website. Also, those who participate in other online communities such as message boards may include a link to their MySpace website in their signature so those who want to learn more about them can visit their MySpace profile.

MySpace also has an invite feature which enables members to send messages to others to encourage them to start a MySpace account. Members who have friends or family members who do not belong to the MySpace community can send them one of these invitations to encourage them to get involved. The invitation can include a link to the members MySpace website to give the others an idea of what MySpace really is.

Maintaining a Professional Appearance on MySpace

Adrianne — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 03:28:08 +0000

MySpace is an online community which can be a fun way for members to meet new friends, reconnect with old friends or make romantic connections. MySpace members who are interested in pursuing these types of activities online are free to create a website which reflects their personality. This will help others to understand who they are and to learn more about their preferences.

Although MySpace offers all of these fun entertainment type activities, there are some members of MySpace who utilize the community for business purposes. They may use MySpace to network, make business connections or to promote their business. In these cases care should be taken to create a MySpace website that is attractive and interesting while maintaining a professional appearance.

Avoid Slang and Abbreviations

One way to maintain a professional appearance on a MySpace website is to avoid the use of slang or abbreviations. Many MySpace websites feature slang, abbreviations and terms which are not grammatically correct. While this type of Internet language may be entertaining and may be considered acceptable among members of the community, this type of writing is not likely to appeal to potential customers or business partners.

Additionally, not everyone understand the cryptic language often used on message boards, text messages and emails and those who do not understand may have trouble reading the information presented on the website.

Keep the Design Tasteful

As previously mentioned, those who are using MySpace strictly for entertainment purposes can design a website according to their personal preferences. This may include unusual fonts, garish colors, offensive images and blaring background music. While this type of design may provide a great deal of insight into an individual’s personality it is not a good idea for a business related website. Therefore those who are using their website for promotion of a business should create a more tasteful design.

There are a few generic tips which can make a website appear more professional. The use of muted colors that complement each other can make a website aesthetically appealing. Users are more likely to spend time on websites with these types of color combinations because it is soothing. Additionally, the use of a common font type and size which makes reading the text simple is recommended. The use of background music should also be avoided in professional websites as many users either do not have speakers or may view the website in a location where they do not want to hear music.

Avoid Embarrassing Photos

Finally, special consideration should be given to the use of photos on a website which is striving to maintain a professional appearance. While those who are using MySpace for entertainment purposes only may opt to plaster their website with embarrassing pictures of them and their friends, those who have business intentions should use photos more judiciously.

The photos used on a business website should invoke a professional sentiment. This may include posed photos of the website owner in a dignified location, landscape photographs or pictures of products sold by the company. Alternately those who are using MySpace to promote products or services might consider it best not to use images as at all. Whether or not pictures are used on a website is a matter of personal preference but when they are used, care should be taken to ensure they contribute to the overall design of the website rather than distract from it.

African week in the European Parliament

Adrianne — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 14:50:51 +0000

08.09.2008 – 11.09.2008
09:00 – 18:00

African week on the Intercultural Dialogue in the European Parliament

Link to program:
http://www.interculturaldialogue2008.eu/…ogramm.pdf

European Parliament
Rue Wiertz 60
1047 Brussels
Phone: +32 (0)2 284 21 11
Fax: +32 (0)2 284 69 74
Email: info@europarl.eu.int

Link to the organizer:
http://www.europarl.eu.int/
URL of event: http://www.interculturaldialogue2008.eu/405.0.html[tt_news]=339&tx_ttnews[backPid]=333&cHash=ae32f6f43d

Registration required:
Thomas Dudrap
Phone: +32 (0)2 284 45 24
Email: TDudrap@europarl.europa.eu

European Parliament
Rue Wiertz
1047 Brussels

Location of event
The role of the African diaspora in development will be among the themes discussed during the African week to be held by the European Parliament.

Part of the European Year for Intercultural Dialogue (EYID), the week will feature both political and cultural events. EP President Hans-Gert Pöttering, Pan-African Parliament President Gertrude Mongella and African Nobel Prize winners will speak at the closing session on Thursday. A round-table on the role of the African diaspora in development will be held by the Committee on Development and chaired by its President Josep Borrell (Wednesday 10, 18.45h).

A joint meeting of Members of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) and Members of the ACP-EU Joint-parliamentary Assembly, together with Nigerian winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature Wole Soyinka, will close the African week (Thursday, 11.00h). EP President Hans-Gert Pöttering and PAP President Gertude Mongella will also take the floor.

The Malian photographer Malik Sidibé will be the guest of honour for the African Week . The week will showcase the vitality of the contemporary arts in Africa. Events linked to current political developments in Africa are also planned.Large scale prints of the Malian photographer’s work will adorn the EP’s building and will be visible from the Place de Luxembourg from Friday 5 September.
Infos

Hans-Gert Pötterin, EP President; Gertrude Mongella, Pan-African Parliament President; Josep Borrell,President; Malik Sidibé, Malian photographer; Luisa Morgantini, Vice-President of the EP.

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Black European Women’s Council’s Lauch 2nd panel

Adrianne — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 14:41:03 +0000

Second panel.

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Black European Women’s Council Launch panel 2

Adrianne — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 14:38:27 +0000

Second panelists.

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Black European Women’s Council Launch 2nd panel

Adrianne — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 14:35:45 +0000

Second panelists:
Brenda King, Vladimir Spidla, Christa Prets, Peter Moore, Morten Kjaerim, Hellen Felter, Sylvia Serbin, Leah Sempaya, and Beatrice Achaleke.

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Promoting Your Business on MySpace

Adrianne — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 03:26:42 +0000

The question of whether or not MySpace can be used to promote a business is certainly debatable. MySpace is intended to be a non-commercial website by nature but there is a different between blatant commercialization and mentioning a product or service you offer and providing a link as a useful resource to visitors of your website. This article will take a look at the opportunities to promote a business on MySpace by providing information on determining whether or not your method of business promotion is permitted on MySpace and information on how to promote your business without being accused of spamming MySpace.

Review the Terms of Service Carefully

The terms of service provided by MySpace can provide the greatest insight into whether or not there are ways to promote your business through MySpace. Members of MySpace are asked to review the terms of service before becoming a member. Each member should carefully read through this entire agreement to come to a better understanding of which types of activities are allowed on MySpace as well as which types of activities are prohibited.

One of the stipulations of the MySpace reads as follows, “Non-commercial Use by Members. The MySpace Services are for the personal use of Members only and may not be used in connection with any commercial endeavors except those that are specifically endorsed or approved by MySpace.com.

Illegal and-or unauthorized use of the MySpace Services, including collecting usernames and-or email addresses of Members by electronic or other means for the purpose of sending unsolicited email or unauthorized framing of or linking to the MySpace Website is prohibited. Commercial advertisements, affiliate links, and other forms of solicitation may be removed from Member profiles without notice and may result in termination of Membership privileges. Appropriate legal action will be taken for any illegal or unauthorized use of the MySpace Services.”

This section of the terms of service stipulates that MySpace is created for non-commercial use unless Myspace.com has approved the use of a member’s website for commercial purposes. Therefore care should be taken when designing a MySpace website to ensure the website will not be deemed to be a commercial website by MySpace administrators.

When In Doubt, Ask Questions

Those who are unsure of whether or not their MySpace website, as they have designed it, will be considered a commercial website should consult with MySpace administrators. This step is not necessary unless the member is concerned their content will be perceived as being commercial. Reviewing the terms of use agreement can provide a great deal of information but some users may still be concerned with the possibility that their website will be penalized if the administrators deem it to be commercial in nature.

Contacting MySpace is a fairly simple process. Members can use the, “Contact MySpace” link from the MySpace.com homepage. The contact page enables members to select a subject and a subtopic and submit this information. Once this is done MySpace provides some preliminary information which may be relevant. If this information is not useful to the member they can email a detailed request to MySpace.

Avoid Spamming at All Costs

If you determine there is an opportunity for you to promote your business through MySpace, care should be taken to ensure the promotion does not cross the line into spam. Spamming is taken very seriously by the MySpace administrators and it may result in links or content being deleted or the privileges of membership may be revoked when a member is found to be guilty of spamming.

Links to your ecommerce website integrated into your MySpace website isn’t considered spamming. Depending on how it is used it may not even be considered advertising, and therefore prohibited, by MySpace administrators. However, visiting other MySpace websites and placing a link to your ecommerce website on each website you visit would be considered spam. These individuals may or may not be wanting to look at the website you provide but even if they are interested sending these links to numerous websites unsolicited is often considered to be spam.

Black European Women’s Council’s History

Adrianne — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 16:22:02 +0000

Gideo history.

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Black European Women’s Council’s History

Adrianne — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 16:03:30 +0000

Video history.

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Black European Womnen’s Council’s Lanuch History

Adrianne — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 15:58:26 +0000

Video history.

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Black European Women’s Council’s Lanuch History

Adrianne — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 15:51:56 +0000

Video history.

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Black European Women’s Council’s Launch History

Adrianne — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 15:46:47 +0000

Video History.

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Black European Women’s Council’s Launch History

Adrianne — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 15:39:46 +0000

Video history.

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Black European Women’s Council Launch History

Adrianne — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 15:29:25 +0000

Video history.

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Black European Women’s Council Launch History

Adrianne — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 15:17:09 +0000

Video history.

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Black European Women’s Council Launch History

Adrianne — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 15:07:24 +0000

Video history.

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Black European Women’s Council Launch

Adrianne — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 14:55:01 +0000

History of the launch.

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Black European Women’s Council Launch

Adrianne — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 12:55:30 +0000

Panelists.

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Black European Women’s Council Launch

Adrianne — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 12:53:03 +0000

Panelists.

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Black European Women’s Council Launch

Adrianne — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 12:50:33 +0000

Panelists.

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Black European Women’s Council Launch

Adrianne — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 12:46:33 +0000

Participants.

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Black European Women’s Council Launch

Adrianne — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 12:43:11 +0000

Participants.

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Black European Women’s Council Launch

Adrianne — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 12:39:25 +0000

Ladies gathering for the launch.

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Black Europe Women’s Council Launch in Brussels

Adrianne — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 12:31:38 +0000

[audio http://www.utterz.com/utts/15/15df22ab499ea7761c438f2f6710e301.mp3]

Beatrice Achaleke, Initiator of the Black Women’s council, Executive Director of AFRA (International Center for Black Women’s Perspective) in Austria thanks those who helped her oganize today’s launch.

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Black European Women’s Council Launch

Adrianne — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 12:27:27 +0000

Ladies gathering for the launch.

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Black European Women’s Council Launch in Brussel

Adrianne — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 12:24:07 +0000

Ladies gathering for the lanch.

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Black European Women’s Council Launch in Brussel

Adrianne — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 12:20:15 +0000

Ladies gathering for the launch.

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Black European Women’s Council Launch in Brussel

Adrianne — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 12:17:44 +0000

Ladies gathering for the launch.

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Black European Women’s Council Launch in Brussel

Adrianne — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 12:15:27 +0000

Ladies gathering for the launch.

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Black European Women’s Council Launch in Brussel

Adrianne — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 12:12:34 +0000

Ladies gathering for the Black European Council’s Launch.

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Black European Women’s Council Launch in Brussel

Adrianne — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 12:09:01 +0000

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Black European Women’s Council Launch in Brussel

Adrianne — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 12:01:13 +0000

Ladies gathering for the launch.

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Black Europeam Women’s Council Launch

Adrianne — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 11:58:23 +0000

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Black European Women’s Council Launch

Adrianne — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 11:53:40 +0000

More photos of attendees gathering.

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Black European Women’s Council Launch

Adrianne — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 11:39:33 +0000

Here is the agenda of the Official Launching of the Black Women’s Council in Brussels today

Part one:

Branda King, Douglass Freeman, Lissy Groner, Pascale Charho, Myria Vassilliadou, Yvette Jarvic, Anne Gaspard, Nahid Majid, moderated by Yvonne Thompson.

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Black European Womens Council Launch in Brussels

Adrianne — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 10:11:16 +0000

I will attend the Black European Women’s Council Launch in Brussels today. If I am able to get an Internet connection I’ll report during the launch.

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Advertising on MySpace

Adrianne — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 03:25:30 +0000

MySpace is an online community where users have the opportunity to create websites where others can view personal information about them and contact them. However, savvy Internet marketers have found MySpace can also be used to advertise products or service or for the purpose of self promotion. Care should be taken to review the terms of use on MySpace to ensure none of your actions are in violation of these terms but otherwise users can advertise either directly or indirectly on their MySpace website.

Why Advertising on MySpace is Effective

Advertising on MySpace can be effective as long as it is done correctly and not in a way that is viewed as spam. The effectiveness of MySpace stems from amount of users who are currently using MySpace. This includes both members who place comments as well as nonmembers who only look at other websites. With so many daily visitors it is likely there will be visitors who are interested in the products or services you are offering on your MySpace website.

Another reason why MySpace is such an effective advertising tool is there are no fees associated with using your MySpace profile to create links to your ecommerce website or to provide more information about the products and services you offer. The best way to effectively advertise on MySpace is to follow the same guidelines that would normally be followed by advertisers in online locations. This includes knowing who your target audience is and how to effectively appeal to them. This is important because a marketing campaign which does not follow these simple rules will not likely be effective.

In addition to advertising within a MySpace website there are also opportunities to advertise in the form of banner advertisements on MySpace. MySpace is able to not charge a fee to members because they generate their income through paid advertisements. Contact MySpace administrators directly to learn more about these advertising opportunities.

Selling Products on MySpace

MySpace can be also be used to advertise products or services. This can be done either subtly or blatantly. Those who are active participants on MySpace and invest time in meeting others and making friends are more likely to benefit from selling products or services through a MySpace account. This is because most people who use MySpace are not exactly looking for information about products or services so they are unlikely to seek out this information.

However, if they have online friends who are using their MySpace account to promote a product or service they may see the advertisements and find the products or services interesting. In this case they may visit a link to an ecommerce website and consider making a purchase. However, care should be taken when advertizing your website on MySpace. Links to your ecommerce website on your own profile are acceptable but placing comments with the same link on other members’ websites will likely be considered spam by both the other members and the MySpace administrators.

Using A Free Blogging Web Site

Adrianne — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 03:22:50 +0000

For first time bloggers, a free blogging web site is a great way to get started in the blogosphere. Popular blogging web sites like blogger and eponym allow users to set up and host a blog without paying any fees at all.

This encourages people to start blogging, because the fact that one of these sites can provide you with all of the tools that you need to get your blog up and running without spending any money means that you have nothing to lose by starting a blog. The fact that it is so easy to find a way to blog for free is one of the reasons why so many people who have never had any other kind of web presence before find themselves drawn to blogging.

By signing up with a free blogging web site, you may find it easier to get listed in search engines that you would if you were starting your own blog from scratch. For example, google runs the free blog hosting site blogspot and crawls its pages very often looking for updates, so if you have your site hosted by blogspot you are almost guaranteed to be listed on google’s blog search engine. This easy access to search engines can take some of the work out of promoting your blog, and can help you gain a following with a minimum of marketing effort.

If your blog attracts a large readership, you may want to consider moving your site. Many people feel that being hosted by a free blogging web site gives a blog a kind of amateur flavor that is fine for a new member of the blogosphere, but is not appropriate for a high-profile blog.

Having your own domain can help you make your blog feel professional, and finding a company that will host your domain is not difficult or expensive. Once your blog takes off, you will probably be able to sell enough advertising space to be able to afford to buy a domain and pay for a hosting package, and still have money left over. However, it does not make sense in most cases to invest in these glossy luxuries before you have a sizable readership.

Starting your blog on a free blogging web site is a great way to build a following before you spend any money on your blog. If and when your blog becomes popular and you are ready to take the next step and purchase your own domain, your readers will follow you to your new home.

The fact that it is possible to use a free blog host like blogspost, blogger, or eponym as a kind of incubator for your blog is great news for bloggers everywhere.

Getting started with videoblogging

Adrianne — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 03:21:28 +0000

Videoblogging is the next generation of posting ideas and products over the internet. Everybody knows about textblogging. Now they use videos for a better way of expression. This form of communication may entail a lot of resources, but it is all worth it. If pictures say a thousand words, videoblogging exceeds that by far.

A videoblog requires larger disk spaces on websites, a faster server, and a whole new set of programs to support it. Videoblogs can be fed through RSS. This is technology of syndicating your website to other RSS aggregators.

Videoblogging works with people on the internet expressing their selves. Now if you put this on a business prospective, you are up to a lot of benefits. Think of it as a powerful tool in making showing your prospective customers your line of products or your services. It’s just like showing a commercial all for free. And if you videoblog through RSS, then most probably you are getting your target market.

People like to see what they are going to buy. Some would like to see proof and be sure that they are getting their money’s worth before shelving their dimes on it. All of us know the influence of a thirty second commercial. The effect of videoblogging is similar to that. You show your product, people watch it. If they like it, they buy it. If you present it good enough, they’ll buy the product even if they don’t need it.

Now on the web, things are pretty much static, unlike in television in which all are moving. If you post something that is mobile, it would most likely catch attention. Now imaging your product parading in all it’s royalty through videoblog. You’ll get phone call orders in no time.

If your business is just starting up, you can create a videoblog right at your own home. All you need is your web camera, microphone, video software, and lights. For as long as you know how to use your camera, then you can create a videoblog.

Invest in a good web camera. The higher its resolution is the better the output. And you like to present your goods in the optimum way so get the best one possible. Make a short story, or just capture your goods in one go. Just make sure you are getting the best profile for each. Get those creativity juices flowing.

Lights are important in a production. Make sure you illuminate entirely the area you are going to use to create videoblog. The brighter the area, the crispier the images will be. You can also use lighting effects for added appeal to the presentation.

Should you require sounds for your videoblog, you need a microphone. Record you voice as a voice over for promoting the product and its benefit to consumers. Sounds are as important as videos on a videoblog. It is advisable to make your sound effects as enticing as the video.

Your video editing software can be any program. You need this to finalize your work. You can add sounds, delete some bad angles, or insert some still pictures in there too. Some programs are user-friendly and can be used even with zero knowledge on video editing. Even simple video editing programs should do the trick. Select your background carefully too. The light affects the presentation so make sure that the background and the light complements each other.

Videoblogging is a great tool but it also has it downside. It may slow down the computer so other may steer clear of it. Download time may also be time consuming especially if customer is still on a dial- up connection.

But don’t let those stop you. Let videoblogging be an alternative for you, though it is best to still keep the text and pictures present in your presentation to accommodate all possible viewers of your site.

Nowadays, the more creative you are in presenting your product to the market, the more you are likely to succeed. Videoblogging offers an interactive way of selling. You involve the customers and you instill in them the advantage of your goods. And often those two things are enough to make a sale.

Online Training for Skill Development

Adrianne — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 15:33:43 +0000

Author Byline: Randall Olson
Author Website: http://www.mobiletechwebsite.com

When the purpose of corporate training is to help employees reach a particular level of skill competence, online training is often a much better choice than traditional methods of training. Online training is an excellent means of providing convenient, assessment-driven training that enables workers to move at their own pace toward accomplishing stated training goals.

Employees often have very different entry-level skills. When faced with learning a new skill that needs to be applied on the job, some workers are likely to begin training with no prior knowledge, and others may already have advanced knowledge. When students with vastly different prerequisite skills are sitting side by side in instructor-led, fixed time frame classes, it presents unique challenges for both the learners and the instructor.

When instructors begin classes at a level appropriate for those who have no prerequisite knowledge regarding the skill, those who are more advanced tend to become bored and resentful. However, when instructors begin classes assuming prior knowledge that some of the students don’t have, those learners who are most in need of instruction will not be able to achieve the learning outcomes.

In such situations, many trainers adopt a mentality of teaching to the middle, which simply results in reducing instructional effectiveness for all participants. Teaching to the middle still leaves those with no entry-level skills behind, and still bores those students who are the most advanced.

With online learning, this problem disappears. Online training programs are typically designed to allow learners to progress through training modules at their own pace. Those with advanced skills can quickly demonstrate proficiency with the basic skills and can move to the parts of the instruction they really need. Those who require remediation can spend as much time as they need getting a strong foundation on which to build.

The best e-learning systems for corporate training applications allow training managers to control which classes learners are required to complete, as well as monitor student progress through training. This results in a win-win situation for corporate trainers and learners at all levels of skills. Employees will appreciate being able to move through skill development training at a comfortable pace, at convenient times.

With corporate training, what matters in the long run with employee skill development training is whether or not employees develop skills and are able to transfer the necessary skills from training settings to the workplace. Online training options can be the most efficient solution for providing employees with the skill training they need.

About the Author
Randall Olson is the Director of Information Technology for Mobile Technical Institute & MTI Business Solutions (http://www.mobiletechwebsite.com). He oversees the firm’s high stakes certification testing center, conducts computer application training, and manages MTI’s online learning programs. MTI is a full service training and consulting firm, providing open enrollment and on-site employee development training, database development, and website solutions. For free career and business development tips and advice, see http://www.DailyCareerConnection.com and http://www.DailyBizSolutions.com.

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

Problogging: Make Money From Blogs

Adrianne — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 03:19:35 +0000

A weblog (or simply blog) is a website that ‘publishes’ or features articles (which are called ‘blog posts’, ‘posts’, or ‘entries’), written by an individual or a group that make use of any or a combination of the following:

· Straight texts

· Photographs or images (photoblog)

· Video (videoblog)

· Audio files (audioblog)

· Hyperlinks

Usually presented and arranged in reverse chronological order, blogs are essentially used for the following purposes:

· Online journal or a web diary

· Content managament system

· Online publishing platform

A typical blog has the following components:

· Post date -the date and time of the blog entry

· Category – the category that the blog belongs to

· Title – the title of the blog

· Main body – the main content of the blog

· RSS and trackback – links the blog back from other sites

· Comments – commentaries that are added by readers

· Permalinks – the URL of the full article

· Other optional items – calendar, archives, blogrolls, and add-ons or plug-ins

A blog can also have a footer, usually found at the bottom of the blog, that shows the post date, the author, the category, and the ‘stats’ (the nubmer of comments or trackbacks).

There are numerous types of blogs. Some of them are the following:

1. Political blog – on news, politics, activism, and other issue based blogs (such as campaigning).

2. Personal blog – also known as online diary that may include an individual’s day-to-day experience, complaints, poems, and illicit thoughts, and communications between friends.

3. Topical blog – with focus either on a particular niche (function or position) that is usually technical in nature or a local information.

4. Health blog – on specific health issues. Medical blog is a major category of health blog that features medical news from health care professionals and/or actual patient cases.

5. Literary blog – also known as litblog.

6. Travel blog – with focus on a traveler’s stories on a particular journey.

7. Research blog – on academic issues such as research notes.

8. Legal blog – on law (technical areas) and legal affairs; also known as ‘blawgs’.

9. Media blog – focus on falsehoods or inconsistencies in mass media; usually exclusive for a newspaper or a television network.

10. Religious blog – on religious topics

11. Educational blog – on educational applications, usually written by students and teachers.

12. Collaborative or collective blog – a specific topic written by a group of people.

13. Directory blog – contains a collection of numerous web sites.

14. Business blog – used by entrepreneurs and corporate employees to promote their businesses or talk about their work.

15. Personification blog – focus on non-human being or objects (such as dogs).

16. Spam blogs – used for promoting affiliated websites; also known as ‘splogs’.

Blogging is typically done on a regular (almost daily) basis. The term “blogging” refers to the act of authoring, maintaining, or adding an article to an existing blog, while the term “blogger” refers to a person or a group who keeps a blog.

Today, more than 3 million blogs can be found in the Internet. This figure is continuously growing, as the availability of various blog software, tools, and other applications make it easier for just about anyone to update or maintain the blog (even those with little or no technical background). Because of this trend, bloggers can now be categorized into 4 main types:

· Personal bloggers – people who focus on a diary or on any topic that an individual feels strongly about.

· Business bloggers – people who focus on promoting products and services.

· Organizational bloggers – people who focus on internal or external communication in an organization or a community.

· Professional bloggers – people who are hired or paid to do blogging.

Problogging (professional blogging) refers to blogging for a profit. Probloggers (professional bloggers) are people who make money from blogging (as an individual blog publisher or a hired blogger).

Below are just some of the many money-making opportunities for probloggers:

· Advertising programs

· RSS advertising

· Sponsorship

· Affiliate Programs

· Digital assets

· Blog network writing gigs

· Business blog writing gigs

· Non blogging writing gigs

· Donations

· Flipping blogs

· Merchandising

· Consulting and speaking

The following are a few things that you need to consider if you want to be successful in problogging:

1. Be patient. Problogging requires a lot of time and effort, not to mention a long-term vision.

2. Know your audience. Targeting a specific audience or group is a key to building a readership.

3. Be an ‘expert’. Focus on a specific niche topic and strive to be the “go-to” blogger on that topic.

4. Diversify. Experiment with various add and affiliate programs that enable you to make money online (aside from blogging).

5. Do not bore your readers. Focus on the layout. White spaces, line spacings, and bigger fonts make a blog welcoming to read.

Certainly, it is more than possible to earn money from blogs. One just needs to take risks and have the passion and the right attitude in order to be a successful problogger.

Benefits of Joint Venture Partnerships to Online Business Owners

Adrianne — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 00:54:56 +0000

Other than the potential increase in profits, a joint venture partnership offers many compelling benefits. True, the potential for incredible profits is certainly a benefit; however, in the grand scheme of things, it really is just the cherry on the sundae.

Here are some truly compelling benefits of Joint Venture Partnerships:

Benefit #1: Bigger lists. How big is your current opt in list? Does it have room to grow? Would a bigger list mean more profits tomorrow, next week, next month and next year? A joint venture partnership has the power to broaden your opt in list in many ways. If you are list leveraging with a partner, then anyone who responds, visits your website, or makes a purchase is added to your opt in list.

Cross promotions have the same list building capabilities. Imagine if you post an ad for your partner in your ezine and they post an ad for you, then everyone on their list that responds to your ad is now on your opt in list.

Benefit #2: Better customer relationships. Offering your customers a new opportunity, new product, or new service with a reputable partner gives you instant credibility – not only as a respected business owner, but one that has their customers in mind and takes the time and effort to find and present quality opportunities to them.

When you offer your customers a quality product or service, you not only increase your credibility with them, you increase the likelihood that they’re going to buy from you again. You earn their respect and gratitude for bringing them valuable and beneficial opportunities and for connecting them with other spectacular businesses like yours.

Benefit #3: New products. Partnering with another online business introduces new products into your product base. For example, say you own and operate an information marketing business where your products range from a book on how to organize your home from top to bottom, to personal organization services.

You could partner with a small business coach and create a product about organizing your home office for maximum productivity. Your partner will promote the book to their customers and add the product to their product base, and you can market the product as part of your product base. Down the line you could bundle the product with others and create a larger book package. You could interview your partner and create a product from that.

When it comes to online joint venture partnerships, there really isn’t a downside. You get the opportunity to make your customer’s happy, you build your list, you increase your product base, and you make money. It’s all good.

How To Keep Your Blog At The Top Of The Rankings? Some Social Marketing Tips

Adrianne — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 00:53:02 +0000

Adding new posts to your blog is one of the simplest ways to keep your blog at the top of rankings. A new post will always keep people interested and clicking on your blog, more clicks means higher ranking since one of the ways rankings are established is by counting the number of clicks earned by your website. People will return to your blog if you include funny anecdotes, free advice and links to other interesting pages in your blog.

Maximum advertisement of your blog is another way to keep your blog at top rankings. You can advertise at forums, post links in chat rooms, tell friends to post links on their websites to your blog and find websites that are looking for blogs to be added to their web pages. The number of links caught by the web spider will automatically increase your ranking.

If you use your blog to promote your website, you can hire one or two writers who can write daily posts for your blog. This will also add fresh ideas and better perspective to your blog. There is no shortage of blog writers, since there are people who write blogs for themselves as well as earn a living through the blog. You can advertise on job boards and the interested ones will send you their emails and sample work, so it will be easy for you to choose the one that suits you.

You will not feel stressed with the thought of updating a blog, while you will also be reaping rewards for fresh blog entries regularly. If you earn from your blog you can surely afford hiring one blog writer. The best one would be the one who was a style of writing that matches yours.

Hiring a web writer to write keyword rich articles for your blog is another good idea of increasing your web rankings. People with good idea of SEO can do the trick for you. You can also buy top ranking by using Google Adsense, here you will have to link your blog to several sites. This effort will surely pay off in increasing your rankings.

The most important thing about maintaining a blog is being loyal to it. You should return to it each day and add at least two posts. Increase in internet rankings in the only way you can ensure that your exposure on the internet has increased substantially. You can create a newsletter and add it to your website and other ways of advertising are all good means of increasing your search engine rankings.

Your rankings will go up if you provide amusing blogs. Consistency and providing new material are the key to maintaining a healthy audience for your blog. Check out this great blog as an example.

Content Articles Can Bring Your Blog More Traffic

Adrianne — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 00:45:10 +0000

As an internet user, you are probably well aware of how fun, educational, and interesting blogs can be. You may even have your own blog. Have you ever given a thought to the content you find on a blog? Did you know that there are content articles you can add to your blog to help draw traffic to it? It’s true and if you have a blog you can use these content articles to help boost the popularity of it and the amount of readers that you have.

By adding good quality content to your blog, you can attract more readers to your site faster. Below are a few good reasons content articles work well to boost the traffic to your blog.

Keywords in the article

The keywords in your article will attract traffic faster than about anything. The keywords are what cause your article to be returned in a search engine when a search is performed. For example as long as your website is in the search engine and you sell rubber gloves then when someone searches on a search engine for the term rubber gloves, your site will be displayed. The trick is to try and get your website to rise up through the rankings and be among the top few returns on an internet search.

Informative and educational articles

Make your articles educational and entertaining so that your readers will enjoy your articles and want to come back and read more. If you are not a very good writer, you can find writers to do it for you on one of the freelancer sites. Give your readers what they want and information they can use.

Post regular updates

If you don’t update your blog on a regular basis, your visitors will tire of seeing the same old thing and will eventually stop coming. Keep your content fresh and post at regular intervals and your visitors will return. If you decide to use a content writer, you can order several articles in advance so you don’t have to worry about running out, and then post them at the appropriate time.

The above tips will work together to bring you more hits to your blog and this means that your blog is becoming more popular and more people are visiting and coming back to read your updates. This is an important concept because loyal readers will soon become loyal customers and may even refer others to your site because they like it so much.

So if you have a blog or are thinking about setting up one, keep these tips in mind because they will help you to get more readers of your blog and increase your traffic and hopefully your sales too! Check out this top blog as an example.