AG Communications Group

Google+ vs. Facebook

The most recent mutation of Facebook seems to have more people in an uproar than after previous mutations. And it’s not over yet (but since social media is always evolving we shouldn’t be surprised).

Next is “Timeline”:

Zuckerberg, Facebook creator explains that Timeline is, “the story of your life,” significantly altering the way people’s information is shown on the world’s leading social network, presenting “all your stories, all your apps, and a new way to express who you are.

As of today:

I am not sure if I will enable Timeline or not for my personal profile but would love to that option for business pages. One could highlight and showcase important business events such as product launches including photos and videos, customer feedback and customer service, events, human resources news and more.

Read more about Timeline on Facebook.

People are considering Google+ as an alternative to Facebook as the recent changes and repeated privacy concerns are leaving some users displeased. I have decided to cautiously use Google+ while I decide how I should use it. I am leaning toward using Google+ as an additional place to have a business profile. A site that feels friendlier than linked in and not as noisy as Facebook. To that end I probably have to go back and rethink my Google+ circles.

It is anything but boring when working in social media and the plethora of choices can only mean that one has to really consider why they are engaged in social media.

Good news from the advertising world for website owners

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.

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

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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Obama on LinkedIn – my man is WORKING social networking

Campaign ’08: Barack Obama

I was fortunate to be able to grow up seeing America from varied viewpoints. My childhood was spent in Hawaii and Indonesia. After college I worked as a community organizer on the South side of Chicago focusing on improving living conditions in poor neighborhoods.

I came to understand that to truly solve the problems facing our communities, it would take a change in our laws and our politics. I ran and served for seven years in the Illinois State Senate, where I fought for expanding children’s health care, providing tax cuts for the working poor and enacting welfare reform. In 2004, I was elected to the U.S. Senate, where I have worked to pass laws securing dangerous weapons and making government more accountable. I have also opposed the Iraq war from the start and believe that we need to bring our troops home by March of 2008 so we can refocus on the wider struggle against terrorism.

Of all my life experiences, I am most proud of my wife Michelle and my daughters Malia and Sasha.

BarackObama.com
My.BarackObama.com
Click here to view Barack’s LinkedIn Profile
Join Obama’s LinkedIn group and Add a badge to your profile

I love Ning!

Marc and I founded Ning in October 2004 to give everyone the opportunity to create social networks. Two and a half years later, Ning powers over 80,000 social networks and counting.

From eBay sellers in Upstate New York to bead store owners in Maine, aspiring hip hop artists in New Jersey, pop culture junkies in New York City, college professors in Germany, young deviant artists in North Carolina, and even a few big media companies in LA, with Ning anyone can create the perfect social network for them.

Here’s what I’ve done on Ning.  Soon I’ll be adding my own custom designed logo, and goodness knows what else.

Get Your Own Social Network!

The world is waiting.

Dear Adrianne,

Our foreign policy shapes America’s image abroad, but America’s role in the world is deeply personal for many of us here at home.

We remember how it felt when the American president had the moral authority to speak for free people everywhere.

Maybe you’ve traveled abroad and seen firsthand how in a few years George Bush has squandered the goodwill America earned over half a century. Maybe the decisions George Bush has made has sent your friend or family member into a war that should have never happened in the first place.

Barack wants to know why a new direction for our foreign policy and restoring America’s moral leadership in the world is personal for you. Share your story here:

http://my.barackobama.com/stories

Today Barack gave a major address about why our role in the world is personal for him.

He’s been to the border of the Darfur region and seen first-hand what happens when America will not step up and lead. He’s seen first-hand that weapons of mass destruction in the former Soviet Union have not been secured under this president. He’s met with Israelis and Palestinians who told him that true peace won’t be achieved without an American president committed to making it happen.

And he’s got concrete plans to right our course and rebuild America’s global leadership. Today he laid out five initiatives that an Obama Administration will pursue:

• Bring a responsible end to this war in Iraq and refocus on the critical challenges in the broader region
• Modernize our overstretched armed forces, building the first truly 21st century military and show wisdom in how we deploy it
• Marshal a global effort to secure, destroy, and stop the spread of weapons of mass destruction
• Rebuild and construct the alliances and partnerships necessary to meet common challenges and confront common threats
• Invest in our common humanity to ensure that those who live in fear and want today can live with dignity and opportunity tomorrow

Barack Obama will be an American president who leads the world once again.

But this campaign isn’t only about Barack Obama. A comprehensive agenda for America’s foreign policy requires the input and participation of the millions of Americans who have a stake in the outcome.

We’ve provided a place where you can submit your ideas to add to the ones Barack laid out today. Your input will be a component of our policy development process and part of the ongoing expansion of our campaign’s agenda. Share your ideas and priorities for America’s foreign policy here:

http://my.barackobama.com/ideas

As Barack pointed out today, the position of “leader of the free world” has been vacant for some time.

For too long we’ve seen the consequences of a foreign policy based on a flawed ideology, and a belief that tough talk can replace real strength and vision.

How many millions of Americans and our allies abroad winced when Senator John McCain gleefully sang a tune about starting another war by bombing Iran?

As the Republican presidential candidates repeat the same tired White House talking points, one thing is becoming clear: Democrats have the obligation to turn the page and lead America into a new chapter in history.

With your help, Barack Obama can do that.

Thank you,
David

David Plouffe
Campaign Manager
Obama for America

P.S. — One of the opportunities America has to lead the world in facing down a common threat is by taking serious steps to solve the climate crisis. Yesterday, on Earth Day, over 10,000 people showed up in Iowa City to hear Barack talk about his plans to combat global warming. You can watch a short clip here:http://my.barackobama.com/iowacity

Dear Adrianne,

Here’s how it usually works. As we approach March 31st, when campaigns have to file their quarterly fundraising reports, the press and pundits start to obsess over the chase for money.

They value dollars more than people, and bottom lines more than ideas.

Now, don’t get me wrong. Like every campaign, this one needs the resources to compete.

But while others may set goals based on raising tens of millions of dollars, we’re going to reveal two numbers that say more about what kind of campaign we’re running:

• the number of people donating to the cause
• the number of donations we’ve received from them

And we’re not going to talk about the dollars raised until the reporting period is over.

It’s simple: get more people involved, more deeply than ever before. Those are our goals for the end of the quarter, and for the rest of this campaign. Whether you’ve given before or this will be your first time, you can make a statement that people count.

I’m asking you to stand up and be counted — will you make a donation now?

http://www.barackobama.com/peoplecount

So why these two figures?

The number of people giving shows the wide breadth of support for a campaign that seeks a new kind of politics.

The number of donations reveals the depth of people’s commitment, because so many people give small amounts again and again.

If we really hope to meet the challenges of our time, we have to change what our politics is about, and that means changing what campaigns are about — not just dollar amounts and million-dollar goals, but millions of people working for a cause bigger than themselves.

That’s why we’re not accepting contributions from Washington lobbyists or political action committees.

So who are our donors? See for yourself. Election law requires that we ask every donor to the campaign for their occupation and their employer. That information will be made public in the quarterly report filed on March 31st.

Just this week we’ve gotten donations from the following people:

• a salesperson in Alabama
• a nurse in North Carolina
• a truck driver in Minnesota
• a firefighter/paramedic in Texas
• a homeless shelter director in Virginia
• a special education teacher in Florida
• a bartender in Colorado
• a minister in New York

The two most common occupations of our donors this week? “Student” and “Retired” — and we’ve got thousands in between.

Will you be the next person to be counted?

http://www.barackobama.com/peoplecount

There’s serious work ahead for our next president, and the process of choosing him or her should not descend into an insider game of who can better manipulate the “conventional wisdom” in Washington.

We have an opportunity to use this fundraising deadline to turn the story of money and politics on its head.

You can show the pundits covering this presidential race that a grassroots movement for change can trump all the money and influence in Washington.

Give them something to talk about — be counted now:

http://www.barackobama.com/peoplecount

For six years we’ve had a president out of touch, on the wrong track, and increasingly unwilling to even pretend to care about the concerns of ordinary Americans.

The process of choosing our next one should focus on mobilizing and energizing the people.

As we approach this fundraising deadline on March 31st, you have an opportunity to send a message by participating in a different kind of fundraising drive:

In a democracy, it’s the people that count.

Thank you,

Barack Obama

My.BarackObama.com – Political Campaigning-Social Networking

 My.BarackObama.com – This Campaign is About You.

Powered by Obama ’08 (and supporters just like you).

Political campaigning:

New clips from the campaign trail                                    
Barack TV                                                                             
Support the Senator’s Acts                                                
Learn the issues                                                                   
Register to vote                                                                    
Buy campaign gear           

Social networking:

Create your own profile
Find supporters near you
Plan and attend events
Network with your friends
Become a fundraiser
Write your own blog

Note: The most brilliant use I’ve seen, to date, of Web 2.0 (You Tube, flickr, Face Book, Party Builder, blogging, etc. ), and social networking, for political purposes.  No doubt Barack is reaching the crucial 18-40 year old demographic in his bid to become the first African American President of the United States of America.