More Representatives, Better Business?

The news from the 2010 US Census is clear and impactful. The population is changing. According to this MSNBC report, for the first time in history California did not gain any seats in the House of Representatives and will maintain 53 seats, followed by Texas with 36 seats and New York and Florida with 27 seats each.

According to US Census Bureau data, six of the 16 states with a minimum of a half-million Hispanic residents have experienced positive population growth requiring additional seats in the House of Representatives. Eight cities with the top 20 Hispanic populations are within those six states, including Houston, Miami, Phoenix and Dallas. HispanicBusiness.com reports, “the average population size for congressional district is 710,767 people, up from 646,952 people in 2000.” Understanding the shift of the population southward and westward combined with the growth and revealing of the Hispanic population will positively affect a company’s identification of the Hispanic target market and their efforts to engage them.

Here are several guiding principles gleamed from the 2010 US Census reports and marketing industry best practices:

• The Hispanic population’s buying power is expected to surpass $1.2 trillion by 2011, according to the University of Georgia’s Selig Center for Economic Growth. Ignoring this source of revenue is simply unwise. Moreover, this market tends to spend more of its total income so an expended marketing dollar can generate a higher ROI. Efforts should run parallel to those put forth for the general population. However, a knowledgeable marketer needs to recognize whether the market is Hispanic. Juan Job, VP of Hispanic Markets at New York Life says, “we define a market as Hispanic if 50% or more of its customers are Hispanic. We have associates exclusively devoted to the Hispanic market in the following units: New York (two), Fresno, CA, El Paso, TX, Mc Allen, TX, Edison, NJ, Miami, FL and San Antonio, TX.”
• Create media units with a message around core Hispanic values that toggle between English and Spanish. Core values such as family, religion, sports and gender roles all play an important part of the Hispanic psyche. Impacting that consciousness requires an understanding of how those values line up and differ across subcultures. U.S. Hispanics report interacting with content in English and Spanish. Integrated campaigns will respect the deep sense of Spanish price Hispanics have but honor their shifts in education, socioeconomic status and the population’s large youth sector.
• Get to know the distinction and stability of the market. Regional populations differ. Persons of Mexican origin dominate the market; Cuban populations are largest on the East coast and concentrated in Florida, New York and New Jersey. Unlike the rest of the Latino population, Cubans in the US tend to be older. Puerto Rican populations are largest in New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut. Just as the Cuban market is affected by its unique welcome status under US immigration law, marketing to the Puerto Rican population is affected by their status as citizens and the ease of travel between the island and mainland. Creating an ad that appeals to all Hispanics would prove difficult; Mexicans, Cubans and Puerto Ricans speak different dialects and have considerably different tastes. Differences in idiomatic expressions, food habits and political leanings that follow local and regional populations should be incorporated into the successful, culturally relevant campaign.

Over 20 Spanish-speaking nationalities are represented in the U.S., each with its own cultural characteristics, traditions and values. The unique characteristics of this growing and young population withstand and respond to different marketing techniques. The successful campaign will not be a simply adaptation of one aimed at the white European market and will take into account the subtleties, regional differences and core values of the sub-cultures.

Sources:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40733820/ns/politics/
http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/politics/2010/12/21/us_population_308745538.htm
http://2010.census.gov/2010census/data/

Hispanic Market Advisors on facebook: Get updates on 2010 Census results

2010 Census: Winners And Losers

Interactive Graphic by the Associated Press - Click on the map

This graphic requires version 9 or higher of the Adobe Flash Player.Get the latest Flash Player.

An interactive showing the first release of 2010 census data, including state population figures, population changes by state since last census and changes in congressional seats over past decade and past century.

Credit: Associated Press

Source page: http://www.npr.org/2010/12/21/132209316/2010-census-winners-and-losers

2010 Census Data Population Change

See the just released interactive map widget that enables users to view the history of apportionment and our country’s changing population through the past century. The widget will be updated when the 2010 state counts are released on December 21, 2010.



Data provided by U.S. Census Bureau.

Population Density: Includes Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia in population density rankings, 1 to 52.

Apportionment: Apportionment is the process of dividing the 435 seats in the House of Representatives among the 50 states. Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia are not included.

Alaska and Hawaii gained statehood in 1959. Arizona and New Mexico gained statehood in 1912. Data before those periods are not reflected on the map.

Congress did not reapportion in 1920. Therefore, the apportionment data shown for this decade replicates the data for 1910. There is no data reflected for the apportionment population in the 1920 "people per representative" chart.

Reaching Latin American Audiences with Hispanic SEM

Technology is bringing people together across borders in the Latin American market. More than ever, people in Latin American countries are gaining access to computers and the internet, which means Latin America is slowly coming online. The world wide web used to be a predominantly English speaking environment, but many changes have occurred in the last several years, and now it is common to find blogs, newspapers, and other sources of information and entertainment in nearly any language one can imagine, including Spanish. As a result, the time for Hispanic SEM (search engine marketing) has never been better.

Language, culture and content play a crucial role in what type of people come together. When people share a common language, they share a common culture, and they become more likely to experience a common content on the internet, as well as in real life. Today, there is more Spanish language content on the internet than ever before, which means people in Latin American countries have more opportunities than ever to contact each other and express their shared and unique cultures with each other. Companies and businesses that can tap into such cultural connections with Hispanic search engine marketing and effective communication strategies are at an advantage, as they have access to an audience that has been largely ignored by many businesses and companies in the United States until now.

Business Practices Designed to Effectively Reach Hispanic Audiences

Fortunately, many major marketers have begun adapting their strategies to this new framework through business practices designed to effectively reach Hispanic audiences. A number of techniques that have been shown to be successful in reaching English language audiences are beginning to be applied toward Spanish language audiences, such as targeted ads written in the language of the intended audience, search engines that operate fluidly in the target language, and informative and entertainment based content in the target language. Hispanic SEM/SEO has become far more popular in the last few years than in the last decade, and the results are becoming visible all over the internet. Companies who make efforts to reach out to Spanish language markets are being rewarded with increases in popularity, site hits, advertising revenue, and on and offline attention.

The role of traditional media, social networks, and mobile is also significant in the effort to reach Spanish language audiences with search engine marketing. Social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Myspace have allowed English language audiences to stay connected, share content, and distribute information freely and at the speed of the internet. These technologies are rapidly adopted by younger people in any society, regardless of language, and they are becoming much more popular among Spanish language speakers, both in the United States and in Latin America. Furthermore, technology involving mobile phones and wireless connectivity is enabling people to access the internet no matter where they are, which further increases opportunities for Hispanic marketing. Traditional media such as televisions and newspapers still play a role in effective Hispanic audience marketing, particularly among middle aged and older adults, who may be more hesitant about using the internet for information and entertainment.

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Hispanic Chamber of Commerce chapters on facebook

Some facebook pages from regional and local chapters, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce:

Name:California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, Type:Non-ProfitLikes:11,562 people like this.
Name:Regional Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Type:Non-ProfitLikes:2,393 people like this.
Name:Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Metro Orlando, Type:Local BusinessLikes:2,013 people like this.
Name:United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Type:Non-ProfitLikes:1,327 people like this.
Name:Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Type:Non-ProfitLikes:1,186 people like this.
Name:Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Type:Professional ServiceLikes:615 people like this.
Name:Santa Barbara Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Type:Professional ServiceLikes:334 people like this.
Name:Hispanic Chamber Cincinnati USA, Type:GovernmentLikes:259 people like this.
Name:Central California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Type:Professional ServiceLikes:228 people like this.
Name:Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Type:GovernmentLikes:214 people like this.
Name:South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Type:Non-ProfitLikes:206 people like this.
Name:Northern Region California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Type:Non-ProfitLikes:148 people like this.
Name:Ogden Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Type:Professional ServiceLikes:56 people like this.
Name:Indiana State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Type:Local BusinessLikes:12 people like this.
Name:Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Alameda County, Type:ProductsLikes:12 people like this.
Name:Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Marin, Type:Professional ServiceLikes:9 people like this.
Name:Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Type:PageLikes:5 people like this.

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If you belong to an Hispanic Chamber of Commerce local or regional chapter and your facebook page is not listed here, feel free to include the name and url under comments below... Thanks!

Hispanic Organizations on Facebook

Some of the facebook pages/groups from Hispanic Organizations:

Name:Being Latino,Type:Local Business, Likes:40,000 people like this.
Name:Latinos for Obama,Type:Politician, Likes:26,377 people like this.
Name:Univision,Type:Local Business, Likes:21,466 people like this.
Name:National Association of Hispanic Journalists,Type:Non-Profit, Likes:4,089 people like this.
Name:Congressional Hispanic Caucus,Type:Government, Likes:3,114 people like this.
Name:Latinos in Social Media,Type:Common Interest, Members:2,763 members
Name:National Hispanic Entrepreneurs' Organization, Inc. (NHEO),Type:Education, Likes:2,083 people like this.
Name:Hispanic Food Network,Type:Food and Beverage, Likes:1,892 people like this.
Name:HACE - Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement,Type:Organizations, Members:1,503 members
Name:National Hispanic Institute,Type:Government, Likes:1,294 people like this.
Name:Hispanic Business Council, Type:Local Business, Likes:1,152 people like this.
Name:Hispanic Federation,Type:Non-Profit, Likes:1,087 people like this.
Name:Hispanic Business Network,Type:Local Business, Likes:710 people like this.
Name:Hispanic Business & Consumer Expo,Type:Non-Profit, Likes:687 people like this.
Name:National Hispanic Business Association,Type:Education, Likes:669 people like this.
Name:Hispanic Business Initiative Fund,Type:Professional Service,Likes:496 people like this.
Name:NSHMBA National, Type:Non-Profit, Likes:474 people like this.
Name:National Hispanic Environmental Council,Type:Education, Likes:464 people like this.
Name:Hispanic PR Blog,Type:Communications, Likes:451 people like this.
Name:Hispanic Heritage Month,Type:Products, Likes:439 people like this.
Name:TeleNoticias,Type:Communications, Likes:426 people like this.
Name:Hispanic Students Business Association,Type:Products, Likes:402 people like this.
Name:NHORA National Hispanic Organization of Real Estate Associates,Type:Real Estate, Likes:375 people like this.
Name:National Association of Hispanic Nurses,Type:Products, Likes:372 people like this.
Name:Hispanic Chamber of E-Commerce,Type:Website, Likes:227 people like this.
Name:National Hispanic Medical Association,Type:Medical Service, Likes:177 people like this.
Name:FSU Center for Hispanic Marketing Communication,Type:Education, Likes:83 people like this.
Name:Hispanic Market Advisors,Type:Technology Product / Service, Likes:62 people like this.
Name:Hispanic Trending,Type:Professional Service, Likes:50 people like this.

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If you belong to an Hispanic organization and your facebook page is not listed here, feel free to include the name and url under comments below... Thanks!

Barack's Message for Hispanic Heritage Month

[- September 15 to October 15 is National Hispanic Heritage Month -]

This year's theme recognizes the strength and hard work of Hispanic Americans, whose zeal for family and country has helped shape society.

Mobimarketers Target Hispanics

Mobimarketers use the mobile phone as a primary marketing tool for targeting a group of individuals. Mobimarketing has become increasingly popular among consumers. The Hispanic population within the United States is now a staggering 46 million. However, mobimarketing is not used nearly as much as in other ethnic communities. Mobimarketers should develop strategies to market to this community considering the number of individuals that wield purchasing power. The buying power of Hispanics in the United States is currently $1.2 trillion. Mobimarketers should attempt to find a way to yield a portion of Hispanic buying power.

Mobimarketers and Hispanics

Currently, mobimarketing can be a very powerful tool in order to reach Hispanic customers. Mobimessenger can send instant messages to a wide variety of Hispanic consumers. Business owners can easily create distribution groups and import customer contact lists. This enables business owners to keep customers informed of new products, services, discounts, or promotional information. MobiMessenger includes an option for sending messages in a foreign language also. Most MobiMessenger tools are Freeware and therefore, can be easily distributed.

Where to Target Hispanic Mobile Users

Mobimarketers seeking to reach customers may begin by soliciting responses through newspaper advertisements. Online newspapers are growing in popularity among Hispanic customers. Some of the more popular Hispanic online newspapers are www.espanol.yahoo.com, www.msn.com, and AOL Latino. Hispanic consumers also frequently peruse local newspapers indigenous to the home countries. Given that Hispanics spend an average of 9.5 hours online per week, this is a good source to receive mobile phone numbers for marketing purposes. Hispanics are literate online users of the internet. Hispanics also spend an average of $1200 in online purchases per year. Mobimarketers are likely to reach the Hispanic market under the age of 35 on the internet.

Industries and Companies targeting Hispanic Mobile Users

Hispanic mobile users view items such as sports, music, movies, shopping, online contests, and sweepstakes. Other communities market health care through mobimarketing. However, mobimarketers are more likely to reach Hispanic consumers as it relates to the aforementioned topics. Hispanic consumers may also respond to mobile marketing as it relates to issues concerning family.

Mobile Marketing and SMS

Mobile marketers most often use SMS and messaging as the primary mode of communication through mobimarketing. Mobile marketing also includes online newspaper subscriptions and other forms of online advertising. While mobile users are more reticent about purchasing an online newspaper, the idea is growing in popularity. Nearly, 36% of online users will consider purchasing a paper online.

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Mobile video, such as YouTube and other forms of video are also considered viable forms of mobimarketing among consumers. Marketers should consider marketing via video in order to capture the portion of the Hispanic market that primarily shops on the internet.

Summary

Many businesses overlook the Hispanic community because of language barriers or because of other reasons. Mobimarketers should consider the Hispanic market as a viable source for finding consumers for products and services.

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Hispanic Marketing Is Target Marketing

Being cognizant of the unique characteristics of the Hispanic market will make the process of marketing to that demographic more efficient, economical and effective. There are seven keys to unlocking the inherent value in this rapidly-expanding market.

First: Overcome the language barrier

The first and most obvious key is to overcome the language barrier. However, it takes more than just one salesperson who speaks Spanish as a second language and a sign that reads "se habla Español." The obvious language barrier is also indicative of a cultural barrier. By hiring first- or second-generation Hispanic immigrants for both customer service and staff positions, you will make it easier for Hispanic households to do business with you. You will also be able to benefit from their cultural knowledge and experience to provide feedback in developing marketing materials, selecting media and planning special events.

Second: Recognize the strength of family values in the Hispanic market

The next set of keys is to recognize the strength of family values in the Hispanic market. Brand loyalty may span several generations, and Grandmother may be a powerful influence to enlist or overcome. However, unlike many other demographics, the Hispanic household is often patriarchal, with the husband making the final decision, especially on big-ticket items.

Third: Consider to start building brand awareness with the children

In many first-generation immigrant families, the parents speak little or no English and their English-speaking children may play a stronger role in the buying process. You may find that it is easiest to start building brand awareness with the children and younger family members.

Fourth: Direct mail marketing still highly effective in the Hispanic market

While direct mail marketing is less effective than it used to be in mainstream markets, statistics show that it is still highly effective in the Hispanic market. This is because these families view it as an educational opportunity to learn more about the products or services being offered.

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Fifth: Include Spanish radio in your Latino marketing efforts

Spanish radio is a cost-efficient and effective way to reach Hispanic households. Market studies indicate that it is even more effective than Spanish television, especially when the radio personalities endorse the product or service being offered.

Sixth: Use sports celebrities to raise brand awareness

Local Spanish sports heroes are also excellent spokespersons and very effective at raising brand awareness. Even amateur players, if well-known within the community, can be very influential.

Seventh: Offer creative options for those with no sufficient credit to qualify for financing

When selling big-ticket items, credit may be an issue. While most Hispanic immigrants prove to be excellent credit risks, they may not have established sufficient credit to qualify for financing with some lenders. By being aware of your lenders' loan criteria and of the fact that there is big difference between "insufficient or no credit" and "bad credit", and by helping to establish financing options that will take those factors into consideration without exploiting your Hispanic customers, you can avoid losing sales to credit denials.

By using these seven keys, your business can tap into Hispanic consumers and enjoy the growing loyalty of your customers and their friends and families for years to come.

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Connect with Hispanic Market Advisors:
* Follow Hispanic Market Advisors on Twitter
* Get updates from Hispanic Market Advisors on Facebook
* English to Spanish translation services, Hispanic market business solutions

Sampling Hispanics

ATT: MARKETING PROFESSIONALS AND BUSINESS OWNERS

Hispanics now surpass African-Americans as the second-largest race/ethnic group. Because their families are larger and food is an important part of their life, Hispanics purchase and consume more food products. When developing a marketing strategy, this large target market has many cultural marketing categories to consider.

Culture and the Hispanic Market

When translating marketing material for Hispanic customers, the Hispanic-market region of origin is an important consideration. Many Hispanic customers originate from Cuba, Caribbean or Mexico, as well as other regions such a South America and Spain. Each Hispanic cultural category makes food-purchasing choices and prepares food differently. For example, Tortillas prepared in Mexican culture prefer corn passing through a lime bath whereas South American Hispanics from Venezuela prefer pre-cooked corn for Tortillas.

Every market has cultural differences, and food-purchasing decisions are sensitive to these differences. Various Hispanic customers prefer different versions of ethnic food and at times prefer the same food prepared somewhat differently. People are sensitive to their culture as is the Hispanic target market. There are dispersed variations of the Hispanic-culture communities throughout marketing regions, and the members of these communities are making purchasing decisions by differences in culture.

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Marketing professionals should keep in mind the Hispanic category targeted before making product and promotional decisions. When marketing to the Hispanic community, remember that not every Hispanic community may interpret a translated English version of a product in the same way. Customs and languages are different in the Hispanic market just as in any target market.

Hispanic Sampling and Brand Attitude

It is important that a brand elicits excitement from the consumer. California launched a marketing campaign a few years ago to promote product awareness to change Hispanic attitudes about purchasing milk. Traditionally, the female family member passes on cultural food ideals to the next generation; therefore, the milk campaign in California targeted Hispanic mothers and grandmothers.

It is important that a brand elicit excitement from the consumer. The milk marketing campaign targeting Hispanic mothers and grandmothers is an example of changing attitudes and creating excitement for a brand. Before the campaign, Hispanic women did not purchase milk, and the attitudes toward milk had to change to generate a purchasing reaction.

Hispanics value samples and coupons more than the remaining population. Samples introduce products and services to new target customers. Hispanic response levels to samples and coupons are always higher, especially when brand excitement plays on various cultural differences such as family values or the pursuit of the good life.

The recession has all target markets keeping a closer watch on money. Similar to other markets, the Hispanic market appreciates coupons and samples to reduce increased costs. Data shows that 83% of buying decisions are now made at home, and coupon use has increased to 19%; this data includes information from the Hispanic and non-Hispanic markets. The reported data describes the recession as having a strong impact on consumer purchasing decisions.

REFERENCES:
http://www.hispanicmarketadvisors.com
http://www.nal.usda.gov/outreach/HFood.html
http://www.portada-online.com/article.aspx?aid=6077

Hispanic Marketing for Law Firms

Connecting With the Fast Growing Hispanic Market by Adding Spanish Content to Your Website

If you're interested in targeting the Hispanic section of the legal market, you will need to utilize certain online tools and changes to your website. One of the most successful of these is adding Spanish-language information and content to your attorney or legal firm web site. This will put you ahead of any local competition who do not offer any Spanish-language information.

The potential income growth, which includes the geo-demographics within the Hispanic market, is a vital consideration for legal referral services. This target market can be divided into distinct Latino buying pattern groups or segments.

Over 15 million Hispanics in the United States were internet users in 2005. But one of the biggest complaints coming from the Hispanic market was a lack of advertising and content being distributed online in their primary language. comScore Media Metrix released a report that revealed at least 50% of the Hispanic online population prefer to read their content in Spanish.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 15% of the population in the U.S. reported being Hispanic in 2008. That translates into roughly 46.9 million people. Some groups estimate that 1 out of 5 Americans will be Hispanic by the year 2020. This makes them the largest and fastest growing minority group in the United States. Even as the recession effects the U.S. economy in 2009 and 2010, Latino and Hispanic populations across the country are continuing to increase their buying power, keeping many communities afloat. If you're not reaching these people, you're missing out on a huge opportunity.

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Choosing a partner that adds value and fits into your overall business strategy

You need a partner that helps you reach out to the Hispanic community. There's a handful of experts in the diversity that is part of the Hispanic market. You need to choose a strategic partner who best understands your needs, goals and objectives. To help you on your decision process, Hispanic Market Advisors offers you a free comprehensive analysis along with a full proposal for the Web site translation and search engine optimization services.

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About Hispanic Market Advisors:
Hispanic Market Advisors offers innovative and unique search engine marketing techniques for the Spanish-language sites, including:
* Spanish search engine optimization (Spanish SEO)
* Spanish language research for keywords

Hispanic Market Advisors has a full staff of writers and translators equally fluent in Spanish and English, and they will work to provide culturally relevant content for your legal needs. They will also keep your marketing messages and position intact throughout the translation process.

Learn more about English to Spanish translations services

Why Learn Spanish?

In much of the world, business is built upon relationships. Speaking with prospects in their own language demonstrates a great deal of respect for that culture—it establishes a level of credibility for that executive, it builds trust, and it bridges the cultural gap. Spanish is not the exception.

Learning Spanish—and its regional dialects, accents, and vocabulary—gives one a deeper understanding of its culture. Learning Spanish, to be effective, should include television shows that reflect current Latin American cultural styles.

Also, one interesting aspect of sustaining the learning of Spanish is that it must be stimulating enough to motivate learning beyond their second or third year. Having a cultural mentor or coach in addition to the use of electronic training, videos, music, podcasts and other personalized learning methods, can be the best mix for absorbing the language.

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Aula Virtual de Español (AVE)

Hispanic, Latino or Spanish origin?

For anyone who has ever filled out an application for a job, education, loan, or papers that require personal information, you realize that it’s normal to be asked questions about race and ethnicity. These questions are usually broken into categories where a specific box is checked. Have you ever wondered why these questions are asked, why they are important, and what they mean? The 2010 census asked two questions about race and ethnicity: (1) are you of Hispanic, Latino or Spanish origin? (2) if yes, are you Mexican, Mexican American, Chicano, Cuban, Puerto Rican or other? Unless you fall into one of these categories you may not know the differences between these ethnicity’s or what defines each category. There are basic differences that apply to each category.

Hispanic - A person who is from a country where Spanish is spoken. Hispanic is an ethnic term, and does not refer to a race. The word “Hispanic” simply refers to any person who speaks Spanish. The person could be from any of the Spanish speaking countries.

Latino - A person who is from a country where Latin was spoken and current languages developed from Latin (romance languages). There are two groups of Latinos: the Latin Europeans, and the Latin Americans. Latin Europeans come from Spain, France, Italy and Portugal. Latin Americans come from North or South America.

Spanish - A term that refers to the people, culture, language, or things that come from Spain. Spanish is a language that is spoken in Spain and Latin American countries. A person that comes from Spain is of Spanish origin. A person who simply speaks Spanish could be from any of the Spanish speaking countries. If not from Spain, this person would be referred to as Hispanic or Latino.

In the United States, the terms “Hispanic” and “Latino” often overlap to refer to people who come from Spanish speaking countries. However, Latinos are really only those people who come from the Latin European or Latin American countries. Most Latinos that reside in the US are from Latin American countries: Mexico, Guatemala, Peru, Cuba, Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic.

Hispanic Market Advisors on Facebook

The first time that the US census used the term “Hispanic” as an identifier was in 1970. Thereafter, each yearly census modified the term slightly, and in 2000 the census asked if a person was “Hispanic/Latino/Spanish”. That question has remained, and it was included on the 2010 census with further breakdown. The US Office of Management and Budget defines “Hispanic or Latino” as any person of Mexican, Cuban, Puerto Rican, South or Central American or other Spanish origin, regardless of race. Both the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the US Department of Labor advise all people defined as “Hispanic or Latino” should self-identify as Hispanic.

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The 2010 census is used to identify people living in the US according to geographic area, culture, race and ethnicity. It is important for immigrants to self-identify to ensure accurate information gets to proper authorities who oversee this. First, second, and third generation immigrants should be specific and accurate to self-identify their race and ethnicity on all forms. This information helps to provide community services, funds, and cultural appropriate resources to targeted areas for immigrants.

How long should an immigrant live in the US before he/she is called an American?

Immigration and citizenship is a legal process in this country that can take up to one year to complete, and immigrants from all countries must go through this process to obtain citizenship. It is important to achieve citizenship status in the US to ensure equal rights for employment, insurance, benefits, and a normal way of life. Without citizenship status, immigrants are still considered illegal immigrants, and this can adversely affect their life in many ways. As soon as an immigrant becomes a US citizen, they should be called an American like everyone else living here.

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Connect with Hispanic Market Advisors:
* Follow Hispanic Market Advisors on Twitter
* Get updates from Hispanic Market Advisors on Facebook
* Hispanic Market Business solutions, English to Spanish translation services

Top Franchise Opportunities for Hispanics

Top Franchise Opportunities for Hispanics from BuscaTuFranquicia.com

The Hispanic middle class community in America has been growing and prospering for the last fifteen years thanks to a commitment to success. Because of these obvious successes, many in the franchising community are now opening up and supporting Hispanic franchises. A recent survey completed by the National Minority Franchising Initiative indicates that Hispanics currently represent about fifteen percent or more of the total franchises in the United States.

A main goal of BuscaTuFranquicia.com, which is the only lead generation and advertising franchise portal for bi-lingual Hispanics and Latinos, is to help franchises boost their franchise sales by tapping into a new source of Hispanic franchise prospects.

Some tips for investors before putting their money in a certain franchise

There are so many critical pieces of information and facts that must be considered before an investor puts their money in a certain franchise. Historical performance, market dynamics, brand identification, level of training and ongoing support, franchisee satisfaction, financial stability, and many more ares of the franchise must be researched and clarified.

Experts suggest that an investor should take at least a few months to research and get to know about a franchise before making a decision. Making the wrong choice in a franchise can lead to very severe consequences. Making a very poor investment decision can not only lead to a loss of happiness in your franchise, but a loss of money and the means of living and self worth also. Research and careful planning must always be done before making a decision.

BuscaTuFranquicia.com is attracting lead Hispanic audience into the franchise system

BuscaTuFranquicia.com is helping franchises efforts in recruiting more hispanic franchisees into their franchise system, specially those that have been recognized as the best franchises for Hispanics in the US which fit perfectly with the lead audience that buscatufranquicia.com is attracting!

BuscaTuFranquicia.com at Franchise Expo South, FES, Franchise Show



Franchise Opportunities for Hispanics - If you’re an entrepreneur and searching for the right franchise, register to receive more franchising information

Tapping into a new source of Hispanic franchise prospects - If you’re a franchise and trying to boost your franchise sales, contact BuscaTuFranquicia.com to receive advertising opportunities

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Aula Virtual de Español por Instituto Cervantes

The Aula virtual de español, Instituto Cervantes -- knows as the Ave program for short -- was developed by the Institute of Cervantes to provide teachers and students around the world with instant access to cutting edge virtual Spanish language courses. These interactive courses move beyond simple grammar and vocabulary lessons and employ a spectrum of multimedia programs to immerse participants in the richness of the Spanish culture.

To teach Spanish language skills quickly and effortlessly, students are exposed to videos, documentaries and group exercises that allow them to hear native speakers and develop a natural sense for how to communicate effectively and easily Spanish, regardless of their native tongue. The entire program is accessible to any computer that has an internet connection, and with the proper equipment can be projected onto a screen for full class participation.

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Teachers and tutors can chose from a wide variety of resources offered by the Aula virtual de español, Instituto Cervantes programs to work into their individual lesson plans. In the classroom, students can hone their skills on Ave's puzzles, games and exercises that encourage group participation and help boost overall retention of the material. Interactive networking features allow classrooms all over the world connect to share ideas, participate in contests and explore new topics together.

Learn Spanish individually or in group with a tutor

The Ave software program is also ideal for students who are not attending a regular classes, but who are learning Spanish individually -- either for business or personal reasons -- or have semi-attendance classes. Since the courses are always available on the internet, students have the freedom to choose where they study and can pace their lessons to a timetable that suits their schedule. Instruction on all levels -- from beginner to advanced -- are always available to each user so they can progress at their own pace. Forums and chat rooms are encouraged, and independent students can exchange ideas and utilize popular social networking skills to enhance their lessons and connect with other students at their skill level and practice together from virtually anywhere in the world.

Ave contains over ten thousand of pages of articles, videos and practical lessons that explore the rich socio-cultural heritage of the Spanish speaking world through music, stories and classic folklore tales. The Aula virtual de español, Instituto Cervantes programs always assumes a tone of respect for different peoples and encourages a spirit of celebration in cultural diversity. The resources include material for all the countries in which Spanish is spoken and can help students with regional dialects and geographical variations of pronunciation.

As our technological innovations open new communications networks between nations, having a fluent command of the Spanish language -- the second most popular language in the world -- can be an invaluable asset. Students can achieve a superior level of competency by following the intuitive immersion techniques only offered to participants in the Ave software network. The Aula virtual de español, Instituto Cervantes program is easily to adapt to university settings, learning centers and private business institutions.

For more information, please contact Hispanic Market Advisors via this online form or by phone at 305-677-0651 so we can connect you with an Ave representative.

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* Hispanic Market Business solutions, English to Spanish translation services

PR Initiatives to Reach Urban Latino Youth

The Hispanic population is growing faster than ever and expanding into many consumer markets. In fact, it is currently the fastest-growing culture in the United States. With this trend, urban Latino youth have extreme buying power and influence over numerous markets. For ultimate growth and expansion, it is vital for companies and business owners to initiate Hispanic pr strategies to reach this dynamic and leading group of consumers. However, the planning for such campaigns must be strategically done. Hispanic pr should be carefully designed to optimize communication with urban Latino youth to demonstrate an organizational mindset that is culturally educated and involved.

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The best way to effectively use Hispanic PR to target urban Latino youth is to use social media strategies and to reach out to urban Spanish television, radio, and magazines. In doing this, you will make the company brand cross-cultural and relevant to the wants, needs, and interests of the urban Latino market.

How to Use Hispanic PR & Social Media

Some tips on how to use Hispanic PR & Social media to target urban Latino youth are:

•Send press releases and media advisories written in Spanish to urban Hispanic media outlets, such as television, radio, and magazines.
•Translate sales, marketing, and media materials from English to Spanish.
•Include pictures of urban Latino youths in advertising campaigns and promotional materials.
•Develop social media profiles in Spanish and update with regular posts on Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, etc.
•Volunteer, donate, and participate in urban Hispanic community organizations and events.

When implementing Hispanic pr and social media initiatives, it is imperative to have clear goals and objectives. It is also important to gain insight and understanding into urban Hispanic cultural motivations. In taking this time for necessary research, organizations will be able to create a more defined message that is relevant and appealing to its targeted audience. Determining the success of pr and social media efforts is extremely important to know what techniques work and what systems do not. To measure the ROI several methods should be used.

Best Ways to Measure ROI

Some of the best ways to measure ROI for Hispanic PR and social media campaigns targeting urban Latino youth are:

•Outline clear and concrete goals for pr and social media initiatives to determine if objectives were met.
•Develop surveys for urban Latino youth to evaluate consumer satisfaction, public perception, and brand awareness.
•Monitor outlets for number of placements in urban Hispanic media.
•Evaluate the quality of urban Hispanic media placements to determine whether coverage is positive or negative.

Many companies are realizing the importance of initiating Hispanic pr initiatives targeted towards urban Latino youth and leveraging social media. For example, AT&T launched Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, and YouTube channels in Spanish to connect with the Hispanic market. Ford Motor Company “tweets” in Spanish on its Twitter page and there are several other companies jumping on the bandwagon and awakening to the power of the urban Latino consumer.

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* Hispanic Market Business solutions, targeting the Hispanic community

Related blogs:
* Marketing to Generation Y in Latin America
* Sending Press Releases to Latin American Leading News Agencies

New Ways for Marketing Agencies to Leverage Their Impact

The web is an exponential environment. Every day, there are tens of thousands of new web sites, diverse new technologies, new media and more competitors. The demand for ideas and for people with new capabilities for delivering them are constantly expanding. Ad agencies are in a bind because while the available media and technologies for their creative efforts continue multiplying and morphing, the old business models cannot keep up with the demand any longer.

On the one hand, the large agencies have had to limit their attempts to cover every single medium and skill when they seek to create an impact on a mass scale. It's just too expensive to keep up. On the other hand, small agencies that often have new, "out of the box" ideas and very unique information or skills, lack the experience, the contacts, or the resources to take advantage of the opportunities. While targeting the Hispanic market is a niche within the big picture of all markets, it is also an immense market and growing rapidly, becoming more technologically oriented and more discriminating in its choices.

Partnership programs are an effective solution for agencies

There is an effective solution for agencies that serve this market. It consists of a partnership program, where agencies combine their complementary strengths, overcome their particular weaknesses, and through collaboration create, for particular projects and clients, a partnership of unequaled talent and ideas. It has been tested, it has been tried, and the potential results are exceptional.

This is a clear trend for many online businesses. Even the largest, big-name technology competitors in both software and hardware, all find areas for collaboration with each other. They just define them carefully. A partnership program is one way to make the exponential business environment of the web more manageable, to reduce costs, and for ad agencies to create a more impactful presence.

As with any collaboration, the keys to success for this partnership program lie in clear boundaries, transparency, and clear, consistent communications. With experience, setting up these partnership programs becomes easy for all parties involved, once a need or opportunity is identified. Partners understand each other's situation and goals. When each partner's strengths and role are clarified for each other and for clients, then there is no point to wasting time in manipulation or competition that would sap resources.

The trend for Hispanic marketing is towards collaboration

Hispanic marketing is a demanding area for agencies in that it requires attention to all kinds of variables that not all markets require. Hispanic marketing involves complex language and cultural issues, geographic and historic issues, and issues regarding the mastery, acceptability and use of technology. All of these issues become variables for agencies to consider, in order to piece together a successful, collaborative vision of success.

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Clearly, the web is changing more than technology business models; ad agencies are seeking solutions too. The trend is towards carefully considered, focused collaborations of all kinds that involve very moderate risk. A partnership program for Hispanic-American agencies can generate collaboration that is not at all "cookie-cutter," but that is rather uniquely designed for specific agencies and clients to succeed.

For more information, please contact Hispanic Market Advisors

Related articles/blogs:
* Hispanic advertising agencies at a glance
* Choosing the right Hispanic marketing agency that fits your business

Latin America and Caribbean Ultra-High-Net-Worth Market

If you are a small business owner there're some wonderful opportunities to enter into the same Latin American wealth management industry as many ultra-high-net-worth individual's have already done. Latin American countries have been surpassing their financial expectations for many years, but the recent struggles of the U.S. market has shined more light towards southern counterparts, and they are now being recognized as the beam of financial hope the world needs during a time of uncertainty.

Textiles, commodities, green investing, technology development, and the real estate industries are thriving amongst those that are investing via the ultra-high-net-worth market in Latin America. Integration and development outsourcing companies like Brazil's CPM Braxis and Stefanini IT have found their stocks to be on the rise. Stefanini IT saw their global revenue increase by 32 percent in 2009. And with 36 offices in 16 countries, it doesn't look like they intend to slow down any time soon.

Exploring the Latin American wealth management industry

The U.S. market will be slowly redefining itself over the next few years. Small business owners that are looking for diversity to their investments would be wise to explore the Latin American wealth management industry. As U.S. corporations look for other ways to save money, the Latin American outsourcing market has increased exponentially. Even larger U.S. corporations have started to invest more into the Latin American market.

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This increase in market growth has had a profound affect on the banking industries in the Caribbean and Latin American markets, with large amounts of revenue being deposited from these thriving markets. This trend has also created an even larger and growing ultra-high-net-worth market in those regions and abroad.

Investing in the Latin American wealth management industry

Investing in the Latin American wealth management industry could mean investing in companies based in thriving countries like Brazil, Venezuela, and Mexico. The United States isn't the only country with interests in the Latin American market. Canada's Scotiabank operates in 5 Latin American countries and since 1889, 25 Caribbean and Central America countries.

Sustainables, rising domestic economies, banking, and strong export markets are just a few of the many reasons to invest in Latin American. For an example, Brazil claims to have close too or nearly no foreign debt, which opens the investment door to this thriving market.

For small and medium sized businesses looking to safely and aggressively grow financially, investing in Latin America's wealth management industry is a proven way to maximize your investment through the benefit of rapidly growing domestic regions.

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Articles related to Latin American markets:
* Latin American Communities in Central and South America
* Cultural nuances in Latin American countries

Content Relevant to the Hispanic Market

In the realm of online content development for small businesses, content continues to be king. Concerning the Hispanic market, the presence of websites in both English and Spanish increases the marketability of a small business website, expanding into the mass of potential customers.

Dual language content increases 'findability' online, assuring both English and Spanish speakers will find, view, and be affected by the content on the website. Simply having the Spanish content in addition to the English, however, is not a guarantee that productivity will suddenly take an upswing. The content, in both languages, must be engaging, accurate, educational, and relevant to the customer. In the end, the website is only effective if the customer makes a purchase or engages in the business' services, or contacts the business by phone, e-mail, or in person to create a supplier-consumer relationship.

Developing content that goes beyond the purchase

Another overlooked facet of aiming web content to both English and Spanish speaking customers is going beyond the end result of the purchase. If a customer is so impressed that they pass on the information they learned or recommend someone else to use the business' product or service, then the website is even more effective. With the pervasive presence of things like social networks, one satisfied customer could quickly turn into ten, twenty, or even a hundred through content sharing, e-mails, and instant messaging.

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In that realm, it is important to develop content that not only informs but attracts the customer emotionally. Creating an investment in the product or service at hand makes it something in higher demand psychologically. Simply telling a customer that buying a product is good is not going far enough; explaining the reasons and negotiating with their way of thinking and lifestyle will lend to the best results for the customer and the owners of the small business as well.

Hispanic marketing with a Spanish-language website

Online, this is especially important, as the Spanish language website exists as something deeper than a television commercial or radio spot. It can be customized, revised, and edited with the feedback of customer responses, leading to more effective marketing.

Having content developed towards a Spanish speaking audience increases the potential number of customers and demonstrates that the small business is ready to address the reality of the current composition of society where English isn't the only language. While this might seem like a small step, the correct creation and management of Spanish language website content makes a statement about the business' willingness to interact with diverse customers and demonstrates a more personal connection rather than simply existing as a faceless business in the minds of customers.

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Generating Leads in the Hispanic Market

According to U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the Hispanic population in 2009 made up almost 7% of the total U.S. population. The total population of the United States was 301 million people, of which 45 million were Hispanic. This community is a major force in the U.S. economy, and is continuing to grow each day. Any company would be wise to try and capture the attention of Hispanics, but how can they?

Values and traditions of Hispanics

First, it is important to understand the values and traditions of Hispanics. When designing and implementing a marketing plan, the content must be relevant to the consumer. Hispanic culture and tradition relishes the idea of family, festivities, siestas, and vacations. Like many previous immigrants, they are sacrificing the life they've known for a future that is uncertain. Hard work and long hours are slowly replacing past cultural and traditional values. Hispanics are working harder than ever to support their families and work toward the American dream. Any advertising geared to a Hispanic audience needs to address this battle, and applauding the people for their hard work and family values can go a long way.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 85% of the Hispanic population in the U.S. is high school graduates. They read and write in English. Additionally, 23 million Hispanics were online last year. More than 50% of this group was accessing the internet from web-enabled phones. From these facts, it is clear that any marketing plan devised for this group needs to have a five-part focus: television advertising, radio advertising, internet marketing, print ads, and a mobile effort. When it comes to language use, the campaign can be executed in English, Spanish or bilingual. It all depends on the level of acculturation of the population being targeted.

The influx of Hispanic immigrants into the United States is not slowing down. It is important to remember Hispanic populations in their respective countries. These are the people who are looking for the same "American dream" that their families in the U.S. speak of. Developing and maintaining an internet presence in these countries will establish a familiarity with your name or brand.

Strategize for success in your Hispanic marketing efforts

Once you have taken all of these factors into consideration, it is time to strategize. Hiring a Hispanic marketing consultant or a company that understands the nuances of the US Hispanic market can be of assistance. Having your Web content available in English and Spanish will maximize the likelihood of reaching the entire spectrum of US Hispanics. At the same time, using different mediums such as blogs, websites, social media, radio, and television will maximize the visibility on the internet by maximizing your search engine presence. In short, this company will have a wealth of resources to tailor to your specific marketing needs and will help you engage in a process of attaining qualified leads and turning them into real clients.

Keying in to the Hispanic market is a great decision in today's economy. Entrusting your Hispanic marketing strategy to a company who understands your audience and knows how to better reach it - in each corresponding geographical area - while maximizing your presence in the market at the same time, is a cost-effective home run!

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* English to Spanish translation services - Translate English to Spanish

Lost in Translation

Walmart Employee: "Hello 'dis Walmarts, how can I help you?"
Suzanne: " I would like to order a cake for a going away party this week."
Walmart Employee: "What you want on the cake?"
Suzanne: "Best Wishes Suzanne" and underneath that "We will miss you".

(Source: email from a friend)

I could not stop laughing when I read that dialog and saw the picture! :)

Have you heard about the phrase "Lost in Translation"? Well, if this "lost in translation" occurs between people who are communicating with each other using the same language (in this case English), just pause for a second and imagine all that may get "lost in translation" in a message when there's an actual translation from one language to another (for instance, from English to Spanish or vice versa)!

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How many times or cases have we seen or heard when the translation does not properly address the target market? To remedy this situation, when translating your English website to Spanish, choose a partner that has expertise on that business. Otherwise, the added sales and profits from a Spanish language website could be lost.

Having your English website translated to Spanish requires the consideration of colloquial phrases and grammatical interpretation that is unique to an area. Many machine translation services will produce a generic result that gives the basic idea but misses the finer points. By using a language translation website that provides personalized service with individuals who look at each word and phrase, the smaller details are considered and the translation is focused on the targeted market. Spanish idiomatic expressions are not consistent across Latin America. Sometimes a small misinterpreted phrase or message can cause a potential customer to reconsider completing a business transaction.

So remember, as a small business owner who gains sales through the Internet, a good question to ask is whether translating your English website to Spanish will increase your sales potential. Most likely the answer will be yes particularly if the services offered by a reliable language translation website are employed.

For more information: Identifying your audience and delivering localized web content