Social Media is to SEO as Peanut Butter is to Jelly

 

Social Media is to SEO as Peanut Butter is to Jelly

            Some people want to take the word SEO and alienate it from the phrase Social Media that I believe is completely wrong. When Google Plus launched many people were saying that SEO is dead or its going to die. The truth is if you take away SEO you will have to take away text itself. All SEO does is make websites searchable for the terms that people are typing. As long as people are searching for something on search engines like google, bing, and yahoo, there will always be SEO. In fact the more people socialize on Social networks the more necessary it will be to have SEO.

             I believe anyone who wants to capture a particular demographic should have their website optimized in addition to having Social Networks tailored to their website. I believe it should be a mandatory that anyone seeking to capture a certain audience has at least Facebook and Twitter created for their website with links to these networks. If one has social networks but doesn’t have the site optimized they may capture a portion of their audience but by not doing the SEO for your website one is making a Peanut Butter sandwich with no jelly.

Emerge with Emerging Technology

As a child I have watched the technology continue to grow into bigger and better things in a shorter time span. I was born in the 80's and I have seen the type of Tv's we watch change, the phones, the computers, and the communication methods change tremendously. I was born into the era of the internet and yet there are those who did not know that life existed without the use of internet prior to their conception. I have seen the days in which cell phones did not exist to the era where house phones are becoming extinct due to the vast amount of people who have cell phones instead. In the industry that I am in which is the entertainment industry the technology developed adversely effects the industry.

Since the methods that the content is watched on has changed the industry must adapt to the change or they may get left behind.We live in an age that people want their content quickly and they don't believe in waiting long for it. Which means if you want to win their business you must have the technological abilities to satisfy their needs. I am building a company in the TV sector and the methods which viewers watch their TV has changed immensely. People not only watch TV on TV sets but now they watch it on the internet, mobile phones, and now tablets. Technology is constantly evolving and expanding into different platforms that consumers tend to buy. According to isuppli.com "Shipments of mobile broadband devices in 2011 are projected to climb to 157.9 million units, up from 100.1 million units in 2010." This is just one facet of communication technology that will effect my industry. So if businesses do not emerge with emerging technology they are sure to submerge from falling behind in the technological current.

Sources:http://www.isuppli.com/Mobile-and-Wireless-Communications/News/Pages/Tablets-to-Power-Growth-of-Mobile-Broadband-Market-in-2011.aspx

Funding Options for the Future

   America is a land of opportunities, Thousands of people come to America in hopes of fulfilling their dreams, getting a better an education, or starting a business. There are so many resources and programs available to those with interest in starting their entrepreneurship endeavors, but the amount of options can be overwhelming. Some great resources that I would deem as advantageous to beginning entrepreneurs are: Opportunity Finance Network,  Cfed, Association for Enterprise Opportunity, and the Community Development Venture Capital (CDVC). I found these organizations in particular very useful because they all share a common goal which is to empower communities and economic development. There are plenty of opportunities available to entrepreneurs to get knowledge about entrepreneurship, funding sources, and gaining access to mentors. The Oppurtunity Finance Network seeks to help finance businesses that help "low-income, low wealth, and other disadvantaged people and communities have access to affordable , responsible financial products and services." www.oppurtunitydfinancce.net
   To qualify for some of these financial resources it has to serve certain communities and bring a benefit to communities in underprivileged regions. For instance the AEO- Association for Enterprise Opportunity seeks, "to assist underserved entrepreneurs in starting, stabilizing, and expanding business".www.aeoworks.org For other organizations like the Community Development Venture Capital (CDVC) funding is provided to "..companies with strong management, good ideas, impressive growth potential, and the promise of high financial returns." www. cdvca.org
   So different organizations have different qualifications depending on their various objectives. A lot of these sites also have statistical information of the success of the funding and the jobs created through businesses. CFed.org even has video testimonials of entrepreneurs that have utilized resources and been able to establish successful businesses in their communities. Overall there is nothing an entrepreneur has to lose by looking up this resource, because you can benefit your self as well as your community by using these sites. This is yet another great advancement tool for urban communities and those who aspire to help the youth who are truly our future.

Business Plan Advice

             In my last article titled "Business Plan Tips" I discussed some great tips from two stars of the show "Shark Tank", Daymond John and Barbara Corcoran. From them I learned some techniques and principles I can apply to my business plan to make it more effective. Daymond John mentions that one must do some homework and completely research their business and the industry they are entering into. If the person doesnt know all there is to know about their business he states, "Why should I be interested."www.daymondjohn.com/power_journal/carving-out-a-niche/ I have done some research on my business and industry but, I could definitely do some more research. I feel that there are areas that I do not have much knowledge of my business which is something I need to do to make my business plan better.
        The insights I also learned from Barbara Corcoran have been a true insightful in helping me perfect my business plan. She stated that when starting a business an investor wants to know: “What problem are you trying to solve? Why are you uniquely qualified to solve it? Is it a good business? What’s it going to cost? And how long is it going to take? http://barbaracorcoran.com So I have taken thought of these questions and made sure that my business plan answers these questions clearly.
        I have taken a lot of good advice from these experts and I still have plenty more areas in which I could improve my business plan. Reading through the article http://bpexpertviews.blogspot.com/    I would have to agree with Dr. Guy Kawaski on his point of view that the Executive Summary is the most important aspect of the business plan. I have taken this advice and have been working to perfect my Executive Summary so that it will be concise and appealing to the reader. Dr.Kawasaki views that it is the most important element because it is the first component of the business plan the investor sees. I also believe that it gives the investor a snapshot of the whole business plan because its everything summarized concisely. These tips from these business experts have been very helpful to me and I look forward to the continual knowledge I will gain from experts such as these. http://bpexpertviews.blogspot.com/   


Sources:
www.daymondjohn.com/power_journal/carving-out-a-niche/

http://barbaracorcoran.com 

http://bpexpertviews.blogspot.com/   

Business Plan Tips

After reading through a lot of the industry experts on business plans and business development, I have come to the conclusion that I must invest a significant amount of thought into producing a solid business plan. I have learned a great deal of information from experts in this field and plan to apply them to my own entrepreneurship endeavors. I observed two well-known entrepreneurs Daymond John and Barbara Corcoran who are both on the ABC show “Shark Tank”. Daymond John is the founder and CEO of the iconic brand FUBU and is a branding and marketing expert. Along with being a strong presence on Shark Tank, Daymond owns several other companies and has authored some business books. (http://www.daymondjohn.com) Sarah Corcoran is a real estate mogul who turned a $1000 dollar loan into a 5 billion dollar real estate company, which she then sold for 66 million. Barbara continues to build her entrepreneurial portfolio along with being an author, and a motivational speaker. (http://barbaracorcoran.com)

Daymond John recommends that a person write out a business plan with all the strengths and weaknesses. Then find out the costs of hiring those people for doing the weaknesses you have in business. I like the statement that Mr. John makes regarding a business plans which is, “Think of it as roadmap, personalized just for you, that is going to guide you from where you are now, to where you want to be”. (www.daymondjohn.com/power_journal/carving-out-a-niche/ )The perspective that Barbara Corcoran has is that a business plan should be a list of items that need to be attended too and items that do not. She describes a business plan as, “It's a daydream in living color. Then I make a simple "to do" list of what's most important to make my dream a reality”.( abc.go.com/shows/shark-tank/tips/)According to bpexperviews.blogspot.com Real Estate guru, Sara Corcoran also states the three most important questions to an investor, which are: “What problem are you trying to solve? Why are you uniquely qualified to solve it? Is it a good business? What’s it going to cost? And how long is it going to take?” These tips on a business plan are very useful and can give any entrepreneur starting out a firm foundation.

Sources:
http://abc.go.com/shows/shark-tank/tips/

http://barbaracorcoran.com

http://bpexpertviews.blogspot.com/

http://www.daymondjohn.com/power_journal/carving-out-a-niche/

3HP Records Utilizes Social Media for Christian Rap

I have been following 3HP Records for over 2 years now. 3 HP Records is a Christian Rap label that started out as a radio show called 3 Hours of Power in Baltimore D.C. As the CEO and Founder Troy Edwards started working with a lot of artists then this label grew into what it is today. 3HP Records serves in various ways such as marketing, promotion, magazines, e blast,fliers, radio shows, award shows, event planning,music production and much more. Not only does 3HP serve in capacity on many levels they are widely spread across the internet through social media.

I first came across 3HP records due to their immense use of Social media outlets and networks. I was online and came across their Ning site: http://3hprecords.ning.com/ which has a very professional look and design. This was around the first time I heard about Ning websites which I saw were very good for getting a message to go viral while building a great online fan base.3HP Records has a growing social media presence with sites like facebook and twitter but, as far as the utilization of Ning and Blogspot they have mastered that. I look forward to seeing more from 3HP records and as always Urban christian Media is on the rise!

Sources:
http://www.dasouth.com/interviews/2141-troy-edwards-ceo-of-3hp-records
http://3hprecords.ning.com/
http://3hppromotions.blogspot.com/

Urban Christian Media Survey

SEO & Christian Rap Fusion

This video is of a Christian rapper (Poetic Prophet) who is discussing the importance of SEO for Christian rappers. The video is a promotional tool and establishes the "SEO Rapper" Charles Lewis as an expert in the SEO field. Charles works for a company called Poplabs, an online marketing firm. Even though the song seems humorous there is some very factual information being mentioned in the song. He discussed the importance of branding, site design, having a call to action, and creating an easy to use interface. He suggested that users should use Xml, Css, describe the doc types, check all browsers, title everything including pictures and content. He also discussed some things to avoid such as using graphics in moderation, staying away from incorrect color combinations, no tables, no background colors, no bold, and not to use italics.

I believe that SEO is very important in the Christian Hip Hop industry because there are so many artists and to stand out there needs to be a way where people can find them easily. SEO does exactly that, so I agree with Charles that if an artist wants to build their following they need to have all their websites and content online optimized correctly for search engines. To find more about the Poetic Prophet click here.

Resources:http://creativewebbiz.com/2008/08/07/seo-rapper-charles-lewis/

Christian Rapper Lecrae on Fox Business

Best Selling Christian rap artist was mentioned on Fox Business news this past week. Fox was doing an interview with CEO and founder of Tunecore, Jeff Price.Tunecore is a company that allows artist to get free worldwide distribution for their music. Generally distributors like Itunes, Amazon, Rhapsody, and others take a percentage from each single or album sold. Tunecore removes the middleman that takes the percentage and allows artist to pay Tune core $10.00 for a single, and $49.99 for an album to be distributed worldwide. After discussing the dynamics of his business Jeff mentioned artist like Jay-Z and Nine inch Nails use his services.Then he mentioned Christian Rap artist Lecrae who sold a million copies of his songs last year. This may seem insignificant that he mentioned Lecrae in a special about his business, but this is a huge step forward for the kingdom of God because its letting the world know that people want to hear truth in their music not garbage. Christian Rap is on the rise are you gonna catch the tide? To view the video click here.

West Coast Christian Rap is on the rise!

         
         The Christian rap genre years ago was not recognized on the level that it is now. Most notoriety of this genre was recognized on the east coast with pillars such as Grammy nominated rap group Cross Movement, Ambassador, Da Truth, and many others. On the west coast one of the most well known, Grammy nominated, Christian rap groups is called the Gospel Ganstaz. As of today the movement continues and artist  on the west coast are making the name of Jesus famous such as Transparent, Cj Emulous, Qheemed the Redeemed, Sevin, Believa, Q God Fear, Minister RMB, Bizzle, and Spec to name a few. Along with this movement of artist is the movement of media and distribution outlets arising such as House of Slap Radio, Breathe Life Radio, and West Coast Fiyah. Of course there are plenty more building the Kingdom of God, and new artist are coming out on the regular. One artist to break the mold and rep Jesus who is actually from Greenville, Mississippi but now resides on the West Coast is Mission.
         Mission is a Christian rap artist who is signed to Gospel Mission Records and is adding a new element to the West Coast repertoire with his Southern type swag and Cali twist. Mission has the aim to reach the youth who are enticed by this Hip Hop culture and influence them to Christ. The West Coast needs artist to step up for the Kingdom and, Mission is doing just that with his album debut called, "Main Event."This is Mission’s debut album, which features Super Producer Spec, and tracks produced by J Reez, as well as Lou Braga. This 14-track album is complete with the smash single “Kingdom Business” ft. J- Lane, “Can’t Be Stopped” ft. V. Rose. The album also features more mellow tracks like “Children of the King” and one of the fan favorites “Together With You”. The “Main Event” album is anticipated to be the hottest debut artist this year. To hear the single "Kingdom Business" go to Mission's Reverb Nation page. The "Main Event" album will be available on Itunes, Amazon and other digital outlets on July 12th. This is another advancement for the West Coast as well as major progression for urban Christian media.

Entertainment Law Today

            I chose to review 3 podcast shows pertaining to entertainment law this week including the Law and Video Podcast, Gordon Firemark  and Thomson CompuMark. These articles all dealt with generally the same topics pertaining to Trademarks, Copyrights, and intellectual property. In regards to the Law and Video Podcast the show discussed how trademarks mentioned the importance of understanding the copyright laws. On the show a lot of videographers, production companies and those starting out in business called in to ask legal questions to help them start out on the right course. One listener called in to ask about the use of The Star Wars Dark Vader character in his comedy shows. The lawyer mentioned to the listener that using known trademarks as a parody or satire is allowed as long as you do not use it to create a new work and claim it as your own.  I thought this was interesting that the use of a trademarks need to be verified on every level because a trademark is something that is legal property. To listen to the article click here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-law-and-video-podcast/id262391771

            The next article I reviewed is also from The Law and Video Podcast in which they interviewed entertainment lawyer, Gordon Firemark. As the show normally does they took in calls from people in the video production arena who have legal questions.  Firemark discussed the difference of fair use and copyright infringement. He stated that fair use is a law that looks at the purpose and intention of the content, so if the content is for educational purposes with no intention to profit, the material that is copy written or has a trademark can be used as long as the intent and motive is correct. That same content can become an infringement if the material content becomes excessive and utilizes the content in a way that becomes profitable then this can be a way of copyright infringement. To listen to the article click here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/trademark-copyright-law-forum/id264628681

            The last podcast that I listened to was a podcast from Thomson CompuMark.  The title of this podcast is called “How The Power of Branding Drives Trademark Law.” In this article there was a speaker who was discussing the different legal battles that go through the courts regarding brands of certain companies. For example there was a legal case with Mattel vs. a restaurant in Canada who used the name Barbie’s for the name of their barbecue restaurant. Mattel lost the case and the speaker mentioned that, “Mattel became too cocky.” They had this trademark and didn’t even want a restaurant to have access to use their name because they felt it was an infringement. This shows me that as the brand of a company become famous the more chances they will get into legal battles over trademarks. http://www.lawdit.co.uk/reading_room/room/view_article.asp?name=../articles/Mattel%20Sues%20Barbie.htm

To listen to the article click here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/entertainment-law-update-podcast/id313301718

Legal Battles in the Media

        In the world of Television and online television there are plenty of issues that have litigation surrounding them. From copyrights, to signing waivers, and music video infringements, there are so many ways that one in the television industry could get into legal trouble. One must realize that in this business you have to trace your steps, dot your I's, and cross your T's, or else it could end up in a legal battle that could bring an organization down.
        Recently Viacom sued Google for having some of their content on the YouTube website without their permission and they demanded that YouTube give them documented numbers of those watching the shows, and all the ip addresses of the viewers that watch any content owned by Viacom. Google loss the battle and has to give Viacom this info. We can learn from this experience how important it is to require that all content used on websites have authorized permission. To read this article click here.
        Another interesting legal issue is the controversy for Grammy nominated rapper Nicky Minaj. MTV did a documentary and this documentary focused on the rappers story and in the video was a clip of a street drummer, Michael Savely who appeared in the MTV documentary without Savely's consent. Michael claims that he refused to sign a waiver and he was still seen in the video which represents a lifestyle contrary to his conservative way of living. Savely mentioned that he runs a street drumming business in which he teaches kids and the profanity and provocative dressing of Micky Minaj does not present a good image to Savelys clients who expect his trust. To read the full Article click here.
      There is a new trend regarding legal matters regarding the use of music in videos. Todd and Jeff Brabec discuss how things have changed and the procedures in which negotiations are made regarding music. This process entails keeping abreast with all the new technologies, marketing strategies, and media outlets. For instance TV producers should now ask for permission on all media platforms to use music because there are multiple ways in this world that people can view content. In the article it is suggested that producers use terminology that is all inclusive such as stating"All Media Licenses Excluding Theatrical." This will include music licenses on various platforms which will help avoid legal challenges and battles. To view the entire article click here.
     So we can clearly see the importance of understanding legal matters in the music television industry. This is another advancement for Urban Christian Media.

Refercences:
http://www.webpronews.com/viacom-wins-youtube-viewing-records-in-court-2008-07
http://www.billboard.com/news/nicki-minaj-mtv-documentary-provokes-lawsuit-1005103822.story#/news/nicki-minaj-mtv-documentary-provokes-lawsuit-1005103822.story
http://www.musicandmoney.com/articles/115-new-issues-in-television-music-licensing.html

DJ Wade - O Hits the 200th Epsiode Mark!

The Bible says that we must give honor to whom honor is due (Romans 13:7). Wade “DJ Wade O” Harris is long over due on his portion of honor. He has a Christian Radio show called “The Wade O Radio Show” which has been on air for over 3 years. Dj Wade O just hit the 200^th episode mark on March 12^th 2011. This is phenomenal for radio in general but, for Christian Radio geared towards Christian Rap, Christian R & B, and Reggae & Dancehall Gospel this is truly spectacular!

To give a little background on DJ Wade O, he got his start in radio doing a secular radio show at Howard University where he attended. He was djaying longside Nas, Busta Rhymes, Alicia Keys, DJ Clue, Fabulous, DMX, Biz Markie, Mos Def, Baby Sham, Ashanti and Mobb Deep. There a came a point where he was fed up and was quoted saying,

“Despite that “worldly success,” I was spiritually bankrupt. I was never truly at peace. I knew I needed to make a change in my life, but I was scared. I didn’t want to miss out on all of the fun. I thought that when I finally grew up, then I would get serious about serving the Lord.In 2002, my life changed. A good friend gave me a book written by former hip‐hop superstar Ma$e entitledRevelations. Through Ma$e’s (now Pastor Mason Betha) testimony, I was reintroduced to Jesus Christ.”

Dj Wade O has one of the #1 most listened to Christian Radio shows in the world! He has a potential listener base of 6 million listeners; he’s syndicated on over 15 different online radio stations. Also he is syndicated on over 10 different live radio networks not including his 3 stations on Bridge FM in New York where the show is broadcast live 11pm- 1am every Saturday. He has over 45,000 podcast downloads each month and counting.

Not only is the “Wade O Radio Show” highly successful, it also helps spread the word out about Christian businesses, books, award shows, the newest CD’s, and the latest in news. The Wade O Radio Show has become one of the premiere information hubs for the Christian Hip Hop community. Sketch the Journalist is a part of the Wade O Radio show that gives the latest news around the globe in urban Christian media. The Wade O Radio show is a radio show that uses music and interviews to minister the gospel to the thousands that listen to the show. Congratulations Dj Wade O on achieving the benchmark of 200 episodes and may Gods continued blessing reside upon all you do. This is yet another advancement for Urban Christian Media.

To find more information about Dj Wade O and the Wade O  Radio show you can go to www.wadeoradio.com

Mouthpi3ce new album:The Flood

 

Mouthpi3ce is a Christian rapper that was born in Anniston, Al but was raised in Atlanta Georgia. Mouthpi3ce is not only a rapper, but a producer, minister, author, Husband and a Father. He brings the gospel through music in a way that people can relate to it. He has a way of captivating the listner with his lyrical flow and smooth melodies. Mouthpi3ce not only writes and produces his own music he sings alot of the hooks on his albums which is not a skill many are able to do well. Mouthpi3ce has a heart to empower marriages and also to reach those who are polluted with the secular music of today.

I came across Mouthpi3ce by first listening to the Wade O Radio show and heard him on this song called "Swagger Daddy" and ever since then I have been hooked to his music. I soon got every mixtape I could find from him such as "Lost and Found","The New Regime" with Dj Sean Blue, and plenty others. After that I purchased his albums like "Reborn Renewed, Reinvented", "No Grey Lines", and today I just bought " The Flood." The Flood is his latest project with some songs from his previous work but, it has some of his best work to date on the album. He has incredible work ethic and has released 3 albums in the last 8 months. His hard work, dedication, and passion should be noted and respected. I honestly think he deserves more credit and I believe that people will wake up and see the truth in his music and  ministry. I am yet to still review the album but  "What You On" (get your free download here:http://www.4shared.com/audio/ThYUNG5b/06_What_You_On.html) is a very deep and inspirational song that describes Mouthpiece's dedication and love for Jesus. If you havent purchased the album please do so by going to :http://mouthpi3ce.blogspot.com/

References:http://mouthpi3ce.com/about/

Interview with House of Slap Radio Founder/CEO - Montay Mcdaniel

    I did an interview with CEO and Founder of House of Slap Radio Montay McDaniel also known as Dj Anointed. House of Slap Radio is a Christian Hip Hop radio station that reaches listeners globally and has great listener base that continues to grow.  House of Slap is an organization that has a podcast show, does events, mobile DJ service, and more. In this interview we discussed a plethora of subjects such as: the vision of house of slap radio, separating the people from the problem, leadership, dealing with negative emotions, knowing roles, mutual benefit, dealing with negative emotions and much more.

    This was a great interview and Mr. McDaniel gave a lot of insight on how dealing with different personalities and situations can be challenging but rewarding. He stated that before working with people or partnering he likes to build a relationship. That is the best way to see if there is a compatibility for "Kingdom Partnerships" as he stated. So business comes from relationships that are built instead of relationships being built strictly for business. He discussed certain situations that were really challenging due to the fact of others not sticking to their agreement on deals. He said that when doing events if it was not on paper then it did not happen. He stated this is a great way to avoid chaos and confusion. There is so much we discussed so to  see the whole interview please watch the video below:

FEED A FRIEND: HOMELESS MINISTRY CONTROVERSEY

In Houston a controversy is stirring up as Houston couple, Bobby (Tre 9) and Amanda Herring were told to  stop feeding due to health regulations. This story is striking up awareness all of our the country because the motives of this Christian couple is to feed the homeless in their hometown Houston which they have been doing for the last 15 months. The Herrings started an organization called Feed A Friend in which they have been feeding the homeless and giving them bibles consistently each night through themselves and a team. It wasn't until recently they were told by some Urban Park Rangers to stop feeding the homeless because they said you do not have permits to feed people out in the open. The reason they were told this is because the city doesn't want the people eating the food to get sick because of the food not being prepared properly and without proper permits they are not supposed to serve the food to the public. So this whole scenario has reached the courts of Houston but it has also reach the audience in America nationwide.

A fact most people do not know is that Tre9 is the Co-Founder and one of the current CEO's of DaSouth.net. DaSouth.net is one of the biggest Christian Hip Hop Networks worldwide. This coverage is a major promotion for the advancement of ministering to the homeless as well as bringing awareness to the cause of the Christian Rap artist movement. Tre 9 even stated this comment “It’s crazy how all of these years as Christian rappers we’ve been trying to get the media to take notice of our music and yet here we are getting the most attention for our service to others,” Tre9 said. “I think that says something about where God wants to place the emphasis.”

This brings major awareness for the gospel and another advancement for Urban Christian Media.

THE MEDIA MOVEMENT IS HERE!

Urban Christian Media is a blog promoting all the current advancements in the Christian media realm and we cover the latest stories in the genre. I read an article lately from Dasouth.com, which is one of the biggest urban Christian news and music outlets. The story is about a Entrepreneur/ Motivational Speaker/ Radio Host by the name of Joshua Raby. Jouhua Raby has started a web video channel as of January 6 2011 which will include all original programming. Some of the programming will include talk show, news, game shows, and sitcoms. The intention of Real Networks is to provide viewers with an alternative to the negative and derogatory images that are on mainstream broadcast. I like what Josh is doing and believe this is a great task that he is doing to give people to watch something encouraging, something positive, and something real. Real Networks is structured in a way that creates content for all ages, diverse groups while still reaching out to the urban community. This once again is a great advancement and move for Urban Christian Media! To check out the site visit www.realnetwork.tv

For more information, about programming and advertising email thejoshuarabyshow@gmail.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 205 531 5183.

Referenced from:http://www.dasouth.com/news/24-news/5148-new-web-tv-real-network-launches-