First Bilingual Educational Toy Brand, Ingenio(TM), Hits the U.S. Market

First Bilingual Educational Toy Brand, Ingenio(TM), Hits the U.S. Market

The benefits of mastering a second language pay off tremendously. This new endeavor will prove to be a great step in helping children learn both English and Spanish at a young age.

Where can we buy some of these toys you ask?

Amazon.com and soon they'll be available at Toys R' Us.

Three Elements of a Successful Online Latino Presence

The internet is a huge playing field where standing out from the crowd plays an important role in attaining any measure of online success. Whether your goal is to monetize, inform or simply connect with others, maintaining a successful online presence is a unique undertaking that takes a multifaceted approach.

If you're like me, perusing the web is like flipping through tons of magazine pages until you find an interesting article that resonates with your interests, hobbies, and areas of expertise.

Here are trés elements that seem to be pretty common in terms of a successful online destination:

Resonance -- Does your site relate with the interests and motivations of your audience? Take twitteros for example, a popular network that aims at connecting Latinos who use twitter.

Fresh -- This is by far one of the most difficult tasks but keeping your site, blog, or social media tool up to date with fresh content is key. Juan Tornoe, over at Hispanic Trending does a good job of this and he's one of twitters' most active users.

Usability -- First impressions are important. Navigation is an element that can make or break your digital journey. Navigation, use of white space, and working links are just a few of the important elements of usability.

Think about some of your favorite websites...

What stands out the most?

How did the site grab your attention?

Feel free to comment and share.

The Possibilities for Positive Latino Influence

With over 43 million Latinos in the United States and a large segment participating in social media, some key questions to consider in today's connected and engaging society include the following:

What does it mean to influence?

How can one influence the Latino population?

Where can Latinos make a significant impact?

As social media pioneers, how do we make an impact and influence the Latino community as a whole?

What kinds of opportunities exist that allow individuals and organizations to make a positive impact on Latino culture?


One way that we can begin to answer these questions is through a clear understanding of what it means to 'influence'...

According to Dictionary.com, influence can be defined as:

"the capacity or power of persons or things to be a compelling force on or produce effects on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc., of others"

Something to think about as we continue on our journey to stay connected, make a positive impact, and engage with today's dynamic society.

Latino Pioneers in Social Media

Hey, that's you!

You found this blog through an effort to be 'in the know' when it comes to the shifting online arena. The quest for knowledge, insights, and gems of internet savvy caught your attention and ignited a insatiable desire to participate in a unique social media journey.

Latinos as a collective group spend more time engaging and participating in the internet landscape than most. Is it the quest for information or the desire to be entertained that leads us Latinos to participate in social media?

Web tools and apps abound offering individuals the opportunity to communicate, collaborate, and explore beyond MySpace or MocoSpace. The possibilities are truly massive in terms of where and how Latinos engage. Social networks such as MiAltos.com and the increasingly popular Latinos in Social Media (LATISM) community prove that the Hispanic online market has a voice and strong desire to be heard.

What characteristics or social elements combine to create a successful web presence amongst Latinos?

What motivations lead this online segment to participate in social media?

True pioneers understand that it's a combination of factors...(content, engagement, value, usability, simplicity, multicultural awareness)

Your fellow Latino social media pioneer,

José Huitron

Bilingual and looking for work...

The benefits of speaking two languages in today's highly diverse marketplace cannot be overstated. Being bilingual can help individuals make significant strides both personally and professionally.

Here's a great video from Saber Hacer that touches on this very topic...

Boy Scouts launch campaign to attract Hispanics

With over 40 million Hispanics in the United States, organizations and businesses alike are recognizing the dynamic shifts in the cultural landscape of our nation.

The Boy Scouts of America recently launched an effort to attract more Latinos...

The Boy Scouts of America is one of the nation's largest and most prominent values-based youth development organizations. The BSA provides a program for young people that builds character, trains them in the responsibilities of participating citizenship, and develops personal fitness.

For nearly a century, the BSA has helped build the future leaders of this country by combining educational activities and lifelong values with fun. The Boy Scouts of America believes — and, through nearly a century of experience, knows — that helping youth is a key to building a more conscientious, responsible, and productive society.