Dear Friend:

What were the top ten web searches by Hispanics at telemundo.yahoo.com in March? In the world of online e-fluentials, a new study shows Hispanics are more influential than Anglos. Latino unemployment is up and the surge in Day Laborers is all too real.

On the International side, Chávez is building five socialist cities, South America is on a military spending spree and Bill Gates is speaking out on the need for more investment in education in Latin America.

Also, I invite you to read my commentary on the Positive Power of Being Bilingual in America.

#1 - Hispanics are Stronger as E-fluentials
than Anglos in the Online World

Burson-Marsteller just came out with a very interesting study regarding e-fluentials and the Hispanic person. An e-fluential is a person who has influence on the Internet. Here are the main results: Hispanic-fluentials spend more time interacting with others (30 hours to 25) than the general populace. These same people also have more interaction in face-to-face conversations (30 hours to 21) than the general populace. 66% of Hispanics forward product recommendations by e-mail, only 28% of the general populace does so. 87% of Hispanics are loyal to their favorite brands. 84% are eager to warn friends about bad experiences. “Eager!” 90% are more likely to pay attention to a company that offers a coupon.

According to Theresa Rice, Director of US Hispanic of Burson-Marsteller, “Hispanics cultivate the most extensive personal and professional networks both online and offline among the efluentials studied.” Here’s the thing; the Latin culture if viral. There are no secrets. This is why it is so important to gain the trust of the people from the beginning. News travels fast in our culture. Now, that’s a very good thing if you have a very good offering for the Latino populace and a very bad thing if you go about things in the wrong way. If you would like the source article for this point, send me an e-mail and I’ll send it to you. It’s a long address but there is even more good information.