Post written by Michelle Cuevas-Stubblefield, originally posted on Latina-ish Blog.

Hispanic marketing statistics can be found just about anywhere. But when you find what looks like quality data, always look deeper. The numbers you’re considering may look like what you’re after, but you need to ask yourself – do they meet my specific needs?

As you realize, the Hispanic community is not monolithic. It is a huge composite of many different groups. Hispanic survey data is heavily influenced by factors such as rate of acculturation, age group, country of origin and citizenship. Knowing how these differences impact on population data will improve your odds of successfully guiding your clients’ Hispanic marketing efforts.

If, for example, the survey group has too diverse a country-of-origin mix, or the age range was too wide or too narrow, the statistics may offer you little practical value. Learn how the data was collected – and from whom – to ensure that the statistics will truly be useful to meet your and your clients’ marketing objectives.

My Life Without Facebook:
Week 1

In case you missed it – I gave up Facebook for Lent.

It’s become painfully obvious to me that I’m going to have to start using the phone more often … even more so now that I’ve officially worn out the letters i, e, t, o and h on my cell phone, making texting a little difficult to say the least. It will be interesting to see how painfully awkward my friends and I are in phone conversations. My generation had just started talking on the phone when Yahoo Messenger became popular … and we quickly stopped talking and started typing. I’ve had the Internet since I was in 4^th or 5^th grade so you can understand why it may be hard for me to communicate outside of email, texting, social media, instant messaging or in person. The sad truth is that I’m not even sure I have some of my best friends’ phone numbers! (P.S. if you’re one of those people please drop me an email at bengelken@jhpadv.com – I miss you, friends!).

I’m still habitually typing facebook.com into the URL and have actually ended up at the sign in page several times. I did finally set up a folder in my gmail account. It’s called “Facebook – Lent” and I’m putting ALL notifications I get in that file to check on April 4. So no – I’m not cheating and reading my notifications to get around being on Facebook.

The hardest night so far was the night of the K-State v. Nebraska Men’s basketball game. I didn’t know what to do with myself. It didn’t feel like enough just to rant to my Dad (who was watching the game with me). And my Twitter followers for the most part don’t care about K-State sports or follow me for my ranting. I thought about Google Buzz, but well, let’s be honest – no one’s on Google Buzz yet and why should they be when they can do everything on Facebook right now? So for now all my perfectly crafted, witty banter will go unacknowledged.

Here’s a little of what you would have seen this week if I could have logged in:
• Copywriting without Facebook breaks or Diet Coke do not make for a happy Brie

• Basketball 101 – Dribbling the ball – Learn how to!!

• Go nominate Topeka to be a test community for Google’s Fiber Network! Just imagine – Internet speeds that are nearly 100 times faster than what we currently have – and faster than anywhere else in the whole WORLD! ThinkBigTopeka.com

• DANG my job for holding me accountable (with no facebook updates) – this is one of the only times I’ve EVER been able to say that!

When I was in college, a night out with friends always included a craze of phone calls. “Where are we going? When will you be there?” A few years later, this same communication continues, but the methods are more sophisticated. Instead of phone calls, we use mass-texts to figure out the details. Now, gathering your group has a new method with the emerging network, Foursquare.

What it is:
Foursquare is a location-based social network that allows users to “check in” from anywhere. Using an application on my cell phone, all my Foursquare friends can see where I am. “I’m at jhP (3200 SW Huntoon, Huntoon & Lakeside, Topeka) – writing a blog post about Foursquare.”

While Foursquare may seem invasive or even creepy to some, you should understand that like Facebook, this is a trusted network. You only add people you actually know. That allows this tool to be a powerful way to generate business and good buzz through word-of-mouth, as well as bring all your networks to a central location. So if it makes you nervous for the world to know where you are, here’s a word to the wise: Don’t add anyone you don’t know.

How it works:
Foursquare’s main purpose is to promote personal location. If I’m out on Saturday night and want friends to join me I simply “check in” from my mobile web browser: “I’m at Bosco’s (435 S Kansas Avenue, 4th & Kansas, Topeka).” I’m also encouraged to share tips about places I visit, so others can benefit from my experiences. So I might add, “Check out their amazing Apple-tini and Burger Sliders.”

Aside from promoting personal location, Foursquare encourages “competition.” I earn points for checking in. These check-ins can be used to unlock fun badges like “Crunked” for 4+ stops in one night or “School Night” for checking in after 3 a.m. Also, visiting one location more than anyone else will award you a key to the city! Okay, you don’t get a key to the city, but you will become “Mayor” of that location until someone dethrones you.

For Businesses:
Using Foursquare as a promotional tool offers businesses great marketing potential. Businesses across the country are offering loyalty specials for people who check in via Foursquare. Your Foursquare brand advocates could earn points they can redeem for free ice cream or get a special discount as “Mayor” of your location.

Foursquare is also developing reporting tools that will help businesses know who is visiting, how often, where they came from and where they go after they leave. This is shaping up to be a great new form of word-of-mouth marketing. Better yet, it’s completely customer driven – which helps build a loyal customer base plus dedicated brand advocates.

For Individuals:
As a user of this new social network you’re not only telling your friends where you are, you’re challenging them to be there too, and sometimes to join in an activity. “I’m at Big Dog Motorcycles (1520 East Douglas, Wichita) – I bet you won’t look as hot on a 2010 Wolf as I do! Check it out!”

But consider:
Checking in at the same location frequently could make you seem to endorse a business. If you become Mayor of a restaurant, your friends would naturally assume you recommend it. Since that might not be true, think about where you’re visiting before you check in to Foursquare. Do you want to be seen as a brand advocate for the place?

Now that you know a little more about Foursquare what are your initial thoughts? How can this affect your network of friends or your business? As I write, I’m at jhP  (3200 SW Huntoon, Huntoon & Lakeside, Topeka). I challenge you to learn more about Foursquare and see if it’s for you!

The Blizzard of ’09 has drifted away the aftermath of our holiday binges – but that won’t stop anyone from dusting off those treadmills, reading the latest seven-step book to end bad habits and setting some pretty lofty goals for 2010. The jhP partners are no different! We’re prepared to make 2010 even more successful than 2009! Check out our resolutions to see how and let us know what you resolve to achieve in 2010. Have a happy New Year everyone!

My resolution for 2010 is to enter my time sheets directly into the computer instead of writing them on sticky notes. : ) – Alissa Sheley

The upcoming year will be my first year at jhP – and as a college graduate – so I resolve to fill it with as much education as possible. I plan to learn something new from each person at jhP. By the end of the year, I hope to teach something to someone, too. – Angie Marquart

I Resolve to get stains out the first time, every time. – Brian Wells

Every year I have high hopes of following through with a New Year’s Resolution and every year I do GREAT … that is until I wake up and see the giant plate of cookies in the kitchen. This year I vow to make NO New Year’s resolutions – I’ll just stick with the old ones: to give 200+% to everything I do and to be the best person I can be. – Brie Engelken

In 2010 I plan on getting my personal chaos in order. This includes trimming my beard more often, eating less junk food, following the speed limit, going to sleep on time, doing 50 sit-ups every night before bed, organizing my garage, cleaning my clothes more often, learning how to iron my clothes, and getting my time sheets in on time. – Dan Billen

I resolve to work even harder to maximize the position of the client brands we represent. I will better underscore the unique benefits of those brands and raise their position in the market even higher. – Jake Huyett

My goal for 2010 is to try to help everyone I can to be more of what they want to be and help them enjoy as much personal and team success as possible. I also want to show that the ability to say “yes” and help goals happen is infinitely more useful than the power to say “no” and make it stick. – Kurt Eskilson

I resolve to work hard, be more imaginative/creative, listen more, laugh more and learn something new. I may also change my resolution weekly. – Leslie Palace

I resolve to expand my network even further and build relationships so that others can experience the power of partnership with jhP! I look forward to getting to know you! –
Michelle Cuevas-Stubblefield

My goal for 2010 is to work hard for our clients, giving them more earned media than they expect and growing their return on investment. – Tracy Stratton

I plan to procrastinate less, spend more quality time with family and friends and attack every project and goal as though it is the most exciting thing I have on my plate. – Linda Bull

I plan to work harder to mentor and help others be their best. – Gary Jones

Your company is forced to terminate someone’s employment, with good reason, and now the ex-employee is blasting your company on Twitter, Facebook and other popular social networks. Everything you’ve read about Social Media says you should be transparent and engage your audience – so how should you respond?

When dealing with social media, your responses should always be on a case-by-case basis. But in this case, let’s assume the rant is simply that – a rant – and it doesn’t raise legitimate, business-damaging issues. In that event, you DON’T respond.

Here are three reasons why, in THIS case, you should ignore disgruntled ex-employees on Social Networks.

1)     People know a rant when they read one

When an upset employee rants on a social media website they are usually just blowing off steam – and their audience sees that. The individual is just trying to generate sympathy or brew anger and, in most cases, readers know better than to take them too seriously.

2)     It’s a Human Resources issue

Companies are often legally restricted regarding what they can say in situations that involve HR issues. For this reason alone it’s usually best just to leave it be. Don’t put your company and yourself at risk of crossing a legal line.

3)     It’s a lose/lose situation

Nothing you say or do will make up for the loss of that person’s job so it’s best just to let it run its course. By engaging in a conversation you are just prolonging that individual’s fury and drawing more attention to that person and your situation.

When dealing with personalized attacks with no merit and no business-damaging substance, please consider that saying nothing is better than saying the wrong something.