In Search of the Holy Long Tail: African-Americans and Web 2.0
AUSTIN, Texas/PRNewswire/ -- My Black Networks, LLC
announced today a new portal site -- The MyBlack(TM) Urban Vertical (http://www.myblacknetworks.com/)
-- with a core mission to address the fragmented state of data that is
culturally relevant to its target markets. My Black Networks (MBN)
defines itself as an ecosystem of informational web sites targeting
unique segments of the African, African-American and Caribbean
communities or the African Diaspora. MBN seeks to fill a service gap
while expanding networks and empowering communities.
Currently, social media and networks that target blacks tend to
focus primarily on casual topics such as entertainment, dating,
celebrity news and gossip. And, while MBN recognizes this market is
satisfying a consumer demand, they have chosen to respond to other
niche markets that are somewhat ignored by mainstream media and are
seeking online resources consistent with more serious pursuits such as:
business, finance and health.
The first phase of the launch includes unique web sites for 20
cities with large African-American populations. Each site includes the
MyBlack(TM) brand and offers relevant national and local news; a
black-owned business directory; small business resource center; a
wealth-building section; an events section; and special interest areas
for lifestyle, health and romance. Each city's site is accessible from
the portal and is also connected to a shared social networking platform.
Eventually, MBN plans to expand to include over 200 major cities
around the globe from within the U.S., Africa, Brazil, Canada, the
Caribbean, and Europe.
MBN's primary objective is to facilitate targeted vertical search by
employing vertical branding of relevant content. In the future, they
hope to partner with a vertical search engine or to create their own.
When asked what MBN intends to do after reorganizing the Web, Elbert
McQuiller, co-founder, shrugs and replies, "Watch the tail wag the dog."
"Long tail" is a reference to a phrase coined by writer Chris
Anderson in his October 2004 article in Wired Magazine. The
hotly-debated premise of Anderson's article is that the Internet has
lowered the cost of distribution to the point that it now makes sense
for merchants to address the demand of niche groups for more tailored
goods and services.
For more information, visit: http://www.myblacknetworks.com/.
*(LOGO 72dpi: Send2Press.com/mediaboom/08-1010-MyBlackNets_72dpi.jpg)
This release was issued on behalf of the above organization by Send2Press(R), a unit of Neotrope(R). http://www.send2press.com/
Source: My Black Networks, LLC
CONTACT: Elbert E. McQuiller of My Black Networks, LLC, +1-512-428-4362,
emcquiller@myblacknetworks.com
Web site: http://www.myblacknetworks.com/
