Oct

5

Blow Up Twitter This Weekend With NEM Updates

Filed Under Audio Update, LGBT, Social Media, Twitter, iQreport | Leave a Comment



Read the transcript.

Aug

6

Espin.com Pimps Teen Dating Site on Gay Adult Social Network

Filed Under Parenting, Social Media, WTF? | 16 Comments

On GayWallet.com tonight, I saw a Google ad for a web site described as “Gay Teen Virtual Dating.” What.the.fuck – right? A web site that blatantly encourages online dating for teens? Hell, adults haven’t even figured out how to do that well yet.

Anyway, I couldn’t help myself; I had to know what the web site was all about. Clicking the link took me to an Espin.com landing page that doesn’t say a single thing about gay teens. One might guess you would be able to find gay teens because the system asks you to choose if you’re a “chick” or a “dude” looking for a “chick” or a “dude.” But, my question is this: Why is this site being marketed on a gay social network comprised mostly of adult members of the LGBTQ community?

I was curious if the site was restricted to teenagers and college-age users, so I registered. Guess what? I was able to use my real age (36) and register without a problem. View the screen capture. What.the.fuck – right?

I see big trouble ahead for this web site and its users. If Espin.com is marketing their web site on a gay social network designed for adults, where else are they marketing this web site? Is Espin.com purposely pimping its teen users to adults looking for a little illegal and kinky fun online? So far it certainly looks that way.

Espin.com, in its own defense, would point people to their “Don’t Be an Idiot Online” video. This video is designed to teach the basics of how to be safe online. Just because they post an online safety video doesn’t mean they wouldn’t be liable for horrific things that happen on their site – especially since they’re purposely driving adult traffic directly to a teen social network by advertising on inappropriate web sites.

Come on, let’s be honest. Any adult who clicks on a link that says “Gay Teen Virtual Dating” is up to no damn good – well, except me, of course.

I monitor my teenagers’ activity on MySpace by checking their friends list and their email on a regular basis. If I can’t login to check their account anytime I want, they’re not allowed to have one. I would never give them permission to join a site that’s designed specifically for teen online dating. You have to be the shittiest parent in the world to allow that. Your parenting skills need some work if you allow that kinda thing to happen.

Jul

24

Would You Add Your Facebook Page To Your Job Application?

Filed Under Employment, Facebook, Lesbians, Social Media, Twitter | Leave a Comment

Twitter user iiHY posted the following video on YouTube:

I heard the “add your social network pages” feature was added to the new and improved CareerBuilder resume builder. I responded the same way: “Hell no.”

For awhile I kept my social network pages very clean, even though I never hid the fact that I was a lesbian. I did, however, avoid using my whole name on any social network since a current or future employer (or that nosey coworker in the cube next to you) can simply Google your name to find out everything about you. If I had a personal photo uploaded to a social network, I used only my first name.

After the last experience I had with corporate America, I decided the following:

1. I will use my whole name on every social network I join – even if I have a picture uploaded.
2. I will be as honest about who I am as possible; no watering down my content.
3. If an employer or potential client doesn’t want me because I’m a mouthy, outspoken, Black lesbian . . . to hell with ‘em.

Now, would I add my Facebook, Twitter, or GayWallet.com profile to a job application? Nope. Why make it easy for an employer to spy on me? That’s something they’ll have to work for.

I told my girlfriend that I realized I was a closet case for a long time. I tried to manipulate search engines to make sure my social network pages didn’t come up when someone Googled my name because I didn’t want them to see the word “lesbian” in print – right there on the internet for the whole world to see. Anyone who’s known me for the last 13 years would be shocked to learn that. I always bragged about being completely out. I wasn’t completely out until I stopped worrying about what people would find when they Googled me.

Feb

2

This Fat Girl Commercial is So Funny and So Wrong

Filed Under Marketing, Social Media, Women's Issues | Leave a Comment

This Amp’d commercial has been edited by AllYourPrices.com, creating a new re-purposed video designed to market their web site during the last few seconds of the video.

What’s wrong this video? A couple of things come to mind: (a) making fat women the butt of a joke (again!) and (b) using fat jokes to promote a product.

What Amp’d and AllYourPrices.com did right: (a) using humor to create some outrageously contagious viral marketing (b) posting the video on YouTube and (c) making sure that the embed option remains available so people like me can post their video all over the web.

I’m still laughing, even though the feminist womanist in me knows it’s wrong.

If it makes anyone feel better, Amp’d filed bankruptcy and closed down in July 2007. I guess fat jokes didn’t help their company much at all. AllYourPrices.com might want to learn a thing or two from Amp’d; humor is great, but re-purposing Amp’d commercials might not be a good idea.

Jan

30

Facebook Lifts Some Advertising Restrictions

Filed Under Marketing, Social Media | Leave a Comment

While checking on my GayWallet.com ad campaign on Facebook, I saw the following notice:

In an effort to communicate our policies more clearly, we’d like to share some minor adjustments to our Advertising Guidelines. We are lifting the restrictions on some content including quizzes, surveys, some ringtones and other business opportunities. We’ll begin rolling out these changes over the next few days and the official details will be posted to our Advertising Guidelines early next week.

Know what that means? It means you’ll see more and more junk ads on Facebook – including multi-level marketing/pyramid scheme “business opportunities.”

I realize Facebook needs to make money to keep their site up and running, but come on! What’s next? Gambling ads? Webcam whores? Cigarette ads?

Jan

26

Is This a Sign That Advertisers Aren’t Happy With MySpace?

Filed Under Business, Marketing, Social Media | Leave a Comment

It appears MySpace’s advertisers are forcing MySpace to step up their game. While checking my email there, I noticed a survey ad in the left sidebar. I love marketing and I really, really enjoy watching MySpace’s new marketing challenges. Once the King of social networks, MySpace now has to prove to its advertisers that their web site is worth an inclusion in the company’s advertising budget. It’s not enough anymore to simply brag about their huge membership numbers.

I just love the wording on MySpace’s banner ad: Stop and be friendly. We want to get to know you. Pfft! Bullshit! Myspace needs quantifiable and verifiable information to pass on to their advertisers. Here’s MySpace’s latest attempt at marketing research:

myspace desperation In what year were you born?

Please indicate your gender

How often, on average, do you visit MySpace?

How often, on average, do you visit MySpace Music?

Have you heard MySpace launched a music service joint venture with the major record labels on September 25?

If you answer yes to that question, these are the questions you see:

From which of the following online sources have you heard about the MySpace Music joint venture?

From which of the following non-online sources have you heard about the MySpace Music joint venture?

Did you notice Toyota was a sponsor for the MySpace Music joint venture?

Which of the following Toyota models listed in alphabetical order do you recall are currently sponsoring the MySpace Music joint venture? If you can’t recall, please select “don’t know” at the bottom of the list.

Using a 5-point scale, where 5 means “very excited” and 1 means “not at all excited,” how excited are you about the new MySpace Music joint venture?

Have you used any of the features of the MySpace Music joint venture?

Have you heard about the “Toyota Tuesday” sponsorship, where every Tuesday there is free music download on MySpace?

What is the likelihood that you will buy a vehicle within the next 3 months?

What is the likelihood that you will buy a vehicle within the next 12 months?

Which of the following music digital services do you currently use?

Are you the parent of a child or children in your household under the age of 18?

Which category best represents your total annual household income (before taxes)?

Which of the following best describes your race/ethnicity?

Jan

25

Marketing Idiots Have Taken Over MySpace

Filed Under Business, Marketing, Ranting, Social Media, Women's Issues | Leave a Comment

I’m one of the few Twitter and Facebook lovers who still use MySpace – although I don’t do much more than post bulletins and flirt with my baby girl.

Critics are predicting that Facebook and Twitter will be the death of MySpace. That may be true, but I’m guessing one of MySpace’s problems is the ridiculous amount of stupid advertisements all over the place. Poorly written copy. Spelling mistakes. Washed out backgrounds and images. Blatantly offensive ads about weight loss, dating and bad teeth – to name a few – all targeting women over the age of 30 (that would be me!)

35 years old and overweight?
Obviously, the person who placed this ad decided to target women over the age of 35. Taking jabs at a woman’s age and her weight all in one swoop is not cool – and it won’t sell the product. It’ll just piss us off and create an opening for companies like Weight Watchers who take a much more sensitive approach to advertising to the female market.

single over 30?

Why yes! Yes I am over 30 years old and single. Am I bothered by that fact? Absolutely not.

gold diggers are us

This advertiser didn’t do a good job at targeting the right audience. I’m a lesbian. I’m not looking for a sugardaddie. The single straight girls ought to be bothered by the fact that this advertiser thinks you’re a gold digger (and stupid enough to believe that wealthy men are actually using the internet to find women who just want them for their money).

Obama

This ad is very misleading because once you click on it, it doesn’t have a damn thing to do with Obama! This ad links to a web site that claims it will show you how to receive thousands of dollars in grants from the government – all for a small fee, of course. This ad is right up there with all the multi-level marketing/pyramid scheme scam artists that are hoping there’s enough stupid and desperate people in the world who will fall for this kinda crap.

Facebook allows advertising and it’s rumored that Twitter will soon start selling ad space. I’ve seen some ridiculous ads on Facebook too, but they’re not so big and annoying. They seem a lot less intrusive than the ads I see on MySpace. No one knows if Twitter will implement text-based ads, banner ads, or ads in their members’ update streams. I certainly hope they use MySpace as an example of what they shouldn’t do.

Jan

22

Ashton Kutcher Makes the Twitter Leap

Filed Under Social Media, Twitter | Leave a Comment

In a MySpace bulletin yesterday, Ashton Kutcher announced that he was on Twitter:

fyi I’m on twitter now.

just so you don’t get any fakers.
my handle is

aplusk

I’m not quite sure why I have Kutcher in my MySpace “friends” list, other than the fact that he seems to be very politically active and a staunch supporter of the Democratic platform.

Anyway, a lot of Kutcher’s Myspace friends have no clue what Twitter is, but he already has over 2700 Twitter followers. I think we can expect to see a large influx of MySpacers on Twitter pretty soon. If Kutcher is on Twitter, how soon before we start seeing more and more celebrities using the service?

I’m not sure how I feel about celebrities taking over Twitter – mostly because it will encourage a large influx of teenagers to the site. Right now, Twitter doesn’t have an option that allows us to filter members by age. The system doesn’t ask your age and it doesn’t require that you use a valid email address. How long before Twitter is overwhelmed with phishing scams? My bet? Pretty soon.

Update: It appears that Kutcher is really updating his own Twitter page. If he ever decided to pay someone to do it, I’ll throw my hat in the ring for that gig.



Check out She Said, She Said

Featured on SistersTalk Radio