Google Adsense

Recently I added Google Ads to my my blog and website. The way it works is that you copy in a set of codes into the website or blog and based on the content Google plants ads on your web page. In my case, the Google ads have a Caribbean theme and a business theme as well. I guess I can understand the business ads, but if most of my readers are from the Caribbean, then there is pointless to have ads promoting Caribbean destinations. I think I am going to ask for some diversity of ads otherwise no one will ever click on them.

Well, maybe I should not complain. For a time there were ads for Maxim (an adult magazine) and homosexual-themed ads. I have since asked Google not to plant adult themed ads nor anything alcohol, tobacco, sexual related. They have not answered but I have not seen them since so hopefully that is a not an issue.

www.caribbeanbusinessdigest.com

How can I help? - A difficult question.

Two prominent members of the Caribbean community here in South Florida asked me within the last two weeks how they can help me in the progress of the Caribbean Business Digest. Both times it caught me off guard. On a third occasion I came across a chamber president that wanted to have the magazine distributed to the chamber members. But a simple as the request was I did not quite know how to proceed. Should I push for subscription from the chamber members? Or should I give them free? Maybe I should offer the magazines at a reduced rate or allot a certain amount for free and additional ones as subscriptions. I think I will opt for the latter option in this case. It may mean that there would be no subscribers in the end but we will see what the chamber president in question has to say.

As far as the two community members are concerned, I believe that the best way they can help is advice on the course of the magazine as well as help in promoting it. So in the morning I will send an email to both asking what direction they would like to see from the publication. Additionally I will ask that they promote the magazine within their circles and offer suggestions on how they can do so.

Even more than getting advertising dollars from these two individuals who are both small business owners, this publicity will be miles more valuable and will add credibility too.

GCACC monthly business meeting update

The Greater Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce (GCACC) had back to back events this week but I could only attend one. I had to skip the annual job fair due to a very important meeting that was arranged prior to learning of the job fair. But I made the monthly business meeting where the Florida Memorial University Mobile Economic Unit was visiting. The FMU Unit is a mobile office that caters to business owners and potential entrepreneurs. Basically they converted a 18 wheeler in to an office and drive to prearranged locations and encourage people to come in for help with business advice, planning and consultation. That is a wonderful program that will serve to help dozens of small businesses who can't go to the offices due to having to run their businesses. I am considering including them in a future issue.

The most promising aspect though was learning that the GCACC wants to incorporate in its program a newsletter that will feature one member each month. The current president has asked if we could sit down and hammer out an agreement that would see me produce the newsletter. That would be awesome as it would lend some credibility to the CBD and exposure as well. I have no problems writing the content (or farming it out) despite the added work load but it would be worth it. I am therefore putting together a proposal for this well in advance of us meeting to iron this out. I hope that the Board will approve this and hopefully the first issue of the newsletter will be in May. That would be ideal as it would precede the June CBD issue. This could be the biggest thing yet. Wish me luck!