FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
VentureDirect
Worldwide and The Black World Today New
advertising and content affiliate program empowers publishers,
advertisers and users in the largest minority market online NEW
YORK -- January 27, 2000 -- VentureDirect Worldwide (www.venturedirect.com),
a full-service direct marketing and media company, and The Black World
Today (www.tbwt.com), the leading
news and opinion site for the global black community, today announced a
strategic partnership and the creation of The Black World Network (www.blackworldnet.com). The
Black World Network is the Web's first content and advertising affiliate
program for black Web sites in the United States and in communities
around the world. Its goals are to promote unity and empowerment among
the growing number of black people using the Internet, to help
affiliates generate more revenue and site traffic, and to help
advertisers effectively tap this important market. VentureDirect’s
ad network (www.ad-venture.com)
will work as the advertising arm of The Black World Network, selling ad
space to advertisers and generating revenue for affiliates.
VentureDirect also offers a variety of other revenue generation programs
such as e-newsletter advertising sales, opt-in email list management,
traditional list management, and others. The
Black World Today will provide its proprietary content, Web
communication tools, access to a password-protected Virtual Private
Network, and other content-related aspects of the program. “From
an advertising standpoint, this is a big deal,” explains Richard
Baumer, president of VentureDirect. “The Black World Network fills the
overwhelming demand for advertising targeting one of the most desirable
demographic segments online.” According
to a recent study conducted by CyberDialogue, African Americans
constitute the largest ethnic minority group online, with 4.9 million
users. The study went on to prove that these users are younger,
wealthier and more educated than their offline counterparts. Forty-nine
percent of African Americans online are under the age of 30, compared to
23% offline. The average income of African Americans online is $58,300
with 18% earning $75,000 or more. Only 1% of those offline earn that
amount. More than one-third online graduated college compared to less
than 10% not online. Studies
also show that blacks have an increasing influence over the Internet
economy. Personal income is growing faster for this group than any other
group in the United States, jumping from $324 billion in 1995 to $367
billion in 1996, a 13% increase. In
addition, black households bought new vehicles, home furnishings,
appliances, and other big-ticket items at a much faster rate than white
households. “We
are delighted to be partnering with VentureDirect on this breakthrough
initiative,” said Don Rojas, founder and CEO of The Black World Today.
“For Web publishers there is added value from a new revenue stream and
for advertisers and sponsors they get their messages spread across a
network of black sites that represent a wide range of interests in the
African American community. It’s a win-win for all parties.” The
Black World Today will serve as the Black World Network’s hub site.
The network currently includes scores of affiliates in the following
categories: Entertainment, E-commerce, Online Media, Internet Services,
Information, International, Networks & Directories, and Religious. Join
the Black World Network by filling out the online application at www.blackworldnet.com/agreement.asp,
or call 410-539-6547 for more information. To
advertise call 212.655.5188 or 410-539-6547 or email: sales@ad-venture.com
or donrojas@tbwt.com About
VentureDirect Worldwide VentureDirect
Worldwide is a totally integrated direct marketing and media company,
dedicated to generating leads, acquiring customers and creating revenues
for their clients. VentureDirect's services include List Management,
List Brokerage, Insert Brokerage and Management, Card Pac Marketing,
E-mail Marketing, Online Lead Generation, Online Media Planning/Buying,
Web Site Representation, Print Media Buying, Magazine Space Sales,
Recruitment Advertising Sales, and Custom Services. Its Internet
advertising network called ad-venture.com currently offers Web
advertisers access to 2,500 Web sites through numerous channels, one of
which is the African American channel. They were named to Channel
Seven’s list of Top 100 Interactive Ad Agencies for online media
planning and buying. The
company is headquartered at 60 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10010 and also
has offices in West Palm Beach, Florida. About
The Black World Today
The Black World Today
(http://www.tbwt.com) is the premier destination site for African-Americans worldwide. The
site offers informational and entertainment services including news,
sports, commentaries, audio content, job listings, music, weather and
shopping. The site is read and listened to in over 70 countries and
receives approximately 2 million page views each month. |