Last year, 65% of people ages 18 to 29 named the Internet as their source for news, which almost doubled from 34% in 2007.  Those who did consider television as their main source slipped from 68% to 52% in that same time frame.

This trend is spreading to other age groups. Nearly half (48 %) of those in the 30-59 age range note the Internet as their central news source. This is up from 32% in 2007, whereas television dropped from 71% to 63%. The number of people 65 and older who pull their news from the Internet rose from 5% to 14%. On the other hand, of those in the 51-64 age group, 34% turn to the Internet, which is comparable to the number of people who name newspapers (38%) as their go-to source.

The study surveyed 1500 American adults, 41% saying they received their national and international news from the web—a 17% increase from 2007.

What do you think? Take our survey.

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New FCC Rules Exclude the Way Blacks Get Online

Broadband use among blacks has grown, but still lags behind whites.

The rate of African Americans adopting broadband has grown to 56% from 46% at a similar point in 2009. That translates to a 22% year-on-year growth rate, much higher than the national average and the highest growth rate of any major demographic group, according to the latest research from the Pew Internet & American Life Project.

While the gap between whites and blacks has been cut approximately in half over the last year, African Americans still lag in their use of broadband technologies. In 2009, the gap between blacks and whites was 19 percentage points (65% vs. 46%); in 2010 that gap stands at 11 points (67% vs. 56%).

When survey participants were asked: “Do you think that expanding affordable high-speed Internet access to everyone in the country should be a top priority for the federal government, important but a lower priority, not too important, or should it not be done?” People under age 30 and African Americans were the most likely to favor expanded government efforts towards broadband access. Older Americans were among the least likely to back the expansion of affordable broadband access as a government priority.

African Americans were also significantly more likely than whites to say that a lack of broadband access is a “major disadvantage” when it comes to finding out about job opportunities; getting health information; learning new things to improve or enrich one’s life; using government services; and keeping up with local community happenings.

Democrats Gear Up for 2010

President Barack Obama and Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine outlined this week the party’s strategy for the 2010 midterm elections. Ever since Theodore Roosevelt was in office, first-term presidents have lost an average of 28 House seats and 4 Senate seats during the midterms. Democrats are hoping to minimize their losses by running a campaign based on what they’ve accomplished so far with the support of the voters who helped Obama win in 2008.

In a video released on Monday, Obama issued a call-to-action to those voters, urging them to “stay involved.” The special interest groups that “rule Washington,” he warned, are gearing up to put their allies back in power so they can undo what Democrats successes, such as healthcare reform.

“It will be up to each of you to make sure that the young people, African Americans, Latinos, and women who powered our victory in 2008 stand together once again,” he said. “If you help us do that—if you help us make sure that first-time voters in 2008 make their voices heard again in November—then together we will deliver on the promise of change and hope and prosperity for generations to come.”

David Bositis, senior political analyst at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, said that if African Americans turn out en masse as they did two years ago, young voters would be a bonus for Democrats. According to Bositis, a significant number of black voters live in states where there will be some very competitive races for Congress and statewide, where they can make a difference, so Obama’s appeal is a good idea.

“They will still lose some seats, but they’ll do okay,” he said.

Kaine announced on Wednesday that Democrats plan to spend approximately $50 million to woo first-time voters and past supporters. In addition, Democrats will run as the “Party of Results “and bill Republicans as obstructionists who put the needs of Wall Street above Main Street’s.

His prepared remarks reportedly included comments that Republicans also would try to suppress low-income and minority voters from casting ballots this fall, that weren’t delivered. That didn’t stop the GOP from calling foul, however.

“Out of options, the president and his top campaign aide are going back to the Democrats’ worn-out playbook and making false and reprehensible comments accusations of voter suppression,” said Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele in a statement. “At what point will Chairman Kaine and the Democrats realize that polarizing this country on the lines of race is not only passé, it’s wrong and ineffective.”

Others charged both Obama and Kaine with playing the race card, which Bositis said is ludicrous and suggests that they do not take the problems of race in this nation seriously.

“Social norms in this country have changed to the degree that it’s seriously frowned upon by most decent people to use overtly racist language so they use coded language,” said Bositis. “And clearly their attitude toward Obama and the things they say about him are a reflection of their general attitudes toward black people and those attitudes are negative.”

Greater Broadband Access for Small Businesses Sought

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs that depend on broadband and information and communication technologies will grow by 25% between 2008 and 2018. In addition, broadband connectivity can be powerful tools to help small businesses reach new markets, increase productivity and efficiency, and generate economic growth, said Federal Communications Chairman Julius Genachowski in testimony before a Senate small business panel on efforts to expand small business Internet access.

According to FCC reports, businesses with 25 or fewer employees pay two times more per employee for broadband than those with more than 25 employees. The agency’s National Broadband Plan encourages broadcasters to give up unused spectrum so it can be used to expand broadband services to small businesses around the nation.

Genachowski said that the FCC’s Office of Communications Business Opportunities is working with various business chambers to improve digital literacy among minority and women-owned businesses as part of its efforts to support and encourage diversity in the telecommunications industry.

Those efforts also include workshops and roundtable discussions on broadband’s impact on small and diverse businesses, capitalization challenges, and a networking program to connect those firms with larger telecommunications firms.

“Expanding broadband access and adoption is not just the FCC’s job; we all have a role to play,” said Senator Mary Landrieu, who chairs the Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship. “We have some challenges ahead, and it’s important that we understand how to best work together to implement our National Broadband Plan to benefit small businesses, particularly in rural, underserved and unserved areas of the nation.”

SBA Announces Energy Efficiency Aid to Small Businesses

Does your business need an energy upgrade? The Small Business Administration announced on Friday that it has awarded small business energy efficiency grants to Small Business Development Center (SBDC) networks in seven states.

Each grant is in the amount of $125,000 and will be used to provide energy assistance. Small businesses will receive education, training, energy efficiency audits, and information on how to adopt energy efficient practices. They may also receive help with the purchase and installation of energy-efficient building fixtures and equipment.

“It’s a win-win because a small business saves on energy bills while contributing to the growth of green jobs in other local businesses,” said SBA Chief Karen Mills. “The grants contribute to SBA’s efforts to help small businesses facing increasing costs of fossil fuels and diminishing energy resources.”

The SBDCs that received grants are in Arizona, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Idaho, New York, Nevada, and Nebraska. The latter four will use the grants to expand existing programs.

Getting there isn’t always easy, thanks to the huge number of Websites out there that are vying for the attention of fickle eyeballs that can get to a competitor’s site with just one mouse click.

To make sure your site doesn’t get lost in the shuffle, try using these five solid strategies for turning Web traffic into foot traffic:

Don’t let them slip away. One of the best ways to get customers to take the next step and purchase your products or services is by capturing their information (with their permission of course) before they can click on over to a competitor’s site. At V.I.P Auto Appearance Center, Vice President Charles Mack Jr., knows his firm has to go the extra mile to get online customers into the firm’s physical location in Clinton, Md.

“We want to know exactly where they come from, what search engine they use and what they’re doing when they get to our Website,” says Mack, whose luxury auto detailing firm uses an analytics program to track customers and a prominent “join our mailing list” offer on its front page. “That gives us the ability not only to track visitors, but also to send out information to them within a day or two in hopes that they’ll turn into actual customers.”

Offer specials for online customers. For cybersurfers who are shopping around the D.C. area for a reliable auto-detailing firm to polish up their cars, Mack came up with a “V.I.P. Guest Pass” that first-time customers could use to get a free vehicle hand-washing with no obligation. Using verbiage like “act now” and “register for this offer today,” the auto-detailing firm has been able to entice customers to get behind the wheel and drive to its physical location for service.

“People just love free stuff,” says Mack. “We’ve found that the best way to get them in the door is by giving them a guest pass and by following up with the excellent service.”

Leave them wanting more. The Web may be packed with information, but that’s no reason to overload potential customers on their first visit to your site. Instead, give them a “taste” of what your company has to offer in terms of products and services, and leave them wanting more. If you run an accounting firm, for example, you might want to post a 2-minute video that focuses on three of the IRS’ newest tax-saving deductions.

Wrap up the video with a call to action to “make an appointment to come in today to learn everything else you need to know about maximizing your deductions for your 2009 taxes.” That’s right – the same tactic that has already been proven effective in television and radio advertising can also be applied successfully on the Web.
Use search engine optimization tactics. You don’t have to be an SEO expert to know that strategically placed keywords can go a long way in making your Website stand out from the pack online. This is particularly important for firms that want to do more than just spread information online, says Evan Bailyn, CEO at New York-based SEO consultancy First Page Sage, who sees top search engine rankings as the first step to turning looky-loos into paying customers.

Bailyn says a good starting point for firms looking to improve their Google placements, for example, is to closely examine the “pinch title,” or the words that are written in the blue status bar at the top of the Internet browser. Be as specific as possible when crafting this title, says Bailyn, who suggests using phrases like “Personal injury and accident attorney” in lieu of “Welcome to John Smith’s law firm.”

Make use of social media. Combining useful posts on sites like Twitter, Facebook and MySpace with Websites can help companies more effectively bridge the gap between cybersurfers and paying customers. Start by going to the social networking site of choice, accessing the “search” feature and figuring out what people are saying about your competitors, and their products and services.

“Write a message to anyone who cared enough about the other firm to talk about it online, and introduce yourself and your firm,” suggests Bailyn. “Then ask them to follow you on Twitter, LinkedIn or other social networking sites. Bailyn sees this as a targeted, deliberate approach that can easily turn into “real” business, namely because those commenting online have already had experience with the competition.

Take the strategy a step further by setting up a regular schedule for contributing useful content to those social networking sites. “Write about interesting subjects that are of value to your target audience,” says Bailyn, who adds that traditional business values like excellent customer service and quality products also contribute to a bricks-and-mortar firm’s ability to attract customers on the Web. “At the end of the day, word of mouth is still the best way to acquire new customers,” he says.

RESOURCES

Internet Marketing for Your Small Business

Turning Customers Into Repeat Buyers

For example, virtual phone systems and cloud computing services, are two Web concepts that, like many others online, are less costly, accessible from unlimited locations, collaboration-friendly, and may be more reliable than physical phone systems or back-up servers.

However, less than 10% of small businesses have complete trust in cloud computing solutions, according to a survey conducted on customers of Egnyte.com, a Website that provides on-demand file server back-up. Cloud computing typically allows users to access business services from a Web browser producing a shared pool of resources accessible from any location. Reluctance to use the technology could be the result of business owners’ inability to define how they would use such Web tools or how the tools could benefit their day to day operations.

Other virtualized Web technologies that small business owners can take advantage of include: paperless billing software, data back up, virtual phone systems, and data collaboration tools.

Following are four innovative technologies and several Web services that small business owners can use to increase productivity, build reliability, and operate their business from any computer in the world:

REMOTE ACCESS SYSTEMS

Being able to remotely access your files from an outside location is not the sexiest topic in the world, says Ramon Ray, a small business technology expert, blogger and author of Technology Solutions for Growing Businesses ($29.95; Amazom). However, as people become more mobile, knowing that you can access a sales proposal from your home on the weekend or while in the car with a client, for instance, can mean the difference between profits and losses.

Pros: Accessing a host computer from offsite is quite like controlling a remote control toy. With Websites like GoToMyPC.com the user can take control of the files stored locally on her host computer from an internet-connected computer anywhere in the world.

Cons: While GoToMyPC.com will provide you access to your office computer from any computer you choose, it does not automatically backup data on your host computer. Also, with many remote access systems, a plug-in might need to be installed on the host computer, which might deter some users from accessing it.

Costs: For one PC, it will cost $19.95 per month on an individual plan, but a business plan costs $33.90 per month for a two-computer license, and for three to 20 PCs, prices start at $12.95 per month per PC.

More remote access software:

PCAnywhere is $199 for one user and his computers.

BACKUP AND STORAGE

Sometimes remote access is not enough. That’s where cloud computing comes into play. Web services such as Carbonite.com and Egnyte.com store files and prevent lost data.

Pros: These Websites will automatically store everything from your computer onto a virtual server on the Internet not only allowing you to access the information from anywhere but also providing automated backup to whatever changes you make. The user no longer has to worry about keeping track of which saved version on which computer is the most recent. Now there is only one version and it is safely stored in one place that is accessible anywhere and to any employee who needs it.

Cons: With any storage and remote access Website security is the main attribute of concern for some small business owners. “When you work with any type of cloud computing facility you have to be careful with the terms and conditions,” says Chris Curtis, founder and director of Newark, Delaware-based Web Business Ownership, a company for online entrepreneurs and host to the WebWise Business Radio Show. “In some cases you are agreeing to give up rights to your material,” she adds.

Costs: A one-year subscription to Carbonite.com costs $54.95, while 1 terabyte of space (equivalent to 1024 gigabytes) on Egnyte will cost $15 per user for up to 10 users.

Other products that offer similar services:

Microsoft’s Small Business Servers has licenses that range from $1,089 to $3,780.

VIRTUAL PHONE SYSTEMS

For no cost, Google Voice offers many of the same features as for-pay services such as Skype, which can cost $2.95 per month for non-Skype to Skype calls.

“Google Voice is a phone system that makes [your company] look bigger than you are,” Curtis says. “It is way more than a phone system. It is almost like a personal assistant.”

Pros: The Web-based phone system allows users to place and receive calls, and manage office, cell, home, and an unlimited number of phone numbers and voicemail through one phone number. At the user’s command, Google Voice will forward incoming phone numbers to specified phone lines.

The free service is useful for small business owners that might have employees working from several locations, such as a sales team. Finally, transcribing meeting minutes might be a thing of the past since it can hold teleconferences, record calls, and transcribe the minutes online.

Cons: Right now Google Voice is only available to current users of GrandCentral.com, the company that Google purchased in March 2009, and it has not announced when others will be invited to use it. The service is free, but some critics, such as the Electronic Privacy Information Center, have expressed concerns about data Google could collect from users regarding calling habits and Internet behavior. Also, unlike Skype, Google Voice does not offer video conferencing.

Other Web-based telephone services:

DimDim.com offers free Web conferencing with voice and video for up to 20 people, but upgraded plans that include transcription can start at $228 per year.

RingCentral.com has at $14.99 per month an option to allow you to use professional voice talent to record greetings and on hold announcements.

Grasshopper.com gives you a toll-free, custom vanity number starting at $9.95 per month plus a $30 activation fee.

PAPERLESS BILLING

There is nothing new about online accounting software, but some Web software services like Freshbooks.com provides paperless solutions through online invoicing to reduce the tedium of billing, time tracking, and expensing.

Pros: Freshbooks.com creates invoices based on time, expenses or fixed-cost services/ items and produces timesheets.

“The software is great for Web developers, graphic designers, and people that work on a lot of small projects,” Curtis says. “It [keeps project managers] on time and on budget because now everybody can work through one interface.”

Owners can file expense reports, send estimates, bill and re-bill clients without ever having to lick an envelope. Users can send customized invoices by email or by U.S. mail for $1.79 per invoice with first class business mail postage and return envelope included.

Cons: Some people may find Freshbooks inconvenient, since the user is bound to access his expense accounts and client billing exclusively online unless he purchases the download that backs up data locally.

Costs: The free version of Freshbooks allows one employee to manage three clients and send an unlimited number of invoices. Upgraded packages of the software range from $19 to $149 per month and provide increasing numbers of clients and employee access with each upgrade.

Other paperless billing software:

Quickbooks.com customers can start invoicing up to 20 customers for free.

GoToBilling.com offers paperless marketing, invoicing and billing software ranging from $99 to $449 for set up fees and from $29 to $129 for monthly charges.

DATA COLABORATION AND MORE

Websites such as Drop.io and Evernote.com, both feature services that fall under several of the above categories but present these features in unique ways.

Pros: Drop.io and Evernote act like virtual Post-it Notes for not only text, but for multimedia as well. Data is “dropped” into these programs like buckets that are then categorized, bookmarked and/or tagged to make follow-up and searching convenient. The buckets of data can be used to collaborate on group projects that could involve anything from real time streaming to conference calling to data back-up. Drops can be made from widgets, applications, and plug-ins added to browsers and/or mobile devices.

iPhone users get a feature called JotNot, which will correct the contrast, lighting, and angles of poorly taken photos. Evernote will even recognize and tag words in handwritten notes that were photographed.

Cons: A working connection to the internet is vital to any virtual Web product. If the internet went down for on hour, the Egnyte.com survey reports that 51%  of its respondents would be moderately impacted and nearly a quarter (20%) would be severely impacted.

Costs: Both drop.io and Evernote are free, but they both offer premium subscriptions that begin at $5 per month with Evernote and $19 per month for Drop.io.

Websites with similar features:

Zoho projects: This tool features a project stream that keeps all users update to changes made within the project. Paid plans range from free to $80 per month.

RESOURCES

Smallbiztechnology.com provides news, analysis, and discussion about tech tools for small to medium sized businesses.
Webbusinessownership.com is a source for information and resources for small businesses that want to develop an online business.
VirtualPhoneSystemReviews.com reviews virtual phone systems comparing each one on prices and features.

Ok, fine. There’s no beast lurking. In fact, the monster you fret is really the future. While I dread writing these “why you should be using social networking sites” pieces, for some reason, there still seems to be a necessity. After several conversations over the past week regarding people’s fear and reticence about joining Twitter – and not just for privacy reasons — it seems to me that people aren’t scared of Twitter.

They’re  scared of change.

Face it. Twitter has brought about monumental innovation, including being part of the first African American U.S. president’s winning campaign;  contributing to the development of the IBM personal computer during a recession; and aiding the success of a new class of entrepreneurs and revenue stream by social networking mavens.

For entrepreneurs, small business owners, and professionals, consider Twitter your stepping stone to embracing change. Besides, if you’re really trying to market a product or service, the returns can prove worth it. According to technology Website TechCrunch.com, as of June, 9.7% of its blog traffic comes from Twitter, this up from 1.8% just six months earlier.

The Washington Post also reported that Twitter is being used to “mine it for clients, recruit employees and answer customer service questions,” and brand mentions.

Fairfax County government is also experimenting with Twitter, sending out announcements about snow-induced school closings and county board meetings, reports the Post.

So, it’s not about updating people on your every move, more than informing people and getting insight on what potential clients, consumers, or associates think. I must admit, getting started on Twitter was a bit hard for me too. But here are a few tips I used to help break the ice.

Follow what you buy. When I signed up on Twitter I was heavily contemplating taking a vacation. I happened to find out JetBlue and Southwest Airlines were on Twitter and always announced discounts and promotions. This became a great way to find out about special offers and even interact with some of the companies, giving me the chance to ask customer related questions.

Follow what (or who) you listen to. Chances are if you listen to their music, they’re probably on Twitter. This allowed me the chance to keep up with [free] shows some of my favorite artists were playing around the city.

Ask questions. A few months ago, I began teaching myself how to edit video on Final Cut Pro. Between Youtube tutorials and Google, I was able to get the hang of it. But there were some minor issues that still troubled me. So I went to Twitter and merely posted a simple question: How do you get rid of natural sound in Final Cut Pro? Within moments Final Cut Pro users responded with advice, tips, and Web resources. Asking questions about what you’re interested in or what you’re working on can be a great way to gain followers and engage in dialog.

Got it?

Good!

If you’re on Twitter what do you like most about it?

Renita Burns is the editorial assistant at BlackEnterprise.com.

Today, I know that social media Websites are not just for kids. For example, according to the iStrategyLabs 2009 Facebook Demographics Statistics Report, the number of Facebook users ages 35 to 54 grew by 276% in the last six months of 2008—and this includes many adult members of my own family. More importantly, I understand the critical role social media plays in the future of Black Enterprise, particularly as it relates to our digital media business. In fact, when we launched the current version of BlackEnterprise.com last year, it was specifically designed to enable our visitors to share our content among their networks on sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. I know that our audience does not just want to receive information; they want to engage in the conversation, contributing and sharing their ideas as well. Similarly, advertisers and sponsors will no longer accept the barriers between them and the markets they are trying to understand and appeal to; social media allows them to directly engage their customers and prospects, to learn what they want and need in their time, space, and communities.

The impact of social media on the ability of entrepreneurs and professionals to network is undeniable. At first glance, you might even assume that face-to-face interaction with others in your business or industry, in the form of conferences, events, and networking functions, is no longer necessary. And you would be dead wrong. The effective use of social media does not replace traditional networking; it enhances the face-to-face relationship-building experience.

We witnessed this reality in action at the 2009 Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference in Detroit in May, where entrepreneurs in attendance had already begun to establish relationships and identify prospects to connect with long before they arrived. I also expect to see it at the 2009 Black Enterprise/Pepsi Golf & Tennis Challenge, which will be held in Orlando, Florida, at the J.W. Marriott Grande Lakes, Sept. 3–7. Our traditional marketing of both events was heightened by the buzz generated by Black Enterprise enthusiasts—not employed by or otherwise affiliated with our company—eager to share the latest that be has to offer with their social media networks.

Experts on social media emphasize that the most effective business professionals and entrepreneurs use online networking and content sharing tools to enhance their personal brands, establish their expertise and credibility, and ultimately build the quality relationships that result in actual transactions—signing contracts, closing deals, and landing jobs—making real-world networking more productive, better targeted, and ultimately, more profitable.

Now, don’t expect to find me on Facebook or among your followers on Twitter any time soon. But, I do look forward to seeing you at the 2009 Black Enterprise Golf & Tennis Challenge.

It’s a question that many small to midsized companies are asking themselves as they find ways to outsource more work to third parties. “Whether it’s your own company’s data, or that of a client or business partner, IT security should always be a top concern,” says Jim Farnsworth, founder and senior partner at Denver-based consulting and project management firm Virtualwirks. “It’s particularly important in the virtual work environment, where it can be more difficult to monitor and track activities.”

The good news is that the remote workers themselves also care about security threats. According to a recent survey from mobility vendor Fiberlink, 70% of remote workers would rather get their tasks done on a secure network connection, even if it meant their assignment or work would be late.

On the flip side, one in four of them have either altered security settings or purposefully delayed security updates, while about 50% have downloaded personal pictures and videos (43%) or software for their own use (31%) on their company-issued laptops.

To keep your remote employees on the right track, the best approach involves a combination of employee education and technology tools such as firewalls with passwords that are changed regularly, anti-malware and defenseware, upgrades and patches, home network security and data backup systems.

“Start with your people first, instead of just looking for a quick technology fix,” advises Farnsworth, who tells firms to present all rules and regulations governing IT use before hiring the home-based workers. If you don’t want your employees’ children using company-supplied equipment, be sure to state it in your IT policy manual.

“Screen everyone thoroughly, train them on the proper use of and policies governing technology usage at your firm,” says Farnsworth, “and utilize performance management techniques to control how everyone is accessing and using your company’s data.”

On the technology side, all laptops that are being used from “outside” the corporate firewall and network should be outfitted with antivirus software (from a vendor like Symantec or McAfee) that’s update regularly and properly configured. This software will filter both incoming and outgoing data and “block” messages and information as instructed.

Companies with multiple home-based employees should also consider setting up a Virtual Private Network (VPN), which creates a secure conduit through which data can travel back and forth from the corporate network to the user.

Data encryption (to keep unauthorized users from seeing sensitive files) is also important, as is vigilance over the equipment itself (the locking out of unauthorized laptop users or thieves via a password-protected system, for example). Home-based computers should be equipped with malware, spyware and intrusion detectors, auto-update settings should be enabled to ensure that virus definitions and patches are current (and stay that way), and employees should be backing up their data every night to a secure location.

Ignore these steps, says Farnsworth, and you open up your network to threats like computer viruses, phishing attacks and hackers, all of which are waiting to pounce on unsecured IT systems. You could also risk isolating clients and business partners that share data with your firm. “The concept of securing home-based workers is both doable and controllable, but it requires a different model, and an approach that encompasses both the employee and the network itself,” ” says Farnsworth.

Home-Based Computer Tips

–Screen all remote workers carefully
–Train workers on company security policies and rules
–Use tools like antivirus software and VPNs to protect your network
–Don’t be afraid to put policies in place to protect your company

Web Resources

10 Tips for Home-Based Employee Security

Understanding Remote Worker Security

While attending the 100 Black Men of America’s 23rd Annual Conference in New York last week, I overheard Alvin Hartley speaking to several young men about using their knowledge of the Web to create a business. “Young people are so bright, they know how to use the Internet, but they don’t know how to use the Internet to make money,” says Hartley, president of HBCU Bus Tours, an organization that connects college bound students to historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

As conference panels wrapped up for the day, Hartley exposed several young men to a few novel ideas about how they can use the Web to generate revenue and increase their visibility to prospective colleges.

Eventbright.com: A number of successful businessmen got their start in party promotions and event planning, from Sean “Diddy” Combs to Keith Clinkscales, a senior vice president at ESPN. Eventbright.com allows promoters to sell tickets in advance online.

There is a 2.5% fee per transaction, which any savvy entrepreneur would allow the consumer to absorb. To ramp up sales, you can discount advance tickets or double the door price, that way potential attendees will have a greater incentive to purchase tickets online.

What’s practically ingenious about this Web service is that it allows sellers to maintain a spreadsheet of patrons and their contact information, hence building a network. As you continue to hold events — i.e. talent shows, parties, fashion shows, etc. — you can tap into an already established database while adding to the network.

Sellers must have checking and PayPal accounts to use the program. Money from ticket sales are transferred to your PayPal account instantly, bringing me to Hartley’s next Web tool:

PayPal.com: While this online payment service is old news to eBay users and online shoppers, Hartley presents a novel idea for young people looking to bring in extra cash. “You can use a PayPal account to provide services such as tutoring or setting invoices for chores,” he says. Instead of waiting for Mr. Brown down the block to pay you for that yard work, he can put a deposit down using PayPal or make the entire payment online. Depending on your service or product you may be able to expand nationally or even globally. For young adults lacking a business plan, “once you know how you can receive money you start to get pretty creative in how you can make money,” Hartley says. There is a credit card processing fee, which can also be absorbed by the client.

HBCUBusTours.com: This resource is not exactly a means to make money, but with all the business acumen you build via PayPal and Eventbrite, you’ll need a good school to help refine your talent. HBCU Bus Tours allows students to connection with black colleges around the country.  Set up is simple; just create a user profile, similar to what you may have on Facebook –but a tad more professional.

“This Website is the first site of its kind that links students, families, high school counselors and organizations directly to admissions offices,” Hartley says. The site allows you to interact with professionals and university administrators via forums and blogs. There is also tons of scholarship information and the chance to sign up for one of the company’s nationwide bus tour.

Renita Burns is the editorial assistant at BlackEnterprise.com.