- Blog: BrothaTech
- Niche: Technology/Digital Lifestyle
- Founder: Terrance Gaines
- Twitter: @BrothaTech
When you’re the only techie in your family, it takes more than a little gadget gusto and Blerd 101 to get people to converse with you about technology. It was a welcomed challenge for Atlanta native Terrance Gaines, who has a knack for breaking even the most complex tech terms down for the average consumer. Stepping into the blogosphere never entered Gaines’ mind, though, until he received a helpful nudge from his wife, Alondra. “My wife actually suggested that I get started because she got tired of me talking tech to her,†said the father of two to BlackEnterprise.com, laughing as he recounted the story. He took the necessary steps, purchased the domain name and launched the now award-winning blog, BrothaTech.com, in 2008. His blog has earned various awards, including the Small Biz Influencer Awards in 2011 and 2012 and Best Science and Technology Video Blog at the Black Weblog Awards in 2013.
The digital lifestyle expert has been able to leverage his passion for technology and background in information technology, sharing his expertise with print and digital media like Black Enterprise, Black Web 2.0, Small Biz Go Mobile, Madame Noire, PC Magazine‘s AppScout, and Uptown Magazine, as well as via guest posts for various other sites. Gaines also speaks at conferences and events, having presented his ideas locally and nationally during this year’s Blogging While Brown Conference, Hispanicize, Show Me the Blog Social Media Conference and the Chocolate Chat Atlanta Meetup. Although penning articles and blog posts, speaking at events and consulting with brands, repairing gadgets and spending time with his family is keeping the Tennessee State University graduate busy, he’s in the beginning stages of creating his own weekly podcast. As Black Blogger Month continues, Gaines shares his tech expertise and how he turned his blog into a business.
BrothaTech stands out because…
One of the things I try to do is not make it so geeky, make it in plain layman’s terms. I’m the only techie in my family, so me trying to speak like a traditional geek speaks, with all the technical terms and the technical jargon, is going to fly over their heads. I’ve been talking tech in layman’s terms pretty much my whole life. I really try to tell a story to make more sense, and to also use myself as an example. A lot of my blog posts, I write about my experiences with technology, but I also make it plain and simple so people can actually use that information and apply it to whatever they’re trying to figure out, or find some new tips. I try to make it personal and I try to break it down in layman’s terms.
People trust my brand because…
When people come to my site, I’d like to think that they get enough information and enough value to where it’s easy for them to say, ‘You have a question about a computer? Call BrothaTech. You’ve got a question about social media?
You should hit up BrothaTech. You’ve got a phone that needs to be fixed; you need to hit up BrothaTech.’ I’d like to think the value that people take from my site that it’s easily shareable, which is why other people come to my site as well. Those relationships that I’ve built to where I’m recognized just outside of my blog and influential bloggers.I realized blogging was a business when…
People I was not familiar with–people I have not made a relationship with–they’ve reached out to me with serious technology questions. When people came to me needing actual, not just basic information, like, ‘Hey, what is the latest gadget?’ They’re asking me, how do I include that into my business? How do I include this gadget into my daily lifestyle? How do I use social media to expand my business reach? When people started asking me those specific questions on how to specifically integrate technology into their daily lifestyle, that’s when I figured I may be onto something as far as building a business out of just blogging about technology.
The best piece of business advice I ever got was…
“Be comfortable with being uncomfortable.†I got that from a friend of mine, a mentor, Mario Armstrong.  He’s been on the Black Blogger [Month] list before. I’m the type of person to where I have to make sure it’s right before I take the first step. Things won’t happen if you are not willing to take chances, take that next step. That’s probably stuck with me for the longest.
The biggest mistake I ever made in business was…
Probably over planning. I analyze everything and instead of just getting started with a project, with an idea, I tend to overanalyze and plan out every step to where there’s already a bunch of plans and a bunch of obstacles, and I haven’t even taken the first step.
What you learned from that was…
Take that first step. I’m doing a re-org, rebranding, a mini-one. I’m looking to move my blog into more of a business. The information that I share on my site, I want to be able to package into a product to actually provide to people–whether it be in person or virtually. I’m just starting to do that now just because I’ve started to get out of my comfort zone. I wish I would’ve done this a year or two ago; I maybe farther along.
I measure success according to…
Whether or not you know who you are or what you’re doing. Success can be measured monetarily, but if you can look yourself in the mirror and be proud of what you have accomplished, and those accomplishments, more importantly, are able to support you, then I think that’s the true value of success.
None of your success would be possible if not for…
A strong support system from my family.
It’s important for the next generation to be versed in STEM because…
Technology is only going to grow.Â
It’s only going to get bigger; it’s going to spread into more areas of your life. I think technology is going to be everywhere and it includes any person like myself to encourage the generation behind me to adopt STEM. Get right or get left!If I wasn’t blogging, I’d probably be…
Owner of a car shop. I’d own a detailed shop to where people can come and get their cars tuned and get them detailed, and customize cars and stuff.
My advice for anyone who wants to follow in my footsteps…
Start with building good relationships. The relationships that I’ve made have taken me a long way. Things have come easy to me in the business, in the blogging space, because I’ve made those genuine connections ahead of time. And when I mean genuine, not just, hey, I’m starting this thing. Why don’t you follow me, like me, or subscribe, or get my email list? I mean, actually build a relationship and when the time comes for you to market, promote, or let people know what you’re doing, it’ll be that much easier to already have that foundation, that network in place.
Be sure to check out the rest of the digital thought leaders as they’re revealed each day by logging on to BlackEnterprise.com/BlackBloggerMonth.