Community Connect Inc.

Back

THE BIGGEST SOCIAL NETWORKING COMPANY YOU’VE NEVER HEARD OF …

Community Connect Inc. Provides Profidability and Increased Membership through Niche Relevancy Ten Years and Counting

New York, July 24, 2006 - The first niche online social network, Community Connect, Inc., continues to innovate online social networking with the re-launch of their properties: AsianAvenue.com, MiGente.com, and BlackPlanet.com.  BlackPlanet.com is the largest dedicated African American website maintaining a larger black audience than any other social networking Web site.

Community Connect is the leader in online community destinations for US ethnic groups and multicultural audiences with more than 16 million registered members and 500 million monthly page views. Launched in 1997 by a group of technology visionaries, Community Connect has distinguished itself in the social networking space by focusing on both member growth and monetization.  While many sites claim unique visitors, Community Connect generates more revenue and profitability per unique visitor than any other social networking site.  This success is driven by strong organic member growth coupled with a diversified revenue model.

Connectors First:
"A loyal member base, advertising partners who are relevant to the community, and a diversified revenue model are the keys to our success,” said Benjamin Sun, the Company’s CEO and Founder. “We provide the best social networking platform on the web for niche communities providing high member and advertiser satisfaction."

Community Connect began accepting advertising in 1998 and has seen ad revenue grow steadily 36% a year for 10 years. Sun and his team are committed to providing advertising solutions that not only drive results for advertisers, but are also relevant to members. Successful advertising relationships include Verizon, Dodge, Pfizer, Western Union, Cingular, and Volvo. Seeking opportunities to provide added benefits to its members, Community Connect was able to diversify its revenue streams with a diversity recruiting job board in partnership with Monster.com and its subscription based dating service.  

Constant Innovation:
To stay ahead of the curve and continue to lead the way in social networking technology, Community Connect is dedicated to product innovation and expansion into new niche communities.

"As we approach our tenth year and see the growth in the space, we recognize and embrace the opportunity to lead the market through technology innovation and world class user experience," said Sun. “We also recognize the importance of customizing the experience for our audience. We help members who have a desire to express themselves in a culturally relevant way through groups, forums and current affairs relevant to each culture. We continue to develop products and launch new features that meet the needs of our audience."

Recently upgraded features on BlackPlanet.com and MiGente.com include:

  • Enhanced photo management including unlimited photo storage, editing tools, sharing and privacy preferences as well as rating functionality.
  • User-generated news allowing the community to post, rate and comment on events and articles impacting them.
  • Professional networking tools providing new ways for users to connect – establish contacts, find employees and new jobs.
  • New video section, free instant messaging and improved Personal Page tools provide new ways for members to express themselves, share and connect with the community.

Community Connect Properties:

  • BlackPlanet.com is the groundbreaking online community for African Americans. Experiencing exponential growth in its first year, it remains a significant contemporary voice for the African American community, with over 14 million registered members. BlackPlanet.com enables members to explore and stay current on relevant news and information and cultivate meaningful personal and professional relationships.
  • MiGente.com targets English-speaking Latinos. Serving over 2 million registered members, this unique online experience provides an outlet for those who share similar bi-cultural experiences. English-language tools and interactive content focus on vital issues for US Latinos. The content reflects member needs and interests, running the gamut from entertainment news to significant cultural reports. Most importantly, the site speaks to the MiGente community in their own voice, providing a space where they can express themselves and meet one another .
  • AsianAvenue.com, Community Connect’s first social networking site was created to meet the needs of the Asian Community. With over 1 million registered members, the site offers an outlet for expression while developing professional and meaningful personal relationships with people of similar backgrounds. AsianAvenue.com is the leading provider of news and information focusing on the dynamic and vibrant Asian community.

About Community Connect, Inc. As the first online social networking site, Community Connect is a top 50 web publisher as measured in page views by comScore. AsianAvenue.com, BlackPlanet.com and MiGente.com combined have more than 16 million registered members. The flagship partnership with Monster.com allows members to access a variety of employment resources and business networking opportunities. Site members return daily for meaningful dating, building relationships with people of similar backgrounds and interests, and to read about the latest in politics, culture, music, and entertainment. For more information on Community Connect, log on to www.communityconnect.com.