The Latino Presence Online is Increasing!

Being that the number of Latinos on the web is increasing, there is an eminent need for content gearing towards Latino readers. Lets face it, we all want to feel at home as we navigate the web. We had an opportunity to catch up with Julio Varela, an established writer and editor, twitter strategist, and avid blogger who is an expert at writing content that Latino’s enjoy reading.

Interview with Julio Varela

1. Who is Julio Ricard Varela??

Born in Puerto Rico and raised in both San Juan and the Bronx, Julio graduated cum laude from Harvard University in 1990. He started his career as a Contributing Reporter for The Boston Globe before joining publisher Houghton Mifflin as a Bilingual Editor. In the last 19 years, Julio has developed some of the top Reading/Language Arts and ESL programs for millions of learners in the nation’s public schools.

2. How important is it to have “street cred” in social media?

It is all about “street cred” and you can easily attain in social media by being yourself and consciously helping others with no expectations. If you are not real and authentic in social media, you are just wasting your time.

3. What brought you into the social media movement?

In 2008, I decided that my talented brother, Fernando Varela, need to be heard by people. His voice is amazing, and I truly believe he will be a global star. I decided to promote him on social media, using Facebook and Twitter. We hit Twitter right before it caught on. Pure timing and some luck.

4. The number of Latinos using social media is growing. What does this mean? Where are we headed as a cyber community?

Online Latinos, if they realize that social media is about supporting and collaborating with others, will be able to move mountains and impact positive change in our society. I am blessed to have met so many wonderful people through #LATISM and Being Latino. Every day, the connections I make are so valuable and real. Latinos have the potential to be THE leaders of the cyber culture (we are already a force on Twitter), only if we spend more time sharing and supporting others and less time worried about how to grow out own social profiles.

5. What brought you to create http://juliorvarela.com/

I created juliorvarela.com as my online home because I wanted to not only promote Fernando’s amazing talent, but also share my interests to my readers: #LatinoLit, social media, issues impacting the online Latino world, and online fiction. I also use it to share my current novel in progress: FRANKY BENÍTEZ.

6. What is Latino Lit?

#LatinoLit is an online community that I created with Charlie Vázquez that promotes the online world of Latino literary talent on Facebook and Twitter. We wanted to celebrate the amazing accomplishments of authors like Esmeralda Santiago and Luis Alberto Serra, as well as new voices like Margo Candela, Raul Ramos y Sanchez and Silvio Sirias. It is a place the shares and celebrates. We are also proud of sharing new works by new voices.

7. How has social media worked for you and your platforms?

Social media IS my platform. I am humbled by the reaction we have gotten on Twitter and Facebook by just being ourselves. I think that is so cool.

8. What is the best way to connect with people using social media? What do you recommend for the rookies?

Join Twitter and Facebook. Connect with #LATISM and Being Latino. Also, don’t be afraid to form real relationships. Share, share, share, and talk about others. Don’t just talk about yourself. You would be surprised what will happen when you do that. Also, engage with your network. Have fun and don’t just think that people will visit your links because you post it. It takes time and a lot of hard work.

9. What can we do to engage, empower, and inspire Latino youth? How can social media help?

We can all discuss issues that impact Latino Youth, such as education, immigration, and economics. We can actively search for these profiles and ask them how we can help them spread their message. We can blog about these issues and make it our social responsibility.

10. What would you like to see more of on the internet?

I would like to see more sharing and collaboration on the Internet and less self-promotion. Believe me, no one cares about your links. They care if you are a real person that wants to help and give. That is what the Internet should be. Always.

11. Whats next for you? Any new projects?

I continue my full-time job as Editorial Director of Reading for HMH, and I am excited about what we are doing in the area of educational technology. Latino learners have always been dear to my heart. I want to make a difference in getting them high quality educational projects. When I am not working, I will continue to promote my brother Fernando (18K Facebook Fans and 50K Sonico Fans), launch FRANKY BENÍTEZ in September, and blog about the topics that are important to me and my readers.