With over 100 milion personal and business blogs, and growing daily, blogging is here to stay.
Target doesn't seem to get this. They also don't seem to understand that many bloggers are Target customers, and that they have a powerful global reach with their readership.
Blogger, Amy Jussel of Sh
aping Youth contacted Target, complaining about what she considered a suggestive ad.
This is the response she received.
Good Morning Amy,
Thank you for contacting Target. Unfortunately we are unable to respond to your inquiry because Target does not participate with non-traditional media outlets. This practice is in place to allow us to focus on publications that reach our core guest.
Once again thank you for your interest, and have a nice day.
Her complaint aside, let's look at their response. Core guest? Aren't bloggers customers too? The dismissive tone of this letter has sparked outrage and resulted in at least a few customers voting with their feet.
Target has obviously underestimated the power of the blogosphere and social media.
The story was also picked up by a traditional media outlet, The New York Times. Target advised The New York Times they are "... reviewing the policy and may adjust it.”
Let's hope they do. As a company who has has a strong internet presence and offers online shopping, Target's approach seems outdated. It does not even make good business sense.
- What are your thoughts?
Target is probably right from their own point of view. So far blogging isn't huge commercially - and let's face it they don't care about actual people!
Whether blogging is here to stay, I hope so. I think it could be as important as the printing press. My worry is that it will be taken over by the corporates - what Target and such did to the smaller stores. My hope is that they aren't bright enough to see the opportunity and that we will have been bright enough by the time they do to have organised ourselves in ways that we can fight them off.
Posted by: Evan | January 29, 2008 10:00 PM | Permalink to Comment