Wal-mart Launches Brand Image Modification Operation # Zillion

To change its brand image from huge money-mongering business as well as to become closer to “the people”, Wal-mart has started a blog written by employees. Yes, you heard me correctly, Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) is trying yet again to be friendlier.

But wait. This time Wal-Mart says it’s different. This blog is not written by executives, public relations people, marketers, human resources staff or a third-party consultant. No, this blog is written by Walmart buyers and merchandise managers, and it’s called Check Out.

In a quote from an article on the New York Times website, Nick Agarwal, a Wal-Mart communications official said of the new Wal-Mart blog, “We are real people, and that gets lost in the to and fro of business. It puts real personality out there in a real conversation.”

So what do we think? I have to say, it looks like Wal-Mart is actually trying to jump on the social media bandwagon with an understanding of what does and doesn’t work. The company has had prior failures to help them figure it out, and they appear to have actually taken notes and made effective changes. Wal-Mart’s Check Out bloggers are actually allowed to say what they think without being censored. At least, that’s what Wal-Mart claims, but it appears to be at least somewhat true as many posts are quite negative. Will the lack of censorship continue or will Wal-Mart make the classic Corporate America mistake of getting in their own way?

Let’s wait and see. Predictions?

Photo source: Flickr

Tags: Wal-Mart, Wal-Mart blog, Walmart Check Out blog, Walmart social media, Walmart online marketing, Walmart employee blog