Monday, March 24, 2008

From the Horses Mouth

Here is an interview with Babycenter's own Tina Sharkey (CEO of BBC). It is a very, umm, interesting read. Apparently all "old" moms are dispensable. They must market to the young crowd, because nothing says Babycenter more than promoting babies having babies@@. Those of us who are established is our jobs, have built our families, or are over a certain age are not needed anymore. But really, where do they think their 80% share of the market comes from? Do a poll on any board and the majority of posters are 25-35, the group that seems to be getting the shaft. I never thought I would be to old for a parenting site at 30yrs old, especially since I still plan to have a few more babies. Maybe they think I am to old for that too.

Full Article Here:
http://www.mediavillage.com/jmr/2007/07/12/jmr-07-12-07/#continue

Popular AOL and iVillage veteran Tina Sharkey, who was named CEO of Babycenter last January, advised Jack Myers Media Business Report the company plans to launch a completely overhauled site and name a new ad sales chief in the next two weeks. (Mary Jo Romeo continues to head NY ad sales.) Babycenter.com, which is wholly owned by Johnson & Johnson, captures nearly 80 percent market share in the online pre-natal and early parenting space and hosts more than 250 advertisers.

"The next generation of mothers are already engaged and involved online. They display their belly rings prominently. There is a fundamental seismic shift in how this new generation thinks about motherhood."

"The new site will be designed to engage would-be and early-stage parents..."

Babycenter is preparing to launch the site in China and Sharkey believes much of the company's growth will be spurred by international expansion. Babycenter is currently in 10 countries. Contact Tina Sharkey at tsharkey@babycenter.com.


Thursday, March 20, 2008

Who is willing to fight for our site?

Are you? Are your Babycenter friends? Link them here, pass this on and sign in the comments that yes you are. Let's get a good count of those of us willing to keep fighting for our "home" even with the odds stacked against us. Call it the first petition, strength is always in the numbers!

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Change

Change for changes sake is NOT always good. Sure we need to adapt and change as we grow. Products we love are discontinued, websites evolve. But for the most part the changes are good. This is not a good change, a poster on the Babycenter thread likened it to "New Coke" and we all know how well that went down. I have been to the new boards, and there is something missing there. It just does not have the same feel of the Babycenter we know and love.

Taking something that is different and changing it to fit what everyone else has is not a change for the better. We have choices, if we wanted to be on a site like mayasmom, cafemom, myspace et al. we would be there. Most of us choose Babycenter because it was not like those sites.

Here is a list of Babycenters site sponsors. They too need to know we are not happy about the changes taking place. We are a huge consumer base for all of them so let them know how unhappy we are!

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Saving Babycenter

It may be a forgone conclusion, but at least we can try. We've been given platitudes, we've been patted on the head and told how "it will be a good thing". We have been given answers that are not answers and then are ignored. They have talked themsleves in circles and all for "our own good". Now it is our turn. They either are not listening or just think we will follow like good little moms and dads. But I have seen the power we can be as a community now is the time to use that power to save ourselves.

For those who like to write here are a few address's to get you started:


William C. Weldon, Chairman & CEO

Johnson & Johnson

1 Johnson & Johnson Plaza
New Brunswick, NJ 08933
United States

AND

Tina Sharkey, Chairman

Becky Scott, VP Administration & Finance

Ann Crady, Senior Vice President of Consumer Experience

BabyCenter

163 Freelon St.
San Francisco, CA 94107
United States


Also a post on BBC from Ann Crady, creator of mayasmom, the site the new and "improved" BBC is based on. As you can see from above she has a nice new shiny door plate at Babycenter:
http://boards.babycenter.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?tsn=1&nav=messages&webtag=bcus1313042&tid=581


And if all else fails we need to really get them to listen. They can ignore emails, letters and posts, but they can not ignore real action. I am proposing a BBC "strike" if they continue not to listen or give us any real answers. 24-48hrs of no one posting, clicking or going to BBC at all, that means lost revenue to them. Sometime a threat to the pocketbook is the only way to get someone to listen.

Here is a link to a blinkie you are all free to use!
http://i27.tinypic.com/73mi6p.gif