For our client thriv, we have been teaming with influential athletic bloggers to test out apparel, garner consumer feedback, and help us spread the word.

In the first 7 months at retail, we’ve had a lot of fun, learned a lot about how we can better serve love athletes, and we’ve built great relationships. (More on that in a future post.)

We have been blown away by the insights, community-building, and athletic know-how these bloggers share on a regular basis. One blogger we appreciate love, MIzFit, recently published a compelling post “Do the companies you love…love you back?”

With Great Power Comes Great Responsibilty
To me, this post is a elegant challenge to advertisers. MizFit is pointing out that the transparency of the web creates new opportunities for companies to connect with and delight consumers.  Companies that ignore those opportunities are eventually ignoring their consumers, or perceived as such. Opportunity has become expectation. Consumers are taking lack of “love” personally, and I think it’s justified.

Advertisers, marketers, and organizations, take note of some of the below reader comments (there are 70+ comments), and ask yourself,  who do you “love”?

“With the economy the way it is today I need to watch and spend my money only with companies who value me and my dollars.”

“I feel unloved when company won’t even respond to an email!”

“I expect a great deal or so I’ve been told yet I reward the companies with brandloyalty and word of mouth.”

“I will spend more money on companies who treat the earth well.”

-Denise Gass