Tuesday, October 6, 2009

American to launch BlackAtlas.com

American Airlines said Monday that it plans to launch later this month a social networking site, BlackAtlas.com, aimed at African-Americans.

The site will feature discussion boards and blogs on which users can share pictures, video and travel stories and tips, along with rating and recommending businesses and travel destinations. BlackAtlas will also feature video blogs and commentaries on travel by author and film maker Nelson George.

American spokewoman Stacey Frantz declined to reveal how much American is spending on BlackAtlas. In an interview, she said the goal of the site isn’t so much generating revenue as “building brand loyalty in the African-American community.”

American, a subsidiary of AMR Corp., has recently begun using social networking sites to woo specific demographic groups. In a first for the company, American recently began using Twitter and Facebook, along with old-school media such as television, print and radio, to target Hispanics.

Frantz said American is using social media to get the word out about BlackAtlas. “We are deeply involved in talking to bloggers and Tweeters” about the site, she said.

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