DISQUS

Dick Kusleika · 2 years ago

Re Transparency: So don't talk about the future. Transparency doesn't necessarily mean tipping your competition or promising the world to your users. Transparency can also mean talking about the past. Telling me how you decided to put 1 million rows in Excel is just as interesting as telling me what's coming in the next version. Telling me about the decision to make leather interior standard on this year's car is just as interesting as telling me what you're doing for next year's model. People are interested in what goes inside Microsoft and Toyota and Boeing and etc. Whether it happened six months ago or six years ago. It doesn't have to be trade secrets and future plans. Even if you realize this, transparency is still hard, but it's manageable.

Toby · 2 years ago

Sean - thanks for the shout out and your kind words about Diva Marketing. I would also add to your list - many people consider social media to be a credible business strategy. If they saw value other concerns would be addressed as strategy was developed. We've come a long way .. but still have miles to go.

Sean ODriscoll · 2 years ago

Thanks for the comments!

Great point Dick, I totally agree. There is a big opportunity to include your users not just in the decision process, but in informing them of how or why you made the decisions you did. They may or may not agree, but understanding the reasons is key to building trust through transparency...great addition to this...Thanks!

sean

Mukund Mohan · 2 years ago

At a previous company, few select people were allowed to blog. Obviously this created a new seperation of "haves" and "have nots". The rules were not arbitrary, but there was a general fear of "who knows what they will say?".

Most companies are worried about the "perception" of their brand than any other item including legal. Its a nuance on your quality point, but it is a valid concern that can be addressed.

Sean ODriscoll · 2 years ago

It is a fair concern, but you are right, it needs to be addressed. You remind me of a discussion at a company once where they talked about hiring contigent resources to start blogging as a way to create buzz - of course our response was NOOOOO! The big part of the value of the company blog is the credibility and the consistency of the personality behind it. Contingent come and go by nature - if you are going to do it as part of a business strategy - you need to commit to it long term.

sean

Corrine · 2 years ago

A lot depends on the nature of the company. Look at Microsoft, for example, where I believe blogging has had an incredibly positive impact. What you say about Legal is true that it has to be the toughest obstacle. There has to be training on what information can be provided so there isn't inadvertent disclosure of details that would jeopardize intellectual property rights.

Last evening my friend Bill Pytlovany (WinPatrol) wrote Bits from Bill: Are Bloggers Protected as Journalist?. Should companies be concerned about libel suits resulting from an inappropriate "slip of the tongue" by an employee in a company or company-supported blog?

Another aspect to consider is the ramifications of an employee blogging on a non-company sponsored blog during company time and using company resources.

Sean ODriscoll · 2 years ago

ha ha...like my blog:)

I read the bits from bill...interesting issue. Lots here to be tested. I'm proud that msft has taken and an aggresive, pro-blogging stance. But it is not without its risks and depending on your company/industry it might be more or less tolerable. To your point - training and planning are necessary. I will always argue from the position that it is net positive and legal needs to be involved in setting guidance on how to blog vs rigedly standing behind a "thou shalt not blog" position.

sean

Enrique Dans · 2 years ago

Hi Sean! Thanks for dropping by my place! I just translated parts of the article into Spanish and added my own experience about it - I'm a professor in a Spanish business school and also also sort of an evangelist about corporate blogging in Spain, so I happened to understood your four points pretty well... You are absolutely right, I've experienced each and every one of them! :-)

Sean · 2 years ago

Enrique: check out http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/communities/mv...

Here you can search for all MVPs in Spain. You might be interested in connecting with some of these outstanding local community leaders. You can read a bit more about them at that site and here: http://communitygrouptherapy.com/2007/03/07/mic...

Sean