Just out of curiosity; how many corporate blogs do you read? Actually, the number of corporate blogs in my feed is rather limited. While blogging seemed an exciting alternative to the one-way advertising through print and radio – allowing a dialogue with customers perhaps a community of people interested in the activities, the amount of success stories seem to be pretty small. Why would that be? Isn’t blogging just awesome, and shouldn’t every company start doing it to get in touch with their customers? Granted, blogging is not always peaches and cream, actually the chance of a blog backfiring is pretty big, especially if a company doesn’t understand the fundamentals behind blogging. A school example of this is the failed Walmart blog.
How wallmart did it wrong
Wallmart lacked transparency when they launched their blog called “Wal-Marting across America”. The problem was that it looked like a consumer operation at first, a cross county adventure of two anonymous wallmart shoppers. Instead, they were professionals hired by Wallmart, creating a flow of angry customers that realized that the blog was manufactured. Instead, they should have communicated that the blog was operated by themselves, perhaps aiming for a community that actually generates new idea’s for the corporations!
Successful blogs
I believe Microsoft Yahoo and Google have done a great deal in creating a engaging blog, take Microsoft for example:
Microsoft’s port 25 blog
The port 25 blog maintained by Microsoft is actually pretty successful. When they launched the blog – aimed for opensource developers in 2007, their aim was to improve the relationship. The open-source software developers had a environment to discuss their frustrations with the software giant. Microsoft took their blog, monitored criticism and proactively searched for solutions to the issues. opensource
Other blogs?
Do you read company blogs? What companies know how to engage their readers and create a community? Do you read the blog of Twones or Wakoopa? I actually wonder if there are accountants, design offices, government institutions or banks that are blogging their hearts out. Or could it be to early for a real corporate blogging revolution?