Corporate reaction to blogging September 21, 2006
Posted by uknetmonitor in Uncategorized.add a comment
Just picked this up from The New Statesman. A poll conducted by NOP World Consumer in March last year found that 50 per cent of bloggers express opinions about a company or product at least once a week, while another survey, for Hostway, showed that 77 per cent of online consumers viewed blogs as a useful way to get insights into the products they were looking to buy. With all these opinions reaching their customers, companies felt like a boxer attacked by thousands of children - staggering from tiny blow to tiny blow, unable to hit back but sure that, at some point, damage was being done.
Should companies let people know they are monitoring? September 21, 2006
Posted by uknetmonitor in PR, blogs, companies, corporate reputation, public affairs, reputation, stakeholder.add a comment
Clients frequently ask whether or not they should let people know that they are monitoring what is being said in weblogs, chat rooms, discussion forums, newsgroups and so on. There are a number of pro’s and cons of letting people know you are monitoring:
PRO’s:
- It means your organisation is open to dialogue with its stakeholders, is listening, and is transparent (something for your CR report);
It shows that your management is professional enough to be alert to the gorwing influence of the internet - enhancing corporate reputation.
CON’S
- This may inhibit (or provoke) what people say, distoring the true picture of your reputation;
You risk turning discussion boards into customer service departments as people expect replies to their posts;
Of course, if you don’t disclose that you are monitoring web activity, then you are open to accusations of spying - particularly on what colleagues are saying.
For further information or advice go to our website at UKNetMonitor.
