GM is headed in the right direction.
This year in Detroit we added “blog relations” to our traditional media relations activities during press days at the North American International Auto Show. GM invited, and paid for, travel to the Motor City by some selected blog writers from mostly non-automotive blogs. They write about such things as trends, safety, energy, environment, design, and parenting. We exposed these writers to a major auto show — some for the first time in their lives — to learn what kind of influence they’ll have with regard to GM and its products. Time, and the measurements we’ve undertaken, will give us some answers.
More companies need to engage bloggers. Invite them into their close walled compounds. Allow them to take part in the community. I think its a win win for consumers and companies who are honestly looking for good feedback. Here’s a great example of how to engage bloggers in a no strings attached fashion.
Host a Bloggers Party
Include In House Bloggers and Community Bloggers to have quality discussions about what you are doing.
There are lots of other great ideas floating around the blogosphere. The key thing is most companies don’t have it figured out. From monitoring to engaging in conversation. To many companies are relying on traditional PR companies. And those companies simply don’t get it.
Originally posted on January 13, 2007 @ 6:41 am