Corporate Blog Watchers
Corporate marketing and watch-dogging is all over the blogosphere. I knew there was some attempt at making a site look real when it was actually a big advertisement, but I came to fully realize just last week that companies hire people to surf websites and blogs looking for comments on their products.
Last week Auntie L had some unfavorable things to say about Charter’s internet service. A short while later a comment appeared on her blog from Charter HQ offering any support she needed to fix the situation.
Last week I wrote something about Hellman’s Mayonnaise, known as Best Foods out here. By the end of the day I had a reply from best foods on the blog telling me about a promotion they were having.
So is this the new trend? Company image control agents are working by searching blogs and promote their products. This is a sweet job to get paid for doing.
I’m curious if my negative writing about Monsanto and United Way have ever had a company rep wanting to comment on my site and realize that it wouldn’t be wise because I’d go totally crazy on them.
posted by The Guy Who Writes This at 5:45 AM
19 Comments:
I work for a world-class PR firm and YES, this is the trend. People's most trusted source is "someone like me." They don't believe the guv'ment or the spinmeisters of advertising. As ad revenues slip because of DVRs and other avoidance techniques, firms are looking to alternative means to reach the consumer. Great observation.
Funny, Comcast cable never offers to help me when I bitch! I must learn Auntie's secret.
Hahn, it may have been that I put their product name in the title, as in "Why Charter Sucks". Regardless, I refuse to take them up on their offer. They continue to suck and I dont want to participate by cozying up to the suckmeisters because I would only be laying myself wide open for future suckage by their company.
So if I blog about a product I like, but say that it sucks, it could benefit me? :-)
I've done a whole lot of blogging about Kaiser Permanente being evil, maybe someday they'll listen. Or at least offer me a discount.
Oh and my husband loves that Mayo too, he specifically goes to the grocery outlet and dollar stores looking for Hellman's since they often carry brands that aren't usually sold here.
I love Auntie. A real straight shooter.
OC Best Mayonaise is the same as Hellmans. It's the same company and product, but marketed under a different name on the West Coast. As for your health care, you must see the film Sicko by Michael Moore. Holy crap! They are all evil.
I'm still waiting to hear from Tropican about Grovestand orange juice. Maybe that's not the marketing they were looking for.
And it would be nice if subaru sent me a thanks too.
This makes me think I should do a couple of posts about chocolate.
There is nothing Monsanto has to do their evil products are being blindly consumed world wide and they are making record profits. I'm not sure of the exact number by I think about seventy percent of corn seed being used is thier genitically modified seed that is resitant to the Roundup. They don't need any PR because there policies have been favoritized so much by Congress and State AG Deptartments that the most of the public has no clue who Monsanto is.
You should see some of the emails I've received for saying something nasty about a product. In fact, I'll send you the next one. Pretty fucking funny.
Zoe, too funny!!! And forget Subaru because I'm sure the've read about what your dog did to their product already.
Lelo, it will probably be the lower end products like Hershey that have blog spotters rather than Ghiradelli... Sorry
Robb, They sure do suck, evil fuckers!
Syd, please do!
You'd think getting the same thing with a different label would be good enough for my hubby, but it's not. he says it tastes different. LOL
As for your health care, you must see the film Sicko by Michael Moore. Holy crap! They are all evil.
Anybody who believes Michael Moore's movies are anything other than entertainment ... let alone a "documentary" ... should think that web-slinging superheroes exist, and people with mutant powers do battle to determine the future of mankind.
But hey, there's people who believe Al Gore's "global warming" crap ... the loch ness monster is real ... and aliens from another planet find our cows worthy of disection.
It is my opinion that many people view Mikey Moron as a self-serving, opportunist, of a big fat slob, of an S.O.B.
I do not like 'Jorge Bush, el presidente de el norte, any more that any one else.
But to capitalize on a crippled government such as ours (crippled by Bushy) while offering NO SOLUTIONS is criminal.
I have more respect for a used oil filter than I do for Bushy and Moron put together.
In my opinion they are one in the same; self serving chumps.
And Al Media Whore?
Yeah! There is a real fraud....
...uh,, in my opinion. :-;
Lelo, I don't know about you, but low end chocolate is still chocolate, especially when free to appease a complaining blogger. Any port in a storm.
Gearhead, Guy's right!! Are you a long lost Indian whose family moved west? I'm right there with you on everything you said, except probably a bit more angry than you. Us Native Americans tend to be angry about a lot of stuff. Especially the untimely demise of my favorite motorcycle carrying our namesake. Why oh why did I sell it for a song in the 60s????:(
Walt and Gearhead, until you see the film Sicko, STFU. There are serious problems with health care in the US, mostly from insurance companies. Yes Moore does exagerate some points, however the general tone is spot on. My wife and I have both worked in the health care industry and this film tells it like it is.
Nope, not gonna do it. I refuse to stay quiet about a "man" who's films are nothing more than propaganda for his socialist agenda - but which the Left tries to sell as "documentaries".
So our system has problems? So what? Show me one that doesn't. Universal Socialized Medicine? HA! Those systems have more problems than ours. Yet that's what he's trying to sell you.
In my experience (in the healthcare industry), most problems are caused by government regulations.
Actually, you are almost right there, but instead of it being government regulation, it is insurance company lobbyists who donate heavily and now own the government so it is perfectly legal for them to deny payment. Keep your eyes open, this film will have an impact. I wish you could keep an open mind as well. See the film and then let me know what you think.
Since "the insurance industry is the investment bank of the very rich", that makes perfect sense. Looks who actually controls the country through buying/being politicos. As for Moore, his films are pretty good, however, I'd wish his efforts included detailed films of possible cures that will work in the US. The health care in socialized medicine is generally good and fair to all who use it. Those who can wait, do, and those who need immediate care, get it. That's as it should be. As for Gore, I think if he'd concentrate his appearances more on the environment than being a celebrity, more would listen. My complaint about him is mostly that he's a lightning rod that attracts disbelievers who feel obligated to disparage his message because of the messenger. A better spokesman is needed. I'll be quiet now....maybe:)
I have heard from neither the Bush administration nor Wal Mart, so apparently, SH is right and nobody reads my blog. I did think the rate at which Auntie's blog was audited was downright creepy.
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