WoW! Wouter over het Web

In the Netherlands there is a elaborate discussion about the involvement of companies in the blogosphere. Marketingfacts has taken Unilever as a case study. Last Thursday an interesting starting Dutch newspaper, NRC Next, had a really interesting example of the installation of a so called webcare team by UPC. UPC is a Dutch cable company that has a really pitiful reputation for service. The UPC webcare team takes part in discussions in the blogosphere, and has the capacity to rectify reported problems etc. UPC did not go as far as Microsoft to rent a top blogger to give UPC a more human face.
Interesting to point this discussion to Google (once again). Google had already for a long time the famous GoogleGuy who reacted on forum discussions and the blogosphere. Later Matt Cutts started its own blog and has organized some really great PR for Google. It is speculated that GoogleGuy and Matt Cutts are the same person. I don't know for sure and don't really care.
On my grumpy post yesterday on the erratic behaviour of Google Blogsearch, there was a prompt reaction from a Google engineer. Yes indeed, there was something wrong on the Blogsearch end of the spectrum. It had nothing to do with the tango from Blogger to Blogger Beta to New Blogger. He will investigate the matter into detail and will report back later. That's great. Jeremy I eagerly await the results.
It is also exemplary how Google tackles this whole complex marketing issue of blogs and virals. Interacting in blogs and forums was not sufficient anymore, so they had Matt Cutts starting his own blog with a strong voice. Matts' blog can also be effective in setting the stage, commanding the discussion, and in the worst case scenarios function as a lightning rod. Thereby is Matt a frequent keynote speaker or attendent of all kind of Search Engine Conferences.
In conclusion the UPC webcare team is not sufficient to improve their image. They are on the right track, but have to take it a step further.

Labels: English