Comments on: Fight Fire with Love http://www.marcomblog.com/2006/09/11/fight-fire-with-love/ Marcom - Marketing Communications :: PR/Marcom Pros Mentoring Students Thu, 20 Nov 2008 08:11:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: Stephanie http://www.marcomblog.com/2006/09/11/fight-fire-with-love/#comment-9804 Stephanie Mon, 12 Mar 2007 17:51:04 +0000 http://www.marcomblog.com/2006/09/11/fight-fire-with-love/#comment-9804 The first things that come to mind after reading this post are eBay and Amazon. I think the main reason is because it allows traffic and feedback about items. Some may say they aren't blogs, but it is people's opinions about items. And I think that those opinions can in return hurt a company. I absolutely agree that company executives need to be reading the web for this kind of stuff daily. They should know what people are saying, and not blindly think everything out there is just press releases. People are talking. Mostly about the craziest, most random things. And to think your company isn't being talked about somewhere in some fashion whether it is negative or positive is ignorant. From Amazon to blogs to message boards, opinions are flying around all over the Web. The first things that come to mind after reading this post are eBay and Amazon. I think the main reason is because it allows traffic and feedback about items. Some may say they aren’t blogs, but it is people’s opinions about items. And I think that those opinions can in return hurt a company. I absolutely agree that company executives need to be reading the web for this kind of stuff daily. They should know what people are saying, and not blindly think everything out there is just press releases.

People are talking. Mostly about the craziest, most random things. And to think your company isn’t being talked about somewhere in some fashion whether it is negative or positive is ignorant. From Amazon to blogs to message boards, opinions are flying around all over the Web.

]]> By: Evyan M. http://www.marcomblog.com/2006/09/11/fight-fire-with-love/#comment-9802 Evyan M. Mon, 12 Mar 2007 16:40:18 +0000 http://www.marcomblog.com/2006/09/11/fight-fire-with-love/#comment-9802 Bill, I absolutely love the concept of "fight fire with love". The blogosphere is something relatively new to business, especially those who did not catch the social media bug as early as others. The concept seems so simple, but in the competitive American society, is almost a breath of fresh air. Business seems to be so competitive and it's refreshing to see someone give advice with a different take. People will catch on to the blogoshpere soon...they just have to find the confidence to. Bill,
I absolutely love the concept of “fight fire with love”. The blogosphere is something relatively new to business, especially those who did not catch the social media bug as early as others. The concept seems so simple, but in the competitive American society, is almost a breath of fresh air. Business seems to be so competitive and it’s refreshing to see someone give advice with a different take. People will catch on to the blogoshpere soon…they just have to find the confidence to.

]]> By: Katherine L. http://www.marcomblog.com/2006/09/11/fight-fire-with-love/#comment-9793 Katherine L. Mon, 12 Mar 2007 05:02:48 +0000 http://www.marcomblog.com/2006/09/11/fight-fire-with-love/#comment-9793 Hello Bill, I really enjoyed your post. I am always interested in reading about new ways to view the blogosphere and about its possibilities. I completely agree about making listening a priority when posting your blog and reading others blogs. As a newbie to this business I don't feel like I have much authority or expertise on blogging (yet!) to be sharing with the world. So I've used most of my posts to feel out concepts that I think are important in a kind of "thinking out loud" way. Any advice or feedback that readers can offer me is invaluable. In response to the grocer/butcher situation, I think that the world is finally catching on to the blogging bug, but some are still unsure of how to use their blog to pump up their brand. Grocers aren't your typical brand-management people, but they must confront this negative publicity in order to keep moving forward. They're already ahead of the game by having a blog of their own. Now they just have to show some courage and face their problems head on. Hello Bill,
I really enjoyed your post. I am always interested in reading about new ways to view the blogosphere and about its possibilities. I completely agree about making listening a priority when posting your blog and reading others blogs. As a newbie to this business I don’t feel like I have much authority or expertise on blogging (yet!) to be sharing with the world. So I’ve used most of my posts to feel out concepts that I think are important in a kind of “thinking out loud” way. Any advice or feedback that readers can offer me is invaluable.

In response to the grocer/butcher situation, I think that the world is finally catching on to the blogging bug, but some are still unsure of how to use their blog to pump up their brand. Grocers aren’t your typical brand-management people, but they must confront this negative publicity in order to keep moving forward. They’re already ahead of the game by having a blog of their own. Now they just have to show some courage and face their problems head on.

]]> By: Lauren N. http://www.marcomblog.com/2006/09/11/fight-fire-with-love/#comment-9762 Lauren N. Sat, 10 Mar 2007 17:16:48 +0000 http://www.marcomblog.com/2006/09/11/fight-fire-with-love/#comment-9762 Hi Bill! I really enjoyed your post. I think your idea of "fight fire with love" has been at the core of many of my public relations classes. I think it is another way of saying engage yourself. If a company listens to the negative things people are saying about them, they have the opportunity to put these negative things in a positive light. I think some companies are still using a very old fashion way to manage their brand. This butcher shop is a perfect example. The owners decide to stay silent about the negative publicity and just hope that it passes soon. What this company has forgotten is that this is a new age of technology. Now that the internet and the blogosphere are available to customers, negative publicity could spread like wild fire. As you suggest, I think the best way to deal with negative press is to be proactive. I think it is important to communicate with your public and make them feel a part of your company. If you make people feel included, they are less likely to spread negative publicity. Sometimes negative publicity is inevitable, but I think it is wise to address these issues as soon as they arise. The longer you wait, the more time these rumors have time to fester and grow. Today's world is more connected than ever before. I think every company needs to keep this in mind. It may be painful at times to respond to negative publicity, but in the long run it could mean the difference between success and failure. Hi Bill!
I really enjoyed your post. I think your idea of “fight fire with love” has been at the core of many of my public relations classes. I think it is another way of saying engage yourself. If a company listens to the negative things people are saying about them, they have the opportunity to put these negative things in a positive light. I think some companies are still using a very old fashion way to manage their brand. This butcher shop is a perfect example. The owners decide to stay silent about the negative publicity and just hope that it passes soon. What this company has forgotten is that this is a new age of technology. Now that the internet and the blogosphere are available to customers, negative publicity could spread like wild fire.

As you suggest, I think the best way to deal with negative press is to be proactive. I think it is important to communicate with your public and make them feel a part of your company. If you make people feel included, they are less likely to spread negative publicity. Sometimes negative publicity is inevitable, but I think it is wise to address these issues as soon as they arise. The longer you wait, the more time these rumors have time to fester and grow.

Today’s world is more connected than ever before. I think every company needs to keep this in mind. It may be painful at times to respond to negative publicity, but in the long run it could mean the difference between success and failure.

]]> By: Liz R. http://www.marcomblog.com/2006/09/11/fight-fire-with-love/#comment-9727 Liz R. Fri, 09 Mar 2007 02:03:12 +0000 http://www.marcomblog.com/2006/09/11/fight-fire-with-love/#comment-9727 As I began to read this post, the first thing to come to mind was a term we learned in our intro to public relations class, two-way communication. It is a basic communication and public relations tactic, but if forgotten could be detrimental to an organization. I believe that blogs are a great way to increase an organization’s communication with its publics. I liked your point about using blogs as a way to listen. It is difficult for an organization to meet its public’s needs if it is not listening to their needs in the first place. My only question is, how do you encourage people to visit the Web site and comment on an organization’s blog? Although they visit the site, they may feel that is unnecessary to comment because their opinions will not be heard. Do you know of any ways that organizations can emphasize on their blogs that their comments are being heard? As I began to read this post, the first thing to come to mind was a term we learned in our intro to public relations class, two-way communication. It is a basic communication and public relations tactic, but if forgotten could be detrimental to an organization. I believe that blogs are a great way to increase an organization’s communication with its publics.

I liked your point about using blogs as a way to listen. It is difficult for an organization to meet its public’s needs if it is not listening to their needs in the first place. My only question is, how do you encourage people to visit the Web site and comment on an organization’s blog? Although they visit the site, they may feel that is unnecessary to comment because their opinions will not be heard. Do you know of any ways that organizations can emphasize on their blogs that their comments are being heard?

]]> By: Emily Anne http://www.marcomblog.com/2006/09/11/fight-fire-with-love/#comment-8161 Emily Anne Sat, 27 Jan 2007 00:17:48 +0000 http://www.marcomblog.com/2006/09/11/fight-fire-with-love/#comment-8161 "Your old road is rapidly aging, please get out of the new one if you can't lend your hand. For the times they are a-changin'." - Bob Dylan. Grocery stores like the one hypothesized gains novelty for being everything a grocery store ought to be (mom, pop, butcher, baker, candlestick maker), but no longer is (http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/10/19/business/retail.php). And its dissappointing to me that you have to tell business owners that the days are gone when you fought competitors and criticism with loyal customer and quality products. You've got to hop on the blog bandwagon and snag a consultant for your image and proper rebuttal. Do you think there are any situations or levels of conflict in the business world that are not appropriate for a social media response? “Your old road is rapidly aging, please get out of the new one if you can’t lend your hand. For the times they are a-changin’.” - Bob Dylan.

Grocery stores like the one hypothesized gains novelty for being everything a grocery store ought to be (mom, pop, butcher, baker, candlestick maker), but no longer is (http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/10/19/business/retail.php). And its dissappointing to me that you have to tell business owners that the days are gone when you fought competitors and criticism with loyal customer and quality products. You’ve got to hop on the blog bandwagon and snag a consultant for your image and proper rebuttal.

Do you think there are any situations or levels of conflict in the business world that are not appropriate for a social media response?

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.marcomblog.com/2006/09/11/fight-fire-with-love/#comment-6031 Anonymous Sat, 14 Oct 2006 19:18:36 +0000 http://www.marcomblog.com/2006/09/11/fight-fire-with-love/#comment-6031 <strong>Blogs as listening posts</strong> How blogs may be used to track and attempt to manage an organization's reputation. Blogs as listening posts

How blogs may be used to track and attempt to manage an organization’s reputation.

]]> By: Virginia http://www.marcomblog.com/2006/09/11/fight-fire-with-love/#comment-5982 Virginia Thu, 12 Oct 2006 17:05:24 +0000 http://www.marcomblog.com/2006/09/11/fight-fire-with-love/#comment-5982 I feel so sorry for the butcher. All he wanted to do was increase awareness of his product, and it brings in more criticism than business. When you were talking about asking questions in your own blog, did you mean surveying the bloggers or just simply asking questions of them? I am currently in a Survey Research Methods class in school and am learning all about the usefulness of a well-written survey. I think this would be another suggestion for the butcher to use. I feel so sorry for the butcher. All he wanted to do was increase awareness of his product, and it brings in more criticism than business. When you were talking about asking questions in your own blog, did you mean surveying the bloggers or just simply asking questions of them? I am currently in a Survey Research Methods class in school and am learning all about the usefulness of a well-written survey. I think this would be another suggestion for the butcher to use.

]]> By: BillFrench http://www.marcomblog.com/2006/09/11/fight-fire-with-love/#comment-5932 BillFrench Tue, 10 Oct 2006 22:42:05 +0000 http://www.marcomblog.com/2006/09/11/fight-fire-with-love/#comment-5932 You're welcome Amy. Here's another somewhat relevant post on the "Voice of the Customer" idea... http://activerain.com/blogsview/Listening-to-the-Voice-of-the-Customer-?944 bf You’re welcome Amy. Here’s another somewhat relevant post on the “Voice of the Customer” idea…

http://activerain.com/blogsview/Listening-to-the-Voice-of-the-Customer-?944

bf

]]> By: Amy http://www.marcomblog.com/2006/09/11/fight-fire-with-love/#comment-5926 Amy Tue, 10 Oct 2006 21:12:55 +0000 http://www.marcomblog.com/2006/09/11/fight-fire-with-love/#comment-5926 This is an interesting concept that you bring up, to use blogging as a tool for listening rather than simply speaking. Typically, blogs are used to express the opinions, thoughts and views of the author. It had been brought to my attention long ago that blogs could be used to gather information about the concerns and wants of a particular target audience, but I assumed that would be done through reading their blogs. For some reason it never occurred to me that it could be gathered by using my blog to provoke them to make comments. This way, the audience comes to you. Obviously they are already interested in what you have to say because they are reading your blog. Why not use it to ask questions and encourage them to respond so that you can become well informed of exactly who your audience is and what they want. Very interesting! Thank you! This is an interesting concept that you bring up, to use blogging as a tool for listening rather than simply speaking. Typically, blogs are used to express the opinions, thoughts and views of the author. It had been brought to my attention long ago that blogs could be used to gather information about the concerns and wants of a particular target audience, but I assumed that would be done through reading their blogs. For some reason it never occurred to me that it could be gathered by using my blog to provoke them to make comments. This way, the audience comes to you. Obviously they are already interested in what you have to say because they are reading your blog. Why not use it to ask questions and encourage them to respond so that you can become well informed of exactly who your audience is and what they want. Very interesting! Thank you!

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