Effective Internet Presence: Now required for success in business and life
What No One Ever Tells You About Blogging and Podcasting, Real-Life Advice from 101 People Who Successfully Leverage the Power of the Blogosphere
Microsoft Blogs but Apple doesn't
Microsoft blogs - big time. Over 3000 bloggers, about 5-6% of all Microsoft employees, with full support from management.
Yet Apple, with its stellar reputation, does not allow blogging. Yes, they have The Masked Blogger among others, Apple employees who prefer to keep their jobs hence they blog anonymously.
Robert Scoble puts it somewhat forcibly, yet accurately:
Here’s a question for Apple’s PR: what happens when only anonymous employees can blog? Hint: your PR will be controlled by anonymous people!
Shel Israel asks "Why do loyal employees have to blog anonymously?"
And Shel Holtz says he's no dumping Apple, "Apple loses a customer."
Me? I'll just point out that although Evil Empire often has refereed to Microsoft, Apple seems to fit the title much closer these days.
Of course Apple can do what they'd like, but they are missing the big picture, and opportunities in the near future.
As Andrew Ferrier noted recently, IBM is also fully behind employee's blogging efforts, and a number of us are very happy about that ;-)
http://www.new-destiny.co.uk/andrew/blog/2006/10/15/corporate-identity-alignment-and-blogging/
Posted by: andyp | 17 October 2006 at 03:57 AM
I agree with the basic thrust of what you're saying, but it's important to remember that Apple isn't permitting anonymous employees to blog either - they just do it because they can. It's a subtle but important point - Apple's aim to is to control PR through their PR department, and to be fair that's their decision to make. I just suspect it won't entirely succeed in the way they want.
Posted by: Andrew Ferrier | 17 October 2006 at 07:39 AM
True, Apple can do what they want, it's their company and their policies, but it is surprising considering Apple's (eroding perhaps) reputation.
To think they can control their PR however, well maybe a little bit. But in my opinion it's a short sited "solution."
Posted by: Ted Demopoulos, Blogging for Business | 17 October 2006 at 09:29 AM
Agreed.
I think your link for Robert Scoble is wrong, btw.
Posted by: Andrew Ferrier | 17 October 2006 at 10:20 AM
I have a personal interest in pointing out the front-page feature on blogging on ibm.com right now ;-)
Posted by: andyp | 18 October 2006 at 05:26 PM