An Important Conversation About Conversations

March 16, 2009 · Comments

battery life The Wall Street Journal reported that AMD blogged about laptop battery life, namely that various claims of time estimates aren’t especially reliable. Nigel Dessau, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for AMD wrote about it here on his blog. The story is interesting in and of itself. I’m writing this on a MacBook, where the battery life is forever suspect and uncertain.

It’s what Sylvie Barak at the Inquirer reports that makes it more interesting: Intel says “There are many ways to measure battery life. We believe the best way to determine how to measure battery life is by making proposals and debating it in industry consortiums and not via blog post.”

The article by Barak is a bit heavy on smackdown against Intel. You might get a more measured piece from Engadget (but not by much). And as a quick bit of disclosure for all sides, let me say the following: I am friends with some folks at Intel like Ken Kaplan and Bryan Rhodes, to name a few, and I am also friends with many folks at AMD, and might take on some project work for AMD over the next few months about social media and Internet marketing strategy. What’s most interesting to me is the notion of whether or not corporate blogs that face the customer (be that B2B or B2C) are the appropriate place for conversations about business matters.

Announcing a Flash Summit at SXSW To Discuss the Issue: Monday, March 16th, at 4PM Central Time

I asked AMD if they could come to a flash summit at the Pepsico Podcast Playground area on the first floor of South By Southwest (SXSW) and be part of a conversation with many other corporate bloggers, as well as other social media types. (Another quick disclosure: Pepsico is paying me to make some media there in general, but they sure didn’t sign up for this. Thanks to Bonin Bough for letting me steal the space for an hour.)

I will be seeking out and inviting bloggers from Intel, FedEx, Dell, Nokia, Best Buy, GM, and any other corporate social media types, as well as anyone else who wants to be part of a discussion about this point. Bloggers and media makers of all kinds are invited to participate in the experience, and to hear what matters in the realm of corporate blogging.

Not Intending to Disrupt SXSW

There are other events going on at SXSW at 4PM, and the people who put those panels together are very passionate and eager to connect with you. It’s not my intention that you shift plans away from the many great presentations that have been prepared for and scheduled by passionate speakers and thinkers. If you are a SXSW speaker and are on at 4PM, I’m sorry for any unintentional disruption. It wasn’t meant with disrespect.

If You’re Available, Please Participate

The goal of this experience is to talk about how corporations use social media, but then it’s also a chance to think about what you (in this case, “you” equals me and you and everyone when we’re on the “customer” side of the wall) want from interactions like blog posts and the like.

Will you join me?

Photo credit Stuart Frisby

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  • I'll be there Chris. Thanks.
  • I wish I am somewhere near... But I am not... Enjoy yourselves there! And keep me updated in this blog. :)
  • Chris,

    Wish I could be with you and the guys from AMD in TX. For the record, I think what AMD is doing by embracing its customers by allowing a free and open dialogue with the people that impact decisions in the technology industry is going to strengthen thier position, and make them a stronger company long term.

    Blogs make all the sense in the world for corporate/consumer interaction. I would love to see it continue, and I think as it catches on, more customers will embrace this interaction as well.

    Cliff
  • Re "What’s most interesting to me is the notion of whether or not corporate blogs that face the customer (be that B2B or B2C) are the appropriate place for conversations about business matters."

    The answer is its probably not. I would suggest however like many large corporates they misunderstand the medium - my experience generally is that large companies generate considerable self belief in their ability to utilise many different routes to market, often to the point of self delusion we're big so we must be right, and of course they're not - always.

    A slighly different slant on this is do we care? At least on this subject. Well personally only to the extent that I can rely on the message which says 22% available 17 mins.
  • That sounds interesting! I'd like to tap into that brain trust as well to find out what some of them might be doing with social media in the future. (And of all the years for our department to have no conference budget) ;) Looking forward to reading your updates.
  • Chris, please do update us on the "key take-aways" from this Flash Summit, in a follow-on post. Thank you.
  • Melissa - Cisco
    Chris - great panel. It was a great mix of industries. I wish there had been more time to really delve into a few topics. I thought the panelists really set forth the importance of authenticity, transparency, listening and personality as the baseline for successful corporate blogs. The "thought" that I'm still mulling over is the one that (not an exact quote) the wisdom of the crowd may not always be right...but, neither is the wisdom of the board/corporation. It's the interaction of the two that can surface the real wisdom (to a thoughtful listener).
  • @Laurence, There are definitely things that are discussed and are not discussed in the social media playground. The bottom line is that large companies are finding that not only did the web empower folks to talk back, bitch, and evangelize, but that they could utilize the tools to the same degree as the consumer to talk back and engage.

    I am working on a project for Best Buy called Remix. We are talking with developers, creatives and social media types to build upon our new Remix API. I can't honestly think of a better tool set to do this. The panel discussion with Chris was fun, but what I found most refreshing was the level that my co-panelists "Got it".

    You are right, most companies don't get it but the tide is changing. Chris is a pioneer in helping companies understand this space. Education is #1!

    @Benson (or anyone else)- Feel free to tap into my brain trust any time. @KeithBurtis
  • Chris, it was well worth my time attending today. I got a lot out of it. Best part, was when they all gave their nuggets of advice at the end.
  • It was great to be a part of the conversation about conversations. (Kind of like being in a live action MC Escher Painting). There should be more things like this - as a brand, getting together, talking, brainstorming, and evolving eventually helps out all of us because, in the end, we're all consumers.

    Thanks again!
    GeorgeGSmithJr
    Crocs, Social Media
  • Chris,

    This is one (wow...of several) great gather I couldn't make it to, as I got pulled away at the last minute. You're a great educator and seem to be everywhere at the right time. You're a great example, and we need trusted, inspiring pioneers like you to keep moving ahead...then look back when you and share your take. We're learning more and getting better at using the tools, but things keep changing ever faster. So hold on to that integrity and participating.
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