Comments on: Pay Attention to GM This Week

By: dcy0588136

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By: dcy0588136

dcy0588136 — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 01:42:19 +0000

By: Brandividual In Action: Follow @cbarger to watch General Motors transform — Authentic Organizations

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 17:30:55 +0000

[...] illustrate what makes brandividuals effective. Now, thanks to Christopher Barger (and a hat tip to Chris Brogan for the idea) we can watch how a brandividual helps an organization and its stakeholders handle a [...]

By: Pam Lukas

Pam Lukas — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 12:56:48 +0000

Interesting that you commented that you'd like to see how well GM does with the social media thing, and to see how well they may communicate through it to us. To me, living in Michigan, seeing firsthand the devestation (think your 1:10 ratio is a bit low-ball), these people, my friends, don't care if GM twits or tweets or is on facebook or Google or what ever; they have no jobs. They have no internet access, they have no wireless toys to listen to someone at GM profoundly say things like … well, I can't remember the last time anyone at GM said anything profound. My friends are out scrabbling for their LIVES right now, mostly blue-collar ghosts lost in the horrific Michigan overloaded welfare machine… and in no way shape or form give 2 hoots about anything that GM says or does at this point.
Wait – unless it was “Sorry, this was all just a big joke, you can all have your jobs back, and we will also pay our bills to our suppliers!!!”
Reality check. Of course GM is going to put their best face forward to you when you arrive, they know they were going on display to the people who follow what you say. I am sure you were wooed just like any normal marketer would do; albeit in a slightly different, more accessable way. To me, being raised in a GM family, and also from just being born & raised in the Motor City, these companies all knew years ago they needed to change; but they chose not to. Their woo-ing abilities are among the best in the nation. Question: Why do you think Detroit does NOT have a viable mass transit system? Indocronated in us from children was the fact that we had to have our own car. Conversations on the deck of the Titanic, indeed. Ok, off soapbox. Thanks!

By: Sharon Hearty

Sharon Hearty — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 08:41:16 +0000

Effective, integrated & relevant communications is at the heart of every business for both the external and internal audience. In today's world there are so many tools to reach everyone you need to. GM will have to engage a plethora of comms tools to manage the messages out there and demonstrate that they have all the other operations stuff in line that makes a business work & if they can be honest, transparent and in the mood to connect with the audiences then SM will certainly be an integral part of the mix. Following how they manage their holistic comms will be interesting and worth the follow.

By: cplamann

cplamann — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 23:59:10 +0000

Very interesting post (and comments), Chris.

The point that I'd like to make in response to those that have downplayed the importance of social media in the GM restructuring is that whether we, as taxpayers, like the government's response to GM's situation, this administration is not going to let it fail - I mean really fail.

And so I think it is important to look to restructure more than just the capital structure. I know timbergman made the point that marketing shouldn't take precedence given the slew of other issues GM needs to deal with. Fair enough.

But I would also say that finances aside, one massive challenge GM faces is convincing consumers that they can make cars that those consumers actually want to buy. In other words, once their financial house is in order, what are they going to sell?

And here's where social media can play a crucial, and cost-effective, role.

No offense to Lucerne owners out there, but I'd like to see the focus group data that led to its development. This is just one example of the "what were they thinking" type cars that are largely responsible for GM's current sad state of affairs.

So what's the answer? I would argue that customer relationships can play a big role here. Why not continue the social media efforts and focus on understanding what the younger demos are looking for in a car while revamping the GM image in this important market segment? Social media is made for this type of interaction.

I'd let CNBC report the financial restructuring particulars while making an honest and consistent effort to engage consumers through social media.

I think Chris's point that we can see how committed companies are to social media during the tough times is absolutely valid. I'm interested to see how committed GM is to changing their ways once they come out of bankruptcy. In my view, excluding social media would not be a good sign.

By: Joe Mescher

Joe Mescher — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 21:32:30 +0000

Chris,

I was born in Detroit and lived in Michigan until graduating from Michigan State University...

GM needs to integrate the idea of "Social Media as a Small Town" into their very existence in order to survive and thrive.

By that I mean they need to engage customers in real, honest, straightforward conversation both in their large media campaigns, social media efforts, and day-to-day customer relations.

Anything less and, well, let's just say they get one bailout and leave it at that.

General, here's wishing you a brighter future. Now get to work and don't stop fighting for the CUSTOMER.

Cheers.

By: courtney benson

courtney benson — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 20:34:54 +0000

Just hope that the old saying “as gm goes, the market goes” does not apply

By: Robert

Robert — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 20:25:31 +0000

I am a bug fan and long time reader of your blog chris i frequently pass it to my crew over at CostaRicaHQ., appreciate that you are writing about GM, I believe it will have a big social impact and its interesting reading everyones thoughts, keep up the good work, cheers.

By: Chris Brogan

Chris Brogan — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 16:40:57 +0000

I want them to succeed. I see GM as a huge chunk of the economy that's holding up several other chunks. I can't see how people are eager to let it collapse, knowing that for every 1 job lost at GM, another 10 jobs in the non-GM infrastructure fail. That means catastrophic unemployment.

You want to just juggle that? My guess is you're not thinking deeper about the macro-economic concerns. I'm not a math guy, but I am able to grasp the 1:10 thing really well.

My post said essentially this: if you REALLY want to see whether GM is doing social media, pay attention to how they face this big issue.