MediaJoltz

I will write about my hiatus later, but for now, here is my ode to Richard Bliss:
Richard Bliss VP of Marketing for GWAVA, a Novell partner, has an amazing mind. He gets it. He understands the need for businesses to get content and information to their clients/customers AND be accessible for questions, comments and feedback on that information.

I was watching a news report about how the political campaign leaders have been stumbling this year with how much they AREN’T able to control. Take for instance the 1984 Hillary video “Vote Different.”

It was quite a while before anyone even knew who put the video together! Now you’ve got blogs, and wikis and tons of conversations online that can’t be controlled. The report then went into how this is the case for all marketers alike-how they are scrambling because they don’t know how to deal with the influx of conversation that isn’t being channeled THROUGH them.

Richard isn’t freaking out though. His eyes light up when he talks about how cool it is to spread the word about projects, conferences and events. Meetings or conversations with him leave my head hurting-in a good way. He has so many ideas that he wants to try that I have to make sure I record the conversations we have so I can remember everything he has planned!

The difference between Richard and most marketers right now is that he wants to TRACK the conversations, see who is saying what and encourage more, not CONTROL it. I have heard so many people say “but if I put a blog on my company website, I might get negative comments about my company.” I can tell you right now, if you get negative comments on your blog, there are negative comments all over the internet. At least on your blog it is your turf, and you can respond and start putting that PR department to work.

By monitoring the online conversations people are having with each other, we can find out the truth about how people feel about our business/product. And by starting a company blog, a company wiki, and being IN the conversations, you are allowing yourself to be accessible to your client/customer which makes them feel like they can get to know you better, and be more loyal to more than just your brand, but to you yourself. You are also STARTING conversations and provoking thoughts that might have been left otherwise.

Richard is using all outlets of the web to try and spread the word, start conversations and allow people to talk back. His blog: BlissPoint Blog talks about marketing, overcoming fears and what he is up to with GWAVA. His blog allows comments-or I like to call it feedback. The GWAVA TV Channel shares content streaming 24/7 and has a chat room for you to talk about how you feel. He is also on LinkedIn and has dabbled in Twitter and has his own YouTube Channel too. As a client of GWAVA, you would have no problem finding out what is going on with the company on a personal level.

I think this is an excellent example of how companies need to embrace the online world. This doesn’t mean to stop using traditional methods, but adapting new ones and merging the two. Richard understands the importance of using all outlets and taking hold of all opportunities to expand communication to anyone who wants to listen. Way to go dude!

Posted in New Media, conversations, twitter, marketing, GWAVA, GWAVA TV |