What Blog Identity Do We Portray?
Written by WishBoNe on July 22, 2008 – 12:09 pm
We have come a long way since the start of using blogs to record our thoughts. When someone is known by the real name in the online world, things can get ugly or good. It has been made known that a name is identified and he/she is blogging constantly. The updates can be about anything in the personal blog but often, the identity is linked to the company that this person is working at.
We somehow link to the company having a blog when the company’s blog already has an official blog while this person is just voicing out the thoughts and opinions. This leads to ugly blog wars. Hence, Ignorant Soup has a question and some thoughts of how to learn from mistakes.
A finance consultant has a blog about investments and he declares he is working for a certain company. At times, he will introduce ways to invest and will mention his company’s schemes for the people. Does that make him a blogger for his company or himself? He could be mentioning the schemes as he feels they are the best after making his personal comparisons among similar schemes.
I have never declared the companies I have worked for online. I don’t wished to be accused of doing any free publicity when all I have done is to vent out my frustrations that I can never tell the bosses directly. I don’t want to be named as someone who is against the company when I am not.
I am not sure if I still want to reveal myself online after all these sagas. 2 years and the thinking is of a 2 year-old child. Utter disappointment.
Tags: Blog, Career, Work
Posted in Blog, Career, Life, Privacy, Technology, Web, Work | 2 Comments »
My take is a little different from yours. My points of assessment goes beyond the title and employment status. Hope you don’t mind me sharing my views here.
1. Between an insurance agent and an insurance broker, the way their views are being digested is starkly different. Singaporeans generally can’t differentiate between the two. The agent, works to ensure best benefits for the insurance companies. The broker, works to ensure best benefits for the customer. If both are to start their blogs, which do you think will be more likely seen to be doing self-promoting?
2. Given published records of an individual who frequently promotes the employer’s services (and some actually hide their shareholding interests), most would read it without even raking up a rukus. Especially if a business is heavily dependent on bloggers relationship, there is this thing called Conflict of Interest. The real problem comes in when readers are unable to see when you are promoting the services under the disguise of “personal blogs”… and in the event that such an act is being conducted, it is deemed to be misleading or deceiving consumers. Many individuals I have spoken to and presented the case, close to 100% feedback to me… yea, they seriously can’t tell given the grey area.
Can I do self-publicity for my employer in my personal blog? Certainly, all I need to do is add in a disclaimer “These are my personal thoughts”. But if my underlying motive is to disguise, would you know? You wouldn’t either.
3. This is perhaps one of the most visible reason why despite such a saga, the many corporate people who are also reading are not wanting to say anything.
4. I have 3 examples to share… both marketing related.
Example 1: When XX first came up with offensive posts which turned off quite a lot of people, sponsors and advertisers were reportedly withdrawing from her site. Can we say it’s XX personal blog and sponsors shouldn’t withdraw their endorsement?
Example 2: When Edison Chen broke loose with his sex scandal, advertisers and film companies promptly dropped him. Can we say it’s Edison’s personal sex life and advertisers shouldn’t take actions?
Example 3: When Sharon Stone used one single world on China’s disaster… Karma… her advertisements and films were quickly banned in China. Can we therefore say, it’s her personal opinion and the professional works shouldn’t be put under scrutiny?
I think these are real life examples of Conflict of Interests and it will be a big mistake if anyone feels ethical business conducts should be banished just because we have move into the Web 2.0 age.
Businesses should always be very careful with participation because rules are being re-written everyday in a new baby like social media. Afterall through the saga, perhaps it’s a blessing that we can witness the differences between personal beliefs and professional beliefs.
@Ed
I don’t read too deeply into such stuff as I get confused just trying to things straightened out but there is a point in advertisers wanted to be out of sponsoring those who have bad image. Advertisers don’t want to be known as “the one who sponsored Edison Chen his shoes” instead of being known as the one where the shoes are of good quality.
Disclaimers can be useful but they do have to be used in each post so that readers won’t forget that it’s just your personal thoughts on the matter. However, one must be cautioned about letting one is working for so and so as most companies may not like to be declared in blogs as blogs have not been known to have good reputation.
Conflict of interests is of utmost importance to companies, that I agree.
Thanks for sharing your views on it.