The difference is that businesses are in fact in relationships with their customers. Even at its most superficial level there was an exchange made which necessitated an interaction, and by extension, at least a momentary relationship.

And the smart business people look for ways to enhance those relationships. For one thing it is much less expensive to keep a existing customer than it is to find a new one.

Jim rightly pointed out in his post that people appreciate a glimpse of the humanity behind the company. Blogging done correctly can help with that in a way that traditional corporate communications cannot.

And that’s not at all to say there isn’t a place for traditional PR communications. There certainly is.

But it is a different tool with different purposes. When you mock a blogger for their casual writing on their blog the way you did, well, as Jim said, you don’t seem to understand business blogging.

For the record, there is no “new paradigm for business communications.” That is a myth devised by people who could not cut it with the accepted standards and laws for business. The fact is; this isn’t about your sexual orientation or your feelings Chris; I don’t want a relationship with you; and frankly I don’t give a damn what you think. Business is about money.

- Amanda

PS I am not responding to this post anymore. I do not hold out any hope for your kind.

You’re not learning a thing. You make my point.

Ciao,

- Amanda Chapel

And I would suggest that many folks who read blogs without commenting actually do read, appreciate, and learn from the commenting that goes on.

You say that you don’t want conversation, that it has no value. Yet here you are coming back for more. I find that contrast rather interesting.

If I understand your previous comment correctly your world consists only of those who agree with you, those who disagree, and psychotics. There’s no room for an exchange of ideas from different perspectives that leads to a mutual increased understanding?

It’s not “ironic;” it’s coincidence. And I asked you not to tell me.

With regard to dialog, its value is TOTALLY overrated. The true demographics of the “conversation,” you so proudly promote, are what you need to learn about. Ninety percent of one’s audience doesn’t want to participate (DOES NOT!). Of the remainder who do: 3 percent are of “like minds;” 5 percent are chronic complainers; and 2 percent are total tinfoil-on-their-heads psychotic. Bottom line: the like minds stuff is an exercise in self gratification. The remainder is an exorcise in shear insanity.

Again, “don’t ask; don’t tell”… I don’t really want to know you personally. I don’t really care! I am being kind.

Regards,

- Amanda

I get the feeling you prefer one way conversation to dialog. Too bad. Me, I find I learn a lot from the many really smart people out there who are willing to share what they know.

What happened to “Don’t ask, don’t tell”?

I know you desperately want to tell me. Don’t.

- Amanda

I ran into a similar line of thinking when I was in the military. There were some who believed you couldn’t be a good leader if you ever showed your human side, had a sense of humor, and weren’t a hard case all the time. “The military is serious business,” they’d say.

I didn’t agree with them then. And I disagree with Amanda now.

Excuse me, first step away from the Kool-Aid. Okay, for the record, you spent 800 plus words adding very little to what you had said in 38: “I know that Amanda may be a high priced PR person in the big city, but this attack on the CEO of a competitor can only mean one thing to me, Amanda Chapel does not understand business blogging.”

Fine.

Here, now let me add a little reality to the mix. This is NOT about you and Aedhmar getting to be chummy somewhere over a cup of coffee. Forget for a moment that she’s the CEO of a major company talking out of her ass. Let’s just say she’s the spokesperson for a company that not only holds itself out as experts in communications, but one that sells that expertise at a premium. That’s not just hypocrisy you’re endorsing my friend, that’s fraud! You wanna go have coffee with a fraud and chit chat about your little blog and how fun it is to play business and have “conversations” with Rubel’s Flaming All Boys Choir, go ahead. If that is your definition of “business blogging,” you are absolutely right; I find that profoundly problematic!

Listen bub, business is a serious business.

Sincerely,

- Amanda Chapel