Comments on: Flogging a Dead Blog

By: Isabel Walcott Hilborn

Isabel Walcott Hilborn — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 16:37:01 +0000

Edelman’s Report Card…

Certain of my friends have been asking me for input about the Wal-Mart/Edelman thing, since I consulted to Edelman last year as they were developing their Word of Mouth Marketing capacity (no, I never advised on the Wal-Mart account!). I’d…

By: CT Biz Blogs » Blog Archive » The Wal-Mart blogging boo-boo; Edelman responds

Thu, 19 Oct 2006 00:38:24 +0000

[...] One thing I found fascinating about all this is how well trackbacks worked to help stitch together pieces of the conversation. Following the trail from both Rubel and Edelman’s blog, I found a wealth of sound insight. For PR folks, it’s well worth taking the time to read the blogosphere’s take. For example, I completely agree with Ian Delaney, who astutely writes … [...]

By: Ian Delaney

Ian Delaney — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 12:34:42 +0000

I don’t think I’m saying I’m OK with this. In fact, I’m saying “only a f*cking idiot” would do it. Whoever let it happen will probably pay quite a stern penalty, whether that’s Laura’s brother or his managers. My point in mitigating Edelman is that it was probably not a Machiavellian plot to deceive consumers with every level complicit, it was more likely someone’s silly mistake.

Also, like Joseph says, the blog was about travelling around and meeting funny people, not how wonderful Wal-Mart is. In fact, you could take the presence of the ‘working for american families’ badge on the site as an implicit signal of the sponsorship. I would.

The apologies could be a bit stronger, to be sure.

By: Simon Collister

Simon Collister — Tue, 17 Oct 2006 21:26:19 +0000

I am surprised that so many bloggers who champion openness, honesty and transparency seem ok with this.

True they owned up, but most emphasis at the moment seems to be: “well done. they owned up.” they’d be pretty f*cked across the board if they didn’t! What were people expecting…. a falt denial? IT’S SOCIAL MEDIA PEOPLE.

I’ve spent weeks of my life trying to explain it’s about being honest, disclosing issues and interests…etc… although it now seems it’s ok to not do that as long as you give a glib one liner if you get caught: “ooh, my bad…. but we really do think the WOMMA guidelines are good!”

Honestly.

By: Market Sentinel » Blog Archive » Edelman fakes a blog

Market Sentinel » Blog Archive » Edelman fakes a blog — Tue, 17 Oct 2006 20:38:13 +0000

[...] All the more surprising then that Edelman should do something as dumb as a blog which purports to be from a member of the public, but actually is from their own team. Richard Edelman has now apologised. This kind of trick is really damaging to a brand, because it erodes the very thing they are trying to reinforce, which is the value of their word. How can I believe you on what you say about your policy on employment, or local sourcing, or whatever it is I am sceptical about, if you are capable of this kind of thing? Ouch. [...]

By: Wal-Mart PR Firm Apologizes for Flog » Webomatica

Wal-Mart PR Firm Apologizes for Flog » Webomatica — Tue, 17 Oct 2006 16:22:59 +0000

[...] Here are some more opinions on the subject: twopointouch (negative), Scott Karp (about corporate desire to control everything), and an interesting post about this situation’s effect on the blogosphere (when corporations want to apolgize, they contact Robert Scoble?!). [...]

By: Webomatica

Webomatica — Tue, 17 Oct 2006 16:20:17 +0000

Good post. Yeah, maybe not too negative now that I re-read it, but the language in point a) threw me off.

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By: Ian Delaney

Ian Delaney — Tue, 17 Oct 2006 10:00:25 +0000

You are quite right, Joe, that there are far more important things to be upset about. No one died, broke the law or got preganant. And on a 1-10 scale of deception, it’s 2-3. I think it’s the irony of the situation that has made it so compelling (unfortunately for Edelman).

By: Joseph Hunkins

Joseph Hunkins — Tue, 17 Oct 2006 06:24:10 +0000

For the reasons you note about Laura’s comments and the fact that if they’d indicated “Our idea, presented to Wal Mart, was then sponsored by Wal Mart” everybody would write this off as blog biz as usual.

Mike Arrington, a fine and ethical guy, writes about his companies all the time. He does a better job of disclosing his interest, but he also is blogging more directly about biz deals and their implications. WalMarting was talking about singing fests and funky people. I’m just not convinced this was the ethical breach most bloggers seem to be ranting about.