Could blogs save Sony from slaughtered goats and rootkits?

Sony fans, the famously secretive company is extending a hand. For the first time in the conglomerate's history, it has begun blogging as it seeks a much more open exchange of information with customers.

In the past month, Sony has launched two blogs. The most recent came Tuesday with the debut of a blog from Sony Electronics. The company's PlayStation unit began blogging about a month ago.

Corporate blogs are designed to build stronger ties with customers and have been around for years. For Sony, a blog might pay additional dividends. For instance, the electronics giant could learn in advance that customers might consider it in poor taste to promote a videogame with half-naked dancing girls and a slaughtered goat, or might balk at paying $600 for a videogame console, or might downright revolt if their computers are exposed to rootkits.

Why did it take so long for Sony to reach out to customers? Sony follows such cutting-edge tech companies as Ford, General Motors and Maytag.

One has to realize that letting go of information has never been one of the company's strengths, say analysts.

"Blogging is a huge step for such a closed-off company," said Josh Bernoff, an analyst with Forrester Research. "This eliminates some of the barriers between the company and its customers"

Written by Rick Clancy, who runs corporate communications for Sony Electronics, the blog will feature the usual fare. Clancy will highlight where the company is winning, such as high definition technology, Bravia televisions and digital imaging. The company will also post moderated comments from readers, according to Clancy.

"It will give us the real-time feedback of what Sony customers want," Clancy said.

But Sony should be careful. Google found out two weeks ago that being too talkie on a blog can backfire. A Google executive who disliked Michael Moore's Sicko wrote on one of the company's blogs that the search engine could help defend the healthcare industry. After a wave of criticism, Google was forced to admit "We blew it."

[dondarko]

LOL

"cutting-edge tech companies as Ford, General Motors and..." is extremely humorous. We're talking about companies that make cars that get 10 mpg in the city and 20 on the highway while their global counterparts are getting 6 or 7 times in efficiency.

I let Maytag slip b/c they do know what they are doing in their line of work. But they sure are pricey.

[K.P.C.]

I got no problem with . . .

. . . half-naked dancing girls at promotional events ;-)

Keep in mind that that event was held in Europe.
Topless beaches - Steamier TV commercials.

Could do without the bloody goat carcass though.

[npkgardens]

Sony: The Worst Corporate Model Ever

Why does Sony suck? Because in their effort to protect their empire, they have no consideration for harm they may cause to their customers. Rootkits aren't the only example; I have purchased several PC games that contained copy protection so severe that when a CD gets any kind of scratch or blemish, the disk will not work and the money I spent on the game is wasted. What did each of those games have in common? They were produced by Vivendi Universal, a Sony property. Even worse, you get programs like Starforce, that install system level drivers that change how your CD drives work without them explicitly telling you. Sure, it's covered in the EULA, but only vaguely and in passing.

And Sony has always had this proprietary attitude that says, "We are the only ones that have what you want, so like it or lump it." Guess what Sony? There is a free market where I spend my money, and NONE of it will be on your products.

Should I try to post this on their blog?