Why a blog and why now?
Communispace needs a clearer voice! We’ve done a good job of sharing our experience with clients, but we haven’t done as well getting our ideas and opinions ‘out there’, despite our $1MM annual budget for research. Traditionally we have used our press outlets, white papers and studies, but a blog is the best way for us to start a real conversation with customers. Also, we want to add to the conversations already out there, and we are going to be as open and original as possible.
Are you excited to have a voice?
Oh, it won’t just be my voice. We’ve got about a dozen employees who will be blogging, and I agree with the opinions of about half of them (just kidding, just kidding).
Who do you want to read your blog?
Anyone and everyone. We’re all living in transformational times. We want to connect to others with ideas: small companies, individual players, academics, large corporations, you name it.
Do you feel that you have a lot to say to large corporations?
Actually, I think large corporations know a lot more than people give them credit for. Our clients are mostly large companies and they are amazingly adventurous and creative. We hope some of them will be guest bloggers because they are inspirational.
What’s the most interesting research your team ever did?
That’s a tough one… This year, we won an ESOMAR award for Best Paper for our work in creating trust and engagement in an African-American community. And we got great coverage for research we published on engaging Hispanics online. There was also a lot of buzz when we found that small is the new big: that in a community of 4000 people, fewer people participate than in a community of 400.
What’s the biggest myth about Communispace?
Some people think we’re a small start-up with a team in a basement. Actually, we have 210 amazingly talented people with a wide variety of backgrounds. Our people are a huge part of our success.
You are really passionate about Communispace, aren’t you?
Of course, but especially these days because it’s a terrible time for companies to lose touch with their customers.
What are your other passions?
Baseball! I have a collection of signed baseballs, and binders of cards for every team since 1983. We have a lot of fans at Communispace. We all love customer data – and I suppose we love baseball because it’s a data-rich sport.
You are also on Twitter ( @communispaceceo).
Oh yes. It’s one big virtual cocktail party, and I am learning a lot, including how to use Twitter in our clients’ communities.
Why are you looking sideways in your photo?
I was talking to Rocky Prozeller, our Youth Expert (and one of our bloggers) about the latest episode of 24. That topic always gets my attention.
Any final thoughts? Lessons you’ve learned over the last decade of working with communities?
As I recently told Aaron Strout for his blog, Citizen Marketer, I’ve learned that:
- Community size (number of members) is overrated as a metric
- It’s not an impression if it doesn’t make one
- It is amazing what people will tell you if they think you are willing to hear them
- Listening is a really underrated marketing strategy.
- My daughters have no desire to be my Facebook friend.
Diane,
Welcome to the show. I look forward to following you and your team.I am going to try to document your success as a CEO. One of the few CEO’s rolling up her sleeves and really engaging with her customers, partners, peers and fellow employees. I have maintained that the CEO’s greatest strength in the Social Media world is to be humble and available. The serendipitous business will present itself just from not acting like a traditional CEO, but by acting like a real human and conducting business with the rest of us meer mortals in a social way.
Good luck & best wishes on your new venture! As I said, I will be sure to blog about your success down the road.
Derek
Congratulations on the new blog! Love what guys are doing and looking forward to reading more about it here.
Thanks to Twitter (and Jackie) for pointing me here. I love what you’re doing (blogging) and the approach (multi-author). Keep at it and it’ll be the one of the best new things you did in 2009. Congrats!
Jim | @jimstorer
Derek, Jackie and Jim, many thanks for the positive words. I think we’re late on launching a blog. I resisted it because I thought most blogs were “monologues”, which is certainly not what the world needs more of. So, as we move on, I’d love your expert feedback on how we can create something here that is true conversation.
Diane, this is a really great idea…..amazing the way that ‘customer insights’ have changed consumer interaction, business plans etc…..we love the way you and team have built Communispace and know that your model will continue to change/improve marketing on all fronts….talk soon. Wilma
Hi Diane-
Great job getting this going. I hope the communications with your customers, interested observers, fans, and other community members are rich and long-lived!
Given Communispace’s affinity for baseball (ref. the conference room where you host MTLC meetings, for example), I can’t help but think about “Opening Day” analogies!
Best of luck,
mg
Diana! Good for you and your team. It is not easy starting and maintaining a blog. You are to be commended on your thoughtful and graceful entry. I am one of those people you know from Twitter and find it enjoyable to learn/read a bit more about you and your team and your combined thinking. Let’s hear it for putting it out there and being willing to learn and listen to feedback. By the way, I have three daughters and only one (the youngest) is not comfortable with me as a Facebook friend. The other two induced me to participate — must be an age thing for they are ending their teen years so don’t give up hope with your daughters. Onward!
This must be prescient. I schedule our interview and you start a blog.
Good luck on the blogging face of Communispace.
Sean @seanmoffitt
Nice to see this launch Diane. Let me know when you’re ready for the flip video cameras and a youtube account!
Wilma, Mike, Suzanne, Sean, Owen — There is nothing that makes me smile more than COMMENTS on our blog. The thought of having this be a “next-generation newsletter” with no interaction just makes me crazy. Thanks for taking time out of your busy day to read what we have to say and to leave your thoughts.
Hi Diane,
I am a fan of your company and work and am writing to see if you might be interested/available to speak to my Stanford Class on “Web2.0 and Its Business Applications”, Summer Quarter. If it is of interest, I would be glad to send you more information on the class and other speakers. Thank you. Robin Stavisky, Instructor, Continuing Studies Program
Robin — Send me more info about your class and I’d be happy to look at my calendar!
This is fantastic move and will greatly expand the Communispace brand. Also, showcasing the talent on your staff will help those of us on the outside peek into your culture.
I love your passion. I love your hustle. And I look forward to learning more.