Don't let people say silly things about your company
Yes I mean it.
Your company.
I read the blogosphere, and often see articles on some feature or product that has been launched. Then I follow the comments. You get the normal AOL bashing, some people who like it, some people who bash and have never used the product being reviewed. All the normal stuff.
But Frank Gruber set an example for me last year. When he spots these comments, he follows up with a comment and (if possible) contacts the person who wrote the it. Often the comments don't have contact info or use real names. But if they do, Frank will email them as follow up. And the response is normally good. If Frank can do it (as busy as he is), so can we all do it.
The latest blog that struck me was this article "Yes, People Still Use AOL" on Silicon Alley Insider. The first comment was negative, the third was negative.
If you spot these, a nice follow up comment can go along way to help change people's minds.
Yes I mean it.
Your company.
I read the blogosphere, and often see articles on some feature or product that has been launched. Then I follow the comments. You get the normal AOL bashing, some people who like it, some people who bash and have never used the product being reviewed. All the normal stuff.
But Frank Gruber set an example for me last year. When he spots these comments, he follows up with a comment and (if possible) contacts the person who wrote the it. Often the comments don't have contact info or use real names. But if they do, Frank will email them as follow up. And the response is normally good. If Frank can do it (as busy as he is), so can we all do it.
The latest blog that struck me was this article "Yes, People Still Use AOL" on Silicon Alley Insider. The first comment was negative, the third was negative.
If you spot these, a nice follow up comment can go along way to help change people's minds.
Comments
When we bought our computer at Best Buy, the contract was for MSN for two years, so while MSN sat in my computer being unused til the contract was up, I used AOL... I now have DSL with with SBC, but I pay extra to continue to use my favorite, AOL....
Linda :)
Although anonymous comments are frustrating, it may be better to stop going after silly commenters and start focusing on changing experiences like this:
http://velocipeek.com/2008/01/25/why-aol-struggles-still/
It may even sway silly comments--eventually.
Eric
My favorite is when a blogger will write an entire post about a product without ever having used it. It flabbergasts me that there are people in the Internet business that cannot keep an open mind to change.
http://www.vinayahs.com/archives/2008/01/14/lame-advertising-aol-mail-we-burn-cash-by-marketing-services-which-no-one-uses/
Cheers,
theregoesdave
http://theregoesdave.com
Speaks volumes for this product. And AOL leadership in general.
https://domains.aol.com/personaldomain/app/domainHomeSearch
See the rules/ Basically, pick a cute subdomain and get free e-mail (I have no problems with this one)
-or-
"7. Can I use my domain for web hosting?
If you use the "Bring your Own Domain" option, you can use any hosting company you like while using AOL mail.
If you choose the "Popular Custom Domain" option, AOL is administrator for the domain so you will not be able to host a website at that domain."
Problem is that the page didn't say that for the first few months of its existence. It in fact promised full and free domain functionality for whatever domain name you picked.
So, I picked a domain name and waited, and waited, and communicated with AOL employees via blogs (since there seems to be no other way) asking when would the web hosting functionality be provided. Any day, now... REAL SOON... and all of this was before the layoff rumors.
I think it's bait and switch. I'm glad I didn't pick a domain name that was very important to me, but a friend to whom I recommended the service did. So, I'm not so up on AOL any longer.
you take pride in and are passionate about.
until Randy and Bewkes kick your ass to to curb and make you an "employ" no more. This is more about them than it is you.
You guys are smart, I can tell (no snark there). I don't want to talk this out over email. I think its silly that you make a point to reply to the voice of dissent on blog comments in...2008. But I do admire you sticking your neck out there given the odds.
The MS bid for Yahoo kind of made all things AOL that more irrelevant today. As I said, you are smart guys and should be building things on trains that actually have momentum.