One major question I like to ask - will Business/Corporate Blogging increase Shareholder Value? And more important - how?
Does it matter? Is it important?
I don’t think we as blogging evangelists will succeed in persuading Boards and Top Management if there aren’t a few low hanging fruits just waiting around the corner. Is the argument about giving the company “A voice” enough? And again - how?
Every listed company is being a subject to certain communication regulations. What can be said, by whom, where and when? When a CEO is going to the media announcing a BIG contract there is an immediately response on the stock markets, so what can they in fact blog about? Reduction in cost’s? Bigger expenses in the R&D department. A new patent pending?
It’s difficult isn’t it?
I think most of the CEO-blogs around are boring. Do they differ from any other weblog besides that there is a little business-flavour in the writing? I don’t think so.
So what is the killer-argument for CEO’s or boardmembers? Please help me out here.
Is it increased Shareholder Value, and how?
Inspired by Trevor and this article and this article.
One Comment
An immediate benefit of corporate blogging is a cost saving in printing and mailing of shareholder information.
Whilst documents can already be posted to a website (and notification given by email) blogs can encourage immediate shareholder feedback and identify potential problem issues.
Yes, listed companies must comply with stock exchange rules about sensitive market information but there’s no reason why companies cannot have “suggestion boxes” for shareholders especially if shareholders know their suggestions will be read by the company and other shareholders.
While many shareholders are only interested in the financial return, their “loyalty” to the company might increase if they felt there was a “community of interest” expressed through a blog.
It is also a cultural issue for the company: some companies are more open and democratic than others, without giving away valuable information.
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