Pros And Cons Of Corporate Blogging

Chuck Zimmerman

I get sent great information from some good friends like Steve who’s been a great resource and guide as ZimmComm plows through the blogosphere.

Here’s an example that contains a link to a great article you’ll find worth reading:

Chuck:

When we first started talking about blogs and their potential for businesses and corporations, I cautioned that they can be a double-edged sword.

I found a really good article on Fortune.com that explores both the upsides and the risks of corporate blogging.

http://www.fortune.com/fortune/technology/articles/0,15114,1011763,00.html

I strongly urge you to read this very comprehensive piece. It gives specific, useful examples of how companies can do this wrong and how they can do it right. It’s not as easy as it looks at first glance.

Steve

Thanks Steve. You have offered great advice. I hope I can repay it someway.

Uncategorized

1,547 Reporters Sent John Deere Talking News Release

Chuck Zimmerman

Yesterday I had a chance to show Barry Nelson, John Deere Public Relations Manager, how Talking News Releases work. He decided that his announcement today would be a good chance to try it out so . . .

John Deere had a press conference this morning. I recorded audio from each of the representatives quoted in the release. Those sound bites were edited and converted to mp3 files which are on our web server. Those files are then linked to in the release itself. We then emailed the release to reporters in the 31 soybean growing states. Those reporters not only have the release now but 8 different sound bites they can put on the air!

You can see the release here: John Deere Release

Isn’t that simple? And now John Deere’s release went to many new reporters who have the information they need for their medium. That audio can also now be used for other purposes and projects!

Agribusiness

Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns

Chuck Zimmerman


New U. S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns speaking to corn and soybean growers in Austin, TX at the Commodity Classic. I should have audio from his press conference later. Right now I’ve got to work on a Talking News Release for John Deere that needs to go out to reporters still this morning. Posted by Hello

Commodity Classic

In The General Session

Chuck Zimmerman

I’m in the opening general session here at Commodity Classic. Leon Corzine, President, NCGA, is speaking about re-energizing rural America and how important farmers are to that growth.

Next up is Neal Bredehoeft, President, ASA. Neal is now talking about accomplishments of the soybean industry and the Asian Soybean Rust problem facing growers this coming season.

Coming up soon is our new Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Johanns. I’ll record his statement at his press conference later and provide a link to it by lunchtime.

This morning things kind of got started out with a press conference by Monsanto. They were there to talk about some new research that has found that a corn rootworm variant now has somehow adapted and learned that it can lay eggs in soybean plants since the field will be planted in corn the next year. So it kind of lies in wait. Pretty scary huh?

Next press conference was with John Deere who was presenting information from some research they did in South America about the most effective way to spray fungicide on soybean plants to treat Soybean rust.

As I’ve been typing Secretary Johanns was just introduced. He’s telling Nebraska jokes now and talking about his first political campaign.

Time to head back to the newsroom. If you want to know what Johanns comments are today come back later to listen to his press conference.

Commodity Classic