Comments on: Naked Conversations: Maybe Your CEO Shouldn’t Blog http://jeffnolan.com/wp/2006/03/17/naked-conversations-maybe-your-ceo-shouldnt-blog/ Jeff Nolan's take on investment, innovation, entrepreneurship and the technology industry Fri, 19 Mar 2010 05:50:28 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Dennis Howlett http://jeffnolan.com/wp/2006/03/17/naked-conversations-maybe-your-ceo-shouldnt-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-550 Dennis Howlett Sat, 18 Mar 2006 01:44:03 +0000 http://jeffnolan.com/wp/2006/03/17/naked-conversations-maybe-your-ceo-shouldnt-blog/#comment-550 Henning would be a great candidate. He's always understood the value of responding to aposite views in a transparent manner- in my experience. Take this offline if you want more detail. Henning would be a great candidate. He’s always understood the value of responding to aposite views in a transparent manner- in my experience. Take this offline if you want more detail.

]]> By: Shaun Shull http://jeffnolan.com/wp/2006/03/17/naked-conversations-maybe-your-ceo-shouldnt-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-547 Shaun Shull Fri, 17 Mar 2006 21:35:42 +0000 http://jeffnolan.com/wp/2006/03/17/naked-conversations-maybe-your-ceo-shouldnt-blog/#comment-547 I believe it depends on the CEO and the nature of your business. If your industry changes at break-neck speeds as the tech industry often does then I think the CEO blogging is extremely beneficial in order to gain more investor trust and positively differentiate yourself from your competitors, then again if your company simply manufactures post-it notes then a CEO blog would probably be pointless. Personally I have gained amazing insight and inspiration from blogging by executives such as Jason Calacanis, Jonathan Schwartz, John Battelle, Jason Fried, Alan Meckler, Ted Leonsis, and Mark Cuban. As far as trust goes I think a blog is a good way to establish a trust that currently isn't there regarding CEOs. Most people perceive CEOs slightly better than lawyers and politicians because they have no voice to the common person; instead their image is developed through a series of press releases, advertising, and a mission statement. A blog enables a CEO to establish a personal bond between himself/herself and the customer/investor, which is never a bad thing. As far as a CEO not blogging due to the fear of conveying too much arrogance or incompetence, I don't think anyone doubts the arrogance of great CEOs such as Larry Ellison or Steve Jobs but we still admire them just the same, now if incompetence is an issue I would say blogging is the least of a company's worries at that point. I believe it depends on the CEO and the nature of your business. If your industry changes at break-neck speeds as the tech industry often does then I think the CEO blogging is extremely beneficial in order to gain more investor trust and positively differentiate yourself from your competitors, then again if your company simply manufactures post-it notes then a CEO blog would probably be pointless. Personally I have gained amazing insight and inspiration from blogging by executives such as Jason Calacanis, Jonathan Schwartz, John Battelle, Jason Fried, Alan Meckler, Ted Leonsis, and Mark Cuban. As far as trust goes I think a blog is a good way to establish a trust that currently isn’t there regarding CEOs. Most people perceive CEOs slightly better than lawyers and politicians because they have no voice to the common person; instead their image is developed through a series of press releases, advertising, and a mission statement. A blog enables a CEO to establish a personal bond between himself/herself and the customer/investor, which is never a bad thing. As far as a CEO not blogging due to the fear of conveying too much arrogance or incompetence, I don’t think anyone doubts the arrogance of great CEOs such as Larry Ellison or Steve Jobs but we still admire them just the same, now if incompetence is an issue I would say blogging is the least of a company’s worries at that point.

]]> By: Alex http://jeffnolan.com/wp/2006/03/17/naked-conversations-maybe-your-ceo-shouldnt-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-546 Alex Fri, 17 Mar 2006 19:50:08 +0000 http://jeffnolan.com/wp/2006/03/17/naked-conversations-maybe-your-ceo-shouldnt-blog/#comment-546 An underlying assumption about CEO bloggers is that they have something interesting to convey. However, most CEO bloggers end up sprouting their company marketing messages and visions, making their blogs another marketing tool filled with white noise. If you are a CEO and you are blogging, think twice. Exposing your ill thought out views may convey more about your arrogance and incompetence than anything else. An underlying assumption about CEO bloggers is that they have something interesting to convey. However, most CEO bloggers end up sprouting their company marketing messages and visions, making their blogs another marketing tool filled with white noise.

If you are a CEO and you are blogging, think twice. Exposing your ill thought out views may convey more about your arrogance and incompetence than anything else.

]]> By: Pete http://jeffnolan.com/wp/2006/03/17/naked-conversations-maybe-your-ceo-shouldnt-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-544 Pete Fri, 17 Mar 2006 17:22:29 +0000 http://jeffnolan.com/wp/2006/03/17/naked-conversations-maybe-your-ceo-shouldnt-blog/#comment-544 Good sentiment but I would say it really depends on how big the company is doesn't it? Many "CEO"s of smaller companies are hapless individuals press-ganged into the job because no sane person - other than a professional CEO - would want to be one. In that case, these CEOs probably should be encouraged to blog. Good sentiment but I would say it really depends on how big the company is doesn’t it? Many “CEO”s of smaller companies are hapless individuals press-ganged into the job because no sane person – other than a professional CEO – would want to be one. In that case, these CEOs probably should be encouraged to blog.

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