Comments on: Thoughts on recent Business Week article on IWOM in China http://www.seeisee.com/sam/2008/06/15/p556 China IWOM Blog A China-focused blog on BBS, blogs, net culture, IWOM and running a company Tue, 05 Jan 2010 01:30:14 +0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.3 hourly 1 By: Charles Edward Frith http://www.seeisee.com/sam/2008/06/15/p556/comment-page-1#comment-86 Charles Edward Frith Tue, 17 Jun 2008 02:48:30 +0000 #comment-86 Just as an addition to Jan's comments I'm migrating to Apple from P.C. after a ten year hiatus and I've noticed that every piece of software I've installed has come through seeking advice from 'my' community on the net except for iWorks which came through work. Just as an addition to Jan’s comments I’m migrating to Apple from P.C. after a ten year hiatus and I’ve noticed that every piece of software I’ve installed has come through seeking advice from ‘my’ community on the net except for iWorks which came through work.

]]> By: Jan Van den Bergh http://www.seeisee.com/sam/2008/06/15/p556/comment-page-1#comment-85 Jan Van den Bergh Sun, 15 Jun 2008 11:09:27 +0000 #comment-85 The reality – and that’s a worldwide phenomenon- is that consumers worldwide are becoming more powerful. And their voice/vote measurably influences other consumers to buy or not to buy. Consumers turn to sources they really trust to make buying decisions. Experienced friends, family members, colleagues, neighbors, reviewers they ‘meet and read’ by accident on the web are among these trusted sources. Brands will (have to) slowly adapt to this new environment. Not by spinning or hire spinners. But by over-deliver. By improving both their products and service and rely on fans who positively and actively recommend. Strong brands have always been strong networks of people who have positive experience with the brand and actively communicate about that. The web reinforces that potential. Also in Business Week you could find another great proof (Apple) of the persuasive power of recommenders: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_19/b4083036428429.htm The reality – and that’s a worldwide phenomenon- is that consumers worldwide are becoming more powerful. And their voice/vote measurably influences other consumers to buy or not to buy. Consumers turn to sources they really trust to make buying decisions. Experienced friends, family members, colleagues, neighbors, reviewers they ‘meet and read’ by accident on the web are among these trusted sources. Brands will (have to) slowly adapt to this new environment. Not by spinning or hire spinners. But by over-deliver. By improving both their products and service and rely on fans who positively and actively recommend. Strong brands have always been strong networks of people who have positive experience with the brand and actively communicate about that. The web reinforces that potential. Also in Business Week you could find another great proof (Apple) of the persuasive power of recommenders: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_19/b4083036428429.htm

]]> By: Michael Netzley http://www.seeisee.com/sam/2008/06/15/p556/comment-page-1#comment-84 Michael Netzley Sun, 15 Jun 2008 08:34:32 +0000 #comment-84 Hi Sam, Great post. I am another who gives Businessweek a pass, so thank you for pointing this out to us. It would be fun to take a shot at writing up an overview of China's blogosphere in ten pages or less. Though imperfect, something like that might generate some good at a time when much of the world is paying attention to China. Hi Sam,

Great post. I am another who gives Businessweek a pass, so thank you for pointing this out to us. It would be fun to take a shot at writing up an overview of China’s blogosphere in ten pages or less. Though imperfect, something like that might generate some good at a time when much of the world is paying attention to China.

]]> By: Charles Edward Frith http://www.seeisee.com/sam/2008/06/15/p556/comment-page-1#comment-83 Charles Edward Frith Sun, 15 Jun 2008 04:28:20 +0000 #comment-83 And just to get the debate going here is what I've posted over on Newsweek because the two points I've raised are ones that CIC might suggest cannot be put succinctly in a post on China and the internet. - Maybe a book though. "Its also the case that the Chinese view the internet as a less trustworthy news source than state controlled media. Chinese people largely want state control of the internet from recent research and it's this contradiction where the complexity of China and the internet lies." And just to get the debate going here is what I’ve posted over on Newsweek because the two points I’ve raised are ones that CIC might suggest cannot be put succinctly in a post on China and the internet. – Maybe a book though.

“Its also the case that the Chinese view the internet as a less trustworthy news source than state controlled media. Chinese people largely want state control of the internet from recent research and it’s this contradiction where the complexity of China and the internet lies.”

]]> By: Charles Edward Frith http://www.seeisee.com/sam/2008/06/15/p556/comment-page-1#comment-82 Charles Edward Frith Sun, 15 Jun 2008 04:24:21 +0000 #comment-82 I'm a prolific reader prefering a cornflakes box on a table to reading nothing but I skip on Newsweek when boarding a plane. Not because its a 'bad' publication but because as you describe, the overall complexity, tone and dynamic of the internet in China appears to have been lost in their article. I'd argue they do that for all their content. (Probably unfair as there are always terrific writers/editors on even less then stellar publications). I’m a prolific reader prefering a cornflakes box on a table to reading nothing but I skip on Newsweek when boarding a plane. Not because its a ‘bad’ publication but because as you describe, the overall complexity, tone and dynamic of the internet in China appears to have been lost in their article. I’d argue they do that for all their content. (Probably unfair as there are always terrific writers/editors on even less then stellar publications).

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