The First Post...

So, I thought I would start as I mean to go on and talk about the world of online communications. To many, including most corporate PR departments and CEOs, the new wave of internet communities is something of a puzzle. Everyone is on them (Twitter, Facebook, myspace etc etc) but how do you tap into these communities to add value to your company’s brand or enhance your own reputation?
The first lesson to learn is that you are no longer in control of your reputation. It doesn’t matter how many press releases or adverts you churn out, the deciding factor in how you are viewed by the world is what people are saying about you. A recent Edelman PR survey found that people are most likely to trust information provided by someone like themselves. PRs featured at the bottom of the list nestled between estate agents (realty agents for you US readers) and Fox News Anchors. So the challenge now facing companies and high profile business leaders, is how to engage with stakeholders who recognise and instinctively distrust corporate spin.
This is a topic that I will be returning to in detail over the next few months.