The Walmart RV’ers side of the story

by on October 16, 2006

This is why I’m as transparent about my life as absolutely possible. And, what’s wrong with getting attacked for what you’re putting out there? I worked for a company that was attacked all the time. What did I do? I linked to those attacks.

The PR lesson is: be transparent! Explain your biases up front. Where your funding is coming from.

Hide that, and you’ll give your enemies something to use against you.

  • Got a real smart 3G phone in the mail last week, much as I really wanted to keep it (and I did) I had to send it back.
    pay per post,free gifts, sponsorship its all the same thing.
    Its removes my independence and makes me feel as if I have to comment positively.
  • Interestingly, no response from Edelman's Rubel. As Rubvel has long been a proponent of transparency, I'm curious to see how he spins this.
  • Pat, is it really ALL the same? It seems to me the phone you got should have no strings attached. The fact that the sender hoped/assumed you'd comment positively in no means puts you under obligation to do so. Your negative comment is a risk the sender assumes when giving you the phone. In my book, they should only take that risk if they are confident of the product's own merit, not because they think the fact that you're giving it away will earn them favor.

    Sponsorships and pay-per-posts on the other hand involve BOTH parties agreeing beforehand on what is expected from each other. At the least, they are contractual in nature, if not actual contracts.

    You were sitting there and a phone showed up. That should put you under no obligation to praise it.
  • otoh
    So what's the problem with the Walmart RV'ers? They have a big 'sponsored by' graphic on their site now, and frankly, they seem to be really nice people.

    I've stayed in Walmart parking lots too -- and I also think that it is a great thing that Walmart does. It means when you arrive somewhere late, you don't have to drive all over town looking for a spot, especially if you plan to simply sleep for 6 hours and then start again...
  • It said right on the blog "Sponsored by Working Families for Wal-Mart" Who did you think that was? Wal-Mart is laughing in their boots right now. Just more free publicity from the blogosphere lynch mob.
  • marcosv
    I personally dislike WalMart for taking over the world while messing up wholesalers and those who can't compete with this big box store.

    But, I do think letting RVs stay over night is a nice thing for those who are traveling around the country.

    Why aren't other companies doing the same? Is it a liability issue?
  • You gotta tell this to mr. Micropersuasion and his boss Mr. Edelman: they blether about me2 revolution and produce fake blogs. PR can't be transparent: it is all about depicting something that does not exist...
  • Christopher Coulter
    give your enemies something

    Heck, they gave their FRIENDS something to use against them; really takes not much talent, just a big helping of outright hypocrisy.
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