Two companies are in trouble. One, HP. One, Ford.
But look at how Ford is handing its trouble. With video. With candor. With transparency. This is investor relations for the YouTube generation. I’ve been watching Ford’s bold moves video blog and I wanted to hate it. But, it’s turning me. And, even if it doesn’t turn the market (it probably won’t, it’s not aimed at the total market, just at the investors, employees, influentials who will need to keep the faith if a company in trouble is ever going to turn around) it is definitely getting noticed and talked about inside corporate boardrooms and here in Silicon Valley.
How did HP handle it? Well, you can go over to Google News, just like I did and see. No video. No candor. No accountability. Nothing other than an official press announcement without a press conference.
Kudos to Ford. I’m rooting for you.
Oh, and my Ford Focus hit 30,000 miles without a single problem. It’s a wonderful car. Make more like that and you’ll find your troubles going away and your brand increasing in quality.
Sure Ford’s expenses are high and that the unions are a drain but the bottom line is that their products are not very good. If they sold enough cars maybe things wouldn’t be so bad. Most customers I think are shopping around for a best deal, and Japanese cars have a lot to offer in terms of quality, reliability and efficiency.
Sure Ford’s expenses are high and that the unions are a drain but the bottom line is that their products are not very good. If they sold enough cars maybe things wouldn’t be so bad. Most customers I think are shopping around for a best deal, and Japanese cars have a lot to offer in terms of quality, reliability and efficiency.
Let’s look at some history here. In the 1970′s gas prices went up 300% because of the oil embargo. Ford was in the same postion then. Gas guzzling Mustangs, Cougars, LTD’s ect. They had to get into the small car market. Pinto’s, Mstang II’s yea,weknow they were junk but they sold them by the truck load and they came back. Now who remembers Chrysler’s bail out not once,but TWICE by Uncle Sam in the form of loan guarentees.
Now if you think for one second that a sitting US Prsident of either party is going to let the number two US auto maker go under on his watch,it ain’t gonna happen. Buy this stock and buy as much as you can. I bought Chrysler in 1991 at $10/share 2 years later it was at $60. when no one wants something on Wall St. and all the experts are telling you to sell or stay away you can make a lot of money doing the opposite. Look at Merck 2 years ago vioxx was the end of them.stock goes down to $20 now it’s at $42 what changed? Don’t right Ford off yet.
Let’s look at some history here. In the 1970′s gas prices went up 300% because of the oil embargo. Ford was in the same postion then. Gas guzzling Mustangs, Cougars, LTD’s ect. They had to get into the small car market. Pinto’s, Mstang II’s yea,weknow they were junk but they sold them by the truck load and they came back. Now who remembers Chrysler’s bail out not once,but TWICE by Uncle Sam in the form of loan guarentees.
Now if you think for one second that a sitting US Prsident of either party is going to let the number two US auto maker go under on his watch,it ain’t gonna happen. Buy this stock and buy as much as you can. I bought Chrysler in 1991 at $10/share 2 years later it was at $60. when no one wants something on Wall St. and all the experts are telling you to sell or stay away you can make a lot of money doing the opposite. Look at Merck 2 years ago vioxx was the end of them.stock goes down to $20 now it’s at $42 what changed? Don’t right Ford off yet.
as for the frequency of comments.. what can I say? The ORGINAL BBC verision of The Office is no longer in production, so this is blog is the next best thing for that type of entertainment. I really do wonder at times if this is a parody of what a blog should be.
as for the frequency of comments.. what can I say? The ORGINAL BBC verision of The Office is no longer in production, so this is blog is the next best thing for that type of entertainment. I really do wonder at times if this is a parody of what a blog should be.
@27 I don’t deny that some products get improved by comments left on blogs. But I’m not sure Wall Street would take much comfort in knwoing that GM is lettting blog commments determine their strategy.
What the hell does Lucent have to do with the conversation” You wouldn’t subtly be tyring to expose information that some would expect to be private, are you? You once complained about ad homimen arguments when you tried to declare by fiat what a blog is. Looks to me like you are the king of ad hominem attacks.
As for pointing out your analytical failings…excuse me for point out the obvious. Seriously, to believe that blogging will even have a minor impact on a company like Ford or GM’s the long term success is naive, and like Chris said, almost insulting.
@27 I don’t deny that some products get improved by comments left on blogs. But I’m not sure Wall Street would take much comfort in knwoing that GM is lettting blog commments determine their strategy.
What the hell does Lucent have to do with the conversation” You wouldn’t subtly be tyring to expose information that some would expect to be private, are you? You once complained about ad homimen arguments when you tried to declare by fiat what a blog is. Looks to me like you are the king of ad hominem attacks.
As for pointing out your analytical failings…excuse me for point out the obvious. Seriously, to believe that blogging will even have a minor impact on a company like Ford or GM’s the long term success is naive, and like Chris said, almost insulting.
Ford USA may be in trouble, so I guess it is bad news for Ford Global, but as far as I can tell Ford in other places in the world is doing great guns.
Ford Australia for example are selling Falcons and Territories like they are going out of fashion. http://www.ford.com.au - of couse such as small market as Australasia can’t turn the whole operation around, but Ford USA could learn a thing or three from their antipodean cousins.
Ford USA may be in trouble, so I guess it is bad news for Ford Global, but as far as I can tell Ford in other places in the world is doing great guns.
Ford Australia for example are selling Falcons and Territories like they are going out of fashion. http://www.ford.com.au - of couse such as small market as Australasia can’t turn the whole operation around, but Ford USA could learn a thing or three from their antipodean cousins.
Ford owns Volvo too
Ford owns Volvo too
I started watching the Bold Moves blog when it was first mentioned here. They had a survey signup - $5 a week for 12 weeks. Thanks Robert!
My Ford truck is 22 years old and has 160,000 miles.
I started watching the Bold Moves blog when it was first mentioned here. They had a survey signup - $5 a week for 12 weeks. Thanks Robert!
My Ford truck is 22 years old and has 160,000 miles.
Ford ask for comments - $5 a week for 12 weeks - I signed up. Thanks Robert!
Ford ask for comments - $5 a week for 12 weeks - I signed up. Thanks Robert!
Blurry lines….
(1) Where is the line between “transparency” and “spin”?
(2) If being transparent causes self-inflicted damage - will Ford (or Microsoft) do it?
(3) Is achieving “attention” a la the MS Live PR ramp up being “transparent” or simply trying to influence the public?
(4) Is announcing (yet another) delay of Vista… couched after announcing how good things are going… considered transparent, spin, influence, or just business as usual?
Robert, I’m addressing my questions in the context of actions Microsoft has done over the last 12 months. But my REAL point is this - you could ask the SAME questions of Ford.
A corporate blog isn’t evidence of being “transparent”. It merely says that Ford has found another avenue to get THEIR side of the story out. No more, no less.
Blurry lines….
(1) Where is the line between “transparency” and “spin”?
(2) If being transparent causes self-inflicted damage - will Ford (or Microsoft) do it?
(3) Is achieving “attention” a la the MS Live PR ramp up being “transparent” or simply trying to influence the public?
(4) Is announcing (yet another) delay of Vista… couched after announcing how good things are going… considered transparent, spin, influence, or just business as usual?
Robert, I’m addressing my questions in the context of actions Microsoft has done over the last 12 months. But my REAL point is this - you could ask the SAME questions of Ford.
A corporate blog isn’t evidence of being “transparent”. It merely says that Ford has found another avenue to get THEIR side of the story out. No more, no less.
Ford’s in deep crap with cars. The focus is a pretty nice car, but has been around for quite a while now. The Mustang is an unqualified hit. The new Fusion/Milan/Zephyr are OK at best. They’re based on the aging Mazda 6 platform. The Ford 500 and corresponding LM car is grossly underpowered for a car of its size. Here’s a stat: as recently as2 months ago the best selling car that Ford has was the Taurus. Now the Taurus isn’t offered at dealerships. It’s still being made and offered as a fleet vehicle. So, highly unprofitable fleet sales of a 20+ year old car lead their car sales.
the guy from Boeing seems qualified, but Ford needs car product badly if they’re going to make it.
Ford’s in deep crap with cars. The focus is a pretty nice car, but has been around for quite a while now. The Mustang is an unqualified hit. The new Fusion/Milan/Zephyr are OK at best. They’re based on the aging Mazda 6 platform. The Ford 500 and corresponding LM car is grossly underpowered for a car of its size. Here’s a stat: as recently as2 months ago the best selling car that Ford has was the Taurus. Now the Taurus isn’t offered at dealerships. It’s still being made and offered as a fleet vehicle. So, highly unprofitable fleet sales of a 20+ year old car lead their car sales.
the guy from Boeing seems qualified, but Ford needs car product badly if they’re going to make it.
Only a marketing guy could love this fluff.
Nail on head. Ford’s problems could fill a book, some song and dance blog and video, ain’t gonna make up for it, in fact it’s insulting. As for HP, just the usual tech company arrogance at play, yet another day in the Valley. Now how they handle PR, well Ford wins easy.
Only a marketing guy could love this fluff.
Nail on head. Ford’s problems could fill a book, some song and dance blog and video, ain’t gonna make up for it, in fact it’s insulting. As for HP, just the usual tech company arrogance at play, yet another day in the Valley. Now how they handle PR, well Ford wins easy.
My Ford Focus ZX3 has just under 90,000 miles on it, and the only problem I’ve had with it was a CD getting stuck in the player for about a year (it mysteriously spit out the CD a couple months ago) and some strange behaviour with the sunroof.
I couldn’t be happier with the quality I’ve gotten out of this little car.
My Ford Focus ZX3 has just under 90,000 miles on it, and the only problem I’ve had with it was a CD getting stuck in the player for about a year (it mysteriously spit out the CD a couple months ago) and some strange behaviour with the sunroof.
I couldn’t be happier with the quality I’ve gotten out of this little car.
#26: That’s what their PR is claiming. I believe them. I know of many products out there that got improved through feedback gained on blogs.
As to business, gee, it sure seems like you’re expert at running everything seeing at how many comments you leave in your blog here. Next thing you’ll tell me is how well Lucent is doing. I wonder if your boss knows you are mouthing off about how stupid I am everyday?
#26: That’s what their PR is claiming. I believe them. I know of many products out there that got improved through feedback gained on blogs.
As to business, gee, it sure seems like you’re expert at running everything seeing at how many comments you leave in your blog here. Next thing you’ll tell me is how well Lucent is doing. I wonder if your boss knows you are mouthing off about how stupid I am everyday?
@20. I call bullshit on that. If GM is being run by comments on Lutz’ blog then they are in deeper trouble than anyone could ever imagine.