A CEO blog is part of PR

Earlier this week I was invited to a presentation by Debbie Weil, author of The Corporate Blogging Book. It struck me that she and the panel were of the opinion that corporate blogging should not be part of corporate PR. CEO's and workers should comply with guidelines set forward by the company, but are free in their choice of subjects. As blogs are personal and representing the company company bloggers should not be limited by company strategies is the argument. Blogs are conversations with customers, interested people and other stake-holders. Personal blogs of CEO's can paint a personal view of the company and might give the company a more human face. The blogs can also touch on subjects that are on the corporate agenda, or could lead to a corporate agenda . For these reasons I think blogs should be part of a corporate approach even when the point-of-view is personal and coming from the CEO. This is not to say that the PR department should write the blog, the CEO should continue doing this, but with direction of the PR department. (A friend of mine told me the other day they have eight people working at his internationally operating company that work on software and systems to eavesdrop everything that is being published on the company on certain subjects and people. Nothing remains hidden for those who search for it. A huge task for PR and CEO's to remain on top). By the way, Ben this was a great party and nice people.