The Soft Pitch

I recently started subscribing to a blog about how to write a better blog (for those interested it’s Copyblogger and I find it interesting and instructive). The last post I read admonished bloggers to focus more on providing quality content and not be so self-promotional. A blog post should be like a gift, providing you something of value. Got me to thinking – are my post too promotional? Maybe, I always try to provide some insight into Avnet readers might not get otherwise, but since this is a corporate blog, it’s always about Avnet in some way.

I had planned on writing about Avnet’s new customer loyalty champion, Michelle Gardner, who recently took over the Customers Matter blog  and the Customers Matter Twitter account. I met with her the other day as we started talking about plans for communicating more with employees on customer service. I knew Michelle Gardner from before when she was focused on operational excellence. She’s intelligent, thoughtful and committed to enhancing the total “Avnet customer experience.” Now, I don’t know how much of a gift this is for you, but if you haven’t checked out her blog yet, you may find it interesting. She offers insight into great customer service, and she wants to hear directly from our customers and potential customers about what’s on their minds so she can build that into her plans. I can’t help but thinking her energy and enthusiasm is going to make a real difference.

I believe we’re going to see customer engagement really pick up momentum in the coming year. At all levels of the company, I hear Avnet employees and management talking about how to take the data from our customer surveys and turn it into specific actions to improve how we serve and engage individual customers.  Of course, it’s also one of those things that if you don’t play, you can’t win.  In other words, as with any survey, not everyone participates. But for those customers who do, it can make a real difference because our teams are listening carefully to what you say on those surveys to see if there are opportunities for us to do a better job for you – and of course we hope to win more of your business in the process. It’s a win-win proposition. So that’s my gift to you – check out her blog as Michelle has some good customer service info, and if you’re a customer, please take the survey when you get it so we can do a better job for you.

Twitter has provided great fodder for late-night TV jokes, but when the CDC recently started using Twitter to provide real-time updates on news regarding the swine flu, I knew it had leaped into the mainstream with no looking back.  Will it stick around?  I don’t know and don’t care.  For now, it’s proving an effective communication tool. That being said, I know many use Twitter to share personal commentary on your team’s recent performance or possibly rate the grilled pizza at your corner eatery, but a growing number of business users are overtaking Twitter – and turning it into a serious business tool for communicating with targeted audiences.  The nice thing about Twitter?  You only follow those people and topics you’re really interested in, so you can select the topic/person that is of interest to you.  I “tweet” on Avnet topics of general interest (I hope) and occasionally toss in a reference to a particularly interesting article.

We have people from Avnet tweeting on topics such as virtualization or from a particular business division, like Silica.  Each offers a focused look at a particular aspect of the technology supply chain – so you can pick what you’re interested in and follow it to get only the information you want.  Here’s a sampling of Twitter news feeds from Avnet to check out – some just started and others have been in it from “the beginning” – check ‘em out, then follow the ones you find of value:

AvnetOnDemand

AvnetDesignWire

Avnet Memec EMEA

Avnet Tech Games 

Customers Matter 

Solutions Path info

SilicaTweets

VirtualPath  

Oh, and a special note to Al: I’ve been to lunch with you. How come I always end up buying? I think I’ll just follow you on Twitter: Al Maag

Follow me on Twitter:   Michelle Gorel

1st blogs, LinkedIN, Facebook, avnetOnDemand. Now Just shoot me, I broke down, I gave in…I’m a tweeter: almaagAvnet . What’s next in this social media world…beam me up? I still say there is nothing social about this…if you really want to be socialable call me or or take me to lunch. Hell send me a wriiten note or even a fax. Because I’m responsible for our brand and work w/ Michelle on all our PR I will be using my tweets on this area. Please GOD strike me down if I say I’m bored in a meeting or telling what I’m eating. Gotta go do some tweeting.