(2004-10-20) Branding Is Dead Vs Blogging

Hugh MacLeod says that Branding is dead. In contrast to Corporate Blogging. Blogging is all about ECO-logy. Branding is all about EGO-logy. The two are not compatible. Which is why brand-wimpy Microsoft has hundreds of bloggers (a well-known fact), and why you can get fired for blogging at uber-brand Apple (so I've been told). Apple like the conversation they're currently having. They don't want it to change, internally or externally. They want to control the means of conversation. (HughTrain)

Nov22 update comparing a Market to a party - But it ain't your party anymore. You no longer have customers. What you have now are fellow party goers. What you have now are friends and allies. Your product and/or company is just the metaphorical bottle of wine you're bringing to the party. All "The Brand" does is focus the metaphorical evening, the way Joi and Suw did for us UK bloggers back in springtime.