I have read every post Don Dodge has written in the last eight months. He is an excellent writer and every post highlights Microsoft’s successes and its competitions’ weaknesses.
Although he is Director of Business Development for Microsoft’s Emerging Business Team, I find his approaches often very conventional. His perspective is always within the framework of conventional business, and maybe it should be. That is what Microsoft’s customers and partners understand.
If you think this can’t be true because he was VP of product development at Napster, then think again:
The goal was to make [Napster] into a real business in partnership with the record labels.
Although conventional, his writing is essential. He understands business and shares his knowledge generously.
He regularly reminds us to stay focused on the customer, not the competitor.
Recently, I have found his posts more aggressive towards his competion. Maybe, he is excited and getting ready for the number of product releases scheduled for this year (I can’t seem to find a recent reference to the magnitude he previously has suggested to expect, but).
Looking through his posts from the last eight month, there is one competitor Don focuses on again and again, Google.
Where is the focus on the customer? I don’t see any post where Don is interacting with his customers. All the posts are passive analysis of Microsoft’s target audience or competitors.
There is no conversation in Don’s posts either about or from his customers, partners (or his competition). There is no personal connection. This is big business, this is Microsoft. (Even with all those blogs.)
One Comment
Lloyd, I try to write about topics that are timely in the news, startups that interest me, and a lot about web search since I was involved in AltaVista.
Google is in the news a lot and of course they are the search leaders, so there is a lot to write about.
I have lots of friends at Google and have great respect for the company. I honestly don’t see Microsoft or Yahoo, or anyone else, beating Google in the search space.
As for being aggressive, I normally try to have a balanced view, but add some different perspective and ask tough questions.
The press and many bloggers automatically think anything from Google is the greatest thing they have ever seen. Conversely, Microsoft gets whacked and marginalized at every turn. I try to add some balance to the Google view by pointing out other products/companies that have already done this, and perhaps better.
In my startup life I was totally focused on the customer. Unfortunately, in my current job with Microsoft I don’t have that responsibility. So, my blog “talks” about customer issues, but my day job, my topics, and my audience don’t really get involved in the details.
My blog gets lots of comments and links so I am happy with the “conversation” component. I write for a very focused audience of entrepreneurs, startups, and VCs. I try to have a business focus because there are plenty of blogs that cover the tech side.
Marketer extraordinaire? Perhaps by accident, but not be design.
I appreciate your comments and perspective.
Thanks,
Don