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Corporate blogging strategies of the Fortune 500 companies

Sang Lee (Department of Management, University of Nebraska‐Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA)
Taewon Hwang (Department of Management, University of Nebraska‐Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA)
Hong‐Hee Lee (Department of Management, University of Nebraska‐Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA)

Management Decision

ISSN: 0025-1747

Article publication date: 1 March 2006

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Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the emerging new phenomenon of corporate blogging and its objectives. In particular, this study focuses on how Fortune 500 firms attempt to maintain control, while supporting employee autonomy in corporate blogging.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the framework of corporate blogging strategies proposed in this study, corporate blogging practices of the 2005 Fortune 500 companies were analysed.

Findings

Most organisations maintain high levels of control by implementing top‐down blogging strategies, while few support employee autonomy by applying a bottom‐up blogging strategy. Because of the inherent limitation of each strategy, many organisations attempt to take advantage of the complementary mechanism that balances autonomy and control. Organisations emphasising bottom‐up blogging tend to focus on product development and customer service content strategy, while those practising top‐down blogging focus on thought leadership or promotional content strategy.

Research limitations/implications

This study reports leading blogging firms among the Fortune 500 companies. However, the study sample accounts for only 3.6 percent of the 500 firms. The results of the study shed insights on newly emerging corporate blogging in terms of its trends, issues, and possible future direction.

Practical implications

Companies that adopt blogs must realise that developing a candid dialogue with customers is the best way to build a meaningful customer relationship.

Originality/value

This study is the first attempt to systematically investigate the corporate blogging phenomenon.

Keywords

Citation

Lee, S., Hwang, T. and Lee, H. (2006), "Corporate blogging strategies of the Fortune 500 companies", Management Decision, Vol. 44 No. 3, pp. 316-334. https://doi.org/10.1108/00251740610656232

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2006, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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