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March 9, 2005
Quixtar PR Scorecard
By QBlog in Web Initiative
The Quixtar Public Relations team is a busy group. They work night and day to publish scintillating articles press releases with headlines like "IBOAI endorses Quixtar's exclusive Artistry skin care line says Orrin Woodward" or "Fred Harteis, IBOAI Endorses Artistry, Quixtar's Prestige Brand of Skin Care and Cosmetics." Wow. I can't wait to read those exciting stories!
Of course the Quixtar PR team does much more than just write cool stories about cosmetics. They're constantly devising new and wonderful ways to relate to the public, which is generally what happens in a Public Relations Department. Sometimes those plans work brilliantly and sometimes they fail miserably. Today I thought it would be neat to rate the performance of the Quixtar Public Relations Team with something I call the "Quixtar PR Scorecard."
The Quixtar PR Scorecard functions just like an elementary school report card. Grades are assigned with an "A" being the best and an "F" being the worst. And because this is my scorecard, I assign each grade based on my own opinions. No, it's not very scientific but I have an excuse — I'm not a scientist.
F - For the Quixtar Google Bombing campaign
Filling the Web with bogus blogs run by Web lackeys who repurpose poorly written PR copy filled with keywords and misleading links is bad form and a bad PR move. It's too "Spam-like" for an organization that loves the phrase "High Tech and High Touch." My advice, ditch the Google Bombing and publish some valuable content that other folks will want to link. That's what I do.
F - For "vandalizing" Wikipedia
What could Quixtar possibly hope to gain by removing all critical commentary from the beloved Wikipedia? It looks suspicious and begs the question, "What are they hiding?" There's also the potential backlash that could result from being labeled as a bully within the quintessential open source community.
F - Trying to suppress The Blakey Report
The Blakey Report was a moderately interesting document expressing the opinion of one man. Had the folks in Michigan decided to ignore the report, it probably would have slipped away unnoticed. However, because they decided to pursue it and tried to suppress it, the report quickly became the court document du jour.
B+ - Not trying to suppress The Postma Memo
Possibly learning a lesson from The Blakey Report fiasco, the folks in Michigan decided to let the Postma Memo ride and publish a spin page. It's not a bad strategy. Hint. Hint.
C - For not putting Ken McDonald on camera for Dateline
I understand that it's sometimes best to decline an interview but I think it was a mistake in this situation. Giving an actual face to Quixtar (Ken's face may not be the one they want but I've seen worse mugs) would have connected with viewers in ways that a letter can't. I know why the Quixtar chose to avoid face-time, I just think it was probably a mistake.
D - For a poor job of informing IBOs about the new Non-Compete Rule
Quixtar did post the info on it's "What's New" page but that's not the best way to communicate important rule changes that can affect an IBO's business. Too many IBOs found out about the rule from my blog. Not good. Contrast that with the effective methods used to inform everyone about the P & G supporting homosexuals rumor.
F - Plays Well With Others
Quixtar is too serious. It should lighten up, get a sense of humor and join the Web revolution instead of trying to control it. Relax. Chill out. Start more blogs like Quixtatic. Start a forum like the one Proctor & Gamble runs. Don't be afraid of public feedback. Sometimes a few criticisms help a company's image more than a thousand gloating press releases. Read The Cluetrain Manifesto. Start a dialogue. Show the world that you're human. Be real. Play well with others.
Comments
I can see the point that you are making on most of the comments posted here.But one point I wanted to bring up is that if you go and look at the edits made to Wikipedia, the Alticor person did not remove all the controversy section, nor did they remove your blog from the links. It looks like they were ready to let some of the critcicm stay and perhaps try and keep the neutral point of view in place. I agree that Wikipedia should not be a marketing forum but neither should it be solely the domain of critics. It should be neutral and factual just like those book encyclopedias of old. I would actually give both sides of the argument a F grade here because they are both voicing opinions not fact. Actually as a fan of Wikipedia it irks me more that it now seems to be being abused as a link farm too.
Anon, please point out, where some 'opinion' of critic was given in Wiki? It's all there. And who gave opinion?
The thing that triggers the last post in Wiki by alticor was the FACT that they are not # 1 in Google any more. It is a PR disaster for a billion dollar company isn't it? Alticor REMOVED that.
Here u go
http://www.google.ca/search?q=quixtar
And it's been a month now. It is a documented fact. No opinion.
That specifically triggers me to blog it.
Anon,
I agree with you to a point. I've watched the Wikipedia edits and the Google Bomb edit was a complete removal of the entire Quixtar entry, not a move towards NPOV. I will concede that the current state of the entry needs some editing, and that's why the article was flagged for POV attention (did you do that?).
Regarding the Quixtar entry, the edits have been less dramatic of late but they weren't always as "balanced." Might I remind you of this edit which was labeled as a "brochure page:" http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Quixtar&oldid=8967366
But you're right, the edits to the Quixtar entry have been more neutral compared to the Google Bomb edit. My belief is that the Google Bomb edit was an emotional reaction by some Quixtar grunt who didn't think about the longterm effects of his actions. My guess is that he'll be more careful in the future.
Also Anon, have u seen this edit:
http://tinyurl.com/62v7t
It says "Critics are moron". It's not from Alticor, but how it's better than a link farm? well that's one example.
Point is: Alticor and critics both can work together on Wiki. It don't have to be a fight. That's the purpose of Wiki. If you don't like wording or something, discuss it, instead of going back and forth. Why not? Discuss it, come to a mutual conculusion, which won't be too hard I guess since NPOV is NPOV. Facts are Facts.
Well if they want to ;) Alticor has not participated in discussion there yet. I hope they do.
Alticor has not participated in ANY discussions yet.
http://tinyurl.com/52mth
Roger
Maybe they should be called AltiBorg or AmaBorg or QuixBorg.
Since they seem to only participate in things that promote the 'system'. Guess it is futile to resist.
You will be prospectinated.
Clifford
Good job grading this cult, QBLOG. But you have to give them 'Z' grade(if there is such a grade) in handling the AQMO organizations and the kingpins who run them. I hope one day this mistake will lead to AMQUIX going down in flames.
And also you have to grade them on turning a deaf ear to all the rumors like, P&G Worships Satan', 'Quixtar is funded by Bill Gates', etc
Posted by: Prasad | March 9, 2005 4:50 PM