Sony Electronics are starting to blog. The blog is by their Head of Corporate Communications in the USA, Rick Clancy.

Thanks to Josh Bernoff at Forrester Research for the heads-up.

I have never met the Sony blogs author Rick Clancy personally but having spent part of my career in Corporate Communications (the job Rick has) I know all the potential pit-falls.

His first post has already had 18 comments. Here is one that captures the value of blogging to a company...

       July 17, 2007 1:47pm | Posted by: Stan M.

Wow! Finally! I am glad that you guys decided to come up with a blog that will
have a 2 way street: Sony - Consumer. This is something Sony should have
started a long time ago as consumer feedback can progress the company and
better it in many ways (I am not saying that you do not listen to us at all
though). Hopefully this place will become a great resource to share comments
and get some insights. Looking forward to reading and posting!
Stan M.
Very Loyal Sony Customer/Enthusiast
P.S. hey if you need an extra moderator, I am up for it! =)

See how a customer welcomes the opportunity to get into conversation with the manufacturer. No reseller or distributor to filter it. In the case of this customer see how they are actually offering to help Sony at no charge.

I am sure Rick and Sony will get a few ‘brick bats’ but with customers like Stan act as unpaid and impartial evangelists and influencers to their own personal network of contacts they will be even more successful.