Edelman's 'Me2 Revolution'

The last time I posted here about Richard Edelman, I wrote,(perhaps with excessive harshness) his failure to link to other bloggers and to join the conversation. So it would be easy for me to pick up on that note here by pointing out that the only link in his recent post about the "Me2 Revolution" is to his own Edelman Trust Barometer . But, in fact, the Trust Barometer is relevant and important, and I link to it here, because I hope you will read what Edelman, head of the world's largest PR agency has to say on who the most powerful influencers in an organization are.

And yes, I could also complain, that his recent post reads a lot like brochure copy, except that it indeed is brochure copy and as such it is pretty good brochure copy, which you to get to see very often these days.

But what is important and bears note is that in his organization's annual examination of who and what people trust, he reports the increasing trend of people trusting people like themselves, or as he put it, "a person like me."  Edelman asserts that the corporate employee, is a more credible source than assorted and sundry official spokespeople, outside celebrities, the PR representative or even the CEO.

I think the best example I know is the remarkable phenomenon of Robert Scoble's popularity. He's just a guy doing his job and he talks about it to other people doing their jobs. He often makes mistakes, but most people recognize his passion and authority. There is an expanding number of mid-level bloggers like Scoble in other organizations. None have boardroom insights, few have been media trained and none have committees filtering and polishing what the write. the result is that collectively and indivisually these "people like me" bloggers have enormous credibility.  That credibility seems to be growing at precisely the time when other communicators and communication mechanisms are diminishing in trust.

Lots of bloggers can shrug and say they alreadyknew that. But Edelman's Barometer is not aimed at bloggers.  It's taget audience is decision makers and it reflects the views of people in general all ver the world.

I am not personally in love with Edelman's "Me2 Revolution" label.  To me it's just a bit PR-ish. On the other hand, it makes the point fast and well.  And if it carries the message forward, then I applaud its use.

Comments

[Tchad]

Hi there, just came across your blog by randomly going from blog to blog clicking on links.

It is amazing all of the insights you get into people's lives :-)

You can check ours out if you like by clicking on my name at the bottom.

We are a couple of couples doing missional stuff in Sicily.