Pegasus starts blogging (but it is just a start unfortunately)

You probably have read it elsewhere already (Travolution for example). The leading hotel IT technology company Pegasus has just launched its blog called "Pegged" in reference to Pegasus or also known as "Pegs" for the IT people.

I have received the PR communication in a Word format from their PR company announcing the "big" news.
According to Chip Rosales - their VP / Corporate Marketing & Communications - the blog has been created
"as an open forum for Pegagus' hospitality and technology experts to share their thoughts about hotel industry topics, events or news". He also wish that readers can comment on the views of the experts' posts. (good luck with that!).

Now. Here's my thought on this new Web 2.0 initiative. Let me ask 3 questions here:

1. Why would you launch a big PR communication about a blog initiative that you've started on the same first day?

2. The blog will be written by in-house experts says the press release...who are they? Why can't you name the persons? What are their position with Pegasus ? Their biography ? Why not sharing who will be addressing these issues?

3. Why don't you do a soft launch of the blog and spread the news slowly with word of mouth / with your own staff to start with / with your clients...  and then after 2 / 3 months, present the blog to the industry (with a PR push for this instance) ?

About the blog itself now...(or should I say the first post written last Thursday).

It is an introduction about what this blog will be about basically. Interesting to see that the blog is referring to other companies outside Pegasus galaxy such as VibeAgent (well done Adam!), SideStep or Kayak. There is also a link which leads to nowhere ie: travelblog.org (first time I come across this site, you?)

Finally, the end of the post finishes with this "...We’re interested in hearing from readers, customers, technology visionaries, fellow members of the blogerati and anyone else about what you think will be the defining technologies and transformations as our industry evolves."
Blogerati: what is this?  The link with the technology visionaries leads to a picture on Flickr with the founders of Google (Sergey Brin & Larry Page). I can't wait to see if Larry or Sergey will contribute...

I am not sure about the frequency of posts on Pegged but since last Thursday, nothing really happens...Oh well...

PS: I wonder if I should also launch a big PR communication about HB as well...after 1 year 1/2...that sounds wise no? Or would it be useless and too corporate ? Any thoughts ?

Technorati Tags: pegasus, pegged, pegasus blog, pegs

Comments

[Sylvain]

I appreciate that newcomers enter the blogosphere! (is the word "blogerati" used for a SEO contest?), and it is always fun to think of Pegasus as a newcomer.

I was also puzzled by the decision to link VibeAgent and the decision not to link Sidestep and Kayak. It seems somewhat rude to make a list of sites and linking only one of those sites..

I have never heard of the other site they linked (randomly? SEOdomly?).

About the PR stuff, I won't blame them; that's the way they are used to work and we should not blame them for using this to launch their blog.

Anyway I will give them so time before reviewing their blog. I think I was fortunate nobody reviewed my blog at first post.

Wait and see my friend.

[MichaelO]

Just came across this post deep in the 2nd page of my Google search for feedback on our new blog ....

In the interest of full disclosure, I'm one of the faceless corporate drones working on Pegged.

Your suggestions are much appreciated and are right in line with some of our internal pre-and post-launch discussions about what we can do and could have done better. Have to admit I expected a bit more of a sense of humor and openness such as Sylvain expressed in the previous comment but no matter.

Pegged is a corporate blog with a corporate point of view, set of topics, presentation style and the accompanying limitations but we would like it to have enough quality to earn a place in the hotel/hospitality blogosphere.

If nothing else, we won't be adhering to Stephen Colbert's definition of a blogger as "someone with a laptop, an axe to grind and their virginity".

[Guillaume]

@Sylvain - me too, I am welcoming any Hotels related companies to join the blogosphere and share experience with us. You say that you were fortunate not to have your first post reviewed. Well, you didn't ask for it. When you launch a PR, that's different, isn't it?

@MichaelO - thanks for your comment. Once again, I am welcoming any blog initiative from Hotels related companies. Pegasus: even better. I think you have so much to say and share with hoteliers that I am convinced your blog will get better. I don't know what's humour got to do with my post. To me, Pegged seems serious, not fun (maybe I was mistaken) so why would I be humourous as you said (you even say yourself that Pegged is a "Corporate blog", i don't know any corporate blog which is fun anyway).

Dont' worry Michael, I will keep checking out Pegged and reading your posts. I am sure it will work out fine. In fact, your RSS feeds are in my NetVibes rewsreader!

Guillaume