Blogging is SERIOUS business!

OK, I'll admit, my blog really isn't 'serious business', but rather just the ramblings of an overly curious and amused tourist in Texas. However, I have stats/tracking software on my blog and I have noticed something.....companies take blogs very seriously as far as their image is concerned! Over the course of the last year since I started my blog, I have praised or mentioned several businesses. Nothing crazy there.....but what is funny is that those companies ended up going to my blog to see what I was writing about them.

For example, I had a post about how much I *heart* Pei Wei (a subsidiary of PF Changs)...and lo and behold, who's hitting my blog?? PF Changs corporate office was checking out my blog! (Note - I think they should email me a gift card for going on and on about how fabulous their restaurant is.) I also posted about the western parade in Fort Worth recently and I mentioned that the Wells Fargo stagecoach was there (and posted a pic of it)...within about 24 hours, I had a hit on my blog from Wells Fargo Corporation!

The company I work for also does these blog scans - so they know when/who/where anyone is talking about our company, product or people. I know that they like to find praises for the company/products/service, but when they encounter a negative comment, they will fly into action to try and rectify the situation or gather more information about why that person blogged negatively. I know that when I started work, I blogged about my first day's experiences and by the next day, they posted 'welcome to the company' comments on my post! They are very stealth. :)

I really don't think too much about my blog being important, but I guess I can call myself a 'marketing tool' for businesses! Maybe I can get some sweet prizes for promoting certain brands or products! HA!