|
|
 Thanks and Season's Greetings From the PlanetFeedback Founder
Posted Sat December 22, 2007 12:00 pm, by Pete B.
As the original founder of PlanetFeedback, I just wanted to express a heartfelt thanks to all the members of this community for your excellent and always-spirited contributions this past year.
I'm very excited about the progress we made in 2007. Importantly, many major companies and brands are now actively contributing answers, commmentary, and responses directly on our site, or with our letter writers. We expect this to increase dramatically in 2008.
I'm also extremely please with the progress of our PFB-sponsored blogs, especially Shoppercast.com and Mommage.com. Mommage.com in particular has really carved out a unique identity and niche in the "conversational space," and the team is incredibly dedicated to its development and growth. Several other topical blogs are in the works, including one dedicated to travel, so let us know if you want to participate or co-lead, or even spearhead a blog we haven't thought about. A most enthusiastic thanks to all of you who either led, co-led, or contributed at some point with our blog experiment.
I'm quite mindful of the fact that not everything is perfect with the main PlanetFeedback site; moreover, that there are a number of legitimate "complaints" about PFB sit functionality that we are just not doing a good enough job addressing. Honestly, they make me cringe, and we need to address them within our limited resources, or just set proper expectations upfront. That said, we do have improvements in store for 2008, and we're even bringing back a scaled down version of the PlanetFeedback ratings system.
Lastly, I wanted to let the PlanetFeedback community know -- well before I sound the megaphone to other parties -- that I have a book coming out (with Random House) entitled "Satisfied Customers Tell Three Friends, Angry Customers Tell 3000." (The subtitle: "Running a Business in Today's Consumer Driven World." It important for every member of this community to know that PlanetFeedback.com inspired many of the book themes, and on a number of occasions I refer to or cite actual letters on PFB that highlight unique issues companies and brands must address, from employee training to tech support to billing processes. The last eight years of reading your letters, and analyzing the aggregate results (especially things like "pass along" or "sharing letters"), have taught me volumes about the unique dimensions of consumer loyalty and word-of-mouth. And yes, I've learned a great deal about what types of feedback "crosses the line," and triggers self-correcting push back from the community.
My primary audience is companies, brands, and business leaders, and my core message is not terribly different that what we articulated in the PlanetFeedback Mission statement(we called it the "Manifesto" in the edgier dot.com era): "We will help consumers reward companies that serve them best. Consumer feedback positive and negative is inherently productive. Consumers want value, and they will provide loyalty in return."
Across the web, consumer expression and power is dialing up in ways we never anticipated when PlanetFeedback mailed its first letter. This is putting a huge premium on listening and responding to consumers, as well as taking into account the "word of mouth" that emanates from both good and bad experiences with products and services. Put another way, since 1999, we've all been on the bleeding edge of a very important movement, and I can't even begin to tell you how much I look forward to your contributions in the months and years ahead.
Viva Consumer! Always.
- Pete Blackshaw
Founder, PlanetFeedback
(My wife Erika, who came up with original concept for PFB after a horrendous airline scheduling incident, also remains enthusiastic about the exciting road ahead.)
 Reply
| Log In/Create an account | 10 comments |
|
|
| PlanetFeedback Comments are subject to strict terms and conditions. We reserve the right to deny site membership privileges to any individuals acting inappropriately. |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
by StoicGrrl Posted Tue December 25, 2007 @ 11:20 PM
|
|
|
Happy Holidays! I guess I don't say it often enough, but thanks for
doing this. Becoming a user of PFB has been a great experience, both
as a letter writer and a member of the community. I'm looking forward
to checking out your book; good luck and congratulations on it!
Reply
|
|
|
|
|
|
by ~Fiƒi-la-ƒlea~ Posted Mon December 24, 2007 @ 3:13 PM
|
|
|
Happy Holidays and lots of luck with the website in the present and
future in making it the best it can be.
Leanne
Reply
|
|
|
|
|
|
by Gino Posted Sun December 23, 2007 @ 11:53 PM
|
|
|
Thank You, Pete. I've enjoyed seeing the site evolve and grow over
time. As a consumer, it's comforting to know many companies do take
our opinions, frustrations, and suggestions seriously. I've been most
pleased with companies that have come to the site and interacted with
posters proactively. That, alone is proof PFB is a catalyst for
communication and change.
Happy Holidays to you, your family, Greg, and all the members of the
PFB Community.
Reply
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wow, what a great post! Thanks for taking the time to share all that
with us.
Have a great holidays with your family. :)
Angela
Reply
|
|
|
|
|
|
by Adam D Posted Sun December 23, 2007 @ 2:25 PM
|
|
|
Have a merry X-mas, happy holidays or whatever you so choose to call
it everybody!
Reply
|
|
|
|
|
by Ahsha Posted Sun December 23, 2007 @ 9:28 AM
|
|
|
Thank you for Planetfeedback. I have used the site to write several
letters. I enjoy reading the letters and do comment on some. I also
especially like Mommage.
I will read your book. Merry Christmas!
Reply
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
by calm Posted Sat December 22, 2007 @ 4:58 PM
|
|
|
has a good time celebrating.
We here are celebrating snow. The dogs love to pee on snow. I have
no idea why, but it entertains them while I'm trying to get the
wheelchair loose from the latest pile of slush that nobody's bothered
to salt or shovel -- and someone should be having fun at a moment like
that, right? It is a little cute that they'll come roaring out of the
door of the building and run directly to the nearest pile of snow that
they're actually allowed to pee on, jump in (the little one sinks up
to his belly), and let loose.
Whatever all of you are doing at this time of year, I hope you enjoy
it as much as my dogs enjoy getting stuck in snow at 5 am. :)
Reply
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
And thank YOU!! Have a great holiday season. That goes for everybody!
:)
Reply
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
And the same goes for you and your family! After a few months of
lurking, I'm really glad I made the decision to join PFB. I enjoy
every minute here, whether posting to my blog, responding to a letter,
or even just reading responses.
I wish everyone a wonderful and safe holiday.
Reply
|
|
|
|
|
|
SHARED LETTERS 
del.icio.us
Digg this
