Are Wikis really the way to go?

With all of the varying options and opportunities for multi-channel marketing, there continues to be even more choices for marketers. Wikis are the new, engaging tool they are using. They are much more up-to-date and easier to use than message boards which can repeat the same information over and over and over again. Wikis allow users to add, edit, and change information while message boards are harder to follow and simply are a thing of the past.

By using Wikis, marketers can fulfill their social responsibility to the public. Requiring corporations to provide updated information on their company, its products, and related industry info are part of this responsibility.

Consumers also become fully involved with the corporation by discussing its products, asking questions and getting answers immediately. For example, Ebay has used Wikis in its customer-support section letting users collaboratively write answers to frequently asked questions. The NBA’s Dallas Mavericks announced a plan to let fans Wiki every game using the same software as Wikipedia, T-Mobile launched a Sidekick Wiki that has produced collaboratively written pieces including tips on how to pimp out the inside of the phone and a wish list of improvements the community would like to see.

Leaving free-range of opinions could destroy the corporations’ reputation or it could increase the amount of goodwill seen within the consumers’ eyes. They’ve always said no PR is bad PR but we’ll see.


Forget Message Boards. Wikis Are Where It's At