Blog of the Week: Jeff Jarvis' BuzzMachine

BlogPulse's most recent upgrade included a new tool called BlogPulse Profiles, and today's entry goes one step further with a new feature called Blog of the Week, whereby we talk to various and sundry bloggers about what motivates them, who they are, and why they blog.

First up is Jeff Jarvis (blog profile), who made waves last week with his "Dear Mr. Dell" post at BuzzMachine, detailing ongoing function and customer service problems with a laptop computer (conversation here). He graciously answered some BlogPulse questions by email, so without further ado, heeeere's Jeff Jarvis, first in a series of Blog of the Week profiles:

BlogPulse: Why do some companies tend to ignore bloggers/online consumers?
Jarvis: "Interacting with blogs is no different from interacting with consumers; they're just people. So smart companies will interact wisely; dumb companies will mess it up. Blogs simply make it easier for customers to become publishers and do more damage to your PR if you don't pay attention."

BlogPulse: Does corporate America "get" blogging?
Jarvis: "...Boards don't run companies, executives do. And I think an executive would have to be blind not to see all the press blogs are getting. The question is whether they yet realize the impact this has on their companies -- on the real public relations, on the ability to build a new relationship with your constituency, on the greater danger of not caring about what your customers say."

BlogPulse: What could Dell do to change your mind?
Jarvis: "They could do many things, starting with simply responding in public: Leave a comment, send an email, start a blog... just do us the courtesy of entering into the conversation..."

BlogPulse: Five years from now, where will roost in the media hierarchy?
Jarvis:"I think it's a mistake to judge blogs as media. Blogs are people, consumers, citizens. Blogs give you the chance to listen to and talk with the people you want to serve. Bloggers can tell you how to design and market and support your products and help you do it... if you let them. Media never could do that."

BlogPulse: What CD is in your CD player right now? What's the last movie you rented?
Jarvis: "What's a CD? Haven't played one in ages. On my iPod, I have been listening to podcasts (like Diggnation) and foreign-language podcasts to help me brush up on my language (Schlaflos in Muenchen is a favorite) and NPR programs (On The Media, This American Life)."

BlogPulse: In your "down time," what do you do to relax or disengage your brain?
Jarvis: "I wouldn't say it disengages the brain, but I do find blogging enjoyable and relaxing and I do it when the kids are sleeping. Otherwise, when not working, nothing can beat playing with your kids... even when one of them is your webmaster."

BlogPulse: What's YOUR favorite blog to read?
Jarvis:"Like a Hollywood starlet on a talk show, I never answer that question.... because I read too many and because my list of favorites changes all the time."