Rock N’ Rubel: Interview mit Rick Murray von Edelman

Einige von euch dürften bereits mitbekommen haben, dass Steve Rubel zum Vice President von Edelman, der Internationalen Agentur des Jahres 2005 berufen wurde. Uns interessiert unter anderem die Zukunft seines bei Technorati auf Nummer 1 gesetzten Advertisingblog Micro Persuasion. Der Blogtitel benennt gleichzeitig eine von Steve Rubel und seinem bisherigen Arbeitgeber CooperKatz entwickelten Kommunikationsmethode, die nun im Zuge des Firmenwechsels auf “Cogence” umgetauft wird.

Steve selbst wird nun hauptsächlich eine beratende Tätigkeit bei Edelman aufnehmen und das Thema Weblogs verstärkt in die bereits laufende Me2-Revolution von Firmengründer Richard Edelman integrieren.

Angesichts dieser interessanten Aspekte hatten wir die Gelegenheit Ricky Murray, Executive Vice President & General Manager Edelman US, Chicago einige Fragen zu stellen:

Werbeblogger:
Micro Persuasion was originally set up by CooperKatz and Steve Rubel. Their method is now renamed as “Cogence”, but what will happen to “Micro Persuasion” and its blog? Who will own it in future?

Ricky Murray:
Steve owns the URL and always did. CooperKatz owned the service mark on MicroPersuasion. We made an arrangement with CK which enables Steve to continue blogging at and under the name MicroPersuasion. I can’t comment (as I have no knowledge) on CK’s plans as they relate to Micro Persuasion or Cogence.

Werbeblogger:
Steve Rubel will be working as a consultant for Edelman, is he starting a new blog for Edelman too?

Ricky Murray:
We expect that Steve will be an immediate and frequent contributor to a word-of-mouth marketing blog that we’re launching in the next few weeks called TalkShop, as well as our earShot podcasts. Beyond that, I can’t tell you. He’s certainly free to start another one if he has the passion to do so.

Werbeblogger:
Edelman USA “buys in” a lot of famous bloggers like Rubel, Gomes or Krempasky. When did such things happen in Europe (especially in Germany) or is there no serious potential available in these days? Is the European/German blogosphere to weak for such things?

Ricky Murray:
We don’t buy bloggers; rather, we try to hire smart, passionate people who are relentlessly committed to advancing the cause of what we call the Me2Revolution. Europe and Asia are already part of the plan, and one of those “smart, passionate people” – Guillaume du Gardier (http://www.prthoughts.com) – is based in Paris. The reality is that the blogosphere is a rapidly moving target, and the communications profession is just now beginning to wake to the change it is having on how people communicate and how we as communications professionals need to change. Edelman is at the vanguard of this global movement, and we will stay there.

Werbeblogger:
When did the M2 Revolution starts in Germany and other European countries and how can we be aware of it?

Ricky Murray:
The Me2Revolution has begun worldwide. It is manifested in the transfer of power from the people who sell things to the people who buy them. It is evidenced by the rise of both the volume and the influence of social networks and citizen generated media. We are all a part of it.

Werbeblogger:
Thank you very much Mr. Murray!

Ein dickes Dankeschön auch an Bjoern, der das Gespräch ermöglichte.