scobleizer’s posterous

I love Chris Brogan's blog. He goes into how businesses can improve their use of Internet-based media, among other techniques they can use to improve their standing in the community and our trust in them. His book "Trust Agents" goes into how companies are doing just that.

Here we have a new trust agent to study. His name is Steve Kovak and he runs the teams at Ford that build safety features into their cars like radar systems and airbags and the like.

Of course, what did I do? I told him quickly I bought a Toyota Prius, a car I really love.

Now with some company representatives that would have gotten a snide remark. Look at how Steve Ballmer, Microsoft's CEO, publicly berated an employee for using an iPhone at this week's company meeting.

In fact, that's what I sort of expected from a Ford employee. Except you should look at how he did react. 

What did he do? He admitted he bought one too. Then he promptly praised it. Then he explained how his product was different. He also made sure to mention his company's advantages (that they've been doing this longer). All three got me to trust him. Well, as much as I'd trust anyone pitching a product.

But in the first video you get why he did that: he thinks these features are important, no matter what car you buy next. He's passionate and he has the data to show that these features will save lives.

It's why I talk with so many people who use other hosting companies and why I keep up to date on what they are doing better than Rackspace, who I work for. This is how you win trust and you turn people from Toyota fans into Ford fans.

I wonder what Chris Brogan thinks about how Steve Kovak handled himself?

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