Dell's Channel Blog Goes Live

After a slight delay, Dell has launched its channel blog. The company now has a Web 2.0 platform that will be both a blessing and a burden. The VAR Guy cautions most companies against launching corporate blogs. But in this case, Dell has made a smart move. Here’s why.

Most corporate blogs are nothing more than vendor hype and highly polished marketing jargon. Even worse, they don’t accept reader comments or constructive criticism.

Watch Your Mouth

Alas, corporate blogs often lack everything that’s GREAT about Web 2.0 technology — reader interaction, cross links, gossip, speculation, debate. Maybe even a little profanity sprinkled in here and there.

But let’s give Dell some credit. The company understands the point of Web 2.0 sites: Share your vision, solicit feedback, and adjust your strategy based on healthy debate. Dell does this all the time on its Direct2Dell site. And The VAR Guy expects that to continue on Dell’s new channel blog.

Of course, The VAR Guy is hoping for a little drama and sensationalism as well. Reading the Dell blog should be like watching a NASCAR race. He hopes to see fast-moving dialog, with the occasional horrific accident, where emergency workers have to save Dell from its own words as the company plows into a wall.

(Dude, that was a sharp turn…)

Kudos to Dell for having the guts to launch another corporate blog that actually accepts reader interaction from the most skeptical audience of all — the IT channel.

The PC giant is going to take some lumps from reader comments. But ultimately, that’s a good thing. And — surprise, surprise — we may actually see quite a few VARs stand up and cheer Dell for a change.