Kia Launches Corporate Blog
Kia Motors Corporation, Korea’s alternative automotive brand has one of the youngest demographics in the industry, its price conscious cars appealing to those just starting out in life and in need of a financial break. It makes sense then, to reach out to these youthful owners and prospective buyers in a globally understood language that hits this demographic right in the eyes, via a new corporate blog dubbed Kia BUZZ.
The words corporate and blog hardly go hand in hand, being that blogs were initially designed to communicate personal interests to like minded individuals. Just like anything good, however, it’s only a matter of time before big business sees the opportunities and capitalizes, and in this case big business is Kia and its new blog is the best way it sees to reaching its core audience, and more importantly, finding out what these consumers want in a new car.
Of course, this isn’t the first global corporate blog to come about, although it’s the first from a Korean company. Kia BUZZ is expected to help the Korean automaker to get closer to its customers, as well as industry opinion leaders and car enthusiasts alike, by engaging them in open dialogue with a wide range of Kia experts from within the company.
Being that more than 80-percent of Kia’s sales occur in overseas markets, the new blog will cater to international buyers by communicating in English only, making it especially user friendly to North American markets.
According to a press release, the new site will feature a number of Kia employees from varied departments within the company, including design, environmental management, product planning, marketing, after sales service, and, to make matters more interesting, direct communication with top level management. Topics will range from products to industry trends, and upcoming events.
“The Kia BUZZ blog will open up previously untapped direct lines of communication between our company, our customers and our partners throughout the world,†commented Mr. Yong-Mo Ahn, Executive Vice-President, Overseas Marketing Division. “Our vehicles are fresh and dynamic, and appeal to a customer demographic more likely to frequently use new media tools like blogs. This is an innovative way through which real voices from throughout our organization can reach new audiences with information about Kia Motors, our expertise, products, services and initiatives.â€
While difficult for outsiders to see how the new blog affects Kia’s upcoming products, the way it sells and services its vehicles and other aspects of regular operations, it makes sense that anything said to the experts and executives taking an active part will be heard and acted upon if deemed doable. After all, automaker marketing departments spend a great deal of money in focus groups attempting to garner information from would-be buyers who are less likely to be as candid as the average blogger.
Look for this trend to become more and more popular amongst automakers, and in the meantime go check out www.kia-buzz.com.
March 20th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
I have a Kia and it’s a piece of c_ap!! I’ve had nothing but problems with it and others who have Kia vans and cars who I know have nothing but problems too.
I’ve recently spent $1200 in repairs and was told by my mechanic that it’s common with Kias to need a lot of work after 3 or 4 years of ownership. Why is this???