These days online buzz and word-of-mouth can often influence the success of a company. And with the explosion of blogs, customer forums and sites that rate almost every mass market product or service, many companies are transitioning to online participation.
Joining this virtual, collective conversation is an important business tool for companies to connect with their audience in ways they have not before. Even 100 year old companies, like General Motors are transforming themselves to keep up with the online generation. Sites like GMnext hope to forge connections with the general public by offering access to its most influential global designers, engineers and technologists. Platforms like this one can be used to discuss a wide range of topics, including next generation designs, technologies that impact fuel consumption and new safety features.
