We have the ability to blog, but was anyone aware of the ability to flog? For some, fake blogging (aka flog or flack blog) is another method to promote a product in a “disguised” fashion. The object of the flog is to generate traffic and interest 'in a product disproportionate to the interest a company could generate using the same budget on traditional means of advertising'(Wikipedia). Those who write Flogs pretend to be an individual writing a blog for enjoyment or personal-interest, when in fact the whole blog is a manipulated piece of advertising. A Flog 'is often applied to corporate blogs or those 'written' by politicians, when in fact it is the creation of the public relations firms or departments.
I am not sure about anyone else, but doesn't this feel a little like spin? Unless one is clear about their intentions to promote and who they are, why try to intentionally deceive the public?
The picture depicts McDonald's attempt at a fake blog. Check out Strategic Public Relations to learn more.
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fake_blog&oldid=204934226
3 comments:
In the old days, PR people wrote speeches for politicians and CEOs, nowadays they write blogs. The techniques have evolved, but the bottom line is the same. Lot of the companies are creating blogs which need to be written by important people, and important people are often much to busy to be bothered to write a blog. They work long hours trying to manage a company. I’m not saying flogging is ok, but I honestly can’t blame them either.
I agree with Jelena about what she says. It is very common these days the companies to create their corporate blogs and through them to promote their products. But what they say and how they say is what makes the differercce and of course by whom. For this reason i wont be negative about flogging ,but i would prefer to be minimized.
Thank you for your comments. I agree with you both, blogging seems to be a crucial part of message transformation aka PR. However, my concern with flogging is its mode of deception. If people are not honest, then once again it can create a bad name for PRs. One aspect of flogging I think could really have an impact on PR is its ability to create discussion. I enjoy the 'spin' the some flogs take (specifically the one from the fake Steve jobs http://fakesteve.blogspot.com/). Not only is it humorous and clever, it creates publicity. Maybe flogs are a good thing because it forces us to step way from our serious PR lives and explore life 'outside the PR box'.
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