Here Comes Another Fake Blog

Susannah Gardner says Delicious Destinations is a new fake blog from GourmetStation, a provider of upscale prepared cuisine.

Comments

[Tris Hussey]

Steve, I think it's more accurately a "character blog". Toby Bloomberg is one of the minds behind this. "Fake blog" is too negative. This is all about fun, and it's fully disclosed that the author, T. Alexander, isn't a real person, but the information, the passion, the authenticity, those are real.

Why? Why, if the information and passion are real, create a fake person for a fictitious blog? By definition, the authenticity in nonexistant.

Why not have a real person dole out the real information with real passion. THAT would be authentic. Or, even better, find someone who is already dputting out such a blog and sponsor it?

For me, the core message of the disclosure is that:

"we developed a fictitious, well-traveled host...[whose blog is] the heart and soul of GourmetStation!"

Does that disturb anyone else?

[Danny]

Sorry...left my info off the above post.

[Paul Chaney]

Steve,
I have to agree with Tris. "Fake" is such a pejorative term. "Character" blog is more accurate I believe.

Let me make a bit of a prediction (or state the obvious, whichever). I believe we're going to see "character" blogs become a new genre. Oh, I know the naysayers won't like it (I hope you're NOT one of them.), but so what. Some of them would rather it still be 1999 methinks.

I say let's give this new class of blogs a chance to develop before quashing it too quickly. Blogs, they are a-changin'!

[Eileen]

I agree with Steve. Call it what you will, character blog or fake blog. But, the fact is a lot of marketing effort is being put into being fake and not genuine.

Where "real" blogs break down the PR speak and speak in raw, real terms. A character blog is the PR professionals "safe" foray into the blogosphere.

"Real" blogs are based on a personality honestly sharing his/her expertise or unique insight. Readers are drawn in by revelations of professional knowledge (Steve Rudel) or personal insight (Dooce).

Character blogs will only work if there is really, really good talent behind the scenes to provide entertaining, and useful, content.

[jokobe]

Character blog? Well, it has as much character as the people in those stupid television ads.
Guess it is less PR and more advertising. Prefer not to believe in the eternal truth told by advertisers.

[cryptblade]

Steve,

Sometimes you really come off so pompous despite some great information you dish out. It's unfortunate. You made it seem like the end of the world for Target with their adult products SNAFU. I believe you were one of the bloggers chiding Bob Bly for his derogatory views on blogging, and now you're being all elitist about blogging.

So what if these character blogs spring up everywhere? Do you think blogging is only for you? There are "hardcore bloggers" just like there are "hardcore" people of all professions and hobbies. During the Target SNAFU you made it seem like bloggers had all this kind of power. The truth is, bloggers had 1 major triumph and that was with CBS. Despite that incident putting blogs on the map, most people dont know, read, or understand blogs.

But they know the term "blog". So the majority of those who dont know what a blog is but see something that says it's a blog will trigger a mental association of what a blog is. You think a blog is or should be one thing. But for a corporation to use a blog, why does it have to adhere to your "hardcore blogger" point of view? In fact, most blogs I see are mindless ramblings making your blog a whore. Why? Because you post about professional topics instead of mindless ramblings.

You want blogs to be used by corporations and for companies to make blogs into a legitimate and valuable addition to their media communication. But you want them to be PR focused; it's not the only way.

A blog like Captain Morgan can offer a simple community and because it's Captain Morgan, it can work. The integration of a blog does not have to follow any one standard.

By you calling this a "fake blog" shows a low side in your character. It's not a "fake blog" - it's a blog. It may not meet your standards of a blog, but last I checked there is no such thing as the Definition of a Blog by Steve Rubel or the Blog Constitution by Steve Rubel - or the Official Blog Guidelines by Steve Rubel.

I say Captain Morgan is doing a great thing by experimenting and willing to incorporate and add more to their communication medium.

[Randy Charles Morin]

I think we need some definitions. What's a fake blog, spam blog, character blog, etc. The mentionned fake blog, doesn't fit my definition of fake. The MSN found ones were clearly fake blogs.

[Isaac B2]

It's not a fake blog -- it's a real blog, of fictional adventures written under a pseudonym.

[kittyjack]

There are some blogs that are clearly fake, and not "character" blogs. One that I found (simply by them leaving a comment on my blog) was a blog set up with no text articles, just a few Google ads, and several affiliate links to Google products. Here's an interesting article about how to go about reporting true "fake" blogs, but report carefully, some are as they called them above, character blogs.