Comments on: PRing Kevin

By: Kevin

Kevin — Wed, 29 Jun 2005 05:27:22 +0000

A little too close to home… blog-based shilling is now official. See http://www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2005/06/26/for_a_fee_some_blogs_boost_firms/?page=1

By: Ivan Chew

Ivan Chew — Tue, 28 Jun 2005 18:39:18 +0000

Ok, I had to check what “shilling” means :)
It’s defined as “posing as a satisfied customer to dupe bystanders into participating in a swindle.”

>>>
The issue is, how far do they have to do before they (either Kevin or the company) move from opinion leadership to shilling?
>>>
Why would it be an issue, I wonder?

In anycase, the inherent Blogosphere culture means the blogger would be exposed for the fraud that he or she is.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Sun, 26 Jun 2005 01:40:55 +0000

I agree it can be deceptive. While it’s pretty common for magazines to receive “samples” from companies for review, in the case of bloggers, I think it really depends on the reputation of the blogger who puts up these reviews. If it’s a really “bad” product, there’s no way I would put it on my blog. Kinda reminds me of how “referral marketing” works.

About the Elise, my neighbor in Singapore was a car reviewer for amajor motoring magazine and I got to see one up close in my parking lot. It’s fun and sexy, but it’s all sports and stripped of all usual comforts of most cars nowadays. I think I saw the same one in Buffalo as you.