OPRP Episode 020 – 11.23.09
This week the Online PR Podcast with Pete Codella of Codella Marketing and Mark Polson of Code Greene discusses astroturfing, media relations and Google’s new social search.
Astroturfing
In public relations circles astroturfing is known as an artificial grassroots movement. The term gets its name from AstroTurf, synthetic carpeting made to look like natural grass.
The idea is that an organization engages in a planned campaign to further a political or social cause without disclosing how it stands to benefit.
It’s a deceptive practice that’s just bad for a brand.
Media Relations and New Media Relations
Pete and Mark discuss the change in how public relations professionals approach media representatives, both traditional and new media journalists.
Pete’s comments relate to how different it is pitching a story to a blogger compared to a journalist at a newspaper.
If online impressions and inbound links are important, than understanding how to appropriately approach a blogger is important.
Google Social Search
Have you heard about Google’s experimental Social Search? It works right alongside Google’s regular search but helps you find relevant blogs, reviews and comments from within your own social circle.
This, to us, is the future of Google search.
Resources
Astroturfing — a definition on Wikipedia
Twitter
Facebook
FriendFeed