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June 17, 2008
Astroturfing - the online definition
Have you noticed how a "real life" term can sometimes get used for an online application? I came across one today - astroturfing which I am told by someone who really knows about these things is now illegal in the UK.
Let's start in real life. Have you even stood at a market stall, as the guy on the stand sells a job lot of meat at five quid to the audience ... "and I have more the same" and they all go for a fiver. Great fun to watch, lovely way to do things - although perhaps more historic than present day. But how to get the price up? How about introducing a stooge in the audience who bids, or taking bids "off the wall" from a fictitious bidder? Not quite the right thing to do.
"Astroturfing" is the same thing on line - setting up another site that's a forum or a chat room, and seeding it with posts and recommendations about your own products. You'll help your search engine rankings, and you'll help to persuade people who reach your site that others (!) recommend you. Hmm - sounds like deceitful advertising and a con to me.
Posted by gje at June 17, 2008 08:22 PM