The effectiveness of earned versus paid space, especially on Facebook, is hot topic in PR. So, today I decided to click on a Facebook banner advertisement. It took me to a flog. No profile information from the author, no previous entries and an unusual amount of positive feedback on the day of the post. I tried leaving a comment… my browser crashed.
Being one of two interns on FH New York’s Digital team, I spend a lot of time online searching for key influencers. Most often, this time is spent in the blogosphere. Since contact information is essential for outreach, looking to a blogger’s profile is one of the first things I do. It’s developed into a habit, whether searching blogs for work or leisure. In a way, it has become a benchmark for credibility.
More recently, I’ve noticed that I’m much more critical of information coming from anonymous sources. In fact, unless the topic of conversation is celebrity gossip, I often skim right over them. Don’t get me wrong, the proof is in the pudding, and content wins above all else. However, even ambiguous descriptions and locations are great for giving some sort of context. In a space where building a sense of community is necessary, complete anonymity is no longer an option.
