socialmedian: 'Fakeosphere' latest Web trap for consumers

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'Fakeosphere' latest Web trap for consumers

Source: MSNBC

Nov 04, 2009

Summary

This blog-like service is really an ad for a Web sales company.

Click on a weight-loss, work-at-home or acai berry ad and you’re likely to land on what looks like a blog or discussion board. Regular folks appear to be debating the merits of the product – you might even see some contrary opinions. But in the end, the bloggers and their readers always win over the skeptics and persuade them to buy the product from a convenient nearby link.

Welcome to the “fakeosphere.” Internet marketing veteran and analyst Jay Weintraub says fake blogs – or flogs – fake news sites and manufactured testimonials are the fastest-growing segment of Internet advertising. He thinks it’s a $500 million-a-year industry – and he compares it to the explosive growth of spam a decade ago.

“I don’t think people realize how big this has become, and how quickly,” said Weintraub, adding that a popular top flog campaign can generate 10,000 daily sales.

That growth might be quickly stunted, however, with recent word from the Federal Trade Commission that fake testimonials from consumers – includ

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