Flog - create fake blogs for marketing products

Some companies, including Sony and Wal-Mart, have set up a "personal" website to post their praise for their products and services. Meanwhile, many other companies hire famous bloggers to write praises.

Only on December 22, online statistics firm Technorati discovered 63 suspicious blogs, or flogs.

This completely new advertising approach comes from the popularity of personal web with the ability to "spread the virus". Sony's entertainment computer company in the United States last week admitted it was trying to create a fake blog with the article: " All I want on the Christmas holiday is a Sony PlayStation Portable ."

Blog product reviews are often very influential.Photo: G-marketing-Blog .

The owner of this blog introduced himself as an amateur hip-hop writer named Charlie. After being discovered, Sony posted a short message on Charlie blog with an apology for being "a bit too smart".

Wal-Mart, the world's largest retail system, was also criticized in October when writing an online diary in the name of couples Laura and Jim. They traveled across the country by car and they were impressed when Wal-Mart allowed them to park thanks to the bulky car overnight as well as the dedicated service attitude of Wal-Mart employees. However, Business Week magazine discovered that the couple's cross-US tour was essentially funded by Wal-Mart.

The flog phenomenon is making customers mislead about the products and services of companies. The US Trade Commission (FTC) has warned that all blogs of this type will soon be closed.

Not only blogs, video sharing sites YouTube and social networks for teenagers MySpace is also becoming a place for businesses to introduce themselves.