Anyone who has a service to offer or a product to sell needs to have a strong online presence. One of the tasks of a PR agency, especially one with hi-tech clients, is to cultivate this presence. The more relevant search results that are returned when someone googles your client’s name, the happier your client will be.

Some brands are actively hindering this process, which may not seem like the most logical PR strategy.  Yet in a recent story on The Register, it seems that that is exactly what Bryan Adams (I’m not a fan) has done, by forcing the majority of his unofficial fansites to go offline. These actions follow similar moves by Prince last year. This kind of behaviour is going to damage their PR campaign.  The fans won’t want to pay tribute to their favourite bands by building a website, for fear of legal action. Also, the reporting of what has been done will only generate negative coverage in the media. I think the problem might boil down to rock star egos but, either way, they are giving their PR companies an uphill struggle.

Luke Davies