Character Blogs Multiply – With New Wrinkles

The value of character blogs – which are usually authored by a fictitious character, brand or toy – is an ongoing debate among marketing and communications professionals. But there’s little doubt they are rapidly growing in quantity and creativity.

As character blogs evolve, they use a variety of new approaches and tactics – including a few examples that present character blogs next to posts from real people. Consider the following television blogs highlighted by Neal Justin in the Star Tribune:

• “Grey’s Anatomy” features a nurse’s blog (so you can really find out “what really happens at the hospital”) and another for Joe the Bartender. The blog from the show’s writers sparks hundreds of comments per post.
• The “Crossing Jordan” blog (written by the Nigel Townsend character) offers fans an ongoing murder-mystery story and details about other characters.
• Head over to “CSI: Miami” for week-by-week insider information from executive story editor Corey Miller. Maybe not the most exciting stuff, but certainly fodder for devoted fans.
• At “Deal or No Deal,” the banker (whoever he or she is) writes short, pithy posts about contestants.
• “Doogie Howser” alum Neil Patrick Harris blogs as his new character, Barney, in the CBS show “How I Met Your Mother.”