"What the bloody hell are you waffling on about?" I hear you cry.
Ok, yeh, I have been sidetracked a little bit. Sometimes the Engineer in me bubbles to the surface and I have to knock it back down with a metaphorical 'reality bat', normally in the shape of my friends calling me a geek.
Anyway, back to the matter in hand: This week I was surfing the internet and I decided to find some interesting statistics relating to blogging.
Was I successful? ........ Was I?! I found an uber-interesting study done by an internet geek called Jakob Neilsen, who is renowned for examining the behaviour of internet users. In this particular investigation he had narrowed down his scope to encompass the behaviour of people who followed other people's blogs, and what he discovered was quite amazing.
His latest study found that 90% of online blog readers are 'lurkers' (people who read a blog without ever commenting on it) with only 9% of users contributing ‘a little’ and 1% actively contributing.
Pic.No.1. Just in case you didn't understand the previous sentence, Jakob Neilsen also included a pyramid picture. Thanks Jakob, it really helps because the previous sentence was a mind-bender
So in summary, 1% of your blog’s users are actively engaging with your blog and the rest are at best occasional contributers...... according to Jakob that is.
At first I thought it was all poppycock, but then I looked at the super-dooper graph that I get everyday that tells me how many people have visited my blog. And then I looked at the number of people who leave comments. And then it dawned on me......... most (i.e. nearly everyone) of my blog visitors are lurkers!
Hey lurkers ..... stop that! Come and say 'hello', I promise that I don't bite. Blogging is all about meeting new people and if you are 'lurking' I can't interact with you, so we need to put some de-lurking processes in place.
So, I decided to sneakily steal an idea from a blog that I follow called Alfred lives here. He devised two cunning plans to coax lurkers from anonymity (whilst contributing to a good cause in the process). Here goes:
De-lurking process 1.
If you leave a comment on my blog, I will donate £1.00 to the Pakistani flood relief fund
De-lurking process 2.
If you become a 'follower' of my blog, I will donate £2.00 to the Pakistani flood relief fund.
Let's do it! (but not so much that I can't afford the charity bill!).
27 comments:
1. I'm leaving a comment, even though I'm not a lurker (more of a stalker). Does that mean you still have to cough up a quid?
2. I am already a follower of your blog - though I don't use that Google Friend thing (not sure what it is, actually). But, does that mean you're a further two quid out of pocket?
3. Did you only want lurkers to comment? This could get quite costly.
I already follow you so that is 1 off! Whoo hoo! ;) I promise never to lurk.
Yeah, ok...first since the comments I've been able to see thus far (the 1st two) basically didn't address the obvious...let me say
1 - Annie, I know I'm not so much a friend as an associate that kinda, sorta, may exist, somewhere in the world, but in reality might actually be quirk of your brain cells, in which case this post is strangely a figment of your imagination....*breather*....let me say you are a geek of the first order. Yet, it's strangely appealing in a mental sort of way! =) Maybe it's because you want to ride bikes with me! =) HA
2 - I already stalk you
3 - Since you stalk me, it's official that you will never be able to shut me up, unless you close up shop and open a blog under another name, in another country, and somehow manage to talk all your lurkers into following you and not telling me! Since we share some stalkers that might be difficult! =) As a result - I have officially just spent £1.00 of your hard earned dough! =)
Jewell =)
I totally believe those statistics.
Now how about you pay me to leave a comment? ;)
There must be a sale today b/c you just saved £2.00 since I already follow you. Very interesting info on the lurkers. Come out from the dark side, peeps!
It is very interesting isn't it. I'm fascinated with Google Analytics. I'm not sure why I care what source visitors come from, how many times they've visited, etc, but it's as engrossing as a good novel! (And I already follow, and would've probably commented anyway, but not to discourage the donation, it is a good cause)
I didn't know about these statistics, but most of the people who visit my blog are lurkers as well.
Wow, interesting stat, and a good cause to raise $ for. I am thrilled to spend your money, as you have been happy to spend mine!
I already follow you, so this is just gonna cost youa 'oner"...
Unless I come back again and comment. And again and again and again.... just saying, I am up obscenely early today, I have the time!
I found your blog whilst looking for a spag bol recipe! How random is that?
So my dinner has cost you a pound, but gained you another follower on twitter and a warm charitable glow to boot :)
Okies make it a quid from me please Anne! :D
Unless you want to chuck in £2 for me following you retrospectively? ;-)
I would like one day when every single person that was.. or is it were... damn grammar. But I digress..I would love for them all to take 1 day and each make a comment! That would make my day. Until then, I hope I give them something to keep lurking for.
Dunno what I am. There are lies, damned lies and statistics. For hardcore info, Google's feedburner stats offer good oversight, Sitemeter's visitor stats are incredibly accurate but far too addictive, and besides, the only hold the info of the last 100 visitors and I turn that number over so quickly I'd have to be living on Sitemeter (and I used to, before I weaned myself off the addiction). Whilst Sitemeter doesn't capture those who use Readers (like me), Google's Feedburner does. It's interesting to see that there are 82 people subscribed to my feed. Don't they have a life?
See, I'm trying to add a little value here, not just clip you for a quid. :)
Hey up Masher, you're my stalker? Cool! I've never been stalked before! Yeh, I'll cough up a quid for a stalker...
Thanks for stopping by Scargosun, and thank you for promising not to lurk!!
OMG Jewell, you are more of a mentalist that I have been accused of being! Ha ha! me a geek? Never. I like your comments, so don't worry I won't be shutting up shop and sneaking off to another URL!! *wink* .....yet!
Hi Candice! Yeh, they seem pretty accurate to me too. But I am not paying you for the comment... you have already cost me quid for stopping by ;-)
Hello Fourjedis and Brent...blooming right, it is interesting. I am going to weed out more statistics for future blogs....!
Hi Brahm! I just knew you would be here after I gave your last charity posting a wallet-bashing! It's called retribution!
Hi Roxy
I know, it's weird that most people prefer to lurk... they must be shy!
Hello Rob, actually it's not too weird that you found my blog through the spag bol recipe. That particular postings brings more new people to my site that anything else - spooky!
Hiya Gill, go on then, I will make it three quid considering you took the time to stop by!
Hey Holly - I know, wouldn't that be great? You'd have comments coming out of your ears.... don't think it's gonna happen anytime soon though!
Bren, as always you are a geek! I can just imagine you sitting there poring over your site statistics ;-)
I'm one of the 90%, such a bloody sheep me...;)
But now, not only have I commented but I have also subscribed and so I'll get told whenever you write a new post - so I can lurk in style!
Oh and Twitter - yep, following!
:)
Hey Mark! you are one of the 90%? I think lurkers are supposed to be all shy and retiring, not all loud and proud like you!
P.S. I am secretly glad you are following! Thanks
What words..
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