A little experiment…
Web guru, Jakob Neilson, wrote last year that the majority of people who interact with social media in some way don’t contribute to it whatsoever. His theory is:
* 90% of users are lurkers (i.e., read or observe, but don’t contribute).
* 9% of users contribute from time to time, but other priorities dominate their time.
* 1% of users participate a lot and account for most contributions: it can seem as if they don’t have lives because they often post just minutes after whatever event they’re commenting on occurs.
I think there’s a lot of truth in Neilson’s theory just from writing this little ole blog myself. I think other people who write a blog will agree that it often seems like there are a certain set of people who regularly comment. Now, on my blog for example, I know that the people who comment regularly aren’t the **only** people who read my drivel because both FeedBurner and Google Analytics tell me otherwise. So, can you imagine the agony I’m going through here? Who are you? Would love some introductions.
So, at the risk of making myself look like an arse (wouldn’t be the first time) and no one replying at all…
Here’s the deal
* Add an introduction in the comment section below and I promise to subscribe to your blog (if you have one and if I’m not already subscribed, that is) and I’ll add a link to your blog/website from this post too. If you don’t want to comment send me an email instead.
Social media is about being social so let’s chat… or if you’re lucky enough to live in the North East, let’s meet up.
But please don’t make me look like an arse. 
TECHNICAL ERROR: Not sure why the comments aren’t loading up but thanks for the heads up! (Update: Fixed now I think)
New blogs I’m subscribed to:
Dutch Perspective
Walker Hamilton
The Net-Savvy Executive
The Copywriter’s Crucible
Movie Marketing Madness
Open the Dialogue
Flux PR
Blah, Blah! Technology
momentum
Travelling Online
One Man and His Blog
Nobo’s Marketing Watch
PR Blog Jots
New York University PR Forum
Blogs I’m already subscribed to:
Simon Wakeman
Ian Delaney
Ged
Joanna Tidball
Kev Price
Fake Plastic Noodles
Stephen is a communications consultant based out of the UK. You can connect with him on Twitter or check out his LinkedIn profile. | Email Stephen
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Simon Wakeman
Stephen,
I’ll be first and save your blushes! I’m sure you’ll get plenty of comments really.
I tried something similar a few months back on my blog – I wasn’t inundated but did get to know some new readers.
all the best,
sw
ps I’m hoping I’m already on your RSS reader, but if not I’ll be checking my stats go up by one today!
Stephen
Hello mate,
I kinda had a sneaky suspicion you read it. Likewise I read you too.
I hope some people who normally don’t comment actually do. Like you say, it allows you to get to know some new people and may hopefully help me find a few new blogs to read too.
Marc
Hi Stephen,
I’ve been reading your blog for probably over a year already. Never commented though. So hi!
I don’t live in the North East; I live in the Midwest and in your country’s former colony. And I once lived a bit closer, in the South West… of London. Clapham South/Balham to be exact.
Anyway, I enjoy your blog. And this introduction thing is a fun idea.
Cheers!
Marc
Walker Hamilton
My name is Walker Hamilton. I run a web development shop in Chicago, IL (US). Uhhh…I’m also an information architecture graduate student by night at the Illinois Institute of Technology (aka IIT).
I don’t remember how I got introduced to this blog…but it’s generally really good so it managed to survive every culling of the my feed reader’s list.
Nathan Gilliatt
Anything for a subscriber, I suppose.
I hope there’s not going to be a quiz…
Matt Ambrose
Hi Stephen,
Most of the blogs I read seem to be American so its good to get your UK perspective on PR, internet marketing etc.
I have commented before (on the post about whether Brown would be continuing the use of spin I think) but I know I should do so more often. I know how it feels like your just talking to yourself sometimes.
I’m hoping my blog, The Copywriter’s Crucible, might be of some interest to you as it’s about internet copywriting and I do cover online PR from time to time.
http://thewritewords.me.uk/blog
Thanks,
Matt.
Ian Delaney
Me too, you arse.
I have found, generally though, that 90% of comments are left by bloggers. What does that mean? That all of us are attention whores, or that we “get” the need for interaction? Bit of both, I guess.
Stephen
Marc: Thanks for the comment. I’ve never came across your blog before but I’m now a subscriber. Coincidence, I used to live in Clapham too. Small world and all that.
Cheers!
Walker: I know you dude. You’ve offered me some sound advice on this blog on more than one occasion. Thanks for keeping my blog in your feed reader. You are now in mine. No pressure.
Nathan: Hah! No quizzes I assure you. Subscribed!
Matt: Thanks. Always looking to improve my writing style. (Would say ‘writing skills’ but don’t think I have any yet!)
Ian: Been reading you for ages. And, yes, I think there’s a bit of an attention whore in all bloggers. Ahem, except for me of course.
Ged
Nice posting will keep an eye on this to see who comments. Will have to show up in the North soon
Stephen
Yeah let me know when you’re around, mate.
Chris Thilk
Hey Stephen,
I’ve been reading your blog for a while now since I’ve worked for a while in PR and you put out good stuff.
It’s an interesting experiment you’ve got here and I can’t wait to see how it pans out.
Movie Marketing Madness (http://www.moviemarketingmadness.com/blog/) is my personal blog and Open the Dialogue (http://www.openthedialogue.com/) is my agency blog.
Best,
–Chris Thilk
Rax Lakhani
Hi Stephen
Taaaa-daaaa!!
Great blog. I’ve been subscribed a while now via http://thefriendlyghost.wordpress.com/ ’s feed list.
I’ve been hearing some great things about webitpr recently. I was gutted that I couldn’t make it to your foosball event the other day – especially after a hearty invite from Giles.
Anyway, I’m sure our paths will cross one day in the real world… until then – I’ll remain a faithful subscriber!
(By the way – my blog is new and has lots of design “issues” which I’m in the process of ironing out. So it’s a bit low on content at the mo…)
Rax
Joanna Tidball
Hey Stephen – I’m pretty sure you know I’m a reader – I subscribe through Bloglines and mainly read posts there, only clicking through if I do want to comment. My own blog is far less frequently updated than yours
Pez
Hi Stephen
I think I’m part of the 9% – I contribute if I can, but otherwise I’m happy to just watch the debates and discussions take place!
I’ve been reading your blog since you moved to webitpr, as it’s a necessity to keep up with anything North East related in my job. Also it’s a good blog… there’s a few others I’ve subscribed to through reading this one as well.
I’m sure Kev Price would comment as well, but he’s not in the country right now, so I’ll link to his blog for him! http://www.kevprice.com
Cheers
Pez
Nicky Davis
Hi,
Yes, the “long time listener/reader, first time caller/poster” theory is interesting…
Good luck with the intros!
Cheers, Nicky
http://www.evokedset.com/news/momentum/index.php
Wayne Smallman
It’s funny this article should come onto my lunchtime radar.
I was having a ‘debate’ with one of my regular readers and subscribers last night on MSN.
I have this writing style that sort of closes off my articles and all but stifles further discussion.
She thinks I’m being deliberate, I think she’s a lurker.
We laughed .. well, I did.
Anyway, I think those figures might be about right.
A good example of those who hardly ever do anything when passing through are people from Digg, with StumbleUpon a close second…
Stephen
Wow! Thanks everyone. I’m gonna go update the post now.
Alastair McKenzie
Hi
Sent an email earlier to introduce myself because your comments weren’t working or displaying.
It made me think about this post and your previous one (counting how many comments you make). I’d probably comment more if it weren’t so difficult sometimes. It is not unusual to find comment sections on blogs not working.
The other day I spent a frustrating and sizeable chunk of the morning trying to make a point on Neil McLean’s Travel Pr blog (www.thetravelprblog.com)….. I gave up when i suddenly realised how much time it was taking up.
So I tend to lurk first and only comment if i’m really desperate!
I
Fabian
Hey Stephen,
I’ve been reading your blog for about a month, through the Power150 list. I don’t think I ever commented, so I guess that makes me a lurker. I lived in the southeast for a while, but now im back in Europe…
take care
Fabian
Wayne Smallman
Hi Stephen, thanks for the link.
I don’t do ’blogrolls any more (there’s a good reason for this, which I’ve written about recently, a link to which can be found in the comment URL), but what I will do is spread some link luv’ your way in an article I’ve got lined up.
Specificity and strong anchor text beats a flat link any day of the week and thrice on Sundays.
Speak to you soon…
Melanie Seasons
Oh, yes. She’s back… Melanie commenting up a storm. Technically, I was no longer a lurker as of yesterday! My blog is quite new, I would be incredibly grateful if you subscribed to it.
http://fakeplasticnoodles.com
Cheers,
Melanie
P.S. I have you on my blogroll and am subscribed through Bloglines.
Sarah Wurrey
Interesting experiment!
adam berkowitz
Ugh, I’d prefer to not use the term “lurker”, only because it conjures up visions of that guy who hangs outside the Port Authority trying to lick out-of-towners.
My point: I read your blog. But never comment. And, for that, I apologize.
Adam
Anna
Hi Stephen;
Reached this post via Wayne Smallman’s Stumble. Okay, I admit that I can be somewhat of a ‘lurker’, on various sites. Mostly I think I fall into the 9% category, though. I don’t alway’s feel I have anything worth contributing to a post… but, I have agreed to make more of an effort to start coming out of the shadows on occasion.
So, hi! Nice to meet you. Great post!
Anna
Adam
*waves*
I’ve been reading you via feed subscription for quite a while now.
I blog at: One Man & His Blog.
Jackie
Stephen,
Oh, and I’m pretty sure we’re friends on Pownce? Maybe.. Ok.
I don’t have a blog (yet..), but I am subscribed to yours. Just wanted to say ‘hello’ as I’m one of those lurkers
Stephen
Thanks folks. You’re now in my feed folder titled “People who read my blog.”
Now if I could just get the other hundreds to comment also.
Alsastair: I didn’t receive your email. I’ll check the contact form.
Adam: I agree. Blame Jakob Neilson.
Cheers!
Joy
Hi Stephen, I totally agree with you. I had one guy respond so quickly with a comment after each post he disagreed with I told him we should have coffee he’s so friendly (not really, but you know what I mean right?)
In any case, I’m a publicist based in Los Angeles, CA and would love to have you make some comments on my blog. Especially the last one I’ve written where a local newspaper is censoring what I post on my blog. Would find your opinion very interesting on this issue.
Thanks for writing what you write and look forward to hearing more!
JOY
Justin
Hi Stephen,
Kind of figured you know I subscribe, not having a history in in the PR world it’s been a real insight reading your thoughts.
Your dedicated webitpr website developer
p.s. don’t have a blog and as with most web dev’s my personal site is under construction…
Stephen
“don’t have a blog and as with most web dev’s my personal site is under construction…”
Hah! So true too.
Michael
Hey Stephen,
I’ve been reading your posts ever since, mate! I remember when you first told me about your blogging plans in this lecture room in Sunderland.
Me, I still don’t have my own blog. Probably I’m too shy for telling everybody what I think. As soon as I start with my Master thesis, I’ll definitely set one up. Or probably (if I find the time) a blog about my new job in online research. Fingers crossed. I’ll give you a shout!
Cheers,
Michael
Stephen
Hello, sir.
Good to hear from you. And glad I haven’t bored you to death yet.
Talk to you later…
Alex Sulimoff
Ðre you ready to read in Russian? ;]
Sarah Stimson
I read you too… but I think you may already know that. I’m usually one of the dreaded lurkers. I don’t really want to comment on PR-esq type things – I don’t *do* PR – I just recruit them! But I do like to know what’s going on in the industry, so PR blogs are a nice way to keep a finger on the pulse.
Now and then though, I can’t keep my mouth shut.
Stephen Waddington
I’ve never been a lurker
bOB ledREW
Hi Stephen — I’m on your blog quite regularly, and enjoy it. Checking in from the colonies!
Heather Yaxley
Oh go on then – have a little link love from me too.
Jo
Howdy,
I never thought of my blog-reading habits as lurking in the shadows, but I suppose it’s true.
I started a blog, but then lost my zip. Now I just skulk around reading blogs like – seeing how other people do it and trying to find my inspiration to write again.
Jo
Sindhu
I do subscribe to your blog and read the updates. I heard about it at the PR Careers Day in November 2006. I am a reader of blogs due to a lack of time! I write my own blog. It is more of an onlilne diary recording any interesting PR/Advertising related things.
Ewan
We read you here at SMS Text News towers, Stephen!
Stephen
Thanks mate. Right back at ya!
Camilla
Hey Stephen
I feel quite common knowing I am in the majority – 90%. I am only writing on this to make myself seem a bit more cool.
Thanks for help and advice over recent months.
Camilla x
Stephen
Hey Camilla,
Thanks and yep, you are indeed cool!
Tim Hood
Hi Stephen
I’ve become a loyal reader since you wrote about our site Yoosk.co.uk , which in turn triggered a very insightful article by Sarah Wurrey, which in turn helped us clarify our business objectives vis a vis the PR industry (so thanks to both of you). The site’s come a long way since then (redesigned, new features) and starting to attract traffic and secure promises from the great and good to answer members’ questions.
Cheers
Tim
Kelly
I’m a little late, but here goes.
I think I account for the 9 % in the middle.. though I wish I commented/participated a lot more. My usual problem is I can’t think of something great to say… So here’s the perfect opportunity!
I’ve been reading this blog for months, though I think this is the first time I’ve commented. My blog is Persuasive e-Marketing — Hope you like it!
Serge
A bit late, but still: here’s the proof I still read your blog. Albeit from time to time mostly: nothing for a week or two, and then catch up. Have been on holiday though, so there was a lot of catching up to do.
Anyway: as you know I do not exactly live in the North East (at least not the NE of England
), but I am always game for meeting up for a drink.
BTW : careful with subscribing to too many blog feeds. I seem to remember a post by yourself about having to clean up feeds because there simply were too many !
Stephen
Hey Serge,
Me mam will be pleased. She just mentioned the other day how you hadn’t commented for a while. You’re one of her favourites.
And, yes, would love to meet for a beer if we’re ever in the same country.