Overlooking the most powerful people in social media

Is there a single social media benchmark number out there that someone can say really matters?

Feedburner will tell you how many people subscribe to your blog, but not how many actually read it.

Tweetburner can show you how many people click on your links, but not what they think about them.

Twitter Grader and Twinfluence pump out numbers that really do not seem to tell you much.

Linkedin shows you how many connections you have, but not whether or not they’re interested in talking to you.

Technorati Authority shows how many people link to your blog, but not the quality of the links.

There are so many tools to quantify your presence or effect on the web, but without context or interpretation, the numbers mean nothing. Having 5,000 Twitter followers and 200 that actually converse with you is not nearly as impressive as having 500 Twitter followers and almost all 500 that converse with you.

Do you tweet, post, add on Linkedin, etc to get your numbers up or to get your interaction up? I think we might be overlooking some of the most powerful people in social media just because they don’t rank highest on the charts.

Am I close to being right? Or, am I wrong and all of the big social media influencers are getting their due recognition?

99 Total TweetBacks: (Tweet this post)

en: @Petote Hey now, let's save or contepmt for Mondays like everyone else... =P 07/08/09 12:23pm
en: @RitonaYoko *poke* you gots brothers or sisters? e.e 07/08/09 12:23pm
en: OR MAYBE I COULD FLY TO WHERE THEY LIVE AND CAMP OUTSIDE THEIR HOUSES THEN WHEN THEY COME OUT RAPE THEM LOL NO IM NOT CREEPY AT ALL 07/08/09 12:23pm
en: in times like these, i could use a man around.. or a really strong woman. 07/08/09 12:23pm
en: @tobybryans chances are i wont end up leaving? or ending up like that? 07/08/09 12:23pm
en: "Whether you think you can, or you can't, you're right." ~ Henry Ford #quote 07/08/09 12:23pm
en: really listening to man or astro man for the first time. this is so me, its stupid! 07/08/09 12:23pm
en: Not caring is the only way boys ever learn. True or False? 07/08/09 12:23pm
en: 'It is not 4 men 2 choose whether or not they will b under the rule of the Unive... Read More: http://is.gd/1r20s 07/08/09 12:23pm
<b>Or</b> as finished as it seems in the end.: Or as hopeless as it seems in the middle 07/08/09 12:20pm
en: LeBron staying or going, free agents remaining and the Browns offseason in review - Cleveland Sports Blo.. http://digg.com/u17Yt3 #browns 07/08/09 12:20pm
en: YouPoC is a powerful group communication service providing PTT over Cellular communications via YouPoC & Vodafone or Orange 07/08/09 12:20pm
en: Intuition or telepathy? What is your brain capacity to communicate with your Nabaztag? http://www.nabzone.com allows you to determine. 07/08/09 12:20pm
en: @Dannymcfly when will it be the day in which you reply me? just kidding (or not) ha 07/08/09 12:19pm
en: @DeansSexFiend I think I am a robot! Who needs sleep, or food for that matter. Last 3 nites have eaten canned veggies for dinner... no food 07/08/09 12:19pm
en: Good day twitts. What up with everyone on this nice day? Or are u all at work 2 blah... Lol 07/08/09 12:19pm
en: i must have voted for adam line to go to the all star game over 100 times... he'd better get in or it's a waste of my clicks! 07/08/09 12:19pm
en: @ErOneH8zDerek and why is that? Bc u don't wanna be? Or bc women r trifflin? 07/08/09 12:19pm
en: @qdolan what's this you say about os x server dumping wo?! Or wo dumping os x? URL? 07/08/09 12:19pm
en: @sophiebradshaw I need to choose between frosties or special k 07/08/09 12:19pm
en: Invention idea: stove that has a built in toaster that folds out or something. 07/08/09 12:19pm
en: the prada transformer is fun. regardless if serious or not- it exists and is no small experiment. maybe its a lesson in flexible progr ... 07/08/09 12:19pm
en: @skymook Are you talking about web programming... or home baking? ;) 07/08/09 12:19pm
en: @segdeha Ah! Maybe a case for a console = console || { log: function() {} }; line ... or something like that 07/08/09 09:48am
en: @sg77 Are you being ironic on purpose? Or do you have a solution? ;-) 07/08/09 09:48am
en: @TheWineVault Hey dont tell me I completely missed Lame Edna? Did you do it or did you bottle out? 07/08/09 09:48am
en: @MonthlyManner there's a reason wagons don't have breaks or seat belts. they're meant to be fallen from:) 07/08/09 09:48am
en: @steamrunner break 11 wickets with ball before other team can hit ball and run lots. Or catch ball when hit with bat. Repeat til tea time. 07/08/09 09:48am
en: @momtojake Most of our endometriosis patients have polyps and/or uterine septum that should be treated by hysteroscopy prior to conception 07/08/09 09:48am
en: @iranrevolution poor MJ... I wouldnt want to open my eyes 2 find any Khamenei in my room,father or son ;) @iranelection @gr88 07/08/09 09:48am
en: Interested in cooking, eating, homemaking, or recipes? then read this: http://short.to/is2n 07/08/09 09:47am
en: WITH OR WITHOUT YOU - U2 : Now Playing on #97.3 FM The Coast (#WFLC) - Listen online: http://coastfm.com/ 07/08/09 09:47am
en: Poetry, Prose or Drama... see what readers like most...http://weread.com 07/08/09 09:47am
en: hmmm what to have for dinner? leftover pasta, pumpkin pie or something that requires leaving the house? 07/08/09 09:47am
Sign the guest book listen to the music!: or www.reverbnation.com/tashastyles 07/08/09 09:47am
en: Rain or shine, we're here to feed you! Lunch features Spicy Shrimp Soup, Italian Marinated Chix Sandwich, and VG Curried Garbanzo & Veg Stew 07/08/09 09:47am
en: @Zosjaaa Aah, I wish I already had my dvd. But I have to wait 'till sunday or sth. 07/08/09 09:47am
en: wooooooo !! not going to skool tomorrow or next day :) 07/08/09 09:47am
en: @TheRealNobody or just drive in general...lmao dont be sorry thats very true. This aint drivin miss daisy lmao 07/08/09 09:47am
en: TRAIN your SEO or Staff to Manage your companies Social Media Presence and Advertising http://snipr.com/m97bw #twittertraining 07/08/09 09:47am
en: TRAIN your SEO or Staff to Manage your companies Social Media Presence and Advertising http://snipr.com/m97bw #twittertraining 07/08/09 09:47am
en: TRAIN your SEO or Staff to Manage your companies Social Media Presence and Advertising http://snipr.com/m97bw #twittertraining 07/08/09 09:47am
en: do you have an old toothbrush, some cleaning spray, a rag and/or paper towels? 07/08/09 09:47am
en: iconic turn or pictorial turn.. we will see 07/08/09 09:47am
en: @ScottSpittle Solid and easy to use, but lacking advanced customization and not as well thought out or open as I would like. 07/08/09 09:47am
pt: false or true 07/08/09 09:47am
en: @thagiftfromgod yes it was shows how much u care... or u jus too busy for lil ol sis now...but bk when we was n english class .... 07/08/09 09:47am
en: RT @RunToGold: Trace, your latest post is a thing of beauty - Inflation With Gary North Or Deflation With Mish http://tinyurl.com/nqsbtc 07/08/09 09:47am
en: Note 2 potential followers - if u r a porn star, hooker or female naked in ur pic - don't add me -it's a waste of ur time & mine blocking u! 07/08/09 09:47am
en: So like, if you reply to a celeb's tweets too often in one day, will they think you're a crazy stalker, a loyal fan or a loser? 07/08/09 09:47am
en: @rmack: what method you are using to access it?//added entries in hosts file n use twitterfox (or any client that supports ssl) 2 access it 07/08/09 09:47am
en: @DakotaFanning9 do you think kristen should choose rob or michael.. i say rob? 07/08/09 09:47am
en: @brightflashburn YES WE CAN. i support a ridiculously long acronym or something short'n' catchy. 07/08/09 09:47am
en: raining AGAIN in berlin...stop toying with me german weather, give me your A material or fuck off 07/08/09 09:47am
en: ANY COLOUR from 1-15 Aug 07/08/09 09:47am
en: gosh, i really need to manage my time or else deadzzzz http://plurk.com/p/17paj8 07/08/09 09:47am
en: DO YOU HAVE ANY SING REQUEST WELL LET US KNO WE WILL HAVE IT FO DOWNLOAD FOR YOU .. OR CONTACT US 866-415-5799 07/08/09 09:47am
en: Obiviously from the health, of a majority of americans, what we put into our bodies, is mostly or totally bad, and the doctors promote it! 07/08/09 09:47am
en: Going out for dinner at la Parisian. Should I have the frogs legs or the garlic Snails? 07/08/09 09:47am
en: @FeeBD yes but I fell asleep and missed it all,,,,just woke up in time for Rickey singing and saying goodbye for a couple of hours or so lol 07/08/09 09:47am
pt: true or false 07/08/09 09:47am
nl: Nou jan @jandijkgraaf we lijken wel broertjes. Met dta Crystal en Guy & Black or White. Waarschijnlijker: slechts vier keuzeopties 07/08/09 09:47am
en: Beyond Asimov's Laws, or how to learn to worry about ethics above and before all: http://www.physorg.com/news164887377.html 07/08/09 09:47am
en: when one is not leving some club or party 07/08/09 09:47am
en: http://tiny.cc/N6k7F is a awesome tool that will allow you to find out info about a phone number you don't know or recognize #phone 07/08/09 09:47am
en: im not really sure which was better 5years ago or now...hmmmm 07/08/09 09:47am
en: Why is it that all (or almost all) seems right with the world only until I hear from Harman? 07/08/09 09:47am
en: So I been up like a beast trying to figure if AT&T network went down or a jacked up my jailbreak... It was the network but did a restore ugh 07/08/09 09:47am
en: @ejf11 Just giving you some advice for when you see the crush next week. Either that or the Veg soup has gone to my head! 07/08/09 09:47am
en: BTEC Level 2 Self-Defence course 25th July 2009 9am till 4.30pm don't miss out. Call now 07905440243. or logon www.cia-online.co.uk 07/08/09 09:47am
en: @shedfire plain or smokey bacon? 07/08/09 09:47am
en: is it just me or does the Asian judge on #masterchef right now look like Mr. Miyagi? 07/08/09 09:47am
en: Feel sorry for MJs kids they shouldn't have been on stage or made to speak. I still have to watch the service but don't like sad events. 07/08/09 09:47am
en: ok so sleep is aluding me perhaps because the tv in the other room os so loud...or...i need food!tata 07/08/09 09:47am
en: @natalietran I'm thinking your friend looks like Michelle Trachtenberg. Right or epic fail? 07/08/09 09:47am
en: New App Store reviews coming soon. E3 2009 was big so sooner or later we get to that. 07/08/09 09:47am
en: to sleep, or not to sleep, that is the question 07/08/09 09:47am
en: "24hrs mayne, dine-in that's crazy.. they live here or something mayne?" - @aaronpayumo hahaha 07/08/09 09:47am
en: @ianbetteridge or lightroom or photoshop or Spotify. 07/08/09 09:47am
en: @adamlambert or maybe the queen of fruit http://twitpic.com/9o9iv 07/08/09 09:47am
en: i don't know if this day is good or not.. 07/08/09 09:47am
en: we had a choice of either cheese or peach and ham sandwiches yesterday, I wonder what we'll have today - Prawn and Banana? crazy dutch peeps 07/08/09 09:47am
: They r either repeated or very old.. plz see to it n do smthin..n hey wen r u cmin 2 India??.. luv u.. bye 07/08/09 09:47am
en: Does anybody use here a Toshiba Portege R500 or R600 and is happy with it ? http://geizhals.at/deutschland/a377471.html 07/08/09 09:47am
en: @iGoops haha is there a dollar store nearby you can get some hair clips or headbands? I'm sure you can find cute stuff that are not $$$ 07/08/09 09:47am
en: On commute of the living dead train. Full of oldies in citrus or pink, either snoozing or ordering a scotch from the trolley at 10:30am 07/08/09 09:47am
en: bah what to do with life. Where's doctor who or jean luc picard when you want to be zipped off somewhere more interesting 07/08/09 09:47am
nl: if u bored tweet or twats us!! or ME!!! love u... 07/08/09 09:47am
en: is wondering if you're ignoring me or if you're just busy? 07/08/09 09:47am
en: @jos_rozen +1 on dropbox, v.well done. say more: are you sync'ing a particular gtd app's data or text lists to mobile device, or ??? 07/08/09 09:47am
en: says Interesting... either today M1's 3G / HSDPA signal is better and stronger, or my FF tweaks worked... http://plurk.com/p/17pabm 07/08/09 09:47am
en: Otw to our new housey , after that, family dinner @ranchmarket oakwood or-- pi ?! Idk exactly, let's just see. 07/08/09 09:47am
en: Going to look or a car to get me to work! 07/08/09 09:47am
en: @sadbuttrue Looks like you need JAP http://is.gd/1qVwj or the commercial variant. It works well. 07/08/09 09:47am
en: @aptronym so she should be :) I love Margaret Fulton! She's my third grandma (or I wish) 07/08/09 09:47am
en: @adamlambert GO TO SLEEP. or are you still too high on adrenaline rush? post some pics for us then to show how bored you are. hahaha ^^; 07/08/09 09:47am
en: Yay I'm up, as they say no rest for the wicked or the bizarre. I got to bed at 5am wake up at 11am to start work! Now to work on my project! 07/08/09 09:47am
en: @GuiAmbros @drebes I think they will just re-write a X server or a Gnome/KDE gui and throw it over the kernel. 07/08/09 09:47am
en: An adolescent or young adult with a family history of similar attacks complains unilateral head pains<http://tinyurl.com/nszw9j> 07/08/09 09:47am

Tags: feedburner, LinkedIn, technorati, tweetburner, twinfluence, Twitter, twitter grader

This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 11th, 2009 at 1:03 pm and is filed under Twitter, social media. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Scott

I am very pleased to find old friends and establish new contacts.

I believe it is very easy to see who is more interested in numbers than actually taking advantage of the possibilities available. It is very much like MySpace, where a person might have 60K--And you know that person has zero time to make 60K serious connections.

Eric Pratum

This makes me wonder if someone like Scoble is actually able to build connections on Twitter.

J. Michael Warner

Interesting questions Eric. Anyone have any answers? Linkedin seems to work pretty good for me, I get interaction from enough connections to make it very worthwhile. Twitter on the other hand, I am not so sure about. There are so many "experts" out there, yet very few people seem to have any answers.

Eric Pratum

Good point about Twitter experts. Myself, I definitely have made great use of Twitter, but it has mostly been on a personal level. As far as business uses go, I see it as only one small tool. Linkedin is great for connections as it allows for a much more in-depth conversation, and it gives users a better ability to search out their interests.

Thanks for the comment.

Anita Engs

I agree that the quantitative measures are just that. But you have to start somewhere, the first click provides the opportunity to develop a quality connection. People have alot of choices out there and hooking them is not so easy. However, I do believe you need to cast a wide net and if your content or comments are relevant, they will stick. If you provide consistently updated, relevant content, you will find your niche. Monetizing it is slow, but it can be done.

Eric Pratum

Thanks for the comment, Anita. Your mention of hooking people reminded me of Twitter Friends, which if I recall correctly has a "stickiness" calculation for Twitter.

David Crandall

I've wondered this too. There are a number of high profile people that I have followed on Twitter, only to un-follow later because they had nothing of value to offer other than a high rate of "twits" a day. What they did have to offer was fairly weak, but you'd have guessed they were god by the amount of followers they had.

Yet, on the other hand, 4% of 5000 hundred seems more likely than 100% of 500 for having a conversation. Also, there are a lot of people that I follow that I never converse with, but check out every link they submit (yes, I'm one of those people).

I think the only real benchmark number is probably preceded by this symbol: $

...though I understand that is not really helpful at all.

Eric Pratum

I totally agree with your first point. I won't name names, but there are a few twitterati that I believe just abuse the fact they have so many followers. Some get lazy and only ever tweet about themselves, never conversing. As well, you're definitely right about how unrealistic it would be to expect that 100% of the people in your network would actively converse with you... We can all hope though, right? ;-)

And, yes, sadly, too few of us can figure out how to make money from being active, nice, interesting, etc on Twitter, Linkedin, or whatever else. Wouldn't it be a great world though if you could? :-D

Thanks for the comment, David.

_haakon_

I'm not really interested in the numbers, If people are looking for me on the web it's because I have connected with them in some way or perhaps they heard about me through another client. The web has changed so much in how I see it's usefulness. I am amazed at how I have connected with so many people I have not seen in years on Facebook. Twitter is an amazing tool, when I first started using it I really didn't see much value in it but ever since captain Solly splashed down in the Hudson River and I found out about it first on Twitter I have been sold lock stock and barrel. It's funny when I try to explain to relatives or friends the value of Twitter, I think I'm getting better but I think users have to experience that "Ah ha" moment themselves.

Eric Pratum

Definitely. It's hard to not get caught up in numbers when you see people like Scoble bragging about 65K followers or some such nonsense, but really, it's just like you said.... it's about connecting. As far as explaining the use and whatnot to people, that kinda sounds like "Tweeting and Blogging are a Waste of Time!"

Sam Levin

'having 500 Twitter followers and almost all 500 that converse with you.' i agree with this.. quality engagements will always win over quantity of mass drivel. thanx Erc. cheers, sam

Eric Pratum

Thanks, Sam. I love that social media is spreading. I love that it's becoming easier to measure, but I wonder what the quality of the measurements are. Hopefully, this year will show an improvement in how we measure and recognize social media influence, success, etc.

Thanks for commenting, Sam.

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