Dated news alert: the blogosphere is now comprised of 50 million blogs according to uber-counter, David Sifry of Technorati.
Here’s a question. Is the real news the absolute number or what is considered a blog?
Kevin Burton challenges the number and indirectly the method of determining what actually is a blog. Kevin brings up excellent points and should be congratulated for cogently challenging the Technorati blogosphere size update.
To me, the real debate should not focus on the actual number of blogs that comprise the blogosphere, but the number of real blogs.
This statement should resonate clearly with all marketers. How many times have we been pitched on estimated market size, page views, impressions, reach, etc… To me the only absolute numbers I care about are in context to my target segment or segments. Marketing budgets are finite, our target segments are even more finite.
Example: Due to environmental quality concerns, most new homes in the Denver metro area are built with gas burning fireplaces instead of traditional wood burning fireplaces. So here’s the example: if I sell firewood for a living, would I spend my marketing and time resources on new (gas fireplace) developments or the older (wood burning fireplace) houses?
That’s how Technorati should count blogs. Put a line in the sand, declare what truly constitutes a blog vs a splog vs and get ready for the inevitable debate that will follow.
