What is influence? That's the question I am asking myself after Onalytica recently ranked this blog as being the second most influential source for 'blog marketing'. I'm behind the New York Times and ahead of such names as Seth Godin and Steve Rubel. Scratching your head? So am I.
Rather than looking at pure popularity, Onalytica attempted to determine influence by a few different measures:
The difference between influence and popularity can be highlighted by looking at the parameters taken into account when measuring the two.When you want to measure the popularity of a stakeholder, you count the number of other stakeholders who refer to the first stakeholder in the context being analysed. So the only variable taken into account is “number of referrals”.
Analogous this can be used to measure the link-popularity of a particular website by counting the number of inbound linkers.
However, when measuring influence we take one more variable into account: The influence of the endorser (linker).
So how do I use my influence? Simon says touch your toes.
Visitor Comments
I'm impressed that I know someone so influential.
Posted by: Rex Hammock | July 23, 2006 4:45 PM
That's fantastic - so in effect that makes you *the* most influential blogger in the world! (NYT doesn't count of course). Talk about marketing opportunities, if I was you I'd put this on your business card :-)
Posted by: Richard MacManus | July 23, 2006 5:49 PM
Congratulations, Josh. I'm pretty surprised myself to find one of my blogs on the top 20, plus I write a blog for AllBusiness.com so I guess that puts me in two positions. I guess when you write about what you love and interests you, it pays off in one way or the other.
Posted by: Denise aka The Blog Squad | July 23, 2006 6:56 PM
After scratching my head and touching my toes, Congrats! You're all over the place today.
Posted by: Jen | July 23, 2006 7:31 PM
congrats! drinks on me at blogher .. sucking up josh ;-)
Posted by: Toby | July 23, 2006 7:55 PM
Simon says...congratulations!
Marianne
Posted by: marianne richmond | July 23, 2006 8:04 PM
We're not worthy....
Posted by: Mike Manuel | July 24, 2006 11:02 AM
According to this study, your popularity is low, but your influence is high on the term "blog marketing," which means you are more likely to talk to us. Whew, I think I got that straight! ;-)
Posted by: Kami Huyse | July 24, 2006 2:06 PM