SOURCE: Nielsen BuzzMetrics
Bloggers' Top-Cited Wikipedia 2006 Entries: "Web 2.0," "Steve Irwin" and "Mark Foley Scandal," Says Nielsen BuzzMetrics
Blog Mentions of Wikipedia Skyrocket 54 Percent as the Open-Source Encyclopedia Continues Its Rise as a Prolific Information Source
NEW YORK, NY -- (MARKET WIRE) -- December 13, 2006 -- Did somebody say Wikipedia? Yes, and then some, according to word-of-mouth measurement firm Nielsen BuzzMetrics, which identified Wikipedia -- the online encyclopedia anyone can edit -- as one of popular words and resources of 2006.
According to Nielsen BuzzMetrics, the term 'Wikipedia' was cited in blogs nearly 29,000 times in November 2006, up 54% from 2005. In addition, the use of highly indicative phrases -- "according to wikipedia" OR "wikipedia says" OR "says wikipedia" -- rose 200 percent versus last year. According to Nielsen//NetRatings, another VNU research affiliate which tracks Web usage, Wikipedia's unique audience grew, concurrently, 112%, from 17.8 million in November 2005 to 37.8 million in November 2006.
The top three Wikipedia entries that bloggers linked to in 2006 were "Web 2.0," "Steve Irwin" (the late Australian animal lover), and the "Mark Foley Scandal."
"Despite occasional controversy over the accuracy or neutrality of its entries, Wikipedia continues to attract and retain a passionate user base while facilitating broader discussions across the Internet," said Jonathan Carson, chief executive officer, Nielsen BuzzMetrics.
Wikipedia Head to Head Versus Encyclopedia
Blog references to Wikipedia now eclipse virtually every other encyclopedia brand, and Wikipedia outranks mentions of the term "encyclopedia" by a 6-to-1 margin. Wikipedia today is mentioned 28% more than the standalone term "wiki."
"The growing frequency of the word 'Wikipedia' versus 'encyclopedia' also underscores the ubiquity and utility of the brand, not unlike other brands that often represent their categories, such as Xerox, Kleenex, Google and iPod," said Carson.
Top Cited Wikipedia Entries
The top cited Wikipedia entries -- from Jan. 1 through Dec. 10, 2006 -- reflect the service's heavy embracement by Internet, political and entertainment enthusiasts. Many of the top-cited entries also tend to reflect the most remembered pop-culture events and topics of 2006.
Nielsen BuzzMetrics
Top Wikipedia Entries By Author Citation
Jan. 1, 2006 - Dec. 10, 2006
Rank Term URL Messages
(Index)
1. Web 2.0 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_2.0 206
2. Steve Irvin http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Irwin 161
3. Mark Foley
Scandal http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Foley_scandal 142
4. Blog http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blog 147
5. Ajax http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AJAX 133
6. World War II http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II 143
7. Snakes on a
Plane http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snakes_on_a_plane 126
8. Meme http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meme 132
9. Wiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiki 129
10. RSS http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RSS_%28file_format%29 122
11. Podcasting http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podcasting 127
12. George Bush http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_W._Bush 129
13. Podcast http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podcast 111
14. Net Neutrality http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_neutrality 100
Top Blogs Citing Wikipedia
As for mentioning the term Wikipedia, certain bloggers demonstrate undeniable affinity with the site. Bloggers most likely to mention Wikipedia include popular and influential authors, as well as ad-supported blogs maintained by established niche-publishing networks.
Nielsen BuzzMetrics
Top Blogs Mention 'Wikipedia'
Jan. 1, 2006 - Dec. 10, 2006
Rank By Links to
Author URL Wikipedia
1. http://www.boingboing.net 90
2. http://seehere.blogspot.com 87
3. http://www.micropersuasion.com 77
4. http://tcal.net 71
5. http://www.smartmobs.com 64
6. http://www.gadling.com 61
7. http://www.hyperorg.com/blogger 56
8. http://www.lifehacker.com 55
9. http://ask.metafilter.com 53
10. http://www.gothamist.com 53
11. http://www.2blowhards.com 51
12. http://www.spikemagazine.com/splinters 50
13. http://www.chrisabraham.com 50
14. http://slashdot.org 50
15. http://www.unmediated.org 50
Methodology
Nielsen BuzzRankings reached its conclusions after carefully analyzing buzz and consumer-generated media across more than 38 million blogs in 2006. The company applies machine-learning and natural-language processing techniques to discover real-time insights in the blogosphere, including buzz trends, conversation mapping, blogger profiles and search among other functions. The company hosts and offers as a to the entire online community a free blog-search and analytics tool, called BlogPulse (www.blogpulse.com).
About Nielsen BuzzMetrics
The Nielsen BuzzMetrics service, marketed by BuzzMetrics, Inc., is the global standard in measuring consumer-generated media and word of mouth. Nielsen BuzzMetrics helps more than 100 leading global companies interpret and leverage the buzz surrounding them -- clients like Canon, Comcast, Ford, General Motors, HBO, Kraft, Microsoft, Nokia, P&G, Sony, Target and Toyota, as well as the top 15 pharmaceutical concerns. Partners include the world's largest marketing-services firms, and innovative new-marketing agencies. The company has also collaborated with distinguished research organizations such as the Pew Internet and American Life Project. BuzzMetrics, Inc. is an affiliate of VNU, owner of such renowned research names as ACNielsen and Nielsen Media Research. For more information, visit www.nielsenbuzzmetrics.com.