Web Usage Survey 2007

In 2006, I did a survey on Web Usage with the goal of taking the pulse of how our users use the web in relationship to the general population. After conducting this survey, I thought it would be meaningful to measure this over time. I am particularly interested in Web 2.0 tools being used. Are our users utilizing web 2.0 tools?

Considerations in comparing results with last year:

• Last year we had nearly twice the number of survey respondents.
• The survey is being taken by long time members ie have been members for more than a year.

There is an increase in the usage of Web 2.0 tools in general.

The following tools increased:

• 63.7% of users reported sharing their photos online which represents a 7% increase.
• 55.4% of respondents reported that they read an online journal or blog which represents a 7% increase over last year.
• 17.3% reported that they create their own online blog which is 3% higher than last year.
• 26.3% of users reported that they are using online social or professional networking tools which represents a 13% increase. Use of online social or professional networking tools increased by 13% with 26.3% of users reporting that they use this tool
• 26.1% of users reported that they subscribe to RSS feed which represents a 19% increase over last year.

In last year’s survey, there was a finding that users were using Web 2.0 tools for their

personal lives but were not integrating these tools into their professional lives. This is

changing:

• 50% of respondents reported that they participate in an online event and or training for their professional lives which represents an 11% increase over last year.
• 40.4% of respondents reported that they read an online journal or blog in their professional lives which represents a 13% increase over last year.
• 9.7% of respondents reported writing their own blog for work which is a 2.5% increase over last year.
• 21.3% of respondents reported that they subscribe to an RSS feed for their work which is an 8% increase over last year. Perhaps even more importantly 20% of respondents reported that they read from an RSS reader another 8% increase.
• 15.5% of respondents reported that they use social networking tools for their work which represents a 7.4% increase over last year.