Numbers, Numbers, Everywhere
Good morning,
Me again. There is only a half hour before work. The time always goes to fast in the morning. This whole four day holiday has gone by too fast. Soon though, we’ll after a week missing, be able to see/talk to Dr. M. I’m looking forward to that although have no particular conversation in mind to go over with him.
This week has been a flurry of meeting new people. And, as I read comments in others blogs, I am tempted to add more links. I will have to think this through more carefully due to the constraints of time. But, it is like falling in love with “the community,” now “exile community” all over again. Hate to call it that though because it separates us more from the good folks we know still using AOL journals. It is as if some of choose to stay East, where some of us are now, or have moved West. Hehehe little more untamed out here.
Yesterday was broken into two things primarily. I was able to have some excellent on-line conversations and blog readings, AND I was working on a new project. The following is an excerpt, I have emailed out to a few, and which I have gone forward on. I think we are up to the “G’s” and incredible T has joined in the process and is starting at the end with the “Z’s.” We’ll meet somewhere toward the middle.
This is how the initial notes looked:
Armandt, Vince, Viv, and Pam and T.,
I have been working this morning on a project of great interest to me. It might take up to a week to conclude, hopefully less time. I believe the project if understandable, will be of interest to you too. I intend to survey all the journalists in Pam's directory as a fair representation of known journalists involved in the community to the degree of having sought recognition in Pam JLand directory. Pam, I only ask you make no changes this week :). I am a numbers person. I believe that numbers might be what catches AOL corporate attention. It is not the amount of money journalists pay directly per monthly service. It is the principle. I've devoted 12 years toward AOL, and I know you all have done time as well. That numbers we pay each month to AOL is miniscule compared to what advertisers are spending trying to catch OUR attention. It is the loyalty we devote to AOL and representative time we spend utilizing AOL brand services as potential customers to the advertisers that is important. While the advertisers are now gaining negative publicity for advertising in the journals with limited advertising potential, more potential is gained keeping journalist floating through AOL brand services which covers the majority of advertising commitment and potential.
So far, I have just surveyed the first 109 people listed in Pam's directory. I have an approximate thought (from doing the Hall of Fame Journal), that there are about 3,000 names listed. None of us knows how big a representation that is amongst people using the journals. But, after seeing AOL attempt to manipulate Viv with their request for her expertise in community building, I'd say journalists and our spirit do make a difference to AOL and as to overall AOL brand satisfaction. Compare if you will our time spent and commitment on-line next to a customer who only checks their email.
The following are numbers representing the work I am doing, and the results so far. a sample of what I hope to provide. Any input you may have, is of course, always appreciated. Such as, is this useful, or simply obsessive. Hopefully, I can complete the project and you all will help get the information can get out to the "right" people, if the numbers prove useful. I hope my small contribution makes a difference. AThat's it. I hope it makes sense. :) Remember this is only a sample out of 109 journalists. I'm toward the end of Pam's "last name - B" Journals. I don't think AOL has any idea of what we are or represent. The units of time is the number on each journalists' site visit counters.
Journalist who are current with their journals (written in at least, the last two weeks) - 25 people, average 17.28 months service, 9,194 (23%) visits per journalist (able to be included statistically), $12,325 direct benefit to AOL membership dues at an average of $29. 156,310 total units of time represented as utilizing AOL brand services @ benefit of advertisers, 10 people with unknown number of visits.
Journalists who have abandoned their journals - 23 people, stats unknown.
Journalists who have discontinued using their journal for a month or longer 22 people, average 14.36 months service, 4,527 (11%) visits per journalist (able to be included statistically), $9,161 direct benefit to AOL membership dues at an average of $29. 90,547 total units of time represented as utilizing AOL brand services @ benefit of advertisers, 2 people with unknown number of visits.
Journalists who are periodic (have posted within month, but not since the changes in the last two weeks) - 19 people, average 16.74 months service, 5,659 (14%) visits per journalist (able to be included statistically), $9,224 direct benefit to AOL membership dues at an average of $29. 152,723 units of time represented as utilizing AOL brand services @ benefit of advertisers, 3 people with unknown number of visits.
Journalists who have gone private 8 people, stats unknown.
Journalists who have stated at their AOL journal, they are moving - 12 people, average 17.9 months service, 20,043 (51%) visits per journalist (able to be included statistically), $6,229 direct benefit - 200,433 units of time represented as utilizing AOL brand services @ benefit of advertisers, 2 people with unknown number of visits
Gross Summary - Of first 109 people/journals tallied, 25 people (23%) have decided to stay with AOL journals generating 26% units of time people spend on AOL brand service to the advertisers benefit, 23 people (21%) have flat-out abandoned their journal at no benefit to the advertisers, 22 people (20%) have been missing from their journals longer than a month representing 15% units of time people spend on AOL brand service no longer of benefit to the advertiser, 19 people (17%) are periodic journal posters (at least within the month, but not within the last 2 weeks of upheaval) and represent 25% of time people spend on AOL brand service to the advertisers benefit, 7% have gone private representing unknown benefit to the advertisers, and 12 people (11%) have moved to other Internet Blog providers representing 33% units of time people used to spend utilizing AOL brand service and no longer of benefit to advertisers. These 109 journalists have spent 1,280.78 total months of AOL brand service utilizing journals to some extent and to the advertisers benefit. More time on line, more potential purchasing. Revenue from these journals total only $36,939 of known dollars to AOL membership benefits for the 78 journalist (able to be counted per month). However of all 109 journalists surveyed, 57 (52%) of the AOL known journalists have discontinued the journal service losing loyalty for AOL or potential advertisers for a period of over a month, moved away from the journal in the last two weeks, or abandoned the journal service altogether . Only 44 (40%) of the journalists surveyed remain loyal to somewhat loyal to the AOL journal service and potential advertisers. Information from 8 (7%) of the journalists and their loyalty/advertisement value was unknown.
*The first number represents number of months people use AOL journals(number of known comments of each journalist) This number is useful in defining AOL brand loyalty and ratio of time building on-line potential for advertisers. The stats below are more recent than the original 109 journalists contributions. Basically, we just began the journalists in Pam's Directory starting with G's.
Stayed - 11(13,822), 17(unknown) 23(2305), 26(25,082), 13(7,352), 19(230), 7(unknown), 20(7,362), 9(9,255), 7(unknown), 5(2,333), 10(1,596), 26(24,480), 22(21,037), 17(unknown), 20(unknown), 17(unknown), 24(7,138), 18(unknown), 28(unknown), 25(29,479), 8(2,928), 15(unknown), 18(unknown), 15(8,743), 12(5668), 7(3,387), 25(244), 21(2,159), 28(58,472), 22(5,441), 8(8,188), 11(6,668), 14(2,362), 25(12,832), 13(unknown), 21(unknown), 27(12,007), 10(1,332), 17(5,779), 21(2,802), 27(12,361), 20(unknown), 13(unknown), 12(21,184), 19(26,561), 26(34,650), 27(73,929), 10(1,871), 21(12,063), 17(773), 17(4,624), 20(39,705), 26(4,291), 18(770), 17(12,065), 26(unknown), 14(8,421), 10(unknown), 17(21,997), 16(2,458), 14(284), 26(3,687), 17(1,231), 19(5,606), 18(unknown), 27(2,787), 18(23,342), 18(6,414), 19(5,942), 20(9,166),
Abandoned - 52
Month or longer - 11(13296), 10(2,092), 18(1,316), 18(1,991), 9(5,842), 3(unknown), 16(2,460), 18(2,459), 16(3,151), 12(659), 25(2,673), 12(unknown), 21(2,644), 19(13,641), 14(1,739), 15(4,666), 8(3,635), 12(5,143), 14(1,806), 24(6,400), 2(1,292), 12(282), 1(unknown), 15(unknown), 18(2,468), 16(10,767), 3(unknown), 2(3,239), 8(unknown), 19(5,550), 8(2,569), 1(321), 8(832), 7(1,222), 1(121), 1(355), 9(3,677), 12(518), 21(2,995), 1(731), 12(6,866), 9(614), 16(2,216), 16(3,571), 15(724), 12(3,046), 19(296), 24(3,049), 27(14,300), 3(unknown), 1(806), 13(693), 25(17,744), 25(13,374), 1(unknown), 10(5,475), 21(unknown), 25(1,227), 12(960), 14(1,232), 21(1,183), 5(476), 7(unknown), 12(1,580), 10(unknown), 18(531), 9(unknown), 28(4,965), 1(10,368), 3(8,753), 12(4,512), 7(1,251), 10(10,343), 21(26,470), 24(4,402), 9(3,405), 17(4,617), 22(6,947), 17(5,541), 16(3,233),
Less than month - 27(33,927), 27(9,326), 1(272), 14(unknown), 13(unknown), 24(17,594), 21(3,984), 7(479), 7(1,096), 6(826), 6(309), 14(3,552), 23(9,477), 21(5,345), 20(unknown), 22(22,109), 22(577), 17(32,981), 26(10,869), 5(unknown), 24(964), 27(19,303), 13(unknown), 10(8,892), 10(8,893), 22(1,368), 15(23,894), 14(unknown), 15(4,066), 26(5,863), 8(unknown), 11(2,515), 25(7,625),
Private - 20
Moved -
Aiibrat - 27(33,928), ads, and stupidsheetguy tos'd
Andreakingme - 27(unknown), ads, not enough good, aol doesn't care, change good, people matter
Angelm0304 - 8(5,517), change good
Annalia135 - 19(43,182), miss the community, grown, 1 1/2 years, support, love, hope for return through Jason Calaconais
Anmyatt - 12(unknown), ads, subscribers already pay, non-endorsements, private use, exclusive, no respect from AOL
Armandt - 7(50,418), ads without permission, without warning, canned statement from PR, journalists need human contact, prefer another blogger, no customer service, felt ambushed, AOL sold integrity, Exodus, boycott aol journals, moral objectives against particular ads, ads "crap"
Aynetal3 - 27(34,005), boycott AOL Journals, anger at ads for services paid, principle
Astaryth - 13(7,920), ads, benefits of new journals, change good, moved with the movement, now enjoy bloglines
Angelm0304 - don't know why 8(5520)
Ber144 - 22(11,674), ads, mobile, tired, AOL non-communication, dislike no choice in ads, boycott
Bettefan05 - 24(6,048), past loyalty to AOL over, time for change, miss friends
Boycalleddare - 21(7,149), not amused, insufficient services at AOL
Chance2288 - 19(1,794), ads, not disempowered, protest, thought being valued meant something, feel abused, feels unloved, sold-out, pimped us, choice, split revenue, cost/value, independence
Chasenkids - 18(52,369), not paid for advertisement, don't endorse product, last straw, ads, join friends
Chittarabunny129 - 24(8,425) ads
Ckays1967 - 26(35,125), love and respect for community, petulan, redirect energy
Coy1234787 - 20(30,468), ads, the Great Exodus
Cutebutpsycho028 - 15(31,270), people leaving, been procrastinating changing before, angry at AOL, want to get back to real life
Dazeychic - 27(32,196), ads, had postponed decision before, regret losing service, to better live, connecting to people, expression,
Deabvt - 25(22,671), sadness, diaspora, ads
Dvlwitgrneyes - 16(11,204)
Freeepeace - 26(78,974), ads, don't endorse ads, nor condone or approve of customer disregard and disrespect, moving on with life, community, moving on
Gabreaelinfo - 12(unknown), AOL's wretched behavior, ads, paying for advertisements, expense of AOL
AOL Journals from AOLHometown unknown 6(unknown), abandoned June 7, 2004 AOL states they host about 600,000 blogs. This is a highly contentious number, although they might be adding unknown blogs from other countries. It appears that foreign blogs aren't being targeted with blinking advertising banners. (Info from freely floralilia, the official journal of pointless posting).
This last remaining part is the process of doing what we are attempting to do. The one change is that T suggested and I agreed the numbers should be relocated over to an Excel program. We’re about half way through with that process now. If anyone reads this with time and feels qualified to volunteer *most winning smile* We would be more than pleased to assign out some portion of the alphabet! Hehehe, anyway that is where we are at this morning.
Deep breath, then we'll start.
Using a writing window you are comfortable with (Email, Word, or other - and better if you can get it to stay on top when switching screens)), we are going to write six categories on the left side of screen. You will want to bold these, because they will be easier to spot when adding information. The names you will be listing are "Stayed," "Abandoned," "Month or longer," "Less than month," "Private," or "Moved." (Look at my previous email to check how it will look).
stayed - is someone who has continued to use their journal normally since November 14th to present. They may be complaining, but as long as they've resumed entering regular entries or haven't stated they are moving, they go in this category, and we disregard their complaints (their complaints weren't large enough to move them).
Abandoned - is someone whose journal you go to and there is just a big blue box as if AOL never heard of them. Gone with the wind.
Month or longer - is anyone who hasn't written since October 27th, but still has a journal remaining on line.
Less than a month - is for people whose last entry falls between having posted October 28th - November 13th.
Private - is for people whose journal comes up with one of those big blue boxes saying, sorry bub, you need a password.
Moved - is for anyone within their last entry or two that has stated, I am out of here .... please find me over at this blog --------------->
so far, so good?
This is the only categories we are interested. Don't lose yourself in stopping to read journals. Hehehe you are a surveyor today! Well, I stopped to say sorry to one lady who was 48 and had a heart attack and nobody had stopped by to say sorry. :( BUT, other than that skim quick!
When you first open a journal you will know immediately if the journal is abandoned or private by the blue boxes, add a number for each one under the right category and go back to get the next journal name. I find it easier each time to erase the old number and add the new number within a few digits space new over old.
There are now only 4 categories left. The rest of the journals will open to a real page. Note the date toward the middle top of the newest entry, or over in the side bar (under recent entries). Decide at this point if it is "month or longer" (October 27th or older), "less than a month" (between October 28th-November 13th), or "Stayed" (November 14th forward to current date).
We can know there is a good chance the "month or longer" isn't coming back to journling. We can think the people "less than a month" might be current journalists, but are in a position of not knowing yet about the bruhaha, so haven't made a choice yet whether to stay or go. The people who have "Stayed" have gone through the bruhaha, but have continued life as normal. You can tell the "Stayed" people from the "moved" people because the "moved" people will tell you by their last entry or two that they are going. Most will tell new address, but we're not interested in this right now. Try to be objective ... whether they stay or go isn't important now ... we're looking for honest numbers.
In all four situations, we are interested in understanding how many months they have been using the journals (little blue visit counter), and we are interested in how many hits their journal has had since starting (also little blue visit counter). Add a # of months(# of hits on counter). See example from previous email. Sometimes, people do not have a visit counter. For these people go to archives and determine by going backward with the calendar, how many months they have had an AOL journal. For these people we will add a # of months(unknown) in the proper category. I am not meticulous on the days. Whether they have written once or 20 times, or whether they've entered an entry on the first or last of month. Just count that month as one whole month. Move quickly, use fingers!
I am not going to have you worry about summarizing reasons people are leaving. I will do that on my own. What would be really nice though, is if you could start one more list naming the people who you have counted as moving. K?
To find the names go to Pam's directory here:
AOL Journal Directory
At the time of this note, I have completed all the people between A(aangelisqt) and F(fasttrack58). I will continue from here. I am going to have you start with the Z names, Y names, X names, etc. working back toward me. Hehehe we will meet in the middle! AND, maybe V will help out later :) You will get to the right letter by using Pam's Location indicator on the left column under Other Journals.
It is going to take you a while to become accustomed, so I recommend finding reference markers between this email and the directions it is giving you and slowly work it, until you can build speed. After 10-20 names completed you will be a pro! It is easiest to get between Pam's directory and the journalists by first clicking on their link, then using "back" key to return to Pam's directory. You will be able to tell where you have been, because the name/link in blue will turn to purple. Pretty good! Time is important so work quickly, but not so quickly errors are made. I know you can do this and appreciate the hell out of you for volunteering.
posted by Ann Marie @ 11/28/2005 05:58:00 AM
Comments: 5
