Plurk is Proportionally the Most Engaged Social Network For My Blog - More Than Twitter or Even Facebook!

Like all bloggers nowadays, I spend a lot of my writing time actually writing about my writing on all the social networks where so many people spend much of their online time: Facebook, of course, but also Twitter and to a lesser extent Google+. (And for SLers, My Second Life.) So here's something interesting: I get the most clickthrough traffic from Plurk, the microblogging service, which compared to all of those, is quite small. But take a look at the clickthrough rate for a couple of my posts from last month:

This is a pretty typical behavior pattern: More Plurk clickthroughs in absolute numbers, or proportionally the largest clickthrough rate. (I have about 3200 Twitter followers, nearly 1900 folks in my Facebook friends list, but only around 800 people on my Plurk network.) When I spoke with Plurk developers last January, they told me the social network only has 6-7 million monthly uniques, most of those of whom are in Asia. There is a relatively large group of several thousand Second Life users who are heavy Plurk users, but as you can see, even non-SL posts (like one on Deus Ex) get great traffic. (The My Second Life social network, I have to say, garners little or no traffic.)

So what's going on? It's possible this performance is atypical, but I tend to think it has something to do with Plurk's architecture and design: Unlike Facebook, Plurk allows pseudonyms. Unlike Twitter, it's much easier to have expanded conversations around a single topic. Also, Plurk has an explicit gaming and leveling system: You earn Karma points for engagement (posting, replying to posts, etc.), achievement badges, and for the elite, a "Plurk Nirvana" to reach.

Linden Lab has finally created its own Plurk account, which comes many years after SLers have been avid Plurk users, and after promoting Facebook as "the best place to find out about cool things going on in Second Life". And while it's true that Facebook has the largest reach, I think Linden will find they'll get the most engagement from this tiny little social network that could.

Comments

[Imnotgoing Sideways]

Plurk's timeline offers a more reasonable sense of "now" as the posts come in. So, at least for me, updates get more attention. (^_^)

Though, another thing to account for regarding Twitter is people using API apps. My own draw to this post was via Twitter through Tweetdeck. So, did the traffic counter list my referring site as Twitter or direct? That could skew the numbers. (o.o)

[Cajsa Lilliehook]

Plurk also trumps feeds for generating traffic for my blog. I think it's because people on your timeline come to know you and know what to expect and care - so they click. I think Plurk is a much more intimate form of social media and fosters back and forth communication more than one-way announcements - creating more investment and concern for the people on your timeline.

[Gogo]

I <3 Plurk. Twitter is too confusing, and Facebook just plain hates avatars. Plurk is the best place to talk to all of your friends "at once", or send a private plurk. I like that when someone creates a plurk topic, others can join in and comment in the same window.

Also, Plurk is the social network that rewards people for being active/engaging. Karma, anyone?

[Hamlet Au]

Very good point about Karma, Gogo, I just added it in a quick update!

[Flip]

must be missing something...." but as you can see, even non-SL posts (like one on Deus Ex) get great traffic".....I don't really see any indication of TRAFFIC.

[Hamlet Au]

The pie charts show clickthrough traffic by percentage.

[Denny Kozlov]

I would love to know the history behind SLers finding their way to Plurk in the first place. I love Plurk too, for all the reasons mentioned--plus the fact that there are in fact a bunch of fellow SLers to converse with in a more loose-limbed fashion than possible in in-world chat. But how did they all get there in the first place? As you rightly point out, Plurk is relatively obscure compared to the other social networks. Anyone who knows the original connection, I would love to hear--'cause I'm just a geek that way. :-)

[foneco zuzu]

I love plurk even if twiter allows me to post my pictures directly from flirk!
But plurk makes us feel much more connected, for some reason its the 1st link i open when im at work (cause all my time is Sl one when at home, lol)

[Nexii Malthus]

Please don't use pie charts.