I think this really adds value to the idea of using social media sites like Facebook to generate business.

Sent from my iPad 4G

I think you make a very good point. From my response to Heather Hopkins below:

I think Richard Orelup’s comment (see above) strikes at an important issue at stake in analyzing the data: the raw volume of traffic driven by either site. Though Facebook may have overtaken Google as the most popular site for a week, I imagine that Google News actually drives more people toward news–outlet loyalty aside. That said, a larger sample set is almost certainly going to be more diverse (at least psychographically, if not demographically), and might have more ‘vanilla’ results in how their recommendations skew.

Separately, I think your second point is very much in agreement with the second determining structural characteristic that I noted in the post: that Google News has a plethora of diverse sources for any given subject.

I think Richard Orelup’s comment (see above) strikes at an important issue at stake in analyzing the data: the raw volume of traffic driven by either site. Though Facebook may have overtaken Google as the most popular site for a week, I imagine that Google News actually drives more people toward news–outlet loyalty aside. That said, a larger sample set is almost certainly going to be more diverse (at least psychographically, if not demographically), and might have more ‘vanilla’ results in how their recommendations skew.

I definitely wonder how Facebook will evolve their newsreader — and, in general, their user interface — as certain functionalities emerge as being more popular. I think there’s immense potential in developing that idea.

I enjoyed reading your research and analysis, so no worries on the comments. And thanks again for checking out the blog! I hope to see more comments from you again at some point!

Thanks for the comment, and apologies for not responding sooner!

I definitely agree that the bonds we share with those we friend on Facebook impact our decisions to click-through the media they choose to broadcast.

I also think that your point that, in many cases, people who post articles tend to use the same source repeatedly.

Good insights, and thanks again for reading! I’m glad you enjoyed the cartoon.

This also doesn’t even get into why/how the person got the link? With google news I’m given a wide variety of places to go to so there is a great chance I’m not going to go to the same news outlet every time. If I wanted CNN’s news I would go to CNN not google news. On facebook I’m most likely signed up for their fan page or I’m going to links of friends, and if those friends only go to one place that’s where most the links they would share would go to. These are 2 completely different end user use cases.

Thanks again for the really thoughtful comments, Heather

by the way, loved the cartoon!