Of course, the team here at The Voice would like to think we’re essential. But in the spirit of scientific enquiry, we’ve got out our slide rules and graph paper and been analysing various statistics.
There are several different routes to take, but they all end up with us estimating that around 10-15% of people who vote in the leadership election will be readers of this site.
But is that a large number of readers? Or is that a small number of readers? And how many of our readers will talk to other voters and possibly influence them?
P.S. If you think it’s a large number, and you’re on one of the leadership teams, you might want to get in touch about advertising here, hint hint 
5 Comments
This seems to me to be a grotesque over-estimate of yr importance. 80 % of the votes will come from our armchair members, who do not look at blogs [some won't even have internet access and most will hardly know what a blog is]. So you are implying a 50 % – 75 % readership amongs the activists. I don’t believe it, based on conversations with activists here in Richmond-on-Thames.
Please show yr working!
Why are you assuming that no “armchair” members read this site Chris, or indeed read any blogs?
Agree with above. Whatever you blog counter says on visitors vs page views there will be a lot of repeat business. Are you really getting 10,000 different MEMBERS visiting regularly. As opposed to supporters and the rest of us keeping an eye on the debate and picking up and pimping any useful exclusives on common enemies.
On your question: I think if you can encourage a re-open nominations vote and either Cable or Kennedy for the throne you’ll be making a real contribution.
I couldn’t watch the whole of last night’s debate but I thought both the boys came over as slippery, evasive and essentially say-anything-doesn’t-much-matter-will-never-have-to-implement on policy.
If it is a close race then the 10-15% could be crucial in determining victory. No medium should be overlooked in the modern campaign, but what is needed is an approach that speaks to each group about their key issues and concerns and projects the image that they see as most desireable. Such is the nature of modern political electioneering at any level.
Chris @ 1. I think you’re wrong, a number of armchair members will only look at blogs—we don’t know how many or in what proportions, but non-activists that are interested will pay some attention to what’s going on. They might not know it’s a ‘blog’, but they know a good Lib Dem themed website that’s promoted heavily in new members information packs &c.
I’ll agree that 10-15% may be an overestimate, but note its “of those that will vote”, not all members, and a chunk of members may not normally look at sites such as this but will during a leadership campaign. It was the last leadership campaign that first got me reading LibDemBlogs, and I’m guessing I’m not the only one.
How important is the site? That’s the question being asked is it not?