The Social Flooring Index

Monitoring the Social State of the Flooring Industry

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Social Flooring Index Conversations - April 2011

Social Flooring Index Conversations Wordle
Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of the Social Flooring Index analysis is exploring the conversations taking place.

In the April 2011 Social Flooring Blog Index update, 168 blogs have generated 7,571 conversations in the last 6 months. That's approximately 45 posts per blog over 6 months, or 1.877 blog posts per week.

In comparison, 88 blogs generated 1,532 conversation in the August 2010 Social Flooring Index update which corresponds to 17.41 posts per blog over 6 months or .7254 blog posts per week.

In other words, definite improvement!

Supporting this observation is the graph below which illustrates the consistency of posting taking place.  The conversations take place regularly with expected dips during the Christmas/New Year Holidays. Might the early March dip correspond to Spring Break?

Social Flooring Index Conversations - April 2011

The Wordle image above captures the top 50 terms from the 7,571 Social Flooring Blog Index conversations.  More specifically, you'll note general topics, such as:
  • Help in 43% of the conversations
  • Home mentioned in 36% of the posts 
  • Water appearing in 10% of conversations 
  • Installation coming up in 7% of posts
No surprise, there are plenty of product category conversations: 43% specifically mention carpet, tile, wood,  hardwood, wood, vinyl, cork, laminate, flooring or stone [what did I miss in that query?]. However, this is a significantly lower percentage compared to the 65% that I observed in August 2010. I interpret that as meaning that broader conversations are taking place around flooring than were last year.

Relating to individual product categories:
  • Flooring - 21%
  • Carpet - 13%
  • Tile - 11%
  • Wood - 14%
  • Wood flooring - 9.63%
  • Laminate - 6%
  • Hardwood floors - 4.35%
  • Vinyl - 4.2% 
  • Cork - 2.4%
Other relevant categories:
  • Carpet cleaning - 3%
  • Design - 17%
  • Color - 9%
  • Cleaning - 7%
  • Interior design - 3%
  • Sale or Promotion - 3%
  • Fashion - 2%
  • Recycling - 1.44%
  • Indoor Air Quality - 1.02%
AB 2398, a critical carpet industry and recycling topic, has 18 mentions from:
Surprisingly, I found few conversations relating to allergy (.5%).  I expected more given the Spring allergy season and decided to explore a bit more by expanding my search beyond the Social Flooring Index blogs. Indeed, I found 68 conversations and was pleased to notice - as you can see in the chart below - that the frequency of conversations had indeed ramped up as allergy season was unfolding.

Social Flooring Index Conversation - allergy

Fascinating, don't you think?

What I conclude from all of this is that the Flooring Industry has a great deal of untapped social opportunity ahead for rich conversations that do more to connect the serious social flooring blogs together. They might also bring to life for readers and customers this category which offers so much beauty to those who use it and need it.

What do you observe from these Social Flooring Index conversations? How might you go about broadening conversations and drawing others in?

Previous posts in this series include:
If you like what you're reading, consider subscribing to the Social Flooring Index for email updates or via RSS.

Best,

C.B.

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Image created via Wordle
Analysis powered by eCairn Conversation
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Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Geo-Location & Social Flooring Blog Index - April 2011

Geo-Location & Social Flooring Blog Index - April 2011

Continuing on with my analysis of the April 2011 Social Flooring Blog Index, I was interested in exploring geography and city/state location of the blogs included in the Social Flooring Index using eCairn. This geo-location feature is one that eCairn introduced to eCairn Conversation in January 2011, based on the location  information that bloggers [particularly serious ones] include as part of their social profiles.

Of the 168 blogs included in the April 2011 Social Flooring Index update, 39% include geo-location information.

As you can see from the map above, a majority [85%] of the Social Flooring Index Blogs with geo-location information are North America based.

And the Canadian flooring blogs are all located in Vancouver! There must be something in the British Columbia air...

Here are a few more stats about the Social Flooring Blog Index's participation in social networks:
  • 46% make no reference to any social networks
  • 45% include reference to Twitter 
  • 32% include reference to Facebook Fan Pages
  • 5% refer to a Facebook personal profile
  • 4% include a LinkedIn reference
Back to geo-location.

I've also included below a closeup map of North America. Even though ~60% of Social Flooring Index blogs aren't captured on this map, even if they were don't you think there's still plenty of room for more flooring blogs?

Geo-Location & Social Flooring Blog Index - April 2011, North America

What are your reactions to this information?

Next: I'll analyze the conversations taking place.

Previous posts in this series include:
If you like what you're reading, consider subscribing to the Social Flooring Index for email updates or via RSS.

Thanks,

C.B.
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Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Social Flooring Index Tribes - April 2011

CRI Blog Tribe
In my last post analyzing the April 2011 Social Flooring Blog Index, I asked the question How Networked Is The Social Flooring Blog Index - April 2011? In this post, I'd like to explore with you three flooring groupings - or tribes - that are forming and which are visible given the algorithm enhancements that eCairn has recently introduced to eCairn Conversation.

More specifically, Social Flooring Blog Index tribes are forming around:
A point to reiterate: the overall flooring community is NOT strongly networked.  For an example of a community that is, read eCairn's blogpost titled: B is for Business, Blogs and Birds about bird bloggers.  What makes that community so cohesive is the level of connection, conversation and interaction - both virtual and physical - taking place. We aren't yet seeing that happen within flooring blogs.

The image above represents a closeup of the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) Blog cluster or tribe. I circled the CRI Blog to provide added perspective. Most blogs in the flooring industry refer to the CRI and its blog content, which is relevant to retailers, distributors, cleaners and others involved in soft surface flooring products.

This next image captures the Social Flooring Index tribe.

Social Flooring Index Tribe
The Social Flooring Index has medium influence.

Through the Social Flooring Index, I am not only monitoring the social state of the flooring industry, but I'm also looking to support and celebrate social media successes in the industry by focusing on individual companies.  In addition to listing those blogs included in the Social Flooring Index, I have written about several in individual blogposts.  As I mentioned in April 2011 Social Flooring Blog Index, I intend to start reviewing individual flooring blogs and invite you to submit yours...

This next image relates to BuildDirect and the community is is building around its blogs.


BuildDirect Tribe
BuildDirect is one of the very first flooring companies I wrote about in December 2009 on the Social Flooring Index. BuildDirect has embraced social media in a big way - including video - and continues to delight and surprise with its outreach and genuine celebration of flooring, design, sustainability, sourcing, etc. Community manager, Rob Jones, puts a great deal of effort into nurturing the relationships he is developing with the building materials market. He can teach you a lot!

Based on what you've noticed with these Social Flooring Index tribes, what might you start doing differently with your blog?

Next: a geographic perspective on the April 2011 Social Flooring Blog Index.

Thanks,

C.B.
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Monday, April 18, 2011

How Networked Is The Social Flooring Blog Index - April 2011

How Networked Is The Social Flooring Blog Index
A question worth exploring is "How Networked Is The Social Flooring Blog Index?"

I first introduced a visual representation of the Social Flooring Index in the August 2010 update. In this and the next post, I plan to explore the networked question in more detail based on the April 2011 Update of the Social Flooring Blog Index.

As I noted in August, a critical aspect of participating in social media is for 'social' reasons. That is, to engage with readers and others with whom you share common interests. That's what makes this all 'social'.

At the same time, being social and open to interaction offer many benefits [see 10 (Business) Reasons to Participate in Social Media: MarketingProfs] not least of which is building the credibility of a blog, making it more trustworthy for readers as well as more relevant and a lot more interesting.

Being social consists of being open to interaction. It also means being open to other points of view and proactively including those other perspectives - via a blogroll, which lists other blogs of interest, and by referring to other blog articles relevant to the topic being discussed. More on that later, and particularly in the blog analyses that I anticipate doing.

How Networked Is The Social Flooring Blog Index April 2011
As you can see from the charts that I've included in this post, the flooring industry isn't strongly networked. Note in the first chart how many blogs sit on the periphery, circling the middle sources, unconnected and missing out on opportunities to be 'social'.

Note: all of these graphics represent a static snapshot of an interactive graph that shows dynamically how the blogs in the flooring community connect. It's quite fascinating to explore it in more detail via the dynamic version.

eCairn Conversation[TM], through which I have created these analyses, has recently introduced an enhancement to its network mapping algorithm. As a result, the central 'blob' of sources that you notice in the first image takes on more meaning in this second image.

I've enlarged it in this third image.

How Networked Is The Social Flooring Blog Index - closeup

Notice how the mass of sources now resolves into three distinct groupings in red, green and blue.

Next, I'll focus on exploring those individual groupings.

What's your take of this visualization so far?

Best,

C.B.
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Friday, April 15, 2011

Social Flooring Blog Index - April 2011

Terrific News! The Social Flooring Blog Index has just been updated for April 2011!

I published the last Social Flooring Blog update in August 2010. Much has changed since then!

First, there are many more blogs included in the listing: 168 compared to 88 in August [and 53 in April 2010].

Second, you'll notice a broadening of the flooring topics that these blogs address. I've researched high and low to identify tile, stone, building materials, DIY and commercial sources to include in this listing. If you come across other sources to include, please let me know.

Third, I've added a column for previous rank so you have a sense of movement and change in influence over time.

Social Flooring Blog Index Influence

Blogs 1 through 20 represent the top influencers in this community.  The Carpet and Rug Institute Blog remains the most influential. Influence is a function of page rank and an influence score related to Compete traffic data and how active the blog has been over the past six months.

The bolded blogs are ones that I have some connection to.

I will be exploring relationships between blogs and analyzing conversation topics in separate posts.

I also plan on reviewing individual blogs to highlight best practices.  If you'd like me to review your blog, leave me a message in the comments and I'll start with yours!


RankUrlTitlePrevious Rank
1http://www.carpet-and-rug-institute-blog.com The Carpet And Rug Institute Blog1
2http://flooringtheconsumer.blogspot.comFlooring The Consumer3
3http://carpetology.blogspot.comThe Carpetology Blog4
4http://www.fromthefloorsup.comfrom the floors up7
5http://blog.builddirect.comFlooring, Building, Design and Housing News | BuildDirect6
6http://www.flooringnow.comFlooring Information Now - Flooring Trends and News Blog - Flooring Now!2
7http://floortalk.wfca.orgFloorTalk - flooring fashion trends5
8http://www.kitchenandresidentialdesign.comKitchen and Residential Design
9http://blog.carpetsnmore.comCarpets N More29
10http://blog.mybigbobs.comMy Big Bob's Blog24
11http://blog.floorcoveringinstitute.comThe Floor Covering Institute Blog11
12http://blog.dolphincarpet.comDolphin Carpet
13http://www.yourfifthwall.comYour Fifth Wall | Insider advice for any room's most important wall—the floor44
14http://www.flooringnews.comFlooring, Flooring News and Flooring Information Resource - FlooringNews.com
15http://blog.builddirect.com/greenbuildingGreen Building, Green Living, and Environmental News15
16http://blog.bigbobsoutlet.comBig Bob's Outlet
17http://www.rugrag.comAntique Rugs | Oriental Rugs | Appraisals | Experts | RugRag.com
18http://www.domotexblog.comThe Blog for DOMOTEX: The World of Flooring9
19http://www.fcnews.netFloorCoveringNews |
20http://www.socialflooringindex.comThe Social Flooring Index8
21http://trendsblog.co.ukScarlet Opus Trends Blog
22http://blogs.findanyfloor.com/consumerFlooring Blog for Consumers by FindAnyFloor.com10
23http://www.surfaces.com/blogSURFACES | StonExpo Blog
24http://blog.builddirect.com/industryinsightsBuilding Into the Future - BuildDirect CEO Jeff Booth17
25http://blog.builddirect.com/buildingmaterialsprocurementBuilding Materials and Flooring With BuildDirect Co-Founder Rob Banks18
26http://blogs.findanyfloor.com/greenGreen Information Flooring Blog by FindAnyFloor.com12
27http://blogs.findanyfloor.com/proFlooring Blog for Professional Retailers, Installers and Cleaners by FindAnyFloor.com13
28http://blogs.findanyfloor.com/corporateFindAnyFloor.com Official Company Blog by Damien Patton CEO14
29http://www.reliableremodeler.com/blogReliable Remodeler Blog - Remodeling and Home Improvement Talk31
30http://www.mckayflooringblog.comMcKay Flooring: We Love Wood Flooring Blog19
31http://blog.okrentfloors.comO'Krent's Abbey Flooring Center61
32http://www.askthebuildingexperts.comAsk The Building Experts » Columbus, Ohio Area Custom Home Building and Improvement Information20
33http://www.hardwoodfloorsmag.com/editors/blogHardwood Floors News
34http://allaboutlaminateflooring.blogspot.comAll About Laminate Flooring
35http://baneclene.blogspot.comBill Bane'sthought for the day16
36http://www.buildingmoxie.comBuilding Moxie :: The Do Together Daily «
37http://www.homeconstructionimprovement.comHome Construction & Improvement - Expert Home Improvement Advice
38http://www.ukflooringdirect.co.ukUK Flooring Direct | Solid Wood, Engineered, Vinyl, Laminate, Oak, Walnut, Bamboo & Cork Floors | Carpets71
39http://workinggreenrdweis.blogspot.comWorking Green21
40http://alexandriacarpetone.wordpress.comNorthern Virginia Flooring Bamboo Carpet Wood Tile Green LEED GBC and GSA | Green flooring, FSC Certified, eco friendly LEED floors in Virginia, DC and Maryland.85
41http://www.handyguyspodcast.comDIY Home Improvement audio and video podcasts by The Handyguys
42http://www.diylife.comDIY Life - Projects and Tips
43http://www.hardwoodfloorsmag.com/blogsHardwood Floors Magazine - Blogs
44http://blog.americasfloorsource.comAmerica's Floor Source28
45http://blog.tscarpet.comTS Carpet50
46http://blog.arizonawholesalesupply.comArizona Wholesale Supply30
47http://tricycleinc.blogspot.comTricycle Ink // Tricycle Inc32
48http://hardwoodflooringnut.blogspot.comHardwood Flooring Blog - Up To Date Articles, Pictures22
49http://www.blog.ultron.comUltron Blog23
50http://rugnroll.blogspot.comRug 'n Roll45
51http://www.scarletopustrendsblog.co.ukScarlet Opus Trends Blog46
52http://www.infloormation.comInfloormation25
53http://elevateyourspace.wordpress.comElevate Your Space
54http://www.lifeonthebalcony.comLife on the Balcony — Gardening Tips for Apartment and Condo Dwellers
55http://rugmaster.blogspot.comRug Master
56http://www.calfinder.com/blogCalfinder Remodeling Blog
57http://blog.mckayflooring.co.ukMcKay Flooring Blog — Passionate about real wood flooring52
58http://www.tilemagonline.com/Articles/BlogTile Blog - TILE Magazine
59http://blog.mullicanflooring.comBLOG.MULLICANFLOORING.COM
60http://laticrete.blogspot.comLaticrete Conversations
61http://www.brandbizblog.comthe brandbizblog
62http://www.mycleanlink.com/blogsBlogs - mycleanlink
63http://blog.manningtonathome.comMannington at Home |
64http://blog.marketingyourstore.comMarketing Your Store Online
65http://www.ahamodernliving.com/blogaHa! Modern Living
66http://blog.pegasuslighting.comLighting Blog | Pegasus Lighting
67http://notinthedark.wordpress.comLet There Be Light | the fun side of lighting
68http://www.paramountgranite.com/blogParamount Granite Blog
69http://www.klondikecontracting.com/blogA Vancouver Construction, Contracting & Interior Design Blog | Klondike Contracting
70http://rjohnhowe.wordpress.comR. John Howe: Textiles and Text
71http://www.newtileflooring.comTile Flooring | Ceramic Tile Floors | Vinyl Floor Tiles60
72http://bpscarpet.blogspot.comDesigning For Life62
73http://www.colesfineflooring.com/blogColes Fine Flooring Interior Design and Home Improvement Blog39
74http://faq.woodyoulike.co.ukWood You Like F.A.Q. & News27
75http://blog.carpeteria.comThe Carpeteria Blog
76http://blog.century-tile.comCentury Tile
77http://proudtobuild.fultonhomes.comFulton Homes
78http://karastan.tumblr.comKarastan In The News
79http://www.thekazan.blogspot.comKazan Flooring
80http://blog.chateauinteriorsanddesign.comChateau Interiors and Deisign Blog
81http://www.jozan.net/blogJozan | Jozan oriental rug news, articles, directory and e-gallery   
82http://tea-and-carpets.blogspot.comTEA AND CARPETS
83http://www.woolforabetterworld.com/blogWool for a Better World26
84http://flooringblog.bostik-us.comBostik Flooring Blog
85http://www.woodflooringguide.netWood Flooring Guide
86http://blog.carpeteria.com/theinspirationstationThe Inspiration Station
87http://expressflooringblog.blogspot.comExpress Flooring Blog55
88http://www.floorcoveringblog.comFloor Covering Blog56
89http://www.lewisfloorandhome.com/blogLewis Floor & Home Blog - Chicago Hardwood Flooring, Carpet, Tile & More57
90http://www.oakengineeredflooring.comOak Engineered Flooring, UK White Wood Floor, Solid Oak Floors58
91http://www.thekissbusiness.co.ukThe Kiss Business too (2)29
92http://knoxvilletncarpetcleaning.blogspot.comKnoxvilleTNcarpetCleaning63
93http://www.meridameridian.com/blogMerida Blog49
94http://gregthecarpetman.blogspot.comGreg of Cincinnati Flooring Articles64
95http://mohawklaminateflooring.impmyhome.comMohawk Laminate Flooring65
96http://blog.mercercarpetone.comLet's Talk About Floors51
97http://areafloors.wordpress.comPortland Flooring Blog66
98http://www.flooringsupplyshop.com/blogBlog : Flooring Supply Shop, Flooring and Floors Heating Supply Discount Warehouse67
99http://www.thesolidwoodflooringcompany.com/blogWood Flooring, Hardwood Flooring Oak Floor, direct from the manufacturer
100http://sergenians.wordpress.comSergenian's Floor Coverings Blog72
101http://www.buildinggreen.com/liveBuildingGreen.com LIVE73
102http://blog.coit.comCoit Carpet Cleaning Blog - Experience and People You Can trust74
103http://www.richcleaner.com/blogJoe Polish & Lisa Wagner's Rich Cleaner Blog: Marketing & Business Building Strategies for the Cleaning & Restoration Industries75
104http://indoor-allergies.suite101.comIndoor Allergies76
105http://www.qualityfloorsdirect.com/blogQuality Floors Direct —77
106http://bigbobherself.blogspot.comBig Bob Herself Says Yes33
107http://flooringstories.empiretoday.comEMPIRE FLOORING REVIEWS34
108http://blog.duralumcarpets.comDuralum Carpets of Stevens Point, Wisconsin35
109http://floorcrunch.co.ukFloorcrunch36
110http://craigscarpetcleaning.blogspot.comCraig's Carpet Cleaning37
111http://carpetgirl.wordpress.comCarpetGirl's Blog38
112http://www.wideplankflooring.com/blogSurface Blog — Carlisle Wide Plank Floors79
113http://www.zabitatz.com/profile/OntheFloorTigressaCarpets.com81
114http://johnsoncarpetone.blogspot.comJohnson Carpet One82
115http://flooringgallery.blogspot.comFlooring Gallery41
116http://www.bestwoodfloors.bizHardwood Flooring and Floating Wood Floors83
117http://hemphillbrett.wordpress.comHEMPHILL'S RUGS & CARPETS – ORANGE COUNTY43
118http://www.carpetsbyotto.comCarpets By Otto47
119http://hptyler.blogspot.comHP Tyler84
120http://www.interfaceflorblog.comInterfaceFLOR Blog86
121http://www.carpetoneboise.wordpress.comCarpet One Boise’s Blog48
122http://justinlmorgan.blogspot.comFlooor iiit Maaan!87
123http://www.flor.com/blogMusings
124http://www.flooringadvice.comInformation on Konecto, Hardwood, Laminate, Vinyl, and Tile Flooring
125http://thekazan.blogspot.comKazan Flooring
126http://realdirtoncri.wordpress.comReal Dirt for Real Cleaners
127http://www.thefloorpro.com/communityFind The Best Floor Covering Information & Resources at The Floor Pro Community
128http://www.lisbethcalandrino.comLisbeth Calandrino:: | Lisbeth is a business consultant, marketing strategist, speaker and author.
129http://blog.flooringsupplies.co.ukFlooring blog & Flooring news | flooringsupplies.co.uk
130http://blog.lumberliquidators.comLumber Liquidators
131http://angelosurmelis.blogspot.comthe angelo:HOME blog
132http://tiletalk.blogspot.comAvente Tile Talk
133http://www.stoneworld.com/Articles/BlogBlog - Stone World
134http://blog.ceramiccreation.netHome Improvement Ideas | A Home Design Blog by Ceramic Creations
135http://www.welchtile.com/blogWelch Tile & Marble — Blog
136http://nationaltilecontrassoc.blogspot.comNTCA
137http://www.usgbc.org/blogUSGBC: USGBC Blog
138http://www.patti-tile.com/blog.htmlp.a.t.t.i. - Blog
139http://www.hardwoodfloorsmag.com/green/blogHardwood Floors - Green Blog: Elizabeth Baldwin
140http://www.hardwoodfloorsmag.com/inspector/blogHardwood Floors - Inspector Blog: Craig DeWitt
141http://www.hardwoodfloorsmag.com/editors/blog/default.aspxHardwood Floors News
142http://www.fcnews.net/category/blogBlogFloorCoveringNews | |
143http://www.procleanstl.com/site/?page_id=144Blog | O'Fallon Carpet Cleaning | Specializing in Tile & Grout, Upholstery Cleaning, Mattress Cleaning, Carpet Cleaning
144http://www.kazanflooring.com/blogCommercial and Residential Flooring Nashville, TN
145http://blog.fabulousfloorsmagazine.comFabulous Floors Magazine
146http://allyninteriors.wordpress.comAllyn Interiors | Flooring, Window Coverings, Accessories, Cabinets and Countertops
147http://www.dobsonfloors.com/blogBlog | Dobson's
148http://www.oxifresh.com/carpet-cleaning-blogOxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning Blog
149http://eng.carpetus.com/a/newsCarpetus | Archive | news
150http://news.fibre2fashion.comFibre 2 Fashion
151http://blog.drummondhouseplans.comDrummond House Plans
152http://www.carpetcleaning-rosevilleca.com/blogBlog | Carpet Cleaning Roseville CA
153http://blog.stoneimpressions.comStoneImpressions
154http://robertpetril.blogspot.comDesign On The Edge
155http://carpetonepanamacity.blogspot.comCarpet One Floor & Home Panama City
156http://tim-jackson.blogspot.comA.S.T. Design Perspectives
157http://lexmarkcarpetmills.blogspot.comLexmark Carpet Mills
158http://www.scottgroup.com/blog/blog.htmlScott Group Custom Carpets
159http://blog.cincinnatifloorings.comCincinnati Carpet & Flooring Blog
160http://www.naturalinteriors.comGreen Building and Decorating Products, Cork, Bamboo, Hardwood Flooring, Blog, Product Reviews - Natural Interiors ®: Where Everybody Understands Green
161http://www.hswfloors.com/hsw-blogBlog | HSW Floors
162http://www.starnetflooring.com/starnet-blog-newsBlog, News, & Events | Starnet® Worldwide Commercial Flooring Partnership
163http://molliesurratt.blogspot.comMollie Surratt
164http://www.wovenonline.com/carpet-blogCarpet Blog | Woven Accents
165http://sustainableflooringexpert.blogspot.comSustainable Flooring And Green Carpet Issues
166http://www.floorcoveringworld.comFloor Coverings Information and News on all types of flooring - wood laminate tile bamboo carpet concrete hardwood
167http://www.flooringprofessor.com/flooring-blog.htmlflooring blog78
168http://carpetonefh.blogspot.comCarpet One Floor & Home88

Analysis powered by eCairn Conversation [TM].
Graphic above is Social Flooring Index Wordle from Flooring The Consumer.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Best,

C.B.
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