Technorati released its 2009 State of the Blogosphere report recently.  This year, nearly 3,000 bloggers were surveyed in September.  Survey results were combined with data from the Technorati index and Lijit.

The results are very interesting, showing that the growth of the blogosphere isn’t going to slow down anytime soon and the blurring of the lines between traditional media and new media will continue indefinitely as more and more authoritative content publishers join the blogosphere.  Interestingly, the State of the Blogosphere 2009 reports that 35% of respondents have worked in traditional media as a reporter, producer, or on-air personality, and another 27% currently blog and work in traditional media.

Technorati sums up the future of blogging succinctly:

“Blogging is the next step in a process of advancing communication from radio to TV to Internet messaging.  The breadth and depth of the blogosphere allows sophisticated information — and special expertise — enhanced range.  … The next generation of blogs will be more action-oriented, not just commenting on real time events but driving those events.”

The State of the Blogosphere 2009 report divides bloggers into 4 primary categories, which directly reflect the type of content they produce and their goals for their blogs as follows:

• Hobbyists: 72% of survey respondents were classified as hobbyists who blog for fun and self expression.  They don’t make any money from their blogging activities and few have the desire to monetize their blogs in the future.
• Part-Timers: 15% of survey respondents were classified as part-timers who blog to supplement their incomes but not as a full-time job.  Most part-timers blog to attract new business clients or to share their expertise.
• Self-Employeds: 9% of respondents were classified as self-employeds who blog full time for their own company or organization.  Self-employeds are also the most active users of Twitter (88% of self-employeds use Twitter).
• Pros: 4% of respondents were classified as pros who blog full time for a company or organization that they don’t own.  They blog to share their expertise and attract new clients for the business they work for.

The demographics of survey respondents are also very telling.  Overall, bloggers are more affluent and educated than the general population.  75% have college degrees and 40% have graduate degrees.  33% report annual household incomes of over $75,000 while 25% report annual household incomes of over $100,000.  Professional and self-employed bloggers are even more affluent with nearly 50% reporting annual household incomes over $75,000 and 33% reporting annual household incomes over $100,000.

A significant distinction between hobbyist bloggers versus part-time, self-employed and pro bloggers is the amount of time bloggers within each group spend working on their blogs.  Hobbyists are likely to publish posts less frequently (once a week) and they spend a smaller amount of time doing activities related to their blogs each week, too (fewer than 10 hours per week).

It’s amazing to consider that blogging — a tool that was originally used as an online journal — has grown to be an essential source for authoritative content.  I can’t wait to see what’s in store for 2010!

Image: Technorati.com

Sysomos conducted an interesting study about bloggers and online video engagement that sheds light on how bloggers are sharing online video content.  With Nielsen reporting that over 11 billion online video streams were viewed in the United States during the month of September 2009 by 139 million unique users (24.8% and 11.3% growth compared to September 2008, respectively), there is no doubt that online video is only going to get bigger, and bigger, and bigger.

With that inevitable continued growth in mind, Sysomos decided to study how bloggers were using the tools of social media to engage with and share online videos.  The assumption of the study is simple and follows the rules of common sense — if bloggers find online videos interesting enough (good or bad) to link to them from their blogs or embed them in blog posts, then they must be trying to share those videos so others can engage with them, too.

To get data, Sysomos studied over 100 million blog posts between July through September 2009 and identified links and embedded videos from YouTube.com, Blip.tv, Dailymotion.com, Metacafe, MTV.com, Vimeo.com, Hulu.com, Yahoo! Video, Google Video, Break.com, MySpace.com and MSN Video.

Following are some of the most interesting statistics from the sudy:

• YouTube is the most popular site for embedding and linking videos with 81.9% of linked and embedded videos in blogs coming from (or leading to) YouTube.  Vimeo is second with just 8.8% share.  Daily Motion has 4.0%, MySpace 1.1%, and Google 1.0% (remember, Google owns YouTube as well).  Each additional site in the study accounts for under 1% of links and embedded videos.
• 20-35 year old users share video through their blogs more than any other demographic group.  77% of users are under 35-years of age.
• Men share videos more than women.  60% of all users are male.

Check out the chart below for the overall online video sharing stats from the Sysomos study.

There is no doubt that the growth of online video is poised to skyrocket, and the opportunity to create and share your own Authoritative Content online videos is wide open!

The team from Newstex had a great time at the 2009 Blog World Expo.  Thanks to everyone who stopped by the Newstex booth!

Newstex hosted a giveaway at the booth where two lucky bloggers won iPod Touches!

Congratulations to the winners, Newstex Authoritative Content Blogger Dave Taylor from AskDaveTaylor.com and CJ Grisham from ASoldiersPerspective.us.  Check out the pictures of the lucky winners below!

Dave Taylor from AskDaveTaylor.com

Troy Steward of YouServed.com accepting for CJ Grisham of ASoldiersPerspective.us

• Introducing the Newstex Authoritative Content iPhone App and Content Distribution System for iPhones – http://bit.ly/3E8TRZ #
• RT @DreamSimplicity: SIIA OnDemand 2009 Conference – Day 1 In Review check out video http://bit.ly/1sv7Hd #siia #

The October 2009 Blogger in the Spotlight is Mark S. Ament from SportsBiz.

Blogger in the Spotlight is a monthly series where Newstex turns the spotlight on our publishers with in-depth interviews that give you a glimpse into the stories, tips and secrets of successful bloggers and content producers.

This month’s interview is with Mark S. Ament, an attorney who combines his expertise in business, law and sports to publish a highly interesting, insightful and authoritative niche blog – SportsBiz.

Newstex: How did you get started writing your current blog?

Mark S. Ament: At the time I began writing, I was still a practicing attorney and a significant portion of my practice involved the representation of sports industry client. Among these clients, I served as the outside general counsel to a major Division I university’s athletic department for which, among other assignments, I negotiated its multi-million dollar football and basketball coaches’ contracts, including one that, at that time, was among the largest ever done for an NCAA coach.  In addition, I represented the university throughout the process of financing and constructing new football and baseball stadiums and the licensing of media rights which are among the largest collegiate media rights contracts in the country.

As with many bloggers, I decided to start the blog as a way for me to keep up with what was new within the business while informing my clients at the same time.  I have since retired from the active practice of law and am now consulting in the sports business, primarily in the areas of marketing and financing.  I have continued writing because I have found it invaluable in keeping in touch and up to date and, frankly, I’ve become somewhat addicted.

Newstex: What makes your blog unique?

Mark S. Ament: When I started SportsBiz, it was one of the first, if not the first, blog to cover the business side of sports.  There were business blogs, investing blogs and sports blogs, (which were usually fan blogs).  However, there was little that spoke to the people working in the industry and, with a legal and business background, I thought I could help fill the void.

Newstex: To what do you attribute your blog’s success?

Mark S. Ament: As I mentioned above, there were few blogs dealing with any aspect of the business of sports when I started, so I was able to get first mover advantage.  Of course, that only works if you can continue to produce content that is good enough to keep that advantage. I’d like to think that the reason I’m still around is that I’m filling a niche my readers think is important.

Newstex: What are the top 3 tips you can give to bloggers looking to develop successful blogs?

Mark S. Ament: Network, network, network; write, write, write.  Okay, so those are really six tips.  Still, blogging is a social medium and it’s important to interact with other bloggers in your chosen field.  Visit those blogs, see what interests people, comment on those blogs and become a member of the community.  Then, and only then, write about what you know and write on a consistent basis, so readers will be in the habit of checking your blog.

Newstex: What is the best thing that has happened to you as a result of your work on your blog?

Mark S. Ament: Without doubt, it is the opportunity to meet (mostly virtual, but meeting nonetheless) an incredible number of interesting people who I would not have ever met without it.  It’s one of the driving forces that keeps writing.

Newstex: What inspires you to keep blogging?

Mark S. Ament: Not to be too repetitive, but the community of people I have met is a major reason I continue to blog.  I have also discovered that after spending more years than I care to count writing dry, dull legalese contracts and other legal documents, once given the opportunity to write creatively, I actually quite enjoy writing.

Newstex: What are your favorite blogs and why?

Mark S. Ament: There are so many -  I have about 75 in my feed reader this week -  but I’ll mention a few that I never miss checking: for business, investing and economic news The Big Picture and   Abnormal Returns, for sports business, CNBC’s sports business reporter, Darren Rovell’s very originally named blog, Sports Biz and The Sports Economist, written by several academic economists, oddly enough, and for general sports and entertainment – The Big Lead.

Newstex: What effects do you think blogging will have on traditional media?  How about on your industry?

Mark S. Ament: Sports, along with politics, may be the two industries in which the general public has seen and will continue to see the influence of blogs the quickest and most profoundly.  As print journalism, and newspapers in particular, are forced to cut back coverage due to the economy, the blogging community is picking up the slack, often with the same journalists that formerly were writing for the local paper.  Blogging, at least in these industries, is not so slowly transforming itself into the medium of first choice for the news consumer.  While I am not so sure that having a blog network of staff writers from ESPN is necessarily a good thing, it is not inherently more negative than those same writers working for the local newspaper, as they did before joining ESPN.  Whether the corporate behemoths co-opt and/or drown out independent bloggers is probably the great challenge of the next five years.

Newstex: At what point did you decide to syndicate your blog with Newstex and why?

Mark S. Ament: When I was approached by Newstex, I decided right away to syndicate.  The ability to extend my reach into audiences that I knew I would not be able to reach on my own was simply too good an opportunity to pass up.  It was definitely about growing my audience and extending my brand and not about money, which would be nice but was not, and still isn’t, the driver.  Newstex also offers the independent blogger the opportunity to have the same reach as an in-house blogger at a larger media outlet, such as ESPN or a major newspaper, might have.  There is probably no better way to attempt to level the playing field.

Newstex: What’s next for you and your blog?

Mark S. Ament: Continue writing and trying to grow my audience.  Become a bit more active with Twitter than I have been, as I think it is a great communication tool if used properly.  Twitter is another social communication medium and should be used as such.  It can attract readers if you use it correctly but turn people off quickly if all you do it tout your own glory.  How long the bloom stays on the Twitter rose is hard to say, but all bloggers should ride as long as it remains there.  Also, I’m going to try to become a bit more adept with video to add that to the blog on a more regular basis as I think it would be both popular and of value. If my audience continues to enjoy the content of the blog, hopefully, my audience will continue to grow and both Newstex and I will be happy.

The call for early-stage, innovative content and content technology companies to present pitches in front of an audience of industry experts and leaders at the 2010 Software Information Industry Association Summit’s SIIA Previews is open through November 18, 2009.

You can get more information about the SIIA Previews from Newstex President Larry Schwartz in the video below:

Chosen companies get the following:

• Your company CEO will provide a five-minute presentation at the Information Industry Summit and have five minutes of Q&A.
• A table-top exhibit display from which they can network with attendees. (Note: display area is available only during the 30-minute conference break immediately following their presentation).
• Promotion on the Information Industry Summit conference Web site and in the Summit program.
• 20-minute feedback session with the steering committee

Judges include:

• Larry Schwartz, President, Newstex
• Ed Keating, VP Content Division, SIIA
• Teri Mendelsohn, President, Mendelsohn Consulting
• Somak Chattopadhyay, VP, Greenhill SAVP
• Ed Reitler, Partner, Reitler Kailas & Rosenblatt
• Randy Marcinko, CEO, MEI
• Claudia Flowers, VP, Business Development, Outsell, Inc.

Vator.tv is partnering with the SIIA Previews to add an interactive element to the SIIA Previews judging!

Here are the details to submit your information to participate in the Vator.tv competition (get complete details here):

• If you’re already on Vator, sign-in and click the “participate in this competition” button on the top right of this competition page.
• If you’re not on Vator yet, Register for a free account, andthen create a profile for your company. The more comprehensive your company profile is, the more likely to get votes, followers, ratings and be reviewed.  Once you create your company profile, then just click the “participate in this competition” button on the top right of this competition page.

How to win:

• The VatorTV community will vote on the companies between October 21 and November 18 and help the judges select 20 semi-finalists. We encourage you to get as many people as possible to vote for you on the VatorTV site!

Get out the vote on Vator:

• More votes on Vator will drive up your chances of winning. The popular vote on Vator will be considered a significant factor in the judging process.
• Additionally, the criteria the judges will use include: novelty/innovation; commercial viability and media presence.
• Companies with a larger follower base and solid testimonies will also grab our attention.
• Get out the vote by using the hash tag #SIIA10 in your Vator and Twitter posts.

For more information about eligibility, the event, and so on visit the SIIA Previews site.

Today, Newstex announced the release of a new Authoritative Content iPhone App that delivers authoritative content to consumers at their fingertips and at anytime.

The Newstex Authoritative Content Distribution System (“CDS”) for iPhones® is an end-to-end system that enables distributors and publishers to private-label their own content, as well as Authoritative Content from Newstex, on the wildly-popular iPhone and iPod Touch devices from Apple.

The Newstex iPhone CDS offers distributors and publishers the following features:

• Distribution of proprietary content, as well as Authoritative Content from Newstex.
• A private-label iPhone App that fully integrates with any distributor’s or publisher’s corporate brand
• Support for text, images, audio and video, including active hyperlinks
• Remote configuration capability for enabling/disabling content and customizing the private-label App’s look-and-feel
• Enterprise-grade, back office reporting, accounting and analytics

Here’s how it works:

1. Distributors and publishers that partner with Newstex to deliver Authoritative Content to their professional customers via Newstex’s revolutionary iPhone CDS can customize the Newstex app to provide a uniquely-branded experience to end-users.
2. Professional customers simply download the distributor’s or publisher’s private-label app to their iPhones or iPod Touches and give their end-users an activation code to access a custom content set.
3. End-users can immediately begin accessing proprietary content from the distributor or publisher, as well as Authoritative Content from Newstex.
4. Using the advanced capabilities and rich user interface of the iPhone and iPod Touch, Newstex’s private-label app syncs via WiFi or cellular network and downloads the latest full-text news, blogs, twitters and video from Newstex directly to the device.

The Newstex iPhone App—available free from the Apple App store—demonstrates how the basic App will function when deployed on private-label basis.  You can get more details here, and be sure to check it out in the Apple App store (you must have iTunes installed on your Mac or PC to view the app demo).  You really do have to see it to believe what it can do!

Welcome to the new Newstex website, which has been updated to reflect Newstex Authoritative Content.

Newstex Authoritative Content is a new brand concept for the news, commentary, opinion and video content that Newstex collects from respected publishers and delivers to top distributors.   Authoritative Content is the useful and meaningful information published by experts, professionals, industry thought leaders, knowledgeable individuals and organizations that end users such as businesspeople, academics, journalists, attorneys, and others can trust.

“The Web gets more cluttered everyday and finding reliable content from credible sources is challenging and time consuming,” explains Newstex president Larry Schwartz.  “In other words, all content is not created equal.  Authoritative Content cuts through the clutter by finding and delivering carefully chosen, superior content to people who need it.”

Newstex collects content from editorially-selected news organizations, bloggers, video publishers, and Twitter users.  Newstex enhances that content by standardizing it, adding useful tags, and categorizing it to assist with searches and delivers it to leading distributors who provide it to their customers.  Customers need quick access to trustworthy content, and Authoritative Content delivers it directly to them.

Authoritative Content publishers include newspapers such as the McClatchy-Tribune and the Associated Press; blogs such as Digital Journal, Gawker, Blogging Stocks and Engadget; video publishers such as SBTV and PRNewswire’s MultiVu; and Twitter publishers, including the content from all members of the U.S. Congress, U.S. Federal Agencies, and Canadian Parliament.

“The world has changed and the lines between traditional journalism and user-generated content have blurred significantly,” says Schwartz.  “Today, respected, meaningful and useful information can come from a variety of sources, including blogs, Twitter, social media, and newspapers.  Professionals who need access to credible information to do their jobs everyday understand that the sources for that information don’t exist only within the boundaries of traditional journalism.  Authoritative Content provides that trustworthy information from a variety of sources, which enables customers to access a wider variety of respected news, commentary and opinion than ever before.  It’s a full content package that customers can rely on.”

Newstex also released free ebooks about blog, Twitter and video licensed syndication, which you can download here and learn more about the process and benefits to publishers, distributors and customers:

• The Truth about Blog and Twitter Content Syndication
• The Truth about Online Video and Licensed Syndication

You can learn more about syndicating your news, blog, Twitter, podcast or video content through Newstex here, or if you’re a distributor interested in providing Authoritative Content to your customers, you can learn more here.

• #bwe09 @CJGrisham – "A Soldier's Perspective" Blog is the winner of Newstex's iPod Touch Contest at 2009 Blog World. Come get your prize!! #
• #bwe09 @daveTaylor – "Ask Dave Taylor" is the winner of Newstex's iPod Touch Contest at Blog World. Come get your prize at booth 405!! #
• RT @ramblingman: Information industry denizens — you should follow the SIIA content division on Twitter. http://bit.ly/GPQbR #

• Newstex is heading to Blog World tomorrow in Vegas – Stop by our booth #405 and enter to win a ipod touch!! #bwe09 #
• RT @monkchips: pimpage: it seems i will make a small amount of cash if you sign up to Monkchips blog on kindle. #newstex #bwe09 #
• RT @graubart: Bloomberg-BusinessWeek deal – "cash offer in the $2-5M range" (plus assumption of liabilities). Yikes. http://bit.ly/4cI855 #
• RT @daynah: Going to Blog World Expo 2009? Get #iPhone app for the schedule! #bwe09 http://bit.ly/18tUvO – this is great! #
• Newstex Launches Authoritative Content Reuters – http://bit.ly/WX6I6 / http://www.newstex.com #
• After a long flight we're in Vegas for Blog World! #bwe09 #