In 2007, we began to notice—and report—that the online buzz about sustainability was gaining significance, and starting to climb. After a year of careful analysis, we know that the conversation is not only growing (more than 100% in the last 16 months), but also maturing. Sustainability bloggers – those dedicated to the subject matter – now engage viewers beyond the broad topics of “global warming” and “climate change.” While global warming still drives an overwhelming volume of discussion, bloggers are increasingly driving awareness about other sustainability-related issues.

Throughout 2007, we saw a collective rise in online conversations about recycling and reusing different forms of packaging and materials, and conserving natural resources and renewable energy. All these conversations and subject matters point to a behavioral shift to more personal responsibility. In addition, a huge spike in search volume for “recycling” during and in the weeks following Earth Day (April 22, 2007) suggests that these issues are now infiltrating the mainstream.

Webcast
Join Nielsen Online Research Director Jessica Hogue for an in-depth look at which companies are "winning the green race" and what influential sustainability bloggers are saying about them. We'll look at how the growing sustainability movement has spurred changes in consumers and corporations alike, and how the Internet itself has pushed the issue to the forefront.

Date: April 1
Time: 2pm EST / 1pm CST/ 11am PST

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Top Political Blogs by Messages

The political season continues to drive online conversations. The chart below shows the top political blogs ranked by the number of messages posted between January 1st and March 12th, 2008.

SXSW (South By Southwest)

South by Southwest Buzz ultimately peaked on the opening day, March 9th and dropped subsequently after the show.

Each year in Austin, Texas, marketers, designers, film-makers and musicians gather to participate in the annual South by Southwest Festival. This year Mark Zuckerberg, of Facebook fame, gave the keynote in an interview format with writer and reporter, Sarah Lacy. The interview got tense as audience members belted questions and relayed real-time the events about the interview often chastising Lacy.

Below are some verbatims from selected blogs outlining the Lacy-Zuckerberg event:

"Sarah Lacy was un-prepared to interview the young CEO, displaced the focus, and a uprising happened online and in person from the audience…Sadly, for Sarah’s reputation has been marred as an interviewer by the extensive coverage of blogs and even mainstream media… It’s very clear the audience took charge," - Jeremiah Owyang.

www.web-strategist.com/blog

"But the real star of MIX 08 was Guy Kawasaki…Contrast Guy’s performance with that of BusinessWeek’s Sarah Lacy whose highly publicized fiasco at geek conference SXSW will go down in conference history. While Guy remained relaxed, conversational and quick on his feet…Lacy was unable to successfully adapt to her situation when the SXSW audience began to turn on her," - David Armano.

http://darmano.typepad.com/logic_emotion/

Real time measurement of Key issues

Blogpulse captures consumer reaction in near real time, and recent conversations have been driven by political shame and troubled Wall Street bank, Bear Stearns.

The scandal linked to former Governor Eliot Spitzer and Geraldine Ferraro’s alleged racist remark against Senator Barack Obama caused a dramatic spike in online conversation. Consumer discussion skyrocketed nearly 800% on March 11th as consumers reacted to Spitzer’s resignation and again on March 12th due to Ferraro’s response to the Obama campaign. Discussions about the two have tapered off as consumers are now chatting about the future of Wall Street investment firm Bear Stearns.