Mark Suster wrote a compelling post on Chartbeat  on the 18th (also look at the comments – I was all set to try it when I found out Chartbeat was going to ask for my credit card before the trial period). Chartbeat provides real time analytics for blogs (instant Google if you will). The issue that I am interested in however is how important are the numbers and do you really need to know them instantly, daily, weekly, monthly or even quarterly? My thesis is that you don’t.

Numbers are always fun, especially when they are positive. Some people watch the Dow, in Houston they follow the rig count, some people obsess over how much venture money was put to work last quarter. There must be a lot of well earned satisfaction in having a large and growing audience. I don’t know how 100,000 uniques per month compares to traditional print media, but it sounds like a lot.

Neither Mark Suster nor any of the people like him who write on the general topic of VC stuff are selling subscriptions nor are they (generally) advertising. Nor, frankly, is it likely to benefit them a lot professionally. Although, I suppose in their business visibility and profile may increase deal flow and access to fellow investors. So, there is a possible motive there.

Having said that, I wonder if Suster, Wilson or any of the other successful VC bloggers would stop posting if their numbers were say 8,000 uniques instead of 80,000 uniques. I am going to guess that they would write anyway. If something else is true.

Again, I don’t have any idea what their motives are, but I am going to guess that the kick is more from the comments than the anonymous numbers. My bet is that it is the interaction with the 10, 20, 40, 80 or more people who comment and provide insight and interaction around topics that keep the writers juiced. The tens of thousands who merely read are nice, but it you just wanted readers you could write for the print media. 

My guess: It is the interaction, and you don’t need cool analytics to see and feel it.