Web usage amongst nonprofit workers

Tech soup published a report of a survey in 2007 about Web Usage. (I found it through a blogpost by Britt Bravo). The survey was amongst tech soup users, mostly nonprofits (in the survey 81% reported to be tech soupers). I'd expect their web usage is more advanced than the average non-profit employee. Though less people took the survey (562 respondents) than last year, the conclusion is that there is an increase in the usage of Web 2.0 tools in general. The respondents were quite old, only 11.5% was below 29 years.

• 63.7% of users reported sharing their photos online which represents a 7% increase.
• 55.4% of respondents reported that they read an online journal or blog which represents a 7% increase over last year.
• 17.3% reported that they create their own online blog which is 3% higher than last year.
• 26.3% of users reported that they are using online social or professional networking tools which represents a 13% increase.
• 26.1% of users reported that they subscribe to RSS feed which represents a 19% increase over last year.

Interestingly, Lifehacker, a Dutch weblog, reports that in their Dutch audiences, typically only 2% uses RSS feeds, so that may be an indication indeed that either Dutch audiences or non- techsoup audiences use web tools much less than these respondents.

I also wondered about the 55 % reading blogs, but only 26% use RSS feeds. Does that mean they use email subscriptions or visit the blog every now and then? Or that they click on a blog when it shows up in an online search?

Another remarkable thing to me was that 80% watch/listen to video or audio files for personal purposes, and 49% for professional purposes. This is quite high I believe!

Their favourite nonprofit websites were:

• Techsoup (they didn't dare to respond otherwise :)
• Guidestar (seems UK oriented)
• Foundation center