The Lurker Economy

Everyone’s Got a Secret Hobby

Some people scroll Instagram. Some binge Netflix. And some… check our website. Daily. Religiously. Almost like it’s their new morning paper.

Research shows that about 90% of people in online communities are “lurkers” - they consume without contributing. It’s safe. It’s easy. But it doesn’t build anything.

Competitors, Colleagues, and “Fans”

We’ve noticed a steady stream of familiar visitors. It’s flattering, really. Whether you’re a competitor benchmarking, a former colleague keeping score, or just someone wondering what might have been… hi there.

Neuroscience has a name for this kind of fixation: attentional bias. The more often you focus on something, the more your brain wires it as central to your reality.

If you’re here every day, it’s not just curiosity; it’s a signal.

For the Ones Who Want More

You’re not alone. A 2023 PwC survey found that more than half of employees admit they watch competitors more closely when they feel their own company isn’t innovating fast enough. That’s restlessness looking for a way out.

If that sounds familiar, maybe it’s time to stop lurking and start leaping. We know talent when we see it. And there’s room here for sharp minds who want to work faster, smarter, freer.

The Takeaway (for Everyone Else)

Analytics don’t lie. What you pay attention to is what you wish you were doing. Don’t just watch. Build.

Because at the end of the day, the audience doesn’t get the momentum. The act does. And we plan to keep putting on a hell of a show.

Nielsen Norman Group, Participation Inequality: Lurkers vs. Contributors in Internet Communities. https://www.nngroup.com/articles/participation-inequality/

Attention Bias: https://thedecisionlab.com/biases/attentional-bias

PwC, Future of Work and Skills Survey 2023. https://www.pwc.com/futureworkforce