Collaboration 101: Mashable and TechCrunch

June 15, 2010

Another collaboration insight: Mashable.com vs. TechCrunch.com
Working for OpenView Venture Partners, an expansion stage venture capital fund with a focus on high-growth software, Internet and technology-enabled companies, a comprehensive understanding of the latest tech trends is imperative. Although there are many news sources, TechCrunch and Mashable are two prominent Web 2.0/social media blogs which provide readers with up-to-the-minute updates. According to Compete.com, Mashable is now the web’s most popular tech blog, recently overtaking the long-time rival TechCrunch. The two blogs are quickly transforming into household names as our 140-character or less desire grows exponentially. Although TechCrunch probably appeals to a more tech-savvy crowd and appears to have more content, Mashable seems to be targeting a segment of early adapters and influencers who are likely to share information, perhaps re-tweeting and forwarding along information to their colleagues and peers more frequently.
Mashable, according to their site, is focused primarily on Web 2.0 and social media: “A hub for those looking to make sense of the online realm” while, according to their website, TechCrunch is “dedicated to obsessively profiling and reviewing new Internet products and companies.”

Personally, I was not as familiar with TechCrunch until a few months ago, but find Mashable to be a great social media news desk. In order to compare the two blogs, I picked a prominent tech/social media topic, the iPhone 4s, and examined the way that the two competitors covered the buzz-worthy new device. My overall take: It seems that TechCrunch is far more editorial, containing more opinionated content vs. Mashable which seems to be more of a Twitter-like gatekeeper.

Senior Account Manager

Jessica Danforth was previously an Analyst here at OpenView. Currently, Jessica is a Senior Account Manager at <a href="https://www.zenefits.com/">Zenefits</a> and Co-Founder/Director of Marketing & Operations of The Simama Project <a href="http://www.simamaproject.org/">The Simama Project</a>.