We have several networks that are up and running within the last two weeks (links are being added to the right hand side of the blog as I get them).

Just yesterday Wired News music reporter Eliot Van Buskirk launched a private Ning network that already has fourteen members of high caliber.

I say “high caliber” because the members of this network are both on target – they live and breathe digital music and because, at least based on the percentage that uploaded photos, they appear to be tech-savvy and responsive to network calls of action.

Two other networks that have launched recently are Daniel Victor’s “Hershey Home” and Matt Nauman’s “Green Tech Beat,” which have 30 and 24 members respectively.

I started a discussion about growing their networks – asking if they had an ideal number, or how large they wanted these networks to grow. The response I recieved surprised me – but might come as a ‘duh statement’ to anyone who is a hardcore beat reporter.

I come from the frame of mind where more people can’t be bad: Nobody wants a closed network, they are like islands – and on the internet no island can succeed. To the contrary, as was pointed out to me, the beat bloggers aren’t concerned with the ultimate number of people who join but the quality. Matt Nauman put it best:

“My worry isn’t really about size, it’s the quality, type and participation of
members. Rather than a generic “green living” site, I’m doing something
specifically related to my beat here in Business, so folks telling me they
recycle or carry reusable bags to the market doesn’t get me anywhere.

I need folks to point me to good stories, and then help me ask good questions to make those stories better.”

As I see it – we have two forces pulling us in different directions. I come from the motto that all bugs are shallow: Get enough eyes on the problem and somebody will have the answer. If a network only has 30 members it might have been that theoretical 31st member that would have the information you needed for that story. The devil’s advocate, of course, is that there is signal and noise. Noise has little value – and the more people you have in a network, the more noise you add. In that view of things – having control over the network and keeping a tight lid on it is a boon.

What do you think? Is there an optimal number of people who should be a in a network? How do you balance noise and signal?