Perhaps it is tied to the number of press releases, product or staffing announcements including who has joined the organization along with added coverage of it?
Maybe its based on how many articles, videos or some other content and coverage that helps to show traction and momentum?
On the other hand is it tied to how many prospects are actually trying a product or service as part of a demo or proof of concept?
Then again, maybe it is associated with how many real paying or revenue installed footprints and customers or what is also known as industry deployment (customer adoption).
Of those customers actually buying and deploying, how many have continued using the technology even after industry adoption subsides or does the solution become shelf ware?
Does the customer deployment actually continue to rise quietly while industry adoption or conversations drop off (past the cycle of hype)?