Social Bookmarking: Where Would You Bookmark This Blog?
The current version of Sociable, the social bookmarklet tool plugin includes a whopping 61 social bookmark sites to choose from. And that doesn't even scratch the surface of all the social bookmarking services out there right now. That's a lot of little icons to stuff into a blog post by anyone's definition.
Decisions, Decisions
So I chose a few of them, basically based on a couple of factors like including the ones that I use personally and excluding some that seem to not bring me any traffic, or not bring me very active traffic. I've had them on the blog for quite a while now, but I can't help but think that I'm simply not using this resource as effectively as I could.
I mean the whole point is to let you bookmark posts you like, and in the process get some new visitors who might become new readers. So really making decisions based on my own ideas of what a "good" social bookmarking site is, just doesn't get to the point.
Sure, ultimately the baser reason I am willing to put these little icons on my blog is to get the extra juice and visits from the links they generate, right. Same for any of us.
It's about blog promotion.
But, it is and it isn't. it isn't the same as buying a directory listing, or donating to BlogCatalog and getting a little extra exposure. That's a pure promotional decision (well, and the fact that I just like BC enough to want to donate) based on a straight value exchange.
It's about the reader Stupid
This is more about the reader. The promotional aspects are second string and only work if the readers are put first. If the reader likes the blog post, and if there is an easy way to bookmark the post, then they may bookmark it. But it's really all about what you can offer the reader, what I can offer you.
Sure, the occasional reader is really impressed and wants to evangelize a certain post, or even the whole blog, but lets face it, that's not the normal course of the day. It's nice, but it can't be counted on or planned for. So for the rest of the time, you need to offer the value that makes the reader want to save a handy link back to the post, and then you have to make it as easy as possible. But how to figure out what will be the best solution for you the reader?
I looked through the logs, and there were some hint's there, but nothing concrete. I did a little research, and looked at reported traffic levels and users bases. I considered what I thought the demographics of various social bookmarking services were. But really, there was nothing that could conclusively tell me what was best for my readers.
So Why Not Ask?
What? Nah, it couldn't be as simple as all that? What the heck, I'll give it a try.
What social bookmarking site would you be most likely to use to bookmark posts from this blog?
I've even made it easy for you to answer! I created a poll and embedded it right here in this post. I preselected 15 services for you to choose from for the easy answer, and I also set it up so that you can add another bookmarking site as an answer if you don't like any of the ones I put in the poll.
Why not ask your readers too? just put up a quick poll and see what services they want you to use? Send me a trackback if you do this so I can see what kinds of results you are getting too!
Please Vote!
I would really appreciate if you took the time to register your vote in this poll, and I will be adjusting the social bookmarklets I display here on the blog as a direct result of the answers I see in this poll. So please take a second and vote right now! Feel free to post a comment explaining why you like the social site of your choice, or why you feel it's a fit for this blog. Or leave a comment letting me know what your send, third and even fourth choices would be.
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Digg
I think Digg is the most search engine friendly social bookmarking site. You digg something, and hours later you see it up on the search engines.
I think those are the
I think those are the largest social bookmarking buttons I have ever seen! I would have to agree with most of the commentors here -- stumbleupon is just about the easiest to use, because of the toolbar, digg falls second because just about every other blog post I have seen has a "digg it!" button under it. Those posts that don't just leave too much for the surfer to do.
My bookmarks are getting so
My bookmarks are getting so full, I may as well use stumbleupon more, which I have.
If I want to remember a post
If I want to remember a post and go back to it, I use delicious. If I'm trying to do a blogger a favor, I use some combination of StumbleUpon, Reddit, and Digg.
I actually prefer propeller,
I actually prefer propeller, I like all the different channels.
Hi Dane, What a good idea.
Hi Dane,
What a good idea. I'd always wondered just how many of those buttons were a waste. From where do you get your stats... web logs?
Btw, I'm sorry I haven't stopped by more regularly. As most people, I've got a lot going on but I'll definitely make more of an effort.
I also want to thank you for your helpful comment on my blog. That, alone, will help many passers-by for quite a while to come.
Best wishes,
Sam
Sam Freedom's Internet Marketing Controversy Blog
I like Digg better because
I like Digg better because they send me lots of traffic and Stumble On has sent nothing so far. So I Digg.
And the point I hear you trying to make in this post Dane, is that if your purpose in blogging is to attract readers, you need to keep their needs rather than your preference in mind when deciding how you will organize and administrate your blog.
I use Stumble precisely
I use Stumble precisely because I was able to install the toolbar. I hate that I keep having to log into Digg, and so don't "digg" often. That incremental hurdle is enough to shift me to Stumble!
Dane, I actually love the
Dane,
I actually love the look and feel of this theme. I am not surprised to know that there is a lot going on under the skin.
I finally web and updated one of my websites to v.2.3 of WordPress- which has identical theme, so far it look like Cleaker is compatible. I need it a little kick because my excuse for not keeping up with the updates was really lame.
So for time being I am ok with the theme I have now. However I will keep an eye for your release. I think I am at the point where I can feel comfortable to play with themes css so I can do all that "eye pleasing" adjustments on my own. In fact I stripped my current theme from most of the images. That is the reason why I like your themes- their simplicity. However I know that functionality that may come along with your theme may be well worth waiting for.
Sorry for getting off the topic. :)
Yeah, I don't see many bumps
Yeah, I don't see many bumps to Bz either.
This theme is going to be a sort of branding theme for me. I'll be modifying the colors and using it on Blog Strokes as well as a couple of other blogs that I'll be branding into my personal network. It's pretty heavily customized with various things. I know it looks simple and I want it to, but there's a lot going on under the skin. It would be a lot of work to pull everything back out to turn it into a public theme at this point.
You have any critiques on it, I'd love to hear them.
It is StumbleUpon for me
It is StumbleUpon for me Dane, since BumpZee is not technically a bookmarking site.
On the other note, is this the theme you had in mind?
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