Social bookmarking websites are rapidly making their way to the online marketer’s list of priority channels to tap. When used well, social bookmarking can increase your website’s traffic, which can translate to actual sales.
Social bookmarking websites strive to create online communities that enable registered users to share interesting information they find online. Similar to how you bookmark web pages using your browser’s toolbar, social bookmarking websites allow users to create online bookmarks that they can share with their network. When your web page gets bookmarked by a lot of users—or even by just a handful of socially influential users—then there is a big possibility that you will get attention.
Besides being able to get your web pages out there, here are 4 other major benefits you can get as you make social bookmarking a part of your online marketing strategy.
1. Builds credibility for your brand
Primarily, social bookmarking websites are social communities. This means that majority of their content is user-generated. When a registered user bookmarks a web page, he gets to share the link and his opinions on what makes it cool or informative. He can even go as far as adding his own thoughts and rating the link.
This bookmark-review-rate function adds credibility to your web pages. To get on the users’ good side, make sure that your content is focused and relevant—don’t just keep talking about your brand. Keep your niche’s needs in mind as you create your content and then naturally integrate your brand.
2. Attracts niche traffic
More often than not, a user’s social bookmarking network is composed of friends or colleagues who share the same interests with him. This means that if the user stumbles upon your web page, likes it, bookmarks it, and tells his network about it, then the people that make up his network would probably check you out.
If you have a good internal link network, these people will find themselves on other pages of your website and bookmark the pages that they like. Good content will get more of your web pages acknowledged in social bookmarks.
3. Gives you valuable consumer insights
Making your own account gives you more control over how much of your web pages get bookmarked. You can build your own network. Even if your network starts off with your own family and friends, they’ll make you good reviews and tell their networks about you.
Eventually, your network will grow to include other people whose interests adhere to your brand. Go out of your way to socially engage these people. Talk to them and befriend them. Having a personal connection with people in your network will give you a wealth of valuable consumer insight that you can use for future product developments and improvements to your brand.
4. Gives you fresh ideas for web page content
Reviews and comments posted by various users whether about your web pages or other web pages that belong to your product category will tell you a lot about what issues matter to them, which of their needs aren’t being addressed—including whether or not your competitors are doing a good job or not.
Use this information to come up with relevant content that has the consumer in mind. Make sure that your tone is conversational so that your pages don’t sound like sales pitches.