My Local Business Online

Jan Kearney - Your Local Business Online Marketing Consultant - call me 07847 554418

Jan Kearney – My Local Business Online

Helping you get your business found online by LOCAL people

  • Home
  • Problems I Solve
    • I need a website that works
    • I need more online visibility for my local business
    • I want to start video marketing
    • My WordPress site baffles me
  • Why I Do It
    • Privacy
  • Toolbox
  • Contact Me
You are here: Home / Social media / What is Social Bookmarking and Sharing? Why Should I Care?

What is Social Bookmarking and Sharing? Why Should I Care?

December 8, 2011 by Jan Kearney

social bookmarking - it's time to get social

It's time to get social online!

Social bookmarking has been around for a few years now. I am guilty of simply saying bookmark it or share it – without thinking that some people haven’t been online for quite as long as I have and really don’t have a clue what I am talking about.

I didn’t realise how often I said it until a conversation earlier this week where I was met with a look that indicated I had two heads and the question (toned down for politeness!) “You keep saying that.  What is social bookmarking?”

… I’m sorry for not realising that social bookmarking falls into the realm of techno-babble for many people.

This post aims to remedy that fault and I promise to stop assuming you know what I am talking about!

Contents

  • What Is Social Bookmarking?
  • Why Bother With Social Bookmarking And Sharing?
  • Social Bookmarking and Social Sharing Are Not Fads
  • Related Posts

What Is Social Bookmarking?

Well, Wikipedia says…

Social bookmarking is a method for Internet users to organize, store, manage and search for bookmarks of resources online.

That’s it in a nutshell.

Rather than storing your favourite web pages on your browser (FireFox, Chrome, Internet Explorer, Safari etc.) you store them on a social bookmarking platform online. This way, your bookmarked web pages can be viewed by other internet users.

Way back in the late 90’s, social bookmarking was at the forefront of sharing information online – there was no Twitter and Facebook then! You could say that alongside forums, these bookmarking sites were the beginning of the social web as we know it today.

Over the years the bookmarking sites have evolved and there are hundreds, if not thousands of bookmarking platforms that allow you to store your favourite pages, and rate or comment on other peoples links too. They are effectively mini online communities.

As the social web has grown, you can also share your information on the more familiar social networking sites too.

Why Bother With Social Bookmarking And Sharing?

It’s all about online visibility.

Social bookmarking not only puts your website in front of others who may not have discovered it but, in many cases those links count as a small vote in popularity when it comes to ranking your web page.

The effect can be even more powerful on the large social network sites.

Even if you prefer to stay away from social networking sites (and I can totally understand that!) other people seem to enjoy it. They share information publicly online all the time.


Noise to Signal Cartoon

As a bare minimum, your website should make it simple for people to talk about your business online. Give people something to talk about and the ability to share it easily. Include popular sharing buttons – Facebook, Twitter, G+, Digg, Delicious, StumbleUpon and others.

The picture is bigger than people talking about your business. Google particularly is starting to take into account the social web when it ranks web pages. Even more so with personalised search results. Take a look next time you’re logged into Google, watch out for the “friend shared this” comment under a search result.

That comment is powerful in itself but, do the same search not logged in…

Not only will you not see the comment, but the page itself is likely to have sunk back into the depths of search obscurity.

Social Bookmarking and Social Sharing Are Not Fads

Social is not going away. It will continue to evolve. Just like social bookmarking has done over the last ten or so years – some social sites may fall by the wayside and others will spring up in their place. It will be the same for the larger networking sites too.

The names of the social sites may change, the buttons we click may change but the people powered worldwide web will only get stronger.

In fact, just as I was writing this post, Google sent out an invitation to social sites to integrate with Google Analytics.

“To enable our customers to discover who’s sharing, voting and bookmarking their content on the social web, cross-network measurement needs to become easier.  So today we’re inviting social networks and platforms to integrate their activity streams with Google Analytics.”

“A number of partners are already working with us to improve measurement of social actions – including Delicious, Digg, Diigo, Gigya, LiveFyre, ReadItLater, Reddit, TypePad, Vkontakte, and of course, Google+, Blogger and Google Groups.”

Call me cynical, but Google do not collect data for fun or the benefit of others…

It’s a matter of time before kinks are ironed out and social markers from participating sites are integrated into search results somehow.

So what are you waiting for?

Each time you post to your blog or add a new section to your website, bookmark and share it and encourage others to do the same.

You know what to do now? Click one of the buttons below and share this post! 🙂

Image credit – Spekulator

What is Social Bookmarking and Sharing? Why Should I Care? by Jan Kearney
Tired Of Not Reaching Your Facebook Fans?
Discover how to expand reach (without paying for ads)

How to expand Facebook reach without paying for ads

It's infuriating isn't it? You put all that time and effort into growing your fan base on your Facebook Page and now your updates rarely reach anyone...

You CAN Expand Your Reach

Using some simple techniques you can reach more of your fans without paying for ads.

In this report you will learn:

  • What is Reach and is it worth worrying about
  • 3 Key steps you need to take to increase your reach
  • 10 Post ideas to help you reach more fans

Get your copy now – it’s free. Simply fill in your name and email in the box below and I’ll whizz the report over to you.

Related Posts

  • Should you use Google Ads as part of your online marketing?

    It's no secret that Google Ads are taking over the search results, slowly but surely. …

  • What Have You Done To Promote Your Business Online This Week?

    Now there’s an interesting question… What have you done to promote your business online? I…

  • Why Using Social Media For Business Isn't Working For You

    So, you decide to start using social media for business. You set up an account…

Filed Under: Social media Tagged With: bookmarks, online visibility, social bookmarking, social networking, social sharing

About Jan Kearney

I believe that every business, no matter how small or how local can use the power of the web to gain more customers. I offer no bull coaching and mentoring so small business owners can strategically put the web to work for their business. I've been called a "compass" and a "navigator" and probably a few more names that aren't suitable for a profile!
Connect with me on Google+, Facebook, Pinterest

Comments

  1. Denins says

    February 8, 2012 at 4:25 pm

    You just gave me a great idea for a new blog post.. With the most recent panda updates, social sharing is more important than ever.

    I put a lot of focus now on getting my stuff shared via social media…

    • Jan Kearney says

      February 9, 2012 at 11:23 am

      Thanks for taking the time to comment Dennis. Yes, social sharing is becoming more important now. I loved your dog video tactic! Will need to try that one 🙂

Meet Jan Kearney

I believe that every business, no matter how small or how local can use the power of the web to gain more customers. I offer no bull coaching and mentoring so small business owners can strategically put the web to work for their business. I've been called a "compass" and a "navigator" and probably a few more names that aren't suitable for a profile!
Connect with me on Google+, Facebook, Pinterest or Discover More About My Local Business Online…

Also On The Blog…

7 Useful image optimisation tips for search and social media

7 Useful Image Optimisation Tips For Search And Social Media

A web page without an image is almost naked, missing something, a finishing touch. Basic image optimisation can transform your web pages, product … [Read More...]

50 Fabulously free stock photo sites to bling up your blog

50 Fabulously Free Stock Photo Sites To Bling Your Blog

Not all of us have photographic talent. Creating your own photo images for your website, social updates, blog or presentations is HARD.  When the … [Read More...]

Is your business website Google-worthy in 2016?

Is Your Business Website Google-Worthy In 2016?

Creating your own local business website is never an easy task, especially when the guidelines change regularly. As always online, the only thing you … [Read More...]

Jan Kearney
and My Local Business Online
Helps small business owners get to grips with the web and get found online.
2 Stanley Villas, Greenway Road, Runcorn, Cheshire
Phone: 07847 554418

You need to know

This website uses cookies. By continuing using the site, you are agreeing to the use of cookies. Info on the cookies used can be found in my privacy policy.

Jan Kearney is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk.

More Info

  • Contact Me
  • About
  • Privacy

Copyright © 2023 · My Local Business Online · WordPress · Log in