Eneh Akpan Writes: 20 Payoffs of Social Bookmarking

Hi, well met, Reader!

I’d like to discuss the seemingly infinite dividends of social bookmarking with you, if you got the time.

Social networking has caught and held on like a bad case of cold, on the web, these few years. Almost everyone who’s had anything to do with the computer and the internet (especially, the internet) is a member of one or more social networking site(s) (SNS).

Social bookmarking thrived in the wake of social media platforms like MySpace, Delicious, Digg, Facebook, twitter and between 300-500 other sites. Many internet surfers are yet to dig into the treasure trove of this wonderful web tool even though, it offers a variety of goodies which are often as free as air.

You’ll possibly glean bits and pieces of the stuff I got up here on many websites and weblogs but heck, why can’t I do it as well if I can?

The following lines of sentences are my take on essentials of social bookmarking if there ever was one. You might find I did a rundown of some points but believe me, those are better off as stand alones and don’t need me gilding them over.

So, if you’re ready, here I come:

1. Up Your Visibility –

If you blog or own a website, this is for you. This is one way to be seen and heard, of sharing your blog/site across a wide and diversified platform brimming with readers waiting for your content.

2. Human Powered Search Engine –

People-generated search provides answers instead of bots running the show.

3. Find People in Similar Fields –

Some media platforms like Twitter, suggest people for its users to follow based on that user’s tweets and interests. An avenue to link you up with skills/talents operating on the same wavelength with you, in other words.

4. Develop an Authoritative Voice –

Whether we realize it or not, the more we share stuff across the web, the bolder we become in constructing descriptive titles. This can boost you up if you’re a writer/blogger. You learn to believe in the power of your words especially, if the posts shared are from big name media sites.

5. Rub Minds with Big Shot Media Gurus –

Top media groups and publishers host Q&As or interactive sessions on SNS platforms. That means you get to meet folks at the top rung of the ladder in your field of expertise easily.

6. Boost Your Site Traffic –

This one is ooh so obvious. When you share your posts, more people find it. Easy.

7. Information at Your Fingertips –

That’s what social bookmarking is all about. Social media are like information banks because millions update links every second.

8. Links, Links, Links –

Millions to choose from and explore!

9. Maintain Your Online Presence –

Well-meaning bloggers might frown at this one. But, there are days when it feels like you’re drowning in offline work and barely have the time to write. Micro blogging backed up with resourceful links might be the only technique available for keeping up your online appearance.

10. Fast Indexing of Blogs by Search Engine Bots –

Social networking sites submit your links to search engines. So, every time you share your site content, you’re practically, setting up your blog for fast indexing in search engine bots.

11. Boost Search Engine Ranking –

Surfers migrate to your blog increasing your blog’s popularity and shooting you up search engine rankings.

12. Increased Fanbase –

13. Site Branding –

Well, if you keep whacking people on the head with what you’re up to, your face will pop up every time they think about that product.

14. Find Skills for Hire –

People sharing their posts are basically, telling us; “Lookit here! See what I can do. Hire Me!”

15. Market Your Talents –

You can put your books and other products out there where the buyers are. It’s another way of advertising.

16. Accessible on Multi-platforms –

Your PC, smart phone and tablet browsers will take you to your social bookmarks anywhere you go in the world as long as you’re connected to the www.

17. Add Keywords and Tags For Search Optimization –

Keywords and tags give you an edge in searches.

18. Generate Instant Backlinks –

Search engines often use the number of backlinks that a website has as one of the most important factors for determining that website's search engine ranking, popularity and importance. Google's description of their PageRank system, for instance, notes that Google interprets a link from page A to page B as a vote, by page A, for page B. – Wikipedia.

19. Spread News and Information Faster –

20. Increased Awareness –

This is a matter of popularity. So many social networking sites, so many channels to display your wares to millions of fans. It’s like a window into a world of limitless opportunities.

What are the odds?

Bleed your pen!

Akpan