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Free Website Content
Social Bookmarking Primer
Social Bookmark Primer
By Sharon Housley
Social media is the Internet's version
of viral messaging and marketing. Social media can be
used to disseminate news or information, as well as
to attract attention. There are a wide variety of social
media channels and networks available.
Social networks and social media websites
are community-driven websites that allow visitors to
submit items of interest. Visitors also decide what
items appeal to them by voting or tagging; the more
popular an item is determined to be by the visitors,
the more exposure the item is given.
However, in some networks not all visitors
are created equal -- the vote of some members may carry
more weight than others, and the votes of a well-established
visitor may be given more value. Likewise, the vote
of a member who has historically selected or submitted
stories that were repeatedly determined popular may
be given more value than the vote of someone new to
the website. These established visitors may also be
given some sort of "power-user" status that allows them
to have a stronger influence over which items are determined
to be popular.
Some social websites are topical or themed,
while others have a broader and more general appeal.
In many social networks, the popularity of the item
is determined through a democratic process, and the
more popular the collective voice deems an item to be,
the more prominence that item will receive in the listings
on the social website.
In order to effectively use social networks,
you must establish an identity and a reputation. As
a social networker, it is important that you understand
the dynamics of the social website before you begin
participating. Take the time to observe the network
before you begin posting. Once you have a basic understanding
of the website's culture, it is safe to begin participating.
Regular participation will give you insight into how
a social network functions and what kinds of things
the collective voice desires... or equally important,
what it dislikes.
Here are some final tips for social
media success...
1. Learn who the more influential
people are on the social website.
2. Becoming an influential member
of the network can be time-consuming and difficult,
but it will make it much easier to gain attention for
important items once established.
3. Try not to spread yourself too
thin by attempting to be everything to everyone on all
social networks. Find a niche and a network which you
have knowledge and experience, and then focus on becoming
established within that network.
4. Develop a network of individuals
that share a common theme or interest.
5. When posting new items, pay
particular attention to the Title you use. The title
is like a headline, and it should "grab" attention without
misleading anyone or being too vague.
6. It is often helpful to evangelize
and promote the social network itself.
Use the above information to become more
successful in your social networking activities.
About the Author:
Sharon Housley manages marketing for FeedForAll http://www.feedforall.com
software for creating, editing, publishing RSS feeds
and podcasts. In addition Sharon manages marketing for
RecordForAll http://www.recordforall.com
audio recording and editing software.
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publications and websites, provided that the resource
box is included and the links are active. A courtesy
copy of the issue or a link to any online posting would
be greatly appreciated send an email to sharon@notepage.net
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