Archive for July, 2008:
New Social Search Site Scour Says Search Socially
I know that the onomatopoeia might be a bit annoying, but I am Excited!
I got an email today from my friend Tina letting me know that this new search engine allows users to comment on results, interact with other commenters, search from yahoo, MSN, and Google in the same place. These are things that have been happening for awhile - so you might think, “well, sure, but its all been done.”
NOT SO! Scour has achieved the best of all worlds. Excellent Social interaction, positive marketing, and best of all - YOU GET PAID TO USE IT!!!
That’s right you guys, this is the real deal! SCOUR! Scour the web and get paid for it!!!
NOTE for Firefox Users: Since there is not a search add on yet for the search form on the right, just do the following and search directly from your url bar with scour.
- Type about:config in Firefox location bar and press Enter
- Type keyword in Filter textbox and you will see only the preference keyword.URL.
- Double-click on keyword.URL and change the value to:
http://scour.com/search/web/
Each of these searches will earn you points going toward your visa gift cards!
Dude, why are you here? Go to scour!
Increase Traffic with StumbleUpon
When it comes to Social Networking, StumbleUpon is a good introduction for a new user. One of the pushbacks I often hear about social networking is that people don’t really like to “put themselves out there” by telling too much of who they are and trying to find “friends.” The reason StumbleUpon is a better introduction to social networking for this group is because building a long list of friends is not as important.
A few friends in StumbleUpon are more than enough. You will want to sign up and build a profile, ALWAYS put in a link or two where people can find you. And sure, add a friend here and there. You can find me here.
But after the initial start up, its all about the stumble button.
You get the handy tool bar, with several options for stumbling around on the internet, but when you use the stumble button, you are automatically directed over to some site which other users have submitted. StumbleUpon will automatically deliver qualified traffic as soon as your site is listed.
Let me just pause here for a second though and say this. In order to get the most use out of StumbleUpon you need to have a blog. Get used to hearing that, it won’t be the last time I say it!
Now there are three things you need to do in order to effectively use StumbleUpon.
1. Stumble
First, Stumble yourself. Use the button, and visit some sites you care about. Then simply mark them as you like it, or not. Don’t feel like you absolutely have to mark every page you visit, but it never hurts to be active on the site. You might find yourself some friends that way. Plus, I have found some fascinating websites using the Stumble button.
Be Warned: It CAN become a time sucker if you are not disciplined.
2. Submit
Submit Websites you find interesting to stumble. Is it worth it? Did you find and interesting site? GREAT Stumble it! Do you find this post helpful? Stumble it! (this is probably not a good post for submitting to stumble upon though, because most stumblers already know how it works).
Every once in a while feel free to even submit your own stuff. But look carefully at the stuff you are submitting and see if you look like a narcissistic, selfish pig. Do you think you are producing most of the content out there that people care about? You probably don’t. Then your submissions should not say otherwise.
3. Ask others to Stumble you.
The more reviews and submission you get from other people, the better. If 20 people click “I Like It” on this page, then StumbleUpon will continue to send me more traffic. If one person likes and 19 Thumb it down, then that is going to hurt me in StumbleUpon.
So get friends to join Stumble and ask them to thumbs up your stuff too. Now, remember. If you and your husband are the only two people ever voting for your blog, that is still going to be a bit fishy. Even computers are smart enough to see what’s going on. This is when haveing a larger network in other places can be helpful. Every couple of weeks I get an email from someone asking me to Stumble something for her. And you know what? I almost always do. If I were getting that same email three times a day I never would.
So on a final note, keep this in mind. Dont’ wear out your friends with cries for help, but don’t be afraid to ask for a quick favor every now and then.
Increase your website traffic with Social Networking
Its been a while since I have written on the topic of Social Networking and how it will increase your success at online business. I think it is time again to go over some of the basic Social networking sites which can dramatically increase your traffic.
So I think it is time for a series on some of the better social networks. There are literally thousands of Social Networks, some of them specifically tailored to niche communities, some of them broader and with lots more people in them. So I intend to post one additional article about how to find smaller social networks which might be just right for your particular website.
But First:
We will be looking at Digg, Mixx, StumbleUpon, Twitter, and Facebook (and even though it might not really be a “social network proper” FriendFeed is on the list for sure).
I would love your input if there are others you would like to see profiled here.
Be sure to Check Back or Subscribe to get the lowdown!
And Please Leave your thoughts on important social networks, or contact me through one!
I am jaredmlee at all of them! I look forward to connecting with you!
Social Networking is why Obama will win the race
The Rant
Well, OK that plus the fact that Bush pretty much handed the democrats the presidency three years ago.
But war, economy, secrecy, sketchy leadership and poor decision making aside. Obama is slaughtering the competition because he understands the importance of web 2.0.
And the Grand Old Party is going to be exactly that unless they catch up! With social networking what it is today, it is possible to run for president using the internet alone. A tempting enticement to a power hungry media mogul.
Obama has branded his image and plastered it across every imaginable social network out there. of course McCain’s people are trying to do the same thing, but frankly, when your guy says he doesn’t understand the internet, well let’s just say if he had shot himself in the foot fifty years ago he wouldn’t have been a POW.
The Illustration
Seriously, we all need to take a lesson from both candidates here. I am active on the internet and in most social networks. Because of this I see Obama all the time. He is in front of me. This is free advertising, and I am getting his image in my mind. I can almost see him in my sleep because he is so “present” in the social networking scene. Keep in mind, I have not added him as a friend in any of these applications. (If I did I don’t have any recollection of that fact.)
Now lets turn to McCain. The guy is a relic. And my generation knows it because he isn’t where he is supposed to be. He is supposed to be digging, mixxing, and stumbling on stuff. Instead he is on fox news (NOTE: the previous link is to a better resource than the outdated media empire) being discussed by other guys I don’t have time to watch because I get my information from the internet, which McCain doesn’t understand.
Let this screen shot from facebook illustrate the reality of Obama’s presence as opposed to McCain’s.
The Application
The logical question is which of these do you wish to emulate in your marketing? Do you want to be seen in as many places as you can, or do you want to be disparaged because you don’t think the internet is worth your while.
What is your brand? Do people recognize it? Are you putting yourself in front of your clients, voters, customers? Or are you allowing your absence to speak for itself?
What does a Blog have to do with a website
I get this question a lot and I just got it again yesterday. People ask me, “Jared, what does having a blog have to do with promoting my online business?”
So, I discuss that topic in this video.
Enjoy…
