Blog Tip Sharing Project 4: StumbleUpon Primer

June 14, 2008 | Filed in: B.T.S.P., blogging

Let’s review what we’ve learned so far in the series. First we should write often, practicing the skill. We have learned some writing techniques for gaining comments and readers. Also we’ve learned that subscribing to different blogs about blogging can offer great tips. Last week, the focus was on how social networking can pay off, and that it’s not necessary to devote time to every site out there, but rather focus our time on a few. One of the sites I mentioned last week was StumbleUpon and teased you with the possibility of 1,000 hits in one day.

Wanna know how?

Me, too.

Kidding. Well, I’m only sort of kidding. I should confess that StumbleUpon (SU) totally baffles me. Some posts go over well, others die a very quick death and I don’t really know why. But I have learned a few things about using SU that I think will help you and! I’ll give these tips in list form! My goodness I’m a gracious host.

Let’s begin with the toolbar. If you’re a smarty pants, know-it-all and already know how to use the toolbar skip to the next section.

1. To stumble a post click on the title of the post so that you’re on the direct URL to the post you wish to stumble.

Rather than stumble an entire site, stumble specific posts on a site.

2. Hit the “thumbs up/I like it!” button.

3. If it hasn’t already been stumbled, then a box will appear where you’ll write a little review. You’ll also be asked to put it in a category. Choose your category WISELY. Then add as many tags as you can, the more the better. (Sometimes, SU screws it up, though, and puts it in an incorrect category despite your best efforts.)

4. If the post HAS already been stumbled, then when you hit the “thumbs up/I like it!” button, it will change colors. When it does, hit the little “speech bubble” button and write a review and add tags. You certainly don’t have to write a review for EVERY site you stumble, but the more reviews you write, the more weight your stumbles carry…(which I will talk about in the next section.)

5. A great way to stumble upon sites is to simply hit the “Stumble” button. You can choose the category of what you want to stumble simply by choosing under the “all” button. Scroll down and choose your category.

6. My favorite way to stumble is to stumble the sites my friends have stumbled upon. You do this by hitting the button that looks like two people side by side. (Do you think I used the word “stumble” enough in the first sentence? Jeez.)

BEWARE! Stumbling upon sites is addicting and can cause you to realize you’ve been stumbling for the past four hours while your children ate crumbs off the kitchen floor for lunch. Or so I’ve heard.

7. You can send your favorite sites to the friends you’ve made on SU to ask for a review or to just send them something you really enjoyed by hitting the “Send to” button. I’d recommend only asking for reviews from people that you “know” and have some sort of relationship with and not random friends you’ve made on SU.

NEXT SECTION. Woo hoo!

Now that we can use the toolbar, let’s talk tips to drive traffic in your direction.

1. StumbleUpon frowns upon you stumbling your own site.

If you think you have a really fantastic post, ask someone to originally stumble it for you. You can always give it a thumbs up and review after them. The rumor is that you can only stumble one site fifteen times.

2. Write reviews when stumbling! They help up your status over simply just giving a site a thumbs up. The more reviews and sites you’ve stumbled upon, the more weight your stumbles carry. It also helps to have lots of friends on SU.

For example, if you’ve only written a few reviews and given a handful of thumbs up, when you stumble a post it doesn’t carry as much weight as someone who has stumbled AND REVIEWED 3,286 sites. Getting a thumbs up from someone that has reviewed many sites and has many friends, will get your post noticed by more people.

3. Stumble often and stumble a variety of sites. DON’T ONLY STUMBLE YOUR OWN POSTS. BAD!!!

When I originally tried out SU, I only stumbled my own site and saw NO visitors. Once I figured this out and starting stumbling LOTS of sites, whenever I had a new post of mine that had been stumbled (by someone else), I saw more traffic driven to my site.

It’s also nice to just be generous and send traffic to sites you admire. If you’ve just read something that you just KNOW other people should read, too…then STUMBLE IT! …yet another way to get involved in this blogging community!

4. SU users love lists, pictures, humor, and well written posts. According to different things I’ve read, SU users DO NOT LOVE slow loading sites, blah blog designs, long posts, typical “mommyblogger” posts about poop and what your kids didn’t eat for dinner.

5. The more tags you give a site, the more exposure it will get. Choose those tags wisely!

For example, if you choose just “Parenting” as a tag, you’re missing out on LOTS of potential visitors. Also choose “kids,” “family,” “babies,” “for-kids,” “homemaking…” Those are merely examples, but the point is…the more tags the better.

I realize that this all seems like a lot of work. It is, but there are rewards. I think that SU can generate quality traffic, meaning that I’ve noticed after a high traffic day on SU, I’ve seen an increase in subscribers the next day.

There a zillions of sites that talk about SU and how to use it to build traffic. If you want to know more of the nitty gritty information, go read these:

StumbleUpon Traffic Guide, 50 Tips by 50 Authors

A Comprehensive Guide to SU: How to Build Massive Traffic to Your Website

Building Your Blog With SU

Please include any helpful SU hints you have in the comments section!

Next week: I don’t know yet. I’ll surprise you.

/SU lesson

Share with others

I’m new around here and really!! enjoying your blogging info.

Thanks and keep it coming!

Headless Moms last blog post..Are you ready…

Never Never NEVER NEVER NEVER mark something on someone else’s page that you “discovered” as adult content (unless it’s obvious porn, and then shame on you, hussy!) because if you do?

That person’s website/page will entered into the PORN CATEGORY on SU, and avoided by non pervs, and it’s a pain in the ass to get that undone!

And people DON’T LIKE THAT.

Can you tell that this has happened to me? Heh.

Sarcastic Moms last blog post..Because it says, “Sex Ed 101? on my front door.

I’ve never tried this but am excited to do so ! Thanks!

rachellekolbs last blog post..PeePs is 3!

Thanks for mentioning my StumbleUpon guide article, much appreciated.

You mentioned SU being a mystery as to why a post takes off, I just wanted to tell you that three factors play an instant and substantial role in how well a post does.

#1 - Did it get tagged properly and into popular tag group? “humor” for example does much better than “sewing tips”. Tag accurately!

#2 - You will see an instant surge, usually 100 to 300 people. This is for all intensive purposes a test group. A few early thumbs up! can propel your article onwards for a little while longer. More thumbs up, more visits.

#3 - The account of the person discovering your article plays a role. If they always stumble junk or stumble themselves a lot they have less voting power. You may end up with a stumble of 20-30 visits if they do the discovery. This protects the system from people forming stumble groups or paying for stumbles.

Likewise, stumbling yourself too often diminishes how effective your stumbles are on your own site… eventually not even being allowed anymore.

StumbleUpon is quickly becoming the top social network for driving traffic and discovering interesting new sites, good luck!

Popular Wealths last blog post..Tuskegee Airmen - Facts, History, Pictures and Heroes

I too am lurrrving these! I just recently signed up for an SU acct and got the toolbar. Had no clue what I was doing…so this came at just the right time. Thank you
flickrlovrs last blog post..You Must Be A Genius To Read This Blog

Thanks again for the tips. Stumbling sounds a bit intimidating but ultimately worthwhile . . . if only so many of my posts didn’t involve poop.

meps last blog post..Child’s Play the Prequel: Here’s "Bucky" . . .

hmm…i have a stumbleupon account and NEVER use it. maybe i will start…hmm…thanks!

alis last blog post..the t-rex is loose…vodka anyone?

wowsers .. getting readers really *is* a lotta work.
Im starting to understand why so many of the good bloggers im reading are stay at home moms and dads .. this is a full freakin time J-O-B.
Im’ma go curl up in the fetal position for a few weeks.
K, Bye!

Madnesss last blog post..spew for you

Thanks for the tips. I heart SU.

slackermommys last blog post..“This baby’s been beat”

Because what I needed was something ELSE to spend internet time on…. Really though, I haven’t ever looked at this, and now I want to go and check it out!

Maggies last blog post..Summary Saturday: Project 365, Week 24

I stumbled this article Obviously…

that girls last blog post..Saturday Site to See: Disney Secrets

Okay…I created an account! Now to figure out how to use it.

catnips last blog post..I’ve horrified myself

Excellent tips. Me and SU are bestest buddies.

andis last blog post..Random letters

I started trying to figure this out last week and had ALOT of questions after playing with it for awhile. It doesn’t seem very intuitive to me at first which is frustrating but I am old. This article and comments have helped a lot. I am going back to try again…

HRHs last blog post..Paparazzi at the pool…

I have SU, but still don’t get it. Kind of like a reader…I just don’t get how it’s better than my favorites folder. (am I about to get a zillion tomatoes thrown at me for that?)

Sarahs last blog post..SYTYCD Saturday

Wow, this sounds fantastic. I’ll have to register.

Maryes last blog post..FromTwilight to Breaking Dawn

Last year, someone stumbled a post of mine and it’s like the MOST popular post on my site. It’s amazing how SU can affect your traffic. Of course, it’s also a great TIME SUCK lol

Dawn @ Coming to a Nursery Near Yous last blog post..Photo Hunter – Emotions

thanks for the great tips! I’ve been blogging for over two years now and hopefully with your tips I’ll get some readers!
Lisas last blog post..contest

I have totally freaked out when I’ve had posts that have been stumbled. The traffic spike is INSANE if it really is a post worthy of a stumble (stands on its own, has a wide-reaching audience, etc.). I need to do more stumbling of my own. Thanks for the reminder and for the tips!

Burgh Babys last blog post..A REALLY Long Friday Afternoon

I got the stumbleupon toolbar last week, and it is soooo addictive. I could do it for hours. And I agree, my favorite thing is to stumble my friends favorites, but random stumbling has shown me some cool stuff!

Rachaels last blog post..To quote Ming Ming, ‘This is serious!’: Bankruptcy, Babies and Burst Bubbles

I signed up for a Stumble account, but I haven’t had time to do much with it. With Little Miss around 24, 6… it’s hard to find computer time anymore, but I will remember your tips.

justmylifes last blog post..Just a screwy night!

I’m seriously gonna print this post out…and try to make sense of it. Must understand.

[...] Blog Tip Sharing Project 4: StumbleUpon Primer [...]

Headless Mom…welcome! Glad to have you!

Sarcastic Mom…I completely agree about NOT marking something as adult. That tag should ONLY be used for pornographic material!

My “Women and Sex: A brief Tutorial” was tagged adult and it died a very quick and sad SU death.

Popular Wealth, Thanks so much for the additional SU tips! They are much appreciated!

that girl…thanks! I’ve seen quite a bit of traffic as a result of your stumble! Woo hoo!

HRH, I know! It’s NOT intuitive AT ALL. I think that’s why so many people think it’s such a waste of time. I almost called this post “StumbleUpon for Dummies,” but I didn’t want to offend anyone.

Sarah, SU is not like Google Reader (or any reader), but a great way to discover funny, new sites. It’s a great way to bring traffic to your site. I’ve stumbled a few of your posts, so hopefully it sent traffic your way.

With that said, SU isn’t for everyone. It really does take up time!

I’m going to try it. If a hip 30 something can do it, a hip 40 something should rock at it, right?

Anne GLamores last blog post..Feathers And Her Feet

Thanks so much for this great article! I’m going to do a series on simple social media in the near future, so I’ll definitely be linking to this. I appreciate how well you’ve broken down the mystery of SU in plain language.

[...] Blog Tip Sharing Project 4: StumbleUpon Primer [...]

So what stuff of mine have you stumbled? Just curious.

:0)

Thank you so much for this. I’ve been trying to figure out this tool bar for days, and you just saved me lots of time.

Do you know if it’s possible to find out who has stumbled your posts, and what’s written in the reviews?

Tricias last blog post..Delay and Thanks

[...] in this series…Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 Bookmark It Hide [...]

On #8… I haven’t ever done that either. Really. I have never blogged so long that my kids have missed meals. Can’t prove anything…

Great tips on SU, thanks.

TLCs last blog post..The Agony of The Feet

How do you add a tag? I’ve reviewed a couple of site now w/ my new toolbar, natch, (thanks to you) but I didn’t really “see” where to add tags beyond the category….???

Many thanks to the teacher!

VDogs last blog post..Supermodel (You Better Work!)

Hi, I came over from MBC and the conversation on social networks - thanks for explaining SU. I’ve wondered about stumbling my own site. now I know how.
Monica @ Paper Bridgess last blog post..The Cell Phone Fairy is my friend

[...] in this series…Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part [...]

Excellent article - I included it in my megaList of StumbleUpon must-see resources.

Thanks for sharing! Barbara

[...] Blog Tip Sharing Project 4: StumbleUpon Primer [...]

Thanks for the tips. I went and stumbled this entry, of course. I mean, I THINK I did, but it didn’t seem to change colors like you said it would. I’ll keep trying to figure it out - in the mean time, a big thanks to you for making this make sense.

Donnas last blog post..Olympics Widow

Thanks for all of this info. I’m so glad I found it.
But, you know: more info = more questions. So…. I stumbled this site. I added you as a friend (kinda weird, seeing as how I don’t even know you). Now, do I just keep thumbs-upping people until someone, somewhere, hopefully wanders onto my blog or an article I wrote and thumbs me up (ewww, that sounds gross)? I understand I’m not supposed to stumble my own blog - that seems fair enough - but how in the world do I get someone to stumble me short of begging my mom to sign up and stumble me? Ideas?

Donnas last blog post..Your Mama is So Fat…. And Other Deaf Jokes

[...] Me: “Well, did you read my post about using the SU toolbar?” [...]

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Nice to Meet You

I'm Jennifer, Mom to Carson, 3, and Ella, 1. Wife and Bossaholic to Tate. My claim to fame is that I'm the #2 search result on Google for "kids pooping in pools!!." You can follow me on twitter, see my stumbles at StumbleUpon, view my photos on Flickr, and contact me by email.

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