How To Use Stumble a Post Correctly
First of all let’s get started with the real question
What the hell is StumbleUpon?
This will be brief, a summary only. There are many uses for StumbleUpon and many people use it for social networking. I don’t use it for that reason, I prefer to use Twitter for that. The biggest reason I have an account is the Blog Traffic.
There are few things you need to know about how to use StumbleUpon properly for blog traffic. One very nice feature is if your domain name has never been submitted before you will get a huge jump in blog traffic on the first submit. After that, you need many people to Thumb Up or Thumb Down you post.
StumbleUpon Karma
Like any other social network platform, the more you use the site the more your stumbles are worth. The idea is that you should not be just submitting your site and hoping for blog traffic. You will be rewarded with traffic the more you use the system. I have seen when I stumble for an hour I start to get traffic to the posts that have been submitted in the past. Conversely, when I do not use the site I do not receive any traffic.
Why do I Stumble
I have a system for my “connected friends” and for those blogs that deserve to be stumbled. If you are a friend of mine then every post you write I will make sure to stumble this site and add to Delicious, Friendfeed and others. I have done this so many times thatI have noticed a problem that I want to share.
Part of my system is to read the blog and comment. We all know how important it is to comment and build relationships. After I comment I then do the “norm”; stumble, digg, etc..
How to Not Screw Up
So let’s get down to the problem. Almost everyone is using WordPress for their blogging platform. And in the default setting when you comment on a post you are moved to a new page, away from the original post.
Before
http://thejimgaudet.com/POST-TITLE
After
http://thejimgaudet.com/POST-TITLE/comment-page or #comment
Why is this a problem?
What you want is your main page sent to StumbleUpon and not your comment page. This would be two separate links in StumbleUpon and your Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down will not count for the same post even though they are. If this happens you will not get as much traffic as you expect or deserve.
Does anyone know of any other issues with StumbleUpon? Do you even use it to help other bloggers, or just yourself?
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Hi Jim – this is a really good point. It’s so easy to Stumble the wrong page. I’ve had folk land on the homepage and accidentally stumble that instead of an individual mistake.
Another thing to remember is that if you are the first to Stumble a post, you should always write a review. Some folk just give a thumbs up – this gives less weight to the post and also to the Stumblers own account for being the first stumbler.
I used to use SU to help other bloggers before I was banned. I didn’t do it in a spammy or cheating sort of way. I’d view the blogs of folk on my friends list and vote good posts. Also, I’d read and vote on posts that they had reviewed.
@ Cath Lawson
Thanks for that tip. I forgot to mention that, a review is important.
For me I have a system that works pretty well. If you are my friend (on my blogroll or a close friend) then you will get the Social Treatment for your posts. If you are not a friend, then you only get the treatment if I spend the time to read your post. Like or dislike if I read it you get the ST.
I’m pretty new to Stumble Upon but already addicted and loving it. Now it’s time to Do It Right!
And I used to think SU stood for some university, like Southern or Sabatino or something. Man, the world is full of so much to learn!
@Jannie : SU can be a great place for traffic. Just remember, you should be stumbling a lot of artilces, def not just your own. I like to just hit the stumble button during lunch time. I have a movie open in a small window, eating lunch and stumbling. Clicking Like and Don’t like a lot….
I have found some really good websites that I have subscribed to from SU..
Yeah it’s cool but somehow when I give the hands-up, SU rejects my sign-in, those meanies. You ever have that prob? Maybe a browser thing, but it’s frustrating.
I have never actually Stumbled my own so I guess I’m not breaking too many rules yet. Hitting the SU button is wild, I love it! Really entertaining.
@ Jannie : Yeah, that happens to me too. I believe that SU uses cookies to remember who you are and those cookies expire about every two weeks, because once every two weeks or so I need to login again. Thanks for hitting the thumbs up!
HI thank you for great information. Can you please explain more on stumbleupon like reviews ,Subscribers so on i am new to stumble up on. thank you..
Sathish, I have to say that I don't use much of those other options on SU, but I will tell you that I think leaving a review has more power than not leaving a review. Also, subscriptions are just like Freindfeed, you can monitor what your friends are thumbing up.
Sathish, I have to say that I don't use much of those other options on SU, but I will tell you that I think leaving a review has more power than not leaving a review. Also, subscriptions are just like Freindfeed, you can monitor what your friends are thumbing up.