Using StumbleUpon To Drive Traffic To Your Website or eBay Listings

Stephanie Inge virtualtrainingcamp@gmail.com WHAT IS STUMBLEUPON? A social media website, specifially a "Social Bookmarking" site. Formerly owned by eBay. New terminology "Discovery" engine. Members submit and rate content to determine rankings, rather than search bots & algorithms. Goal: Discover interesting Web content that you might never have thought of, or found on your own Terminology: Subscribers (you've subscribed to them) / Subscriptions (mutual) / Fans (they've subscribed to you) / Groups (common interest) COMPATIBILITY Explorer, Firefox & Flock WHY SHOULD YOU USE STUMBLEUPON? 1. Traffic -- potentially thousands of targeted visitors to your eBay store, website or blog 2. Incoming Links -- Targeted visitors often link to your site, or trackback 3. Online Research -- Relevant content, based on your input and previous searches 4. Connecting -- with people who share your interest OR shopping for the type of products you sell 5. Bookmarking -- your favorite content 6. Entertainment and discovering new web content DOWNLOADING THE TOOLBAR (It is NOT used to collect personal data, but to serve relevant content, nor does it contain malware, or spyware) www.stumbleupon.com/download.php How to use the toolbar & what are the buttons? 'Stumble' button 'Rate your Stumbles' (thumbs-up / thumbs-down (drop-down menu) 'All' button (topics, type of web content) 'Tag' button 'Share' button 'Info' button 'Favorites' (everything you've stumbled) 'Recent Activity' from subscriptions 'Stumblers' (list of people I subscribe to) 'Inbox' (private/direct messages) 'Group Conversations' (track conversations in groups you belong to) 'Browse People' (by age, interest, location) 'Tools' (Options, Account Settings, Update Topics, Find people you know, Toolbar Guide, Help) ACCOUNT SETTINGS Personal Information Change Password Communication & Privacy Stumble Settings MENU (bottom of the page) About Explore Community Tools & Services Your Profile Help Company HOW CAN YOU USE STUMBLEUPON TO DRIVE TRAFFIC TO YOUR WEBSITE, BLOG OR EBAY LISTINGS? Stumble your websites (sparingly), social media sites, eBay listings and ask your friends and subscribers to Stumble them also. TIP: Bookmark and vote for every item of other people's content on StumbleUpon that links to your site(s) or contains one of your blog entries, or comments. Although you should submit your own content sparingly, it's a VERY good idea to vote for ALL OF YOUR OWN CONTENT that's been submitted by other Stumblers. Voting for all of your own content (plus all of other people's relevant content that links to you or refers to you, will help others Stumble across it too! Put the content that you discover in front of a target audience and potential customers. TOP STUMBLERS The most active and helpful community members of StumbleUpon, who suggest new content and rate sites on a regular basis. BENEFIT: Increased exposure to other members MARKETING TIPS Post your StumbleUpon profile on your website, blog, About Me page, newsletter, etc. Use the site often. Add your StumbleUpon link in your eBay communications and invoices Add other StumbleUpon members who share your interests to your Friend's list (import from your email address book) Add your StumbleUpon link or badge to your other Social Media sites or Web 2.0 sites, such as Squidoo, del.icio.us, Facebook, MySpace, etc. Join StumbleUpon Community groups with a common interest Everytime you vote 'Thumbs Up,' that content will be sent to your Friends, Subcribers & Fans, which can be in the hundreds or thousands