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StumbleUpon: 3 ways authors can use it

OLD POST ALERT! This is an older post and although you might find some useful tips, any technical or publishing information is likely to be out of date. Please click on Start Here on the menu bar above to find links to my most useful articles, videos and podcast. Thanks and happy writing! – Joanna Penn

What is Stumbleupon?

Stumbleupon is a social networking, bookmarking site.

You join up and create a profile as per other sites, but you also download a toolbar. You can click the “Start Stumbling” button to be taken to various websites that fit what you like. People “stumble” sites they like, and the system learns what type of sites they enjoy, bringing back more of the same. You rate the site Thumbs up/Thumbs down which helps the site learn. As you use it more, the sites become matched to what you like to read.  Tags can be used on the sites you visit to help catalogue them.

3 reasons authors should be using it

  • Stuck for inspiration? Writers need to be filled up with new ideas sometimes – whether it is for blog posts, fiction pieces, journalism or book drafts. Stumble your topic and see what comes up. You will find new ideas and pieces of writing to spark new ideas from. Here are some sites for books, writing, and publishing
  • Stumble your own pages. Stumbleupon traffic is considered to be good long-term traffic because people are qualified readers. If your website/blog is based on a niche and over time, people Stumbleupon you through niche tags, they are likely to stay and browse. Here's how to stumble your pages. Once you have downloaded the toolbar, go to your site and click the “I like it” button to submit it. You can also write a short review.
  • Find new connections. Social networking is helping us find like-minded people across the globe. StumbleUpon allows you to find even more people in your niche to connect with. If you find people/ sites you like, connect with them in other ways – by Twitter or email.

You can connect with me and share sites at Stumbleupon.

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View Comments (4)

  • Joanna, Joanna. Every time I want to know anything remotely author related, I do a Google search and inevitably end up right back here! I should probably just cut the middle man and set your blog as my homepage -- your "Search" bar will be quicker than any other way I try to find information...

    Thanks as always for so many wonderful years of help and advice, and for maintaining all of your archives that continue to help people even years after the fact!

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