Why Blog? – Reason #3: Share-ability
Last month, I started a series on why business blogs are a valuable part of any online marketing and content plan. Because I’m still hit with many blank stares when I speak and consult on blogging, I decided to answer the simple question: “Why Blog?”
Reason #3 to blog? Share-ability! A blog’s built-in buttons, widgets and doohickeys are more than just cute. They make it easy for your readers to share your content with their friends or colleagues. By including these tools, you empower your readers to become your greatest content champions!
Why is sharing so important?
After the hours (or perhaps days) you spend researching and creating a blog post, you have two choices:
- Hit “Publish” and hope that others see it
- Hit “Publish” and notify your network of followers, friends and fans who care about your content!
The difference between the “share-ability” of blog posts and typical website pages is the ease of adding the proper tools to make sharing simple. With a self-hosted WordPress.org blog, you can install and activate the latest sharing tools in a matter of minutes. Once those tools are in place, you’re handing over an instant megaphone to each and every one of your readers.
But remember, effective blogging and social networking is not all about the tools…it’s about the content that’s being shared on those tools! Content is still king. The tools simply act as the town crier or a slew of carrier pigeons!
Top Plugins/Tools for Sharing
1) TweetMeme
If you’re a frequent blog reader, you’ve seen this one before, no doubt! Tweetmeme not only allows readers to instantly share your content with their Tweeps, it boasts how many people have chosen to do so. TweetMeme also aggregates all Tweets, categorizes them and creates many magical statistics about the Twittersphere.
Time to install: less than 2 minutes.
2) Sexy Bookmarks
Even with its silly name, this social bookmarking tool has outrun all other WordPress plugins. Why? Not only is it flexible, it’s cute as can be! The little buttons pop up when rolled over. Seems trivial, but what can I say — sexy sells!
Time to install: less than 5 minutes.
3) ShareThis & AddThis
These two widgets were the original sharing trailblazers. They still run strong today!
Time to install: less than 5 minutes.
4) DisQus
Just when we thought blog sharing tools had reached their peak—along comes DisQus! Instead of sharing your content, DisQus goes one step further and allows your readers to share comments that they leave on your blog with their networks on Facebook and Twitter! DisQus also allows them to rank whether they “like” others’ comments. I’ve tested this tool now for several months and have been impressed time and time again with its power, flexibility and usefullness! It’s also incredibly helpful for blog owners’ management of comments.
Time to install: less than 15 minutes.
Are you an active blogger? What sharing tools are your favorites?
Deana Goldasich
Deana Goldasich, CEO and founder of Well Planned Web, plans and implements Content Marketing to help clients nurture leads, market their expertise and create an impactful presence online.
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RT @goldasich: Another reason to blog – share, share alike! – http://ow.ly/1eKKa
@goldasich You make some good points about blogging in that series!
Thanks for the writing you do. I am fairly new and have my blog just about set up and ready to go. Your article helps me to at least know I am on the right track w/the things I have done.
Thanks for the kudos, Matt. The fact that this post helped you with your new blog is one of the biggest compliments you can send my way — so thank you!! Let me know if I can be of any service!
Another reason to blog – share, share alike! – http://ow.ly/1eKKa
@bizsugar Thank you! Wow… I LOVE the concept of bizsugar and will need to explore further!
@goldasich …and make your blog shareable with well-planned content! It’s all very zen. 😉
Make your content “share-able” with a well planned blog! – http://ow.ly/1fSzR
@NetWeave Hah! I’ve never been accused of being “zen”… but whatever works 😛
I'm probably a little slow, but I just discovered Disqus today, and I'm really impressed so far. I would love to see you write something about the in and outs of Disqus. So far, I see on the source of the page that it seems you cannot spam a blog by dropping URLs via Disqus, as they are somewhere in the javascript, right?
And if so, that means I actually have to be a cool person and write things people would be interested in reading or replying to, yes? What a concept! 🙂
LOL… yes…Disqus is simply awesome. I have tested it for many months now…and there's no going back! So far, I've had ZERO spam. Seems they indeed have a way of policing comments effectively.
Thanks for the series of posts on Why Blog? Do you utilize numbers 2 and 3 at the same time? If so, how do they work together?
Rob
Thanks for your question, Rob! Share-ability and Google Karma points are definitely synergistic. Making your posts “shareable” only helps increase your “Google Juice.”
Thanks for the series of posts on Why Blog? Do you utilize numbers 2 and 3 at the same time? If so, how do they work together?
Rob
Thanks for your question, Rob! Share-ability and Google Karma points are definitely synergistic. Making your posts “shareable” only helps increase your “Google Juice.”
RT @goldasich: Why Blog? – Reason No. 3 – Share-ability! – https://www.wellplannedweb.com/2010/03/wh…
Why Blog? – Reason No. 3 – Share-ability! – https://www.wellplannedweb.com/2010/03/wh…