Have you ever discovered a good webpage, funny video, or useful article and said, I want to save this later! You may have emailed the link to yourself or placed it in the cluttered files on the computer. This can be confusing. Suppose you bookmark the link in some special place on the Internet, sort it quickly, and share it with your friends who are also interested.
Social bookmarking is what does that. It is your huge community library of everything you like on the internet. It can be very useful.
The internet is a huge place. There are nearly 2 billion websites. Seven million new blog posts are generated every day—a lot of reading that. No wonder individuals require a means of filtering the noise. That is assisted by social bookmarking. Even large websites that you already frequent, such as Pinterest, which boasts of more than 498 million active users monthly, are Social Bookmarking Sites. They assist millions of individuals to save, organize, and find new ideas.
In this guide, we shall consider social bookmarking. We will find out what it is, how it works, and how it can be used to get the attention of your blog or business online. Let’s dive in!
What are the social bookmarking sites?
Consider a common bookmark that you use in the book. You put it on a page to be able to find it again. A digital bookmark does the same thing to a webpage. You bookmark to come and read it later without knowing the actual address.
A social bookmarking site is, therefore, a website that allows you to store, organize and share your favorite web links on the web. It is social as you can view what other people save and they can view what you save. It is an entertaining method of getting new and interesting content based on the likes of people who share similar interests.
Types of bookmarking platforms
High DA (Domain Authority) Social Bookmarking Sites
To begin with, we shall know about Domain Authority (DA). Consider DA as a reputation score of a website. Google and other search engines provide websites with a score of between 1 to 100. A score of more indicates that the site is more reliable and authoritative. A massive, well-known site, such as Wikipedia or YouTube, has a very high DA, as example. The DA of a brand new blog would be very low.
The popular, well-known ones such as Reddit, Pinterest, and Mix (previously StumbleUpon) are high DA social bookmarking sites. When you receive a link from one of these sites, it is as though you had received the recommendation of a very popular and reputable individual. Google pays attention to this and thinks, WOW, this link is significant. It will also assist in making your very own site appear significant as well.
Free vs. Paid Platforms
This one is easy!
- Free Platforms: The majority of the social bookmarking sites are free. You are free to subscribe, save links and share as many as you desire. All of them are free: Reddit, Pinterest, and Digg.
- Paid Platforms: There are very few paid platforms. Certain services are paid on special business features; however, most regular users have access to free services. Use the popular free ones.
DoFollow vs. NoFollow Sites
This is a little technical but the concept is easy. It is all about the way Google thinks of the links you post.
- DoFollow Sites: A DoFollow site is a highly recommended link. The site informs Google, “This is a good link, credit it. Such links are good as they contribute to the reputation of your website (DA score).
- NoFollow Sites: A NoFollow link is rather an incidental mention. The site informs Google, “Here we have a link, but we are not even officially certifying it. These links have the capability to drive traffic as well, however, they do not provide you that additional reputation lift.
No-Registration Submission Sites/Anonymous.
Other websites allow you to post a link without registering. No-registration sites allow you to place a link with title and post it. This is useful to have a quick link out. However, most of such sites are of low quality. They can have spam or poor quality links because anybody can post anything. It is normally preferable to take a couple of minutes to make an account on a trusted site.
Niche-Specific Platforms
Imagine you love video games. And it would be cool to have a social bookmarking site with only gamers. Or are you a scientist, and want a site to share research papers? That is what a platform-specific niche is. They focus on one topic.
- Goodreads is a great example. It is a social bookmarking platform of individuals who are fond of reading books. There is an option to bookmark books that you have read or wish to read.
- Behance: Behance is a web-based site where artists and designers can bookmark and share their images.
- Dribbble is designer-oriented.
It is also excellent when you use a niche site since all the people there are interested in what you are. The individuals who view your link have a higher chance of being enthusiastic about it.
DoFollow vs. NoFollow Links Difference.
The DoFollow Link: Public Recommendation.
A DoFollow link is your best friend, the one that is so popular standing before the entire classroom and telling everyone to vote him or her! They are intelligent, honest and they would make a wonderful president! When Google notices that there is a DoFollow link to your site it is as though it hears that positive recommendation.
Google believes, “This is one of the respected websites that is endorsing this other site. It must be high quality.” Every DoFollow link can be considered as a vote of confidence that is transferred to the site. The higher the number of good votes the better the ranking of your site in Google search results. This is the primary objective of establishing links to SEO.
NoFollow Link: An Informal Notice.
Now, when another classmate says something about you, he says, Oh, by the way, they are also running to be president. Anyway, moving on…” A NoFollow link is such an informal mention. The website is referencing your site but is informing Google, “We are not giving an official vote. What we are doing is indicating that they exist.
Google knows that it should not transfer any of that good reputation when it encounters a NoFollow link. People can still click on the link and this will be good–it can bring you visitors! But it does not qualify as a vote to make your site rank higher.
- DoFollow – a link that leaves a vote on your site and increases your reputation.
- NoFollow – a link with the capability of sending individuals to your site; however, it is not counted as a vote.
Both will work, however, to achieve a better Google ranking, you will desire DoFollow links.
How Brands and Businesses Can Leverage Bookmarking
Bookmarking can be utilized by brands and businesses in the following ways.
It is excellent to search recipes but how can Nike or a pizza shop use it? That’s a good question. Social bookmarking can be used to the advantage of businesses of any size.
You would wish your name and your content to reach the right people. Here’s how
Getting Traffic to their Website.
This is the direct advantage. Consider the example of a hiking-gear store, which writes an excellent blog article titled The 10 Most Beautiful Hiking Trails in the World. They post it or save it on a popular outdoor or travel blog.
Hiking lovers will read the title, consider that it is something cool and will follow the link. The site of the company is visited by new interested people. These individuals love hiking already and may be interested in purchasing equipment. This is referred to as targeted traffic, and it is highly important.
Increasing Brand Awareness
Brand awareness implies that more people know the name of your brand. As a business makes a habit of posting useful articles, interesting infographics, or entertaining videos on bookmarking websites, people begin to see the name everywhere.
Although they may not be able to click every time, they remember the brand. They may reason, Oh, it must be the hiking-gear store. They always share cool stuff.” This creates a sense of trust and eventually it creates a thought in the minds of people that when they require hiking equipment, they will think about that brand. It is as though you have become a famous and useful professional in your area.
Reaching New Audiences by getting Content
Social bookmarking sites represent a new world of people that a business may already have followers on Instagram or Facebook. On a site such as Reddit, there are communities of certain things, which come in thousands of subreddits.
Everything has its subreddit, including r/gardening and r/futurology. A business can locate the specific community that would be crazy about its product or content and post it there. This allows them to access a committed, enthusiastic fan base that they would otherwise have never accessed.
Optimizing Their SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
We discussed this earlier, but it is a gigantic motivating factor behind businesses utilizing social bookmarking. By posting their material on high-quality, DoFollow websites, they get backlinks.
Backlinks are considered as votes on your site. The higher the quality of votes you have the more Google trusts your site and ranks you higher in the search results. With a search query of best hiking boots, a firm that has numerous good backlinks will be more likely to be found at the first page. When you rank on the first page of Google, it is like opening a store on the main street of the town- the store gets a lot of visitors.
Discovering Customer Desires
Information on social bookmarking sites is an enrichment. The businesses have the opportunity to understand what articles are most upvoted, what people discuss, and what issues they require assistance with.
In the case of the hiking company, they may find that the posts on environmentally friendly camping are trending. This will provide them with an excellent idea on what to write in their next blog or even what they can produce the next time. It is similar to a personal line of sight to be able to see what is trending and what is important to potential customers.
Benefits of Link Sharing in SEO
It is also a time-tested, common tactic to post your links on social bookmarking websites to enhance SEO.
Here’s why it works so well.
1. Creating Quality Backlinks.
This is the greatest SEO advantage. One of the best criteria that Google considers when ranking sites is the backlinks. Imagine the internet as an enormous network of pages. Once a reputable site links to you then it indicates to Google that you are reputable. These valuable backlinks can be obtained with the help of social bookmarking sites, in particular, the ones with high Domain Authority.
2. The Indexing of New Content is faster.
Google takes time to locate a new page and include it in the index when you create a new page. The page will not be listed in search results until it is indexed. This can be accelerated by posting your link at a popular site such as Reddit or Digg. Those busy sites will be visited by crawlers and they will locate your link within a short time.
3. Growing Referral Traffic.
Referral traffic implies visitors who access your site by clicking a link on another site- not Google searches. The use of SEO is time-consuming, whereas the social bookmarking traffic may be instant. Your link might also go viral, and you might have hundreds or thousands of visitors in a single day. This traffic is important as:
- It is focused: Individuals who have already clicked are already interested in your subject.
- It is popular: When traffic spikes suddenly, Google recognizes that your content is interesting, and that can assist your SEO in the long term. When individuals spend more time on your sit,e then this is a good indication.
4. Having Multiple Link Profiles.
In search engine optimization, it is poor to have all your links in a single source. Google likes a natural, unbalanced link profile with links to a wide variety of sites -blogs, news sites, forums, and social bookmarking sites.
The addition of social bookmarking links adds healthy diversity. It informs Google that your content is being shared organically across different web communities, making your site appear more authentic and authoritative.
5. Boosting Social Signals
According to Google, social signals (shares, likes, upvotes) do not have a direct relationship with rankings, but are correlated. The content that is shared with a large number of people on social platforms tends to be ranked higher. Why? The most popular content receives higher clicks, interaction, and natural backlinks. When your link is upvoted and bookmarked on a social bookmarking site, this generates buzz.
190+ High PR social bookmarking sites List
250+ Free Social Bookmarking Sites List
How to Identify Quality Social Bookmarking Sites
Bookmarking sites are numerous. And what about the ones that are useful, and what about the junk ones? It is significant to choose the appropriate ones. These are a few simple things to consider to get a good site.
1. Test its Domain Authority (DA).
Domain Authority is a mark that demonstrates the familiarity of a site. It is a quick method of determining the quality of a site. You can use free tools, like the MozBar add-on to your browser, to view the DA of a site.
- Good Quality: Sites that have a DA of 60 and above are generally good and reputed. Examples: Reddit (DA 90+), Pinterest (DA 90+).
- Medium quality: The range of 30 to 60 da can also be good, in particular when the site is narrow in its topic.
- Low quality: Be cautious of websites whose DA is less than 30. They tend to have low value and are spammy to Google.
2. Look for an active community.
A good bookmarking site is very active. These are signs that you may see when you visit:
- Recent posts: Does the front page have any new links today or this week? In case the latest posts are a few months old, then the site is likely to be dormant.
- Comments and votes: Does the post have comments, upvotes, or other indicators of engagement? This demonstrates that real people are on the site. When nothing is commented on or voted on, then the site is a ghost town.
- Authentic profiles: See some user profiles. Do they appear to be real people with various connections, or are they fake and just have connections with a single site?
3. Professional and clean design.
Is the site clean, contemporary, and user-friendly? Or is it full of advertisements, numerous dead links, and seems to have been created in the 1990s?
Good sites are concerned about the feelings of the users. Registration, the addition of a link, and navigation are to be convenient. When a site is disorganized, dull, and resembles spam, then that is a huge red flag. Follow your instincts–when something doesn’t seem right, it probably isn’t.
4. Clear community guidelines.
Trustworthy websites have well-defined regulations among the users. They desire to maintain a good community and prevent spam. Find one that tells you what is and is not permitted.
Places where there are no regulations can turn into a spammer playground. You do not want your link to be associated with bad links. It is like residing in a good neighborhood and a bad one.
5. Relevance to your topic.
What is a good location to be a food blogger might not be a good location to be a tech company. Most people use general, high-DA sites such as Reddit, but they can also find niche sites that are relevant to your topic.
Niche site traffic will be highly targeted and the backlink will inform Google that you are a specialist in that field. A relevant link tends to be stronger than a random link.
How to Use Social Bookmarking Sites for SEO Effectively: Step-by-step SEO strategy
It is not sufficient to simply register and place a link. In order to realize the actual benefits of SEO, you must be smart. Imagine yourself being a good citizen in a new city, not a salesman screaming advertisements. The following is an easy to follow step by step guide to do it right.
Step 1: Find and Select the Right Sites.
Do not attempt to use all sites that you come across. That will look spammy. Choose some good places to target.
- Begin with large websites: pick one or two general websites with a large audience like Reddit, Pinterest, or Mix.
- Find your niche: search one or two smaller sites that suit your subject. A fast Google search can assist it, Your Topic + social bookmarking site or Your Topic + community.
- Check them: take a basic checklist to ensure that they are of high quality. Write a list of 5-10 sites and begin with them.
Step 2: Make a Complete and Real Profile.
Who you are is revealed in your profile. Do not leave it empty–it creates confidence.
- Have a real name or a clear user name that displays your brand or subject.
- Image: a clear image of yourself or your logo.
- Write a little bio: tell me about yourself, what you like. You are able to include a link to your main site- your first backlink.
Step 3: Listen and Learn First
Browse the site before posting.
- Check out what is popular: check out what has been posted on the front page. What titles get many votes? What type of content does the community like, articles, videos, or infographics?
- Learn the rules: there are rules in every community. Violating them will land you in jail.
- Pay attention to tone: is the community serious, or playful? Match your tone.
Step 4: Be a Full Member of the Community
The most significant part is this. Be a giver and not a taker.
- Share other posts: discover useful or interesting posts in other sites. The goal is to post 8 links of others, and 2 of your own.
- Vote and comment: comment and like posts by up-voting and commenting intelligently. Give questions and participate in discussions. This builds your reputation.
Stepping 5: Bookmark Your Own Content (The Smart Way)
Now post your own link, though be careful.
- Select only your best content: only share interesting or useful pages. No one will pay attention to a boring page.
- Have a clear title: the title has to be catchy and awaken interest. Rather than A New Blog Post, write I Hiked for 5 Days in the Andes, and Here is What I Learned.
- Write a short, unique description: Provide a short synopsis of the link, and why people should click.
- Add applicable tags: insert 3-5 keywords that will be relevant to what a person may be searching.
Step 6: Have Consistency and Patience.
- SEO is a marathon, not a sprint.
- Plan your time: allow yourself to spend some time on the sites you have chosen per week, 15-20 minutes a day.
- Spamming: Do not post the same link several times. Spread your posts over time.
- Monitor your performance: monitor the performance with the help of applications such as Google Analytics to determine whether you are receiving traffic through the bookmarking sites. This demonstrates the most effective sites.
Future Trends in Social Bookmarking & SEO
The internet is fast, and social bookmarking is also dynamic. Classic bookmarking is still there, but it is changing. This is how the future may look.
1. The Emergence of Visual and Curated Media.
People like pictures. We are no longer dealing with basic lists of links to visual platforms.
- Pinterest is a clear example. It is a visual bookmarking platform that allows individuals to store images, which are connected to other sites. Additional sites will revolve around pictures, videos, and good design.
- Curation is going to gain significance. Users will not be saving individual links, but will make collections, boards, or lists on a topic, such as a digital magazine.
2. AI and Personalization
The way we find content is already being transformed by Artificial Intelligence (AI).
- Smarter Suggestions: AI will provide smarter suggestions. It will learn what you like, and give you an individual feed of what you are likely to find interesting. Good content will be delivered to the correct audience automatically.
- AI-Helped Curation: AI applications could propose tags or write descriptions to your bookmarks, thus the process becomes quicker.
3. Connectivity with Other Systems.
Other applications, such as browsers, social media, and messaging, will also include bookmarking.
- Browsers and social applications may have more Save or Collect buttons. It will be the same to save a link to yourself or to share.
- It is a form of bookmarking to save a post on Instagram or make a list on Twitter. We are going to have further integration.
4. Focus on Niche Communities
With the large platforms becoming increasingly saturated, individuals seek smaller, niche-based communities. There will be an increasing number of niche bookmarking sites about particular hobbies or professions. In the case of SEO, a small yet active community can be more worthwhile than a large and general location. Individuals desire to relate with other individuals who share their interests.
The concept of sharing and saving what we love on the internet is not going away. It will simply appear different- more pictorial, smarter, more personal, and more connected.
Conclusion
So that’s it! This is the complete tutorial of social bookmarking. We began with such a simple thought: a more effective method of saving and tagging our favorites on the internet. We got to know that it is more than an untidy collection of links. It is a strong discovery, community, and even an assistance tool to help a site to be ranked by search engines such as Google.
We have observed here that anyone can use these sites to drive traffic, create a brand, and improve their SEO by being a helpful community member, by sharing useful content, and by abiding by a few simple rules. The key is to give value first. It is not about advertising, but sharing, assisting, and interacting.
The internet is going to continue evolving, yet people will always find something to share and discover something cool. Social bookmarking will continue to be a venue in which such connections occur. Then find a community that you love and begin sharing!
FAQs
Is social bookmarking relevant today?
Yes, definitely. It is evolved, yet the main concept remains topical. New sites such as Pinterest and Reddit are large bookmarking sites. It is also a terrific method of generating traffic and quality backlinks that aid in SEO when done properly.
How many sites should I use?
You had better have a few good sites than to spam your link on a number of bad sites. Begin with 3-5 websites that align with your niche and are an active community. Focus on being helpful there.
Will I get in trouble?
Only if you spam when you post automatically or just share your own links without discussing, you will probably get banned, and Google will interpret it as a bad omen. Stick to the regulations and be an excellent citizen.
Which site is best to start?
Reddit is a great start. It is massive, has communities around practically every subject and can draw in a lot of traffic. When you post, read the rules of each community.
