We all want to be viewed as experts in our particular niche. This can lead to increased traffic, additional sales, enhanced credibility and more visibility. The readers that you already have and your activity with social bookmarking services and sites can really help you out.
If you come across something very readable, you want to communicate this to others. You also want to be able to find it again if you needed to. This is the essence of social bookmarking, after all. When you provide good quality content, your readers are happy. They are sometimes so happy that they will bookmark your content on their favourite social bookmarking site.
There are social bookmarking services and sites for just about everything. Readers can tag the written word, photographs, videos, etc. You can set up your own account at these locations and add icons to your online sites and blogs as well. These sites are not duplicating your content, but are providing a link to it whenever somebody bookmarks. This content or media is assessed by other members, who will vote on its merits. Maybe you will find your way to the front page. That could bring you more readers.
Remember something very important: people won’t bookmark your material unless you try to build a relationship. By listening to what is returned to you in surveys, you should make appropriate changes to your product lineup or website. Knowing that they are being listened to is a feather in your cap.
But, don’t stop there. Your readers may be writers in their own right. Take the time to find out what your visitors really like. If they have blogs, read and comment on them. Bookmark posts that you find interesting. If you see any of their bookmarked content, leave comments when you vote.
Reply when readers post on your blog. This is a way of starting a new conversation. You are gathering valuable information about them, at the same time as you are curious about why they are interested in your content or products.
Your material may end up being bookmarked on certain sites, such as StumbleUpon or Digg, where people may vote for you. Social bookmarking is one way to drive traffic to your site and help build expert status. Choose social networks that cater to your type of content.
If readers like and trust you, they may be more inclined to use social bookmarking to interest others in your work too. It’s a two-way street, do the same thing for them by tagging their content as well and visiting their sites. You can see a mutual relationship emerging between the business and the reader. If you’re looking for an expert to take care of the details for you, to get the ball rolling, consider hiring professional virtual assistants to get it all done, fast.
Blogging
On average, one in three of your readers will have a presence online in some way or other. More than likely it will be a blog. They could be fully fledged businessmen like you, blog in their spare time or be classified as a “professional” blogger.
One way to get to know them is to visit their sites. If you have your own blog for your business, have a category devoted to reader news. Tempt them to send information by offering discount coupons or giveaways if they give their web address to you.
Next, visit their blogs. Absorb what you find there and find out what they are interested in. Leave helpful comments that show you actually read the posts and not just wishy-washy “I came to visit you to say hello.” Really get involved.
If you have an RSS reader, you can include all of their sites in it so that you will be notified when there are new updates. Act like a participant, just like their other followers. They will certainly take notice.
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