All these little buttons on my blog - what are they doing for me?
August 28, 2006 – 5:33 amby Darren
That’s the question I had and I think I have the answer. “Nothing”. It’s great to install “chiclets” and all, but if you review what they’re doing, you may start to wonder. I’m going for a cleaner and meaner money-making style template now. The first thing to go are the “Add to Del.icio.us” buttons. No more “Digg This” or my “RSS Feeder has 91 readers”. These are clever ways for companies to get links, but where is the functionality.
The main key is to design a blog that:
1) Converts surfers into readers
2) Failing that, convert surfers into cash through a paid click
There really isn’t that much more to it than that. The “ego buttons” are a marketer’s wet dream. People link all day long, providing both link popularity and traffic, and they get essentially nothing in return. How many visitors have really used your “Digg This” button, and how much extra cash has it made you.
I’m now approaching the six month point on blogging efforts, and monetization is the key moving forward. Monetizing visitors who are leaving anyway, and making readers out of the ones who are actually interested.
I think that’s a one-two punch that just can’t be beat.
How are your “little buttons” working out for you?
Subscribe to RSS Feed
Subscribe to Updates via Email
4 Responses to “All these little buttons on my blog - what are they doing for me?”
JUST when I was deciding on what buttons to put on my sites you go and make them sound “not worth it”.
Of course, I’m trying to aim at the accidental reader. Make it easy for them to make use of something that they don’t really know about, like Digg. We all need some sort of recognition.
But, I must say, I REALLY enjoy reading this blog. Thanks.
By James on Aug 28, 2006
Thanks for the comment, James.
I’m not telling anyone what to do, but my experience suggest the buttons aren’t making anyone take action.
By Darren on Aug 28, 2006
Well said, we want people to leave our sites via a money making way, google, chitika etc, and nothing else.
I always thought they were pointless, waste of space and exit traffic, and profit. I have never had much on mine, just the feed button, and sometimes the add to google link. Never bothered with the dig, etc links.
By Matt on Aug 28, 2006
I gave them a try, but now I’ve had enough. Show me the money
By Darren on Aug 28, 2006