When I visit blogs, I usually leave unless something interests me above the fold (The area where I can see by loading your site, without having to scroll down to see more). If I like an article you have written, expect a comment or subscription, but please..Do not infest your “After-The-Post” area with 10 different icons for different social networks. An example of this is the picture below:
The amount of readers that actually take the time to add the specific post to their “Favourites” on 10 different (or even 1) bookmark manager would be feeble. Even if they do, wouldn’t that be taking away from R.S.S Subscriptions because of the time taken to add it to their favourites? I used to use 6 icons, and then realized that Stumbleupon was the only icon worth having on my blog because all of the other ones don’t deliver.
Something that people should REALLY be careful about is having 30 icons at the end of their posts, overwhelming the reader with choices and distractions, then perhaps losing a comment. A valuable piece of your readers knowledge lost because they feel its not worth their time to go past all of the “End-Of-Post” content that is on every one of the bloggers post.
So what about you? Do you really take the time to add the post to any other bookmark/social media sites except Stumbleupon, or do you just read it and continue to surf other blogs. Personally, I rarely add posts that I have read to Stumbleupon unless they really would make a difference to my friends and is something that they would find interesting.
My advice would be to have your top preforming network or 2 after your post, and then a comment link. By doing this, You focus the readers attention on one of the two icons and have more of a chance to have a reader do something with them, instead of just lollygag and skip the process. Keep it simple and watch your blog interactivity explode! 
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13 Responses to “Social Bookmarks Icons - The Overuse and Abuse”
You did hit the nail on the head.Absolutely right. The power of Stumble Upon is enough to bring hell lot of traffic to our site. Rest are useless.I have personally installed 4 social bookmarking links at the end of every post. But I will soon get rid of all of them except Stumble Upon
Rakshit’s last blog post..Tuesday Trump #5: National Grammar Day- March 4, 2008
Brad,I have to admit that I am one of the guilty ones. You provide an interesting argument for removing all but one or two of these social bookmarking icons, and I think I’ll take your advice and leave just my top performers.Thanks for some great advice!
WordPress Modder’s last blog post..How to Write Code in your WordPress Posts
I’m going to be doing this as well soon. Good point, Brad!
@ Rakshit - I’ve found the same results as well. Digg takes a lot of people to be, “Front-Page Worthy”.
@ Wordpress Modder - Glad you liked the article.. Hope to see you back soon!
@ Get Stuff Free Online (Max) - I already changed mine.. Why haven’t you?
[...] She has 10 different social icons, which I outlined in a previous post is NOT a good thing to do. [...]
[...] Do you include social network icons at the bottom of your posts? [...]
thanks for the post bro,
now i have an idea on these stuff.
clarence’s last blog post..Japan IQ Test
[...] 12 Different Social Network Icons should be reduced to one or two.. See why here. [...]
As a new blogger, I thank you! I was just about to commit this sin, even though throughout my “Stumbling” I had never clicked one of those links except the “Thumbs Up”.Does anyone know how I can embed the “StumbleUpon” link in my posts?
Helena’s Furie’s last blog post..How to Work an 8-hour Day
@ Helena - All you have to do is go to this link for more instructions - I assume you are using a blogger theme:
http://www.stumbleupon.com/blogger.php
Enjoy!
I think I have about 8 icons on mine right now, and even when I submit my own content, I only use about half of them. Now I will go weed out the useless icons like Sphinn and Furl.
Project Swole - Fitness and Nutrition’s last blog post..Actos Decreases Conversion of Insulin Insenitivity to Type 2 Diabetes by 81 Percent
I do get some traffic from social networking sites, since my subjects adventure experiences, and training, etc are very interesting to people roaming around.Now I wonder. Makes sense. Sheesh! I just added social bookmarking to my blog to try and was wandering around for ideas……. Might as well keep it till get irritated looking at it.
Brad just curious what is your take on the share this button that only shows up one icon but gives choices when you hit it?After Stumbleupon it I am just not convinced I need anything else either. Plus digg just seems to annoy me, now that I joined it.