StumbleUpon!, Great Way to Generate Traffic Options

[MikeTheMike]

There is a FireFox Add-on called StumbleUpon. The basic premise of the FireFox Add-on is when people go to site that they like they can rate it "Like it" or "Don't Like it"

Each site that is listed is put in a particular catagory and if you've got the stumble bar, you can choose the catagories you like.

When you get traffic from this it's highly targeted traffic.

ie. You have a site full of shockwave games.

You would add it to the stumbles under the online games catagory

If the stumbler likes online games, and has StumbleUpon set up to show sites with Online Games, your site will come up. If they like your site, they'll give it an "I like it!" rating. The more people that like your site, the more often it will come up in the listings.

Here's where you can get StumbleUpon for Firefox:

https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/138/

[eKstreme]

I can testify to the power of StumbleUpon as a means to increase traffic. I don't actually have the toolbar installed, nor use it myself, so I solely depend on my site's visitors to recommend me.

And once a few do recommend a site, it's traffic bonanza. Something akin to a good Digg.

[Ruud]

Depending on the site it can help. But I can tell you one thing... you have no idea how addictive StumbleUpon can be.

[Cellounge]

Oh my God the stumble upon could make me very unproductive. Ruud is right it is extremly addicting, but I like it. Thanks Mikethemike

[bragadocchio]

I installed it for a day, used it, recognized what a temptation it was, and removed it.

But you're right, MikeTheMike.

It is potentially a pretty powerful way of getting visitors to a site. It looks like it's popular enough that a lot of us know what it is. I'm not sure that's true of the general surfing public.

Good recommendation.

[A.N.Onym]

The concept is really interesting and I suspect I understand why it is catchy, but this is what prevents me from using it - it doesn't support Opera.

[MikeTheMike]

What was extremly funny is one day, I clicked stumble so many times, the sites actually repeated.... That was about 6 hours of stumbling...

But yeah... StumbleUpon is VERY addictive. Hours can be used clicking one little button...

In fact, here's the button now:

I had to put the button on there... C'mon... You know you want to click it... bragadocchio? Ruud? Cellounge? Anybody??? The first clicks free, but you come back to me when you need more... lol

This post has been edited by MikeTheMike: Jun 22 2006, 11:19 AM

[Ruud]

"Hi, my name is Ruud ... and I Stumble"

"Hi Ruud!!"

[joedolson]

Yeah, me too.

I'm...so ashamed

Group hug:

But seriously, it's pretty neat, but unfortunately can EAT ALL YOUR TIME.

I've got some real self control, now. But that may be because I've already seen everything...

[cre8pc]

I have only one thing to say.

This is all your fault, Mike!

How To Waste The Day with StumbleUpon, And Love Doing It

<<added. They have communities there, groups, ways to interact, meet people. If I was single, this would be dangerous.>>

[Ruud]

I've got some real self control, now. But that may be because I've already seen everything...

<voice of temptation>
... I just added another site ... come on ...
</voice of temptation>

[Shukuma]

I love using it - it's the most "click-able" button on my browser!

[phaithful]

Haha.... I Stumble! all the time... It's highly addicting....

This post has been edited by phaithful: Jun 22 2006, 01:20 PM

[joedolson]

<voice of temptation>
... I just added another site ... come on ...
</voice of temptation>

Nooooo!!!! Can't resist....sinking....must..turn..on..toolbar...

[rynert]

Well.. I went to install it and got an error, 'Not a valid install package'


[Edit] Since installed an old version, then upgraded it.. odd but working

This post has been edited by rynert: Jun 22 2006, 04:31 PM

[eKstreme]

rynert, you're lucky! Don't do it! Stay away from the toolbar!!!

Oh what the heck. I'm off to install it now.

[MikeTheMike]

Well I didn't think my little post would get such a stir cr8pc...

If you guys think you're addicted to StumbleUpon... Check out this Stumble addict:

http://starspirit.stumbleupon.com/

Yes that's right, over 62,518 thumbs up votes which goes to show there can't be much to do in mountain towns in Arizona...

Oh and if you want a breakdown on that.

Assuming she actually reviewed each site for about 5 minutes (which is probably enough to give a good review or not) and giving 30 seconds to click the Stumble button and wait for the next page to scroll, she's spent approximately 5730 hours Stumbling...

- That's nearly 239 straight days of Stumbling without any sleep at all.
- That's nearly 308 straight days if she slept 7 hours in between stumbling.
- If she worked a 9/5 job and you include sleep and a half hour to get ready in the morning and 15 minute drive each way to work, and the entire rest of your free time you spent Stumbling, it would take her 388 straight days to stumble that many websites.

PHEW! Ok, now that's addiction.
If someone could find out when the StumbleUpon Toolbar was released (I looked and couldn't find the exact release date) I think it would be interesting to find out.

It makes me tired just thinking about it.

One thing I fogot to add, that's just the sites she liked! That doesn't include sites she went to and didn't like!

OH MY GOSH! I JUST MESSAGED the person above... She's only been a member since January 11th and did all that since then!!!

This post has been edited by MikeTheMike: Jun 22 2006, 08:06 PM

[A.N.Onym]

That's an interesting turn in discussion.

Suppose it may take about 5 seconds to judge a website, then what?

But yes, 63k stumbles is a lot, whatever time it takes to do that. May be I shouldn't download the toolbar?

[MikeTheMike]

Well technically... The minimum amount it would take to add an "I like it" is 40 seconds (if you leave a very very short description) add 20 seconds for a page change and 5 seconds for a viewing, that's still 43 straight days without sleep.

Considering she started Jan 11th (which is roughly 5 months)

She would have had to spend a minimum of about 7 hours a day (and then you'd have to consider the fact that she never actually stayed at any website viewing for longer then 5 seconds, which is very impractical)

[TymArtist]

wow that's not only very addicting, but it makes me feel like i'm doing work. "hey boss check it out, i'm doing research for our new website by channel surfing!". it could become a whole new way of life when you're trying to come up with ideas.

either way, this is a great program. not only can you find out about all these things you didn't know about, but you can meet people that like the same things you do that live in your area - it's a great social networking tool in addition to site promotion too. the idea of requiring a photo to share their reviews is kinda cool too.

only issue so far is that their rating server seems to be up and down a lot, although that could be the server i'm on and have nothing to do with stumble