If you run a business then you want to speak and appeal to as wide an audience as possible. This is particularly true if you're also a serial blogger. You want to encourage more page views and get people talking about you or the products and services you offer: this applies whether you market through conventional channels, use the social media, or utilize a combination of the two. The easiest way to get this message out there is by using social media sharing buttons. Unfortunately some people are daunted by the prospect of using these: they fear it's a complicated business and the exclusive preserve of the tech-savvy. The thing is there's really no need to be scared. It's pretty straightforward as long as you stick to certain ground rules.

If you feel slightly out of your comfort zone, it's probably best to use a catchall service, like ShareThis or AddToAny. These services will place a streamlined row of similar-looking buttons on your blog or website. The beauty is that there is a limited amount of code that you'll need to add and they do have a very neat appearance. If there's a drawback it's that they don't have quite the same standalone impact of a separate Facebook or Twitter button. In a way, I guess it's a trade off: if all you want is a functional set of buttons that are easily installed and have reasonable analytic functions then this is the option for you. If you're looking for something more, then it isn't.

The next option is what you might call a pick and mix service. If you choose this option, all you'll download will be the share buttons for applications that are relevant to your business. There's no point downloading buttons that won't be used, is there? Besides, these only clutter up the page unnecessarily. Particular application buttons will cater for specific audiences, but generally Facebook and Twitter work well for pretty much all types of content. LinkedIn's great for a professional appeal and Stumbleupon is best for casual and social audiences. At the end of the day, it's all a matter of horses for courses: use what works best for you and your business.

Finally you need to decide where to put the buttons. They'll need to be visible enough to stand out, but that doesn't mean they have to be large. There may be a consensus that big is best, but that isn't necessarily the case for social media buttons. Sometimes big is brash and a bit on the 'blingy' side. Make them large enough to see, but try to keep them discreet if possible so they don't detract and distract from the message you're trying to send out. Where you actually put the buttons is also a matter of debate. Some would suggest putting them higher up the page so that users can see them immediately. Others suggest, particularly for pages that include long blogs or articles, that the icons should sit at the foot of the page. There isn't a one-size-fits-all answer to this one, I'm afraid: it depends one your particular website and your needs. No matter where you eventually site the buttons, the important thing to remember is that they need to be obvious. No-one wants to have to go clicking unnecessarily or scrolling down a page for them. If they're difficult to locate, then you'll probably lose the browser and a potential testimonial.

Jason Walker

Internet Marketing made simple

www.searchandmore.co.uk

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Jason_H_Walker/952812

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