Comments on: AddToAny Relaunches With Counters and More Customization Options http://www.centernetworks.com/addtoany-updates-share-widget Web 2 and Social Media News and Reviews Sun, 12 Feb 2012 21:27:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: MK (Casey) van Bronkhorst http://www.centernetworks.com/addtoany-updates-share-widget#comment-20193 MK (Casey) van Bronkhorst Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-20193 I use them extensively but have been frustrated by the claims of personalization. It seems once I choose one service to 'remember,' the rest vanish. I hope that's not on purpose and that it's a matter of me not understanding how to properly set things up. But it bodes ill for general use. I use them extensively but have been frustrated by the claims of personalization. It seems once I choose one service to ‘remember,’ the rest vanish. I hope that’s not on purpose and that it’s a matter of me not understanding how to properly set things up. But it bodes ill for general use.

]]> By: Pat http://www.centernetworks.com/addtoany-updates-share-widget#comment-20198 Pat Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-20198 It's true, Allen, when you compare the number of sharing/saving actions (as tracked) to the number of pageviews, the margin of difference is fairly large. Fact is, the segment of your audience that actually spreads your content is doing so manually or via browser bookmarklets/extensions (tougher to track), or through a web widget. I don't have concrete evidence that most sharing takes place outside of these widgets, but I wouldn't doubt that desktop activity is higher. That said, it's still wise to provide a quick vehicle to sharing and saving your content (more on that below). First, AddToAny has done a number of things to successfully boost activity through the widget: <ul> <li>All visitors are covered (100+ services available in-widget)</li> <li>Services your visitors use are displayed first in bold (<a href="http://www.centernetworks.com/add-to-any-personalized-smart-menus">"Smart Menus" CN post</a>)</li> <li>Services are immediately accessible (no delay when accessing the menu)</li> <li>Tab-friendly service links (easy to share/save to multiple services)</li> <li>Searchable</li> <li>Works even without JavaScript</li> <li>The features you outlined above with <a href="http://www.addtoany.com/blog/major-update-digg-counts-delicious-counts-e-mail-streamlined-prioritize-services-new-look-and-more/">further details here</a></li> </ul> Sure individual icons work well and it's a good idea to optimize for a couple key services, but it's beneficial to ensure that all your visitors are covered. Things to consider about these widgets in general: <ul> <li>They help your visitors when they're away from their browser bookmarklets (i.e. at work, school, public workstation, etc.)</li> <li>They save your visitors time (it's at least 4 steps closer than having to copy and paste the title, the URL, perhaps an excerpt)</li> <li>They serve as a reminder to visitors that you find each of their content-spreading actions valuable, and if you're including an easy share or save link to a service they use, they're much more likely to share and return</li> </ul> It’s true, Allen, when you compare the number of sharing/saving actions (as tracked) to the number of pageviews, the margin of difference is fairly large. Fact is, the segment of your audience that actually spreads your content is doing so manually or via browser bookmarklets/extensions (tougher to track), or through a web widget. I don’t have concrete evidence that most sharing takes place outside of these widgets, but I wouldn’t doubt that desktop activity is higher. That said, it’s still wise to provide a quick vehicle to sharing and saving your content (more on that below).

First, AddToAny has done a number of things to successfully boost activity through the widget:

  • All visitors are covered (100+ services available in-widget)
  • Services your visitors use are displayed first in bold (“Smart Menus” CN post)
  • Services are immediately accessible (no delay when accessing the menu)
  • Tab-friendly service links (easy to share/save to multiple services)
  • Searchable
  • Works even without JavaScript
  • The features you outlined above with further details here

Sure individual icons work well and it’s a good idea to optimize for a couple key services, but it’s beneficial to ensure that all your visitors are covered.

Things to consider about these widgets in general:

  • They help your visitors when they’re away from their browser bookmarklets (i.e. at work, school, public workstation, etc.)
  • They save your visitors time (it’s at least 4 steps closer than having to copy and paste the title, the URL, perhaps an excerpt)
  • They serve as a reminder to visitors that you find each of their content-spreading actions valuable, and if you’re including an easy share or save link to a service they use, they’re much more likely to share and return
]]> By: Pat http://www.centernetworks.com/addtoany-updates-share-widget#comment-20215 Pat Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-20215 Hi Casey, It sounds like you're recalling one of the early versions of these tools, where once you check "Remember" the service automatically redirects to the ONE service you chose thereafter. The feature was a useful and neat circa 2006, but AddToAny has gotten a lot smarter since the introduction of our drop-down menus. Read up on AddToAny's Smart Menus on <a href="http://www.centernetworks.com/add-to-any-personalized-smart-menus">CenterNetworks</a> and look for our blog post for details. We'd love to hear what you think! Hi Casey,

It sounds like you’re recalling one of the early versions of these tools, where once you check “Remember” the service automatically redirects to the ONE service you chose thereafter. The feature was a useful and neat circa 2006, but AddToAny has gotten a lot smarter since the introduction of our drop-down menus.

Read up on AddToAny’s Smart Menus on CenterNetworks and look for our blog post for details. We’d love to hear what you think!

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