Social Bookmarking: Now and Then


by Natalie Aranda - Date: 2007-01-14 - Word Count: 405 Share This!

Social bookmarking is a process where people cooperate voluntarily to classify, share, and organize internet bookmarks through a public platform like a website. Users can search through the database of bookmarks. Each bookmark is classified with tags appended to them by humans. This is contrary to a search algorithm

A social bookmark is defined as an internet bookmark that was derived through a social bookmarking platform.

If a person wants to help organize a public collection of internet bookmarks, share his own bookmarks, and see what others are bookmarking in his sphere of interest, he needs to create a user profile at a social bookmarking site like del.icio.us. Since most bookmarks are classified according user-defined tags or keywords, the search results are nearly always on target. Real humans, not search engine spiders, understand the meaning of the content and define it in terms that other users are cognizant of. Furthermore, the human element ensures that few, if any, commercial sites will show up in the search results. Users crave content, and internet bookmarks are referred to over and over again because of the rich information and utility offered to the end user.

Social bookmarking sites like Backflip, Blink, Hotlinks, and Quiver were the former social bookmarking hot spots before the dot-com bubble burst. The market for social bookmarking was highly competitive, but the sites lacked a workable business model.

Since then, social bookmarking sites have grown in features, methodology, and new technologies that make searching, finding, and sharing much easier. After someone creates a free user profile, he or she can participate in any of the numerous activities inherent to most social bookmarking services. Users can view links categorically, randomly, or through searches. Users can rate, comment, take notes, import and export bookmark lists, create user groups, receive feeds and notifications of new links in topics they're interested in.

Automatic notification can serve a dual purpose. First of all, users filter out the best internet bookmarks and input them into the system. Second of all, you get immediate knowledge when this happens. You can then filter the ones you like, vote on them, and benefit from the work of others. You can stay on top of new developments in your hobbies, interests, and passions. It's like subscribing to a journal.

Everyone should benefit from social bookmarks, especially highly rates ones within the database system. These are the valuable bookmarks that focused communities of users agree upon as relevant, informative, and worthwhile.


Related Tags: social bookmarking

Natalie Aranda writes on travel and recreation. Christmas season is just around the corner, but planning holiday travel is not just a wintertime matter. Holidays occur throughout the year and you will have more than one opportunity of getting your luggage ready and planning a trip. Samsonite luggage is durable and yet fashionable, with a full collection of styles matching anyone's criteria. Put on the top of your holiday travel list a visit to your local mall, or browse Samsonite's online catalogs to find its complete line of products. One of the missing items in most travel plan lists is reviewing your tote bags, briefcases, and trunks; you can come across with a fact: you may need to renew your luggage. Your Article Search Directory : Find in Articles

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