It’s very rare these days to visit a website or blog and not see social media sharing buttons or banners that say things like, “Find Us on Facebook.” One would think that with the popularity of social media widgets that they’re a sure-fire bet for success, right? Well, yes and no. Like anything else, there are pros and cons of using social media widgets on your website.
Social media widgets remind visitors to share great content they find on your website or blog. Everybody wants their content to reach a large audience and that requires people to spread the word about your website. Having visible social media sharing widgets on your website or blog makes it easy and convenient for them to do so.
Eye Pollution
Large social media icons or widgets filled with almost every social media site on the Internet are distracting; they take the reader’s eyes off your content. If you have dozens of social media buttons at the bottom of your blog post that readers have to sort through to find the ones they want to use, it makes sharing less convenient. If you advertise social media too heavily, people get distracted and the widgets become an eyesore.
Subtlety Works
People like to share information that makes them look intelligent. Social media is a great way for people to share interesting material without spamming their friends. You want to encourage people to talk about your website not only by putting up great content, but by casually inviting them to spread the word. Social media widgets provide an option to share information that some users truly appreciate.
Widget Blindness
Because social media widgets are so commonplace now, many people consider them “part of the landscape” and overlook them. The popularity of social media widgets curtails their effectiveness. In order to get the most use out of your social media widgets, you have to implement them in a creative way that is different than other users do; that often entails more work than adding a simple WordPress plug-in.
You’ve Got Nothing to Lose
Despite the few cons, there is no harm in using social media widgets on your website or blog unless you implement them obnoxiously. In a best case scenario they’re helpful for promoting your website. The worst case scenario is that people ignore them. Either way, you’re not really taking any big risks.
The reason that social media widgets are so popular is that the pros outweigh the cons in most cases. As a website owner, the trick to making the most out of your social media widgets is to limit how much you follow the bandwagon. Instead of using the same old WordPress plug-ins and icons that everyone else does, be creative and find your own unique way to implement social media sharing on your website.
About the Author: Tony Smith is a full-time writer with a passion for Internet marketing and social media. He also writes about education, health-care, medical coding, and fitness related topics.
German social media wheel provided courtesy of birgerking
