@ Fred - I agree - SU cannot be depended on to build repeat LOYAL traffic because SU users do not need to do so. They have unlimited channels to choose from lol! But SU has been my best source of building a network, supporters and encouragement. Digg & Reddit are powerful sources as well, and more difficult, but I prefer to concentrate on the network building.

@ Terry - Thanks so much for the stumble and comments! :) Coming from you I appreciate it a lot!

@ Monika - I guess I have to say things that no one else bothers with lol! I get better results when someone else submits my news willingly - it is also a better indicator as to your content being of value or not.

@ Cherry - Definitely. Many bloggers and niches do not need it. What it does provide is another dimension to build your brand and network.

So well said and somebody had to anyway. :-) I totally agree with you and all though I’m still learning the virtues of building networks with social media I have started to use this more and more.

I do admit it can be quite overwhelming at times due to the sheer amount f information. But then, I have also gone from being a self obsessed self submitter to now obsessing about submitting my favorite sites instead.

Like Terry says, SU can bring huge traffic, but the traffic is way better if others are submitting your posts in the first place.

Monika

That was a very accurate assessment of social media. I have also found that stumbleupon can be very fickle in the traffic it send to my blogs - some days it send almost nothing, yet other days it can go berserk! But as you so rightly pointed out, very little if any of this traffic is loyal and would be unlikely to return on any regular basis - unless one is very lucky and manages to snare the interest of a few of them.

Great post! Just by way of a small amusement, I stumbled you!!!!

Well, you might get a sudden flood of one-timers which is good for your stats if nothing else!

Terry

StumbleUpon is perfect for a new blogger to get eyes on his site. However, it is very easy to lose track of what this traffic is. It is typically non-loyal readers. You hope that some might become loyal readers, but chances are most won’t.

However, StumbleUpon is great for sending messages and networking with the readers who gave thumbs up to your posts. These follow on messages can build that loyalty.

Digg, Reddit, etc.: New bloggers should familiarize themselves with these sites. Once familiar, then write one highly targeted pillar article and try to get it on the front page of Digg, Reddit or any other social media sites.

“How much traffic can social media sites bring me?”

That is a question I often see, which is quickly followed by the refrain - “The traffic I receive from the effort spent isn’t worth it. Social media is highly overrated.”.

Other than Stumb…

One of the challenges I find is repeat and stable traffic. You mention instant gratification, I would like people to enjoy the whole meal. Stumbleupon brings much traffic but it’s not consistent. For Stumblers there’s so much to choose from that one site can be a ‘flash in the pan’.