StumbleUpon is a social media bookmarking site that allows users to keep all of their favorite sites they stumble upon in one place. Similar to Digg and Delicious, StumbleUpon allows you to search in categories of News, Photos, Videos, Arts, Business, Computers, Health, Fun, Lifestyle, Music, Science, Sports and Technology. You can also search for specific articles and filter them by tags.

Who uses it?

Like most social bookmarking sites, the majority of StumbleUpon users are people who constantly search and sift through content online. Easy usability and downloadable toolbars and widgets make this site easy to use to everyone.

Benefits in Tourism Marketing

StumbleUpon provides another place for your content to be delivered online. With each blog written for your CVB, travel agency or tourism bureau’s Web site, each separate URL can be posted on StumbleUpon. People are also able to write reviews of each site on StumbleUpon. In addition to those benefits, you are allowed to tag and place your page into categories, putting it in the same category as related pages. Tags are also another feature you can use to help people find articles about specific topics (i.e. tourism, golf destinations, beaches, resorts).

How to sign up

Registering for StumbleUpon requires a valid e-mail address and a username and password. You will also be prompted to provide your gender and birthday. After that, simply post your articles and start looking for reviews.

Social media optimization defines the use of new portals and sites designed to bring people of common interests together, and travel-related companies have recognized the marketing potential for such sites. At Simple Tourism, we specialize in the maintenance and development of your brand and destination via social media exposure. Social networking sites offer Internet users the opportunity to discover where to eat while on vacation, and which resorts have the best deals. These networks also provide businesses the opportunity to boost the link popularity of their main websites and draw potential subscribers to become regular visitors of their sites as well. When you sign on with Simple Tourism for our SMO package, you have the option of customizing a social media presence as it suits your business or bureau. Contact us today for a free quote.

Jessica Swink is a freelance writer specializing in articles about Social Media Optimization and SEO for travel Web sites.