Optimizing WordPress Posts With Socialize
One of the things I’ve been thinking more about lately is how to encourage sharing without overwhelming readers. Just dumping ten buttons at the top or bottom of every post doesn’t really work, most people don’t use half of them, and it just creates noise.
That’s why I built Socialize and why I’ve been using it to test different ways of integrating social sharing into my posts more intentionally.
The key, I’ve found, is placement and relevance. With Socialize, I’ve been adding just two or three buttons inline, usually Twitter and Facebook, and then using the customizable call-to-action box at the bottom to prompt readers to share or leave a comment. What’s nice is that I can tailor this setup per post. For example, if I’m writing something that’s more business-focused, I’ll throw in LinkedIn. If it’s more visual, maybe Pinterest. The CTA box also gives me space to say something useful or timely, instead of relying on generic “Share This Post” language.
The results have been solid. I’ve seen more click-throughs on the share buttons when they’re placed closer to the actual content, and the personalized CTA seems to increase comments as well. I’m still tweaking things, but Socialize gives me the flexibility to experiment without editing templates or writing extra code. If you’re looking for a way to make your posts a little more actionable without going overboard, it might be worth checking out.