How to Discover New Bookmarks Using Tags on Del.icio.us

With so many Web sites being introduced everyday, it can be hard to keep up. With social bookmarking sites, users can employ tags to discover similar bookmarks to the sites they already go to or to find Web sites with related topics.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Computer with Internet access
• Internet browser compatible with del.icio.us

Set Up a User Account on Del.icio.us

1. Begin at the del.icio.us home page (see Resources below). Follow the steps to register as a user. Choose a username to identify you to other users, as well as a password that includes both letters and numbers for greater security.
2. Install the del.icio.us buttons on your Internet browser's toolbar. To download the Del.icio.us buttons, follow the onscreen prompts to run the program. Del.icio.us is set up for Internet Explorer. However, it also supports Foxfire and Opera, among others.

Use Tags to Organize Your Bookmarks

3. Create bookmarks by clicking on the "Tag" button on your toolbar. If you choose not to install the buttons, you can save bookmarks through your account at the del.icio.us Web site.
4. Enter a set of descriptive words in the Tags field for identification. Consider using the recommended or popular tags other people have used. For example, if you bookmarked eBay, you might consider using Shopping or Auction as your tag.

Discover New Bookmarks by Using the Del.icio.us Tag Feature

5. Select the del.icio.us icon on your toolbar to view your bookmarks, or use the URL listed under Resources below.
6. Search tags to discover other Web sites with similar content. For example, if you select Shopping, you'll have a choice of a "Yours" link that leads to the sites you have personally tagged under Shopping, the "All" link which brings up a list of the sites other users have tagged as Shopping and a "Popular" link which limits your search to sites that have been bookmarked frequently.
7. Use the search feature to discover new bookmarks based on a tag you enter in the Search field.
8. Conduct your search for new Web sites by going through another user's personal list of tags and bookmarks.

Tips & Warnings

• Choose from the Web site's Help menu to find answers to frequently asked questions, or submit a question through the Support link.
• By creating a username on del.icio.us, your bookmarks can be accessed by other users unless you choose to hide your name by changing your settings in the Network Privacy section.

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