How to Setup a Personal Network on Del.icio.us

A favorite Web site or blog can be an extension of your personality, and, with the rapid growth of cyberspace, the Internet has become a social tool used for making personal connections. Del.icio.us now offers a way for you to set up a network based on the common interests of people's bookmarked Web sites.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

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

Register to Become a Del.icio.us User

1. Go to the del.icio.us homepage (see Resources below). Click on the Get Started link to set up a user account.
2. Create a username and password and be prepared to provide your real name and email address, as well. Verification will be sent to your email address when you have completed registration.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions to install the del.icio.us buttons on your Internet browser's toolbar. Be sure you understand the requirements, as this bookmark program will take up space on your hard drive.

Use Del.icio.us to Save Bookmarks and Discover New Web Sites

4. Click on the Tag button to bookmark Web sites.
5. Add tags and descriptions to help organize your sites by labels and categories. For example, if you were bookmarking the Major League Baseball Web site, you might tag it "sports," '"baseball" and "Dodgers." You can also use tags that del.icio.us suggests to you based on what other users have tagged it with.

Create a Network with Other Del.icio.us Users

6. Find friends that are del.icio.us users and add them to your personal network. Search for friends via their username and set up your network by clicking on the Add To Your Network link.
7. Use the Add box to increase your network. Type in the usernames of friends or coworkers to include them in your personal network.
8. Add users with common interests to your network. Find users who have similar interests by clicking on the link that tells you how many other people have saved a Web site once you have saved it.
9. Browse usernames in the Posting History section to see what other people have selected as their bookmarks and add like-minded users to your personal network.
10. Use the network feature at work to save and send articles or relevant Web sites to coworkers.

Tips & Warnings

• Consult the Help or About links for additional help and solutions to problems you may encounter (see Resources below).
• Consider making your network private to keep anyone from accessing your favorite list. Select "Network Privacy" from the settings page.

Who Can Help: