Enterprise Nation

Booting up my parent's old Windows 95 PC is like starting the engine of the De Lorean DMC from the 1985 film, Back to the Future. Like the makeshift time machine of the sci-fi comedy, my parent's computer offers a glimpse into the past...

Buried beneath dusty files and folders is a set of Internet Explorer bookmarks - links to an X-Files fansite, the now transformed Napster and, interestingly, the first ever White House website, developed under Clinton's administration (and which you can still see here).

I can't deny feeling nostalgic for the early days of the web, but I must admit I don't 'bookmark' web pages half as much as I used to, or at least in the same way.

In this edition of Homeworking 2.0 ("a regular romp into the World Wide Web and a new way of working from home"), we're going to take a look at social bookmarking, how it's a more efficient way of remembering your favourite websites and how you can use it to make yours the favourite of potential new customers and clients.

Social bookmarking

What is 'social bookmarking'?

In the same way that your web browser (Internet Explorer or Firefox) allows you to 'bookmark' or 'favourite' a website for returning to later, social bookmarking allows you store, organise and search your list of favourite websites from any computer connected to the Internet. Because it hosts your list on the web it allows you to do even more with your bookmarks, like share them with other users.

One such social bookmarking service is called del.icio.us and, like others, it incorporates elements of social networking, so you can connect with other bookmarkers, see if you have bookmarks in common and visit websites on their recommendation.

Along with search engine optimisation, social bookmarking can be used to make your website more visible. The more often a website is submitted or tagged by other users, the better chance it has of being found.

Social news

Can you 'digg' it?

Similar to social bookmarking, social news websites like digg.com are another way to promote your home business website. Powerful especially for bloggers, Digg collects the most interesting stories from around the Internet, voted for by its active (and vocal) community. You may have seen a "Digg it!" button beside blog posts. Click that and your vote will be counted and the blog post will climb up the list of links on the digg.com home page.

For your home business website

The "Digg button", and similarly functional del.icio.us buttons, can be added to your website to make it easier for visitors to bookmark your pages and essentially promote and recommend them to potential customers.

Find out more on the links below and, until next time, happy homeworking 2.0! – San Sharma

• del.icio.us
• Digg.com
• AddThis - Social Bookmarking sharing widget