Cordobo

Get rid of useless badges

“Get rid of those RIDICULOUS social media links at the bottom of every post. The only people who have the power to get any of your posts ranking well in Social Media Networks don’t need the little buttons to do it. If they think you’re worthy, they’ll submit regardless.” [via mass-automation]

If your site visitors use tools like del.icio.us, Mister Wong, Digg, Stumble Upon, Netvibes or any similar websites on a regular basis, they already have a browser-plugin or scriptlet in use to add links or content to the described services.

The same goes for SnapShots — Apart from the “monetizing-my-blog aspect” I have no clue why websites like Read/WriteWeb or TechCrunch implemented those services. It’s just annoying. The moment I try to click a link, a layer is popping up, making it almost impossible to me to follow the original link. If I need additional information, I simply visit the site. If I really want to use this service I install the plugin for my favourite browser.

There is absolutely no use for your visitors to see a horde of “badges” and “buttons” on the sidebar showing off your technorati ranking, displaying who’s on your site or presenting the five rss-readers. If your users like your content, they like it because of the useful content and not because of your technorati-ranking. Make your sites usable again and remove those silly badges, plugins and add-ons. Emphasis on “useless”.

Andreas Jacob

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12 responses to “Get rid of useless badges”

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  2. Well, I have to tell you that I am a member of several of those sites and I do submit sites, but, with the exception of delicious, I always use the buttons :-( I think that it may be better to leave some of those links for some people who don’t have browser plug-ins. Although I’m a software engineer and web designer, I like to do things the old fashioned way when it comes to submitting an article. It may seem silly, but, I know I’m not alone.

  3. well maybe then it would make sense just to offer some of those services or to use a ‘universal’ 2-click service that interfaces to a list of services. cause those differ widely from country to country…

  4. Hello, I’m a very happy user of your Cordobo Green Park theme. I want to notify a website that use this theme removing your credits in the footer section: [link removed by admin]
    Best regards.

  6. Bueno Cordob?.
    Ya no se te ve por la universidad. Sigues los estudios? Los seguir?s uno de estos anhos que vienen, o los has dejado ya? No pregunto por acojonarte, sino por inter?s (espiritual)…
    hasta pronto

  7. You could use the AddThis.com little icon at the bottom of each post. You just place a small little bit of code in your php file and then it automatically ads one little icon. When a user mouses over the icon, it changes to a drop down with all of the social icon items listed. That way you don’t have to clog up your blog. Take a look at AddThis.com to see the icon or take a look at a post on my blog to see what I’m talking about.

  9. I am using your Cordoba-green Theme with my new Website. And I totally agree with your statement, that these badges and even many ad banners are useless.

    I removed many of these useless services from my Blog.

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