Stumble

Reciprocal Stumbling is Against StumbleUpon's TOS

Posted by makimaki • 10/02/07 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS]

Just thought everyone should probably be aware that StumbleUpon does not permit the blatant practice of reciprocal reviewing or stumbling:

" The practice of sending PM’s encouraging or inviting other stumblers to rate/review sites in exchange for reciprocal reviews/ratings, monetary, or any other form of reward is strictly forbidden.

The practice of actively soliciting a rating or review for a site is also forbidden. Accounts participating in such practices will be deleted and banned, and the related sites deleted and banned from the system."

Source: www.stumbleupon.com/help.html#incentive_pms

Not to be a killjoy here but just a friendly note for those who might not know.

User Comments

10/03/07

crkian

Thanks for that Maki (doshdosh) long time no see, your all famous now

[reply]
1. 5/18/08
  
  skynex66 (guest)
  
  comment removed by administrator
2. 5/06/09
  
  amrancu12 (guest)
  
  Hi! i want to share my site so please visit and join as a follower
  follower is the most important for a google ranking
  
  adsensetips4money.blogspot.com/
  
  buysellmovies.blogspot.com/
  
  hairlaserremovalfree.blogspot.com/
10/03/07

SportsNarrative

That does make me at least have some second thoughts about it. Though no doubt I would have guessed it was at least against the spirit of the idea.

I guess most people believe that their blogs have something worthy to offer. I'm no expert on Stumble but I believe that these exchanges will still result in traffic from people who are predisposed to like the subjects each blogger is writing about.

Anyway, thanks for the info.

[reply]
10/03/07

cymrusteve

Thanks for the info makimaki!

[reply]
10/03/07

windyridge

Absolutely, I have discovered some great blogs this way that I probably wouldn't have.

[reply]
10/03/07

ladybee

Well then, I guess this group has no purpose???

[reply]
10/03/07

jpearce

It's not against the policy to add friends is it?

[reply]
1. 3/12/08
  
  FinancialFutures
  
  jpearce, feel free to add me as your friend at SU,
10/04/07

makimaki

Hmmm... I don't think StumbleUpon might come out and ban everyone doing reciprocal stumbling.. from what I've seen, they usually ignore a lot of stuff that goes on.

I'm not really a fan of reciprocal stuff because it seems to be rather mechanical, not to mention that it doesn't really get you more traffic in the long run. But hey, if it works for you and you're having fun...

@jpearce --> I don't think its against the policy to add friends you like.

If anyone is interested in learning more about StumbleUpon and particularly on how to use it to get traffic for your sites, check out this following link.

There are 34 articles on StumbleUpon which may help:
danawallert.com/04/34-stumbleupon-posts-that-arent-crap/

[reply]
1. 10/13/07
  
  absolutelytrue
  
  have to disagree with you about the traffic. Stumble has always been very good to me, but I also have worked with it to develop a nice network of friends on there.
10/04/07

obiddle

Maybe the leader of the stumble group should change it's name

[reply]
10/05/07

pointlessbanter

We aren't saying that you have to stumble it or give a thumbs up. Well except for the people calling out and saying they will do it.

[reply]
1. 10/05/07
  
  makimaki
  
  The whole point of this group (at least to me.. judging from what I see) is to trade diggs, stumbles or whatever. Most or all of the stumble threads fall into this area.. some are blatant, others are just more covert or understated.
10/13/07

RecycleCindy

When I read posts about people who want stumbles here, I go to their blog post and read it. I only stumble things that I truly believe in stumbling. I have found some wonderful blogs that I wouldn't normally have found expect for this group and BC. I think we need to be reminded to not just blatantly stumble otherwise it could and probably will become an issue with SU. Bloggers here need to ask people to review their posts and those that do find it worthy of a stumble should do so freely and not because the poster asked for a stumble...

[reply]
1. 1/14/08
  
  Denmarkguy
  
  I guess people use sites for different purposes. Personally, if I find a blog and really like the content, I'll gladly add a SU thumbs up (and add some commentary) because it's a blog I actually WANT to read, and would be likely to go back and read. I see adding it as a favorite as a way to help quality content get more visibility, and it gives ME a central place to come back for links to places I like. As for SU friends, unless someone has content/favorites that I want to read, I don't see much point. However, I do enjoy stumbling the sites of people I feel like I have something in common with.
  
  Too each their own, of course. But the indiscriminate adding of ANYone who asks strikes me a bit like those people who have 17,000 friends on MySpace, but they only actually KNOW who 17 of them are. I've been blogging for 8 years, and frankly prefer to have a subscriber base over a bunch of one-time clicks. I really never was much good at networking to get 1000s of people, preferring instead a smaller group of people "who matter."
  
  But, as I said, to each their own.
2. 1/25/08
  
  Digits
  
  DenmarkGuy - Wow! I had no idea you hung out on the wrong side of the tracks too. LoL
10/13/07

m38967

Maki brings up a solid reminder.

Also SU has a network thing going on within their own system, install the toolbar, add friends, submit pages, and those in YOUR NETWORK will see them, and if they like what they see, they will (or should) stumble. You can also send them directly to YOUR NETWORK via the (send to) friend feauture. SU has this already in place in their toolbar.

It is very cool, use it.

[reply]
10/13/07

zussss

That would be nice and all if they would finally fix that annoying but! I can't add my posts for all the potential stumblers to see. Every time I want to add a page, I just get a blank page...I've already written on the bug forum and there are others who have the same problem, but so far nothing's being done about it.
So for now, the only way I have to get my posts added is by asking others who don't suffer from the same bug to do it for me.
(And on that note, if someone can please review the latest post on my blog and stumble it, I would be forever grateful!)
I am missing out on a lot of traffic because of this issue.

[reply]
1. 1/04/08
  
  genslub3
  
  Yeah they did that to me too I can't stumble mine or a few friends blogs.
  
  Dropped the tool bar when that happened but i suppose it's my fault for getting greedy.
10/14/07

adaum

Maybe it should be called "Thumbs up or down"" at Stumble?

[reply]
10/18/07

qhoen

other solutions?

[reply]
10/18/07

Profitline

While i am not a stumbleupon expert, i remember clearly that in the TOS, stumbleupon don't encourage Reciprocal Stumbling BUT!

If you have the stumbleupon toolbar then you can always send articles and interesting post to your friends. If i am not wrong you can add a total of 200 friends on stumbleupon.

For those who have not download my mini report that i wrote, it will let you know what you can do to stumble better or the evil way?

www.etienneteo.com/2007/09/14-page-stumbleupon-free-report-what.html

[reply]
10/18/07

windyridge

So let's all add each other as friends and utilize send to. Good idea Profitline.

[reply]
10/19/07

jedmed

I joined this group first to get some idea about increasing my traffic and I'm still learning. I think that while there is this policy, I agree with many of the posts that this is a great opportunity to discover excellent sites as well.

While the policy is to make 'stumbling' more objective, I support the idea of this group for the fact that we are all here for that very specific purpose and in the run long become friends. Most of the blogs here are excellent resource sites and they do offer something new and unique.

I think this group definitely has an important purpose and our objective to help one another is based on mutual interest.

Most of the so called friends on digg or stumble upon are not really your friends, isn't it?

[reply]
10/19/07

jesie

I am still learning about SU.

Since we do not want to violate SU's terms and conditions, what do you all think about informing our group on our new posts and leave the discretion of whether to thumbs up (I like it!) or add comments (review) to the visitor/member in the group?

What about "New Posts Today (Date). Stumble and/or review if you like it."

[reply]
10/26/07

wakish

I don't see why we should not stumle each other here?
Keep the links coming!

[reply]
10/28/07

VivienneQuek

I support RecycleCindy that we only stumble post we like, and I also like Jesie's idea of "New Posts Today (Date). Stumble and/or review if you like it."

[reply]
1. 1/14/08
  
  Denmarkguy
  
  Agreed, completely.
  
  If you read something great, ADD it. Isn't that the whole point of the site?
  
  And who REALLY benefits, if we just add every single site we happen to spend three seconds on? Think about it-- web sites stand and fall on whether or not users (who can be EXTREMELY fickle) think there's worthwhile content. When we choose to add complete garbage as "favorites" it'll eventually dilute the "value" of the site, newcomers will look at what's there and say "what a crock," and visibility starts going DOWN, rather than UP.
11/26/07

shakone2000

There are so many rules about blogging and commenting, it is very difficult to stay on top of it all!

[reply]
11/26/07

guniwan

I am agree only stumble the good post we like not the post the other people want us to stumble.

goonie

[reply]
11/26/07

windyridge

I started out using this group and then I really got involved with SU the way I think it was intended to be used since my post of 10/18. I have found that by finding and enjoying stumbled sites and initiating conversations with like minded individuals, IOW finding friends the "natural" way if you will, that you get as many friends if not more that way, then by asking here. If you just thumbup random articles because they are posted here you may end up with 700 hits in a few hours for weeks at a time like I did but those hits will be nontargeted and will bounce right off your site so they are essentially useless visitors. Now, I have met some fantastic people and discovered the best sites ever. I even have had some power stumblers give me the thumbsup and reviews and become friends and I found these people the "natural" way. I also started choosing my friends based on interests and their stumbles and not just adding everyone. Just my two cents for what it's worth. It seems to me now that it's better to adhere to the TOS and enjoy SU for what it can give you and you will come by traffic naturally and it will be better traffic. Please don't think me a hypocrite. I truly have changed my way of thinking on this from my experience these past few weeks. And I think SU is fantastic.

[reply]
11/30/07

markstoneman

I don't like the idea of reciprocal stumbling either, but it can't hurt to build one's friends list and then go around to one's Stumbling friends, see what they're stumbling, and see if one likes the stuff well enough to stumble it too. That's how I've been handling things so far, though I'm still pretty new at the social side of stumbling.

[reply]
12/04/07

Swany

rules, rules, rules....blah, blah blah...

fake stumble accounts, reciprocal stumbling... the world is ending... note to self: "Tell God I went Green, and use I do use my turn signal.

Swany
www.Swany.cc/TravelMap

[reply]
12/05/07

LisaT (guest)

Thanks, Maki! By the way, I love DoshDosh. Been a feed subscriber for a long time now

[reply]
1/05/08

timchristie

If one of my friends makes a good post,I plan to stumble it and I guess if I do the same then they will stumble mine. Does that make it reciprocal stumbling? or only if you are aasked to or paid for it?

Does SU monitor who regularly stumbles someones posts?

[reply]
1. 1/13/08
  
  julie1366
  
  I believe if we find a post that's truly valuable, then we should feel free to stumble it just as we normally would. No one here should feel pressured to stumble a particular blog or post...although I think it's fine to ask people to pay a visit to your blog
1/15/08

revellian

Thanks Maki! It's really best to find what you like and stumble it. The more you stumble...the more like you'll be stumbled by chance!

[reply]
1/23/08

walletss

The problem as I see it is that if there is too much reciprocal stumbling and it raises the attention of google, then many google adsense accounts might be cancelled in an instant. They are doing it now with other referral sites. Google just don't accept blatant tit for tat traffic deals.

[reply]
1/23/08

jefmenguin

If you like to get more SU, you better visit other blogs yourself. Give it a vote when you think people will benefit from reading the blog. I rather be know as somebody who has made known the world a worth read blog, than somebody who beg for a vote--like unprincipled politicians--for my own gain.

Write something that other people will benefit. When they read your blog, they will certainly be more than happy to SU, technorati, digg you.

Be abundant.

Jef

[reply]
1/23/08

jcalberto

Thanks

[reply]
1/27/08

helix

After I saw the TOS, I decided to update my lasted article about Stumbling.

Thanks Maki!

[reply]
2/21/08

hirfoanbhg12

your info is right makimaki.thanks

[reply]
2/22/08

ZinggniZ

Its ok! I'm a pirate anyway. Arg! Time fer meh ta go to teh PirateBay fer me torrents!

(don't worry, I'm a minimalistic pirate at that. I've only downloaded one movie since october of 07, lol. But thats enough, right? ARRRRG!)

~jw

P.S. Stupid netflicks makes it hard to be a pirate. Its so cheap and easy... grrr.... Torrents can be slow :-(

[reply]
2/29/08

miguelstil

I was aware of that, Maki. But it's a great thing you've posted it here to let other users know that Stumble, as most of the popular social discovery sites, doesn't tolerate spam. Thanks for the link to Dana's entry btw. I didn't know that blog.

[reply]
2/29/08

Randomguru

sort of like the adsense policy where we aren't allowing to encourage people to click on the ads.

i for one am fairly new to StumbleUpon.com, so this is good to know. I didn't know about this policy before...

[reply]
2/29/08

urbanswirl

Wow - Thanks for the info!

[reply]
3/02/08

limevelyn

I think this is important info. Thanks for sharing it!

[reply]
3/02/08

JoyntHeir

Does anyone really make serious money with adsense? Do we care that much if google cancels the adsense? I think the real danger would be if they decided to change the ranking or put you in the sandbox.

[reply]
3/03/08

ClevelandRealEstat

It's a nice way to introduce material we may have not seen otherwise. I agree that if you don't like it, don't Stumble it... but if you do, why not...It's why we're all here...

[reply]
3/12/08

FinancialFutures

lady

I think a SU group within SU cam be a valuable mutually beneficial community for all. We discover each other, learn from each other, and then we can reach out and support each other in ways that are not banned SU actitivies.

John Bougearel
SuccessfulTradingTips.com

[reply]
4/07/08

Stanley

Question: Is it okay to Stumble your own posts? I tried to find a FAQ on Stumbleupon but couldnt find the answer?

[reply]
1. 4/15/08
  
  crkian
  
  You can just dont do it very often, once in a while should be fine
4/14/08

moinansari

comment removed by administrator

[reply]
5/28/08

muthumbi

wow! so this is where all of you guys are hiding. I like reading all your stuff on your informative sites. Keep it up. and thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[reply]
6/05/08

mitison

Little help from friends will make no harm.

[reply]
6/14/08

Chazman80

Ok so just add me as a friend??

chazman80.stumbleupon.com/

[reply]
6/15/08

macdet

now there at 2 nice boys!

twitter.com/macdet

[reply]
6/18/08

tiggyblog

I had kinda ignored SU until a few days ago when I got a massive spike from their site! I've had fun with the stumble button, and found some great sites. I feel a lot of timewasting coming on...

[reply]
6/19/08

muthumbi

Sorry tiggyblog, hope you act as a warning to those who haven't taken it seriously. I know what you are feeling believe me. Thanks for dosh dosh's warning I know many have benefited. know more aboutMesothelioma

[reply]
6/23/08

Klioreport

www.klioreport.com

use it wisely :_0

[reply]
7/01/08

broalex

People don`t read a site`s TOS before signing up. But I think the reciprocal stumbling shouldn`t be agains the TOS , what is wrong with it ?

[reply]
7/20/08

Dutch

www.wizeguyztees.com/blog/?p=100

if u like funny t shirts, there are some good ones here to read.

[reply]
8/23/08

trainsem

I work as an in-house SEO for a major group of websites, each getting millions of visits a month.

My blog will only interest people who are into search marketing, esp SEO. I write from an Australian perspective.

www.netmagellan.com

[reply]
5/06/09

amrancu12 (guest)

Hi! i want to share my site so please visit and join as a follower
follower is the most important for a google ranking

adsensetips4money.blogspot.com/

buysellmovies.blogspot.com/

hairlaserremovalfree.blogspot.com/

[reply]
5/15/09

fassy4u (guest)

st Of Blogsessive - Blogging Tips

form my blog

even u can get megzine ,movies softwares,graphics,games ,ebooks ,many more

blog www.rapids-downloads.blogspot.com

i have just follow ur blog and you should follow my blog dear

[reply]

BlogCatalog

Stumble

Reciprocal Stumbling is Against StumbleUpon's TOS

Posted by makimaki • 10/02/07 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS]

User Comments

Add Your Comment

Group Search

Recent Readers

Subscribe via Email