Zemanta Review: Blogger's Tool

Every good blogger knows how to search out a reliable source for information. Research is just a part of the job, and because we often lack the benefit of a stable platform for our writing (such as in a newspaper or other formerly established authority), we are under more pressure to be accurate in our posts. Not to mention we need other media to enhance them, and to help keep our readers interested. If they were looking for a never ending wall of text, they wouldn't be seeking out a blog post in the first place.
When I write a post, I inevitably have a dozen tabs open that I have to fish through to get a certain quote, detail, photo or video. It can be extremely frustrating, especially when copying the URL to the source itself, to provide my readers and credit the original posters. There is nothing I hate more than dealing with tabs during post writing. The more in depth the post is, the more tabs I need. Sometimes I even open up a separate browser window just to hold the links themselves while I write on my second computer screen (yes, I have two)!
I stumbled upon Zemanta on accident a couple of months ago, and it was a lifesaver. Not only does it eliminate the need for a million open tabs, but it makes my blog writing a lot more efficient. I thought I would share a few comments on the program for those interested.
What Is Zemanta?

The purpose of this service is pretty much two fold. On one hand, it streamlines your source finding by letting you find links, images, videos, tags and more from a single place. So you don't have to go fishing Google and opening tab after tab to get what you want.
But the main function is to further socialize the blogging experience. Most of us already know the benefit of connecting with other blog owners and sharing ideas, content and just generally networking. The problem is that we don't always make this a priority, and so miss out on opportunities such connections would provide.
From sparking your creativity to finding guest blogging positions, Zemanta has you covered.
How Does Zemanta Work?

First, you sign up for the website. Your posts will be listed in their directory, and then suggested to other bloggers. When these bloggers read your posts, they will have the option of using them as related articles and source material for their own posts. Every time they link to your article, you will get notified so you can make that connection and be aware of how your posts are spreading.
There are several benefits to this, but the main one is socializing your content and the potential to have it go viral. Plus, it gives you access to a formerly untouched reader pool, which will boost your blog's overall visibility.
Once you are signed up, you should also get the Mozilla Firefox, Chrome, IE or Wordpress plugin. This is where you will be able to eliminate those annoying tabs and multisearches, instead connecting directly to the Zemanta database to find content and get recommendations.
Where Can I Get Zemanta?
You can sign up for free on their website. You have the option of creating an account with a full registration, or using a social login option through Facebook. Sadly, there is no login for Twitter, but maybe that will come in time.
For the plugin, check the sources below:
Conclusion
I am a big fan of this service, and it has really made a difference in the last few months. I get hundreds of unique visits more than I did before, all linked from the blogs that find me through Zemanta. As my own site I use it for is rather small, and posts are not as common as my other sites, this is a major result from such little effort.
For anyone out there with a blog of their own, this is a must-have resource at your disposal.





Ann Smarty
Reader Comments (1)
Which one is better outbrain or Zemanta.