How to Use Plurk to Promote Your Website

Plurk is an online "social journal for your life" website where users can let others know in 140 characters posts or "plurks" what their status is and see it displayed in a "timeline" format. It is great for posting status updates, conversing with others and just saying what is on your mind. Users can see every plurk out there and subscribe to more specific friend's plurks.

If you have a website, you can use this service to your advantage by letting others know what is going on with the site such as news updates, current promotions, deals, as well as what the site has to offer. Include information describing what your site is about and what you offer. Never just assume that because you have a website, that people will find it and visit.

There are many tools available to users to who are on the go and want to update their status. Web-enabled cell phones and mobile internet devices can use specialized programs to access the account on the go.

1. Sign up at Plurk.com (http://www.plurk.com), it's free, click on "Sign Up for Free" then create your user name and complete your profile. Once your account is created, you can customize your profile, avatar (picture), background and other bits of information you would like others to know about yourself. Be sure to include a link to your website in your profile.

2. Post your Plurk. Click in the status field and enter up to 140 characters to let your followers know what is new on your site. You can use the drop-down next to your screen name to add action as well as clicking on the drop-down after your status to add emoticons to your plurk. If you have a promotion on your site, describe it briefly, and then enter the link to your site. You will have to use a site such as tinyurl.com or budurl.com to shorten your links if necessary. Your plurks then show in both your timeline and the universal timeline by both time and date of plurk.

3. You can search for other Plurkers by using the search box within the timeline or clicking on "Interesting Plurkers" which brings you to a list of users. Click on a user's screen name link to bring you to that user's profile. Click the Follow button under FANS to follow their plurks. Just as you follow another user, other users can “follow” you. You will see how many followers you have and who you are following either by viewing individual profile icons on your page, or by clicking the links in the top right of your own page. You may also choose to unfollow a user or block users from following you. You can also add another Plurker as a friend by clicking on Add as friend. The user will need to allow you as a friend before you can become their friend, just as you will have to allow a plurker to be your friend.

4. Link users to your Plurks. You can link users on your site to your Plurks by adding the link provided in your profile to your website. This link invites users to join Plurk and view your timeline.

5. Follow and Friend fellow Plurkers to build your network Follow other Plurkers who share your interests. This is a great way to build your own clientele list, as users who follow another user who is following you may see your plurks and decide to follow you and subsequently visit your site.

6. No one likes to be spammed. Do not SPAM your followers or they will quickly unfollow you. Only post relevant plurks about your site. Do not send a plurk every few hours talking about your site. Update your status when you have something new to share or need to generate an interest.

7. Link your plurks to your Facebook, Twitter, Friendster and Multiply accounts by clicking on My Account > Plurk to Other Networks. Enter in your account information and each Plurk you send will automatically be broadcast to your status on each site.

* Follow other users who share your interests, it will lead to others following you

* Post a plurk whenever you update your site and link to the update on your site.

* Add a link to your website to let others know they can follow you.

! Do not SPAM on Plurk, it will get others to unfollow you and may lead to your being banned on Plurk.