Additional Widgets?

[J2icharcI]

What WordPress Widgets will help my blog Hedge Against Speculation increase traffic? As you can see I have Entrecard, Technorati, RSS and Blogupp right now. I see a lot of sites have widgets at the end of each post where people can Stumbleupon, etc. Are these actually helpful in boosting traffic?

[jshaffstall]

In general, any way that you allow your current readers to share your posts with others will help your traffic. There's also the distinction between quality traffic (traffic that does something you want them to do), and junk traffic (traffic that is there for the benefit of the widget, and they don't do whatever other action you want them to do).

For example, on my blog, StumbleUpon traffic is junk. For other blogs, it works to boost RSS readership. You just have to experiment and see what works well.

Jay

[J2icharcI]

Oh ok great, I put this "Share This" link under all my posts, you think this will help a bit?

[jshaffstall]

It can't hurt.

I'm not sure where your traffic is right now...if it's low, then making quality comments on other blogs in your niche is a way of attracting some good readers.

Making posts of a regular schedule, making sure your blog is optimized for SEO, doing some keyword research before posting, are other ways to attract traffic from search engines.

Jay

[intadviser]

Widgets might be good as support in bringing extra-traffic, but quality posting and interacting with other bloggers, as jshaffstall is writing, should be in the core of blogging.

If there's spare space on blog, then I see no reason why not use them. As long as they integrate organically with the blog, and bring some free traffic, they do no bad.

Blogupp adds extra-visibility by giving credits for each visitor and is very simple. Some widgets give credits by visiting other blogs, like entercard does. Blogrush includes an affiliate scheme. Each of them have their pros, and the blogger itself should decide which one the best matches its need.

[Bloggeries]

Definitely add a share this and I'd also try and add your fav social media site with a larger button to encourage submission if they approve and are members.

Apart from that look for a need that has to be satisfied within your current blog than find appropriate widget if a widget is what you need