Other internet users can access your bookmarks and see your favorite sites, allowing for information to flow more freely. Depending on the social bookmarking site, you can make your bookmarks 'private' or only allow them to be viewed within a particular community, group or certain individuals, or 'public' so that the entire world can see them. This is why it is 'social' bookmarking. Within these communities, links are shared, and you are able to find the best of the web a lot easier and quicker than a conventional search engine might produce for you.

What is tagging, exactly?

Tagging is a one word, user-oriented category system, that you use to organize your bookmarks and file your favorite sites under. It is different to a folder system, in that you can create whatever tag you like. It doesn't need to go into a particular category that may not fit the description well.

In other words, it is highly personalized. Social bookmark sites make it easy for you to tag a link - you simply click on the 'bookmark' icon and type in your tag name. The site then places each website under the appropriate tags that you have created before, or creates a new one for you. You can easily sort out tags on your profile page. Each link that you bookmark can have as many tags as you want, and you can rename, delete, or move the links around afterwards.

Why is Social Bookmarking so Convenient and Useful?

1)Social Bookmarks (unlike your favorites or bookmarks stored on your computer) can be accessed from anywhere in the world and from any computer. Simply just sign in to your account.

2)You can keep an extensive and personalized list of absolutely everything on the web that you think is worth bookmarking - blogs, articles, recipe's, safari and holiday destinations, music etc.

3)You can share your favorite links with friends, a community, or to the entire world wide web.

4)You find the best the web has to offer through people, quickly and conveniently, not through a computer or search engine algorithm. This is because you have access to others' bookmarks.You're also assured that the content of these links is relevant to what you want, because the tags line up to your categorical system. Instead of having to change your search string (like on a conventional search engine) you only need to click on tags.

5)You can get involved in communities that have similar interests to you quickly and easily.

6)Social bookmarking is becoming increasingly popular, and is therefore an excellent tool to promote your website and other sites that relate to yours, especially since sites are rated by humans (not computers) and the top rated sites get a better ranking on the social bookmarking site.

Social bookmarking is fast becoming a major alternative to using traditional search engines, because of the advantages mentioned above. Whatever you're looking for - podcasts, articles, research, the best vacation spots, wishlists - social bookmarking allows you to discuss and share topics and links easily.