How to Use StumbleUpon

StumbleUpon is a tool that offers you Web site recommendations based on your preferences and reviews, or recommendations from people who have similar interests. It helps you connect with other people who have similar interests, it saves time browsing through search engine results, and it introduces you to sites you may not have otherwise found.

Here’s how to use it:

Step 1. Head to the Web site, www.stumbleupon.com, and click “Join Now”.

Step 2. They’ll ask for your email, your user name, your birthday, gender, and a few options for you to check or uncheck.

Step 3. Choose which web browser you want to add it to. It will be added to your toolbar. If you’re using Internet Explorer when you visit StumbleUpon, it will assume that’s the toolbar you want to add it to. If you have both browsers installed on your computer, choose join StumbleUpon in the browser you plan to use it with. For example, if you use Firefox 90% of the time, then you may want to join StumbleUpon in Firefox and it will be added to that toolbar.

Step 4. Click “Install Now”.

Step 5. Restart your browser to get the program up and running.

Step 6. Check your email. You should have a welcome message from StumbleUpon, complete with a password and directions to get started. Now you can update and set your preferences.

Step 7. And, now you can start stumbling. Click on the icon in your toolbar to get started. On your toolbar you’ll see such things as stumble images, stumble videos, stumble news etc. You’ll also see a “thumbs up” or a “thumbs down” icon to rate the site. They do ask that you rate what you see in order to provide value to other stumblers.

Simply click on the icon of your choice, and get stumbling. It’s fun. Enjoy!