If you’ve ever considered adding social sharing buttons to your website, you might want to think again. While they seem like a good idea at first glance, they can do more harm than good. Here are five compelling reasons to reconsider their inclusion.
Table of Contents
- 1. Almost Nobody Clicks on Them
- 2. People Know How to Share
- 3. They Distract from Your Main CTA
- 4. They Slow Down Your Site
- 5. Instagram Doesn’t Even Have a Sharing Button
- Conclusion
- FAQ
1. Almost Nobody Clicks on Them
Research shows that a staggering 99.8% of mobile visitors completely ignore social sharing buttons. This means that for the vast majority of your audience, these buttons are just taking up space without adding any real value. Instead of relying on these buttons, focus on creating high-quality content that encourages organic sharing.
2. People Know How to Share
If visitors love your content, they will find a way to share it on their own. They don’t need a button to remind them. Most users are familiar with sharing links directly from their browsers. This method feels more natural and personal, which can lead to more meaningful shares.
3. They Distract from Your Main CTA
Your primary goal should be to guide users toward taking action on your site, whether that’s filling out a form, signing up for a newsletter, or making a purchase. Social sharing buttons can distract users from these actions, leading to lower conversion rates. Keep the focus on your call-to-action (CTA) and eliminate distractions that might divert attention.
4. They Slow Down Your Site
Including social sharing buttons injects unnecessary code into your website. This can significantly slow down loading times, which is a crucial factor for both user experience and SEO. Google prioritizes fast-loading sites, so by adding these buttons, you could inadvertently harm your website’s performance in search rankings.
5. Instagram Doesn’t Even Have a Sharing Button
Interestingly, Instagram, one of the most popular social media platforms, doesn’t even have a social sharing button. This suggests that the platform itself values user experience and engagement over the mere presence of sharing buttons. If the best don’t use them, why should you?
Conclusion
While social sharing buttons might seem like a standard feature for many websites, they often do more harm than good. With such a high percentage of users ignoring them, and the potential for distracting from your main goals, it’s worth considering their removal. Focus on creating engaging content and a streamlined user experience instead.
FAQ
Are there any benefits to having social sharing buttons?
Some argue that social sharing buttons can increase visibility on social platforms. However, the evidence shows that most users do not engage with these buttons, making their effectiveness questionable.
How can I share my content without social sharing buttons?
Encourage visitors to share your content directly from their browsers or use links in your content that lead to your social media profiles. Engaging content will naturally encourage sharing.
What can I do to improve my website’s speed?
Focus on optimizing images, minimizing code, and reducing the number of plugins used. Regularly check your website’s performance using tools like Google PageSpeed Insights.
Where can I find more information on website performance?
For more insights on website optimization, check out our related articles on website maintenance and website redesign goals.