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StumbleUpon's paid stumbles program, allows you to specify a particular group or customer segment, and deliver content to their stumbles at a rate of just five cents per stumble. For websites that might benefit from StumbleUpon traffic, but might not necessarily make the thumbs-up cut, this service can be useful.

When using paid stumbles, the traditional rules of internet marketing apply, in terms of targeting and soliciting conversions. While at the same time, many of the tips on the Ten Tips page also apply, particularly Link Baiting. Keep in mind that the stumblers have no idea your stumbles have been bought. They merely appear just as any other stumble. So make it seem like something that could have shown up through traditional means.

The good news, though, is that you can focus more attention on conversions, rather than encouraging your visitors to click Thumbs-up. You should try to provide your users with an escape from their stumbling, into your arms either as a subscriber or a customer. How you accomplish this, is up to you.

Also, another thing to consider is that the stumblers who pay to use StumbleUpon (a significant proportion of the power stumblers) are not shown paid stumbles. This may affect your chances of transcending from paid stumbles to natural stumbles.