Tell-a-Friend is at first glance just like other Bookmark and social link sharing blog widgets around. such conclusion would come from the fact it is looks just like one and because it indeed is for link sharing. the difference is its current focus. they have direct communication approach instead of just indirect one. you can send a link to your IM contacts in masse as a online or offline message. send a e-mail to specific contacts. you can also do it for blogs, social networks. but that is done in a way that is more common of others link sharing. the other nice thing about this widget is that it launches a lightbox so your users never leave your blog while sharing the link.
Tell-a-Friend at this very moment is more of a companion to other services like addtoany or addthis. a good example is Tell-a-Friend own blog where they have put their widget along with the AddThis widget.
You can see that given the services and approaches they cover. you pretty much only need these two to enable your visitors to share the links. the widget also works and look very much alike to others so when you hover it will show you the options.
Unlike with other services. they have opted for a all in one place space without tabs. but that show the categorization of services you can use. once you choose a option, a lightbox loads and then shows you the services in tabs. and proceeds to let you send the link using the service of your choice, to the contacts you have chosen. all without you leaving the page you saw the link in.
Very simple and well executed. right now you will need to use in tandem with a social bookmarking link sharing widget as a way to cover all the options possible. but if tell-a-friend ramps up the number of supported services and offer analytics. they could easily compete with ShareThis as a viable second option to it. recommended.
via TC
