Comments on: …What you can Do on Digg

By: Jenn Sierra

Jenn Sierra — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 13:08:28 +0000

Excellent information, Thomas…thank you so much!

By: Thomas Keeley

Thomas Keeley — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 01:42:00 +0000

Great post!

Digg can definitely be a great tool for sharing political opinion, but if you’ve used digg, it is quite easy to notice that there is a bias towards groups like ThinkProgress.org (see Digg user MakiMaki for examples).

Another great way to help your story get popular is by sharing your post beyond the confines of the digg website.

Many of the top digg users have links to various screen names and other networks that they use, build relationships with these people. Even if they don’t agree with you, they love to talk to new people.

In terms of story submissions, this is where it seems that most conservative bloggers get in trouble. The best way to do (IMHO) is to submit 4 outside stories for everyone 1 story you submit from your site.

Otherwise, you run the risk of being a flagged user. However, you usually don’t know that you’re a flagged user. But, if you submit stories that get 300 diggs in 12 hours and don’t become popular, odds are you’re a flagged user.

Also, remember, Digg tracks IP addresses (proof:http://digg.com/iptest), so try and switch up the locations you submit from.

Great post though!

By: Jenn Sierra

Jenn Sierra — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 20:25:56 +0000

Barb…that’s a good question. There are reasons to friend and fan people. It’s good to build a network on Digg. The purpose of becoming a “fan” of someone is so that you can follow what they’re posting, digging, commenting on, etc.. This can be done for digging or burying purposes. The purpose of adding someone as a friend is so that you can occassionally exchange “shouts” and bring certain stories to the attention of your friends.

But, overuse of either of these stategies is counter-productive, because of the algorithm.

By: Jenn Sierra

Jenn Sierra — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 20:22:20 +0000

Thanks, guys, for your kind words. I’m hoping folks will be able to avoid some of the mistakes I made on Digg in the beginning, and will have a more positive experience there.

By: Faultline USA

Faultline USA — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 20:21:50 +0000

Wow! How interesting. Guess I had better take note of #1 and #2!!! However, if Digg has this kind of anti-friend algorithm, what would be the point in friending a fan??? Now if you bury a story, doesn’t that just bury it on your own page, or does it lower it’s count???

By: Ron

Ron — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:49:18 +0000

That was some excellent advise Jenn! I learned some things.

By: Buffoon

Buffoon — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:02:07 +0000

You know I was just thinking about this stuff this morning. I have become a burying and digging fool, but I may need to refer to your number one and re-vamp myself….

Good Newsletter, I’m more smarter now…