Diggbar View Counts Are Back (sort of)
As Digg works to perfect its service and enhance one of it’s latest features, the Diggbar, they have re-added a nice component that was taken down shortly after launch: view counts.
Well, they’ve sort of brought it back. Looks like it’s still in beta or development or something because as of right now, the counts are way off.
The Best Digg Tools, Reality Edition
One of the best parts about my job is that I get to talk to a lot of the top users over at Digg. This is important because the Digg algorithm is always in a constant state of tweak (a statement that can be construed properly several different ways). It changes as fast as, if not faster than, Google and other search engines. Two questions always pop up with either me asking top users or other users asking me:
“What does it take to get to the front page?”
The answer has two parts: time and tools. We can go into the time issue later, but for now, let’s assume that you have the time. The second question is:
“What are the right tools?”
There are dozens of lists of Digg tools out there. Most of them are nice and quaint, but do top users really use them. Normally, no. Here are the tools that they do use. Some are obviously loose interpretations of the word “tools” but anything that helps to achieve the goal of hitting the front page often should be listed. Read more
46% of the Digg Front Page is Controlled by 50 Websites
Recent changes and restrictions made by Digg.com to encourage diversity in the range of users whose submissions reach the front page have had 2 profound results. Newer and less active users have seen their stories reach the front page, but the sources that are able to hit the front page have tightened.
Despite tens of thousands of submissions every week, the last seven days have shown that 46.6% of the Digg front page comes from 50 websites, according to data accumulated on di66.net.
Does Digg have a New Sponsor?
Kevin Rose wouldn’t stoop to promoting a product through a Digg submission. The camera itself is exceptionally cool and tech-news-worthy in itself.
Still, you have to wonder.
UPDATE: Some have IM’d me saying that Canon isn’t a sponsor. I know. This was a spoof. I apologize for not making it clear.
The 7 Most Hated and Loved Sources for Digg
It is well known that some sites do better than others on Digg. Whether it is because of their current base of readers helping to propel their stories to the front page or simply because the submitters who hit the sites are generally strong, some sites will hit the front page often. Some of them hit almost every time.
Here are some of these sites that get plenty of “Digg love” but that are also hated by many.
Cracked
They are considered as one of the funniest, raunchiest humor sites on the web. With a winning format of 1 story and 1 video refreshing daily, submissions by strong Diggers are as close as it comes to a “sure thing” for hitting the front page.
Why We Love Cracked
Frankly, they stories and videos are pretty darn funny. They are also a relatively easy submit - anyone who knows the basic times that the stories refresh has a great opportunity to land a “front page winner” because the stories and videos are posted at low-traffic times.
Why We Hate Cracked
It hits the front page. A lot. Many of the stories and headlines are definitely geared towards adults, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but they often tend to be politically incorrect at times. While most Diggers are okay with this, some take great offense to the constant use of words like “retarded”.
The format is predictable and sometimes, the stories, while always fresh, seem to have similar themes to previous ones. Thus is the way of comedy. Fresh material is hard to find, but Cracked seems to do it as well as anyone. Read more
Digg Related Stories: Coming? CONFIRMED
(UPDATE: here is the comment from a Digg programmer. It was deleted from the post, but Yahoo cache caught it. Here’s the screenshot with all the details)
A reliable source tells me that Digg is finally putting out their related stories interface that will list stories that cover the same topics as the ones discussed in each submission.
Does Digg have an Autobury? Show Me the Proof!
A year ago, our sister website Social News Watch launched. It was brought into this virtual world with the love and care associated with passion. Its topic: social media. Its authors: social media users. Its goal: talk about social media.
The initial success was amazing. The 14th story posted to it hit the front page of Digg. Shortly after that, another hit. And another. In a 4 week period during November and December 2007 it hit the front page of Digg 8 times.
Since then, it has never hit. Read more
Finding the Value in Mixx
With the recent happenings at Digg and the apparent rise of Mixx, it would seem that the balance of power in social media is shifting. The question is: why do Mixx front page stories still not drive any traffic?
With huge gains in all of the traffic reports, it would seem that Mixx would be at the very least close to Reddit’s ability to drive thousands of visitors to a website from the front page. As recently as last week, we tested a story that hit the front page of Mixx to see if it was finally there in the way that it sends traffic.
It’s not. Read more
A Newcomer’s Take on Digg
This is an EXCELLENT Guest Post by Kathryn Smith, proudly posted to Soshable
Yes, that’s right—I’m admitting up front that I’m a dreaded “noob”. I have neither a blog nor a website, and I’ll freely confess to being pretty much in the dark about most technology and the thing that is Web 2.0. (Or, to paraphrase a popular ad campaign, I’m a 43-year old female PC.)
However, since I didn’t wish to maintain my uninformed, ignoramus status, I decided to join Digg on July 31, 2008. At first, I thought the site was a great idea; so, I fumbled around a bit, trying to learn how the site worked. I tried to make friends on my own, but my requests were rarely accepted. One of the first comments I made in a thread, a simple compliment on the topic, was replied to with, “I checked your profile. Buried for your face, faggot. STFU, noob.”
Needless to say, this didn’t endear me to the site. I almost left within the first few days of joining. I was also greeted on some comment threads with, “Don’t digg this, it’s old as hell.” Well, as a new member, I hadn’t seen it. Read more
Is Digg Really that Scary? Apparently So.
When a group of us first started discussing the idea of having a mass blog campaign where Digg users would speak their mind about recent happenings at the top social media site, we considered many things. We didn’t want the posts to be guided — the bloggers’ own opinions were what mattered, not any agenda that we might have. We wanted to keep it open and free, and most of all, honest.
Tons of bloggers and non-bloggers alike have responded, sending me emails about how they really like the idea and want to contribute. That part was expected. The part that wasn’t expected has become very apparent and alarming.
Bloggers. Fear. Digg. Read more
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