Gaining Popularity on Digg
November 8, 2007 3:35 pm Social Media
Last week, I ran across a post written by Marty Weintraub at aimClear. He categorized the social news site users as “rock stars” and “little people.” Each abides by a different set of rules and online etiquette. Experienced diggers complain about the shouts, emails and Instant Messages they receive from newbies requesting a vote. Many blogs have surfaced discussing the monopolization of the front pages of social news sites by the rock stars. How many of those very people are participating in pushing their content to the top by leveraging their connections and popularity?
I admittedly fall under the “noob” category. I try to experiment, observe seasoned professionals, and study best practices on a daily basis in order to soak in all the information. Weintraub is on point; some of the “rock stars” don’t communicate with me unless they really need me to digg, stumble, or sphinn a post for them. Although I never vote on a post unless I have reviewed it, I am still adding traffic to their site and will give them the vote if the post is well-written and contains strong content.
I feel like the new kid in school. It’s daunting, fun, challenging and exciting. How do I make friends with the popular kids? Will I always be the awkward one trying to fit in or will I make it all the way to the “in” crowd? Those “rock stars” were just like me when they first started out in the space — nervous and brave all at the same time.
Just like with high school, there are competing interests. The popular kids are the elite. To maintain their popular status, they tend to be cliquish and exclusive. People don’t realize that if you help others to grow, your stardom can evolve as well. It is a mutually beneficial relationship. After all, “rock stars” will eventually get replaced by fresh and young talent… Wouldn’t you want the former “little people” to be your friends then?
November 10th, 2007 at 10:14 pm
Hello Reem. i admire your honesty. I also admire your search for information and knowledge.
The media business needs people like you. Keep at it. I’ll follow your progress with interest.
The Baldchemist
PS I’m not after traffic. Thats not the way my business works. So can’t help you there, we are a media/ad/ copy writing agency. DS
November 11th, 2007 at 9:02 pm
I’m easily accessible on Digg, and my fellow Digg Msaleem and I have always had an open door policy.
Our only problem is time, I get 250 - 400 shouts a day, but I still try to actually talk to people that just don’t send me a link, but actually want to talk.
We’re not all elitist and unapproachable.
November 11th, 2007 at 9:49 pm
Zaibatsu,
I really appreciate your feedback on my post.
I am fully aware that not all top diggers are elitist. It is very challenging to respond to all the shouts you receive. Newbies are increasingly learning that abusing the shout feature can cripple them in the future. Establishing online relationships becomes key when you are trying to grow in the social news space.
Can you tell us newbies what are the best ways to reach out to the “rock stars” without being ignored?
Reem
November 14th, 2007 at 11:54 am
Reem,
I really like your blog. I am also a “noob” and have had “rockstars” ask me for votes, and I agree it must be a cycle.
However- The “Rockstars” cant survive without the “little people” and vice versa.
It will soon be time for the Little people to move up in rank.
November 25th, 2007 at 4:09 am
Bravo for the article. You are following your business tactics perfectly and yes even the rockstars started someplace. But I would agree on with so many people conversing with them on these social medias it may be hard to respond. Just keep going in the route you are and … You will soon be that rockstar to. Great Article
Megan Vaillancourt
http://www.PassportMentors.com
December 3rd, 2007 at 3:50 pm
[...] and foremost, I wrote “Gaining Popularity on Digg” prematurely. The experience I had on Digg at that point was poor. I had limited knowledge of [...]
January 14th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
This High School metaphor is rubbish in my opinion. You do not naturally become popular on digg, you get to the top because of your attitude and the work you put in.
High school popular types are popular because their good looking, rich or sporty. It’s completely different.
I’ve spent over a year sweating away at the social media coal face and if anyone thinks they can jump the queue just by asking, well duh!
The problem is, not that top players in social media are unaproachable, it’s that a lot of people ask favors offering nothing in return, expecting it to be handed to them on a plate.
I constantly have people asking me to digg their stuff and it doesn’t seem to occur to them that they should digg mine first.
It’s no different to making friends offline. If you don’t know how to do that, well…..
January 14th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Lyndon,
Thanks for your honesty and I wholeheartedly agree with you. But please note that this post is quite old and I have written a retraction since. Please refer to this post: http://www.reemabeidoh.com/social-media/top-diggers-love-noobs
Reem
January 14th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
lol, I came by this post on Stumble and I never checked the date. Will check out the rest of your blog, btw if you ever need a digg…..