Tuesday, March 11, 2008

5 Questions about Digg dynamics

The big news on Digg several weeks ago revolved around the fact that algorithm changed. Whether this was due to people finding out the original algorithm or simply for Digg to ensure that actual user-driven and approved content was hitting the main page is completely up to whoever is speculating.

Over the past weekend, I was watching stories in Upcoming events (pretty lame I know but I was recovering from a nasty cold) as well as checking which stories made it to the Digg Recently Popular (main) page. Of course, the ones with the highest hit count made the page and those with low hit counts ( mine included) traveled into Digg oblivion and later to the back end of some 31,000,000+ hit Google search. (Try Lindsey Lohan)

While making this observation, I also noticed that there were a ton of stories hitting the Digg main page that had never once touched the Upcoming page. Stories from the major news sites, big-hit blogs and the like were flying up the charts.

These stories were getting 1000+ hit counts and they had never once touched the Upcoming page!

5 Questions:

How is this possible?

Why are sites that already getting millions of hit in a day from the sole fact that they are not only running a professionally maintained site but they also have televised news?

Why are sites like MSNBC, CNN, Fox News (this should never make the main page unless it's completely ludicrous!) implementing Digg into their websites?

Have minor bloggers such as myself made that much of impact that we are now trying to be blocked out by the giants?

Is what we say as influential and quality as what they say?
____________________________________________________________________

I'm viewing this as inspirational and something to keep me blogging. News sites feel like they losing a battle that never really was meant to happen. The stories that are climbing through Upcoming page and bringing in hits the "real" way are earning my respect. I have been made friends with a lot of these Diggers and I Digg them!

To my Digg friends: I will Digg you to the top if your material is good! You are all the reason why Digg was started! You have earned my respect and I will Digg you to the end!

To the network news sites: Is it really necessary to infiltrate Digg to boost your "all knowing egos?" I enjoy what you have to write and I read it on your sites. I don't need to read it on Digg as well!

To the major blogs: I'm not criticizing you in the least. You have worked you @sses off and you have reached a level that every blogger wishes to reach. Keep up the great work and, again, I'll Digg you to the end!

To all other Digg submitters: Digg original material. Don't copy crap and call it your own. I don't need to hear from Joe Blow in Peidmont, ND that Apple released SDK when it's been on every major news site, tech site and reputable blogger for the past 4 hours.

Be Creative!

Have a great day!

22 comments:

dan said...

You mentioned you have dropbox invites on a recent lifehacker post. I've been searching for the past few weeks and would love to get one.

I didn't see a way to contact you through your blog other than comments.

Thanks in advance!

mail1@hersam.com

dan said...

Thanks Chris! I owe you one.

Anonymous said...

Hi, I read on lifehacker you had a few dropbox beta's available? wondered if there were any left, would love to try it.

Thanks.

taylorbl@gmail.com

nice blog btw, like the hacker post

Unknown said...

Sounds like the major news outlets have a backdoor into the Digg front pages. Makes me wonder if this is how Kevin's revenue model is going to work.

And since everyone else is blasting you for dropbox invites I'll include my own here: please?
(cuddigan at that google email place)

craigashby said...

hello chris

i am also fishing for the dropbox invite.

nice article about digg dynamics btw.

thanks in advance.

craigashby via gmail

Peter Shoemaker said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Marty said...

If you have any dropbox invites left, I would appreciate one.

Thanks.

mjburian
at
gmail
dot
com

Peter Shoemaker said...

And...of course...an email address would've helped...

So much for being the net's only close reader...Chris, I'd love a dropbox invite if you've got anymore hanging about.

Either way, I've discovered something new to read, so thanks for that.

Cheers!

peter [dot] shoemaker [at] gmail [dot] com

Anonymous said...

I'm coming from LH also. Can you please please pretty please hook me up with a beta code for Dropbox?

Thanks

email: connandoyles@yahoo.com

ARD said...

Hey there, if you've still got some dropbox invites I'd love one! amyrose
at gmail.com
Cheers!

Anonymous said...

Hi. Just another reader trying to get another dropbox invite, should you have any remaining.

viscouse at gmail.com

Haiku de Grace said...

Of course I'm here via LH after a Dropbox invite too. But I'm glad I came. Cool blog! I'll stay tuned.

jtmoffatt
at
gmail
dot com.

Haiku de Grace said...

Of course I'm here via LH looking for a Dropbox invite as well, but I'm glad I came. Cool blog! I'l stay tuned. Thanks in advance.

jtmoffatt at
gmail dot com

slugdoug said...

If you, by chance, have any additional dropbox invites, I would appreciate one. Thanks.

bulldoggy@gmail.com

Brandon said...

Like everyone else, A dropbox invite if you have it beeson.brandon at gmail dot com.

Anonymous said...

And yet another request for the dropbox invite.....no hurry. Seems you are deluged with requests. I do greatly appreciate it.

claytorlee@hotmail.com

Bill said...

I would love to have a dropbox invite.

Thanks.

bill.tor.2000@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

hello chris

i am also fishing for the dropbox invite.

thanks in advance.

hunter@barringtonweb.com

Unknown said...

Hello,

I'd like to add myself to the list of users wanting a dropbox invite please.

Thanks,

Stoneclan@hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

Interesting posts, I'm adding you to my daily list! Oh, and do you have invites left for dropbox?

slapointe AT gmail.com

Thanks in advance!

Lesley said...

They've all gone, those invites, right?
Just in case - it's lesleygrah@gmai ... and you know the rest.

Anonymous said...

ok...so I stopped by to ask for an invite to drop box, but ended up sticking around and reading your blog. Decent if I do say so. Keep it up. I have subscribed to your blog.....

gillespie.dylan@....that gmail place