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?
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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!

Did you read that article about...Reddit!

This week, I've had a lot of focus on the blogging world and the exposure that so many of us want! I think it's a good idea to keep up with that theme for at least another entry.

Yesterday, I talked about the great, FREE service called BlogRush. Easy exposure through every blogger that has installed that particular widget on their website. You get to see what other sites might be interesting while you visit your favorites.

Today, I'm going into a little web service called Reddit. This particular site is basically a Digg.com but it seems to be a growing website! I've installed the widget on the right hand side (The little white box with a number and an alien-esque creature) and because of that, my hits has honestly doubled in the past 3 days!

It's UNBELIEVABLE! You post a blog entry, submit it to Reddit and watch the hits roll in.

Now granted, this isn't necessarily a good thing if the users don't really even read your blog but this does increase your chances of finding people who enjoy your content and what you have to offer in the huge world of the Web.

I suggest you try it and watch your readers level fly high! I could be wrong, but I doubt it! PROVE ME WRONG!

Link up, subscribe, Digg me, Reddit me, post a comment and enjoy!

Have a great day!

Confusion of Feedburner

As I've been getting back into my blog and working to develop strong posts that spark some interest, I've noticed something that had me baffled but not has me delighted about a service I used called FeedBurner.

FeedBurner is an RSS service provided that is really the whole package of everything that a blogger could ask for. I can see how many subscribers I have. How many readers each day. What the most popular blogs. What RSS services everyone uses and what the top clicks in and out of the blog are.

This service is just AWESOME!

My concern at the start extended from the fact that I found that quite a few of the subscribers are actually search bots for most of the major RSS blog sites such Feedster, Google, Yahoo, Bloggster, Blo.gs, Technorati and FeedBurner itself. I thought this was something of concern because I didn't have actual people reading my blog, but rather a bunch of bots that scan the Web for updates in blogs and then posts them in their central webpage.

Then I realized that this was great because now my blog is getting posted on ten other sites with no work at all. All I have to do is work on strong titles for my posts, have a solid content within the body and make sure my keywords stand out well.

Because I've done that, I've watched my hits climb to 20 hits a day and my subscribers grow even further! It's great! I love it!

Thank you FeedBurner! You are a great service and I can't thank you enough for the amazing product you have published!

Let's keep the momentum going: if you like my blog, subscribe, link up, leave comments and just read.

Thanks and have a great day!

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