Josh Klein Web Strategy - Latest Comments in Marketers: Stay Away From Digg

Re: Marketers: Stay Away From Digg

joshklein — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 01:07:58 -0000

I agree Matt, and this is something we both should know a thing or two about since we send stuff directly to each other via StumbleUpon all the time. I'm pretty sure that's how I know you :)

At some point I'll need to talk about StumbleUpon at length, but I agree that it is totally different than Digg -- and there is a place there for marketers specifically because of how the site works and people behave. Thanks for bringing it up!

Re: Marketers: Stay Away From Digg

@ZaggedEdge — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 17:24:38 -0000

Josh, I think you are right on here. Trying to drive traffic by digging and shouting your stuff really doesn't do it for me. Sending stuff to people on StumbleUpon who you know will be interested is a totally different deal. SU is really a social thing, people meet on their and get married. Digg really just is a place where crazy stories get to the top--plus it's controlled by all the same "top diggers" anyway.
--Matt Wilson

Re: Marketers: Stay Away From Digg

joshklein — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 17:56:42 -0000

I really think it is *marketers* who need to steer clear of Digg, not users in general. You're right that Digg can be a useful networking tool, though I'm not convinced it's as useful as if you spent your time networking through LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, or perhaps after work drinks :)

I won't deny that some people I know have had a lot of success on Digg (you sound like one of them!) -- but I don't think that justifies a new user trying to build up a profile on the site for marketing purposes. The ROI just isn't there (and if you don't care about ROI, you're not marketing ... so go ahead and enjoy the site)!

Really appreciate your insightful comment, thanks.

Re: Marketers: Stay Away From Digg

Mike Witt — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 17:19:37 -0000

Hi Josh,

You have a very interesting view of Digg and I agree that at times, the types of things posted and promoted can be a little out in left field, confusing folks as to the benefit of what Digg could really bring.

As a person who uses Digg fairly frequently, I would have to say that some of my best connections, visitors, and customers have come from Digg. It's the value in your submission that can generate the right traffic. Sometimes a Digg can show up on Google's first page for the right keywords you target, driving traffic to your submission and ultimately to your site.

It also depends on the Mutual Friends you have created. There are many pockets of people who use Digg for the right reasons, once you connect with them, they become loyal followers and will begin to share your stuff through other methods as well, furthering the branding process.

One other key point is a person's profile. I can't tell you how many hits I get to the links in my profile, many who turn into the right prospect for my business.

I agree with several of your points, but for me, the Front Page is not the intent, it's finding those folks who use Digg for things other than that, people looking to build a true connection, sharing and responding to content that provides value.

I appreciate your post, there is a lot of merit in your comments.

Mike Witt

Re: Marketers: Stay Away From Digg

joshklein — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 14:50:23 -0000

Do you know what you were banned for?

Re: Marketers: Stay Away From Digg

raythemoneyman — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 14:40:06 -0000

True, true, true......from a banned digger. And I followed all the rules.

Re: Marketers: Stay Away From Digg

joshklein — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 13:23:00 -0000

Glad you agree, and thanks for stopping by. I just think the "gaming the system" is a funny thing to do, given how self-defeating it is!

Re: Marketers: Stay Away From Digg

joshklein — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 13:20:48 -0000

Ha, thanks :)

My experience with Twitter is a bit different, as I keep (what I like to think is) a good signal to noise ratio. I'm not in it for the number of followers or the number of times I can drop a link to my blog, but as a "broadcast instant messenger" that just happens to also be public.

Re: Marketers: Stay Away From Digg

joshklein — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 13:15:10 -0000

You know Jon, the SEO perspective of a front-page Digg is something relatively new to me. I'm glad you bring it up, because I just recently was discussing the very same point with someone else. Do you have a personal story you can share about your own SEO boost from Digg? I'm curious if I'll need to rethink my extremely anti-Digg position :)

Re: Marketers: Stay Away From Digg

Jon Henshaw — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 08:43:54 -0000

Excellent points. In my opinion, Digg is great for dofollow links and traffic for building inbound links (assuming the content is compelling enough to bookmark and/or blog about). Otherwise, it's mainly noise without much chance of driving targeted traffic or creating conversions.

Re: Marketers: Stay Away From Digg

Codrut Turcanu Blog for Profit — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 07:02:49 -0000

Yeah, you're right, I've tried Digg before and the bounce rate is pretty high, similar to Twitter one...

You've exposed the truth... congratulations!

Re: Marketers: Stay Away From Digg

Ben A — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 01:50:57 -0000

Hi Josh

Couldn't agree more. Too many people trying to game the system and not focusing on attracting a worthwhile audience.

Cheers