http://www.webupon.com/tags/newcomer New posts about newcomer http://www.webupon.com/Social-Networks/The-Digg-Newcomers-Guide-How-to-Get-a-Foot-in-the-Door.121605 I am not a top Digger, nor am I considered one of the important pushers on Digg, but after several trials and tests, failures and successes, and my first front page appearance, I've come to realise that a number of factors influence how well the newcomer does on Digg.

1. Look Out for the Kind of Material that Does Well on Digg

   This does not mean that yours will do fantastically well, but you stand a better chance with world news, cutting edge scientific research, and bizarre pictures than poetry or short stories (especially those from blogs). Articles that do well on Digg are those that leave a certain taste in your mouth. They trapeze carelessly on that thin line between confidence and arrogance (so for my constant readers, if you notice a bit of arrogance in this article, you'll understand that it's not the usual climate I bring to my work), are quick and seem to fire the information towards you in an almost now-you-see-me-now-you-don't sort of routine. Keep in mind that while Digg has a variety of users, the majority are young adult males who are interested in girls and gaming.

2. Do Not Submit Your Own Material

   No matter how good you think they are, don't submit things which are clearly yours. Emphasis on "clearly." Why? The simple answer is that they get buried. Wait, and if they are as good as you think they are, they may get picked up by someone with a bit of weight on Digg, alternatively, get friends on other writing forums who are also on Digg, to submit them for you.

3. Don't Be in Awe of Top Diggers

   They are just normal people like you and me. One day, 3 years ago, they stood alone, outside with the chaff and tumbleweed, a place reserved for the poorly newcomer who's waiting for that illusive shot at the front page. If they submit a story that you do not like and it gets around to you, do not Digg it just for the sake of it. Stick to your principles, because wild Digging now will come back to gnaw you in the future. Let yourself be known for Digging articles that mean something to you. This way when you start to get noticed, people will trust the things you submit. They may not agree with them, but they will respect the fact that you do not deal in trash, and would be more likely to give you the vote.

4. Make Friends

   Don't crazily add hundreds of friends whose shouts you never Digg or whose submissions you never look at, because bit by bit people are going to "unfriend" you because of your poor performance, and it would be harder to win them back the second time. Sometimes older Diggers would add newcomers because they feel that they would be more inclined to Digg their material, due to the association of what is perceived to be "the higher power". However, if they take you off their lists, they won't put you back on.

5. Follow Top Diggers You Like

   Do not be a fool and blindly stalk top Diggers. If you really like their material, Digg their submissions, if you've got a genuine comment to make on their material, do so, but do not lap up the scent of their trail just because they are popular.
   
   After a while, if you are genuinely enjoying they things they like, they will notice and add you, not as a pet pup but as an equal in their field of favourites. If you prefer science and technology maheshee11 and supernova17 are great to follow, as they take pleasure in this specialty. If your interests lie in world news and interesting technological advancements adrian67 is a perfect person to Digg. If space news and development are your craving (I adore space pictures) vroom101 knows just where to find them. If you fancy a bit of everything including politics, technology and general articles you should watch msaleem . Then there is suxmonkey who submits general web content with a fierce line of humour and offbeat stuff running right through his content. openthink is liberal with his submission of pictures and has a keen interest in odd things and interesting lists.

6. Look for Websites that Make the Front Page Frequently

   Your poetry may be classy, but it will not do well on Digg. Someone will Digg a hole and bury it in a shallow grave as soon as it appears on the Upcoming page. Go through the items on the front page and look for the source of these materials. Add them to your favourites and select a few stories from these sites when Digging. Keep in mind that while Digg has an algorithm, they are still biased in who they choose (and do not choose). Yours may not do as well as MrBabyman or Zaibatsu, but it will peak enough interest to get you noticed.

7. Pay Attention When Submitting

   No, not to bury other articles like yours. I've never done this, although I know that it is done frequently. Look at how many Diggs other stories like yours are getting and maybe reconsider if you really want to submit that article. If the others like it aren't doing well, what makes yours special? You may even want to change the name, or add a descriptive summary.
   
   When you get going, choose carefully when you submit. Tons of submissions only annoy your friends when they're Digging, if they've got a choice either to Digg your 20 subs or 5 substantial, interesting stories from other submitters, they would be more likely to look at their rare gems and read them, rather than at the abundance of bescumber (if you don't know the meaning of this word, you should really look up it up) you've unleashed on the pages of Digg.

8. Spend Time on Digg

   I couldn't be one of the top Diggers because even though I know all of this now, I do not spend enough time on Digg (which is why I'm handing over this information. What? Did you think I was just being kind?). I am very busy, and I really do not want to spend my computer time (which I use for researching and writing) on Digg. If you're willing to spend more time than I do, wake up early before Adrian and sungoddess808 (who's already making a super impressive mark, having only joined up this year) and you'll do just fine. In a matter of months you'll be the guy/girl every one wants to befriend.

9. Digg

   I was told by one of the more popular Diggers to go through my list of friends constantly and remove the inactive ones. This makes perfect sense. If you have been inactive for the past 3 weeks, you're only taking up valuable space on people's list of friends, where you certainly have no right to be.

10. Don't Bombard Friends with Shouts

    Not only could you be banned for spamming, you could be totally ignored by all. I had a request of friendship from someone I wasn't sure of (I looked at his profile and noticed that he was submitting a lot more than he was Digging while sending a lot of shouts) I stupidly befriended him anyway and he started to send me 20 (literally) shouts every day, even after I asked him to limit them to one a day (I ask all of my friends to, but don't mind if now and then they send me more). I found myself dreading opening my inbox. When I checked his profile, I discovered that he was sending these shouts to hundreds of other people as well. A few days later, when I tried to send him yet another shout to explain that he was not my only friend, and that I had incoming shouts from different people - Lo and behold his page no longer existed.
    
    Once you learn to use Digg, you will see that if you go to "Friends activities" page and choose the "submissions" options that you would find a list of all the submissions your friends have made that day. There are also the options of seeing what they have dugg and the favourites they have chosen. Once you get going on Digg, you may find that you only need to send a shout or two every other day. It's easier for everyone that way.

11. Take Time to Personalise

    Make it your duty to at least give the impression that you care. Put up a picture on your profile, (it doesn't have to be a mug shot) and say something about yourself no matter how short. It helps people to identify with you and the material you're submitting if they know something about the person. I have a fantastic group of real life friends so I used to scoff at the idea of on-line friends, dismissing the people who had them as sad losers. However, this was before I joined Triond and Digg. I've made contact with some people with whom I feel a real connection. Now, "on-line friends" is not such a strange concept at all.

12. Keep Submitting

    Yup. However, keep your noggin crisply focused on the fact that us Digg users are not heroes, just players in the game, and that the Digg site is not your work place, it's just a ballpark you obsessively visit because a tiny bit of you could be the OCD freak your mother warned you about, who would do anything for a challenge. And remember not to spam Digg with any particular site.

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