Pwned: The StumbleUpon Digg Experiment Initial Results

First, a disclaimer about this experiment and the analysis.

In retrospect, this experiment was flawed.  The subject matter and style of delivery was very clearly geared in favor of one of the combatants.  When it was initially conceived, it was decided that the experiment would best be delivered through a post that announced itself.  By checking traffic statistics on a post titled: “The StumbleUpon Digg Experiment”, there would be equal billing, equal exposure, and most importantly, equal chances through the delivery methods to give both sides a chance.

We were wrong. Read more

Please buy me a cup of coffee.

December 16, 2007 | Filed Under Social Internet, Social Marketing, Social News Sites, digg, social media, social media marketing, stumbleupon | 19 Comments 

The StumbleUpon Digg Experiment

DiggStumbleUpon(The initial results are in.  Read them at StumbleUpon vs Digg).

Bloggers and webmasters out there who watch their traffic as closely as we do have been amazed by the “Stumble Effect”.  Many know about the sudden burst of traffic that comes from the “Digg Effect” when a submission reaches the front page of Digg (or even better, if it reaches the “Top in All…” section on the frontpage).  This is normally a day of joy (or terror if your server bombs) followed by limited tricklings of traffic.

Stumble has a different, more steady infusion of traffic that it can send to a website that gets stumbled, especially if it is hit by multiple top users.  The effect is sustained, but more importantly, can be rejuvinated by a thumbs up and/or review by the right person/people.

Digg, on the other hand, has the advantage of having “controlled” traffic.  Anyone watching their posts as they’re submitted and rising on Digg can pinpoint if and approximately when their page will go popular.  You know when the traffic is coming and you know when it will stop. Read more

Please buy me a cup of coffee.

December 14, 2007 | Filed Under Social Internet, Social Marketing, digg, social media, social media marketing, stumbleupon | 58 Comments 

SEO Spammers: Leave Social Media Sites Alone!

Spam 2.0You’ve seen them before.  They create accounts that have either a gibberish name or “SEOSuperstud”.  No avatar, or one that is their company logo.  They might have lots of people befriended.  They may have none.

They always submit.  They never vote/Digg/upmod anyone else’s submissions.  Their submissions get 1 or fewer votes (unless they are a MASS - a Multi-Account-SEO-Spammer, in which case they will have more than one, but it will always be the same amount and always voted by the same “people”).

They submit stories or websites that nobody from social media visits or votes for, and they don’t care.  They are the social media SEO Spammers.  If nobody clicks on their link, no worries.  The only visit they care about is from Googlebots, and sadly (in some cases) Google will visit and take note of the website.

We wanted to make a video spoof on the “Leave Britney Alone” theme, but neither Chris Crocker nor Seth Green were available.  Instead, we’ll just put together a nice little rant about why Reddit, Propeller, Newsvine, Mixx, StumbleUpon, Sphinn, Digg, and the others are not communities tolerant of spammers.  More importantly, we’ll offer ways to combat the issue.  Read on. Read more

Please buy me a cup of coffee.

December 12, 2007 | Filed Under Social Internet, Social Marketing, Social Networking Sites, Social News Sites, digg, mixx, newsvine, propeller, reddit, social media, social media marketing, stumbleupon | 34 Comments 

« Previous Page