We are putting together a piece about social media superstars and what motivates them. Looking for opinions. Please leave your opinions or quotes in the comments of this story.
There are those who spend several hours every day on social media websites like Digg, Reddit, Propeller, Mixx, Sphinn, and StumbleUpon. These sites invariably get huge benefit by having these people, as they can themselves become part of the news. The question is, “What’s in it for them?”
Is it the fame and notoriety? Few use their real names as their profile name, so that COULD be it, but I tend to think it’s a small part.
Power? Most have heard of the Digg Effect, while a power Stumbler can have a huge effect on a website with a click of a button. Do they enjoy knowing that they’ve helped out a blog or website tremendously (or possibly killed their server) by sending thousands of people to their website? Perhaps.
Is it an earnest desire to spread quality content? Maybe they’re promoting an opinion, a trend, a product? Helping a candidate or a cause?
Maybe it’s just fun. As one top Digger who already answered the question for me noted, “Some people play Xbox 360.” He, on the other hand, shuts down servers. Hopefully, we’ll know soon enough.
The story itself will probably be posted here, but it may end up on my new blog (with nothing currently on it) at soshable.com. Either way, I’ll let you know. Please post your comments.
Visit some of the sites we recommend.
The issue has been building up for a few weeks now. It’s taboo, of course, to discuss Digg.com in a negative light, but there have been “closed-door” secret meetings amongst diggers recently. Via GTalk, it’s a hot topic among active diggers.
Digg.com is always a popular topic on blogs and tech news sites, but recently, it’s been the word of the day. Instead of posting links to dozens of stories, we’ve hand-picked and summarized some of the best ones over the last couple of weeks. Some are funny, some are sad, but no matter what, Digg is in the news. 
Social Media Marketing isn’t new. 2008 is simply the year that it emerges as THE thing to do if you want your business, charity, or blog to be “in” instead of “out”.
Warning: submitting this story to Digg will result in a quick burial.
