I had joined Digg last year, buying into the hype that this is something we must do in a Web 2.0 world. The belief is that the traffic that comes is great for your marketing efforts. I’ve already written about my dislike for Digg and how some Diggers gang up to get sites banned in industries they don’t like. I seem to be unable to unjoin it.
In a Web 2.0 world, if you participate in it, there are new rules that can take some getting used to. One of them is watching something you write end up being twisted and manipulated into something you never intended or even dreamed of.
One thing about the Web, all the same people you’ll meet in real life appear on the Web as well. Usually in droves. The entire nature of social media is to provide a place for gossip. Isn’t that what news is?
We don’t mean to be sly, but it seems that anyone can go online and write whatever they may believe about anyone they may or may not know. And everyone seems to think this is OK.
So if that’s the case, then what are the benefits to social marketing? Are there any?
But regardless, there is one thing you should be happy about as a result of your Digg Experiences – I am a person that’s never come across your blog before, and now I check it out when I can, and am grateful for the link you provided to the resource. If I had stumbled on it by myself, I probably would have passed it over. Your interest in the resource and commentary have enabled me to have another place I can learn more about my craft.
This comment was left on the above quoted blog post. Evidently, this Digger is claiming to offer some social benefit, which is, namely, increased traffic from people are able to discern.
While not everyone can make distinctions between nuances of thought, some people can. Yes, the negative comments are out there. Yes, the influence of peer pressure and the phenomenon of “catching the wave” are alive and well online, but so are discernment and thoughtfulness. By participating in the blogosphere and other social media, you can reap the benefits of reaching people who would never find you were it not for sites like Digg. Even if you get a little negative flack about one thing or another, some of that negative flack could end up being positive.
Online, as in life, you’re taking your chances. But most of the time, the benefits outweigh the negatives. Count on it.
