SEO Internet Marketing

If you want to be on the first page of Digg, here’s how to do it -- which also works for Reddit and StumbleUpon.

Link Bait has one specific aim -- get me to the top of Digg.com. The idea is that once you get there, others will click through to your site and you can reap the rewards once they arrive. Of course, it’s not that simple but if understand the mechanics of how Digg works -- and what interests Diggers -- then you’re one step closer.

1. Study Digg -- This is the number 1 mistake people make. They don’t hang out on Digg, get a feel for what’s happening and learn to judge what will work or not. So, sign up, log in and engage. Why bother? Well, it’s like writing a travel guide on Italy without ever having pizza on the Step of Rome. Once you’re there, everything makes more sense. Digg, Delicious and the rest are all the same.

Tip -- if you want to succeed with link bait, focus on one site. Don’t spread yourself too thin.

Ok, you’ve signed up and use a real name if possible. People relate to real names; they are more likely to dig you if you sound human than use an avatar. But there are exceptions, I know.

2. Create a Swap File -- a what? This is a file where you will keep links, snippets of text and other link bait that impresses you. Now, this isn’t hard. You just need a text file and then copy/paste in whatever stands out.

Why is this so important? Answer: Headlines.

3. Headlines -- Look at the DIGG homepage. What do you see? Headlines. Lots of them.

Copy and paste the top 10 headlines into your swap file. Do this as often as you can. Notice anything? Most of them are lists.

* 5 ways to get 1,000 followers today
* 7 tweaks for your iPod
* 10 ways to get on the front page of Digg

People like lists. And what else do they like?

4. Benefits -- Give your heading an extra boost by adding a nice, juicy benefit.

For example,

* 5 hidden ways to get 1,000 right now
* 7 ways to break your iPod and get a free replacement
* 10 ways to 10,000 Diggs in 24 hours

You get the idea. All of these are slightly idiotic but -- here’s the thing -- you’re tempted to see what’s on the other side of the link.

5. Write to be scanned -- No-one reads on the web, they all scan. So, write to be scanned.

Write your article or blog post so that readers will scan down through the article — like you’re doing now — go, “yeah, I like this” and then, fingers crossed, hit the DIGG IT button and do us all a good deed. Sounds to easy. It is. You need to also…

6. Add ‘off-beat’ images -- Avoid PC junk. Add an image that captures the mood and will appeal to the reader. Something with an edge but not too risky.

Humor also works. Get it wrong and you look lame.

7. Credibility -- It takes time but if you join other networks and comment on others post, guess what? They’ll hang out with you and give you a few digs. This does work but it’s a really slow way to generate link bait. It does work, but, well, it’s not for me.

8. Test -- Here’s something I do and it works. Write a 300 word article. About anything. Doesn’t matter. Spend 20 min and come up with 20 variation on the same headline. Have fun. Shuffle the words upside down, inside out and back to front.

It’s yours to play with ...

* Monday – submit the 1st headline. On Wed, record the Diggs.
* Thursday – change the headline and submit it. Record the Diggs.
* Saturday — change again and submit it. Record the Diggs.

Then what happens?

9. Re-Test -- Patterns begin to emerge. Some headings bomb. No-one clicks on them. Others take off! Paste these into your swap file (remember him) and use this as a starting point.

Twitter is also another way to test headlines. Remember that nobody bookmarks tweets. It you know how to write, people will click through.

10. Practice -- Like all things, the more you practice, the better you get. Focus on writing amazing headlines, develop super-sharp content, and you’ll get the Diggs.

Want to know more?

Top Diggs of the year ...

7 Days – http://digg.com/all/popular/7days

365 Days – http://digg.com/all/popular/365days

Check these out and you can see what people are interested in. These are the big hitters. Avoid news of the day type material. The web is saturated before you even get there.