Using Digg as a resource for growth?

[CompiledMonkey]

How many of you use Digg as a resource to grow your blog or site?

Recently they've added a podcast section (http://www.digg.com/podcasts) with the same ranking idea as Digg itself. We're using it heavily to attempt to get on the "upcoming" list for podcasts. If you'd like to contribute to that effort, feel free: http://www.digg.com/podcasts/Kill_The_Desktop :)

[Jeremy]

There are certainly some niches that can exploit digg to enhance growth, but from what I've seen, digg is almost worthless as far as converting traffic goes. Digg users have a very short attention span and are looking for something funny, exciting, offensive, political or otherwise controversial.

It will be interesting to see how the podcast section works out, but from what I know about the digg demographic, I don't think they have the patience to sit and listen to audio. Of course, if people are browsing the podcast section, maybe they do.

Since you're in technology, you may have better luck than I have. I've had a front page digg and while it sent almost 10,000 visits in less than an hour at its peak, it did absolutely nothing for long-term growth. Traffic is certainly nice, but if they don't convert to regular readers or quality backlinks, they are worthless visits.

[deronsizemore]

Although I never was on the front page of Digg, I agree with Jeremy. From everything I've heard and read and even browsed digg myself, like Jeremy said, most digg users have a short attention span and are in and out of your site in seconds.

I made a blog post about it if you're interested. :-)

[fatnewt]

Chris at WebsitePublisher.net pointed out that his recent digg coverage got him some added traffic, but that those people were less likely to click on ads (http://www.websitepublisher.net/blog/2007/06/30/the-digg-effect-revisited/).

[ses5909]

I think digg users are typically more technically-inclined than others and like many of us here, don't really "see" the ads. I think a very small percentage actually turn into regular readers/listeners.

[tater03]

I would agree even when you might be on the front page it changes so fast that you generally are not there long. At least from what I have seen when I have been on the site.

[samwoodfin]

Anyone using the less-techy social news sites? I've not used them, myself, but I found one this morning called "Blogg-Buzz (http://www.blogg-buzz.com/)", or something like that. It's in alpha, and I can't seem to re-find it. (I've kept my history set to zero since way back when Firefox had that history vulnerability.)

There are also places like ShoutWire (http://www.shoutwire.com/) (bring a high tolerance level), Strrdup (http://www.stirrdup.com/) (which uses a different sort of point system than Digg) and sk*rt (http://www.sk-rt.com/) (which is orieneted more toward women?). I could actually see getting some decent traffic from the latter, with the right article.

I'm also a bit intrigued by Indie Blogger (http://www.indiebloggers.org/), but that;'s a different sort of animal...