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Originally Posted by JimOfferman  I don't believe that "build it and they will come" works in general. |
Jim, it all starts with content. The first thing you have to do is create content that people want to link to or view on their own. Most content isn't worthy for links or stumbles or whatever, even if we all believe our content is.
Build relationships with other people that you know, network with those that have similar interests (one form you're already doing, by networking with those that take an interest in PD via these forums).
When you create your stuff for your website, is there a target audience in mind? Focus on writing pages for them and think about what they would all want to hear.
In the end, you're going to have to have "something" of value for your visitors. You can market crap, promote crap, stumble and digg crap, but at the end of the day, it's till crap, and of no real value for those searching and looking for something valuable.
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Originally Posted by JimOfferman It will only work if your website/blog covers some sort of "how to" subject, like Steve's, because people tend to be looking for solutions to their problems... |
Not always, think about sites like youtube, facebook, digg, etc. They've never done anything like "link-building" or "Social Media Promoting".
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Originally Posted by JimOfferman If, on the other hand, your website concerns something that people don't naturally search for, you'll need to advertise your existence somehow. I'm not sure if submitting your own content to Digg et al is a good strategy for that (haven't tried it) - but it can't be worse than doing nothing to promote your site. |
Yes but there's a difference between advertising and spamming. Submitting your own content, trading digg's, stumble's etc. IS spamming those communities. As I said before, they weren't created for Webmaster's to manipulate for their own ends. If you actually have "something" worth being digged or bookmarked or whatever, other people will digg and bookmark it, that's what happens when ou have something "good" worth sharing.