Credit: Gwaar

Oh gee, even more social media? I’m getting sick of it you say. Vote this, Sphinn that, Digg this please…If you’re feeling wary of Social Media early on in the new year, it might be time for you to redefine your view of social media marketing. The following are some of my top 10 tips to view and participate in Social Media in a completely different light in 2008

“On a very basic level the name symbolizes socially driven news. Interacting with content by submitting, voting, commenting, and sharing interesting, entertaining, and otherwise important news items. but more than that it symbolizes what Netscape plans to do going forward, i.e. propel the social news model into the next generation through a mix of fixing the problems with the current generation and innovation.”

Muhammad Saleem - Netscape scout

Upon first impression, Propeller may appear similar to Digg; however there is one key differentiator that make it both interesting and unique. News on Propeller is submitted by a team of paid power-users and editors. That paid team also produces original content and appears to “steer” the content, conversation and the overall direction of the site.

Sorry Jeff, I can’t add you to my Twitter account!

In the world of search and social media, Digg has become the 900 pound gorilla. Digg can drive tremendous volumes of traffic to a web site if you’re so fortunate to have a piece go “hot” and hit the front page. Contrary to popular belief though, hitting the front page almost never occurs due to content alone … it takes friends! In fact a study by SEOmoz (from 1 1/2 years ago) revealed that the top 100 Diggers control in excess of 56% of Digg’s homepage content. Once again, the 20/80 rule at its best.

I’m a HUGE stumble fan. Both as a user and a marketer. As a user I get treated to new and interesting websites every day - that I would never have found without Stumbleupon. As a marketer, it never ceases to amaze me how much traffic Stumble can drive. Just when you think that a page has received all the stumble traffic it’s going to get…whoosh… another wave hits. Sometimes even a few weeks after the initial submit.

This is a very rare rant … I almost never do so, but have been so inspired by the actions of a few narrow minded and misguided individuals who propose to speak for the masses when questions about Stumbleupon are asked.

For those of you who know me, I’ve become an avid stumbler. I absolutely love Stumbleupon. Where I used to sit on the couch and watch History and Discovery Channels late at night, I have now at least partially replaced that time with time spent Stumbling and Digging. I want to be clear too … I’m not stumbling just anything and everything. I’m a quality kinda guy, rather than quantity. I’ve been fortunate to have some great submissions over time, and I’m getting better weekly at knowing where to find more. There is absolutely NOTHING questionable about my SU profile … it is spotless!

It’s hard enough for me to keep up with all my social media accounts, let alone an amphibian!

Not sure whether I’ve said this before or not … but I love Stumbleupon. Obviously I love it as an internet marketer (and to all of you Stumbleupon Vigilantes … I merely submit good content. I don’t try to game the system. Just look at my submissions profile before you become judge, jury, and executioner!), but I’m talking here about loving it as an individual. Rather than sit and watch television in the evenings now after the kids goto bed, I find myself at the computer often, stumbling to beat the band. I’ve heard and seen others with this affliction too; Shana at Social Desire, Dave from Huomah, and our very own Tom Tsinas to name but a few.

While searching for images to include in my ‘Social Media by the Numbers’ series, I’ve come across some hilarious industry themed content that had me laughing hysterically. I started to save the videos, images, jokes and cartoons and share them with friends.

One day I was struggling to write a post, so I decided to look through that collection for inspiration. I laughed again, but still couldn’t figure out what to write, so I decided to give my favorite cartoon a fitting title and voila, I had my post for the day!

Finally, after all your countless hours toiling over your keyboard and coffee induced all-nighters friending and supporting others at their beckon call, surviving on 2 hours sleep per night, and spending no significant time with your wife for months … a breakthrough. You’ve hit the proverbial front page of Digg … go ahead and pat yourself on the back.

You’re so wrapped up in excitement that you can’t sleep now, but you deserve it. So you watch the stats for a while, bask in the glow of the cudos you know will be coming your way, then quietly sneak off for a nap in a dark closet.