Should I Buy Diggs With Usocial?

[phoenix212]

Okay so I read on a blog yesterday about usocial.net which sells votes on Digg (as well as stumble upon and propeller I think) and the guy was giving them an absolute ball-tearing because he hated the idea of someone selling these votes.

A lot of people I know will probably think the same, but am I the only one who thinks this is a freaking awesome marketing tool? I've tried countless times to get to the front page of digg but have never managed to get even close, but now I think I could by using this site.

I'm pretty certain that I'm going to use it, but I'm really interested in what you guys think about it!

[getsmartt]

Subvert and Profit offers the same service, if you intend to go through with this compare prices.

[Jared Alberghini]

It looks like a good place to lose your money and get banned from (or worse, Sued by) Digg.

Good luck with that...

P.S. Their disclaimer : Your use of the service is at your sole risk. The service is provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis.

[Andrew Maule]

^^^ What Jared said. Don't do it.

[phoenix212]

Originally Posted by getsmartt

Subvert and Profit offers the same service, if you intend to go through with this compare prices.

Yeah I already did. When I found out about it I Googled the service and I found Subvert & Profit, as well as another one called usersubmiitter or something like that. They were both more expensive (with Subvert & Profit being about 50% more).

[Ron Kerr]

Seems it could be a waste of money to me. Do you know for sure that getting on page one is going to make you money? I have read a lot that Digg visitors don't buy much even if they do visit your site.

[phoenix212]

Originally Posted by Ron Kerr

Seems it could be a waste of money to me. Do you know for sure that getting on page one is going to make you money? I have read a lot that Digg visitors don't buy much even if they do visit your site.

Yeah, I was wondering about the conversion. Though the thing that gets me is that if I can spend even $500 with usocial and get only 100,000 visitors, that's still a buttload less than a PPC campaign on mid-to-high end keywords right?

[Davegfx]

I think the idea with digg is not so much the quality of the traffic - because lets face it people are just going to read the article cause it sparks an interest and then likely bugger off - but the SEO benefits of getting linked on digg due to it's high PR (8) and the added benefit of a ****load of other high PR links from people blogging about the digg.

[phoenix212]

Originally Posted by Davegfx

I think the idea with digg is not so much the quality of the traffic - because lets face it people are just going to read the article cause it sparks an interest and then likely bugger off - but the SEO benefits of getting linked on digg due to it's high PR (8) and the added benefit of a ****load of other high PR links from people blogging about the digg.

Good point. I'm actually going to buy one of their 100 vote packages and test it with one of my adsense pages...even at a really poor CTR, I think I should easily return my investment. I'll let you guys all know how it goes when I'm done.

[Jeff B]

If you're going to make a run at the front page of Digg, do yourself a favor and don't promote an Adsense site with it. lol

They're not going to click on your ads, they're just going to hit the back button and go right back to Digg to check out the next story.

[phoenix212]

Originally Posted by Jeff B

If you're going to make a run at the front page of Digg, do yourself a favor and don't promote an Adsense site with it. lol

They're not going to click on your ads, they're just going to hit the back button and go right back to Digg to check out the next story.

Well, I guess that will all depend on how good the story on the page is and how good I can get the CTR...it's worth a try I think.

[Jeff B]

Originally Posted by phoenix212

Well, I guess that will all depend on how good the story on the page is and how good I can get the CTR...it's worth a try I think.

Just trying to help my friend. Hope it works out well for you.

[jazzyjeff]

Phoenix212

In my opinion, I see nothing wrong with buying votes to get to the top. This is the same as buying PPC to get to the top of the advertisements on google or yahoo. If you have the money, then go ahead and use it. Make sure the investement makes sense and you get a return. Same tactics as PPC.

Jeff

[Jason Pereira]

They emailed me asking to help promote them, I declined because IMHO it is a rip off to pay $1/Digg (or more!).

In the past, people offered front page services for like $30... it's a bit more expensive now, but look on certain webmaster forums and you can get them for something like $30 Diggs for $5, $15 for 100 etc.

[logosi]

you learn something everyday... I've just been writing content and using Digg the regular way... guess I could write something controversial then use usocial... or maybe if the content is good enough the diggs would just happen, who knows. Actually writing a controversial piece right now about hypnosis, maybe I'll try it.

[d3m0nb0y]

I don't really think it is worth the money. I rather spend time writing articles than this.

[phoenix212]

Also found this:

Digg Bans Company That Blatantly Sells Diggs

Seems Digg are getting pissed at uSocial for letting people buy diggs. I don't think much will happen though considering S&P and u/s have been doing this kinda stuff for years.

[Jared Alberghini]

Don't you think that if Digg banned the company that you are trying to Buy Diggs from... it's a bad sign, and will probably get your site banned from digg as well?

If it's against their TOS... then don't do it!!!

Just take a look at the million dollar lawsuits that many many companies have recently won against spammers... this is no different... digg spam is against their TOS, and they have the legal right to SUE YOU if you participate in these activities...

Dear ####:

My firm represents Digg, Inc. (”Digg”). We have become aware that uSocial.net (”uSocial”) is paying users of www.Digg.com to manipulate content rankings on the Digg website. Digg hereby places you on notice that its website terms of use (located at http://digg.com/tos) expressly state:

IN ADDITION, YOU HEREBY AGREE THAT YOU SHALL NOT USE THE SERVICE (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, BY “DIGGING” ANY CONTENT) ON BEHALF OF (OR PER THE REQUEST OR INSTRUCTION OF) ANY THIRD PARTY. FURTHERMORE, YOU SHALL NOT REQUEST THAT ANY THIRD PARTY, OR PAY OR OTHERWISE ATTEMPT TO INFLUENCE ANY THIRD TO, MANIPULATE OR OTHERWISE AFFECT THE SITE IN ANY MANNER (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, BY PAYING ANY OTHER USER TO “DIGG” ANY CONTENT).

Pursuant to the website terms of use, your manipulation of Digg’s content rankings constitutes tortious interference with Digg’s agreements (i.e. its website terms of use) with the Digg users involved such activity.

Digg hereby demands that you immediately cease all attempts to have Digg users manipulate or otherwise affect the Digg service. Please provide us with written confirmation of your understanding of this matter within the next ten (10) days and assure us that the foregoing demands will be met.

This message should not be construed as a waiver of rights, an offer of settlement, or reliance on any specific facts or legal theories. Digg reserves all of its rights and remedies under applicable law.

If you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact me at ###-###-####.

Just trying to save you some jail time... or tons of money in fines... lol

- Jared

[BizBooks]

Digg, while sending many visitors, are usually selling the "let's see the latest" type lookers.

there are not buyers... and so the traffic is worth alot less. I'd take 1000 "look to buy-ers" then 50,000 digg-ers.

if you are looking for the traffic only-- then it might be looking into.

[getsmartt]

Right wrong or indifferent you have to wonder whether this would hold up since they offer buttons that say "Digg it" to place on your site, essentially a "request from a third party" to manipulate ratings

IN ADDITION, YOU HEREBY AGREE THAT YOU SHALL NOT USE THE SERVICE (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, BY “DIGGING” ANY CONTENT) ON BEHALF OF (OR PER THE REQUEST OR INSTRUCTION OF) ANY THIRD PARTY. FURTHERMORE, YOU SHALL NOT REQUEST THAT ANY THIRD PARTY, OR PAY OR OTHERWISE ATTEMPT TO INFLUENCE ANY THIRD TO, MANIPULATE OR OTHERWISE AFFECT THE SITE IN ANY MANNER (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, BY PAYING ANY OTHER USER TO “DIGG” ANY CONTENT)

[Jared Alberghini]

Originally Posted by getsmartt

Right wrong or indifferent you have to wonder whether this would hold up since they offer buttons that say "Digg it" to place on your site, essentially a "request from a third party" to manipulate ratings

By putting a digg button on your site, you are the 'Second Party' that is directly linking to the 'First Party'... if you hire an outside source to help you increase your diggs... that's what they consider a 'Third Party'

isn't it?

- Jared

[getsmartt]

first IANAL but my understanding would be that a third party "Person or body that is recognized as being independent of the parties involved, as concerns the issue in question." would be the visitor to the website the first and second parties would be the website and digg.

Originally Posted by Jared Alberghini

By putting a digg button on your site, you are the 'Second Party' that is directly linking to the 'First Party'... if you hire an outside source to help you increase your diggs... that's what they consider a 'Third Party'

isn't it?

- Jared

[Re-cycle]

I paid for the service dude. All I have to say is My blog crashed! so it works wonders if you ask me...