Digg Algorithm Change Affects How Top Stories Are Promoted

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By Mallory Dash

Last week, Digg announced changes to its promotional algorithm that will affect the way stories are ranked and moved to Digg’s front page. This new algorithm looks at the diversity of a story’s diggers—that is, the more varied a story’s set of Diggers is, the more likely that story will be moved to the front page.

The algorithm shift is designed to discourage group voting, and will mainly affect top-rated Diggers. Traditionally, top Diggers could get their stories promoted to the front page based on their friends Digging along with them. This resulted in stories rapidly attaining front-page status and just as quickly losing it, as upcoming stories were frequently Dugg by friends of the original user.

The algorithm change means several things for digital marketers who rely on Digg for the popularity of their stories. First, writers must make sure their stories apply to a diverse group of people, not simply one’s friends or social group. Targeting a specific vertical is fine; however, making a story applicable and relevant to those outside of your Digg friends will become essential in order to make sure your information hits the Digg front page.

Furthermore, marketers need to consider the possibility that relying on Digg alone for social news may not be prudent anymore. Many are unsatisfied with Digg’s apparent refusal to divulge their algorithms, and feel that their stories are not hitting the front page due to alleged manipulation by Digg moderators. Keep checking DigitalBlab for more on social news sites and how to best utilize them for optimal digital marketing.