10e20 Blog

Here is a list of tips and tricks that can help you become more successful (and get your stories on the homepage) on social news website.


Submit frequently
Submitting stories on a regular basis can only be a good thing when you’re submitting quality submissions. There is obviously a better chance of your stories making the homepage when you have submitted over five or six a day (rather than maybe one or two.)

Network of friends
When first getting started on a social network you will need to add friends (and lots of them.) First, make sure you like and enjoy what the person is submitting. Second, take a look at how many friends they have. If they don’t have any friends, chances are they won’t add you (meaning he/she won’t be able to see the stories you post.) Find someone who already has a network of friends (make sure that person votes for his/her friends submissions.)

You can then go ahead and add that person to your network. The next time he/she submits a story, give it a vote. If he/she returns the favor by voting for one of yours, a friend to your network has been added. You now have to be constantly checking and voting your friends submissions.

Some people might say this is cheating, but its not. If someone enjoys someone else’s submissions there is nothing against adding that user to your friends.

Eye grabbing icon
The plain old white icon every social network starts you off with is just not good enough. Try finding a cool icon that grabs people’s attention, and makes them want to look at your story. Some of the best colors to do so are: black, blue, red and yellow.

RSS Reader
Having a fast RSS Reader that collects all the latest post from your favorite blogs is the best way for you to find stories to submit. It is fast, easy and efficient. Build a good set of blogs that work on the social news site your on, and be sure to check those feeds regularly. Try searching through your RSS Reader at least twice a day (once in the morning, once in the evening.) A great free online RSS to try would be Google Reader. The best thing about it, is it online.

Find stories that other people have interest in, not just you. Think about the community, and if the users really want to read the story you’re about to submit. Try and stick to things that the majority of the people will like. For example, some of the topics working on digg/reddit right now are: lists, pictures, politics and technology.

Sending a quick message or shout to your friends can make you more engaged with them and the likelihood of them voting for your story will go up. Maybe just a quick: “Hey, How’s it going? Like my submissions? I’m really enjoying yours” can do the job. Who knows, you could even make a real friendship online by messaging someone☺.

If you follow these steps your success on social news websites can be just that much easier.

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