You may have noticed a new button down at the bottom of our articles, here at BellaOnline. You may not know what it is. For the readers, and some of the editors here, I offer some insight about Digg and how we can use it to help each other succeed!

In recent weeks, I've covered the basics of internet marketing, small business websites, blogging for business, and avoiding scams. In this article, I intend to give you a plain English primer on some of the best ways to use Digg for your business.

There are conventional ways, like submitting and voting articles all the way up the popularity food chain. I'll touch on those. But if you're cleaver, and I know you are, because you're here - you'll use the unconventional ways to use Digg for inspiration, to network, and to drive traffic to your home based business blog or website.

Can you Digg it?

Digg is a great way to gain exposure for yourself or something you like online.

1. Submit your articles.

While I wouldn't submit every blog post you sneeze out, submitting your best work to Digg is a good idea. You get some exposure, and if your submission gains momentum - you could wind up on the top of the heap.

2. Digg other people's articles.

There are some authors of websites and blogs out there that are either too modest or too busy to submit their own work. If you find something you find useful, take the 2 minutes needed to submit the site. There is always a list of those who "dugg" something.

3. Vote out the garbage.

Some folks put anything they ever typed out on a keyboard into Digg. There's a lot of spam and rubbish out there. You can help the best writing on Digg to rise to the top by downgrading the junk.

4. Blog It.

This is one of my favorite ways to use Digg. If I'm surfing and voting for other articles, and I read something I think readers of my blogs would like, I will select the "Blog It" tab, and give it a mention in my blog, in addition to Digging it. You put in your blog information in your profile, and with a little more effort than one click you can automatically post to your blog. (This works with a number of the most popular blogging sites.)

The one downside to this is that only one blog is allowed to be entered per profile, and only one profile per person. So those of us that edit and monitor multiple sites are unable to do the one-click blogging to our choice of site, currently. I'd rather be able to enter all my blogs and be able to blog something about writing in my writing blog, and something about education in my education blog.

We can Digg it!

Digg is a great networking tool to help you and your friends share what you like. You can also network to increase your exposure, your website traffic and to make new friends.

5. Add Friends.

Add friends you currently have to your list and you can see what they digg! It's a great way to share information quickly. On your profile page, you get to see what your friends are doing, submitting, saving, friending, commenting on, and changing on their profile. Friends recommend things to each other all the time, this just automates the process.

6. Network.

You can send "Shout Outs" to your friends, leave comments on people's submissions and make new friends. By letting folks know what you like or don't like and adding to the conversation that is the internet - your "voice" gains more authority and respect in the "sphere."

When folks like (and sometimes dislike) what you have to say, they'll send traffic your way. And when you break it down - traffic equals money for online businesses.

7. Share the Love.

Find someone whose writing you like? Take a moment to visit their website. Visit their profile, and under their avatar (picture) there will be a short biography blurb and any of their own websites that they want to share. Click the links, leave comments.

When you take a solid look at it, Digg is worth the time you invest. But you do have to invest time for the system to work for you. Whether or not you spend your time on Digg is up to you, but the difference could show up in traffic, ad revenue, and dollars spent on your business.


By the way, would you like to see my Digg profile? Here it is! I don't submit myself that often, so if you find something you like, I'd appreciate your help!