One day, Matt McGee decided to take a deep look at Sphinn (as a moderator) and acknowledged 7 recurring mistakes that continually happen on the booming social news network. He listed them out and encouraged users to be distinct, different, and unique. Here's what you should avoid when pitching to a site like Sphinn or another type of social news website:
- Avoid sales pitches disguised as "good content."
- Don't submit your entire website. Social news sites don't need your "about" pages. They aren't directories.
- Have a good headline. Seriously.
- Make your description interesting. Don't you want people to vote on your article?
- Give yourself a noticeable avatar. Stop blending in with the crowd.
- Create a unique username.
- Stay on topic and contribute articles that are pertinent to the categories you've submitted to.
(I feel like I've said much of this before and it still works quite well for other social networks. Thanks Matt!)
But what else would drive someone bonkers? Well, for a smallish site like Sphinn, you shouldn't submit more than 2 stories in a row (it's in the guidelines, people). That one frustrates a lot of people.
What would drive you crazy on a social network? Forum discussion continues on Sphinn.
