New to Social Media? Check Out Mixx.com
*Note: This post is meant for people who are new to social media sites, such as Digg, Reddit, Propeller and Mixx.
Background: My name is Jeremy Biser, and I am a writer who first made the move to blogging about a year ago. Since then, I’ve also become active in social media communities. I am designated a “SuperMixxer” on Mixx.com, but I’m not one of the top 20 users of the site.
I mostly incorporate the use of social media into my research activities. When I find an interesting news article or blog post, I share it. I also enjoy talking with new people about subjects of interest that I submit or share on the social sites. Over the past year, I’ve had a variety of positive and negative experiences with the various communities, and I’ve joined just about every one of them to try and figure out which one best suits my needs.
I’m happy to say that Mixx.com is that site.
Why Mixx.com is the best place for your journey to begin:
With millions of users and a treasure trove of submissions, Digg is the big dog of the social media world. Unlike traditional media sources, like newspapers, radio and television, social media is interactive. Users share and promote submissions, as well as comment on and vote for their favorites.
When you first encounter these sites, it can be overwhelming to try and navigate through the vastness of a large network like Digg. You may be hesitant to contribute or participate because initial efforts produce little or no results. For newcomers, Mixx is a better place to start.
Mixx is a social media community that is easier to learn and use than Digg or Reddit. You’re more likely to find a wide variety of topics on the front page (Popular section) of Mixx, as community members are not exclusively focused on technology, politics or entertainment as in other sites.
Mixx users are more accepting of newcomers, and they tend to be more understanding and courteous. It is a place where you can actually have a multi-user conversation about an interesting topic that extends over a period of days without some jackass interjecting a pointless, perverted or idiotic remark (which happens all of the time on Digg and is my biggest complaint of that site).
As in any other social media community, there are some jerks and spammers (there’s even a few elitists, but nothing like you experience at Digg). In general, though, Mixxers are welcoming, thoughtful and engaging, and they love to connect with like-minded people.
Here are some basic tips to get you started on Mixx:
- Take a Tour of Mixx. This short presentation gives you an introduction to how Mixx works. You should probably read the Frequently Asked Questions as well.
- Search through the different sections of the site (in the header). Look for submissions that interest you, and give them a vote up. Click on the link to the story submitted. Read it. Then, come back and leave a thoughtful comment that sparks conversation. After that, click on the user who submitted the story and start “following” them. As your comment receives replies, evaluate these users as potential people to “follow” as well.
- Search through the Mixx Groups and join 3-5 that really interest you. View the members of the group and begin “following” these people. Some groups are more active than others; however, it is more important to join a group in which you will participate than one you will simply watch.
- Take a look at the Mixx Lounge to get an idea of what the badges and awards mean. This is also a good place to see top users of the site. Click on award winners to get an idea of what kinds of articles spark conversation and receive votes. You may want to “follow” top users as well (*Warning: be prepared to get a lot of e-mails from some asking for your attention to a particular submission – you may want to adjust your Account Settings for e-mail alerts).
- Check out the Official Mixx Blog and the Unofficial Mixx Blog (MixxingBowl) to learn more about the community and how to maximize your experience.
- Share quality news and blog posts that you find. Quality is better than quantity. Feel free to test things out and gauge responses – votes are important, but comments are a better indicator of a good submission. Remember, the point of social media is interaction. It’s OK to submit your own work, but be aware that some Mixxers don’t like this. As in life, it’s usually better to let others sell you in social settings.
- Lastly, when using Mixx or Digg, or any other social media site, you will only get out of it what you put into it. You should manage your expectations accordingly. If you participate for a few hours each day, then you will likely get a lot of attention. If you pop in for ten minutes once per week, then people will probably ignore you.
You may decide that Mixx.com has everything you need:
The social media world is an exciting and fast-paced arena, in which people get informed and interact with others from around the world. If you’re the kind of person who writes letters to the editor or talks about the news with coworkers, then you’ll probably love what social media communities have to offer.
Based on my experience, newcomers will have a better experience getting started at Mixx. Once you get the hang of things, then delve into some of the larger or more specialized communities. If your experience is like mine, though, you may find that Mixx has everything you need. I recommend you go to Mixx.com right now and sign-up for an account.
Feel free to look me up when you join Mixx. My profile name is jnbammer.
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