Mixxing 101: Getting Started With Mixx
Many of the frequent visitors to The-TrukstoP.com are aware that I am a hardcore addict of the social media web site, Mixx.com – indeed; some of you are just as addicted as me. I have previously ranted and raved about Mixx here, was recently interviewed about Mixx in an article aimed at new users, and thought I would also post some tips for people who are keen to start hanging at Mixx.com and giving it a shot.
Before We Mixx It Up
First off, if you are coming into Mixx from using another social media site, let me suggest some prudent words from a Jedi Knight: “You must unlearn what you have learned”. Mixx is an absolutely different social media beast from other sites such as Digg and Reddit. Yes, there are similarities, but there are a few things that make Mixx stand apart from the rest.
There is a reduced rate of competitiveness at Mixx in comparison to Digg. At Digg, it is all about pushing to the home page, and in recent months with the latest algorithm change there, it’s also all about pimping out your submissions to others in the hope it will hit FP. Being promoted the home page at Digg has become like a high, for which crack addicts will implore for diggs.
There is always a healthy level of competitiveness at Mixx, but it is not as explicit as with other sites. For the most part, the community seems to be, as a whole, more concerned in serving the site, rather than trying to take on an ego trip with a hit on the popular page. Hence, there is less of a need to IM, tweet, or send carrier pigeons to everyone you know. There is a great e-mail share function for stories you post or come across, and very rarely does it get overused or abused.
A Little Bit of Lurking Never Hurt Anyone
Some of you may be already lurking (someone who isn’t registered at Mixx, but views and clicks on the links) at Mixx and that is great. For those who haven’t really had a chance to check out the site completely yet, and especially for people who are brand spanking new to social media, I would advise lurking at the site for a few days before registering.
My reasoning behind this is lurking will provide you a chance to get a good feel for how the community functions. Take a glance at the submissions made by users, and check out how people comment. Have a leaf through some of the other site features, such as The Mixx Lounge, and the Mixx Blog. It will offer you a good feel for the site, and orient you for you beginnings at Mixx.
Registering to become a Mixxer
Becoming a member of Mixx is very easy and straight-forward. There is an option there to use OpenID, which is simple if you are already using it… though those who have already established yourselves at other social sites may want to use the general sign up option, so you can keep the handle or nick that you use at the other sites. If you frequent another social site (whether it be Digg, MySpace, or Twitter), it’s pretty important to stay consistent; because people usually link up with others that they recognize.
Okay, let us get set up first
Once you have registered at Mixx, it is very tempting to go ahead and start voting, commenting and submitting, but my suggestion is to configure your profile before you start mixxing. The most obvious foundation is in choosing an avatar. Using an image for an avatar is more important at social media sites than you think. It is usually best to choose one that is simple, is eye-grabbing, and is easily recognizable.
Then, flesh out some details in the “Tell Us About Yourself” section. It doesn’t have to be an epic novel, but do not leave it blank. People who swing by your profile might want to follow you and your posts, and sometimes their decision might be affected by what you post in this biography section. My suggestion would be to keep it simple, tell people what you are into, and maybe what you get up to on the web.
One other thing you may want to do is check out your account settings as well. There are some options there for e-mail alerts that you will definitely want to look at. Some people do not like their inboxes getting clogged up with alert messages from sites they are members of, so choose your options carefully. My preference is to mainly go for alerts when someone replies to comments I have made. It’s your choice, but just be aware that these options are available in this account settings area if you need to make any changes.
Start Mixxing
To begin with, after becoming a Mixxer and configuring your profile, I would recommend you surf around Mixx and start voting and making comments on stories. In other words, get yourself seen as an active member of the community from the get-go.
Some newer members have asked me how they should vote on stories. Well, that is your personal preference… but people might get confused when coming across submissions such as this one and this one. The content could be seen as awful and horrifying; but just remember, an upvote does not necessarily mean you “support” the crime or philosophy. The best way to describe such a vote is that you want more people to see the story because of its significance.
Downvoting at Mixx is transparent, so other Mixxers will see what things you are voting down. It’s usually nice to leave a comment as to why you downvoted, but it is not necessary (I very rarely do this, though sometimes I do feel the need to explain specifically why I downvoted).
Make sure you dive in and leave a few comments too. Avoid commenting simple statements like “Awesome” or “Great post”; I mean, you can certainly make those comments if you feel like it, it is just that (in my honest opinion) you kind of already ‘said’ those sentiments with your vote. However, if you put a little thought into your comments and offer some honest opinions and/or some quirky humor, people will notice your participation. Attempt to be engaging – ask questions, propose positions; this helps encourage others to respond, and is very helpful in developing relationships with other Mixxers. Some might be a little intimidated by this at first, but do not worry, you will get the swing of it with practice.
So, where should you start voting and commenting? The Popular Page at Mixx is always a good place to start, but make sure you also check out the On Deck section as well; these are the more popular upcoming stories that are close to hitting the front page. Also, Mixx posts are divided into three sections: stories, photos, and videos. Check out all the sections, and get mixxing!
Submitting
Posting content to Mixx is really easy – the big red button is on nearly every page. If you are unsure what to submit to Mixx, then I would suggest checking out what is new over at PopURLs.com. I use the site a lot for my own submissions, and it is a great resource to find out what things are popular on the web at any given moment. At any rate, it is a reasonable starting point.
I have my own site/blog. Can I submit it to Mixx?
Sure. Why not? I do. I self-submit a majority of the stuff I post at the sites I work on. However, be aware that self-submission is usually only successful if you are submitting content from other sites as well. Avoid clogging up your submissions with posts from your own site all the time – people are interested in seeing a wide range of sources that others are submitting from. By all means, post your own stuff, but balance it out a little with content from other sites that you find interesting. A reasonable ratio would be 1:5 (1 self-submit for every 5 submissions). I do not usually hold strictly to this ratio, but it is pretty close to what I have posted on my profile. At the end of the day, it is entirely up to you how and what you submit to Mixx, but people tend to follow others who post from a range of sources rather than from just one or two.
Follow Them
As you get mixxing around the site, you’ll start to see some recognizable names and avatars around the place. Be sure to follow the people at Mixx who are submitting a lot of stories you find interesting. Who knows? The person you are following could find your submissions of interest as well, and they might start following you!
However, I would advise against clicking “follow” on every single user you come across. I will admit: it is very tempting to do so, but just be aware that someone you follow can send you e-mail shares; so if you start following everyone you come across, your inbox may fill up very quickly. Some people enjoy getting lots of email alerts and voting on stories by people they follow; but it can also be very time consuming as well. Finding a balance of people you would like to follow will help with this.
Groups, and SuperMixxers, and YourMixx, oh my!
There are so many features in Mixx, that it would be virtually impossible to cover them all comprehensively in one “Mixxing 101″ article. But features such as Groups and YourMixx are there at Mixx.com, so check them out to get an idea of what they are all about. In the future, I’ll be posting some more Mixx-focused articles on some of these more specific features, so stay tuned.
Speaking of YourMixx
One of my favorite aspects of Mixx is that it is so customizable; the personalization features of Mixx stand out above and beyond those of other social media sites. I am planning to have a more in-depth article about personalizing your experience with the site using YourMixx at a later date; but while you’re getting started with Mixx, start playing with YourMixx by using the “Add to YourMixx” link.
Also, the Bowl
Now that you’re a Mixxer, be sure to also sign up and participate in The Mixxing Bowl forum. It is a place for Mixxers, made by Mixxers – where members of the site discuss what’s going on with Mixx, suggestions they have, and much more. The crew behind the scenes of Mixx, including Chris McGill and Kerry Parkins, often pop into the Bowl to check out the suggestions and feedback from Mixxers. Your ideas might be some of the opinions they want to hear. Also, the main site is home to several features including Social Blend (the podcast that focuses on news about Mixx, stories posted on Mixx, and Mixx users themselves), Social Mediacrity, and The Round Up.
Oh, by the way, earn some Karma
One last thing I wanted to mention. Every Mixx member earns Karma points for their participation. No-one is really sure what the “secret sauce” is as far as earning points is concerned, but what is clear is that it’s based on participation: voting, submitting, and commenting. If you start getting into the Mixx, you will notice your karma points grow very quickly.
The crew behind the scenes of Mixx has certainly established the site as an innovative competitor in the realm of social media, and is a site I hope you will enjoy using as much as I do. If you do sign up, look me up at the site. See you in the Mixx!
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