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Let’s face it. Making Digg friends isn’t always easy. But to conduct a successful social bookmarking strategy, you need to find ways to make friends and leverage their linking power.

Why is it important to make friends? Well, without friends, chances of your submissions hitting the front page of Digg are low. You need backing. You need support. You need someone to give you a nod when you find something you like.

That begs the question, HOW DO YOU MAKE FRIENDS ON DIGG?

Comment: When you happen across a story you like and you see the comments are growing, hop in there and toss out your two cents. Be witty enough and you’ll get Diggs to your comment. Pay attention to the best commenters and respond within the story comments to other things people say. Build a reputation in the comments sections of popular stories or niche stories and you’ll get people more interested in you, requesting you to be their friend.

Become a fan: Are there users who always seem to put out the best links? Why not become a fan of them. They’ll receive notices that you’re giving them a thumbs up. Send them Diggs and shouts and you’ll likely make a friend back.

Connect through other social networks: Many Digg users also use Facebook and other social networks. Have existing friends on these networks that also have Digg accounts? Connect with them on Digg too and add them to your Digg posse.

Use the Digg Friend Finder: This is the golden goose. This new tool will help you find other people who have listed interests that you are searching for. I searched for “online journalism” and found 197 people who listed it as an interest. I sent friend requests to those users whose usernames I recognized (yet another reason I advocate using your name or consistent username across all social networks).

UPDATE: Found another cool tool like Digg Friend Finder - Try out Digg Stalker - Nice interface and let’s you search profiles by interest too!

If you’re looking to build your network on Digg, try out any of these methods and let me know the results. You can also add me to you Digg network! (apologies if I didn’t already send you an add and you listed online journalism in your interests - I only fan’d those I recognized)

The bottom line is there’s no quick and easy way to build friends on Digg. Participating in a social network is like any other club, it takes time to get to know other members and be accepted.

If you’re new to social bookmarking, check out DigiDave’s social bookmarking for journalists 101. That should get you a good start.