Embracing Follow-for-Follow: A Balanced Perspective on Growth
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Understanding Follow-for-Follow
In recent discussions, many articles have criticized the follow-for-follow approach, yet I hold a different view.
Photo by Green Chameleon on Unsplash
As a newcomer to Medium, having only begun my writing journey a month ago and recently securing my membership after joining the Medium Partner Program, I found myself eager to build my follower base. One of my main goals was to reach 100 followers to be eligible for the partnership program. Contrary to the advice from seasoned writers, I opted to utilize the follow-for-follow strategy to expand my audience.
While I respect the opinions of experienced writers who critique this approach, I believe we are in different circumstances; after all, they may have thousands of followers, while I'm still building my presence.
Why I Value Follow-for-Follow
I fundamentally disagree with the notion that authentic growth is impossible when employing the follow-for-follow method. I believe that engaging in follow-for-follow does not preclude you from consistently posting content that attracts organic followers.
Separating organic growth from follow-for-follow growth is quite simple. Instead of publishing an article solely aimed at finding like-minded individuals, I sought out others who had written about follow-for-follow recently. I engaged with those in the comments, extending invitations such as:
“Let’s grow together! If you follow me and leave some claps on this response, I’ll gladly follow you back!”
When I see familiar names supporting my messages and following me, it’s clear they are participating in the follow-for-follow exchange. Conversely, if someone follows without clapping, I take that as a sign of genuine interest.
A simple yet effective method for promoting organic growth is to include a gentle reminder at the end of your articles. For instance, I might say:
“If you enjoyed this piece, consider following me for more insights on travel and living abroad.”
To summarize, I have no objections to those who are skeptical of follow-for-follow. If it doesn't resonate with them, that's perfectly fine. However, I want to emphasize that engaging in this strategy doesn’t inherently inhibit organic growth; both can coexist harmoniously!
While follow-for-follow can yield quick results, it's crucial to recognize that many of those followers may not engage with your content. Moreover, if you cease your follow-for-follow activities, your growth will likely plateau.
Strategies for Organic Blog Growth
- Post Regularly: Consistency is key. When your name appears frequently, readers are more likely to follow if they enjoy your content.
- Encourage Followers: Just as YouTubers prompt viewers to like and subscribe, don’t hesitate to invite your readers to follow you.
- Contribute to Publications: This expands your reach, as publications already have established audiences interested in specific topics.
- Engage with the Community: Interacting with others' content fosters connections and helps you find like-minded individuals.
Conclusion
Embrace the follow-for-follow strategy if it serves your growth objectives. It's an effective means to quickly expand your follower base, but remember that it doesn't replace the need for genuine engagement.
Although I have used follow-for-follow tactics in the past, I am no longer actively participating in that method. My primary focus is on travel and living abroad, but I'm also exploring personal development topics. If any of this piques your interest, consider following my journey!
The first video titled "Cal Newport: 'Follow Your Passion' Is Bad Advice" discusses the pitfalls of pursuing passion without a practical approach.
The second video, "Follow Your Passion is Terrible Advice. Here's Why," elaborates on the dangers of blindly following passion without considering realistic outcomes.