On Becoming A Steemian; Asking For Followers VS Attracting Followers.
Steemit is a community with a not too strict visa/entry requirement (yet) and so it's more like her doors are wide open for anyone and indeed everyone to come in. In fact we encourage people to stay for the community even if they initially came for the rewards.
Stay for the community?
What is unique about the Steemit community? Why will people want to stay for the community? What could be so important to take their minds off the monetary rewards?
Every community has their culture. Culture is a way of life, so wherever a group of people are gathered, there tends to be a unique way in which they go about co-existing. Written or unwritten law, there are things that just can't happen in a particular culture.
the ideas, customs, and social behaviour of a particular people or society. - Google
The ideas, customs, and social behaviour of a particular people or society.
Ideas don't have to be written. They are just what we feel as a people. The standard we hold ourselves to. It's all in the mind and it influences how we carry ourselves and how we brag.
My wife's Beyoncé, I brag different. - Jay Z
Customs are the things we do. The things we've always been doing. The things those before us have always done. We've done it for so long that it has now become a part of us.
Social behaviour. The way we interact within the community. Do we encourage commenting on posts and helping people out or are we an every-man-for-himself type of community?
Now culture doesn't fall from the sky or gets enforced by some super natural being. Culture is formed and developed by the people. From an entire nation down to a clique, culture defines how the outside world relates to you and what adjustments they need to make to fit in properly.
The Problem.
When I joined Steemit, I read somewhere (can't remember) that on here, we do not ask/solicit for followers. This was in stark contrast to the Twitter world I was coming from where once you get a follow, you're immediately bombarded with a tweet asking you to follow back. So I probably suffered from some culture shock at that point.
My Reaction
It was strange seeing that comment but I decided to follow suit (as a #newbie). I noticed that the gap between my followers and following was getting wider by the day. The more I read amazing posts, the more I followed folks.
Now, note that these folks didn't ask me to follow them. I followed them because I either loved their post or saw them as a role model because of their high reputation score.
All through my early days, I never for once found anybody soliciting for followers and so I never asked anyone for a follow. It was a tough decision to make but this was a community I was new in and I had to fit in. And moreover, I never did see anybody asking for a follow on Medium either so it felt like it was a sane move.
What's Different Now?
Well, as with every growing community, there tends to be an influx of people from varying backgrounds. This singular act is strong enough to corrupt whatever culture might have been existing in times past especially when this culture is based on some unwritten code.
Everyone is free to do whatever they want with their account, true, and apart from the rule to keep your passwords safe (which is not really enforced by any military outfit), there is not hard rule on anything here.
As an advocate of quality content however, I tend to be biased and tilt towards the "attracting followers" camp rather than dropping comments everywhere asking for a follow.
The Question.
How then do you get people to follow you?
What Do You Think?
As I said earlier, it's not a law set in stone and you probably wouldn't get any sort of "punishment" if you go around asking for follows so I'd like to know what you think.
Don't you think that if you gain followers because they were attracted to your content, they'll tend to be more interested in you and your progress than someone you asked to follow you?
Are you Team Asking For Followers or are you Team Attracting Followers?
As a side note, can't you see how easy it is to both type and pronounce Team Attracting Followers?
I've been noticing that tendency with the "newbies" and I can't say I blame them. There is such a divide between those who have just joined, and those who have been around for ages. Maybe this is a good way for them to get followers. But there is one sure fire way to get followers here on Steemit. Be interested and comment insight-fully.
Yes!
In other words, build relationships and they'll translate to followers!
Exactly :)
This is actually a very interesting post. The only time I kind of sorta "asked" for followers is when I hit my hundred subscriber mark. I wanted to give away 20 SBD...Now, mind you this is just 7 days ago while SBD is almost $2. I asked for a comment in the reply section and you had to follow. You know what? It's one of my lowest upvoted posts...So I would agree that not asking for followers is important to the community. But like you mentioned. Do you want people to follow your content because they enjoy it or just because you asked them to?
Damn! This part had me rolling! I was expecting some epic news. Oh my! I don't know if I should feel bad for laughing.
The closest I've gone to asking is just notifying the person that I followed them.
Lol. It's an interesting quandary for sure.
Very well said fisteganos I prefer organic followers myself. I do not ask for followers as I feel true relationships on steemit is due to content and great interaction with one another. Steem on!
Same here! This just reminded me of a similar issue. Do you feel obliged to follow someone because they followed you?
No, not always because I always look at their posts and if they are controversial and I don't resonate with their perspectives I won't follow. I prefer upbeat, positive and progressive people that are of like minds. That's why I love the organic followers as we share the same interests. ;-)
I must confess i use to ask for follow back.Until a nice guy told me its wrong and makes you look Cheeky,so i just try to attract followers in my own way.
I am a newbie on steemit... I do both or more if I have to. I ask people so I can have a more encouraging start (I wouldn't want to spend hours in a platform with zero engagement). I also try to be helpful and make value packed/informative content.
Interesting.
Since you do both, which have you found to be more effective?
@fisteganos asks: "How then do you get people to follow you?" My answer: Your vibe attracts your tribe, and, for me, this is going to be long process of reading content by users to get a true feel for those who will benefit my sense and of a mentally rewarding experience. If someone finds value from me, then it's win-win.
Nice. So you don't plan going around and asking people to follow you?
No. I feel that in all they different ways that users can be discovered, I enjoy stumbling onto surprises in an organic way....being followed or choosing to follow.
Greetings! Follow me at https://steemit.com/@bitgeek