Top 4 Ways to Build a Unique and Authentic Online Presence
Or tips on how to not be a hapless hack
We live in an age where we are being required to adapt to new technologies faster than ever before. When things change fast there is great opportunity for growth but, on the flip-side of that, we are treading into unknown territory with unpredictable traps. Avoiding these traps can be challenging and, sometimes, falling into them can be tempting.
The landscape of Medium is a form of this dilemma to me. I think like most people, I created an account on this site because I am not bad at writing, I like reading, and why not just see how I can make a couple bucks while I do it. Also, at the time, I was not working. We sign up for Medium because we see it as an opportunity for growth but we might not be ready for some of the tempting traps.
The temptation I’m mostly talking about is to give in to the game to search for claps and likes and follows. This pursuit, which for me would have stemmed from a hope for financial reward, disconnects us from being undisputedly authentic or true to ourselves and others. Recent research has shown that authentic leadership is positively related to performance. This is why I am writing this. I want to help improve all of our performance together so let’s go!
First Impressions
The two main types of reading recommendations I got when I first started exploring Medium were along the lines of “I Made $1000 by Doing Literally Nothing” or “White People Suck and Here’s Why”. Though the algorithm suggested these articles based on writing I had willingly read and enjoyed it started to seem as though vapid sensational headlines were what Medium was about and what I would have to create if I wanted to make any money. The concept of a catchy headline without substance was the opposite of what I value so I wrote articles the way I wanted to without real consideration for that.
These days, in exploring how to contribute authentically here because there is the constant tug-of-war where I don’t want to give in to the attraction of publishing for the most likes and claps but I do want to reach people and publish articles that add nuance and depth to the firmament rather than diluting myself to become a well-trained human-based bot.
So, to make the rest of this readable let me list 4 tips to think through if you have a similar mission:
- Is this an article I would want to read? Simple reason: If you are only writing because you think people will clap and comment you are disconnecting from yourself which is step 1 of a different article about how to hate yourself.
- Is this an article someone I respect would want to read? Being authentic doesn’t mean completely forgetting other people and doing whatever you want. Humans are social and we look to each other to mirror ourselves. If you don’t think a reader you respect would be interested in your writing, are you writing for people you don’t respect?
- Is this an article the 8-year old you would think is legit? This is a twist on the last question. The point of asking it isn’t to write articles about whatever your favorite cartoon was at that time. It is to ask whether you are on a path that honors the ambitions and dreams of that kid. No, I wasn’t dreaming of writing on Medium when I was 8, but I did hope I would enjoy and value whatever I was doing as the adult version of me.
- Don’t clap for people’s articles without reading them. Doing this just makes you look like a tool who wants their own claps and reads. If you are really new or just haven’t figured it out yet, reading time is how you support and show respect for other writers who are part of the partner program.
Good luck on your writing journeys and I hope these tips help you avoid the traps!
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