How to Effectively Use Shoutouts to Build an Audience Online
These shoutout techniques work with algorithms as you create connections and networks online. *Helped me acquire Top Writer status in just two months. (updated August 2022)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
· The Long Game Pays Off, Big ∘ What’s a Shoutout? ∘ This Platform is not a Publication ∘ Media, Audience, Networks ∘ Connections of an Algorithmic Proportion ∘ Shoutouts Help You Grow Faster · But Who Should You Shoutout? ∘ Grow Together ∘ Connections that Grow Stronger Over Time · Ways to Shout-out for the Win-Win ∘ Shoutout in a Story ∘ A Reference Shoutout ∘ Sharing in a Public List ∘ PiggyBack Shoutouts ∘ Collaborations ∘ The Progress Report Shoutout ∘ Footer Shoutouts · Sources
Before we begin, this story contains takeaways that have transformed my approach to social media and provided me with real strategies I can use on any social media platform.
I learned these strategies through tried and true methods. Please know I am not tooting my own horn to every writer and content creator who reads this. I am sharing this because it works, and it’s backed by facts, not wishes.
Yes, I am warning you, this is a deep dive, but I promise you, if you take the time to read and jot down some notes, you will rise with an arsenal of strategies you can build on. The same arsenal that helped me reach Top Writer status. I learned I’d reach top writer status through my connection with Yana BostonGirl — thus proving how connecting with other writers is highly beneficial.
The Long Game Pays Off, Big
The long game is boring. There’s very little immediate gratification, and there’s no fast money. But when you are dedicated to manifesting an idea, you commit for the long haul. How does this relate to giving a shoutout to your fellow writers?
Giving Shoutouts are a genuine long-game move. You can make benevolent strategic moves on this platform. Strategic moves that don’t make you appear slimy and slick while ruining your reputation as a legitimate writer.
You don’t have to deceive anyone with fake engagement and fake reading. You don’t have to be disingenuous. You can make moves like a writer, publisher, and entrepreneur in one. And we all have the creativity to do it.
What’s a Shoutout?
What does giving a shoutout mean? A shoutout is a creative and non-invasive way to support a fellow artist on your platform.
A shoutout is a term that originated in the hip-hop culture, where one artist would “shout out” to another artist on their album. It has been adopted by musicians and other celebrities as an expression of gratitude, acknowledgment of a fellow artist, and/or an endorsement of her/his work.
In this post, I would like to share with you the benefits and fun of giving shout-outs to your fellow writers, how it can advance you on this platform, and give some examples of how to do it.
This Platform is not a Publication
This is not Huffpost, the NYTimes, or Forbes. It is a social media platform. You have readers, writers, and writers on this platform who read. We are all a part of a Social Media Platform for readers and writers. And ultimately, every writer that’s writing on this platform is blogging. This is why writers who know how to blog, network, and engage do so well on this platform.
Now, there are articles on this platform about how to blog, and I’ve written a few about Audience Development and Engagement (if you are looking for additional articles and blog posts on this subject, check out Yana Bostongirl she’s on the list, and yes, this is a shout-out).
Media, Audience, Networks
Just as important, we must network on social media platforms (including this one) and the easiest way to network is to shout out another writer. And there are very strategic ways we can do it and make it a win-win.
If you want to build an audience, you will have to do more than just write great content and engage. Anything you build has to be connected or it will be one-dimensional at best. For instance, if you want to build a house, you need to connect frames, walls, pipes, and wiring.
Can’t build a house without it. In conjunction, there are specific connections that hold the house together. Without those connections, the house will fall.
Since we are now writing for media, a social media platform, you need an audience. Connectors in media and business are called Networks. The stronger your network (depth and breadth) on a social media platform, the more chances you have to build a strong audience.
You engage with readers and writers who read, but for the most part, you build a network through connections with other writers. Shoutouts build those connections through a long-term win-win strategy.
Connections of an Algorithmic Proportion
If you shout out someone on this platform, the platform sends a notification to the person you “mentioned.” Why? Have you asked why you’re sent a notification? You’re sent a notification because it’s calculated into one or more elements of the platform's algorithm.
Algorithms are precise sequences of instructions, implemented using programming languages:
The basic elements of an algorithm are sequence, selection, and iteration.
Sequence — the order in which behaviors and commands are combined in a project in order to produce a desired result.
Selection — is the use of conditional statements in a project. Conditional statements such as [If then], or [If then else] affect the project flow of a VEXcode VR project.
Iteration — algorithms often use repetition to execute steps a certain number of times, or until a certain condition is met. This is also known as “looping.” Iteration can change the project flow by repeating a behavior a specified number of times or until a condition is met. — Vex.com
Social media algorithms do not count things that don’t matter. It’s true, that some variables are more valuable than others, but if it’s counted, it matters.
We have plenty of writers complaining about the algorithm.
“The algorithm won’t let me be great!”
“They're changing the algorithm, and my views have dropped.”
“They only want us to feed the algorithm.”
Everyone tries to figure it out. I repeat, “figure it out.”
Still, what does the algorithm have to do with shoutouts?
Well, I’ll ask these questions instead, have you ever searched your name on this platform? Does it come up? Do your responses show up? Does someone else's name show before yours? That means your name isn’t “findable,” and you aren’t findable. Many of the top writers on this platform get their names blasted in article after article because people constantly use them for examples of how to grow. They become easily findable.
Don’t take it personally. The algorithm isn’t against you. You’re just not giving it what it wants — more avenues connected with your name. As you Shoutout others, others will Shoutout you, which creates more connections to your name.
Shoutouts Help You Grow Faster
Before I started on this platform just ten short weeks ago, after quitting in 2020 (after only 30 days of trying and about five articles). I always wanted to come back, so I studied for months.
We had to hustle for our first 100 followers just ten weeks ago. Now, it's much easier. The question isn’t why. The question is, “How did it get much easier?” Shoutouts made it easier.
Each time an “I Got My 100 followers” article has come up on my feed in the past three weeks, I get 20 to 30 more followers that day. Some people on this platform have yet to see this value, and most hate these articles. I celebrate each time I see one. I celebrate because it has become a network.
True, not all of the 100 Follower’s Network are engaged readers or writers who read, but about 20 to 30% have been. That’s 6 to 9 people added to your audience just from a shoutout. Couple it with good content and real engagement, and your audience will grow faster. If this were Instagram, this would be equivalent to getting on the explore page.
But Who Should You Shoutout?
Your first reaction may be, oh, let me go and Shoutout Tim Dennings (I hear about him all the time, so it’s just an example) or this Top writer with 50,000 followers. We’ll connect, and I’ll have 10,000 new followers, and 100,000 reads a day!
Nah. Doesn’t work that way. The big guys who have been on this platform for 4, 5, or 6 years won’t get anything out of it. If you look, you’ll see that most of the people following you are already following them.
Grow Together
Network with, support, and give shoutouts to those who are “growing with you.” They are still growing and appreciate the connection.
The Long-Term Effect is growth on and beyond this platform because networks are like contagions they can spread through direct or indirect contact.
I exchanged dialogue with Pene Hodge, A mom and two times Top writer; she said, “I was introduced to you through Annelise Lords.” Annelise and I have changed dialogue many times on this platform.
Connections that Grow Stronger Over Time
Take a close look; you can see we have some great writers on this platform. Many will go on to do more. Some will write books, publish books, build a content marketing business, and become literary agents — you name it.
Some will become top writers and editors of a publication that will soar here on this platform. If you connect with them now, engage now, and show support now, then that connection can grow stronger over time. No one gets to the top alone. No one builds alone.
Ways to Shout-out for the Win-Win
You can Shoutout and support other writers in many ways. You can make it fun and interesting by using different types of shoutouts. Here are a few I find fun and interesting. There is a win-win with each type.
Shoutout in a Story
Envelop your shout-out in a story, article, or post. I gave an example above. I also use this form of shouting out a fellow writer in my series, "Conversations,” inspired by Natasha Nichole Lake, Bic Wonder, Kamil, Amanda Laughtland, Laurianne Muzangisa, Melinda Van Fleet, Justiss Goode, and many others I’ll release soon. This method is a win-win because it’s a great way to connect, it’s fresh content, and it sparks conversations about the conversation.
The Win-Win — Great Connection and great content.
A Reference Shoutout
Some writers have extensively researched topics that can cut your research time in half. Many writers have the expertise you don’t have. You can reference another writer on a platform.
References can be links to personal stories or expert advice a writer has given in one of their stories. I’ve recently applied a reference shoutout to one of my articles on personal development (publishing soon).
Readers love this because sometimes it provides a link to another story they’d love to read. It’s okay you won’t lose any readers. Readers make reading lists. Reference Shoutouts can give you credibility and rich content.
The Win-Win — Connection, Content, and Authority
Sharing in a Public List
On this platform, we can make reading lists private or public. Shame on me, but I’m just taking advantage of this feature. You can add other writers' content to your list and publicize it.
Thus, you can take it a step further by naming the list, and adding your content and the content of other writers who talk about a similar subject. To take a step further, you can integrate the list into a story, post, or article as I did when I posted this link: “Audience Development and Engagement.”
The Win-Win — Topic Clustering (a powerful SEO tactic), Connection, and Promotion
PiggyBack Shoutouts
First, I want to state emphatically, “Do not piggyback without Permission.” Getting permission before you piggyback someone’s material can be the difference between an appreciation and a “you’re stealing my content.” Some writers are extremely sensitive about their work.
I’m one of those writers who doesn’t mind a good ol’ piggyback. As long as you quote me correctly and credit me with the quote, I’m fine.
What’s a piggyback shout-out? Well, let’s say you read a writer’s content, someone like Omy.” You enjoy Omy’s take on a topic or subject.
You’re inspired to elaborate on one of the points made in the story; therefore, you contact Omy in the comments or private message and ask if it is okay if you “piggy-back” one of the points made in the story about struggles with mental health, such as the article entitled I Think About Giving Up Everyday.
Consequently, you will credit Omy in the story. A fellow writer named Juana Flor here on this platform did the same when she wrote this article If You Want To Change Your Life, Change The Station which made me cry.
The Win-Win — Great content, Connection, Authority
Collaborations
Collaborations are possible. I’ve never collaborated. But I do want to. No, you don’t have to write in the same post to do it. Collaboration can be a tag team topic.
It is simply two or more writers writing on the same topic or subject and referencing each other. You can promote the articles through a
- reading list,
- a tag name shared here and on various social media platforms,
- or as mentions in each post itself.
For example, if you and ten other writers are writing about the first Christmas gift you remember as a child, then you can use #firstchristmasgift to make it a reading list called “First Christmas gift” and share the list under that tag on social media. You can also list all the writers writing about the same subject somewhere in the body of the article or as a footer.
The Win-Win — Connection, Topic Clustering, Great Content
The Progress Report Shoutout
I have just learned another way I will be shouting out writers on this platform. Each week we get a progress report from this platform; in the progress report, we get a list of people who engage with us the most. Through a weekly progress report (starting this week for me), I will be shouting out to my most engaged readers. As writers, we get a list via email every Friday.
The Win-Win — Inspiring Content, Connection, Incentive
Footer Shoutouts
And that leads to footer shoutouts. Footer shoutouts are the easiest. You can simply say:
Do you like unique stories about extraordinary places, people, and locations, then you should check out…
The Win-Win — Connection and Trust Building
Here I have shown you some great ways to Shoutout other writers and content creators on this platform. I have shared the benefits and the win-win strategies.
Now the big question? Will you try it, or are you afraid some fancy pants writer will steal your audience? That’s not how it works, folks. When you build networks, you rise. You become a “big connect” in the house.
“The point about Connectors is that by having a foot in so many different worlds, they have the effect of bringing them all together.”― Malcolm Gladwell, The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference
I never forgot this passage after reading this book twice. Connectors bring people together; big connectors bring worlds together. Big connectors rise. This is your ticket to growth on any social media platform.
I warned this would be a deep dive, but put these techniques into practice, and we will rise together.
Sources
Computer Science Level I. Vex.com.
I Think About Giving Up Everyday. Omy. Medium
If You Want To Change Your Life, Change The Station. Juana Flor
…Quote. Malcolm Gladwell. The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference
