I Want You To Unfollow Me

The real way to build an engaged audience

I began my Medium journey a week or so ago after a hiatus. Since returning I’ve noticed a few things that I can’t ignore anymore. I also have the secret hack I am using to gain an active and engaged audience.

So let’s talk, just you and me.

When I was on the platform in the past it seemed to be a refuge for writers. I could come and deliver my heartfelt words without putting them on a list. I was part of the Medium Partner Program along with everyone else but there was no real focus on it when it pertained to our words. It was fun.

Since then Medium has announced changes to the partnership program that would remove anyone from it that did not have 100 followers. That is when the floodgates opened.

Aspiring writers everywhere started freaking out and doing everything necessary to reclaim their .30 cents per month! An injustice was done!

Articles began to fill feeds with sure-fire methods on how to reach 100 followers! Tips, tricks, and hacks were in full supply but something nobody is talking about is the true method to 100 followers.

It seems to me that the method everyone is trying is the oldest game in the social media fake influence world. Follow for follow. I rub your back, you rub mine.

I get new followers every day that haven’t read my work and I check who they follow to find out that sure enough, they are following hundreds and sometimes thousands more than those who follow them back.

If you have followed me not wanting to read my work but instead because you are hoping for a follow back, then I implore you to immediately and without hesitation unfollow me. I don’t need unengaged followers who are only here for reciprocation.

Stop. It doesn’t work.

Let me tell you 3 reasons why.

1. Fake Influence isn’t real influence

I’m going to assume the reason you came to Medium is the same as mine. You are a writer and creator. Your currency is words. You probably fall into the words of affection category for your love language.

If you want a true audience that is engaged and who is craving to read the words you love to craft, follow for follow will never satisfy your desire.

No matter how much you tell yourself you earned those 100 followers, you didn't. None of these people will want to read your work. They see you as a number that gets them closer to their goals.

You could have an audience of 10k follow for follow types, but if they aren't engaged you may as well have none.

2. It’s An Avalanche You Will Never Escape

Once you start walking down the fake influence golden brick road it is very hard to come back from it.

It is not just on Medium but it is with any platform that depends on subscribers or followers. When everyone is fake it makes your channel or stream seem dead.

On paper, it says you have thousands of followers but if you only get a few people commenting or reading back it can start to feel demoralizing. It will lead to burnout quicker and make you feel so much more discouraged.

The next step is ultimately you quitting the platform you love because you now think you are a terrible writer. After all, no one in your follow for follow crowd wants to read your words.

Like an avalanche, it will continue to roll and pick up steam and get bigger.

There is no escape.

3. Your Creative Satisfaction Will Suffer

You are a creative person and it’s likely you feed off creating art for people to read. There is nothing more thrilling than hitting publish on a piece you’ve poured your heart into.

Now imagine doing that and hearing crickets.

Every. Single. Time.

You were made to create and have people read the words that you beautifully created, and you deserve that!

Fake followers don’t care. They will click and not read. They will post their links in your comments. It will feel daunting.

The other hard truth is that the algorithm will pick up on it and stop showing your work to people because it will think no one wants to read it. Even if it's good.

So Justin, what's the path? what are the solutions here? Do you have the real hacks?

I do.

Want to know the true method? Lean in and listen…

Write. Good. Shit.

That's it. That's the hack!

We often forget that people who read are humans. Write for them. Solve a problem for them. Leave them feeling something. Do those things and I promise the followers will come! Better yet, they will be actively engaged and want to read what you're saying. They will comment and share your article. They will buy your courses. You just need patience.

Don’t sell your soul out with follow for follow so you can snag that .30 cents.

It’s not worth it!

I just started my Medium journey and I am in writing about it. If you want to read about the methods I am working on to launch my writing career then this article goes into detail about what my strategies are!

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