Strategies to Avoid When Promoting Your Writing
Learning Through Experience
There are currently, according to Google, 500 million blogs all competing for subscribers. This reality forces me to explore strategies to entice readers to my blog. I dream of hosting a successful blog and building a following on Medium.
Someone once said, “Build it and they will come,” but this encourages false hope because there is so much more required of a writer. Casey Botticello’s article, “How to Increase Your Medium Followers” and multiple articles by Tom Kuegler promise success to writers who apply their suggestions. I read and reread these and others’ advice to identify the tricks I have yet to apply. Then I strategically strive to follow their lead to achieve top writer status.
Probably due to my years of experience teaching teens who favored everything above reading, I started to think outside the box. In the same manner I tried to tempt students to engage, I attempted to lure follows using entreats, bribery, trickeries, manipulation, innovation . . . anything that might support my cause. Though my numbers slowly climbed, the collection of ineffective strategies grew quicker.
Therefore, I share, in an endeavor to save you time, what doesn’t work to promote writing. (If anyone found success applying any of these practices, please share your experience! We all can use support.)
Spam
Though I had a general understanding of the meaning of Spam, its application in marketing eluded me. Unfortunately, I made many errors that in either my innocence or stupidity labeled me a spammer — quite embarrassing.
Spam is considered unsolicited messages sent to multiple recipients. This is the definition I finally developed to guide my future communications. But prior to this understanding, my mistakes provided learning experiences.
Quora
The question answer format on this site has driven traffic to my blog, however; my first few approaches were almost fatal. In retrospect, luckily, I did not get banned; unfortunately, many of my responses were collapsed. My initial encounters with Quora taught me how to bounce back and not let missteps direct future accomplishments.
Do Not
- Respond to a question by posting a link to an article that provides the answer. It seemed logical to share a detailed article in response to a question. However, Quora does not like links to posts. It is OK to paste the entire article into the response but do not share links to your website.
- Add a link to your blog at the end of your response. Moderator discourage any advertising for self-promotion.
Do
- Respond to answers with insightful, informed responses. If your profile references your website, interested readers will find you.
- Do reference other related articles in your response. If a link is shared, you risk the content being collapsed, but when it is it incorporated into the response in a relevant and meaningful manner, it may be accepted.
Many Stories
This website works in conjunction with Medium. It allows writers to share published stories from Medium on a second platform to increase circulation. The advantage is the ease of publication and engagement potential with other writers.
Do Not
- Email followers and invite them to visit your blog. I did this under the assumption that a person who followed me would be interested and had solicited my input. Nope! I suppose because I invited each person as they followed me, it was considered multiple recipients and I was as asked politely to stop and threatened with suspension from the site.
Do
- Post every article you publish on Medium. It is a supportive environment to share and read. The material is eclectic, offering topics and genres that inspire interest and entertainment. I have found no disadvantages and love the community.
When I joined Twitter, I felt like I suddenly had entered a world of strobe lights and activity. Every topic of interest is available and the difficulty for me was finding a way to par down content and isolate spaces relevant to my needs. I found success experimenting and moving slowly. There are numerous supports and tutorials available.
Do Not
- Simply post a link to an article you wish to share. That is too impersonal. Most participants will actively engage with a post when a backstory, explanation, or purpose is identified. Provide a reason to read your post.
- Post a link and leave. This is a society that supports others and you don’t want to be known as the flasher who shares but never responds to others.
- Inundate the platform with your material. It is a turn off when readers believe you are self-absorbed and are only present for what you can gain.
Do
- Use hashtags to direct posts to appropriate audiences.
- Make connections, follow others, support their posts, and readers will connect with you and what you have to say.
- Ask for help. When I first signed on to Twitter, one kind gentleman took me under his tutelage. He readily defined terms, provided direction, and offered encouragement. People are helpful.
Do Not
- Overshare. Too much is still too much. Even your friends will tire of excessive posts, no matter how strong the writing or entertaining the story. Post enough to entice interest but not so much that they hide your page. Always leaving them wanting more
- Be careful when creating a Facebook Messenger. I created a newsletter for friends but when anyone responded, everyone received the message. Now that is excessive and unsolicited. (Stick with Mailchimp for newsletters.)
Do
- Think about what is relevant to the audience and the platform. On my personal Facebook page, I never post political opinions; however, there are some excellent group pages for every topic imaginable. Search groups to find the appropriate audience for the topic of the article.
Learning happens through trial and error. The goal is to minimize the error. Good luck as you pursue writing endeavors; I hope my mistakes allow you to realize dreams of success and avoid a few nightmares.
