Top Writers, Don’t Be Stupid — Be Amazing and Engage.

How to lose your followers in one easy step.

Top writers, this isn’t about you; this is about me. This is about how to get your writing in front of my face, make me want to click on it, and practically force me to engage with it. Here’s a bonus: I will share great writing on social media. Maybe.

But you’re losing me, top writers. I click on my homepage, and you’re not there. Yes, I’m still among the 181 thousand people following you, but I do not see you. Here’s why: (actually, hold on).

Things Have Changed

I started writing here in December 2020. You, the top writers, got me here and gave me the confidence to write. There is something magical about this platform that makes it unique for writers and readers: it’s the community. And that’s the reason you’re losing money.

I did my due diligence to find out how I can thrive here. I’ve read your articles and bought your books. I’m not going to lie; I’d like a piece of your $1,000/mo pie. I believe everyone can make $1k a month. But you, dear top writer, are complaining about losing money. (I know why.)

You’ve missed the purpose of this platform and its most recent change. You continue to write excellent and helpful articles (although I’m getting a little tired of being told to wake up at 5 a.m., be in the flow, and be a super productivity hero).

Dropping Some Names (Out of Love)

Tim Denning, you know I love you. You’re in your bed, checking how Bitcoin can afford your Lambos, but you have me worried. I desperately want to tell you that Bitcoin is a meme and share with you how I’ve safely and quickly grown my money in sound investments. But the best you’ve given me is a click on the “like” button, and then moved on.

Ayodeji Awosika, your words inspire me and gives me the fuel to keep writing. You’re honest and transparent, and real. We’ve had some exchanges on Twitter, including one that pissed me off (I wrote about it without mentioning your name). I apologized; I moved on. I still love you. But here, in this place, you’re awfully quiet.

And then, there’s our founder, Ev Williams, who made a call for writers to reach out to him in the comment section. He said he would look at them and respond with why something wasn’t working. As far as I can tell, reading those 46 comments, not one of them has a response.

I became enlightened in reading Sergey Faldin’s book about making money here. He specifically wrote that he does not read comments on his articles, let alone respond to them, nor does he read other people’s articles.

Here’s How You’re Losing

Top writers, I haven’t stopped following you. I’m still interested in what you have to say, but the algorithm has changed.

I’m sure you’ve seen a fall-off in your reading numbers. It isn’t because you’re not making engaging content because you aren’t engaging.

The creators and curators have told us as much. They said they would pay us based on reading time, and then they said they are focusing more on engagement. They’re making things more relational.

It’s Like YouTube (An Analogy)

I click on Alexandra Daddario videos; I click on MrBeast videos. Do you know what videos YouTube doesn’t show me? PewDiePie videos. Am I subscribed to PewDiePie? Yup. Do I watch his videos all the way through? Nope.

For YouTube, the things that show up on my homepage are the things I’ve interacted with: things I’ve clicked on and things I’ve watched.

That’s just one part of what makes this writing platform that we’re currently on work: what do I click on; what do I read? It doesn’t matter (too much) who I’m following. Again, what am I clicking on? What am I reading?

It’s Like Facebook (Another Analogy)

Facebook is a bit more relational (there’s that word again). If I interact with people’s posts, and they interact with mine, guess what happens? You’re right! We see each other’s posts more often.

Here, at this place where I’m typing this and this place where you’re reading this (this place that doesn’t like us calling it by name; the name rhymes with tedium), they do the same thing. Interaction = more views.

Here’s Why I Don’t See You

I don’t see you because you aren’t interacting with your audience. Nor are you reading other people’s work and interacting with them there. Because of this, the algorithm is removing you from our views.

I know you’re busy. I’d even say you’re famous, at least here. You can’t respond to every comment; you can’t read everyone else’s articles. But you CAN respond to SOME comments. You CAN read SOME other articles.

Do what this platform wants you to do: interact, engage, and be relational. You win. I win. We all win.

While I have your attention, please click this story about a kid that may die if we don’t help. Helping is easy and quick. Read here how.

Thanks for reading! I write about being unproductive, breaking habits, and getting lots of sleep, AND still getting things done.

Follow me on Twitter at @LifeisPresence.