#tagging popular things to boost the algorithm

[classicalelephant]

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[nuttersincorporated]

Tumblr: A Beginners Guide

Hello and welcome to Tumblr!

If you're new here, this post is a little guide meant to help you understand how things work on Tumblr. I’m going to give you some guidelines and explain a little bit about Tumblr culture. Hopefully, this will help you settle in, avoid unnecessary pitfalls and enjoy your time here. I hope you’ll like it here on our hellsite (affectionate).

1. First and most importantly, please change your userpic and put something on your blog.

If you don’t, other users will think you're a bot and you'll be reported/blocked. It’s nothing personal but we are at war with the bot accounts. Most older users will automatically assume that a blank blog= bot.

You don’t need to do much. If you aren’t comfortable rebloging things or making your own posts yet, just change your userpic and add a short description to your blog.

Here’s an example of a description you can use.

‘Hi! I’m new here. I’m still working out how this place works but I promise I’m not a bot so please don’t block me.’

2. Go to your settings, then to your dashboard settings and change things to how you like them. I suggest-

Make Tumber show you posts in chronologically order, rather than pushing ‘best stuff first’

Pick a colour palate that doesn’t give you a headache

Make Tumblr show timestamps on posts and reblogs. While a post is never too old to reblog, you don’t want to accidentally signal boost something as ‘news’ when it's acutely years out of date and no longer relevant.

Choose not to shorten long posts

3. Go to the top of your dashboard, press on the toggle and arrange things how you like them.

I suggest pinning your ‘Following’ first. It means that when you go to your dashboard, the first thing you’ll see are the blogs that you’ve actively chosen to follow.

Some older users will tell you that the ‘For You’ page is useless and should be ignore. This is because for a long time it was either non-existent or terrible so most older users – myself included – just don’t bother with it.

However, nowadays it’s fine so use it if you want. ‘Following’ should still probably be pinned first though because you know what you like better than the algorithm.

4. Please don’t censor your words here. Tumblr doesn’t shadow ban you for saying random words.

Shadow banning does happen but it’s mostly at random or because you were targeted by trolls. If it happens to you, you’ll need to fight to get unshadow banned.

The point is that you won’t get shadow banned for saying ‘death,’ ‘murder’ or ‘rape.’ Don’t do things like saying ‘graped’ instead of ‘raped.’ If you do, you’re just going to piss people off and make it harder for people to avoid triggers.

5. Don’t spam the tags!

You can ramble in the tags all you want and nobody will mind. However, if you tag an unrelated post with a popular tag, you will be reported for spamming. It’s against the Tumblr terms and conditions, it’s annoying and it’s something the porn bots do.

When you are making your own post, the tags you use should be to help other people find your post. When you are rebloging other people’s posts, the tags you use should be so you can find that post again if you want.

The other thing that tags are for – both in your own posts and reblogs – is for adding things that don’t really fit in the post itself but you still wanted to say. You can add paragraphs in your tags and no one will bat an eye but if you tag a post with a trending but unrelated tag, that’s spamming.

6. Please, reblog things. It helps posts spread a lot more than liking them does. Think of your blog as a scrap book where you put stuff you like.

If you aren’t comfortable adding to a post, that’s fine. Just reblog it and share it with others.

7. That said, Tumblr posts are collaborative and we like it when you add to them. It doesn’t have to be much. You don’t have to add something every time you reblog a post but it is a part of the fun to do it sometimes.

If it’s an art or fanfic post comments like; ‘good post op,’ ‘I LOVE THIS!’ or even ‘OUCH my heart!!!’ will make an OP’s day.

If it’s another sort of post; you can add your thoughts or join in on committing to the bit. Try matching the energy the post is already giving.

If you aren’t comfortable commenting directly, you can always put it in the tags.

8. The follow and block buttons are your friend. You decide what you see here. If your dashboard doesn’t spark joy, you can always follow someone new and/or follow an interesting tag. If someone is making your time here unpleasant unfollow and/or block them.

9. Tumblr likes to commit to the bit. Sharks are smooth (they are not) and the 1973 Martin Scorsese movie ‘Goncharov’ is the greatest film ever made (it doesn’t exist).

10. A post is never too old to reblog. We like old posts here.

Every now and again, you will see a post that is over ten years old. The reblogs will probably be full of people expressing delight about seeing the original post again or seeing it for the first time.

11. You don’t want to be Tumblr famous.

There are niche blogs that are dedicated to one thing and are well liked e.g. @the-haiku-bot (the one bot we love), @writing-prompt-s and @cantheykillmacbeth. However, they are either side blogs or blogs run by multiple people.

Your main blog should just be somewhere you like to spend your time. There are no benefits to being Tumblr famous on your main blog.

12. Tumblr spreads news with this meme

13. Tumblr loves dates. Whether it’s the Ides of March (it sure would be a shame if certain world leaders got stabbed), Halloween (which we start celebrating in about July) or just a random day of the week e.g. ‘Out of Touch Thursday’ there is always something happening that you can celebrate.

14. The staff always pulls a silly and harmless prank on Apil Fools Day. Last year we got to boop each other.

15. We like a silly poll

Okay, I think that’s the basics covered. You’ll get the hang of everything else as you go along.

I hope you have fun here and that you manage to avoid Apollo’s dodgeball of prophecy (try not to joke about a specific way things could get worse or you might be hit).

Yours faithfully,

A Tumblr Cockroach

PS If you are a Tumblr oldie, please feel free to reblog this to help out newer users.

[umber-cinders]

It’s almost witching hours, and I’m in an honest mood, so I’ma be real fucking honest.

My tumblr notes and comments never compare to what I get on Ao3, and that’s why I don’t bother posting stories on here anymore. It speaks a lot to the type of communities that have been cultivated here when it comes to fanfic. My advice to anyone that feels as if their fics get overlooked on tumblr is to learn to use Ao3. There’s no algorithm and you don’t have to rely on notes and reblogs from anyone with an already established following to get your stories seen by your target audience.

On Ao3, when someone searches a tag you’ve used, they will see your stuff. When some filters for a tag you’ve used, they will see you stuff. It won’t go by notes/reblogs and popularity unless someone uses the filters to purposely search for things that way.

That being said, making a small post with info on the story/chapter on here does still give a chance to boost your reach to the people who actually search tags looking for fandom things on tumblr. Comments and interaction from both sides is what helps the most, but tumblr was not made for new or small writers to flourish.

[aces-and-angels]

ART CAMPAIGN BOOST SUBMISSIONS:

edit: i hit the image limit for this post, so any new additions will be included here

the tag is starting to get kinda crowded (great problem, dw). i just thought compiling them all here would make things easier for everyone to find! all of the art displayed below is free to use for the purposes of promoting vetted gfm's here on tumblr. no credit is needed unless specified (marked = ***). if you have any questions regarding how to craft a post using any of the art provided -> please do not hesitate to reach out to me! note: please press follow post as i will most likely need to update this masterlist from time to time.

some info is below the cut on how to best utilize this material. please read it in its entirety before using any artwork. thank you 🖤

learn how to make art for this project here:

---

this project has gained a lot of momentum and has shown very promising results. the level of engagement once art is attached to a vetted gfm increases significantly. you will see what i mean as i have linked example posts of how to best use these pieces to help families in need.

i currently have a list of over 20+ families that i am spotlighting in my own personal progress tracker (the list has gotten so long that i now need to make a second version to accommodate all the families trying to get in contact with me).

this art campaign boost is truly meant to be utilized by anyone. i would sincerely appreciate it if y'all could take some time and pick maybe 1-2 people from this list and use the art below to create your own signal boost posts on the families' behalf. as someone who is periodically tracking their progress- i know that donation rates have slowed for a number of them. i am one person and can only do so much on my own. the essence of this initiative is to get more people to mobilize as a collective. it will take everyone to get on board in order for these families to be able to reach their goals. that means spotlighting their accounts/campaigns periodically.

you need to keep up the momentum.

the individuals you are helping currently live in areas with minimal internet connection, meaning it is very difficult to spotlight themselves on their own. especially since this site is continuously suppressing/deleting their accounts. they need you to interact with their content. tumblr isn't like other social media sites. it's known for being very 'anti-algorithm' and it's common culture for many of us to not really care about our levels of engagement (i.e. follower count/amount of notes per post). it's very hard for your own content to "break" your inner circle of followers and gain traction if the topic of the post is not "popular" or "trending" these families are not operating on this site the same way you are. you may be using this platform as a means to "just vibe" but they are using it as a desperate attempt to raise essential funding to save their lives. the importance that their posts be elevated cannot be overstated. anyone who has ever created any sort of og content here knows how quickly a post can die out if no one interacts with it. this cannot happen with them.

tips for making your own signal boost post* (*for vetted campaigns):

-> make it easy to read + eye-catching: the problem i am seeing when you search many of these families' accounts is that their "tag" (username of their account) is full of the same types of posts (i.e. a generic response to their initial message to another person on tumblr) <- aka it is very easy for people to tune out which is the opposite of what we want to happen. creating your OWN posts in response to their asks allows the art to appear FIRST when people look up someone's account via tumblr's search bar, which will attract more attention to their accounts. it also forces people who are making these posts to actually sit down and read the stories they are sharing with the rest of their mutuals/lurkers alike -> include verification sources: the main reason people are searching for these accounts is b/c they are trying to see if it is okay to reblog/share their campaign with their own following. if you address this plainly and early on in your post that includes artwork -> people are more likely to interact -> tag the account you are promoting: please include the families' account as one of your #'s so it will appear when you search for their names on tumblr. also try @'ing their account in your post so it'll be easier for these families to find your work. some of them are incredibly new to the platform and may not be aware of all its features. something that you may find intuitive may not be as easily understood for these individuals. your role is to make them as easy as possible to find for others so they can gain more support. --- don't have time to type out a whole post for a family on their behalf? -> interact with one of theirs! attach something nice/helpful to their posts so it is more readily available for others to share. the same rules apply from above. as i said before, some of these accounts are brand spanking new and are not formatted in the same ways as others that may be more well-versed on how tumblr operates in terms of promoting their campaigns. (for example: even if the account has been vetted/verified by multiple trusted individuals- the owners of that account may not know to include that info in their posts about their campaign every single time they post. you can make their lives easier by including that info for them by reblogging one of their og posts and adding the necessary info on their behalf)

you can also find a more comprehensive list of vetted campaigns by el-shab-hussein/nabulsi here <- their list is now over 200+ with several campaigns that are "in the red" (very low in funding). please do not hesitate to try to spotlight anyone from this list as well!

el-shab-hussein also has a masterpost pinned here with additional campaigns (including those for other countries like sudan)

alright i've explained enough- time for the art!

artist: @rhq274 | @rhq2744 *** free to use, credit required meet raghad (read and share full post here) Hello, I am Raghad Qanou, a medical student from Gaza City. My people and I have been subjected to genocide for more than 230 days. My family and I have lived through various types of torture and inhumane conditions. This link is my only chance for me and my family to escape death and try to start over. This is not easy. But we are trying, and we would be happy to have you help save our lives and our future. instructions to utilize artwork: those who wish to share raghad's art MUST do ALL of the following: -> follow raghad on tumblr @rhq274 | @rhq2744 -> like + reblog one or more of her posts seen on her account that promotes her fundraiser (you may also include additional art shown below to help further boost her campaign; see example) once those actions detailed above are completed, you may use raghad's art to promote her campaign. *if you are utilizing this art for another campaign that is not raghad's -> you must also mention + link her fundraiser as well /// for those able: please consider donating to raghad's campaign here (vetted; no 221 on el-shab-hussein/nabulsi's sheet)

artist: me lol free to use, no credit required example

artist: @lampyri free to use, no credit required example

artist: @aria-ashryver free to use, no credit required example

artist: @monmonp0k free to use, credit not required- but if given, is appreciated example

artist: @juudaimes-true-form free to use, no credit required example

artist: @gaiuskamilah free to use, no credit required example

artist: @marnota free to use on all social media platforms (i.e. tumblr, insta, twitter, etc), no credit required example

artist: @marquainequeen free to use, no credit required example

artist: @palms-upturned free to use, no credit required example

artisit: @inkyswampbones free to use, no credit required example

[derinthescarletpescatarian]

hi derin! i’ve been following you for a little while, and also bemoaning the nature of publishing fiction (indie or trad) for a little bit longer than that, and i only just realized today that…of course web serials are a thing i can also do!

i really love the idea of publishing serially (though i’m not totally sure i CAN, i’d like to try), so while i add this to my list of potential paths, do you have any advice for getting started? building an audience? marketing? figuring out if writing/publishing this way will work for you to begin with?

i know that’s a lot of questions, and you don’t have to answer all of them! i’m throwing spaghetti at a wall out here. i hope you have a good day though, and thanks in advance!

Getting started in web serial writing

Web serial writing has the lowest barrier of entry of any major method of publishing your story. You can literally just start. There are two steps:

start writing your story

decide how/where you want to publish it

The writing part, I assume you have handled. The important thing to note here is that you gotta see the project through. Start and don't stop until you're done. For publishing, you have a few options:

1. Publish on a website designed for web serial novels

There are a few of these around, they're usually free to publish on (although most offer a paid account to give you ad space or boost you int he algorithm or whatever), and your best choice generally depends on which one happens to gravitate to a niche that best suits your kind of work. The big names in this industry are Royal Road and Scribblehub, which, last I checked up on them (about a year ago) tended towards isekai and light erotica respectively. (You absolutely can publish outside these niches on these sites, it's just much harder to get traction.) Publishing somewhere like this comes with multiple advantages. Firstly, there's a writing community right there to talk to; there's usually a forum or something where people gather to talk about reading or writing on the site. Second, the site itself is designed specifically to publish web serials, and will come with a good layout and hit trackers and 'where you left off' buttons for the reader and all that; generally all you have to do is copy-paste the text of a chapter into the page and the site will do everything else for you. Third, there's an audience sitting right there, browsing the 'latest arrivals' or 'most popular' page of the site; if you can get high in the algorithm, you have to do little if any marketing.

The downsides of such places usually come down to the same things as the advantages. Such sites are a flooded market. Your story absolutely will drown in a sea of other stories, a great many of them terrible, and most of them with the advantage of catering to the site's niche. Gaining an audience there is often a matter of trying to game an algorithm, and the community can be... variable. Some of these places are nice but most of them are a bunch of authors trying to tear down everyone around them to make their own work look better by comparison int he hopes of poaching audiences for their story instead. If you go this route, I'd recommend shopping around for a site that fits you personality and writing style (or just posting on many sites at once; you can also do that).

These places also tend to get targeted by scrapers who will steal your story and sell it as an ebook, which is very annoying.

2. publish on another site

Plenty of people publish web serials here on Tumblr. I do not know why. This site is TERRIBLY set up for that. It makes tracking stories and updates a pain in the arse (people end up having to *manually tag every reader whenever they post an update*), building and maintaining archives are annoying, community building is surprisingly difficult for a social media site, and it's just generally far more work for both writer and reader than it needs to be. You often do have a ready-made audience, though.

This does tend to work better on other sites. Reddit has multiple communities for reading and writing various types of fiction; publishing on these is a bit more work than somewhere like Royal Road, but not very much, and many of these communities are very active. There aren't as many forums around as there used to be, but you might be able to find fiction hosting forums, if that's what you prefer. And of course, many writers who simply want to write and don't mind not being paid choose to write on AO3.

These sites are a good middle ground compromise for people who want a ready-made community and don't mind putting in a bit of extra work.

3. make your own site

This is what I did. You can make a website for free, giving people a hub to find you and all your work, designed however you like. You can also pay for a website if you want it to be a little bit nicer. This option is the most work, but gives you the most control and leaves you free of having to worry about any algorithm.

The obvious downside of this is that there's no community there. If you host your work on your own website, you need to bring people to it. You need to build an audience on your own. This is not an easy thing to do.

Building an audience (general advice)

Here is some general advice about building an audience:

1. Consistency. Consistency. Consistency.

If you want people to read your writing, the best piece of advice I can possibly give you is have an update schedule and update on time, always. If you need to take a break, give people as much warning as possible and tell them exactly when you will be back, and come back then. Do not take unnecessary breaks because you don't feel like writing. (Do take breaks if you get carpal tunnel or need time off for a major life event or something -- your health is more important than the story.) If you're taking a lot of breaks to avoid burnout, you're doing it wrong -- you need to rework your whole schedule from the start and slow down updates to make these breaks unnecessary. Two chapters a month with no breaks is a billion times better than four chapters a month with frequent burnout breaks.

Consistency. Consistency. Consistency.

A reliable schedule is the #1 factor in audience retention. If readers need to randomly check in or wait for notifications from you to check if there's an update, guess what? Most of them won't! They'll read something else. You want your audience to be able to anticipate each release and fit it in their own schedule. I cannot overstate the importance of this.

2. If you can, try to make your story good.

We writers would love to live in a world where this is the most important thing, but it actually isn't. Plenty of people out there are perfectly happy to read hot garbage. How do I define 'hot garbage'? It doesn't matter. Think of what you would consider to be just a terrible, no-effort, pointless garbage story that the world would be better off without. Someone is out there writing that right now, making US$2,500/month on Patreon.

It is, however, a real advantage if you can make your story good. At the very least, it should be worth your audience's time. Preferably, it should also be worth their money, and make them enthusiastic enough to try to get their friends into it. Managing this is massively advantageous.

3. Accept that you're not going to get a big audience for a really long time. Write consistently and update on schedule every time anyway.

It took me over a year to get my second patron. For the first year, I updated Curse Words every single week, on schedule, for over a year, and had maybe... four readers. One of them was a regular commenter. One of them was my first patron. There was no one else.

My audience has grown pretty rapidly, for this industry.

You're not gonna start publishing chapters for a big, vibrant community. You're just not. And you have to keep going anyway. These days, I have a pretty good readership, and those couple of loyal readers (who I appreciate beyond words) have grown into a much larger community, who hang out and debate theories with each other and liveblog and drag in new readers and make fanart. My discord has over 550 members, with volunteer moderators and regular fan artists and its own little in-jokes and games and readers who make a point of welcoming newcomers and helping them navigate the discord, all with very little input from me. I start crying when I think about these people, who do the bulk of my social and marketing work for me just because they want to help, and my patrons who, after writing for over 4.5 years, have recently helped me pass an important threshold -- my web serial (via patreon) now pays my mortgage repayments. I can't live off my writing alone, but boy is that a massive fucking step.

You're not gonna have that when you start. You're gonna have a couple of friends. And that's it. Maybe for a year. Maybe less, if you're good at marketing and lucky. Maybe longer.

You have to update on schedule, every time, anyway.

Building an audience (more specific advice)

"Yeah, that's great, Derin, but where can I find my fucking audience?" Well, if you publish on a web serial site, then the audience is there and you jsut need to grab their affention using the tools and social norms offered to you by the site. I utterly failed at this and cannot help you there. You can still use these other tips to bring in readers from off-site.

1. Paid ads

I've never paid for ads so I can't offer advice on how to do it. I've Blazed a couple of posts on Tumblr; they weren't helpful. This is, however, an option for you.

2. Actually tell people that your story exists and where they can find it.

I used to have a lot of trouble with this. I didn't want to bother people on Tumblr and soforth by telling them about my personal project. Unfortunately you kind of have to just get over that. Now I figure that if people don't want TTOU spam, they can just unfollow me. If you're like me and want to just politely keep your story to yourself... don't. You're shooting yourself in the foot doing that.

You need to mention your story. Link your story in your bio on whatever social media sites you use. Put it in your banner on forums. Make posts and memes about it. Eventually, if you're lucky, extremely valuable readers will start to talk about your story and meme and fanart it for you, but first, you need to let them know it exists.

It will always feel weird to do this. Just accept that people can unfollow you if they want, and do it anyway.

3. Leverage existing audiences and communities

Before I started doing this web serial thing, I used to write a lot of fanfic. The original audience that trickled in for Curse Words comes from AO3, where I was doing a full series rationalist rewrite of Animorphs. They knew how I wrote and wanted more of it. Nowadays, I still occasionally pull in readers through this route. Most of my new readers these days come from a different community -- people who follow me on Tumblr. Occasionally I bring in people who don't follow me because we'll be talking about how one of my stories relates to something different, and fans of that thing might decide they want to check my stories out.

Your first readers will come from communities that you're already in and that are already interested in something similar to what you're doing (people reading my fanfic on AO3 were already there for my writing, for instance). Keep these people in mind when you start out.

One additional critical source of existing communities is your readers themselves. A huge number of my readers are people I've never been in any group with -- they were pulled in by their friends, relatives, or community members who were reading my stories and wanted them to read them too. This is an absolutely invaluable source of 'advertising' and it is critically important to look after these people. enthusiastic readers, word-of-mouth advertisers, and fan artists are the people who will bring in those outside your immediate bubble.

4. Your "where to find me" hub

If you're publishing on your own website, you can simply link everything else to your homepage, and put all relevant links there. For example, I can link people to derinstories.com , which links out to all my stories, social media I want people to find me on (you don't have to link all your social media), patreon, discord, et cetera. If you don't have your own website, you're going to have to create a hub like this in the bios of every site where you garner audiences from. This is the main advantage of publishing on your own website.

Monetisation

There are a few different kinds of monetisation for web serials, but most of them boil down to 'use a web serial format to market your ebook', which to be honest I find pretty shady. These authors will start a web serial, put in enough to hook an audience for free, and then stop posting and release an ebook, with the intention of making readers pay for the ending. Now, to be clear, I am absolutely not against publishing and selling your web serial -- I'm doing exactly that, with Curse Words. I am against intentionally and knowingly setting up the start of a web serial as a 'demo' without telling your audience that that is what you are doing, soliciting Patreon money for it, and then later yanking it away unfinished and demanding money for the ending.

Monetisation of these sorts of stories is really just monetisation for normal indie publishing with the web serial acting as an ad, and I have no advice for how to do that successfully.

Your options of monetisation for a web serial as a web serial are a bit more limited. They essentially come down to merchandise (including ebooks or print books) or ongoing support (patreon, ko-fi, etc.) Of these, the only one I have experience with is the patreon model.

This model of monetisation involves setting up an account with a regular-donation site such as patreon, providing the base story for free, and providing bonuses to patrons. You can offer all kinds of bonuses for patrons. Many patrons don't actually care what the bonus is, they're donating to support you so that you can keep writing the story, but they still like to receive something. But some patrons do donate specifically for the bonuses, so it's worth choosing them with care.

The most common and most effective bonus for web serials is advance chapters -- if people are giving you money, give them the chapters early. You can also offer various bonus materials, merchandise, or voting rights on decisions you need to make in the future. 'Get your character put in the story' is a popular high-tier reward. If you're looking for reward ideas, you can see the ones I use on my patreon.

Patreon used to offer the ability to set donation goals, where you could offer something when you were making a certain amount total or had a certain number of subscribers. They recently removed this feature because Patreon hates me personally and doesn't want me to be happy, so you kind of have to advertise it yourself now if you want to use these goals. I release chapters of unrelated stories at donation goals, and I found this to be far more effective than I thought it would be.

The important factor for this kind of monetisation is that it's ongoing. The main advantage of this is that it makes your income far more regular and predictable than normal indie publishing -- your pledges will go up or down over a month, but not by nearly as much as book sales can. The main thing to keep in mind is that it's not a one-time sale, which means that however you organise things, you want to make sure that donating keeps on being worth it, month after month. Offering bonuses that aren't just one-time bonuses, but things that the patron can experience every month, helps here. So does making sure that you have a good community where patrons can hang out with other patrons. (Offering advance chapters does both of these things -- the patron can stay ahead in the story and discuss stuff with other patrons that non-patrons haven't seen. I've found that a lot of my patrons enjoy reading an emotionally devastating chapter ahead of time, discussing it, and then all gathering a week or two later to watch the unsuspecting non-patrons experience it for the first time.)

Whatever method you use for monetisation, rule #1 is (in the words of Moist Von Lipwig): always make it easy for people to give you money. The process of finding out how to give you money should be easy, as should the process of actually doing it. And, most importantly, the spender should feel like it's worth it to give you money. This is a big part of making it easy to give you money. Make your story worth it, make your bonuses worth it, make sure that they're happy to be part of your community and that they enjoy reading and supporting you. And remember that support comes in many forms -- the fan artist, the word-of-mouth enthuser, the person who makes your social hub a great place to be, the patron, all of these people are vital components in the life support system that keeps your story going. And you're going to have to find them, give them a story, and build them a community, word by word and brick by brick.

It's a long process.

Good luck.

.

[gomzdrawfr]

want to join the fandom cause it seems fun seeing fanarts and you and others interacting but I don't know how...and with the whole ai thing im scared...

my advice: just do it

really! sometimes all you really need is a leap of faith, and that was exactly how I dropped into the cod fandom. When I joined the ghoap discord server I talked to one of the artist I really like and respected from my lurking time (hi @bressynonym) aaaand the rest is history

I didnt know how to draw properly, nor digitally, all I did was scribbling on OneNote (yeah!) and rambled about cod characters, it is daunting and it is scary to interact but after a while? you may just be able to find someone to brainrot together with

start small, like commenting, reblogging, talking, chatting- doesn't have to be towards artist/writers, it could be the art/fic enjoyers!

you need to put yourself out there if you want something

as to if you want to start in the fandom as a creator, here's some more tips (which are all based on my experience, I am no pro at doing this, hell Im still learning myself, and I am by no means speaking these on behalf on others!)

establish a goal: what are you making? fandom based? original creations?

as with starting new, everything may take a while for stuff to happen, you'll feel like you're speaking to the void at times (esp with original arts, but do know that your stuff do get perceive by others as time goes, I would advise to draw fandom stuff as a beginning to get that boost going if you want! or else it's going to be quite hard to get things rolling)

imo this is hardest part of any new creator, you'll have to bear with it and try not to give up (but I understand how incredibly demotivating it could get, there were times when I stopped posting about Raven entirely, but eventually I post it anyway cuz surely someone out there will like them, it just takes a lot of patiences and perseverance)

btw, engagement can also vary from time to time, you may be booming for a bit, then suddenly you dont, it is a cycle that will bound to happen

take rest regularly, and I mean a break from social media because numbers, discourse and everything can get to you, very quickly (I cannot emphasise this enough)

the numbers are not worth it over your mental health (comes with practice to really solidify this thought)

study the algorithm (pain): see what other creators are doing to get where they are, what tags are they using in their post? what features/niche do people like?(this is, if you really want to grab some form of engagement, bcuz reminder in the end you are creating art for yourself first!)

example: I think posts would get more reach if you tag it with the ship name first, followed by the characters' name (doesn't work all the time tho)

that's the thing about algorithm, it is ever-changing, and you'll have to learn to adapt with it when it does!

expanding on that, studying algorithm could be about ships (for example, ghostsoap is most popular in the fandom), or really good rendered art/flashed out fic that leaves your jaw on the floor, or ships that gets lesser attention in general which puts you, who make content about them, easier to be brought into the light (like Faralex)

bUT, it can also be personality!

(again, not saying this is meant for everyone and strictly from my own experience + what I observe) for me, I made up the lack of my art by establishing a personality: a wild panda who yaps about price and their oc and also kinda everywhere in the place (just like this post LOL), OR you're the person who named themselves after Soap's ash particle number OR you're the one who likes bottom Ghost- literally anything goes, you want to make an impression in different ways, some more funny/goofier than others but it works (be mindful and stay respectful tho, dont wanna be the asshole in the fandom now do ya?)

efforts ≠ engagement (not all the time, but most time) and this is a fact. Sometimes, you can't expect a piece you did for 10+ hours to get thousands views and likes, especially in a fandom space. You need to understand algorithm is that wonky. (very disheartening, but again, you make the art for you and the few others who genuinely likes them, and those people can go a long way) be mentally prepared for such events, and try not to beat yourself up too much for it

ultimately tho, do it, do it scared but do it anyways and again, draw the things that bring you joy, I hope these could be helpful in some ways!

[ultrainfinitepit]

Hello!! I return with more pin making questions :]

In my first ask you mentioned that you'd be willing to go into detail about your favorite social medias, and as I have basically only used Tumblr that would be super useful!

It would also be wonderful if you'd be willing to talk about your experiences with the different shopfronts that you've used, but I understand if you can't due to partnership stuff.

And the last question for now, Newsletters! How did you go about setting one up/what program you use/how long does it take to write an update/etc.

Thank you so much!! You're awesome!!!

Hi again :)) sure I can answer this, this is going to be a very long post so I'll put my answers under the cut.

Same disclaimer as last time that all this is just what has worked for me or what I've personally observed, that doesn't mean this is all objectively correct or factual. Others will have different mileage or find other things that work even better.

Social Media

The three platforms I prefer the most are Tumblr, Instagram, and Twitter.

General recommendations:

Respond to people's comments, even with something as simple as a "thank you" for a compliment. This will help build engagement and foster a good relationship with your audience.

Take nice product photos: keep your pin in focus with a nice background and good lighting. Often you only get one chance for your product to leave a good impression!

Pick only a few social media profiles to manage. Don't stretch yourself too thin such that you can't engage with your audience on all your social media.

Find your niche! It’s easier to gain followers for a specific type of merch (such as, angels) than for a broad range.

Tumblr

Posts have a long but sporadic lifespan thanks to the queue (sporadic means, they will exhibit random bursts of activity). And you can post large image sets and long text posts with links, for this reason it is my favorite platform.

Getting a following on Tumblr is largely luck-based. Users rebel against posts being pushed into their feed by the recommendation algorithm or boosts. Users find posts via other users and not so much the tags, although the tagging system is leagues better than Instagram's (which no longer shows most recent posts and only shows popular posts).

On Tumblr I get the most traffic from:

Responses to user submissions - for example, drawing people's angel requests.

Tag yourself posts

Silly or cute doodles and comics - especially if people can overlay their fandom darlings onto these posts.

Compilations of Pride-related designs, particularly of popular flags

I have noticed over the years, people do not reblog as much as in the past, so it's harder to get your posts noticed.

Instagram

In my opinion this is the easiest platform to grow an audience on. Instagram has a very predictable set of criteria for showing your posts to other users, through personal experience it is something like this:

Post once a day.

Post one Reel a day.

No more than three Story shares.

If you deviate from this for too long, or post too many times in a day, Instagram will deprioritize showing your posts to other users. This schedule can be a lot, so if possible I recommend having a buffer of saved up posts and Reels.

Instagram users are pickier about what they like to see. I recommend keeping your profile looking neat and professional; WIPs don't seem to do well there. Instagram users like illustrations and heavily-visual posts; they do not respond well to slides with text on them unless it is a tutorial or tag-yourself post.

Some users like to put memes or other silly images at the end of their posts. I personally don't do this, but I've been told the reason for it is: people share the silly images and that gains more traffic for the post even if they are not sharing the main content.

On Instagram I get the most traffic from:

Fanart of recently popular characters

Tag yourself posts

Pride-related art for popular flags

Cute, colorful illustrated creatures

Anything that asks for audience feedback in the comments. More comments means more engagement, which means it's bumped up in the algorithm.

Hosting monthly art challenges such as Angeltober

Bare chested men

And I have noticed DTIYS challenges are popular and a great way for people to find your profile, although I haven't hosted one of these yet.

Tags on Instagram appear to matter less than in the past, but I still think they are worth using. Try to tag for the content in your post (such as "#biblically accurate angel") instead of using tags for artists or small businesses (such as "#smallbusinessstrong"). Everyone else is using these tags so you have lots of competition, but no one is trawling through those tags so you have less engagement from them. Users are looking for specifically the content they like, they don't care who is posting it.

Twitter

The most arcane out of these three platforms. Getting noticed on Twitter seems to be largely luck-based as well. I had my Twitter profile for a while with little traffic on it until I started posting the new Pride Angels, then it blew up. Hashtags are pretty useless on Twitter and I didn't have many followers before then so I'm not sure why those got popular at that time.

On Twitter I get the most traffic from:

Pride-related art for popular flags

Other relatable art such as for astrological signs

Dishonorable Mention: TikTok

I have a TikTok but I just use it to crosspost my Instagram Reels. I do not have many followers on TikTok, I do not put effort into it, and I dislike the interface. That being said, I have heard from other creators it is way easier than Instagram to grow on if you are willing to make videos and post every day.

A note on blacklisted words

On Twitter, Instagram, and possibly Tumblr too: words like "shop" "link" "commission" etc. may cause your post to be deprioritized. This is because social media platforms do not want you going off of them to some other site to spend money elsewhere. That's why you'll notice people censoring these words ("shop" to "sh0p").

Personally I dislike doing this, it just makes me feel silly, so I don't bother. But I will admit, it hurts my posts. So this is something to keep in mind if you want to do shop promotion on social media.

Shops

The shops I run are, in the order of making them:

Redbubble

The lowest possible barrier to entry for a merch artist: they literally do everything from production to shipping for you, and all you do is provide the artwork. The trade-off is that it's very hard to make any significant money from Redbubble (I make maybe a few cents at most from each sale), and you have no control over the quality of the products.

Etsy

My referral link here.

While Etsy can be imposing at first, it is probably the easiest out of all the marketplaces to start out on. There is a lot of information to fill out to get started, so take it slow so you don't get overwhelmed. It does get easier after the first listing. Once you make one listing you can just keep duplicating and changing it a little so you don't have to keep making listings from scratch.

Etsy claims you need ten listings in your shop before you open it, but you can ignore that.

Once you've gotten started, there's lots of little tricks to learn such as letter mail shipping, all about VAT, improving listings, sections, and so on that I could go into more detail on if anyone is interested. For now I'll just focus on the platform itself.

I like that Etsy has a marketplace search, as a customer it is really nice to use. I like that it has one big cart for all the items I am looking at, and that it has a favorites system. I also like as a customer how each shop is uniform; I know exactly how to search through each shop and what format to expect. I do enjoy artists' custom shops but, sometimes their interfaces are tough to navigate.

Etsy is reasonably good at showing your items to people, which is the number one reason I recommend it for beginners. Just make sure to put effort into your listings such as tagging them, adding nice photos, and videos.

They have protection features built-in such as covering refunds if an item is delivered but the customer claims to not have received it. Etsy also enables international shipping with VAT which is great for EU/UK customers. My biggest gripe with Etsy is the fees, which I've already complained about.

Gumroad

Not much to say about Gumroad really. I only use it to list digital items such as PDFs of my lineart. I think it's saved me a few inquiries from people looking for my art for tattoos. Since all that art is for free on social media anyway, I don't charge for purchases on Gumroad. That's just a personal choice though.

Mercari

Not much to say about Mercari either. I use it to list pins from my personal collection, though I've seen a handful of pin makers use it for the pins they've created. I think the Mercari listing creation is atrocious: they like to recommend titles for your items when you upload new images, and will overwrite existing titles.

I've been considering moving away from Mercari, they recently switched their fee model so now buyers pay fees instead of sellers. This means while sellers can lower their prices, buyers get sticker shock and then ask for discounts on top of already-discounted items. I'm only on there because it's the most popular place for second-hand pin selling.

Shopify

So far I've really enjoyed Shopify. The setup was nightmarishly hard, not to turn anyone off of it but it took me literal months. You can import your listings from Etsy to Shopify but then you have to redo all the SKUs, link up photos to variants, and so on. If you have a ton of listings like me it takes a while. If you only have a few it is more worth it or, might even be worth starting out on if you can do sufficient promotion.

The major advantage of Etsy over Shopify is the marketplace feature: if you don't need the help of Etsy to promote your items then Shopify might be the better option to start out on.

I like that Shopify has significantly lower fees vs. Etsy. However, they do payouts differently and in a way I dislike. Etsy will deduct your shipping fees before calculating your payout balance, while Shopify will payout your balance and then charge you for shipping as part of your monthly bill. So you need to make sure to set aside some of your funds always to cover the Shopify shipping charge.

Additionally, to enable certain integrations or features you will need to pay for them monthly, which can add up. To sync my inventory between Shopify, Etsy, and Faire I use Trunk Inventory, which charges me a monthly $60 fee. That's in addition to the monthly Shopify fee.

Faire

I actually hate Faire despite using it. I was going to use Tundra but Faire drove them out of business (lawsuit pending). Now Faire is the only game in town for wholesale so I'm forced to use them, not that it's done me much good since I haven't had any sales there.

I can rant for ages about Faire's horrendous fees and outdated product import. But if you're a beginner you don't have to worry about wholesale selling, so I'll leave that discussion for another time. If anyone wants to hear more from me about Faire they can send another ask.

My stockists

It's quite hard to give honest reviews of my stockists here, since they might see them so, I'll just share my Linktree for them and you all can investigate on your own and inquire privately.

Newsletter

I used to use Tinyletter but it shut down, so now I use Email Octopus. Here's a referral link, and you can check out my newsletter sign up page here.

Email Octopus doesn't have a newsletter archive, and the interface is more complicated than Tinyletter's, which I dislike; but I like it better than Tinyletter's replacement Mailchimp.

You can try these out for yourself and see which you like better, it really is personal preference. All newsletter services are essentially the same: all you need is a sign up page, a way to store emails, and an ability to send a newsletter to them.

To get people to sign up for your newsletter, I personally recommend always offering it as a choice. For example, if you run a pin campaign, send an update where you share a link to your newsletter to your backers so they have the option to sign up. Do not export their emails and add them to your newsletter without a choice. I have been on the receiving end of this as a backer/customer and it makes me feel bad: it's extra emails in my inbox I didn't agree to and it feels like the creator misusing my information even if technically they are not. As a fellow creator I totally get why others might do this, it's an effective way to get lots of new newsletter signups at once. I just don't personally like it.

Shopify has a built-in newsletter feature you can use as well if you make a Shopify storefront. From your dashboard you can go to Marketing > Create campaign.

I like to send out a shortened newsletter via Shopify. Usually what I do is copy my full newsletter from Email Octopus to Shopify, and remove any bits not directly related to my Shopify, such as news on crowdfunding campaigns.

Writing your newsletter

Writing a newsletter doesn't take much time, and I think it should be a low effort task. In fact, if you make it too long people will not read it.

Throughout the month leading up to a shop update I will update my newsletter with whatever new items are ready, taking only a few minutes here and there. I include a few photos and I make sure to link to the items once they are listed (truncated example below).

I will also alert people to any sales or other special offers, news about stockists, and crowdfunding campaigns: anything a potential buyer would be interested in.

I have seen other artists share much longer newsletters with impressive graphics, sections on their art process, personal updates - but for myself I usually skip over that stuff in my inbox, so I don't do it as a creator. For others it might be worth the effort!

Final Thoughts

If you read all this, thank you! I know this was a very long post. I hope it helps at least one of you. I won't keep you much longer: you can find links to everything I mentioned in my Linktree and if you have more questions you can send an ask.

One day I'd like to make a tutorial series for making and selling merch, so this was useful as a draft for that. I would also include manufacturer reviews. If that's something you'd like to see someday you can let me know.

[nividawebsolutions]

Key Factors to Consider While Developing an eCommerce App

With the rise of online shopping, mobile apps have become a must for companies competing in the modern economy.  In today's cutthroat business environment, standing out from the crowd requires a well-designed, intuitive eCommerce app.  There are a number of crucial things that must be taken into account while creating an eCommerce app.  Turn your vision into reality.  Trust the eCommerce development experts at a renowned eCommerce development company in Vadodara, Gujarat, India like Nivida Web Solutions.  The effectiveness and popularity of your eCommerce app hinge on a number of things that we'll discuss in this blog.

1.      User Experience (UX) Design:

The shopping cart app's user interface is crucial.  A user's impression of your app and, by extension, their propensity to make a purchase can be greatly improved by adopting a streamlined and user-friendly design.  Keep things simple and uncomplicated, reduce the number of clicks required to complete a purchase, and create a visually appealing interface that is consistent with your brand's aesthetic.  The purchasing experience can be improved by adding functions like product filtering, search options, and personalised recommendations. 

2.      Mobile Responsiveness:

With more and more people using their mobile devices to browse eCommerce sites, it's essential that your app works well across a wide range of screen sizes and resolutions.  With a responsive layout, your app will look great on any screen size and provide the same fun and functional experience across all devices.  As mobile-friendliness is a major feature in Google's algorithm, this not only improves user satisfaction but also boosts your app's search engine ranks. 

3.      Security and Data Privacy:

Any online store should prioritise security.  When conducting business online, customers must feel confident that their private data, including credit card numbers, will remain secure.  Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificates, data encryption, and encrypted payment gateways are all great ways to keep private information just that: private.  Also, if you want users to trust you and stay out of court, you need to adhere to data protection requirements like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). 

4.      Performance and Speed:

Users in the modern day have come to anticipate instantaneous gratification from their apps.  Frustration and high bounce rates are the result of slow loading times and sluggish performance.  Regular performance testing will help you find slowdowns in your software and fix them. Smooth and fast app performance can be achieved by picture optimisation, decreased server response times, and the use of caching methods. 

5.      Seamless Checkout Process:

Having a quick and easy checkout is crucial for increasing sales.  Don't have customers fill out superfluous forms during checkout, and offer a variety of payment methods to suit their needs. Users should be able to make purchases as "guests" without registering for an account, although incentivizing registration can improve customer retention. 

6.      Scalability and Flexibility:

Keeping expansion in mind while creating your eCommerce software is essential. The app's capacity to serve users well under increasing loads is essential as a business grows.  It is possible to smooth out the user experience even at peak times by using a scalable design and cloud-based solutions. Maximize your sales online by working with Nivida Web Solutions - one of the best eCommerce development agencies in Vadodara, Gujarat, India! 

7.      Intuitive Search Functionality:

Users need a reliable search feature that returns relevant results quickly.  The search engine should be smart enough to account for typos, alternate spellings, and similar products.  Customers will have an easier time navigating your store and finding what they need with the addition of filters, sorting options, and category tags. 

8.      Social Media Integration:

Your eCommerce app can profit greatly from incorporating social network features. Allow individuals to sign up using their existing social network accounts by enabling social login choices.  Make it easy for customers to tell their friends and followers about the products they love and the services they use by integrating social sharing tools. 

9.      Analytics and Insights:

Incorporate analytics tools into your app to learn more about how users interact with it and how well it performs.  The app may be optimised further by analysing statistics like user interaction, popular products, and conversion rates to determine where changes should be made. 

10.  Customer Support and Feedback:

Finally, make it easy for users to submit feedback and provide feedback through the app's customer support channels.  Resolve any user complaints or questions as soon as possible.  Your app's functionality and the user experience can both be improved with the help of consumer feedback. 

Final Thoughts: 

eCommerce software development is difficult and should focus on user experience, security, performance, and scalability.  By keeping these things in mind while you design and build your app, you can position your firm for long-term success in the competitive eCommerce market.  In order to keep ahead of the competition and meet the ever-changing needs of your consumers, remember that the journey does not end with the launch of the app.  Your eCommerce success starts here, unleash your digital potential by partnering with one of the most trusted eCommerce development companies in Gujarat, India – Nivida Web Solutions.

[implausiblyjosh]

an algorithmic feed isn't inherently bad, it's only really bad if it's the only option. like, I'm on cohost right now and I think it's kinda good, but it sucks huge ass if you wanna discover anything.

Bookmarking tags is cool... if your tags are moderately popular and not too popular. the Pokemon tag is a nightmare cause it's full of porn and moves so so fast. I am one of two (2) posters in the message boards tag, and the last non-Josh Average post there was several months ago.

the design philosophy of the site is to strip out all the numbers and shit, but that means like... I cannot get a "you should also check out" list from the people I follow cause that info is hidden. The concept of "mutuals" means nothing. I have no clue who follows who, just from a pure "lemme check your list and see who to follow"

now Josh, why would you want to see that? wouldn't you just see what posts are their equivalent of reblogged? Yeah, sure, but there's also "likes" which are completely hidden. so you're just hoping the people you follow repost stuff to get visibility out there. "boosting" a post is not really A Thing, since there is no algorithm feed. pin your commission posts, repost them daily/weekly, or hope somone digs deep into a tag to see your posts.

there's a lot to like about the chronological feed, don't get me wrong! but it's not the only way to get The Good Posts, and like... man, I have commissions open sometimes! I'm gonna be making a ko-fi sketch push within the next month! chronological-only is simply not a good way to get your shit out there or discovered!

[bumblebeerror]

Quite literally yes, tumblr is a better user experience in general for queer users than most sites.

That’s mostly because Tumblr users have adapted to the site and how small the staff is well known to be. We spread PSAs about how to spot and get rid of bots by reporting them for spam. We tell new users from big waves up front how the site works. If we’re upset with something, we know we can take it up directly with the staff tumblr page, even if they can’t answer us immediately. Overall, the culture of this site is based on practicality and understanding the limitations of the staff.

The only other thing that makes the site more friendly to queer, disabled, poc, etc folks is the infection-style post sharing. Sure, if you get popular or your post is popular your post might escape containment - but for most users most of the time, their notes come directly from followers and their followers, people who asked to be there, or people scrolling the same tag it’s posted in. There’s no algorithm besides the almost completely unused ‘for you’ section trying to keep users engaged with posts by boosting it outside their circle artificially. Which closes down a lot of opportunities for some twat to stumble across your post and decide to send you hate. It’s just less likely that your post will be seen by people who hate your existence, because it’s less likely to be seen outside your personal circle.

But again - that infection style post sharing and a lack of a for you page “culture” weren’t actually intended to do that. That was just a happy accident, the latter leftover from when the site literally didn’t have a for you page.

Tumblr’s CEO isn’t making money off us. He made it very clear that if you hurt his precious feelings he has no issue banning you for facetiously threatening to kill him with an exploding car covered in hammers on the facetiously threatening to kill you with an exploding car covered in hammers site. He has no real interest in the culture Tumblr users have created or why we prefer the site, or, clearly, even in doing things that would repair the site’s code or improve the user experience and likely boost eyes on it’s ads - if he could shift us fully to a different site that makes money, he would.

And furthermore, do I HAVE to refer you to the ancient texts? Whether it’s the people on this site or the leadership of it, this site has never once been a “bastion of reason”. It has been a hellsite. You used to have to use xkit just to blacklist tags. And THEN tumblr users bullied the guy who coded xkit off the fucking site, BEFORE a built in blacklist existed by default. Mobile used to be absolutely rawdogging your dashboard.

Like yes, this is my emotional support hellsite. But a Bastion of Reason this place is NOT.

I feel like folks talking like Tumblr is the last bastion of reason on the Internet are forgetting that the owner of Tumblr is demonstrably cut from the same cloth as Zuckerberg and Musk. Tumblr's moderation polices aren't less bigoted, they're just less competently implemented.

[ddghyfk]

How to Get Instagram Followers: Proven Strategies for Growth

Growing your Instagram followers can be a challenging task, especially with the platform's ever-changing algorithm. However, with the right strategies, you can attract more followers, increase engagement, and build a strong online presence. In this guide, we’ll explore effective methods to get Instagram followers organically and sustainably.

1. Optimize Your Instagram Profile

Your profile is the first thing potential followers see, so make it compelling:

Username & Bio: Use a clear, memorable username and a bio that explains who you are and what you offer.

Profile Picture: Choose a high-quality image (preferably a logo or professional headshot).

Link in Bio: Use a tool like Linktree to direct followers to multiple links (website, blog, promotions).

A well-optimized profile increases the chances of users hitting the follow button.

2. Post High-Quality Content Consistently

To get Instagram followers, your content must stand out:

Visual Appeal: Use high-resolution images and videos.

Engaging Captions: Write captions that encourage comments and shares.

Posting Schedule: Consistency is key—post at least 3-5 times per week.

Instagram’s algorithm favors accounts that post regularly, helping you reach more users.

3. Use Relevant Hashtags

Hashtags help your content get discovered by new audiences:

Mix Popular & Niche Hashtags: Use a combination of trending and less competitive hashtags.

Avoid Banned Hashtags: Some hashtags are flagged—research before using them.

Create a Branded Hashtag: Encourage followers to use it for more visibility.

Proper hashtag use can significantly boost your reach and help you get Instagram followers faster.

4. Engage with Your Audience

Interaction builds loyalty and attracts new followers:

Reply to Comments: Show appreciation for engagement.

Like & Comment on Other Posts: Engage with accounts in your niche.

Use Instagram Stories Polls & Q&A: Encourage followers to interact.

The more you engage, the more likely users are to follow you back.

5. Collaborate with Others

Partnerships expand your reach:

Shoutouts: Partner with influencers or brands for mutual promotion.

Guest Posts: Feature on other accounts or invite others to take over yours.

Instagram Takeovers: Let an influencer manage your account for a day.

Collaborations introduce you to new audiences, helping you get Instagram followers quickly.

6. Run Contests & Giveaways

People love freebies—contests can skyrocket your follower count:

Entry Requirements: Ask users to follow, like, tag friends, or share your post.

Prize Value: Offer something relevant to your audience.

Promote Widely: Share the contest on Stories, Reels, and other social platforms.

Giveaways create buzz and encourage more follows.

7. Leverage Instagram Reels & Stories

Short-form video content dominates Instagram:

Reels: Create entertaining or educational clips with trending sounds.

Stories: Post daily updates, polls, and behind-the-scenes content.

Both features appear on the Explore page, helping you get Instagram followers organically.

8. Cross-Promote on Other Platforms

Drive traffic from other social networks:

YouTube & TikTok: Mention your Instagram in videos.

Facebook & Twitter: Share Instagram posts with a call-to-action.

Email Newsletter: Include your Instagram link in emails.

Cross-promotion ensures your existing audience follows you on Instagram.

9. Analyze Your Performance

Track what works using Instagram Insights:

Top Posts: See which content gets the most engagement.

Follower Growth: Monitor spikes to identify successful strategies.

Best Posting Times: Schedule content when your audience is most active.

Data-driven decisions help refine your approach to get Instagram followers.

10. Avoid Fake Followers & Bots

While buying followers may seem tempting, it harms your account:

Low Engagement: Fake followers don’t interact with your posts.

Algorithm Penalty: Instagram may shadowban or suspend your account.

Damaged Credibility: Real users distrust accounts with fake followers.

Focus on organic growth for long-term success.

Final Thoughts

To get Instagram followers, you need a mix of great content, engagement, and smart strategies. By optimizing your profile, posting consistently, using hashtags, collaborating, and leveraging Instagram’s features, you can grow your follower count authentically.

Remember, growth takes time—stay patient, keep experimenting, and watch your audience expand!

Would you like more tips on a specific strategy? Let us know in the comments!

[sporadicphilosophertriumph]

Instagram Follower Growth: Proven Strategies to Expand Your Audience

Growing your Instagram follower growth is essential for building a strong online presence, whether you're an influencer, business, or content creator. With over a billion active users, Instagram offers immense opportunities to reach a wider audience. However, increasing your follower count requires a strategic approach. In this guide, we’ll explore effective methods to boost your Instagram follower growth organically and sustainably.

Why Instagram Follower Growth Matters

A larger follower base enhances credibility, increases engagement, and opens doors to monetization opportunities. Brands and sponsors often look at follower count as a key metric when choosing collaborators. Additionally, a growing audience means more visibility for your content, leading to higher interaction rates and better algorithm favorability.

1. Optimize Your Instagram Profile

Your profile is the first thing potential followers see. Make sure it’s compelling and professional:

Username & Bio: Use a clear, memorable username and a bio that explains who you are and what you offer. Include relevant keywords for discoverability.

Profile Picture: Use a high-quality image, preferably a logo (for businesses) or a professional headshot (for personal brands).

Link in Bio: Direct followers to your website, blog, or latest content using tools like Linktree if you need multiple links.

2. Post High-Quality Content Consistently

Quality content is the backbone of Instagram follower growth. Follow these best practices:

Visual Appeal: Use high-resolution images and videos. Instagram favors aesthetically pleasing content.

Engaging Captions: Write captions that encourage comments, shares, and saves. Ask questions or share relatable stories.

Consistency: Post regularly to stay on your audience’s radar. A content calendar helps maintain a steady posting schedule.

3. Leverage Hashtags Strategically

Hashtags increase discoverability. Use a mix of:

Popular hashtags (e.g., #instagood, #photooftheday)

Niche-specific hashtags (e.g., #travelphotography, #fitnessmotivation)

Branded hashtags (e.g., #Nike, #Starbucks)

Aim for 10-30 relevant hashtags per post. Research trending hashtags in your industry to maximize reach.

4. Engage With Your Audience

Active engagement fosters community and encourages Instagram follower growth:

Reply to Comments: Show appreciation for your followers’ interactions.

DM Engagement: Respond to messages and build personal connections.

Engage With Others: Like, comment, and share posts from accounts in your niche to increase visibility.

5. Collaborate With Others

Partnerships can significantly boost your follower count:

Influencer Collaborations: Partner with influencers in your niche for shoutouts or takeovers.

Guest Posts: Feature on other accounts or invite others to post on your page.

Engagement Groups: Join Instagram pods where members support each other’s posts.

6. Utilize Instagram Stories & Reels

Instagram prioritizes Reels and Stories, making them powerful tools for Instagram follower growth:

Stories: Use polls, Q&As, and behind-the-scenes content to keep followers engaged.

Reels: Create short, entertaining, or informative videos. Trends and challenges can go viral, bringing new followers.

7. Run Contests & Giveaways

People love freebies. Hosting a giveaway can rapidly increase followers:

Entry Requirements: Ask participants to follow you, like the post, and tag friends.

Prize Relevance: Offer something valuable to your target audience to attract genuine followers.

8. Cross-Promote on Other Platforms

Drive traffic from other social networks:

YouTube & TikTok: Mention your Instagram in videos.

Facebook & Twitter: Share Instagram posts with direct links.

Email Marketing: Include your Instagram handle in newsletters.

9. Analyze Performance & Adjust Strategy

Track what works using Instagram Insights:

Top Posts: Identify which content gets the most engagement.

Follower Demographics: Understand your audience’s age, location, and active hours.

Best Posting Times: Schedule posts when your followers are most active.

10. Avoid Common Mistakes That Hurt Growth

Buying Followers: Fake followers hurt engagement and credibility.

Ignoring Analytics: Without tracking performance, you can’t refine your strategy.

Inconsistent Branding: A mismatched aesthetic confuses followers.

Final Thoughts

Growing your Instagram follower growth takes time and effort, but with the right strategies, you can build a loyal and engaged audience. Focus on quality content, authentic engagement, and smart collaborations to see steady growth.

By implementing these proven techniques, you’ll not only increase your follower count but also create a thriving community around your brand. Start applying these tips today and watch your Instagram follower growth soar!

[freshpenguindetective]

How to Get Instagram Followers: Proven Strategies for Growth

In today’s digital age, having a strong Instagram presence can make a significant difference for personal brands, businesses, and influencers. However, growing your follower count organically requires strategy and consistency. If you’re wondering how to get Instagram followers without resorting to shortcuts, this guide will provide actionable tips to help you expand your reach authentically.

1. Optimize Your Instagram Profile

Your profile is the first thing potential followers see, so make it compelling:

Username & Name: Use a recognizable handle and include relevant keywords.

Bio: Clearly state who you are and what you offer. Include a call-to-action (CTA) like “Follow for daily tips.”

Profile Picture: Use a high-quality image, preferably a logo or professional headshot.

Link: Utilize the link in your bio wisely—direct followers to your website, latest post, or Linktree.

A well-optimized profile increases the chances of users hitting the follow button.

2. Post High-Quality Content Consistently

Quality content is key to attracting and retaining followers. Follow these best practices:

Visual Appeal: Use high-resolution images and videos. Instagram favors aesthetically pleasing content.

Content Mix: Share a variety of posts—carousels, reels, stories, and IGTV—to keep your audience engaged.

Posting Schedule: Consistency matters. Use insights to determine the best times to post for maximum engagement.

By delivering value through your content, you encourage users to follow and interact with your profile.

3. Leverage Hashtags Strategically

Hashtags help your content reach a broader audience. To get Instagram followers, use a mix of:

Popular Hashtags (e.g., #instagood, #photooftheday)

Niche-Specific Hashtags (e.g., #travelphotography, #fitnessmotivation)

Branded Hashtags (e.g., #YourBrandName)

Avoid overloading your captions with hashtags—stick to 5-10 relevant ones per post.

4. Engage With Your Audience

Instagram’s algorithm favors active engagement. To grow your followers:

Reply to Comments: Show appreciation for user interactions.

Like & Comment on Other Posts: Engage with accounts in your niche to increase visibility.

Use Polls & Questions in Stories: Encourage followers to interact, making your profile more discoverable.

The more you engage, the more likely users are to follow you back.

5. Collaborate With Others

Partnerships can expose your profile to new audiences:

Shoutouts: Partner with influencers or brands for mutual promotions.

Takeovers: Let another user temporarily manage your account to bring their followers to you.

Guest Posts: Feature or get featured on relevant pages.

Collaborations are a powerful way to get Instagram followers quickly.

6. Run Contests & Giveaways

People love freebies. Hosting a giveaway can boost engagement and followers:

Entry Requirements: Ask participants to follow you, like the post, and tag friends.

Prize Relevance: Offer something valuable to your target audience.

Promotion: Share the contest across multiple platforms for wider reach.

Giveaways create buzz and attract new followers rapidly.

7. Utilize Instagram Reels & Trends

Reels have massive reach potential. To capitalize:

Follow Trends: Use trending sounds, challenges, and effects.

Educational Content: Share quick tips or behind-the-scenes clips.

Engaging Hooks: Capture attention within the first few seconds.

Regularly posting Reels can significantly increase your follower count.

8. Cross-Promote on Other Platforms

Drive traffic from other social networks:

Share Instagram Posts on Facebook/Twitter

Embed Instagram Feed on Your Website

Promote Your Handle in Email Signatures

Cross-promotion helps redirect existing audiences to your Instagram.

9. Analyze & Adjust Your Strategy

Track performance using Instagram Insights:

Top Posts: Identify what content resonates most.

Follower Growth: Monitor spikes and adjust tactics accordingly.

Best Posting Times: Optimize your schedule for better reach.

Data-driven decisions ensure continuous growth.

Final Thoughts

Growing your Instagram following takes effort, but with the right strategies, you can get Instagram followers organically. Focus on quality content, engagement, collaborations, and trends to build a loyal audience. Stay consistent, and your follower count will rise over time.

By implementing these methods, you’ll not only gain followers but also create a meaningful community around your brand. Start applying these tips today and watch your Instagram presence flourish!

[automaticgladiatorvoid]

Instagram Follower Growth: Proven Strategies to Expand Your Audience

Description:

Want to boost your Instagram follower growth? Discover actionable strategies to attract more followers, increase engagement, and build a loyal community on Instagram.

Introduction

Growing your Instagram following isn’t just about posting pretty pictures—it’s about strategy, consistency, and engagement. Whether you’re a brand, influencer, or casual user, increasing your Instagram follower growth requires a well-planned approach. In this guide, we’ll explore proven methods to help you expand your audience organically.

1. Optimize Your Instagram Profile

Your profile is the first thing potential followers see. Make sure it’s compelling:

Username & Bio: Use a clear, searchable username and a bio that explains who you are and what you offer.

Profile Picture: Choose a high-quality image (logo or professional headshot).

Link in Bio: Direct followers to your website, blog, or latest promotion using tools like Linktree.

A well-optimized profile encourages more users to follow you, boosting Instagram follower growth.

2. Post High-Quality Content Consistently

Content is king on Instagram. To attract and retain followers:

Visual Appeal: Use high-resolution images and videos.

Posting Schedule: Stay consistent (3-5 times per week).

Content Mix: Share a variety of posts (carousels, reels, stories).

Consistency keeps your audience engaged, helping long-term Instagram follower growth.

3. Leverage Instagram Reels and Stories

Instagram’s algorithm favors Reels and Stories, making them powerful tools for growth.

Reels: Create short, engaging videos with trending sounds and hashtags.

Stories: Use polls, Q&As, and behind-the-scenes clips to interact with followers.

These features increase visibility, accelerating Instagram follower growth.

4. Use Relevant Hashtags Strategically

Hashtags help new users discover your content.

Mix Popular & Niche Hashtags: Combine broad (#Instagram) and specific (#InstagramMarketingTips) tags.

Limit to 5-10 per Post: Avoid overloading captions with hashtags.

Proper hashtag use expands reach, supporting Instagram follower growth.

5. Engage With Your Audience

Growth isn’t just about posting—it’s about interaction.

Reply to Comments: Show followers you value their input.

Follow Similar Accounts: Engage with users in your niche.

Collaborate: Partner with influencers or brands for shoutouts.

Active engagement fosters loyalty and boosts Instagram follower growth.

6. Run Giveaways and Contests

People love freebies. Hosting a giveaway can rapidly increase followers.

Entry Requirements: Ask users to follow, like, and tag friends.

Prize Relevance: Offer something valuable to your target audience.

Giveaways create buzz and drive Instagram follower growth.

7. Analyze Insights and Adjust Strategy

Track performance using Instagram Insights:

Top Posts: See what content resonates most.

Follower Demographics: Tailor posts to your audience’s interests.

Data-driven adjustments optimize Instagram follower growth.

Conclusion

Growing your Instagram following takes effort, but with the right strategies—profile optimization, consistent content, engagement, and analytics—you can achieve steady Instagram follower growth. Start implementing these tips today and watch your audience expand!

Final Words:

Stay patient and persistent. Authentic growth beats shortcuts every time. Happy posting!

[gloriousfestgentlemen02]

SEO Content Optimization Tools

In today's digital landscape, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is more critical than ever for businesses looking to boost their online visibility and attract potential customers. One of the key aspects of effective SEO is content optimization. This involves making sure your website's content is structured in a way that search engines can easily understand and rank it higher in search results. To help with this process, there are numerous tools available that can make content optimization easier and more efficient.

Why Use SEO Content Optimization Tools?

1. Improved Keyword Research: These tools provide insights into which keywords are most relevant and have the highest search volumes. By targeting these keywords effectively, you can improve your site's ranking for those terms.

2. Content Analysis: They analyze your existing content and suggest improvements based on current SEO best practices. This includes optimizing titles, meta descriptions, headers, and body text.

3. Competitor Analysis: Understanding what your competitors are doing right can give you a competitive edge. These tools allow you to see what keywords they are ranking for and how they structure their content.

4. On-Page Optimization: Ensuring that all elements of your page are optimized for search engines is crucial. Tools can help you check and optimize everything from image alt tags to internal linking strategies.

Popular SEO Content Optimization Tools

1. Yoast SEO: A popular plugin for WordPress, Yoast provides real-time content analysis as you write, helping you optimize your posts and pages for specific keywords.

2. Surfer SEO: This tool offers detailed recommendations for optimizing your content based on the top-ranking pages for your target keyword. It also helps with keyword research and content planning.

3. Clearscope: Clearscope analyzes the top 20 Google search results for a given keyword and provides a list of recommended keywords, headings, and phrases to include in your content.

4. MarketMuse: MarketMuse uses AI to analyze your content and suggest improvements to better align with user intent and search engine algorithms.

How to Choose the Right Tool for Your Needs

When selecting an SEO content optimization tool, consider the following factors:

Budget: Some tools offer free versions with limited features, while others require a subscription.

Ease of Use: If you're new to SEO, look for tools with intuitive interfaces and clear guidance.

Specific Needs: Different tools excel at different things. Determine what aspects of SEO you need the most help with and choose a tool that excels in those areas.

Conclusion

Optimizing your content for SEO is essential for improving your website's visibility and attracting more organic traffic. With the right tools, you can streamline this process and ensure that your content is not only engaging for your audience but also optimized for search engines. What are some of your favorite SEO content optimization tools? Share your experiences and tips in the comments below!

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SEO优化

[jranimator]

Step Into the Spotlight: Release Your Album on Apple Music as an Independent Artist

As an independent artist, taking control of your music career is both empowering and exciting. Platforms like Apple Music have transformed the industry, enabling artists to share their music with a global audience without the backing of a major record label. Releasing your album on Apple Music as an independent artist is your opportunity to step into the spotlight, connect with fans worldwide, and establish yourself as a professional musician. But how do you navigate this process effectively? Let’s dive into a detailed guide to help you succeed.

Why Independent Artists Thrive on Apple Music

1. Equal Opportunities for All Artists Apple Music provides a platform where both established artists and newcomers have the chance to shine. Its algorithm prioritizes quality content, meaning your music has just as much potential to reach listeners as tracks from big-name artists.

2. Robust Support for Independent Musicians Apple Music isn’t just a streaming service—it’s a toolkit for artists. With resources like "Apple Music for Artists," you can track your performance metrics, understand listener demographics, and fine-tune your marketing strategies.

3. High-Quality Sound for a Premium Experience Apple Music’s commitment to lossless and spatial audio ensures your music sounds its best. For independent artists, this feature helps showcase your creativity and production quality on par with industry professionals.

Preparing to Release Your Album

1. Perfecting Your Tracks Before you release your album, ensure your music is polished.

Mixing and Mastering: Hire a professional or use high-quality software to achieve clean and balanced audio.

Song Arrangement: Carefully plan the flow of your album, from the opening track to the finale, to create a memorable listening experience.

2. Designing Compelling Album Artwork Your album cover is the first thing potential listeners see, so invest in visually striking artwork that reflects your brand and music’s vibe.

3. Choosing a Distributor To release your album on Apple Music, you need a digital distributor. These platforms handle the technical and legal aspects of uploading your music. Popular choices include:

Delivermytune: Ideal for beginners with straightforward pricing.

Delivermytune: Offers unlimited uploads for a flat annual fee.

Setting Up Your Apple Music Presence

1. Claiming Your Profile on Apple Music for Artists To stand out on Apple Music, claim and personalize your artist profile.

Add a professional photo and bio.

Highlight key milestones, such as awards or collaborations.

Include links to your social media profiles to drive fan engagement.

2. Verifying Your Metadata Accurate metadata ensures your album appears correctly in search results and playlists. Double-check song titles, artist names, and genre tags before submission.

Building Buzz Before Your Release

1. Create a Pre-Release Campaign Generate excitement for your album with a strategic pre-release campaign.

Teasers: Share snippets of your tracks or behind-the-scenes videos on social media.

Countdowns: Build anticipation with a countdown to the release date.

Pre-Save Links: Use your distributor’s tools to create pre-save links that allow fans to queue your album in their libraries.

2. Reach Out to Blogs and Playlists Pitch your album to music bloggers and independent playlist curators. A feature in a popular blog or placement in a curated playlist can significantly boost your visibility.

3. Collaborate with Influencers Work with influencers in the music or lifestyle space who can help promote your album to their followers. This strategy can amplify your reach beyond your existing fan base.

The Release Day Strategy

1. Engage Your Fans On the day of your release, actively engage with your audience.

Host a live stream where you talk about your album and answer fan questions.

Share personal stories about the inspiration behind your songs.

Encourage fans to stream and share your music with their networks.

2. Monitor Analytics Use "Apple Music for Artists" to track your album’s performance in real time. Look for spikes in streams or downloads and identify which songs are resonating most with listeners.

Promoting Your Album Post-Release

1. Leverage Social Media Social media is an invaluable tool for promoting your music.

Share fan-generated content, like videos or reviews, to create a sense of community.

Post short clips of live performances or acoustic versions of your tracks.

Use trending hashtags to reach a broader audience.

2. Pitch Your Songs to Playlists Even after your album’s release, continue pitching your tracks to independent and official Apple Music playlists. Playlist inclusion can drive significant streams and introduce your music to new listeners.

3. Collaborate with Other Artists Collaborations can introduce your music to a new audience. Consider teaming up with other independent artists for remixes, live sessions, or even cross-promotional campaigns.

Lessons from Successful Independent Artists

1. The Case of Chance the Rapper Chance the Rapper built a successful career without a major label, relying on digital platforms to distribute and promote his music. His innovative marketing strategies, including leveraging social media and direct fan engagement, demonstrate the power of independence.

2. Billie Eilish’s Rise to Fame Though now signed to a label, Billie Eilish started as an independent artist, using platforms like SoundCloud to gain traction. Her emphasis on authenticity and creative visuals helped her stand out in a crowded market.

Why Persistence Matters

1. Growth Takes Time Building a fan base and achieving success as an independent artist requires patience. Focus on creating quality music, engaging with your audience, and refining your strategies over time.

2. Embrace Feedback Listen to what your fans have to say about your music and adapt accordingly. Constructive criticism can help you grow as an artist.

Conclusion

Releasing your album on Apple Music as an independent artist is an exciting opportunity to take your music career to new heights. With careful planning, strategic promotion, and a commitment to connecting with your fans, you can step into the spotlight and make your mark. Start today by preparing your tracks, choosing the right tools, and crafting a memorable release campaign. Are you ready to share your music with the world? Let us know about your journey in the comments!

Related Articles:

For further reading, explore these related articles:

How to Release Your Album on Apple Music Without a Label

Release Your Album on Apple Music with No Upfront Fees

How to Release Your Album on Apple Music Quickly

Release Your Album on Apple Music with 100% Royalties

For additional resources on music marketing and distribution, visit DMT Records Private Limited.