Starter Packs #2 — Follow 4 Follow vs. Organic Growth on Medium
I’ve Seen Good Arguments for Both
Welcome to my second edition of Starter Packs!
This is a topic that has sparked a lot of debate on Medium. As it relates to Medium, the discussion seems to only happen here!
Follow 4 Follow is straightforward:
. People write articles offering to follow 4 follow.
. People comment on these articles, signaling the same desire.
Everyone participates in a massive follow-fest.
This can happen at any point in our medium career. It is often used to get a new profile to 100 followers — the minimum needed for monetization.
I will present those who argue for and against this method, before giving my personal verdict.
The standard pro F4F article is one that employs the method…
Reaching 100 followers — let’s support each other! | by Tiani Travels | Medium
Tiana Travels quite rightly says that there should be no shame in supporting each other to reach our goals. Also, to avoid new followers being hollow, we should try to read and clap one another’s articles.
Here Khayyon takes the opportunity to share his expertise and writing topics. Those who follow him will know what he will be producing.
There is one definite positive with the F4F method. A writer may feel more encouraged to turn up and write if they see that there are 100–200 followers able to see it. The arduous task of writing with only 5 followers may discourage someone and cause them to give up.
Is it that bad?
Julia Tsoi is completely against it…
Don’t Play the Follow-for-Follow Game on Medium | by Julia Tsoi | Better Marketing
Julia believes F4F followers are not as valuable as those who follow you without it being transactional. She also adds that the number of followers you have can look good on your profile.
It’s clear that a random F4F follower is less likely to read your article than one who isn’t. Another view would be that they are more likely to read you than if you didn’t connect with them in the first place.
We have a more balanced discussion in Launch Reviews. They express both the good and the bad..
I love and hate the follow for follow method. | by Launch Reviews | Medium
The reason I put this one last is because it ties into mine.
I fall on the “no” side of this argument.
The method works to get followers fast, albeit inorganic ones.
Let me tell you my method…
I started on November 1st 2022.
. I publish an article almost every day, often two a day.
. I read and engaged with around 10 articles a day.
. I followed people whose profiles seemed interesting to me.
So how long did the ‘slow method’ take me to get to 100 followers?
…42 days.
Is that too long?
It’s not like the F4F method is bad in some way. To me, it is reflective that a person has the wrong priorities, though.
A newbie on Medium should be writing, editing, publishing, and reading. The time spent playing F4F games seems like it would be better spent practicing the craft.
That’s me, though.
See you next time!
