The blockchain is a fickle thing. It isn't uncommon for me to write a post and the results end up surprising me. I can't count the number of times I crafted what I thought was a pretty awesome post thinking it would grab the attention of appreciator or OCD only to have it get the absolute minimum rewards from the autovotes and regular visitors of my blog.
Then there are posts like the one I wrote yesterday. Posts that may not get a ton of rewards in the grand scheme of things, but get so much interaction that I can barely keep up.
Check it out and you will see that I got a whopping 44 comments on the post. Sure, 22 of those are probably me replying to the original 44 comments, but still, I think that is pretty close to the most comments I have ever gotten on a post.
I am guessing you are here because of the title. If you haven't read the post from yesterday, I encourage you to go back and do that first. Some of the stuff in this post may not make sense if you haven't done that.
Make sure you have something to say
Okay, now that you read the post, you should know that engagement and comments are one of the single biggest tools you can use to grow your following. As many people pointed out in the comments though, there is more to it than simply posting a comment.
It needs to be a well crafted comment, something that goes above and beyond the simply "nice post". I've written posts about this in the past, but my favorite comment is one that asks a question. The original poster is clearly and expert on the subject matter otherwise they wouldn't have written the post. At the very least, it is something they are interested in, so they might have some insight that you do not. Tap into that and ask questions that get a discussion going. It is those interactions that build relationships and lead to new followers.
I also saw some other people talk about how they don't feel like they should comment just to comment. While I don't disagree with that in some cases. It really doesn't take too much to type up a couple of sentences in response to something you just read. Hive is considered a social network after all (whether that is accurate or not).
I also saw someone comment that they feel interaction on Hive is harder because there isn't a flow or the fun factor they get with Reddit. I get that. I pointed out though that Hive isn't necessarily trying to be like Reddit. I kind of put Hive somewhere between Medium and Reddit. The content on average isn't as heavy as Medium, but for the most part higher quality than a simple picture or meme like you usually get on Reddit.
I honestly think (and hope) that when Leo releases project blank a lot of that will likely change.
Since it will be more short-form content, we should see some of that back and forth like you do on Reddit. Time will tell I guess.
My point is: Commenting is important. Just make sure your comments count. Posting two words like Nice job, Great post, or something similar is better left unsaid. The sole exception would be if you have a long time rapport with another user. After years of commenting on each others posts, you can likely get away with a "nice post" comment here and there.
Moar Power
This next point is a tough one. People come to this platform from all parts of the world and all walks of life. We can't even pretend to guess what their circumstances might be like or what they may be going through.
I absolutely get that there are people who rely on Hive to pay their weekly bills and put food on their table.
That being said, you are really doing yourself a disservice if you are not powering up at least a little bit of your rewards, or as the case may be, leaving a portion of your rewards powered up.
Believe it or not people look at that sort of thing. Probably more than you think. This is a blockchain, so anyone's wallet is visible to the public. There are some people who take note of who is working to grow their stake and who is just cashing out every cent they make on here.
Again, I get it, some people count on these rewards to pay the bills. I wouldn't deny them that opportunity. I would argue that if you are counting on Hive to pay the bills, you are doing a huge disservice to yourself by not powering up your account at least a little each week.
Not only does it improve your vote, curation, and staking rewards, it also shows other people that you are committed to the blockchain and you are working to become an active and valued member of the community.
Like I said, people notice, and that could translate to more votes and visits to your posts.
Never underestimate the power of Discord
This is a bit of a tricky one too. There are some people who feel that much of the interaction that happens on Discord should be happening on the chain. I get that, but right now Hive just doesn't really have a vehicle for that.
Sure, there is a chat feature in PeakD, but how many people even use it? How many people even know about it?
Consider gaming for a moment. How many games have built in chat, but how much of the actual chatter happens in Discord or Telegram? Remember TeamSpeak or some of the other platforms? Discussions outside the native application have been happening for years. Some people need that separation. Some people just find it more conducive. Others, who knows why they like it better, they just do.
Perhaps "project blank" will change that aspect too. I kind of doubt it though.
The fact is, these discussions are taking place outside of Hive, so being a part of them is a huge advantage for you. See if your favorite community has a Discord channel. Hop in and start joining some discussions. People may notice you and look you up on Hive.
Pro Tip: Make your Discord handle the same as your Hive username so people can easily find your blog
These are just some of the little things you can do to help draw more eyes, visits, upvotes, and comments to your Hive profile.
Putting in a small amount of effort can pay off in dividends down the road.
Trust me, I've been here over four years, I know a thing or two!
Sports Talk Social - @bozz.sports
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