Steemit Basics: "Popular" Posts and "Quality" Posts aren't Necessarily the Same Thing
With the large number of new members joining Steemit these days (often 1000+ new accounts per day!) I come across quite a few posts and comments asking what it takes to create posts that will make it to the "trending" page. What's the most popular things to write about. I also see a few questions about "quality" content, and what that means.
Mt. Shasta, California
I guess we'd all like to make it to the trending page... but that's a pretty tall order, especially if you just started out.
"Quality" content isn't necessarily "Popular"
I've been creating web content for over 20 years, and I'll be the first to tell you that "quality" and "popularity" are often not the same. I'm not suggesting that popular content isn't good... merely that it often has little to distinguish itself, aside from broad appeal.
My own background is writing, and I come from the school of thought that "doing your best," and always creating the best quality content is the way to go. I like to write authentically, and most of what I write about tends to be somewhat specialized or "niche" related.
But I also must confess that even though many have told me my content is "good," it has rarely won any "popularity contests," nor is it likely to make it to the trending page.
In fact, some of my (in my opinion) best stuff here on Steemit didn't even make as much of lots of very mediocre posts I have seen.
A bee enjoying some lavender nectar
The Authenticity "Trap"
When posing the question of how to create "high flying" content, you also have to ask yourself what your motivations are.
Again, from a personal perspective, most of my writing relates back to my "personal branding." I have spent a lot of time and effort building a following around specific types of content (self-development, writing, psychology, certain hobbies, art), so I'm not interested in chasing the latest trends in order to gain a few bucks.
I guess you could call it an "Authenticity Trap:" Staying true to certain interests and ideals is more important to me than trying to second-guess a fickle market in terms of what's popular today.
On the other hand, if you can sincerely say that you are writing "for the money" only and that "popularity" is your primary motivation, then you might be well served by checking trending keywords and twitter trends before writing... and then just "writing to order."
This squirrel has a short span of attention!
But be aware that writing to the "Popular Market" can be very competitive... so there's no guarantee that it's your article that's going to go viral!
Personally, I'd suggest building a reputation and following around topics you know a lot about, and feel passionate about. If you're enthusiastic and knowledgeable, it'll take you a long way towards also becoming popular.
What do YOU think? What's your approach to writing? Do you have a specific plan? Do you try to pick "popular" topics, or do you write what you like; what appeals to you? Are you a niche writer, building a personal brand and expertise around certain areas? Have you ever made it to the "trending" page? If so, was it the result of deliberate planning, or a pure accident? Leave a comment-- share your experiences-- start the conversation!
(As usual, all text and images by the author, unless otherwise credited. This is original content, created expressly for Steemit)
Well written, @denmarkguy. I write about topics that interest me - photography, travel, health and general news. Some of them happen to be more popular than others but that's alright.
As for quality - quality content that doesn't get noticed won't get popular. It's true on Steemit as it is everywhere in this world.
The advice I was always given in creative writing courses was to "write what you know." I think readers can sense when you are just "putting words on the page" but your heart really isn't in it... and when you're passionate about your subject material, it almost automatically becomes of worthy quality.
Respect, true words! But What if the best I can do is being sarcastic, willing to be funny and understood? I 100% agree with you but don't you think that sometimes "popular" topics (of course not all of that kind of posts) are just genuine? Correct me if I'm wrong please!
I'm here just to share my spirit, which I've gained by traveling and I hope I'll find someone to listen and enjoy it.
Sending smile! :)
There's nothing wrong with that... if you're authentically sarcastic and relevant, and make it a meaningful remark... that's still something worthy to contribute. Consider how many cartoonists and illustrators there are on Steemit who create "social commentary" posts that are meaningful... but also short and quite popular.
Quality posts certainly become popular when people with weight read them. Garbage posts can also become popular when people think they can make money off upvoting and resteeming them. This is why I try to make my writing as self-indulgent as possible without disregarding those who read them. I try to put my time and effort in to well thought posts as often as I can but I don't feel guilty about just organizing my thoughts in public either.
Yesterday I posted twice. Once was a spoof of that Matt guy everyone was talking about. It took me 90 seconds to put together, went trending and pulled in $50. Then I went to work on the post I really cared about, spent 2 hours to write it and 2 to rewrite it after accidentally deleting it.... the comments all indicate that it was really well received.....It brought in $0.40.
I am not exclusively writing for money but it's hard not to make comparisons. I feel a bit dizzy by this.
The only thing that consistently helps my posts is interacting with others, commenting and chatting and getting to know people. Everything else is inconsistent so I try to interact as much as I can and write when I can muster up the energy and feel excited by it (which I guess is fairly often).
Thoughtful response-- thank you! And hearing from folks like you is a large part of the answer to "what and why do I write here?"
Well, because there's a sense of community and interaction here that you really don't get on Farcebook or any other the other social content platforms.
I suppose I am also very self-indulgent in that I just write about stuff that interests me, makes me think or otherwise amuses me... with more or less reckless disregard for whether or not it is popular. Occasionally it turns out to be... but that's not by design.
Which isn't to say that I don't get all happy and glowy when one of my pieces gets a bunch of recognition and we can suddenly afford a nice dinner out.
We actually can give a lot more to others when we stop giving a crap about pleasing them. Funny how that works :-) Glad to know you here, I look forward to your most self indulgent posts
It's true here in steemit, the same as it is in other social media or old skool media (songs on the radio, TV, movies) or even ideas in politics, religion or even science. What is high quality is often not the same as what is popular.
I'm a niche participator, I only comment and up vote lately. Yes I have been on the trending page, long time ago. I don't know if my stories were quality or all that popular, but I thought they were passable! :-) I did plan to write something of quality to the best of my limited writing skills, and it worked out well. Possibly because it was the early days here and not a lot of competition, but it wasn't empty here either. Stellabelle was here and many other good writers. OK, done rambling! Thanks for your thoughtful article!
Thanks for the thoughtful comment @kenny-crane.
I've been doing the blogging gig for some 20-odd years and even though I have pursued that "popular content" angle a couple of times (not very successfully) I find that I just don't care... so I write "from the heart" about things that happen to interest me, or I feel passionate about, or I have a measure of expertise in. I wrote a pretty good piece on stamp collecting here... but who cares? But I had fun putting it together, and don't regret doing so and feel happy to have it as a part of my "body of work."
With reading/curating it's the same, for me... I manually read and vote on quite a few things, and leave quite a few comments... just because I like learning interesting and unusual things, and I like leaving the creator a little "footprint" to let them know that I appreciated their effort.
From @numpypython comment:
From @whatamidoing comment:
Definitely, only & exclusively pursuing to be popular, praised and get whatevah it takes for your stuff be showcased on any trending page, billboard, marquee or media outlet at any place, (no matter how stinky your crap could be), it's simply matter of having the right RELATIONSHIPS within the appropriate jerks circle.
Perhaps, maybe, just maybe, if by chance, a little bit of luck also would be required.
Ermm, by the way. ¿How popular Reggaeton Music is in your place? }:)
Sometimes LUCK definitely can become part of the picture... if your two biggest followers are both online at the time you post and they upvote and share (resteem) the result will be quite different that if they were both on holiday... that's the "unknowable variable" in this attention economy we have here.
I have never specifically gone "Whale Hunting" as some people here seem to do... if someone with influence happens to like my stuff I am certainly thrilled and grateful... but I prefer the content to stand on its own merit, and not be part of a circle jerk, as you said.
Don't really know much about Reggaeton music... it's a little outside my usual listening habits.
Exactly @denmarkguy. Keep yourself authentic and true to yourself with genuine principles and convictions is the most rewarding thing there can be.
Oh! And happy to know Reggaeton Music is a thing a little outside your usual listening habits. Because otherwise, you surely would witness with some stupor how quick, ephemeral and void is everything starting to turn out to currently have your 15 minutes of fame creating just crap promoted by the Big Guys just to be massively consumed by the stunned dumb mass.
Well said. I have found it a whole lot easier to focus in on a few things that I am knowledgeable about and have stuff to say. Taking a theme is a powerful way to keep writing on a regular and consistent basis. People get to know you. You get to learn more about your theme. I must say I am a lot wiser on Australian Native orchids and photography after 48 posts so far and about Investing with 92 posts so far.
Jumping around like a jack rabbit from topic to topic is not going to produce that.
@carrinm, excellent!
Whereas I recognize that people all have their own reasons for using social media, O also know many of us (myself included) are ultimately in the business of creating/supporting "Brand Me," whatever that may mean. We built expertise around certain areas or thoughts... what Google likes to call "authority."
Well said, fellow dane.
Personally I try to write about things I know, experiences I've had, etc...
I also tend to write about the more science oriented news that come out, anything that lights a spark within me !!
I don't pursue the money, but it does give me a warm glow inside when a post seems popular :)
I try to just write about stuff that interests me, and random ideas that come into my head that seem like they might be interesting to explore further. A few of the things I post end up being "somewhat" popular... but mostly I enjoy the interaction and discussion through the comments section, afterwards.
Of course the rewards are nice but I have never been a slave to writing for money...
That's always a good attitude to have :)
Just like any other free market, really. Otherwise Justin Bieber would be the finest musician of the 21st century.
shudders
"free market"
You're right about that... "Popular" always scares me somewhat, as a concept. Or the expression of popular scares me, from WalMart to top-40 radio.
But then, "popular" people often tell me that I "think too much."
Yes..you ever told me about formula writing. Is that same with popular writing ? Nice posting.:)
Sometimes yes, sometimes no... formulaic writing (sometimes called "spun content") is taking something fairly common and just rewriting it, even if it has already been said 1000 times. It has no value, other than to fill space. Like "Common features of a smartphone." It has been said many times, and a new person changing the order of the features does not make it either good OR original content.
"Popular" writing is more about pursuing the "hot topic" of the moment. This week a popular post might be "Bitcoin reaches all-time high." Next week, some other new item, some trend. Some popular topics stay for a long time... for example, here it might be "How to make the best posts on Steemit." But how much does that really change? How many truly NEW points can someone make?
Personally, I think the quality of your content is very high and I expect you to be in the trending pages very soon!
Resteemed for good measure!
Thank you-- that's a kind thing to say! Whereas it would definitely be cool to make the "Trending," it's not something I specifically strive for... it did happen once (a few months back) and that was pretty exciting.
Pleasure! Yes, as looking as you are happy with your 'work' here there's no need to be 'trending'.
Have a good evening and Monday :)