Is there a downside to gaining new followers?

1. 95

   brianlokkerposted 10 years ago

   In the past two days I've gained about 15 new followers. Since I've been here 2-1/2 years and previously have never had more than 100 followers, I'd like to think that all of a sudden I've been "discovered." But virtually all of the new followers have just joined HP a few minutes before following me, they have zero hubs, and judging from their names, (most) seem to be commercial accounts.
   
   Is anyone else experiencing this? Should I be worried about it?

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   1. 33

      Writer Foxposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Unfortunately, you can't stop people from following you on HubPages; you only control following people back.
      
      I would advise you to regularly check your content for plagiarism.  One of my followers on HP has plagiarized my work and is still allowed to have an account on this website.

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   2. 0

      Beth37posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Yeah, they're spammers of some sort. They end up leaving you spammy fan mail too. It's weird to see one of these accounts, they are following one person... and that one person is you. I don't know how it works, but it is a bit disconcerting.

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      1. 95

         brianlokkerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Yes, I've gotten some odd fan mail from these new followers and a couple of comments, too. I usually like to approve any comment I get, but these exhibited no clue that the commenter had read, or even skimmed, the hubs.

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            Beth37posted 10 years agoin reply to this

            no, they're not interested in reading our hubs.

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      agvulpesposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I would agree with the others but add that if their profile looks 'suspicious' go ahead and click the Flag button on their profile and let HP staff work out if they are 'spammers'

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      psycheskinnerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      No.  You can be penalized for following too many people, but not because of who follows you.

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         Anna Marie Bowmanposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         How many is too many??  LOL!  I follow a lot of Hubbers, but I don't go around just randomly following every name I see pop up.

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            psycheskinnerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

            Dozens in one day can get you flagged as a potential spammer.

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2. 95

   brianlokkerposted 10 years ago

   So what's going on with this? A new batch of followers every few hours. In the past 2-3 days I've gone from about 100 followers (after 2-1/2 years) to 133 as of a few minutes ago. Hallelujah, right? My great hubs are finally being discovered!
   
   I don't think so. Nine out of ten of the new followers seem to be businesses. Their profiles are essentially business sales pitches, including a complete address and phone number. They have zero hubs. When I check their activity on their profile pages, they're just following people, one after the other. And it seems like it always starts with the same group of about six hubbers, of which, for some reason, I'm one.
   
   I know I can't prevent anyone from following me, and of course I'm happy to expand my audience, if they are legitimate hubbers and they are actually an "audience." But these followers are coming fast and furious, and it doesn't look legitimate to me.

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      Writer Foxposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      You can report them from the top right of their profile page. (Keep an eye on your Hubs for content theft.)

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         brianlokkerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         I did report one that looked obviously spammy, and one was banned before I had a chance to check him out. But I've been reluctant to report most of them because I've been thinking that maybe they've published a hub or two but the hubs don't show up on their profile page because they haven't yet been "featured."

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            Writer Foxposted 10 years agoin reply to this

            You can also check their Profile page and see if they are rapidly following many people.  If they are and they have no Hubs, I think you should report them.
            
            (I followed you yesterday!)

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            1. 95

               brianlokkerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

               Yes, that seems to be what most of them are doing, and I'm inclined to agree. I'll check back on some of them in a day or two and report them if the pattern continues.
               
               Thanks for the (legitimate!) follow! I followed you in return and I look forward to reading your hubs, especially those on SEO.

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