Why is it that some hub writers have near 1,000 followers but only follow less

1. 69

   Joan Kingposted 11 years ago

   Why is it that some hub writers have near 1,000 followers but  only follow less than 100 writers?
   
   I notice that there is a wide gap between the followers and the followed on hub pages. Some have hundreds of followers but only follow a very small percentage back. Is this because all those hundreds of followers are not worth the effort to follow, because some are very selective or some hubbers do not see the need to follow others except for a few close friends.

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2. 94

   peeplesposted 11 years ago

   Following is about reading a person's work and sharing. It is easy for 1000 people to read one article. It is NOT easy for 1 person to read 1000 articles. For anyone to follow 1000 people would be a giant misplace of the whole point of following. This is not facebook. If I won't be reading a person's work on a regular basis because of what they write about or the time I have available for reading I will not follow them.

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      Joan Kingposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I bet you those 1,000 followers aren't reading either especially if they notice it is not mutual. I think though that the whole following thing is like  facebook.

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   Becky Katzposted 11 years ago

   I only follow those that I have the time to read. If someone writes things that I won't read, I don't follow them. I have many followers that I do not follow. It is suggested that you only follow those that you have time to read and will read. It could also negatively effect your hubber score to follow everyone.

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      Joan Kingposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      So are you saying that following too many writers can negatively affect your hub score? Didn't know that but it makes me feel better since I always felt I wasn't following enough people but seems I am doing the right thing after all.

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      Becky Katzposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      That is what I have read on here several times by those who have been around for a lot longer. I figure they know more than I do so I will go with that.

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      chrisinhawaiiposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Yes.  If you follow tons of people, your hubber score will sink like a rock.  But HP actually states that you should only follow hubbers who's hubs interest you.  Plus, the inbox DOES get clogged quickly...

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   Marisa Wrightposted 11 years ago

   HubPages is not Twitter or Facebook.   Here, following has nothing to do with being friends.  It's like being a fan.
   
   Once upon a time, followers here were called "fans", and I still think that's a better name for it. You follow someone because you love their work, so you want to be read everything they do.    If you're going to be a genuine follower, it's simply not practical to follow a large number of Hubbers, because you couldn't possibly keep up with all of their Hubs.
   
   I know most of my followers are not genuine.  They follow lots of Hubbers because they think it will get them more traffic.  I know following has nothing to do with earning income here, so I use it as it's meant - as a way of keeping track of the best writers on HP.

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      Joan Kingposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I also know that some hubbers follow you and when you follow them back they unfollow you but you don't know unless you do a detailed check so you continue to follow them. That may explain why some have so many followers but don't really follow much.

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      Marisa Wrightposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      The question is, why are you "following them back"?  You should go and look at their Hubs and if you're interested to read more of them, follow them.  Otherwise, don't.  That's how it's supposed to work.  Followers are not friends.

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   Goody5posted 11 years ago

   We've been following one another here on the hub pages for some time now Joan, so I thought I would try to answer your question from what I've seen numerous times here at the hub pages. There are folks here who follow someone, in what appears to be an attempt to get them to follow them back. There's nothing wrong with this, and I'm probably as guilty of this as any other hubber. However there are certain people and I won't name names who after that person follows them back, later on stops following the person. If a person has over a thousand followers, and only follows a few people in return, then it's a good chance that this is exactly what they did. If a person has a couple of hundred followers, and isn't following anyone in return then most likely they are guilty of this as well. I mean come on, if you don't jump out there and follow some people on the hub pages, then nobody is going to follow you, and you won't get noticed. All of this is in the name of a silly score which is in the corner of your profile picture. I'm here solely for fun, and I don't care about scores or a lousy few dollars, and It's a pleasure to be one of your followers Joan!!

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      Joan Kingposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I am not into playing those silly games of "follow me, follow you" either, I would rather spend my time writing. Thanks for your kind words Goody5 and I am also happy to be following you.

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      Marisa Wrightposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I've never followed people to get followers.  I follow writers I admire, and I keep it to a small number so I can be sure I have time to read their stuff.  That hasn't stopped me collecting followers, and I've never gone out looking for them.

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   chrisinhawaiiposted 11 years ago

   All the answers so far are spot on, but there is ONE more reason some hubbers have hundreds of followers but don't follow anyone back.
   
   Cuz they suck.
   
   I've heard that some hubbers are actually PROUD of the fact that they don't follow anybody.  That sounds pretty lame to me, though.

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      Goody5posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Your right on here with your answer Chris, however lame is much too kind of a word for those people. I can see why we're following one another as well!

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   Sushma Webberposted 11 years ago

   Very interesting answers. I have noticed that some people follow you and when you don't do the same they stop following you immediately.
   
   I usually check the writer when they follow me and only reciprocate if I think I would be interested in that person's writing.

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      Joan Kingposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I guess that most people follow because they wish to be followed back so I can see why they will unfollow if they don't think you share the same interests.

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   Theophanesposted 11 years ago

   I got a great deal of followers in the two or so years I didn't do any work on my Hubpages... so I never really got to check all of them out but for every new follower I get I try to at least look at their profile. Just because they find what I am writing about interesting or relevant doesn't necessarily mean I feel the same towards them. Many write things like product reviews and dating advice which is wonderful but its not my cup of tea. There'd be no point to following them. Sorry if it sounds a bit self absorbed.

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      Joan Kingposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      It is not self absorbed at all. Having a lot of followers may give the illusion that one is popular but in reality only a few if any of those followers may actually read the articles or comment.

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   AbFreak101posted 11 years ago

   i know it feels bad when you have no followers.Maybe with time.

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      Joan Kingposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      It takes time but be assured you will get followers once you keep writing.

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