Do I be myself and lose follwers, or...

1. 92

   peeplesposted 11 years ago

   Do I be myself and lose follwers, or...
   
   The more I speak my mind the more followers I lose. I'm still undecided at this point if I should care, so I wanted some answers. Would you hold back your views for the sake of keeping followers? Or would you be yourself and lose a few along the way. I'm not sure at this point what is best for my writing profile.

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2. 73

   wayne barrettposted 11 years ago

   Billybuc just wrote a great article about giving and taking and one of the things he mentioned was being able to express yourself on Hubpages. I may not agree with everything I read but I do not judge anyone for their viewpoint. Like Billy said, if you cant be yourself here and write from your heart...whats the point? I may not respond to a hub if Its something I don't agree with or that doesn't interest me, but I would not drop the person. Example: I have a few followers that I can tell are ultra religious, and they write mostly about their faith. I may not agree with their beliefs and what they are writing, but I respect their rights to be able to express themselves. I welcome advise, a good debate, etc. I would rather someone give me their thoughts and opinions than to just shun me and disappear. So i say...be yourself! If followers can't be open minded enough to deal with a little controversial creative expression...then it's their loss!

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3. 86

   Sherry Hewinsposted 11 years ago

   I really wouldn't worry about the followers. A lot of them just follow to be followed, at least that's the ones I think drop off, those I don't follow back. If people don't like what you say, why would they read your stuff? And if they don't read your stuff, what good is it to you to have them follow you? I do try to avoid arguing in the forums, it seems pointless.

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4. 76

   Cantuhearmescreamposted 11 years ago

   peeples,
   I know this seems like a hard question and I find myself sometimes struggling with the same dilemma. What is the point of having a voice if it sounds like everyone else’s? I know that I’m asking for “trouble” with some of the hubs I write, comments I make, answers I give or questions I ask, but I would rather get a real and genuine response even if it isn’t in agreement with my thoughts/opinions. I appreciate the truth. There is a difference between being honest to yourself and speaking the truth and just being rude. I welcome anyone, anytime to speak on the other side of an issue; we just don’t need to be disrespectful in the process. I would never unfollow someone because they had a different opinion than me. If you lose a follower because of your opinion than they probably weren’t someone that should’ve been following you anyway. 
   Cat

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5. 68

   JMcFarlandposted 11 years ago

   A lot of the hubs I write are on completely controversial topics, and these hubs often get the most views.  I'd rather about stuff that I'm passionate about and knowledgeable about than write what I think people would want to hear.  I've gotten more followers over my opposing views and debatable topics than I ever have on my more "friendly" or "politically correct" topics.  I say write on things that you feel strongly about.  Passion is a large attractor, even if a lot of people disagree with your standpoint.  You may open the lines of communication between opposing points of view, which can spike your traffic and overall earnings even if you lose a few followers along the way.  You'll probably gain more for sticking to your guns and standing up for things that you feel strongly about overall.

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6. 0

   paxwillposted 11 years ago

   You should write what you think Internet searchers want to read, not what you think HubPages users like.  If you're doing things right, a very miniscule portion of your traffic should come from registered users of this site anyway.  Once most of your views come from external sources, there's no reason to care about your number of HP followers.

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   duffsmomposted 11 years ago

   Really? How do yo know when you lose followers?  Does HP send out an email? I cannot imagine following someone, then unfollowing due to opinions.  But anything is possible.
   
   Personally, I wouldn't even pay attention to it. Be who you are as a writer, and then it is their narrow-minded loss if they don't like it.

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   1. 92

      peeplesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I know I lost them because at the start of a day I had a certain number, then after a lengthy, (and rare from me) debate in the forum my number dropped by 4.

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   2. 0

      Sarra Garrettposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      forums can be snarky.  I started a forum where snarky people are not allowed and it's becoming popular.  Don't worry about it you are perfect as you are

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8. 60

   nisargmehtaposted 11 years ago

   Hey Peeples, I went through your hubs and they are awesome. Bet you would have received a lot of appreciation and feed back for your efforts. Don't bother about what others think. Because If you start think what others are thinking about you, then what will others do. LOL!! Keep posting what you want to post and not what others want to read or know.
   
   I follow the same thing. I am least bothered if someone thinks I am posting something absolutely absurd. That's their concern and not mine. Do what you love, you might not get another chance or another life to do it.. [Smiles]

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9. 80

   ketageposted 11 years ago

   Be yourself, there will always be people who disagree with you, same as there will always be people of like mind as you, your aim being, to find the people of like mind. I enjoyed a lot of your hubs. I must admit I did not read all of them, but then some of them were not my cup of tea.
   My opinion, Let people know who you are, your opinions and what you think, the people who follow you have a genuine interest in your opinions.
   As for the people who stopped following you, maybe their interests lay elsewhere.

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10. 70

    poshcoffeecoposted 11 years ago

    Having followers within the community is nice. However, it is secondary. Your main aim if you are here to make money is to gain search engine traffic. Go out to do that and write with your target audience in the front of your mind. You will get regular readers from outside of hub pages. I found that if you do that for some reason you get more loyal followers on here and then you make great lasting friends who don't rely on YOU for your traffic. When you connect with them from time to time they are truly pleased to hear from you.
    http://poshcoffeeco.hubpages.com/hub/Pl … llow-Me-If
    After I wrote this honest assessment my followers increased.
    Keep on keep in on.

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11. 81

    FatFreddysCatposted 11 years ago

    I don't even pay attention to my # of followers, to be honest, so the only way I'd notice a loss would be if a huge chunk of them all left at once.

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12. 0

    JThomp42posted 11 years ago

    peeples, always be yourself. In the end, it is you that you must make happy.

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13. 71

    Sullen91posted 11 years ago

    It's probably inconsequential. It's not a personality' site, by the same token, by the way.

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14. 85

    tsmogposted 11 years ago

    I am not sure how to answer as I ponder. I hear two things. "Speaking my Mind" and the fact of whom the author is. Different subjects yet one an object too. Maybe it is not the writer, yet the subject or vice versa. Consider the audience, of which only needs to be one, and usually only one reads at a time.
    
    Then consider the readership, of which some times are along for the ride. A writing class I took the author of renown shared with pick the subject of which to write. Decide purpose. Next, pick one and only one to write to with all your heart, mind, and soul. That person is to be addressed with whatever type of essay chosen. If it is an explanation, of course explain. Do not vary. If an argument then argue the position and not the point.
    
    Good essays have three main appeals to be of strength - Emotional appeal, Logical appeal, and Ethical appeal. Balance, ebb, and flow follow. Lean one way lose the other way. If one sided the audience and readership is not offered a choice. If yes or no it will be yes or no. Simple enough. Voting counts most. Ponder balance of the argument with counters rather than points. The underdog tends to win more than many realize.
    
    Next, be sure they of why they leave. Maybe they are of no care of the subject and just do not like the argument. I ran into that a few times too. I listen, giggle since that is what I do when nervous, and then learn.
    
    Bear in mind if these are not answered with a good argument then it becomes a mystery and fiction rather than non-fiction. Who, What, Where, When, Why, How and How Much. Believe me I am still learning this with each hub I write too. Over and over and over. Maybe go back if you discover which hub they left at with the Account Page. If ten people read hubs as an example, they read only one hub, and one left the group then you know which, then comes the Why. Re-examine if of worth and value. Strengthen or enhance the weaknesses seeking objectivity by adding too - visual, sound, and etc or too removing or both.
    
    Next, remember this quote especially since I blabbed all over the place - giggle.
    
    “I believe that the trade of critic, in literature, music, and the drama, is the most degraded of all trades, and that it has no real value--certainly no large value...However, let it go. It is the will of God that we must have critics, and missionaries, and congressmen, and humorists, and we must bear the burden.”
    
    - Mark Twain's Autobiography
    
    Mark Twain made a living as a critic . . .

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15. 0

    Sarra Garrettposted 11 years ago

    Hi peeples.  Be yourself and never change for the sake of others.  If you change for the sake of others you are not yourself.  You'll find the right niche and the right followers.    Oh by the way, I want you to read my latest hub - on America forsaking her children - I dedicate it to you. 

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16. 44

    DDEposted 11 years ago

    I haven't paid attention to my followers and suddenly they have increased you know followers are worth having, be able to accept criticism.

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17. 91

    MizBejabbersposted 11 years ago

    I say be yourself. Write from your point of expertise, not what HP wants you to write. When I first came aboard, I tried to follow their guidelines and write “well researched and documented hubs” (writing and research are parts of my profession, so that came easy), and I got very little traffic. Nobody wants to read research papers. When I busted loose and started writing from my life experience, things started to happen. I started making friends, and I think it was because people were beginning to know the real me. I don’t have a lot of time, so I don’t write many hubs and I don’t have a lot of followers, but that’s ok because I look at the “hits” and realize a lot of people are reading them or they are at least looking at them. I really enjoy giving feedback and comments to other hubbers in the few minutes I can spare even when I don't have time to write and put a hub together.

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