Insidious Ideas to Become Instantly Instafamous

I remember as a kid being invited into a club at recess by a few girls in the grade above mine. They basically required everyone to follow them around, play what they wanted, and you were rewarded with stickers if you listened to them and did what they said. It wasn't true friendship, it wasn't a "club" that added value to my life. It was a power move by girls who thought being in fourth grade over second made them better somehow.

It took my twin sister and I VERY LITTLE time to jump ship on that one. About ten minutes into recess, watching our play-time quickly get siphoned off to these power-hungry girls who needed outside affirmation that what they wanted to do was more fun than any idea we could come up with, we bailed and never looked back. That moment stuck with me and I've referred back to it often whenever it felt as if someone wanted lemmings and not true friendships or connection. It wasn't a system I wanted to be a part of as a child, and it certainly isn't one I care to be a part of as an adult.

As I've worked to navigate my way around social media to reach potential readers and connect with reviewers, moms, and entrepreneurs in search of a strong support group, I find myself navigating such clicks again. Pages that host "follow trains" that ultimately supply their on page with hundreds of new followers in a clip while those participating perform like dance monkeys in the hopes of boosting their own following while being forced to follow hundreds more. And for what? Blind and uninterested followers who want to know what's in it for them?

Having dabbled in the book promotion game over eight years ago (the modern-day equivalent to a millennia ago), well before instafamous was a thing, I am still pretty green at this whole self-promotion business once again. One thing I can see quite clearly now is that "follow chains" are officially NOT for me. I am currently wrapped up in one as I type this, and I have already made an unofficial oath to myself to never fall for this instant and shallow source of gratification again. If this is what "gaining a following" on Instagram is all about, than I don't want it.

(Don't tell my husband he was right, otherwise I will never live this down.)

I have, however, learned over the last few months of building my brand and presence on Instagram that I love connecting with other likeminded women. I love finding products, business, and entrepreneurs who take their skills and creations and build a deserved and genuine following. I don't know how many people trying to reach their target market on social media use approaches like follow trains or even use apps or programs that obtain them followers, but I know that, after very little experience, it's not for me.

I'm happy to host giveaways to help spread the news about my books. I'm excited for the chance to give back to people who are genuinely interested in what I have to offer. But I do not have the mental space to invest in hollow relationships. Not in my personal life, and not in my professional one. I get it, it's hard to reach followers. It's hard to reach people you know could benefit from what you have to share and provide, but take it from me, slow and steady is the way to go.

Ultimately, I'm sharing a piece of my heart with people. Okay...it's my books, but...it's also a very REAL piece of my heart. The last thing I want is to expose a vulnerability to people who don't understand how special that is. I'm not trying to rob my reader, I'm trying to feed their soul. I'm trying to entertain them with heartwarming love-filled fiction of my own conjuring. The absolute last thing I need in life is more stuff that's worth less. It's better to have five dollars than one-hundred pennies. I would love to surround myself with as many people as I can who are as passionate about reading my novels as I am about writing them, but I can't force it and I don't desire to.

Until next time, take it from me...an under-followed and fully-fulfilled indie author, follow your heart, not the crowd. One will lead to your dreams, the other will get you lost.