A member recently posted in the Q&A section here on ActiveRain, and basically asked the question, "Why don't my posts get featured?"
As someone who has participated on this platform since its inception, I can tell you that this has been an on-going topic of tremendous debate, angst, and mystery.
I once had the distinct pleasure (or pain) of being one of those tasked with 'featuring' posts, first as a volunteer moderator, and later as a member of ActiveRain staff. Since the very beginning, there has been a love-hate relationship with 'Goldy.'
Allow me to offer a few thoughts and suggestions as they relate to being 'Featured' and the Ever-Illusive Golden Star:
1. If you want to get 'Featured," - simply send Bob Stewart tickets to any major sporting event, preferably the Seahawks...(just kidding, obviously)
2. Focus on Your Intended Audience and Write for Them - while receiving Gold Stars is nice, they don't pay the bills. It's nice to get the praise and affirmation of your peers, but you can't put that in the bank. Our primary purpose for blogging should be to attract potential clients through the content we generate. That's the end game. The bottom line IS the bottom line! Our goal should be to write crazy-good hyper-local content that leads to closed transactions, not articles that garner platform popularity.
3. If You Think Your Writing is Really Good, It Probably Isn't - Not trying to be overly critical here, just honest. It takes time and effort to become an effective writer/blogger. Many times what we think is valuable, creative content simply isn't. Good writing demands an intimate understanding of your target audience, and what information/content is important to them. In addition, that information/content needs to be conveyed in a manner that intrigues, engages, and solicits action/response.
4. Give and You Shall Receive - it has been my experience that those who get 'featured' the most (receive), are those who participate (give) the most. By this, I mean engaging in commenting on other member's posts, welcoming new members, participating IRL Meet-ups, etc. One of my heroes here in the Rain is Margaret Rome, Baltimore Maryland. She has called me personally by phone on occasion, just to say "Hi!" and to connect on a deeper level. If you want to get 'Featured,' come with an attitude of contribution, rather than 'what's in it for me.'
5. Getting 'Featured' is like Peter Sellers in "Being There." - in the movie, "Being There," Peter Sellers plays the part of a simple-minded gardener who quickly rises to a position of prominence by simply being in the right place, at the right time. The mystery-factor of being 'Featured' here on ActiveRain many times relies upon chance and a stroke of luck. With literally thousands of articles being published here everyday, it's a lot like playing the Lottery!
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