You may have noticed I was absent from the Engagement League, run by the most salubrious Asher, also known as 
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The experiment ran from last Monday to Sunday when the Engagement League results are announced each week.
I personally wrote 350+ comments, solid and lengthy ones, on my own account which Asher tells me would have had me in the top three in the League - My engagement was a little down, but still strong.
The engagement experiment wasn't on my own account though. It was done through my secondary account - The one I created for my wife Faith to possibly use in the future when time permits.
On that account, in the same period, I made 400+ comments of well over 130,000+ characters in length total, plus 7 or 8 posts. It was a lot of work to run both.
You may be asking why would G-dog do such a thing and it's a great question; Is he mentally retarded? (No, I've been tested. Lol)
The experiment
I wanted to see if there would be different responses to my main account with over 61,000HP to vote with, compared to an account that hasn't reached anywhere near 600HP yet, and probably never will. I didn't change comment length or quality, simply did the same as I would always do, but from that alternative account.
The results were interesting, disappointing and excellent at the same time.
I started commenting on Monday seeking a mix of accounts I had not yet commented on with my main account plus some I had. I was looking for a balance across the board.
Replies were slow on the first day but after the week I had gained replies from about 50% of those I'd commented on, so just over 200 replies. I was happy considering the account has a small voting power and was randomly popping into peoples posts out of the blue - A stranger as such.
As part of my strategy I would sometimes apologise for my pathetically low vote and was pleased to see almost 50% of people come back with the comment is more valuable to me. Sensational! Nice work team!
What happened next? I picked up followers and votes.
Upside
In the 7 day period I collected 27 new followers, not too bad for a new account who, to that point, had only commented a time or two. Extrapolate that out to 12 months and that's 1404 followers! Not too shabby.
400 comments, to just over 100 different accounts averages 4 comments per account. 200 comments back, give or take, and 27 new followers. Worth the effort? I also gained (total) post rewards of $16.20 in that time - Not huge, but far more than the cents a new account would typically gain I think.
I know what happens when I comment on users from my main account - I get followers, but I wanted to know if it could be done from a small, insignificant account that no one had ever heard of. And it can. With relative ease in fact.
It wasn't all good news though.
Downside
Some, who I could name but will not, were a little standoffish, ignorant and just plain rude. Not big accounts because I never commented on any big accounts - Disappointingly though, people who talk all over the blockchain about their support of, and engagement with, smaller accounts. Alarmingly also, some were accounts I regularly comment on from my main account, who comment with depth and vote my posts. Hmm...
Many ignored me, even after a few attempts on my part and some gave very short answers of 3-5 words. I get it, maybe they are busy, but nah, that's no excuse I think, certainly not from people trying to build their own accounts, or promote new users. Don't worry though, the G-dog has a good memory.
I also found many users not commenting effectively. This is an issue.
With a small Resource Credit commenting is limited, or so I understand it. Why then would thank you be a suitable response to a reply? Wouldn't that person want to get a little more value from their RC and make a more valid, relevant and interesting comment? Even if thank you is all they want to say? It seems so elementary to me. We can come up with every excuse under the sun for it, but clearly some of these people want to build here so why would they not think outside the square and comment more effectively when someone engages? Lack of education on the blockchain maybe?
More upside
I made some friends though, ones that will stick. I was also quite liberal with votes from my main account when someone did the right thing, applied some effort, was polite, personable and friendly. I also noted a few who I could see were getting out there and promoting engagement for no other apparent reason other than to help new users and promote the blockchain. That was amazing to see, and I will be rewarding those people with votes and support moving forward, as I did last week also.
Conclusions
- Engagement works to build a following, profile, brand and relationships.
- Commenting must be interesting, relevant, valid, friendly and personable.
- Engagement needs depth, not just a single comment dropped, then bugger off never to return.
- Relationships need nurturing, neglect them and they will go away.
- Ignoring people that comment will be detrimental to you.
- Don't waste RC on short comments, add depth, get the most from each comment.
- Ask open questions when replying, not ones that can be answered with yes or no. Communication 101 here folks. (Ask open questions, not closed ones.)
- Engaging externally from your own posts is critical - Comment on other people's posts I mean. People will not simply come to you because you're here.
- Be kind, personable and polite - This is a huge one. You never know who is at the other end of that comment. It could be little old me, a huge account or a whale-alt looking for someone to engage with and vote on. (This actually happens you know).
- Have decent post content for potential followers to review - Give them a reason to want to follow you.
- Join the Engagement League to track yourself.
Just on the Engagement League - I read a comment last week that said it can lead a person to engage for the sake of winning the League rather than for the right reasons...I totally agree. Enjoyment has to come first, the rest will follow organically. The League is a great way to track yourself though, so engaging for enjoyment and to build one's account combined with the statistics from the Engagement League will work better than just one of them in isolation.
Yes, more dot points
- Enjoy yourself and apply personality, passion and effort to that end.
- Set achievable goals and seek sustainability - It's not a get rich quick scheme, or a race.
- Be wary of those promising quick or easy rewards, they often lead to dark places and eventual disaster.
- Ask questions. There's many here who would be happy to answer your questions and help guide you along. (Myself included.)
- Don't hit people up on Discord for free votes - It happens to me all the time and you'll always get nothing. No shortcuts remember? Build relationships and the rewards will follow.
I don't think I'll be doing this again in a hurry, it was a lot of work, but I met some cool people who I will support and there may potentially be a few more to come depending on how they follow up on my alternative account's replies.
What I can say, for any user, is that building your account can be done through engagement. It takes work, but it is entirely possible and you can make it happen if you want. If not, then no worries, do what you're doing.
I built this account to what you see today in this manner, from zero, and I know it can be done. Finding excuses as to why it isn't happening isn't going to make it happen so don't make excuses, take action.
Thanks those who looked at, or read, this post.
Design and create your ideal life, don't live it by default - Tomorrow isn't promised.
Be well
Discord: galenkp#9209
Join the Engagement League