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Discussion on: It *IS* possible to get a voice here! [tips to grow on DEV.to + a mini rant!]

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grahamthedev profile image
GrahamTheDev

There are a lot of things in this article that I think I could have prefaced better and there are key points where I address stuff (but it is a massive article).

However I think I can stand by what I said with some confidence (but I certainly am considering how I can improve the message).

But, with all that being said, there is a key factor that is less tangible: does asking questions and creating listicles help your "personal brand", does it help build up your authority in a subject? Probably not.

Long term, that personal brand value does start to add up and results in opportunities and meaningful conversations. If that is what you really want from your writing then focus on that and ignore the numbers.

I know it is 2 paragraphs in a gigantic article but that is certainly right for people who write for enjoyment. But at that point you aren't bothered about growth so much.

I will stand by "fault" as it is your fault if you don't grow, but I certainly cover that as "it isn't necessarily a bad thing" in several places. In fact I end with it...

In summary: if you aren't growing it is your fault, it is down to choices you make. That is not saying those choices are bad, but you certainly need to put in the effort and adjust your content creation if views and growth are your primary concern. Once you reach a certain size, pivot to writing more and more content you want to see, you should hopefully have the community around you at that point to support it!

As for blame, I take the blame for the poor structure of this article meaning some of the message I was trying to make is being lost! It is a lesson in practicing what you preach and I wrote this article on a whim and without structuring it first.

Hopefully there is still enough value in the rest of the article that you still enjoyed it though ❤

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moopet profile image
Ben Sinclair

I always enjoy your articles :)