How To Distinguish a True Influencer From Someone Merely Seeking Popularity on Medium

True influencers prioritize giving and adding value to their audience’s lives, while those after quick clicks prioritize whatever’s on fashion. Ask yourself: Are the writers I’m reading driven by a genuine desire to make a positive impact, or are they solely chasing fame and fortune?

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I think someone’s got to say it and say it clearly; there’s too many popular writers who are merely regurgitating themes in which they are neither experienced nor credible. They are not givers, they desire to get more out of you than they entend to give.

There are good writers who are givers. Reading their material is more than reading mere opinion. It is substancial information with quality advice that is truly helpful. Their content actually is their own content. They write to give you help and they promote you more than they do themselves.

What I’ve learned from Medium

The rest of this article isn’t really an article. It’s a compilation of study notes I’ve gathered from reading articles on Medium. I’ve tidied up a bit my notes and tried to put them into a list format. Here is what I came up with, both the main ideas and some examples.

Intentions:

Quality influencers prioritize providing value, knowledge, and inspiration to their audience. They genuinely want to make a positive impact and establish meaningful connections. On the other hand, those seeking popularity often prioritize self-promotion, seeking attention, and accumulating a large following for personal gain.

• Quality influencer: A fitness influencer who shares workout routines, nutrition tips, and promotes a healthy lifestyle to empower their audience and help them achieve their fitness goals.
• Popularity-focused influencer: An influencer who primarily posts provocative photos to gain attention and increase their follower count without providing substantial value or meaningful engagement.

Content and Expertise:

Quality influencers focus on delivering high-quality, well-researched, and valuable content. They invest time and effort into developing their expertise in a specific niche, sharing insights, and offering practical advice. In contrast, those seeking popularity may prioritize creating sensationalized or clickbait content without much substance or depth.

• Quality influencer: A tech reviewer who thoroughly tests and analyzes the latest gadgets, providing in-depth reviews, comparisons, and practical advice to help their audience make informed purchasing decisions.
• Popularity-focused influencer: An influencer who posts flashy and exaggerated content about luxury products, focusing more on showcasing wealth and status rather than providing meaningful insights or expertise.

Engagement and Authenticity:

Quality influencers value authentic engagement with their audience. They actively interact, respond to comments, and foster a genuine connection. They build trust and credibility by being transparent, sharing personal experiences, and showcasing their expertise. Influencers focused on popularity often prioritize superficial engagement, such as chasing likes and comments, without genuine interaction or connection.

• Quality influencer: A travel influencer who regularly engages with their audience, responds to comments, and shares personal travel stories and recommendations, fostering an authentic connection and inspiring others to explore new destinations.
• Popularity-focused influencer: An influencer who buys fake followers and uses automated bots to generate generic comments, prioritizing quantity over quality engagement.

Long-term Impact:

Quality influencers aim for long-term impact and aim to positively influence their audience’s lives. They focus on building a loyal and engaged community, inspiring change, and providing lasting value. Those seeking popularity may prioritize short-term attention and instant gratification, often neglecting the long-term impact or value they can bring.

• Quality influencer: A sustainability influencer who educates their audience about eco-friendly practices, shares tips for reducing waste, and actively participates in environmental initiatives, aiming to create long-lasting change and promote a greener lifestyle.
• Popularity-focused influencer: An influencer who jumps on viral trends, constantly changing their content to chase temporary popularity without a consistent focus or impact.

Ethical Practices:

Quality influencers adhere to ethical standards and guidelines. They are transparent about sponsorships and collaborations, and prioritize the well-being of their audience. They maintain integrity, credibility, and trust. In contrast, those seeking popularity may engage in unethical practices such as undisclosed sponsorships, misleading promotions, or dishonest tactics to gain followers.

• Quality influencer: A beauty influencer who clearly discloses sponsorships and maintains transparency about the products they promote, ensuring their audience’s trust and providing honest and unbiased recommendations.
• Popularity-focused influencer: An influencer who promotes products without disclosing paid partnerships or manipulates reviews to benefit financially, compromising their credibility and the trust of their audience.

The sad truth

In the vast and dynamic blogging community, there unfortunately exist fake writers who undermine the authenticity and integrity of the craft. These individuals engage in deceptive practices, such as plagiarizing content, fabricating stories, or using automated tools to generate articles. They prioritize quantity over quality, aiming to manipulate algorithms and gain quick attention rather than providing genuine value to readers.

Fake writers lack the passion, dedication, and originality that define true writers. Their actions not only erode trust within the community but also diminish the overall quality of content available to readers. It is essential for readers and fellow writers to be discerning and hold these fake writers accountable, ensuring that the blogging community thrives on genuine talent and meaningful contributions.

For you, what are some tell tale signs of a quality writer?