I know I am not a blogging expert, and it’s probably safe to say I am not an expert at social media either. I am just working on growing this space at my own pace and discovering more each day. I’m no professional, but I think I have been around long enough to say a little something.

Using the follow-unfollow method to grow your brand is a worthless shortcut. 

I said it. You might be gasping over there or you might be raising your hands in agreement. I stand by what I say, following someone just to turn around and unfollow them has to be on the top of the “Worst Ideas to Grow Your Brand” list. There isn’t one of those? Oh. Well, maybe there should be.

Now, I’m not here to yell at you if that’s what you choose to do. But I do want to give you a couple ideas as to why that’s the worst idea. So let’s talk, shall we?

You come off as being unrelatable. If you follow me just to turn around and unfollow me, I immediately feel like you’re in this thing for the numbers and don’t care about who I am. If you follow me, I want you to follow me because you like who I am and you’re interested in being a part of my community. I genuinely want you to enjoy the content I am sharing. I am not going to want to check out your content if I feel like you aren’t even interested in who I am. And if the first impression you give me is you’re trying to get another number, then what makes you think that who I am would even matter to you?

You miss out on community. There is no community in follow-unfollow. What I love most about blogging and social media is all the friends I have met through this world. People think I am crazy when I talk about all my friends I have never met, but it’s true! There is so much community in this wonderful world of bloggers and small business owners. If you’re following me just to unfollow me in hopes that I’ll follow back just to add a number, I think you’re forsaking community. Blogging is nothing without your readers and the community behind you, don’t get caught up in the numbers.

People will think you aren’t genuine. There is nothing real about someone who just wants numbers. If you aren’t really engaging with who I am and you’re just hitting follow as quick as you hit unfollow, I just don’t feel like you’re genuine. You could be the coolest person out there, but because you weren’t showing me how much you cared to stick around, I totally missed that.

It’s no surprise how much I love social media, it is pretty incredible. I love making new friends. I especially love how it helps me not feel so isolated as a stay at home mom. Being able to catch snapshots from the lives of others on Instagram, or laugh along with what others share on Twitter gives me a glimpse of community. It’s sad to think that following and unfollowing someone causes you to miss out!

Community is so much better than a number. I would rather have 500 people who really engage with my life, than 10,000 who never stop and say hello. Community is really a beautiful thing.

Try finding a new friend, giving them a follow, and genuinely looking around at what they have to share. Get to know them, their life, and who they are. Share the things you love and can’t get enough of. Comment on the things that bring you joy. Get to know who they are and maybe you’ll make a new friend. I guarantee if you want to grow your brand, that will do a much better job.