Only the first week of this blogging thing and I’m already getting into the ranting. This won’t continue, I promise, but, sometimes it has to happen. It has to happen today, because I was scrolling around on Facebook when this article popped up:
Inside Instagram Pods: The Secret Trick to Increase Your Engagement
As soon as I saw the title I knew exactly what it was about. I didn’t know they were called “Instagram Pods”... I just called them “Lame ass DM liking and commenting groups for kooks”. Personally, I think my name is better, but, to each their own. The first time I had been exposed to what was going on was when I had actually been asked to be a part of one of these groups a few months back... I politely declined.
I declined because I asked myself “Why?”. I get the concept. I understand that it tricks the almighty algorithm into populating your photos on a larger amount of feeds or whatever because it thinks you have some huge “engagement” which you can then use to your advantage by turning around and tricking brands and companies into “sponsoring” (teaming up, linking, building) with you. “Fire” idea right? But, in the explanation of the concept I found the flaw. The word “TRICKS”. If I need to trick a brand, a person, a company into anything, I want no part of it... and vice versa. If they can be tricked this easily, I want no part of them.
Who the hell out there is getting all dolled up to hit up the club, texts all their friends and says “Hey, guys, when I get there, tell me I look gorgeous. Say it loud enough so everyone else hears you, and then they will think the same thing.” No one. Because you would be called a clown real quick. How LAME does that sound? I donno. It sounds corny to me at least.
What the worst part about all this is that it is so painfully obvious if you just dig just a sliver deeper. Yeah... you may be fooling some brands and companies now, which... cool? I guess...? But long term, they are going to dig a little deeper as well and realize that you’re fraudulent. If not, then you still know you’re fraudulent (which is even worse in my opinion).
The good news! There are a ton of incredibly honest, talented, and passionate artists and companies out there that see through these wack tactics. They realize that hard work, being true to yourself, and always aiming to improve their craft is the best way to grow, and to make real connections... CRAZY CONCEPT! Mind you, this is much slower, longer, tedious, takes way more effort and consistency, and requires a true love for your product, concept or art. The other thing is that it may NEVER turn into anything at all. But if that is what stops you... do you really love it as much as you think?
I think about it like professional athletes or musicians... put in a shit ton of work cause you love it, no other reason. You may not end up in the show, or selling out arenas in the end, but at least you weren’t the dude telling everyone to pump your tires and lie to you. Personally I came to that realization with photography a while back. This will likely never become a full time thing for me, or even a part time thing, and it will probably just remain a hobby for me forever... but I’m completely cool with that. I’ll never stop though, because I love it, and I certainly won’t stop because other people are willing to scheme, trick and fake to get ahead. I’m going to keep trying to learn, improve, meet new people, have fun, and create the best work I can... and I can be happy with that, because I know I’m not trying to trick you and tell you otherwise.
-fini-