How to build your first 500 followers:


1. Bias toward replying
2. Bias toward genuineness
3. Bias toward follow-first


Putting these together: **Write a genuine reply to someone you find interesting, and follow the person at that exact moment.**

(Repeat ~1000x)

building /bracket | hosting /greatbooks + /gray | ex-BCG, ex-PHD | poli + phil + econ

Unfollow if follow is not responded to with a follow back after ~72 hours  ✍️

It's a rule of thumb I've hesitated using until recently, as it comes across transactional, but imo filters for the reciprocal relationship type needed in establishing long-term "mutuals", which then leads to a robust baseline follower count.

Sort of like wanting 100 loyal customers instead of 1000 disloyal ones.

What’s the value of unfollowing?

My rough rule is that if a person was worth replying to, they are worth following. (Even if I don’t agree with most of their opinions, if I thought it important to reply to them, they should be part of my collective conversation)

I only unfollow people if they get toxic or spammy