How to become more popular on Flickr?

[TheOneVeyronian]

Hi all!

First of all, I hope this is okay to ask here (if not, I'm sorry), but I wish to ask: how can I become more popular on Flickr? I joined about 9 months ago to post my MOC's and have since gained about 35 followers (I don't know if that's good or not for a small, fairly niche photostream like mine). I mostly upload constraction MOC's, but as you can see on my photostream I do build with almost anything and in many subjects as well, and even post stuff relating to new sets on occassion.

I've been trying to increase the number of followers I get recently such as joining and uploading to a couple of fairly active MOC (and contest) groups, and adding new content frequently (on advice of a friend of mine who's also on Flickr), but so far it's all failed. Am I doing something wrong? Does the problem lie with the fact that I do such an enormous variety of builds and don't necessarily specialse in one system? Is it because I mostly do constraction MOC's, which I believe are the most niche fanbase within LEGO? Is it simply because I don't actually follow anyone? I should point out that I do get a few faves on every MOC I've posted recently, but I'm more interested in tips on gaining followers at the moment.

Any friendly constructive advice from more seasoned Flickr users here will be helpful

[TheRedViper]

Try to build a range of different type MOC's, which will broaden your audience, and start following more people, favouriting pictures and commenting more (but not spamming). Also try joining any lego groups on Flickr. Good luck!

[Lady K]

From others I know on Flikr: Upload to more Lego Groups, the more groups you have the more exposure your builds get. Also post new content on Friday afternoons. This is the most viewed time. Other Lego web sites will check around this for new content for their sites.

I don't personally spend a lot of time on Flikr groups but I know people who do. Hope this helps.

Edited July 13, 2014 by adventurer1

[TheOneVeyronian]

Try to build a range of different type MOC's, which will broaden your audience, and start following more people, favouriting pictures and commenting more (but not spamming). Also try joining any lego groups on Flickr. Good luck!

Well, apart from the fact that I already build many different types of MOC and am a member of some LEGO groups already, seems like good advice. Might have to become more socially active on Flickr I guess!

From others I know on Flikr: Upload to more Lego Groups, the more groups you have the more exposure your builds get. Also post new content on Friday afternoons. This is the most viewed time. Other Lego web sites will check around this for new content for their sites.

I don't personally spend a lot of time on Flikr groups but I know people who do. Hope this helps.

Interesting point about the time you upload, I didn't know that. Do you mean Friday afternoon in terms of US time or UK time, since afternoon in the US is pretty much early evening where I am

But it sounds like I should join some more LEGO groups on Flickr firstly, but I'm never sure which ones I can just join freely (with none of that "wait for admin approval" stuff, I personally dislike that). Feel free to recommend me any groups where any of my existing MOC's in my stream (in my sig) could fit in. Then I'll think about starting to follow my own follwers. Thanks for the tips so far, I'm a bit of a novice when it comes to gaining popularity

[A Plastic Infinity]

Flickr popularity...

To start, I recommend finding a popular builder who builds in the same theme as yourself (that is, constraction/Bionicle) and going on their profile. It should tell you what groups they are in, which you can then join yourself.

You mentioned you don't like groups that have to "approve' you... Admin approval is an important part of many groups, as it prevents spammers/trolls from infiltrating a group. I myself run a large group on Flickr and regularly have to decline pending members because they don't actually seem to have built or posted ANYTHING, are REALLY terrible, (although we're not snooty, you have to be m*g%bl@$king bad to get refused), or their 'streams are cluttered with stuff (mostly memes) the safety filter should have blocked.

So don't be afraid to apply.

Another thing: don't wait to follow people; if they consistently post good stuff, follow them. Flickr will usually notify them and they may reciprocate. As you already know, your MOCs will then appear in their Contacts' feed, giving you more spread. Sometimes I don't even have to add my stuff to groups, thanks to diligent followers who check their feeds often.

Expanding on that last bit, interact with people! Comment, fave, add MOCs to galleries if you feel like it. It will draw attention to you, and not in a negative way as trolling would do.

A last bit of advice: I'm looking at your photostream and a lot of the photos are of TLG sets. I know that detailed pictures of play features, new pieces, etc. help the community decide whether they want to buy sets (especially over here in the US where the new Chima hasn't been released yet), but it can also deter viewers who don't want to see them or actually mistake some of your builds for sets and dismiss them. I suggest not uploading excessive set pictures, or none at all. However, that's up to you.

Hope that helps!

Edited July 13, 2014 by A Plastic Infinity

[TheOneVeyronian]

You mentioned you don't like groups that have to "approve' you... Admin approval is an important part of many groups, as it prevents spammers/trolls from infiltrating a group.

Yes, but really that's just my mentality - I have a rather embarrassing phobia of rejection but of course I understand why it's necessary.

A last bit of advice: I'm looking at your photostream and a lot of the photos are of TLG sets. I know that detailed pictures of play features, new pieces, etc. help the community decide whether they want to buy sets (especially over here in the US where the new Chima hasn't been released yet), but it can also deter viewers who don't want to see them or actually mistake some of your builds for sets and dismiss them. I suggest not uploading excessive set pictures, or none at all. However, that's up to you.

Yes, but those were from not too long ago when I was just using Flickr as a repository for my set reviews on Eurobricks, and posting about my builds on other sites. I just decided this last month or so to get serious with Flickr. Anything that looks like a TLG set from the past month on there are my set modifications which are actually what I primarily work on (and are enjoyed very much by EB members). I would use something like Brickshelf for set review photos, but, well, I don't actually like it that much

But anyway, thanks for the advice. And somehow, since posting this thread, I've gained some more followers, and I haven't even had the chance to put the useful advice I've been given into practice yet. Ah well, it's all good

(I was also surprised at how few active constraction groups there were after doing a search)

[Zerobricks]

This reminds me of my topic on how to be more popular on youtube Sometimes when you try different things people may like it or as in my case they dont and hence I made a second channel. Try to be more engaged in the community.

[Legofin2012]

One should not strive for popularity, but just be happy with what one has, and if one is patient and takes in the advice given, then followers will come in their own time, and as will your time.

Wow, not doing that to often! But yeah, you see a lot of people building for fame and followers, when building should be for the fun, not the fame ;) Follow the advice the others have given you, and your time will come.

[TheOneVeyronian]

One should not strive for popularity, but just be happy with what one has, and if one is patient and takes in the advice given, then followers will come in their own time, and as will your time.

Wow, not doing that to often! But yeah, you see a lot of people building for fame and followers, when building should be for the fun, not the fame ;) Follow the advice the others have given you, and your time will come.

Of course, I'm not looking to be the queen of LEGO or something like that, neither am I looking for an overnight miracle, I just want to feel more recognised for what I love to do, though it's difficult to implement some advice as I would describe myself as a sociophobe. Of course, it might also be that a friend of mine (who builds some really amazing mecha and spacecraft in LDD) suddenly exploded in popularity on Flickr. The advice he gave me was simply "to build a Neo-Classic Space MOC"

But anyway, it's all useful advice, I've started following a few of my more famous followers whose builds I've seen before, and have joined more groups of personal interest. Only time will tell to see whether it's worked or not I guess!

[Pandora]

It doesn't necessarily answer your original question (about becoming popular), but if you'd like to join a group on flickr to add your pictures to, then we have our very own Eurobricks flickr group.

The link is here.

[TheOneVeyronian]

It doesn't necessarily answer your original question (about becoming popular), but if you'd like to join a group on flickr to add your pictures to, then we have our very own Eurobricks flickr group.

The link is here.

Thanks Pandora, I did not know that group even existed. Just joined!

[Si-MOCs]

It takes time. No one is popular overnight (shy of say giving everyone in a convention a build).

But definitely some great advice (a plastic infinity is super popular these days!) in this thread.

But looking at your profile, your stuff is good - that bugatti is quite nice. But you only added to one group! Most people add 10+ groups!

Picture quality helps a bit too.

But biggest thing to make friends is to follow people. I think you're following 6, most people follow 500+!

Just like real life you gotta put yourself out there!

[TheOneVeyronian]

Thanks for your input Si-MOCs. I know people add to a lot of groups, and I've been slowly joining more and more that focus on subjects I occassionally visit, like cars or sci-fi (and based on my Balrog, maybe an LOTR group even though that's probably the only LOTR related MOC I'll ever do). Problem is, when you're such a varied builder, you can never decide what groups to join! I've been trying to follow more people too, but you know, I don't want to follow for the sake of following.

But anyway, I should say that some of the advice I've been given here has already worked a treat. It used to take me forever to get a few faves, now it takes maybe an hour or two

I'm still open to suggestions as to what groups I could potentially join based on anything in my stream though

[TheOneVeyronian]

Sorry for double posting, but I've tried all the advice given here. I'm adding to quite a few groups now, I'm following a few builders (I'm not following for the sake of following either), faved a few pics, and at first it caused quite a surge of activity on my photostream. Now... it's dead as a dodo again I don't get it, I'm uploading new stuff, adding it to several groups, but I don't get a second glance. It's like I don't exist in any of those groups I've joined. It doesn't help that a few of my favourite builders get, like, 30 faves on anything they post in a matter of hours and I don't know how they do it. I hate to ask, but what is it I'm doing wrong now? Or is it just a case of "if you wait, it will come" now?

Also, how often should I upload new stuff to attract existing and new followers? I can't quite do something new every single day...

(p.s. can't do much more about the photography, I'm working with a fairly standard camera because I spent all my money on LEGO )

[VBBN]

It's not necessarily just about getting exposure- everyone can browse through and look at MOCs when they want, but if you really want to get feedback and have a more consistent following, you have to communicate more with other people on Flickr. Faving isn't enough, if you comment on things and get in contact with others, they will have more of an interest in commenting on your work. Just trying to jump from having no views to having a few thousand views and double digit+ comments doesn't happen in a day, it starts with a smaller consistent base of people that eventually grows outward.

Of course it would help if Flickr would stop making it's site worse with every update and making it harder to keep up your following's photos, but that's a rant for another day.

[kibosh]

It's just like building a following on any social media channel like Facebook or Twitter. You need to have content people want to consume. The best way to do that is to find your own niche. What makes you and your Flickr different than all the others? Why should I interact with you?

Same founding principle of website search engine optimization. Content is king. Give people what they want, and eventually they will come.

[TheOneVeyronian]

Oh yeah, I should point out that I have absolutely no experience with building reputation on social media because I've avoided it heavily in the past (and for the most part, still do, I will never be on Facebook, Twitter etc.), so yes you can say I'm completely clueless, so forgive the questions

I did forget to say in my previous post that I have been dropping some comments on some builds too (I prefer to comment than fave, but problem is, if I haven't got some form of constructive advice with compliment to give, I don't say or do anything!), but I think to be really in people's faces (not literally ), I'm firstly going to have to find more people to follow. How long would you say it's taken some of the big guys to get such an enormous following anyway? I would have imagined at least a year of constant activity, maybe more.

Of course it would help if Flickr would stop making it's site worse with every update and making it harder to keep up your following's photos, but that's a rant for another day.

So true... I wish they'd just leave it alone rather than keep changing it to become more unuseable. I'm looking at you, the update before last!

[AFOLguy1970]

If you would like to have your photos noticed more on Flickr, I highly recommend the use of tags with the appropriate keywords for your photos. Many people are looking for something specific on Flickr, and they will initiate a search. The more keywords you have, the more likely their search words will match up with yours, and then they see your photo.

[jimmynick]

Yes, but those were from not too long ago when I was just using Flickr as a repository for my set reviews on Eurobricks, and posting about my builds on other sites.

Flickr has all of the social capabilities that you don't need when you're posting photos for set reviews. If I were you, I'd keep those photos private (but they could clutter up your own stream) or use Brickshelf. No-one has to know that your Brickshelf page even exists.

Now... it's dead as a dodo again

Popularity isn't the goal of my presence on flickr, but views add up over time and people go through your old photos and fave things long afterwards. It just takes one interesting photo for me to want to browse someone's entire stream.

[TheOneVeyronian]

Flickr has all of the social capabilities that you don't need when you're posting photos for set reviews. If I were you, I'd keep those photos private (but they could clutter up your own stream) or use Brickshelf. No-one has to know that your Brickshelf page even exists.

If you don't mind me asking, if I made those photos private, wouldn't they become unviewable on my Eurobricks set review pages? It's the only reason I've been hesitant to do it, otherwise they would have been long hidden by now . I did consider creating a Brickshelf account for purposes of set review photos but I just couldn't click with it I guess. I like my photos to be available instantly as I just like to get things done