Gaining An Audience | The High Cost For Success In 2023 Business ...

As a seasoned entertainment reviewer I've tried all the tricks of the trade when it comes to gaining and earning a growing audience. I've stooped so low at one point as to apply clickbait tactics in my articles, and videos in response to other more user friendly methodologies failing. I've tried various time zone related social media link sharing tricks, and have even paid attention to what my metrics/analytics tell me about my audience, among other things. Also applying keywords, labels, and tags as a consistent go to SEO tactic. Something that has been met, like everything else, with results contrary to what leading industry analysts would tell you. 

Amidst all this tinkering and toying I've had my ups and downs, my growth and lack thereof. Never once though has one of my efforts shown a telltale sign outside of what I've observed in regards to the impact that certain topics of discussion and debate have on one's online business.

You'll find in the online world of modern day business that what you say or share on the internet can impact your bottom line, negatively. Even offline. Everything from sales to reach can be taken away in a split second just for what monopoly holders deem as wrongthink, or can alternatively be promoted for bending the knee to all the right people. Wrongthink, in general, is a political buzzword that corrupt corporations and governmental entities often times use to demonize opposing narratives or ideas. Even those blamed for using wrongthink refer to it as such. The term was made most famous and recognizable in George Orwell's, "1984". A book that has oddly turned prophetic in the past few years. In todays world wrongthink follows very closely to Orwell's leading example, and is inline with a tyrannical global regime. A term used and abused by the powerful and influential who aim to turn the world into a Big Brother run dystopia while ridding themselves of their sworn enemies. 

Like the term wrongthink there exists another weaponized category of words known as "labels". Labels, like the accusation of having the wrong opinions, corners individuals inside of a demonized collective that would destroy the reputation of those who are included. Often times labels are used much like cusswords during heated debates in a hurtful manner that actually does societal damage to one's presence in regards to business dealings. Labels, therefore, are a commonly utilized way of sticking it to the opposition without actually winning any debate. This leads me to the topic of labels in regards to audience attention/retention ...

Whatever label allotted to you by those who consume your content, or those who determine whether or not it sees the light of day effectively becomes a badge of honor or of shame, depending on the nature of said label. Being called a bigot, homophobe, xenophobe, or racist without being one can still end your career. Labels today spawn mostly from the political sphere, especially in regards to identity politics. Labels are also thrown around like cusswords, as I just mentioned, without actually applying in most cases. In the hopes that the intended target of discrimination would get cancelled by the pursuing mindless mob. Making the target unemployable anywhere. Thus killing off any means of making a living for that individual or individuals. 

These labels are fully weaponized, and are put use by those who want to control speech, and in turn human rights. Speech of course is the key cornerstone for the review business and journalism. It is how people find out about corruption and industry goings on. Scaring a person into silence restricts the flow of this information, and creates a bias that favors those who would use such tactics to sway the common crowd towards befriending a more tyrannical rule. 

How it applies to SEO efforts, and metrics is that the same methods of silencing descent among the ranks of the politically aligned is put to use through search engine priority and bias. Much like the politically led population of the internet these staple sources of income, advertisement, and audience retention/acquisition are controlled by influencers, and the powerful whose ambitions are that of absolute control. As with the stifling of the political opposition they will use monopolized metrics systems, search engines, and social media to keep things they deem problematic from ever surfacing. While one might think SEO efforts could work around these constrictive corporate constraints it's actually futile to try. Sure, you can play games with the algorithm by faking compliance, but that is still a form of compliance. 

What does one do in such a situation? It's a question I'm still trying to figure out. All I know is that money talks, and bullsh*t walks. If you've got enough power and influence you can obviously pay your way to the top. Either that or swear allegiance to the powers that be and capitalize on some corporate c*cksucking. To put it bluntly. It all really depends upon your morals, and whether or not you're willing to sell your soul for cash. Personally, it doesn't effect me either way as this is not a paying gig. I purposefully set out to avoid turning it into a job for reasons like I've stated. I know money can influence how one conducts business, especially when it's the end all be all source of income.

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio