How is your Gather going? *my tips and tricks!*

Most of us remember the sort of Golden Days of gather, the summer pics promo, the points flowing like wine and some have had a harder time adjusting to the new Gather.  I've complied my thoughts and tips to share with everyone out there, while I am not saying it's a system it seems to be working for me.  I'd love to hear what's working for you, I also wouldn't mind a few "Glory Day" stories about Gather.

How I've changed, I used to be a poster who'd rant, rave and play my heart out on Gather, and it used to pay!  In this "new Gather" it is heavily content driven, meaning you really got to put something out there that people want to see.  Games and Point checks used to be easy points, now one of those every now and again is fun but chances are if you do them daily you won't get many views.  You really have to make stuff that people haven't seen, that will help them, that get their attention.  Sometimes it can be with a catchy title, how to posts, interesting ideas (homemade crayons), personal stories (well written) and pictures to tie in.  People love visuals, even if there aren't necessary to the story.  (For example - I shared a post about losing my dog, I could have told the story without but having a visual shows that I spent time that I am opening up and sharing a real part of my life.)

Some people are having great luck with news stories, I have some luck with these but I try to find ones that aren't "big news" or that I have some type of personal connection with.

Example - A few weeks back there was a massive bird death, now I knew that many people would be all over this story however being an Earth nut, Tree Hugger I am I had to run with it.  I put my own thoughts into it, I asked questions and came up with a witty title.  Between I and one other Gather member we had a good time sharing and debating the topic.  Sure there were the "paid writers" that got 5X the views we did but we got what I call "Gather Member Views".  These are far more important they are the people that will connect with you, give you content to look at and be your audience.

In the Glory Days how many friends you had and how many groups you posted to determined your success.  Now your following of similar minded friends are what's going to help you, you must keep them happy.  I've switched from returning every comment for comment, it became such a headache I wasn't always enjoying Gather.  I still return comments with views and recommend, a comment if I really have something to say.  It's really best to make sure that you are regularly commenting on your friends stuff.   Also stay loyal to any list groups you like.  You know the ones that have the list to clear the content off their group.  They are a great source of views and remind you that you need to do your part in viewing too.

The other method I have had some good results with is simple - one thoughtful article, one interesting photo and a video.

Tips for the share three

• Make the photo interesting, maybe it's a close up, a fun shot of family, something that you think looks cool, it just has to grab the attention of your friends.  Sharing 6 similar looking pictures at once I've found reduces my views.  Posting them to albums also have seen reduced numbers.
• Video - keep them short and fun.  Naming is important if you say "Just another snow video" it won't get as much attention of something fun like "Wishing it was Spring already..."  Make sure to try and keep them fresh, I'll have 4 sets of videos lets say snow, kids playing, pets, random cool stuff and each day I'll share a different one, then in a few days another one from that set.
• Again your post - good content, good title, good tags, post in fitting groups and enhance it with a photo.
• Don't over do a topic, for example sharing quotes or reviews everyday tends to get less views than mixing it up.  Some people do well with this, most of them have a group of followers that like that content or have put so much time in them that they are looked forward to.  If you see your posts on quotes dropping in views, you probably know it's time to switch it up.
• Promote your content, Twitter, Facebook, Redgage, Sidetick - just don't spam or over do it.  If you put a lot of time into it promote it, be proud of it.  Space it out, I'll let the Gather views come in, then a day or two later put it on Redgage.  I don't use sidetick a lot just on the "big" ones.
• Have fun!

This new Gather can be just as beneficial as the old Gather.  I am actually doing better now than I did then.  I get about 50 - 100 points a day, depending on how much time I am willing to spend.  However it used to take me ALL day to get 100 points, now since I focus on quality it takes me 3 hours tops.  That isn't a solid three hours, I check in here and there.

One final subject I want to tackle is the most popular, most recommend and most commented Gather Posts.  You may of may not have noticed that you have a choice what Gather content is on the side of your post.  It is set at Most Popular, this is usually the tabloid like posts.   If you look right under the tags box, the Post Photos, the Commenting Options there is a menu Show Other Post Options, click the blue options on the right -  then there are two check boxes and three dots, here you can select what you want to see on the side.  I recommend using the Most Recommended or Most Discussed option.  Why?  I feel this supports other Gather members that are actually here to be part of Gather.  They share, they comment they view.  I say Support Gather Members use your right to choose!

The new Gather seems to be about the people you connect with, treat them well.  :0)

What about you?  How are you doing?  What are your tips?

*See there is another tip, end with a question to give your connections something easy to comment with*