Points Watchers Please Share !!

Yep, Inquiring minds want to know...

I found that posting what people comment to have sent my points flying. Afterall, it could be a great piece but if no one wants to read it, that was a waste of time. So, think about what your audience might want to read or pick a really topic pbased group and write an article targeted for them. Good articles need a response. That's how I get my points moving.

Thanks Sara for the advice. I have seen lots of posts that frankly don't seem to be very interesting at all but they get 40 comments... one word or three word comments... all seems to be like a club. Really deep discussions do happen, but everything seems to be based on exposure.. if you cannot get 1,000's of people to SEE what you post, then it is tough to get comments. Anyway I will keep trying!!

I have no clue how to get lots of points but I did give you a 10 to maybe help you gain a few more. Good luck!

I'm still trying to figure out how they do it too! Wish I knew...

hoping to find that out to Kim. Thought I had it but it never showed up.

I have been wondering the same thing. thanks for asking.

I wish I knew how many points you get for doing what. It's a puzzle for me too.

I don't have a clue. I never seem to know how many I am going to get. I had people sign up to Gather and only got liek 5 points and then other times I get a bunch when I haven't been on much. I can't figure it out. I am just enjoying everyone that I have connected with. The points are just an added bonus. I love gift cards!

Sorry I don't have a better answer for you.

My purpose on being on Gather is to expand my writing, learn new skills (in last 3 months have learned the digital camera, how to download photos, learn how to scan and export, and publish photo essays...no mean feat!)....points mean nothing to me...oh yeah, when I finally cash them it will give me pleasure but that's not why I gather. I also love to read other people's work...definitely not Spam or those crazy games...but is someone produces an original article or poem consistently I probably will keep returning to their site. I abhor people doing things for points...I resist all sites that say "I'll comment if you comment".....! I've connected with people I have respect for their pieces....so I usually comment on them consistently. I keep my connections at a fairly low number...I think 40 or 45...that way I can cruise over to their sites. Then I usually look at the Highly Rated List to find pieces I might of missed.

that is a nice and refreshing viewpoint Elizabeth. I have not joined Gather for the points either, but seems like that is what is driving the vast majority of posts now. And with the triple point bonus underway, stuff is coming in so fast that it is hard to keep up with the good!

I think what you need to do is make a list of things you enjoy...then go to those groups and find people who have written articles of interest to you....

example: I'm trying to learn more about photography...so I went and found Mr. Bill and Sparten...while I was looking at their articles I found Tonia and Deb

Nature is another topic I'm interested in so I went cruisin' there and found some more people I could connect with.

Liberal Politics...smattering there

Dogs and Cats....a few there

Good writing....a few more there

Meanwhile all these people are sending me "connect notices"...I go and look at their profile and then some of their articles...if it has no interest to me...if it's obvious they just wasnt to connect to get more points, I don't connect. Sometimes I make a mistake and give the person a chance...then I find out..."Oh my God, if I stay connected to this person, I'm going to be given him/her low ratings...so rather then do that I click "remove". If I give someone a #10 it has meaning...it means the piece was original, their best effort.

I think Gather connections are like friendships....some people "know" a lot of people but they have no true friends; others, have few...but form close bonds.

Forget about triple points...just write and comment.

I think Eliizabeth has given you some really great pointers David. I am here because I love to write and take photographs, and I really love the idea of being able to share some of my work and knowledge for the first time, and actually getting response. Not just from family, who always feel obligated to listen or to give praise. The gather points is a great feature though, and for a lot of people here at Gather it is little things like this that actually make their budgets work. Personally I am trying to save money for school by doing things like write at gather, and do surveys etc., so I am all for the points.

It took me a while to figure out the system as well, but I think you can get a really enjoyable gather experience, if you do the things that Elizabeth has suggested. I also think that you should think about what you are interested in and writing about and then joining groups with the same interest, and finding connections this way to.
You can go to Groups, search groups, and put in writing, essays, vegetables, nature, animals etc. Whenever I write a piece on something I have not written about before, I go to the group search feature and look if there are groups on this subject. I then join these groups and reach a much greater audience.

That is really what the connections and the groups is about (this is what I think anyway), expanding your readership. You can also create your very own group - Tomato Growers or whatever you feel like interest you, and then you can invite people with similar interest to your groups. This is an excellent way of making new friendships here at Gather....and it will increase your points too. Please, try to embrace the points, instead of lashing out at them :) They are here to benefit us all :)

thanks elizabeth and j.r. for those thoughtful comments. I think it is so much more meaningful to have a dialogue with a few rather than hundreds of one word responses ... that being said I may already have reached my threshold of groups and people to connect to!! I went from having maybe 4 or 5 articles to read to over 300!!! If this is what it is like for those people trying to get a steady 3,000 points a month, there is not much else on their schedule. I find a full time job, an active parenting role, church and an occasional opportunity to get outside to be very fulfilling and also using most of my time up. I guess sleep has to come in someplace. But I do think the two of you have given very sound advice and I very much appreciate it.

Hmmm--I have a secret but I'm not telling, lol.
Seriously though - always always comment on someone's article who has commented on yours. Always always comment on a new connection (hope they comment on you) and if you have a fav writer or two - peruse their connections and try to connect - the ole birds of a feather deal.......good luck ~j

David, I did this 3000 thing for a month, and it take a lot of time, work and effort. I could only do it, because I scheduled myself very well. Now that I have made it once, which is enough to get cahs, I have the feeling it will not happen again. I like Gather a lot, and it is a great place to share, connect, enjoy and to gain new knowledge. I do think though that it is possible to enjoy all the benefits that Gather has to offer, without focusing on the points, but still enjoying this benefit. Afterall, what more pleasure is there than to be able to donate them. Not that I will do this, since I have specific purpose for my points, but it is something to think about if the points are cause for agony.

I do not think you have to aim to get a high number of points, just do what you do, enjoy what you do and once in a while you can get an extra bonus. I am sure that anyone, who are just here for the money, will be able to get a much better deal getting a job.

Myself, I am a stay at home mom, and soon I will be a student and a stay at home mom, and you know what, this is an excellent place for me.

Good luck with your Gather future, I hope it will bring you lots of joy.

I have not figured out the secret, but I think the key is to get a lot of discussion on your articles. Good luck!