Borrowed Light

Why I’ve Stopped Trying to Gain “Followers” Through Giveaways

February 17, 2015Mike Leake 1 Comment

Maybe I just can’t bring myself to break up with them.

Every morning my email is flooded with a ton of useless garbage that at one point I subscribed to in order to get some sort of benefit. Whether I signed up to some company newsletter to get a free coupon or to a random blog to have a chance for a free book, these emails have one thing in common; namely, I now loathe the site of them.

The same could be said of my Twitter feed and Facebook wall. Some of those people I only “followed” because they had offered me a chance for something free.

Giveaways work*.

You can gain a good number of followers on social media and even email subscribers by hosting a sweet giveaway. In fact, I imagine there are some folks who get an email from Borrowed Light on a daily basis because a couple years ago they signed up for a random giveaway.

But I’ve stopped doing giveaways for the sake of trying to gain followers. Two principles convinced me of this.

The Proverbs 25:17 Principle

When someone reads your stuff it is like them letting you into their house.

I’ll only stay in your house for a short time. I’ll make a couple of salient points then quickly leave your home, hoping that it was a good enough experience for you that you’ll let me into your house for coffee again.

But what would happen if after our meeting I knocked on your door again…loudly…and then again…and again…and once more. Each time that you let me in I either bring up a point that I forgot to mention OR I essentially say, “Remember that time we had that awesome conversation? How bout you let me back in your home?” (See more here)

If you signed up for an email only to get something then I’m convinced after a bit of time your stomach will start churning when you see my face on Twitter or my blog on your email. I don’t want to bribe my way into your home—I’d prefer to be invited.

The Proverbs 13:11 Principle

There is a reason why lottery winners and superstar athletes end up in court filing bankruptcy. It is a solid principle that wealth gained hastily quickly dwindles. If you want to actually keep your wealth the best way is to slowly accumulate it and work hard for it.

I’m convinced blogging is the same way. There are methods you can use to gain a quick number of followers and subscribers. Yet, I don’t believe such a thing will have a lasting influence. Your number of followers/subscribers may not dip but I believe your actual influence will.

I don’t have stats to back this up—but I’d wager that for every one committed follower you gain from a giveaway you are actually losing influence with another 3-4. I’m convinced followers/subscribers ≠ actual influence.

Doing giveaways will get you a steady stream of followers/subscribers and some may even stick around. But I think the better way to actually influence people is to write faithfully and slowly plod. I’d rather have 100 people subscribe because they believe they will benefit from my writing than I would have 1000 people subscribe because they might win something free.

Conclusion

I’m not attempting to say that everyone who does giveaways is a shyster simply trying to gain followers. Nor am I saying that I won’t do a giveaway. But if I do giveaways it won’t be to gain followers—it will be to bless readers. Period.

I’m convinced that free giveaways come with a price…and it’s not a price I’m willing to pay anymore.

—

*…if your goal is to simply gain followers/subscribers.

Today in Blogworld 02.17.15

February 17, 2015Mike Leake

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8 Books That Have Helped in Battling Depression

February 16, 2015Mike Leake 3 Comments

I’ve made no secret that I have seasons of depression. At present the lights are on and shining quite brightly. I’ve no idea if there will be another season of darkness on the horizon but I feel healthier than I ever have.

Ultimately, I owe this to God’s grace. He has used His Word in a mighty way during this season as well as other means.

In some way every persons depression is unique. And so I won’t pretend that you are just like me, but maybe you are. When I’m in the doldrums advice from in the flesh people usually doesn’t do much. Perhaps it is pride unable to take correction or wisdom. Or maybe it is shame. I don’t know but in those times I turn to books to speak truth to me.

Here are 8 books the Lord has used in helping me battled depression.

1. Christian’s Get Depressed Too by David Murray. Reading through this book was the first time that I allowed myself to accept the diagnosis. This little book continues to be helpful.

2. When I Don’t Desire God by John Piper. The whole book is phenomenal but his chapters dealing with depression have been very helpful and encouraging. I’

3. Torn to Heal. Yeah, I know I wrote the book but writing it was wonderfully healing for my soul. I don’t know how helpful it is to other readers who battle depression but for me writing it was healing.

4. The Anatomy of Secret Sins. At times some of my depression is the result of unconfessed sin. The Lord used this book to help me clean house.

5. How People Change by Tripp and Lane. God has used this book time and time again to keep me from resting on superficial change. He used this book to lay a solid foundation with the gospel.

6. Calvin’s Institutes. What a strange place to find comfort for depression, eh? But God has used this many times to help me realize it is okay to not have questions for things. Calvin’s relentless pursuit of establishing all theology on the Bible has encouraged me times without number.

7. Sensing Jesus by Zack Eswine. You have to read this book to really know how terrific it is. If you are in the ministry this is a book you really need to own. God has used this to rebuke and comfort me many times.

8. The Happy Christian by David Murray. This is a newer book for me and I’m not even totally finished. But the Lord has been using this book in a might way in my life. I believe God has done much work in tearing down poor thinking. Now I needed a bit of assistance in developing good thinking. Murray’s book is helping considerably.

One other book I’d like to mention, that I have only started reading, is Spurgeon’s Sorrows by Zack Eswine. It looks to be helpful but I can’t add it to the list because I’m not far enough into it yet.

What books have helped you?