Yes, I probably do subject social media promotional posts to more scrutiny than most, but it’s part of my process and wanted to share it in case someone else wanted to use it.

After exploring and scrutinizing social media, I will typically look at the actual page for clues about whether I’ll have an enjoyable experience or not.

I’ll first look at some snapshot stats, like media count and likes. Some creators show a fan count, but most do not. Fan count is somewhat important in terms of me determining how hard I need to work for individual attention. If you’re more of a consumer of content, this matters far less. It’s very important for fans who like interpersonal engagement.

Creators, please correct me if I’m making incorrect estimates, but I’d wager that a generous estimate assumes 25% of fans actively engage, in terms of likes, etc.

Here’s where I’m tempted to turn into a data nerd and assume a retention rate, etc., but let’s just say it’s been a flat subscriber count and that the proportion of subscribers likes the posts corresponding with when they join. That makes the math simple, where I’m competing for attention against 1,000 subscribers. But, if only 25% are actively engaged, I’m competing for attention with 250. The math is a bit lopsided in this optimistic illustration, for a fan who wants genuine engagement. If you’re cool with outbidding 200 other fans for attention (assuming the creator pays the most attention to the top 20%), great! Otherwise, you might look for a creator with a different likes/posts ratio.

Other than stats, I really like to read a bio. Red flags in a bio include what I refer to as “cookie cutter” points, such as:

I’m 18/19. I’ve followed a creator who just turned 19, and has had that status for at least two years. I’ve followed another who just turned 19 when I began following her in 2023, only to discover she had posts dating back to 2020, so she’s either lying or, eeeewwwww.

Other cookie cutter language includes phrases like “what I can’t show you on IG”; “my most intimate content”; “access to….”; and any use of the term “daddy” or juxtaposition of “cum” in place of “come”

Beyond that, if a page solely describes content or the creator’s physical attributes and says nothing about the experience I can expect, I’m gonna pass.

In addition, if I see a page offering a long-term free trial or a huge discount, it’s fair to assume the low-barrier entry price is based on a “churn & burn” model, where the creator’s goal is to maximize profit from subscribers in a short period and replace them with new subscribers month-to-month. That’s an indication I’ll be treated like a wallet, and I’ve little interest in that.

Your thoughts?

Next time, I’ll discuss the flags that only become apparent after subscribing, and might be indicators to turn off rebill and/or restrict the creator.