Whew. One and a half million views in 30 days. No get rich quick schemes, pranks, no dancing to go-viral audios or no embarrassing my kids for views. Just raw, real, unfiltered posts. Can I say something too? I’m proud of myself.
Let me tell y’all something: I
didn’t go viral trying to be liked. I went viral by being seen.
Be Yourself & Don't Be Bothered
I was not out here trying to be
everyone's favorite. I did not curate my posts to be palatable, soft, or
digestible for people who cannot ingest my truth. I showed up as myself. I
displayed my flaws, emotions, truth and all. I posted what was in my heart to
do. I showed what I was living through, what I’ve grown from. Some people saw
it and said, “this is inspiring.” Others? Whew, they dragged me for filth.
And guess what?
I didn’t respond. Not once.
Let
Them Talk
People love to tell you how
to live, how to feel, how to speak. They will take a 30-60 second clip or a photo
and think they know your whole life story. They project. They judge. They run
their mouths. And the views? They keep rolling in. It is not about getting the
money. It is about my story, my name, and my impact in life.
I didn’t shut off my comments. I did
not post “stop bullying me” messages. I did not try to defend myself to people
who never cared to understand me in the first place. That’s the trap they want
you to spiral, to fight back, to lose focus.
But me? I’ve got things to do. Kids
to raise. Goals to chase. Peace to protect.
The
Algorithm Loves Truth
Whether people are clapping or
clapping back, the algorithm does not care. Engagement is engagement, and what
I’ve learned is this: people can hate-watch all day, but they are still
watching to see what is being said and shared. Every view counts. Every save,
share, and insult comment pushes that post even further.
So, I let the content do what it’s
supposed to do.
And I stay aligned with who I am.
My
Advice to Anyone Trying to Build Online:
- Be yourself, not performative. People can’t relate to perfect. They enjoy seeing you
for who you are, even if they act like they don’t.
- Say what you mean, mean what you say. You don’t need to be controversial, just authentic.
- Don’t argue with strangers on the internet. Most of them want a reaction. Do not give them folks
that.
- Let your peace be your power. Silence isn’t weakness; it’s protection.
The truth is, I didn’t set out to go
viral. I set out to tell my story and my story only as a visual story teller.
If you're on Instagram, come see for
yourself: @LindaBhurd. However, do not come in my comments trying to tell me
who I am—I already know.
And I'm still not responding. ๐
๐พ
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