HOW TO USE IMGUR TO GROW YOUR FANBASE WITHOUT GETTING DOWNVOTED TO OBLIVION

Imgur is an image-hosting site founded in 2009 to host images for Reddit, and it is where most of the viral memes you find on the web originate. Suppose you want content for your indie entertainer brand to go viral and earn new fans. In that case, you need to understand Imgur's rules to keep yourself from getting downvoted into oblivion as soon as you submit your content to the user subsection.

For those of you wondering, it is pronounced image-er per the creators.

THE UNSPOKEN RULES OF IMGUR

While Imgur's rules are important, it is the community's unspoken rules that decide if your post is worthy of an upvote, or if it must be downvoted. Most of Imgur's rules were adapted from rules for Reddit, but they have evolved.

1. If you ask for upvotes, you will not get upvotes.

2. No selfies (unless it is Christmas, then you MUST post selfies)

3. Never repost an image while it is still on the front page of Imgur

4. Pay your cat tax or dog tax! – Posts should include a photo of your furry family members at the bottom.

5. NEVER INSULT THESE HEROES OF IMGUR

a. Patrick Stewart

b. Robin Williams

c. Alan Rickman

d. Dave Grohl

e. Sir Ian McKellan

f. Gene Wilder

g. Betty White

6. John Cena and Camouflage are invisible

7. Use a banana for scale

8. Celebrate your cake day (the anniversary of the day you made your account, not your birthday)

POTENTIAL TO REACH THE MASSES

If you can skate around the rules and create original content, your Imgur content can reach the masses. If you have a favorite meme saved on your phone or saw a funny one on Facebook today, chances are posted to Imgur first and then shared with you.

WHAT SHOULD YOU SHARE HERE?

Post silly behind-the-scenes moments to Imgur with the appropriate tags to reach your audience. You can share short videos, photos, or gifs to the platform. One way artists gain traction on the platform is by posting album cover art with a link to their newest videos online. A trippy music compilation post from 2016 on Imgur reached 31,081 upvotes, and is still being shared to this day.

HOW CAN YOU CONVERT IMGUR UPVOTES INTO PAYING FANS?

Once the upvotes start pouring in, you can ask for something in return. Many users will plug their Instagram, ask for cat pictures in their inbox, or share their Patreon accounts. A sure-fire way to turn these upvotes into paying fans is to share your entertainer platform with your fans when you hit the front page of Imgur as an independent music artist or entertainer.