Clout Gifting: The unsuccessful way to gain attention in the Pokemon Community.

Editorial by The Crown & Card Co.

First, let me be clear, this article is NOT about hosting constant giveaways to gain followers. It’s about the unproductive practice of trying to earn attention and recognition by sending gifts to big name Pokemon Creators.

We will discuss constant Pokemon Giveaways in the future… and you’ll see towards the end that these two topics are closely related. Gifts do not need to be loud; they need to be genuine.

If you’ve been in the Pokémon community for any length of time, you’ve probably seen it happen. Maybe you’ve even done it yourself. I have.

You find a creator you admire. Maybe they’re funny. Maybe they’re successful. Maybe they have a huge following. Maybe you genuinely think they’re cool and would love to be friends.

So you start supporting them.

You comment on everything.

You send messages.

You send gifts.

You buy things from them.

You go out of your way to get their attention.

And somewhere along the way, if you’re not careful, that support stops being fun and starts becoming a transaction in your head.

You start hoping they’ll follow you back.

Maybe they’ll shout you out by posting your gift on their story.

Maybe they’ll become your friend.

And when none of that happens?

You feel awful.

I’ve been there.

I’ve sent gifts that never got acknowledged. I’ve sent thoughtful things that I worked hard on and never even received a thank you. It doesn’t take long before you’re sitting there wondering what you did wrong and feeling ignored.

The answer is usually nothing.

Most of the time, it isn’t personal.

People are busy.

Messages get buried.

Mail piles up.

Creators get overwhelmed.

But knowing that doesn’t always stop it from hurting and those excuses kind of suck. I personally think it’s very rude to not say thank you when someone sends you something or makes a grand gesture. However, I was not raised in a barn and I do not receive buckets of mail everyday.

That’s why I think it’s important to be careful about the expectations we quietly attach to our kindness.

If you’re doing something because you genuinely want to do it, then do it.

Send the card.

Send the gift.

Leave the comment.

Support the stream.

But do it because you want to.

Not because you’re hoping it turns into something or they will magically make you famous or even be your friend.

Friendship doesn’t work that way. You can’t purchase a friendship. (Sometimes you can but it’s on a different website and that’s a different article).

If your goal is business, then be clear about that.

Don’t spend weeks making custom artwork, mystery packs, or products and then send them hoping someone magically understands what you wanted.

Ask first.

Send a message.

Explain who you are.

Tell them what you do.

Ask if they’d be interested.

Ask how they handle promotions.

That’s not rude.

That’s professional.

A creator can’t read your mind.

Something that looks like fan mail to them might represent weeks of work and a huge financial investment to you.

Those are two very different situations.

Communication solves that.

And if your goal isn’t business?

Then just be a friend. Or just support them because you genuinely like what they do. Not because you’re keeping score or expect something in return.

If supporting others is something that genuinely brings you a sense of personal happiness, it does not need to be loud.

One of my favorite things is what I call “quiet acts of kindness.”

Or “kindness deposits.”

The kind of good things you do or gifts you give that don’t require an audience.

Around the holidays I saw a post from Card Party that said, “Give the gift of Card Party.” Suggesting it would be a great gift idea to buy someone a ticket. (A friend or family member who has expressed wanting to attend or would enjoy going).

I commented, “I’ll buy someone a ticket.”

Eventually someone replied and asked if I was serious and I told him to DM me.

I didn’t know him.

We didn’t follow each other.

It wasn’t a giveaway.

I didn’t post it on my story.

I didn’t tell anyone. This is the first time I’ve talked about it.

I highly doubt Card Party even noticed.

But that wasn’t why I did it. Card Party already knows who I am… maybe not my content but they know who Pinky Pogo is. I’ve been featured twice.

I just wanted to help someone experience the fun of Card Party. It was a spontaneous comment. But it worked.

The guy went to Card Party.

We met.

We’ve become friends.

That moment and meeting him was one of the biggest highlights of my experience at Card Party in San Diego. He was extremely grateful and it made my heart happy that I helped him attend Card Party and made a new friend. He even thanked my husband.

That special moment at Card Party was between us and it made us happy. Not because of attention or clout.

Not because anyone applauded.

Not because it got me followers.

He’s a normal nice person who just likes Pokémon and a fan of Deep Pocket Monster. I wasn’t sitting there hoping anyone specific would reply. I didn’t make a video titled “I BLESSED HIM WITH A CARD PARTY PASS AND IM SO GENEROUS”.

I gift because it makes me feel good too. It’s not one sided.

I do the same thing when I watch YouTube livestreams. I send a PINK Super Chat.

Anytime I watch a livestream on YouTube it’s because I set a reminder. I’m intentionally there. I already know the YouTuber.

Do I expect them to make a post about me?

No.

Do I expect to gain a million subscribers?

No. (my YouTube is irrelevant. I’m a consumer and supporter … I watch Pokémon stuff, emotionally charged music videos, skincare videos, and lots of glitter slime content that is intended for children).

I don’t send the PINK Super Chat to get something back. It’s a weird amount of money like $48.69. It literally shows up to the creator in pink. If I went a dollar higher it would not show up in pink.

I send it because I want to support someone whose content I enjoy. And it’s fun because it’s pink and I’m Pinky Pogo. I am not a complex individual haha.

Your EXPECTATION changes EVERYTHING. You control this and you don’t have to explain it to anyone.

Now with all that being said… remember I’ve absolutely done the opposite before.

I’ve sent things hoping someone would care or show me off. That’s how I learned this lesson.

So if something is important to you and you’re expecting serious recognition, talk about it beforehand.

Don’t put yourself in a position where your kindness becomes the reason you feel bad about yourself.

Your value isn’t determined by whether a popular Pokémon influencer says thank you or even notices you.

And the best relationships I’ve found in this hobby were never the ones I chased. They were the ones that happened naturally. The ones that didn’t hurt my dignity. When something or someone hurts my dignity or makes me feel sad… I don’t stick around. I don’t give them the chance to make me feel that way again. It can be a person or even an event… I’m out.

Don’t support for clout and don’t sell yourself short.