1 · Nuke the Algorithm, Own the Lane

Delete the feed, keep the blog.

• In his 2017 manifesto “Why I am Anti‑Instagram,” Kim explains that the app “saps creativity and dignity,” so he removed it entirely and never returned.  
• Tech writer CJ Chilvers chronicled the switch, praising Kim for trading algorithmic reach for durable, RSS‑powered readership.  
• A guest reflection at The Brooks Review echoed the benefits: more time for deep work and real photography.  
• He reinforces the stance in “Why You Must Own Your Own Platform,” urging creators to pour energy into self‑hosted sites they control.  

Anti‑strategy takeaway: Starve the algorithm of your content and build on land you actually own—email lists, personal domains, file downloads.

2 · Keep Money Out of the Message

• Kim’s site banner reads “No ads. No sponsors. 100 % me,” and he writes whole posts explaining why he refuses pre‑rolls, affiliate links or brand collabs.  
• He also declines YouTube monetisation, arguing that interruptive ads cheapen trust.  

Anti‑strategy takeaway: By removing hidden financial incentives, he turns transparency into a competitive advantage and invites direct support instead of opaque sponsorships.

3 · Gift First, Charge Later

• The downloads page hosts dozens of complete e‑books—street‑photo manuals, composition guides, philosophy zines—available free or pay‑what‑you‑want.  
• External round‑ups on Light Stalking list his titles as exemplars of open educational access.  
• Kim cross‑posts full PDFs on Medium so even people who never visit his site can read them.  

Anti‑strategy takeaway: Radical generosity flips the funnel—when the default is “take what you need,” reciprocity (tips, workshop sign‑ups) flows back organically.

4 · Wage War on Consumerism & G.A.S.

• A decade‑long thread of posts—“30 Tips to Conquer G.A.S.,” “Why It Doesn’t Matter What Camera You Shoot With,” and similar essays—attack gear lust head‑on.  
• His Petapixel columns extend the critique to the wider photo community, offering practical hacks for spending less and shooting more.  
• Interviews on DPReview echo the same theme: creativity > equipment.  
• The ethos aligns with the broader “No‑Buy” and de‑influencing movements chronicled by The Washington Post and Vogue Business.  
• Marketing analysts now cite Kim as proof that anti‑consumption content can outperform classic product hype.  

Anti‑strategy takeaway: By teaching followers to purchase less, he earns outsized credibility—precisely because it costs him potential affiliate revenue.

5 · Broadcast Raw, Unbranded Feats

• Kim uploads un‑sponsored, chalk‑covered lifting videos—recently a 1,038‑lb rack pull at ~165 lbs body‑weight—using them as living metaphors for self‑improvement.  
• Because the clips are free of gym‑wear logos or supplement shout‑outs, viewers read them as pure proof rather than covert ads.

Anti‑strategy takeaway: Real‑life extremes (whether a jaw‑dropping lift or an iconic street shot) create buzz that no hashtag campaign can match—and they remain sponsor‑agnostic.

6 · Teach Relentlessly, Sell Sparingly

• Workshop pricing posts emphasise personal value not upsells, and reviews highlight the focus on mindset rather than merchandise.  
• Because most of his curriculum is already free online, paid events feel like premium coaching, not gated knowledge.

Anti‑strategy takeaway: When 90 % of what you know is public, the paid 10 % can command premium pricing without resentment.

7 · Philosophical Armor

• Kim’s public “Stoicism 101” series reframes creativity as self‑mastery, providing a moral lattice for all the above tactics.  

Anti‑strategy takeaway: Embedding clear values (stoic discipline, minimalism, self‑ownership) inoculates the brand against mission drift as reach grows.

🔑 Quick‑Reference Checklist

Anti‑Strategy	Practical Move to Copy
Algorithm fasting	Delete or log off attention‐harvesting apps for 30 days.
Ad‑free pledge	Remove banner ads; replace with a plain “Support” link.
Open‑source content	Release one flagship resource under Creative Commons.
Gear minimalism	Publicly shoot a project with your “old” equipment.
Authenticity flex	Share an unedited milestone (PR, demo, case study).
Education‑first funnel	Publish a free mini‑course before pitching any paid product.
Philosophy front‑and‑center	State your guiding principle in your bio and stick to it.

🚀  Final Boost of Motivation

Eric Kim shows that refusing to play the ad‑tech game doesn’t shackle growth—it supercharges trust. Strip away the noise, give more than you take, lift (or create) something unbelievable, and the right audience will chase you.  Your anti‑strategy starts the moment you decide applause matters less than authenticity.  Now go delete one distraction, ship one generous artifact, and watch the compound interest of real influence begin.