Hello @pitboy,
Very interesting your post. Create your brand, I understand the background of your advice, is to achieve your niche and base of followers.
I believe that the heart of the matter when you participate in platforms with Hive, the first thing you try is to belong to a community that shares your interests and in this sense, you have an open window to share your passions. Along the way, you try and adopt the best practices until, without realizing it, you have your style that defines your virtual personality. In this sense, imitating is not bad as long as the goal is to optimize it. Also, by combining various practices, one creates a creature type where you are Dr. Frankenstein. That if you are successful or not, you explained it very well, perseverance, and method guided by intelligence. I would add, with a good dose of engagement.