James, I doubt very much that Medium thinks that follow for follow is a good thing. That's what wannabe writers do who are gaming the system.

One obtains readers through luck (which is a big part of it) and writing articles that people want to read. I think your topics are good.

In order to get readers for your topics, go to the people who write about them as well and comment appropriately on their writing. They will follow you because they are interested in what you write.

The people who are earning here don't follow a lot of people but have thousands following them, so it's definitely not follow for follow.