Thank you again for some top tips! I ended up posting in Facebook thread when I had reached 97 followers, because I just wanted to get over that 100 mark! But I realised it was not the answer.
Also, I have read of many people being rejected for the partner program after hitting their 100 followers, and I assume it’s because they weren’t producing content that hit the mark. I was accepted straight away, because I had been focusing on producing quality content and also actively reading, commenting and engaging. This just enhances your point that it really doesn’t do you any justice to beg for the followers. Do the real work and it will pay.