Improving Medium’s Read Ratio with #BrowserClaps
Saying thanks with a little time that takes no time at all
Medium’s new payment system — rewarding read time rather than ‘claps’ — fixes a perceived problem. (But, did people really excessively applaud works they hardly read? Although I confess: I was one of those readers at the other end of the spectrum, unaware that my single-click ‘like’ might not be quite so well received as intended).
Nonetheless, while the move might better reward some good writers, it also risks inadvertently punishing sharp, incisive writing. Removing readers’ discretion to reward great writing also puts Medium’s curators in an invidious position: a tiny group, alone, defending quality over quantity.
Here’s how I changed, to help Medium keep rewarding great writers.
I can still ‘clap’, but it’s no longer a way to add a small gratuity. Writers might now be disadvantaged because I’m a fast reader. Also, perhaps, if I read faster than Medium’s time guide — which is pretty much always.
Many people complained about the change, but it’s not inherently ‘good’ or ‘bad’. It’s just different. In any event, Medium can choose any method it likes. So, no complaints from me. It’s just an ‘is.’ But marketing isn’t just about what a company says or does. How the market responds is what matters.
So, you can still clap, to show you care. If you want to add a few pennies, you could read r-e-a-l-l-y, r-e-a-l-l-y, s-l-o-w-l-y, just to reach Medium’s time guide, but who has time for that?
I use two screens and multiple tabs, so it’s easy to leave a good article open a little longer. I can still show my appreciation with a full 50 claps, and my browser adds the full gratuity.
If my silent reading companion helps boost your “read time” stats (aka, payment), it remains a pleasure to keep rewarding great writers.
