avatarKiran Yasmin

Summary

The article discusses the importance of distribution for writers on Medium, emphasizing strategies for gaining exposure and building a following, with a focus on quality work, engagement with the community, and adherence to curation guidelines despite recent changes in distribution policies.

Abstract

The article on Medium emphasizes that while distribution is a key factor in a writer's success, it should not be the sole focus. The author acknowledges the concerns of writers regarding the latest changes in how stories are distributed but encourages them to concentrate on producing quality content, interacting with other writers, and using social media to build a significant following. The piece suggests that writers should aim to get their stories curated by following Medium's curation guidelines and improving their work's quality. It also offers alternative methods for gaining exposure without relying on distribution, such as daily publishing, networking with other writers, and sharing work on various social platforms. The author reassures writers that curators are still open to quality submissions and provides tips for increasing the likelihood of being noticed by curators, including maintaining high editorial standards, providing informative content, and properly citing sources. The article concludes by downplaying the necessity of distribution for success, advocating for the development of a personal brand and identity as a writer.

Opinions

  • Distribution is crucial for a writer's success on Medium, but it should not overshadow the importance of building a personal following through various techniques.
  • Writers should focus on the quality of their work and adhere to curation guidelines to increase their chances of being distributed.
  • Concerns about the latest changes in distribution should not deter writers from writing and sharing their content.
  • Engaging with the Medium community, publishing consistently, and using social media are effective strategies for gaining exposure independently of distribution.
  • Curators are selective, but they are still open to quality content that meets high editorial standards and provides value to readers.
  • The author believes that personal branding and identity are more important than distribution for long-term success as a writer on Medium.
  • The article suggests that writers should not rely solely on distribution for success and should instead diversify their approach to gaining readership and recognition.
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Distribution Helps Writers Build A Following

But we have become too concerned about it…

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It’s safe to say that distribution plays a key role in the success of a writer. Everybody who publishes stories on this site wants their work to be chosen for distribution. How do we get our stories curated or distributed? The simplest answer to this question is that we need to follow the curation guidelines and must improve the quality of our work.

The Latest Changes Of How Stories Will Be Distributed

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With the latest changes in the way stories are distributed, a lot of writers are concerned about their future. They spend the whole day talking about how to get curated and how to ensure maximum exposure.

We should stop worrying about distribution or curation and need to build following using different types of techniques.

Everything is going to be okay.

I know that you are worried about your survival on this site. Every single writer has the same kinds of thoughts and concerns, but this does not mean we should stop writing and sharing. Instead, our focus should be on gaining a significant number of followers by publishing a couple of stories every single day and by interacting with other writers through social media. Another good idea is to submit stories to big publications. In my opinion, this is currently the best way to get noticed.

Distribution Is Not A Big Deal

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It is true that distribution is not a big deal.

I know that distribution gives a push to your stories. I also know that this can lead you to become a top writer in one of the categories. We all want people to read our work, share it, and get inspired by it.

How To Get Exposure Without Distribution?

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I am going to tell you a couple of ways to get some exposure without distribution or curation.

  1. I always say this; publish something every single day.
  2. Follow other writers to get noticed and followed.
  3. Keep sharing your work on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and other social networking websites.

What To Do To Still Be Considered For Distribution?

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Curators have not closed doors on writers. Instead, they have become picky about what to distribute. In order to maximize your chances of getting noticed by curators, please consider the following things.

  1. Try to meet high editorial standards.
  2. Provide quality and informative stuff to your readers.
  3. Submit stories directly to big publications or the ones whose editors are curators.
  4. Always write a conclusion.
  5. Support your arguments with references.
  6. Properly cite all of the images. I suggest you use only one image at the top of the post.
  7. Be honest and offer suggestions for improvement.

Things that can disqualify your stories are mentioned below.

  1. Advertisements or self-promotion.
  2. Violations of rules.
  3. A lot of spelling or grammatical errors.
  4. Not enough references to support certain arguments or facts.

Takeaway

Photo by Steve Halama on Unsplash

This is just a brief idea of how distribution works and why it does not matter to some writers. In my case, I have never been curated, and to be honest, I do not care much about that. This is not because I have some problems with curators or the site owners. It is only because I am focusing on building my own identity and brand and want to help newcomers understand that curation or distribution cannot always guarantee success and fame.

What have you done so far to ensure distribution?

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