Do You Want to Get Medium’s Boost?

I got tired of waiting, so I boosted myself.

About a month ago I wrote an article about Medium’s new(ish) boost. The boost was Medium’s big announcement for 2023 — a supposed magical, cure-all, ultra-potent miracle elixir fixer. The potential to get your story out to 500 to 100K fresh eyeballs!

Well, when it didn’t happen for most of us the woe-is-me whispers started. I listened to them, and became a bit of a negative-Ethel (wait, that’s not right) myself. Then I spewed that out to the world. I sincerely regret that. And I’m sorry.

In the article, The Reason You’re Not Getting Boosted, I talked about a disease spreading around Medium, called ‘Boost Envy’. I wasn’t patient zero, but I did infect some others. I ended the article saying this however:

“The plan I am using to cure myself of Boost Envy is a simple injection of reality. The boost won’t come for me, I’ll just keep plugging along, creating the content that I like writing about, and reading the content of others that tickles my fancy that day. Just like before the boost.”

No Boost

Well, I didn’t get the boost. Despite receiving comments asking me if that post got boosted. It didn’t — but it hit a nerve with many. I will likely not get boosted, because I don’t use the boost’s formula.

The formula is about establishing yourself as an expert and a myriad of other things that I’m too lazy of a sod to write out here. Kristina God wrote a good article about the criteria (thanks Kristina — now I don’t have to write all that here).

I won’t use Medium’s formula. It doesn’t tickle my pickle. And if I ever can’t have a kickass time writing here, I’ll let the door hit me on the arse on the way out.

I probably won’t get Medium’s boost. But you know what — challenge accepted. There’s nothing I love more than a good challenge, or proving people wrong. Including myself (since I did write that ass-hatty, asinine article after all). So, don’t threaten me with a good time! In the words of the modern bard Bruno Mars, “Don’t believe me just watch”.

I’ll boost myself.

As I mentioned when I wrote my Big List of Medium Publications 2023 — if you can’t find what you want — create it! I did it for the list, and I did it for the boost. What I didn’t know, was that I would do better than the boost.

The Boost Isn’t That Impressive

Here’s the thing about the boost…I know a number of people who have been boosted (and read stories from many others about their boost experiences) and they get generally 500–1000 views, over 2 maybe 3 days.

A quick sizzle in the pan, but not enough to really cook the bacon.

One friend, Jason Provencio wrote a post about his boost experience where he made $35. Another buddy Bruce Coulter commented on that story about his experience where he earned $10 from the boost. Jason’s wife earned about $75 with her boost. That’s maybe 1–7 packs of moderately-fancy bacon (I’m picturing some sort of frou-frou applewood-smoked variety) kind of money.

After a few days of the chubby-inducing stats engorging from the boost, you know what happens? Nothing. Back to business as usual; back to Piggly Wiggly bacon.

So I Boosted Myself

In the last month since writing my first article on the boost, here is what I’ve accomplished (sans boost):

• Had my first story ever reach over 10K claps.
• Had my first story ever earn over $100.
• I got over 750 views in a single day.
• I more than doubled my earnings.
• Gotten over double the claps on average that I was before.
• Seen an impressive conversion in reads to followers.

The best part: this will keep building over time, it’s not just 2–3 days. In case you think I’m yanking your chain and whistlin’ Dixie, here’s my earnings:

And the follower growth:

By the way, I didn’t get boosted, didn’t get distributed, or otherwise get a lucky horseshoe shoved up my keester. I’ve also written fewer stories this month than last, at only 5 so far.

How I Boosted Myself

So, what did I do? I worked on my writing. I listened to my readers, and listened to Medium. I took Medium’s formula of making stories engaging and memorable, and getting readers thinking and laughing and feeling emotions — and I reworked it to suit me. I did use some clickbaity-sounding titles (which contradicts their formula) but I delivered on it. To many, it’s not clickbait if you deliver.

My story ideas got more creative and better, I rocked the headlines and I really connected with my audience. Oh, and I incorporated the WIIFM principle (What’s In It For Me), which I wrote a story about in my most recent post on my second account, That Medium Hack. It has really made all the difference.

Go Boost Yourself

You can sit around and wait for a boost, but even if you get it — I don’t think you’ll be as thrilled once you return to Earth’s orbit. I highly recommend boosting yourself. It works better.

Here is what I recommend:

• Use the WIIFM principle. You need to give your readers a reason to come back. So figure out your magic mojo miracle sauce; the milkshake that brings the boys to the yard. For me, it’s largely humor (yours could be another emotion) and a life lesson in each article.
• Create killer headlines. Practice makes perfect, but until then there’s headline analyzers for that (google: “headline analyzers” and pick eeny-miny-moe style til you find one you like). Another tip, find successful writers you like and get inspiration by browsing their headlines.
• Use visually-appealing formatting and images.
• Find something memorable about you. Mine, according to my readers, is my lip- and rib-tickling mooostache. Maybe yours is your cat, a killer sign-off phrase, or a certain style of custom AI images. Pick something and run with it, if people don’t comment on it — try something else.

And my biggest tip — have a great time doing it. This has been the most fun I’ve had on Medium. It really shines through in your writing when you’re clearly enjoying the hell out of it.

Despite my sounding like an utter braggadocious douchenozzle above, there is really nothing special about me (I’m a basic bitch, 40, and don’t even have cool glasses). Trust me, if I can do this — you can too.

Still Want the Boost? (Of course you do)

If you’re curious what Medium uses as criteria for the boost, typical results people can expect, and what publications currently have boosting powers — here is another article I wrote with that info: