Going in a hurry? You’re killing your Medium profile

Slow down, and you will thrive

Non-Members can read the full story here.

I recently stumbled upon two amazing posts that completely changed my perception of engagement. One was by the incredible Sílvia PM, PhD 🍂 , and the other by the talented Bin Jiang, inspired by the first. I will link their posts at the end of this article.

Please make sure to spend a minimum of 30 seconds reading my story. 
Engagement, done wrong, will kill mine and your profiles.

Trust me, after reading this post, you’ll understand why I’m adding this little code snippet to all my future posts.

This strategy is inspired by Saeed Sobhani, Britt E., and Julia Kalman, and I highly recommend giving it a try.

After spending countless hours reading and researching about engagement on Medium, something clicked. It finally made sense. Engagement is not just about getting more claps and views on your post, it’s about connecting with other writers and readers, building a community, and creating genuine relationships.

So, how does engagement affect your Medium profile? Well, aside from the obvious increase in views and followers, it also affects the quality of your content. By engaging with others’ content, you are opening yourself up to new perspectives and ideas, which can significantly improve your writing skills. You may even gain valuable feedback and constructive criticism that can help you grow as a writer.

Furthermore, engagement also plays a role in visibility on Medium. The more you engage “really” with others’ content, the more likely it is for your profile to be recommended to other readers.

But hold up, my digital pen pals: if your strategy on Medium is a frantic tap dance for attention, you’re doing it wrong. And honestly, it’s literally killing your profile.

We’ve all seen them, the eager beavers tapping away at the clap icon as if it’s a buzzer on a game show.

One such action — clapping too soon on an article — might be more harmful than you think, both for the writer and your profile. Those claps are meant to signify appreciation, not serve as an amateur attempt at Morse code.

And oh, commenting. If your comment looks like it could have been left by a poorly programmed chatbot or worse, an overzealous family member who has no idea what you write about but is “just so proud,” it’s a swing and a miss. Comments should be the sparkling conversation at the dinner party, not the equivalent of shouting “Thanks for sharing” at random intervals.

Understanding Medium’s Clapping System

The clapping feature on Medium is akin to the ‘Like’ button on other social platforms but with a twist. It allows readers to show their appreciation for a piece of content by clapping up to 50 times. This interaction does more than just flatter the author; it can significantly influence an article’s reach and the writer’s earnings on the platform.

While you may be eager to support your favorite authors by rapidly clapping for their articles, doing so before 30 seconds have passed is counterproductive. Here’s why:

Profile Visibility and Engagement Implications

The Medium algorithm places a high value on genuine reader engagement. When you clap too quickly, it can be misinterpreted as ‘spam-like’ activity, potentially reducing both the author’s and your visibility on the platform. In the long term, it could limit the organic reach of your own posts and contributions.

Potential Damage to Reputation

In addition to technical implications, there’s also a question of reputation. Authors and other readers might view early clappers as inattentive or uninvested, damaging relationships and networking opportunities that are vital to success on Medium. I have developed the habit of blocking the early clappers, the ones who, right after clapping for a post, clap on another. I do the same for the “thanks for sharing” commenters.

I recommend you do so too, because they’re literally killing your read ratio: it represents the percentage of people who clicked on a piece of content and actually read it from start to finish. A higher read ratio indicates that the content is engaging and valuable to the audience, which can lead to better engagement, more views and, ultimately, more earnings.

The Importance of Genuine Engagement

The key to success on Medium is genuine engagement. This means taking the time to read and fully digest an article before clapping for it. It also involves leaving thoughtful comments and sharing articles with others who might find them interesting.

By engaging in this way, you not only support your favorite authors but also build a strong community on the platform. One friend who is literally mastering this ability is Ryan Canady. Take a look at how he engages with others, and you will understand a lot.

Best Practice for True Engagement on Medium

Here’s how you can interact with content thoughtfully and avoid the negative consequences of premature applause:

• Wait at least 30 seconds before clapping and commenting. I recommend doing so for posts of a minute or so, like poems or little fiction stories. This ensures that the platform recognizes your engagement as legitimate and values it properly. In addition, it will give more earnings to the author.

Addressing Common Misconceptions (hey there, spammer dude!)

Engaging Without Reading the Full Article Does Not Help You

Just as clapping right away has its pitfalls, commenting without fully engaging with the content could signal to others that your contributions lack depth or understanding. This detracts from the community experience and could reflect poorly on your profile.

In conclusion, here’s the scoop on engagement on Medium: it’s not all about the number of claps and comments you rack up, but rather the quality and thoughtfulness of your interactions. So, let’s keep it real and contribute meaningfully to the community. Share your genuine feedback, enrich discussions, and support authors. Each article you read is a chance to grow and expand your horizons.

Guess what? Now you can finally clap!

Several questions have arisen after I published this article. I have tried to answer the most frequently asked ones in a new post:

Silvia’s post.

Bin’s post.