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nner on Medium and I’m thrilled with every dollar I’ve made so far.The point is, though, that virality doesn’t always mean big earnings. In fact, people often misunderstand what it actually means when content goes viral.<figure id="300e"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*jnjosE-3SQxZfHTB4vHFRQ.png"><figcaption>The stats of my most viral article so far</figcaption></figure><h1 id="c0bb">What Is Viral Content?</h1>When people talk about Medium articles going viral, they often seem to forget what it actually means that content goes viral.As explained on <a href="https://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/viral-content">WhatIs.com, “viral content is material, such as an article, an image or a video that spreads rapidly online through website links and social sharing”</a>.Notice the phrase “spreads rapidly online”. What happens if your Medium article spreads rapidly online and gets lots of shares on social media? Your article gets lots of views and probably lots of reads too.But this also means you’re mostly getting external views. Most of these people are not paying members in Medium. Which means you won’t make any money when they read your article.Of course, many viral Medium articles get lots of internal views too. So, they make lots of money. But by definition, that’s not what it means when an

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article goes viral.<h1 id="e920">Going Viral Is Still Great - But for Different Reasons</h1>I’m not claiming you can’t make lots of money if your article goes viral. Of course, you can. But you also may not. It all depends on if you’re getting mostly internal views or external views. If you’re mostly getting internal views, though, your article is not actually viral.If your story gets large amounts of external traffic from social media, that does mean it’s viral. But you don’t earn money from those visitors unless they’re paying members on Medium.Even if you’re not earning piles of money, going viral is not useless. At least you know you’re doing something right. Your story stands out from the crowd. Otherwise, it wouldn’t get shared like crazy on social media.And all the external traffic to your article is probably going to boost its visibility on Medium as well.Even though <a href="https://readmedium.com/what-if-autistic-people-were-the-majority-e9e944455ec5">my “viral” article</a> has only earned me a few dollars, I’m happy it went a little viral. All those Facebook shares mean I should keep writing more stories like that. It’s valuable information.I took risks with my article, and it definitely stands out from the crowd. That’s the kind of story people want to share on social media.</article></body>

Here’s Why Your Viral Article May Not Earn You Much Money

People misunderstand what “going viral” actually means

I saw a YouTube video by Zulie Rane in which she talked about her viral Medium articles. Each one of her viral articles had earned her thousands of dollars.

Isn’t it something we all dream about as beginners? Writing one masterpiece that really takes off and earns you tons of money in a few days.

In reality, going viral doesn’t always mean you’re going to make lots of money with your article.

I Just Went a Little Viral, But I Didn’t Make Much Money

One of my articles just went a little viral. Not super-viral, but a little viral. 1.3K views may not be that impressive, but it’s multiple times as many views as any of my other articles have gained so far. 93% of those views are from external traffic. This means my story has been shared a lot on social media.

But the large percentage of external traffic means I haven’t made that much money with my story. Don’t get me wrong; I’m a beginner on Medium and I’m thrilled with every dollar I’ve made so far.

The point is, though, that virality doesn’t always mean big earnings. In fact, people often misunderstand what it actually means when content goes viral.

The stats of my most viral article so far

What Is Viral Content?

When people talk about Medium articles going viral, they often seem to forget what it actually means that content goes viral.

As explained on WhatIs.com, “viral content is material, such as an article, an image or a video that spreads rapidly online through website links and social sharing”.

Notice the phrase “spreads rapidly online”. What happens if your Medium article spreads rapidly online and gets lots of shares on social media? Your article gets lots of views and probably lots of reads too.

But this also means you’re mostly getting external views. Most of these people are not paying members in Medium. Which means you won’t make any money when they read your article.

Of course, many viral Medium articles get lots of internal views too. So, they make lots of money. But by definition, that’s not what it means when an article goes viral.

Going Viral Is Still Great - But for Different Reasons

I’m not claiming you can’t make lots of money if your article goes viral. Of course, you can. But you also may not. It all depends on if you’re getting mostly internal views or external views. If you’re mostly getting internal views, though, your article is not actually viral.

If your story gets large amounts of external traffic from social media, that does mean it’s viral. But you don’t earn money from those visitors unless they’re paying members on Medium.

Even if you’re not earning piles of money, going viral is not useless. At least you know you’re doing something right. Your story stands out from the crowd. Otherwise, it wouldn’t get shared like crazy on social media.

And all the external traffic to your article is probably going to boost its visibility on Medium as well.

Even though my “viral” article has only earned me a few dollars, I’m happy it went a little viral. All those Facebook shares mean I should keep writing more stories like that. It’s valuable information.

I took risks with my article, and it definitely stands out from the crowd. That’s the kind of story people want to share on social media.