Summary

The article outlines strategies for quickly growing a following on Medium by consistently writing on various topics, engaging with the community, and learning from successful writers.

Abstract

The author shares insights on achieving rapid follower growth on Medium, emphasizing the importance of prolific writing across diverse subjects without overthinking the process. The article suggests that new writers should start by writing about topics they are passionate about, regardless of their perceived skill level. Engagement with other writers' content is also highlighted as a key factor in building relationships and increasing visibility within the Medium community. Additionally, the author advises aspiring writers to learn from established ones by analyzing successful writing techniques and applying them to their own work, while also maintaining authenticity.

Opinions

Writing frequently and on a variety of subjects is crucial for growth and improvement in writing.
New writers should not be deterred by a lack of experience or fear of poor writing quality, as improvement comes with practice.
Engaging with other Medium users by reading, commenting, and providing constructive feedback is beneficial for networking and increasing one's own readership.
Learning from successful writers involves observing their techniques, such as crafting compelling headlines and storytelling, and applying these lessons to one's own writing.
The journey of writing is seen as a constant process of trial and error, where learning from experiences is key to development.
The article suggests that gaining followers on Medium is not only achievable but also a straightforward process when following the outlined strategies.

How I Got More Than 110 Followers in My First Month on Medium

It’s easier than you think.

New year, new you, right?

Do you finally want to start writing online?

Are you ready to earn some money from your writing?

And do you hope to gain followers quickly?

I got you covered because, in this article, I’ll outline what you can do to grow quickly on Medium.

Write, write, and then write some more

This shouldn’t come as a surprise.

But to earn money writing, you need to, well… write. A lot.

There’s no shortcut for that.

I’ve attended a live webinar of Nicolas Cole and Dickie Bush, two of the most popular online writers, making big money.

In this, the question they’ve been asked most is:

“Where do I start?”

Their answer? Write. My answer? Write.

Don’t think too much about having a niche, creating a buyer persona, pitching to clients, or whatever. Simply start writing.

About what?

Whatever you like.

I mostly write about personal growth, mindfulness, (digital) minimalism, nutrition, and fitness.

But here on Medium, you can write about anything:

You name it.

Especially in the beginning, you don’t have to limit yourself. Figure out what’s interesting to you. Then start and continue writing.

“But what if I suck at writing?”

Embrace it. What do you think where all the writers have started?

Nicolas Cole admitted publicly that he’s no writing genius whatsoever. He just had enough experience. 10 years of writing.

That’s more than the famous 10,000 hours.

The same goes for me. I’m by miles not where I want to be, and I cringe when I look at my old articles.

But that’s a good thing.

Because it means I’m improving. The same goes for you.

Don’t think too much; write.

Engage with other readers

As a writer, you need to read, too.

And, as you know, Medium is great for reading. Therefore, share some love and read what others write. Be part of the community.

Let others know that you’ve liked their articles. Add your own opinion or experience to enrich the article and maybe even the writer.

But, please, be a decent human being.

No one wants to read articles where you’re the professor telling people what they’ve done wrong. Give constructive feedback.

Don’t know where to start? Here you go:

Set a timer of at least 15 minutes, read articles that have sparked your interest, and leave a genuine comment. Repeat.

Engaging with others isn’t only good for reach. It can be the first spark for new friendships and even business partnerships. Don’t neglect it.

Engage to become part of the online writer’s community.

Learn from other writers

You need to know the rules to break them.

It’s the first thing you learn in art school. And guess what?

Writing is a form of art.

Why only engage with other writers when you can learn from them too? Look at the people inspiring you with their written words and see what they do.

Are they painting great pictures like Alex Mathers does?
Are they pushing you to your limit like Ayodeji Awosika does?
Or are they describing their simple lives as Eve Arnold does?

Whatever that sticks, analyze it.

Take a look at what headlines work, how to pace and space your writing, and how to tell a story. Understand what makes a great article.

Don’t steal, but copy.

Apply the rules of good writers to your writing and see if it works. If it does, great. If it doesn’t, improve on it.

Writing is constant trial and error.

Don’t take it too personally when something doesn’t work.

Instead, learn to make it better.

Getting your first 110 followers (or even more) isn’t difficult if you keep:

writing
engaging with others
learning from others