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How to Gain 100 Followers Who Read What You Write

It's easy, fun, and legal

You're new to Medium and can't wait to collect your first 100 followers. I get it. It's a milestone. With 100 followers, you can participate in the Medium Partner Program and make some money.

Or maybe you’ve been around a while and want more people to read your writing. So what do you do? A lot of people play the "follow for follow" game. Don’t. There's a better way.

Please read to the end because I will give you a bonus ✅

When I submitted my first paywall story, I waited for those hands to clap. I could almost hear them slapping together. It didn't happen. Silence. Maybe the hands were praying for me to get some sense.

Where were my 100 followers? They were not reading my work. Maybe they took off for a tropical vacation somewhere. Perhaps they'd all perished in an earthquake. I wasn't reading them either. We had completed our transaction. No hard feelings.

Recently I read some stories by Linda Locke. Before she wrote a single word on Medium, she did something extraordinary.

She read, clapped, and commented on other writers’ work.

By the time she started writing, she already had almost 100 followers. More importantly, she had a clearer idea of what she wanted to write. She understood the types of stories people want to read.

Please note how this approach differs from "follow for follow" or "read for read." I suggest you read others' work without expecting anything in return.

If you want more readers, start paying attention to other writers. Follow those you like and read their work. Be generous with your claps. Some will follow you back, and some won't. But those who do will be more likely to read what you write.

They'll feel like they already know you.

Dave Schools offers a course titled "38 Expert Medium Writing Tips." He takes Linda's advice one step further. He advises people to mix it up. Don't just write stories. Respond to other people's stories.

Here's your bonus ✅, with thanks to Dave. It's his idea, not mine.

• Spend some time reading other writers on Medium.
• When you have a strong, possibly dissenting opinion, write a response. Chances are high other readers feel the same way. You're providing the value of putting their thoughts into words.
• When you're comfortable writing responses, take things up a notch. Find a popular post, as evidenced by a large number of claps. Make sure it was published in the last 24 to 48 hours. Write a passionate response. Watch what happens to your stats. Medium does not pay for responses but the indirect rewards rock.

Key Message: Reading and commenting on other writers' stories is a fun and effective way to build your Medium following.

Try it out. Then please come back and tell us how it worked for you.