Summary

The author, Serhii Kucherenko, discusses the disproportionate relationship between the number of reads on Medium articles and the corresponding earnings, despite high engagement metrics such as claps and comments.

Abstract

Serhii Kucherenko shares insights into the earnings disparity on Medium, highlighting that high read counts do not necessarily translate into proportional earnings. He provides an example of an article with 271 reads that only yielded $4.02, contrary to his usual expectation of around$ 1 per 8-12 reads. Despite the high engagement, including 669 claps and 9 comments, the earnings algorithm did not result in a fair financial return. Kucherenko advises against relying solely on Medium's read/earnings formula and emphasizes the importance of diversifying income streams and maintaining rational expectations.

Opinions

The author expresses skepticism about using the read/earnings formula as a reliable indicator of financial success on Medium.
He suggests that the earnings algorithm on Medium works in a somewhat unpredictable or "magic" way, which is not dependable for a stable income.
Kucherenko reminds readers to be cautious and rational about where they invest their time and effort, implying that writing on Medium might be better suited as a side-hustle rather than a primary source of income.
The author encourages writers to remain conscious of their choices and to not be swayed by high read numbers, as these may not correlate with actual earnings.
Despite his warnings, Kucherenko does not intend to demotivate writers but rather to provide a realistic perspective on earning through Medium.
He promotes the idea of trying new things, as individual experiences may vary, and one might become a top writer on the platform.
Finally, Kucherenko invites readers to connect with him on social media and to support him by buying him a cup of coffee.

I Got 10X Reads, But Earnings Don’t Match

This article is going to be short but informative.

For those who are looking at stats using the read/earnings formula — please stop.

Before I explain why, let me share some of my latest earnings with you.

For example, this article:

How I Started My First Online Business: Skailex.com

Starting an online business isn’t just a step-by-step process; it’s a rollercoaster ride filled with exciting…

medium.com

I posted in on January 28.

There are 669 claps and 9 comments so far.

Here are the analytics of this article:

Let’s summarize it:

44 views
24 reads
55% read ration
$1.77 earnings

$1,77/24=$0,07375 per 1 read.

Usually, I saw numbers 0,12 per 1 read.

For most articles, it was around $1 per 8–12 read — across all articles.

And here is where it gets interesting.

This week, I went over 100 and then over 200 reads daily.

The highest was 271 reads.

Let’s try to calculate my lowest rate per read that I got for the whole time:

$0,06*271=$16,26

I was excited about this and couldn’t wait for the results.

And what do you think I got? Less? More?

$4,02

That’s it. I re-read info about the earnings algorithm on Medium to understand how such a situation could happen, and it seems like the algorithm works in “a magic way.”

Would this magic way work for you to live on? I wouldn’t rely on it. You would never know at what point you will be miserably drawn.

As a side-hustle? Maybe. You should always try such things yourself, maybe be you’re the next TOP-1 writer on Medium.

I don’t want to demotivate people; just a fresh reminder to stay alert and rational with how you spend your time and where you put your effort.

Stay conscious of your choices, and life will be full of joy.

You can find me on social media: LinkedIn | Twitter And buy me a cup of black☕️