In Case You’re Listening Medium: I Don’t Think I Like the NEW Stats Page!
Is this layout supposed to make viewing your earnings easier?
I took my first look at the new layout of the Medium “stats” page, and was instantly annoyed!
Oddly enough, I had a similar type of irritation just a few hours earlier, while combing my local grocery store for an item I purchase all the time.
At some point, someone in the store got the bright idea to relocate the product that you see in this image:
Instead of finding this pre-soak product in the area where the detergents and other laundry items are kept, it had been moved to where the house cleaners are located.
That is definitely not a strategic place to put it, and it makes no sense to have moved it.
One of the clerks even tried to justify it by saying: “It’s not really a laundry product.”
I looked at him and laughed, as I pointed out how the label clearly has the word “laundry” on the front.
In spite of how illogical the whole thing seemed, I simply paid for my product and left — knowing that nothing would be done about changing the new location.
That’s how I feel about many of the changes to the Medium platform.
At first, I decided to try and stay calm and just go with the flow. Lord knows we could stand for some changes around here.
But that was until I saw the new stats page. All I could think, was: “Now what???”
Maybe this is just my first impression talking, and I’m irritated because I think they’re trying to do too much.
Whatever the reason, for now, all I can say about the new stats page is:
I get it Medium. I know you’re making lots of changes, and they’re supposed to be changes for the good of everyone concerned, but personally, I just don’t see it.
At least not yet…
What’s new on the Medium Stats page?
In case you haven’t already discovered it for yourself, the stats page — you know, the place where you go to obsess over your earnings — it has a new look and layout.
Gone are the days when you clicked on the link from your drop down list, and were carried to a layout that you could easily recognize.
Well now, here’s the layout you’ll see when you click to view your overall stats:
The “MESSAGE” that is displayed in the black header across the page, indicates that certain elements have been “temporarily” removed.
Normally, the column headings would include the number of “Views”, “Reads” and the “Read Ratio” that correspond to each story.
Now — at least temporarily, the column headings are completely new.
They now show the following:
- Claps
- Responses
- Lifetime Earnings
WTF?
After all the previous debates, discussions, and controversy surrounding the topic of “claps”, are we now to assume that applauding on stories is more than just a boost to a writer’s ego?
I’ve often wondered about this, as is evident by these former stories:
Clapping for stories in 2023
Fast forward to August 2023, and we have a new understanding about how to view “claps”.
Under the new way of evaluating things, apparently, claps are potentially just as important as reads and views.
At least, that seems to be the indication.
But just how many claps are we talking about?
Writer Mike Lewis talked about this very topic, in his story: Why Bother Giving 50 Claps When Only the First One Counts?
Another story also spoke about what we should all keep in mind whenever we leave applauds:
“Please note that clapping 50 doesn’t help your favorite writers earn more. Only the first clap counts in the new earnings system.”
Those words of caution were provided in a story written by Smillew Rahcuef, titled: How 50-Clappers Are Screwing Over Writers.
Whether you agree with the title of the story or not, this writer makes some seriously valid points.
As a chronic clapper myself, I took the practical viewpoints to heart.
But with all this talk about claps, don’t get me wrong about the other stats.
Medium hasn’t done away with allowing us to examine our Reads and Views.
Clearly, these metrics are just as important as before, even though now, you have to access the details differently.
The information about Reads and Views is still available for each story, on the individual story page.
In fact, an entire breakdown concerning the story’s engagement is available on the story page, and it includes the:
- Number of Clappers
- Number of Highlighters
- Number of Repliers
- Number of Follows
You can notice from the following screenshots of one of my stories titled:
Have You Seen a Spike in Your Earnings Yet?.
I published it in August (2023), based on the new earnings system.
As writers on Medium might agree, this is information that can definitely be useful, when trying to examine which of your stories are doing well.
It can actually provide some clues on what kinds of stories to write in the future.
None-the-less, I’m not sure if it was necessary for Medium to change the layout of the main stats page.
It’s not that I’m opposed to making changes, but there’s a danger of making too many changes at the same time.
This creates too many possible variables, if something goes wrong, or creates a negative result.
Now you’re stuck trying to figure out exactly which change is causing a problem.
I’m sure that our resident Medium doctors (Michael Burg, MD (Satire Sommelier) and Dr Mehmet Yildiz can attest to this, when it comes to patients taking multiple new medicines.
Even new moms are cautioned about introducing infants to too many new foods and products at the same time.
So, to my dearly loved Medium administrators, I ask that you please take it easy on us members here in the community.
Allow us some time to get used to the changes, especially those that relate to our stats.
Final Thoughts
I’m not sure if this new layout is supposed to make viewing your earnings easier, but for me, so far it does the opposite.
Anyone who has had a chance to not only look at the new layout, but spend a little time analyzing it, FEEL FREE TO WEIGH IN.
Leave a response, and let us know what you think about the new stats page — or any of the other changes) — good, bad, or otherwise (Please keep the ugly to yourself).
Thanks for reading…
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