Introducing Letters

Summary

Medium introduces Letters, a new feature for Publications that allows editors to send direct, intimate communications to followers, fostering conversation and engagement.

Abstract

Medium is enhancing its platform by introducing Letters, a feature designed to facilitate direct communication between publication editors and their followers. This feature revives the personal touch of letter writing in the digital age, delivering content straight to followers' inboxes while also maintaining its presence as a post on the platform. Letters can be recommended, highlighted, and shared, encouraging active participation and continuity in the conversation. Editors have control over their publications' Letters, and followers have the option to manage their subscriptions to maintain a balance in the frequency of communication they receive. This initiative aims to bring back the personal connection that blogs used to provide through RSS subscriptions, making Medium Publications a hub for readers to receive updates and engage with content creators.

Opinions

Medium values the act of letter writing as an intimate and meaningful form of communication, especially in the current landscape of information overload.
The platform emphasizes the

Introducing Letters

At Medium, we are building a new kind of media product — one centered around conversation and reaction, one where audience engagement is not an afterthought, but something fundamentally new and participatory at its core. The benefits of writing on Medium — into a thriving network, being connected to many others — have always been a big part of what we’re all about. But we’ve been missing an important ingredient, which we’re adding today: continuity.

We’re very excited to announce the launch of a new feature for Publications. We’re calling it Letters. We think it’s valuable, especially in today’s world of endless information streams, to remember the act of letter writing as an intimate form of communication.

So what is a Letter?

It’s a way of connecting with your publication’s followers and starting a conversation.

It’s delivered to the inboxes of all the people who follow your publication.

It’s also a post, so it can be recommended, highlighted, built upon, and have a life of its own.

Followers will have the option to unsubscribe from your publication’s Letters directly from their inbox and on their publications management page. Remember, too much of a good thing is often too much ☺

You still only need to write when you have something to say. But now, it can be delivered directly to your publication’s followers.

After all, there’s a certain intimacy in the inbox.

As an editor, you’ll see a new option in the dropdown on your publication page called “Letters.” When you send your Letter, not only will it be delivered to all the inboxes of your followers, but it will also be published as a post in your publication — consumable by anyone on the web and in our iOS app.

Letters have the potential to provide what blogs used to through RSS subscriptions. With this, we’ve now made Publications truly a place for people to follow your work and get updates on your ideas, thoughts, and stories. We’d love for you to try it and let us know what you think at [email protected].