Leave Comments to Gain Followers on Medium

Engagement is the key to finding success on this or any other platform

Whenever I speak with new writers, I always discover the same mistake which keeps them from achieving their objectives. Everyone wants to figure out how to gain followers on Medium, but what most new writers fail to recognize is that writing is a community undertaking that requires the exchange of ideas. When writers become too focused on their own work at the expense of everyone else, they end up enclosed and they inadvertently seal themselves off from greater success.

I get it! You’ve spent a lot of time on your articles, crafted some wonderful prose, and selected the perfect accompanying images. Now, you’re burning with curiosity to hear what other people have to say about your essential argument. So, you check in day after day only to be left heartbroken at the complete lack of engagement.

It’s frustrating, I know, but did you ever consider other writers might feel the exact same way? Perhaps if you take it upon yourself to make the first move, you’ll discover that the minimal effort it takes to leave a comment will bring about a level of engagement you never thought possible.

Reviews

For years I’ve been an advocate of posting reviews for independent and small press writers. There are some absolutely fantastic books out there which unfortunately fall through the cracks of public perception. This is not because these books are bad. In fact, all too often, small press books take on the kind of fascinating subject matter that big publishers are afraid to engage.

Small press writers absolutely love it when you leave a review of their work. There is no greater currency in the world than the value of a review to a small press author. In most cases, these authors will also take on the task of promoting your review and beginning a discussion. It’s fascinating to have a brief chat with a person who has produced a work that has not yet been widely discovered. Who knows? Perhaps you’ll be the first person to read a masterpiece?

My Medium publication, Write and Review, was conceived exactly for the purpose of publicizing reviews of small press authors. If anyone would like to contribute a review, or has a book that they’d like me to see, please follow the publication.

Leave comments

Whenever you read an interesting article on Medium, you should be sure to leave a comment. If a particular phrasing struck you as interesting, point it out! It should always be our purpose as human beings to give each other a boost, so don’t keep positive comments to yourself. Let the author know!

But beyond providing feedback for the author of the article, the comment will also be seen by anyone else who visits the article. Whenever I read something interesting on Medium, I’m just as inclined to follow the author as I am to follow individuals who have left insightful comments. After all, the people who leave comments are the ones I want to be connected with!

Gain followers on Medium

Every author has a favorite article that they’ve published which hasn’t received the traction it deserves. I’ve had a couple of articles that have done very well, but I’d like to hear more about what my fellow authors have to say. To date, my favorite article is the following which was accepted and published by P.S. I Love You:

Please give it a look and tell me what you think. Also, comment below and tell me the article of yours that you’re most proud of and what I should look for when I read it.

A rising tide lifts all boats

It’s important to keep in mind that writing is a community. If you put yourself on an island, you’ll never get anywhere. However, if we stand together and help each other, you’ll find your readership, relevance, and voice will steadily grow.

An important thing to remember is that you don’t have to always be positive. If there’s something you don’t like about an article, be courteous, but also be truthful. Polite criticisms are invaluable, and many writers are more grateful for a gently suggested correction than they are for effusive praise. Writers know when you’re being sincere, and when you take the time to craft a criticism, they understand that you have read the article with care and reflection.

Good luck, and get commenting

Like anything, there is no guarantee that you’ll always get a response with a comment. However, I would suggest reading at least as many articles per week as you publish. Reading articles gives you a great chance to see what is driving the majority of the traffic on the platform, and it can give you ideas for articles in the form of lengthy retorts to positions you disagree with.

Remember that the internet is a vast discussion. All of us are entitled to take our turn to speak, but we should also set aside a bit of time to listen every once in a while.