avatarMihai Constantin

Summary

The author reflects on their first month as a writer on Medium, detailing their earnings, views, and followers, while offering advice based on their experiences and successes.

Abstract

In the first month of joining Medium as a member, the author has written six articles which have collectively earned 59.91 and garnered a significant number of views, reads, and followers. The most successful article, focused on macOS productivity tips, was published by "Mac O'Clock" and generated 24.84. The author shares insights such as the importance of quality content, strategic title choice, using popular tags, and maintaining a positive tone. They also emphasize the value of linking to previous related stories, choosing a niche, utilizing Medium's editor features, and writing with passion. The author expresses gratitude to Zulie Rane for guidance and concludes by affirming their intention to continue writing on Medium, finding the platform a source of relaxation and a means to contribute valuable content to readers.

Opinions

  • Quality of content is more important than quantity for success on Medium.
  • A compelling title can significantly increase the likelihood of an article being read.
  • Utilizing trending tags can enhance the visibility of articles to a broader audience.
  • Concluding articles on a positive note can leave a lasting impression on readers.
  • Linking to previous articles can revitalize older content and increase overall readership.
  • Focusing on a specific niche can help in building a dedicated audience.
  • The Medium editor's features should be fully utilized to enhance article presentation.
  • Passion for writing is essential for long-term success and standing out as a writer.
  • The author values the platform for its focus on writers and the quality of articles.

My First Month on Medium

My adventure on Medium started a month ago

Photo by Micheile Henderson on Unsplash

I joined Medium as a member on May 1st. Today is June 4th, so let’s see some statistics from the last month. I wrote 6 articles that generated $59.91 and all of them were published by publications. Three of them were chosen for further distribution, but this aspect didn’t count too much regarding the earnings, at least not for me. Other stats that you may be interested in: 3649 views, 1861 reads, 177 fans, 69 followers.

Photo taken by the author: Stats from the last 30 days

The most viewed article was the first article I wrote. It was published by Mac O'Clock and it was related to macOs tips and tricks in order to increase your daily productivity. Until today, it has generated $24.84.

Here are some things I learned during my first month on the platform:

  • Quality, not quantity. This is very important to know. The most viewed article was a short one, and it generated the most money. I don’t say that large articles don’t do well, but the most critical aspect of your articles should be the value that brings to the readers.
  • Choose your title wisely. This aspect is quite important, because if your title is good enough to make the reader click on the article, in this way your chances to have more reads are increasing. I noticed short titles are more clickable than the others, but this is not necessarily a rule.
  • Use top tags. This is crucial for your articles because using top tags will increase your chances to reach a larger audience.
  • Finish on a good note. Even if the article criticises something, you can conclude positively in order not to leave the reader with a negative feeling in the end.
  • Link your previous stories in your current article if they are similar. This is a tactic that can get you more reads for old articles and increase your earnings.
  • Choose your niche. In order to build an audience, first you need to choose a topic for your first articles. In this manner, you are more likely to be followed and get more reads. Personally, I wrote about what I love, programming and tech, particular Apple products.
  • Use Medium Editor at its full power. The Medium editor is a powerful tool that you must take advantage of. Use quotes in order to improve your article aspect or split your story in sections. Insert a piece of code using GitHub Gist or use a beautiful picture from sites like Unsplash or Pexels.
  • Enjoy your writing. In order to become a successful writer, you need to be passionate about it. If you are doing this only to earn some money, you will not stand out.

I would like to thank Zulie Rane for the tips on how you can get started on the platform. If you have not seen her YouTube channel yet, check it out.

Conclusion

The first month on the platform was a really enjoyable experience. Between my university classes and the software engineer job, I use the platform to relax and write some thoughts that hopefully brought some value to the readers. I will continue to write because Medium is a wonderful platform that focuses on writers and the quality of the articles.

And don’t forget, enjoy writing!

Money
Writing
Growth
Productivity
Creativity
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