New Writers, There’s Only One Way To Win The Game Of Online Writing
The sad but eye-opening truth about Medium’s algorithm every new writer needs to know.
Within the last past weeks, I’ve experienced a drop in my views which were averaging at around 38K.
Although views can be a vanity metric, they are still a vital measure for your success on this platform.
Views = Number of visitors who clicked on your story’s page
If people can’t help but click your headline it’s great, isn’t it?
I’ve analyzed the drop in my views and came to a conclusion.
Medium rewards quantity
My personal belief is that Medium's algorithm rewards quantity.
It’s all about visibility.
This sometimes even tends to trump quality content.
Last month I pumped out around 45 articles.
This tactic helped me to:
- capture more eyeballs (38K views)
- increase my revenue to $600
- became Top Writer in multiple categories (17 badges)
This month I even broke my daily writing habit — but on purpose.
To ‘service others’ and help the bootcampers of my first online course grow.
My bootcampers Courtney Simms Sally Prag Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles Tamil Christina jeanninekauffmann/poems in the raw Trisha Dunbar T Mann Alicia Dominguez Jameson Steward do the right thing!
After a hiatus Charles Waters back in the game of online writing, has started to create new content and reached his milestone of 100 followers to join the Medium Partner Program and earn money.
Trisha Dunbar even became a Top Writer for her outstanding pieces within the last past few months.
What do my bootcampers do differently?
- They write and publish on a regular/daily basis!
- They experiment and ‘spray and pray’ a lot, for instance, Trisha Dunbar with her Discussion Thread:
- Jameson Steward hosts his own podcast. Alicia Dominguez is on YouTube.
- They engage with their audience. Answer comments and questions.
- They relate to each other’s work and share their work like crazy.
- They spread Twitter love and retweet, like, and comment on each other’s work.
- They start their own newsletter with Revue as Nancy Blackman and Courtney Simms or on Substack as Trisha Dunbar.
Instead of overthinking and over-editing their work they hit publish. A lot.
Here’s the sad truth: Nobody on Medium knows you exist unless you hit publish!
As Nicolas Cole, Top Writers on Medium and Quora, says:
There’s only one way to “win” at online writing, and that’s volume.
This is what happened when I wrote 24 articles in one month
My first viral article is this one:
It’s about a 30-Day-Challenge I wanted to participate in.
I failed, for instance, because of my Mother’s Block. LOL.
Still, I managed to publish 24 articles, became one of the Top 1,000 writers on Medium, and received my first $500 cash bonus.
I tripled my earnings, increased my views by 180%, and gained 200 new fans.
The reason why it went viral is simple:
It’s an inspiring piece that shows anything is possible if you’re willing to step on the gas.
As Yana Bostongirl commented:
This is fantastic :)
24 articles…wow I applaud you, Kristina. Writing 2 articles per week is kind of my limit but now I am inspired by your productivity.
Well, look at Yana now!
She has become a successful writer, a powerful voice on this platform, and publishes on a regular basis.
Another writer is Edina Abena Jackson.
She loves to challenge herself.
Last month she had a crazy 400 Short Form Writing Challenge which earned her a plus of $300+.
Final Takeaways
Whatever your big goal is:
Do more!
As famous Vlogger Casey Neistat tattooed on his forearm:
During his run at daily vlogging, Neistat put out more than 700 videos within 2 years.
The sad but eye-opening truth about Medium and any other social media platform is that you have to pump out tons of content.
To experiment with it and learn from it.
With every piece of content, you become a better writer and the algorithm loves you even more.
Dear new writers, nobody on Medium know you exist unless you hit publish! A lot.
There’s only one way to win at online writing — volume!
Tell me your thoughts in the comments.
Thanks for making my words part of your day. I’m Kristina God, 17x Top Writer & one of the Top 1,000 Writers on Medium. My goal is to support new writers and share my experience.
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