Summary

Bruce Coulter reflects on his progress towards his writing goals on Medium, celebrating achievements in content creation, earnings, readership, subscriptions, followers, and community interactions, while also expressing uncertainty about fluctuations in his viewership and emphasizing the importance of support from and to other writers and the community.

Abstract

In a personal account titled "One Day at a Time, I’m Reaching My Goals on Medium," Bruce Coulter shares his journey of setting and working towards various goals for January. He successfully wrote 37 stories, nearing his target of one per day, and almost tripled his December earnings, aiming to cover a small bill with his $28.74 earnings. Despite not being at the level of top-earning authors, Coulter is determined to close the gap. His viewership reached 10,000, with a consistent read rate of about 65 percent, although he notes a recent rapid decline in views after a peak on January 20th. Coulter also reports a significant increase in subscribers and followers, with his follower count jumping from 175 in October to 832 by the end of January. He attributes much of his growth to active engagement with other writers, a practice he encourages for mutual success on Medium. Additionally, Coulter has raised$ 20 for Dining for Hunger through his writing, supplementing his personal donations from eBay sales. He expresses gratitude to the Medium community for their support and tips, which directly benefit the food-insecure. Coulter concludes by encouraging readers to engage with his content and offers a reminder of the link to donate to Dining for Hunger.

Opinions

Coulter values the importance of setting goals and the satisfaction of achieving them, as evidenced by his consistent writing output and financial targets.
He acknowledges the role of inspiration and desire in his progress on Medium, suggesting these are key drivers for success.
Coulter is aware of his earnings in relation to other writers and is motivated to increase his income, indicating a competitive yet realistic mindset.
He is data-driven, tracking his views and reads meticulously and expressing concern over unexplained declines in viewership.
Coulter emphasizes the significance of community interaction, crediting mutual support among writers for his growth in followers and subscribers.
He believes in giving back to the community, exemplified by his donations to Dining for Hunger and encouraging others to contribute.
Coulter is appreciative of the Medium platform and its members, recognizing their role in his success and the success of others through engagement and monetary support.

BY THE NUMBERS

One Day at a Time, I’m Reaching My Goals on Medium

All you need is a little inspiration and a lot of desire

**Inspiration and desire will help set your course on Medium.** Photo by Kenny Eliason on Unsplash

In December, I set several goals for January. My primary goal was to write at least one story for each day of the month. This post is number 37 for the month. Check.

My second goal was to earn at least $30. Yeah, it’s not a lot of money. But it’s three times what I made last month. And it will pay a small bill. My earnings as of this morning were $28.74. One day to go, not counting today, so I might make that goal. Check; maybe.

Is it a lot of money compared to other writers? Maybe. Is it as much as the more successful authors on Medium? I’m not even close. But my goal is to close that gap considerably.

Views and Reads

Views, as far as I know, are part of the algorithm which helps writers earn money. That makes them essential to other Medium writers and me.

Reads are views companions. If you are not aware of the relationship between the two, read Brandon Ellrich’s post, Views vs. Reads on Medium.

My goal for January was to reach 10,000 views in a 30-day period. I met that goal last night, and it continued today. I am concerned the number will decline, and I don’t know why. My views climbed almost daily, peaking at 895 on Jan. 20, then decreasing the following days rapidly. I’m not sure if my ascent was out of the ordinary or if the decline was.

I’ve included stats for December and January. As you can see, the difference between the two months is significant. Happily, I’ve maintained a read rate of about 65 percent.

Subscriptions

Up next was to increase the number of subscribers to my blog. I’ve added 12 subscribers this month. Not a huge number, but it all adds up — another check mark.

Followers

From October to January, the numbers are startling. In October, I had 175 followers. As of Jan. 30, I have 832. That’s a considerable improvement. My next goal is to reach 1,000 followers.

Interaction

I think one of the biggest reasons I’ve grown is because of my interaction with other writers. I try to read, clap and comment on their work. The majority of writers return the favor by stopping by my page to offer the same support: read, clap and comment. We all need an audience to succeed on Medium.

Donations

Donations were small but greatly appreciated. Dining for Hunger, where all my tips go, received $35 last year. This month, DFH received another $20. So here’s to a better 2023. We’ve had a tough go of it since COVID. We hope to make up for too much lost time.

This amount doesn’t count my donations from selling gold and silver coins on eBay. I don’t mind taking money out of my pocket. I know it will benefit food-insecure families in my community. I offer my sincere thanks to the Medium members who have graciously donated.

If you want to donate to Dining for Hunger, scroll to the bottom of my stories, where readers will find a link to donate.

As you can see, with inspiration and determination, you can make a difference for yourself and other writers. Don’t just sit there: Write, read, clap, and comment. I think you’ll see the difference in time.

If you’ve read this far, thank you for stopping by. Lay 50 claps on me and comment if you would please. I will return the favor. Cheers!

I accept tips, which go directly to Dining for Hunger, a recognized 501(c)(3) organization that looks to end food insecurity. If you can spare a dollar or two, I’d be grateful.