Summary

The author argues that success on Medium is less about the quality of content and more about the quantity and consistency of publishing.

Abstract

The author, reflecting on over two years and 200 articles written on Medium, asserts that the platform's emphasis on quality content has declined, attributing this to the high cost of producing quality work without sufficient monetary incentives. Observing the rise and fall of writers and publications, the author notes that high-quality pieces often receive less engagement compared to less substantive content that floods the platform. The article suggests that in the current state of Medium, the key to success is not crafting the best stories but consistently producing a high volume of content, allowing the algorithm to favor one's visibility over others. The author encourages writers to adapt to this new reality by increasing their output, regardless of quality, to stay relevant and "win" on Medium.

Opinions

Quality content is expensive and unsustainable without adequate financial rewards, leading to a decline in the overall quality of writing on Medium.
The platform's algorithm and user engagement favor consistent output over the intrinsic quality of the content.
Success on Medium is not determined by the excellence of writing but by the frequency and volume of content published.
The author expresses a sense of disillusionment with the current state of Medium, where repetitive and less impactful content garners more attention than truly outstanding work.
Writers are encouraged to adapt their strategy to prioritize quantity, ensuring their content is frequently seen by users and recognized by the platform's algorithm.
The author believes that the era of quality content being the primary driver of success on Medium is over, replaced by an emphasis on quantity and consistency.

Screw It! Winning On Medium Is a Number Game.

Why you should try quantity instead.

After over 200 articles and over two years of writing, I can say, unequivocally, screw quality — on social media, and especially, on this platform. If you think it’s the best writers, the best stories, and the best styles that win, you’re deluded.

There are thousands of writers on Medium — so many that I question if there are still readers. I joined Medium because there were premium stories you could only find here. But over the years, the level of quality slowly declined.

Why?

Quality is expensive. It takes focus, time, and energy — commodities, that unless the reward is worth it, most writers will not give willingly.

So as writers’ monetary incentives declined, quality suffered.

Over the past twenty-four months, I’ve watched writers come and go. I’ve watched publications crumble and fine writers crash and burn. I’ve also seen new writers take the stage.

I’ve seen strange things. Stuff that boggles my mind.

I’ve seen articles that blew my mind away by their story and how well-written they are, yet have less than five hundred claps and an even lesser view.

And I’ve seen content with no takeaway, yet with thousands of claps and reads.

It’s safe to say, it’s not the best content that wins. It’s not the fine writers that get the praise. And it’s not the best stories that get applause.

When I scroll through Medium, everything’s just the same. Repetitive. Writers writing for writers.

However, quality is relative. While I may say there isn't quality here anymore, you may say, “Dude! What the heck are you talking about?” Cos where you see quality, I see crap. And that’s fine. It doesn't mean you're wrong and I’m right.

Since we live in a free world, I will say this though; “there’s a truckload of crap on here.”

My heart goes to the many writers who take their time to write good stories. They deserve more. But the world, nor Medium don't roll like that.

It’s no more survival of the best, but the survival of the consistent.

The era of quality is over.

We’re living in the era of quantity. Whether it’s something meaningful or not, it doesn't mean shit. Simply be a good ejaculator. It doesn’t matter what you ejaculate. Just… ejaculate as much content as you can.

The more you’re seen the better.

That’s why popularity is not a test of quality. It simply means you showed up again and again.

This isn't whining. This is how to win online.

If you cannot beat them, please, by all means, join them. Write more — quality or not. Write as much as you can. Publish frequently. And let the algorithm get used to your name. Spam the feeds of other users. It’s completely legal.

The winners are those who show up again and again. You can still win on Medium. It just takes a different route now.

And for quality? Well, let it be in the eye of the reader.