So You Received 100 Followers. What’s Next?
New Medium writers must understand that 100 followers are only the beginning of their writing journey.
So you received 100 followers. Awesome. Congratulations! Do you think you’ve accomplished something?
I am here to inform you that yes, getting 100 followers as a new member of an unfamiliar writing platform provides a great sense of accomplishment, but your journey is just the beginning.
It’s one thing to acquire 100 followers on Medium, but what are you doing to increase your following? What are you doing to retain and captivate your followers?
Without divulging my financial success, I will share with everyone the steps it took for me to increase my following, increase my payouts, and retain followers. It’s not rocket science. It only takes dedication to learn and master your craft of writing, first. The rest will come:
- Submit writing content at least five times a week.
Writing takes practice, no matter who you are or what experience you have. I started off by submitting content every day during the first three months of my membership to Medium. I admit this is extremely difficult to do. Especially when you have a regular 9–5 job. For the sake of having a balanced life, submit writing content at least five times a week.
I challenge you to view my portfolio of writing here on Medium, Le Voir N. Lewis. I gloat oftentimes because I can literally see the growth and productivity I’ve made from Day 1 (December 31, 2021), when I submitted my first article, to the present day. Practice definitely makes perfect!
2. Direct Followers. Follow other writers on the platform.
The majority of Medium writers have a philosophy: You follow me, I will follow you in return. This is what I call direct followers because there is a direct response to a specific action you initiated. This is very similar to direct response marketing. This is the easiest way to get more followers over time. Does it necessarily mean you will get more reads? No.
3. Passive Followers. Give writers and readers a reason to follow you and read your content.
We have all heard the phrase, “Just stand there and look pretty.”
Unfortunately, no one will tell you that on Medium, and you will never be able to benefit from such actions here. Not going to happen. There is work involved and the submission of one or two articles won’t cut it unless you are extremely lucky.
Medium is a highly competitive writing platform, so give writers and readers a reason to follow you. The below points help to increase your passive followers.
4. Support the followers you do have. Support the ones who haven’t followed you yet.
Support means READING and COMMENTING on their writing. That’s how everyone gets paid. The number of minutes you spend on reading content, the more money you put in writers’ pockets. It’s not a major amount but anything is better than zero.
Commenting on people’s content gets your name out there as a person who supports writers. Not everyone will scratch your back just because you scratched theirs, but your name will become familiar as a person who is an active commentator. You’ll be surprised at the number of people who read the comments section. Those readers are always potential followers.
5. Join the many Medium publications.
The easiest way to gain followers is again, exposure: getting your name and articles out there in more than one way.
Medium has many publications that offer you an opportunity to write about a specific subject, submit articles in a genre of writing, and obtain some free editing advice. Working towards acquiring passive followers, joining a Medium publication is the way to go.
5. Find publications and writers who advertise writing prompts.
I have always felt that writing prompts are very similar to improv acting. The impromptu response to any given subject is what I am referring to when I make the comparison. You are given a subject, then you are given the opportunity to create the fantasy for your readers.
Medium is a great platform for increasing your writing skills, networking with other writers, and growing followers. Utilize the tools, workshops, and publications Medium has to offer.
Do not rest on 100 followers and think you have it made, because you don’t. Strive for 200 next month, then 300 the month afterward. Develop S.M.A.R.T. goals if you want your writing to be successful and profitable on this platform.
Good luck and much success to you all!