STATS AND EARNINGS

Thank You Friends of Medium for the Non-Monetary BENEFITS!

Do you think that earning more is the only advantage you get?

I have something to tell the Medium community, about the Friends of Medium (FOM) benefit to me personally.

👉 This particular benefit has nothing to do with stats and earnings, so listen up — those of you who think all us “friends” are just too mercenary, with no regard for anything but profit 💰💰💰.

What I really want to say in this post, is that I’m truly grateful for FOM, and how it helped me recently.

So far, this has been a topic that the entire community has had something to say about, good, bad, or ugly.

I’ve written a number of stories on the topic myself, not to mention all the ones I’ve read from other members, including the ridiculously funny story by Michael Burg, MD (Satire Sommelier) 😬; one that other writers have probably started helping to circulate like a bad chain letter that you just can’t resist passing on.

Like I said, I’ve plainly stated my views on the whole FOM situation, and I’m clearly in favor of it.

I’ve been very transparent about how I instantly recognized it as a smart way to increase earnings, even when I knew it wasn’t created to focus on benefiting the member who upgrades.

Did I see a potential for improving my own stats, besides benefiting others? I sure did.

Sorry — but yes — I can walk and chew gum at the same time…

I saw an opportunity to earn more money and if you care to hear more about that, feel free to read the related stories cited below.

But for now, just know that:

• Yes — I’m focused on increasing my earnings, via the FOM opportunity
• Yes — I continue to support other members who are non-Fom writers
• Yes — Being a FOM is like a target on your back, that I don’t mind wearing
• Yes — More followers are reading my stories and I’m earning much more money since joining
• Yes — I read more and understand the significance it has on earning more

All of the above is what I have come to know and accept about this latest installation on Medium.

But even to my own surprise, I discovered something that I didn’t think I’d experience…

Earning more money is just one of the rewards

Previously (as in pre-FOM), I honestly never had as much incentive to read as I do now.

Seeing your stats suddenly soar like I’ve seen, after some rather engaging reading sessions is addicting.

I’m hyped up by the earnings, the stats in general, the potential and possibility…

It’s all exciting to me.

Should I lie about it, and pretend that I was an avid reader on Medium?

No. That’s not my style.

I’ve never had a problem stating that I’m a writer.

1. I’m not one of those writers who question whether they’re a writer.
2. I’m not one of those writers who wonder if they’re a good writer.
3. I’m not one of those writers who pretends they adore reading as much as they love writing.

None of the above apply to me.

I am a writer and I have been for over two decades, and in that time, I’ve grown and developed into a good writer, but as much as I enjoy reading, I’ve never been an avid reader, and I don’t enjoy reading as much or more than writing.

With that said, I must admit, having the added incentive to read more and write less, has given me an added benefit:

I’m finding myself bonding with members in a more fluid way.

Let me explain what I mean…

Reading and connecting on a deeper level is possible

Thanks to the FOM, I’m really starting to see how reading and connecting with the community on a deeper level is possible.

It feels good, showing up more frequently on a writer’s stories, as a way to trigger their increased earnings.

It’s more advantageous for everyone concerned, when I purposefully look for multiple groups of writers during the course of a day, to read and enjoy more stories on their profiles.

Why?

For one thing, because doing this has allowed me to try and help make a significant impact on those writers’ stories.

Helping writers receive the full benefits when a FOM reads their stories means:

• Forgetting about the 30 second rule, and reading the entire story
• Engaging with the story in a genuine way (You know the usual: Claps, highlight, respond)
• Remembering to follow the writer, if you don’t already do so
• Returning to read (no less than two stories) since you need to be an existing follower and not just a new follower

But also, the added time spent actually dialoging back and forth in the comments; it brings you closer into each writer’s world, and let’s them a bit closer into yours.

You even connect better with the words they write, and understand them a bit deeper, and not simply as content.

Reading more than one or two stories helps to shed more light and often provides a helpful backstory into something recently published.

This is true, even if the writer doesn’t mention or readily provide details or context about an earlier story.

I can’t speak for anyone else, but personally, I credit the added incentive I get from FOM, for helping me carve out time to engage in quality reading sessions, which ultimately bring me closer to Medium writers.

Final Thoughts

Let me state for the record, I’m in no way trying to imply that this latest prodigy of Medium is perfect, or foolproof, or even that it will be around for that long.

On Medium, anything’s possible. I’m not even sure how long I’ll continue to feel like I’m actually benefiting in a monetary way.

The algorithm may do some stupid crap, and once again, I’m bitching about my stats.

But one thing is for sure, and that’s: In 2024, I’m making much more solid connections on Medium than ever before.

As a result, I’m even thinking seriously about talking to some folks about collaborations.

We’ll see what the future brings.

Initially, I told myself that I had written all I planned to say about my views on the FOM.

Not including the story you’re currently reading, my list already contains a whopping 16 related FOM stories that I previously shared.

In spite of that fact, try as I might, I just couldn’t help but share this story also.

I was motivated and inspired because of the terrible, nerve-wracking way that my day started off this morning.

I woke up to a big problem with my sister, as it relates to her current health, future health, and pending place of residence.

I ended up so upset, frustrated, and enraged, that I needed a release, but I had no one to talk — or I guess I should say vent to.

So I did like any good Medium writer would do, I brought it to the community.

I have to say, after writing that story, I felt so much better, and happy to know that at least some of my readers would be there to provide me the encouragement I needed, to deal with the situation at hand.

After publishing the story, then returning to real life to do what I could, my day was finally freed up from personal activities; only to leave my mind idle and free to stress and worry over matters that were out of my control.

So what did I do to help the situation, I turned to Medium again — my friends — both FOM and non-FOM.

I read and I consumed what was going on with others; experiencing their joys and pains and discovering their coping mechanisms that they’re all too willing to share.

I read, connected, and bonded, and it was exactly what I needed.

Did it help that I earned a tidy little $19 for the day, as a result of my reading.

Sure. It was like the chocolate cupcake that really didn’t need the sprinkles…

But it was still nice to see them there.

Yep. That’s a non-monetary benefit of FOM, and I’ll take it any day 😄.

Thanks for reading…

NEW FIVERR GIGS CREATED IN 2024!

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