Don’t Write For Medium, Write For The Readers

Tips for Writing Sellable Articles On Medium

It’s no secret that publishing on a highly-competitive platform like Medium has its share of challenges

Those who write on Medium are generally considered to be the best of the best; they’re talented and resourceful, and they can see where their content will fit with Medium’s readership. For those who write on Medium but don’t know how to sell it.

I write in the hopes that someone, somewhere will see what I’m writing and find it worth their time. — J.D Rehbein-Wrightstein

There are many reasons why optimizing your posts on Medium is essential. But, in almost all cases, it has nothing to do with optimizing for Medium’s platform. You are not trying to rank well with Medium’s algorithms; you’re trying to rank well with your readers.

Here are some tips on how you can make your article as appealing as possible!

I’m going to be blunt; you can’t write articles that won’t sell. It doesn’t matter how wonderful your work is, people will always only read the ones they find engaging. But don’t fret! I have a few tips to help get your content in front of more eyes.

It’s not easy being a writer these days. The market is flooded with professionals and amateurs alike, all vying for attention from potential readers. People will often give your work a chance, but if they don’t find it engaging they’ll move on to the next blog post.

The trick to making your content more engaging is simple; make it interesting. Make it fun, memorable, and interesting. Lots of articles end up being caught in a never-ending cycle of meh and forgettable. The only way to break free is to take a look at what makes other pieces of content so engaging.

Here are six tips for writing sellable articles on medium;

1) Write Unlike Anything Else

Just write. Think of a story you’d like to share with the world, but don’t be afraid to deviate from the norm. Nobody wants to hear another basic story about how you started your business or met someone special. Use your imagination and paint a picture in words. Give your readers an experience.

• Tell it Through the Eyes of Your Character. One of the best ways to deliver a good narrative is to tell a story from different perspectives. We already know what you’d do if you ran into a bear on a run, but how would your friend see the situation? How would the person who found you in that situation react? What about the bear? The possibilities are pretty much endless and will make for a much more interesting read than just one person’s perspective.

2) Don’t Be Afraid To Take Risks. Make Things Interesting

Try to use different techniques when telling a story. Don’t write a straight narrative — mix it up! Why not make an interesting chart or graph instead? Use images where applicable to drive your points home even more effectively.

Another fun way to make the content interesting is by using humor. It’s a proven fact that people will read anything if it’s funny, so don’t hold back!

• Use Visuals to Enhance Your Point. People love visuals. They capture your attention and explain concepts better than words ever could. When writing your article, think about how you can use images to get your point across even more effectively. Are you explaining a process? Try drawing a flowchart or diagram(s).

3) Create A Sense Of Urgency

One of the best ways to catch and keep your reader’s attention is to give them a sense of urgency. Don’t just tell them a story; make them feel like they have to read it right now. What if this was the only day they could read it? How would they feel? This sense of urgency is what will boost engagement in your stories, and get people to take action on the things you’re writing about.

• Make It Shareable. People Will Always Share Something They Like With Their Friends. If your content is great — it will be shared. Think about the articles you’ve read recently. Chances are that if you really liked the article, you ended up sharing it with someone else. Why is this? It’s simple: people like to feel heard and valued. If people feel like they have an impact on something, they’ll be more likely to share it with others because they feel like their voice matters.

4) Be Interesting

This tip is simple. It’s more effective to use interesting language than to use boring language — even if it is more creative. The key is to be creative with the way you present your ideas and thoughts. Give your readers something to think about, so they don’t just blindly follow along.

• Let Your Reader Interact With The Story. People love to feel like they’re in control. Allow them to choose how they follow the narrative and how they interact with it. Reading an article where you’re forced to scroll down just isn’t as engaging as one with a set order — make your readers feel like they’re in control at all times by giving them options on how to engage.

5) Use Generous Offerings To Drive Traffic And Engagement

You want people who are going to read your piece. Plain and simple. Many authors and bloggers do an excellent job at enticing people with a free gift. If you offer them something to read, they’ll be more inclined to give it a chance. A free gift is especially useful when you’re introducing new content to your readers.

• Give Them Something To Take Action On. People are far more likely to act when there’s something in it for them. Think about what you’d like to see out of an article, and give them that. It could be something as simple as a way to contact you or a discount code on your latest product.

6) Have A Unique Voice

This one can go either way; have your voice sound different or have it sound the same as other writers are using out there. The key is to keep it fresh and engaging. Don’t be afraid to include some of your own personal style and creativity. No one is going to judge you if they can tell you’re unique.

• Use Your Own Personality. Give your personality a chance to shine! Be yourself, and be authentic with the way you write. It doesn’t matter how many other writers or bloggers do it, if it’s something that uniquely suits you then don’t feel pressure to conform to a certain standard as it will only lead to bland content.

Summarize

If you want to get your content read and shared, the above tips will take you a long way. The key is to think about how you can make things interesting. Show your readers something they haven’t seen before. Use visuals to help convey your ideas, and try to tell them through the eyes of another character (or yourself). Make sure that you’re really giving your readers something they’ll want to share. Give them a sense of urgency so they’ll read the article right away, but also give them opportunities for interaction.

Finally, you should use generous offerings to drive traffic and engagement. You want people who are going to read your piece, so be sure to give them something to take action on. Don’t be afraid to include your own personal style and personality in the way you write. Anyone’s going to tell if you have a unique voice (if it fits yourself, that is).

Thank you for reading my article! Have you written an article that received a lot of attention? I’m sure you have a few things to say about it! I’d love to hear from you in the comments below. :)

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J.D Rehbein-Wrightstein founder of The Savytech articles is a writer who loves to help people discover their hidden potential as well as their true purpose in life. He inspires and educates people on living an awesome life with inspiring articles. Connect with him on Twitter for more!