avatarKamal O. Touhami

Summary

The web content distinguishes between views and reads on Medium, emphasizing the importance of reader engagement and providing strategies for increasing both metrics.

Abstract

The article "Views Vs reads on Medium" by Kamal O. Touhami delves into the nuances between views and reads, two key performance indicators on the Medium platform. A view is registered when a reader clicks on an article, while a read is counted when the reader spends at least 30 seconds engaging with the content. Medium's algorithm prioritizes reads over views, reflecting a preference for quality content that captivates and retains reader attention. The author suggests aiming for a 70% read ratio to maximize article visibility and offers tips such as crafting compelling titles, selecting engaging images, using strategic tags, and writing captivating introductions to enhance engagement and increase views and reads.

Opinions

  • The author values genuine reader engagement over mere clicks, suggesting that reads are a better indicator of content quality.
  • Medium's focus on reads is seen as a way to foster an environment that rewards thought-provoking and engaging content.
  • The article encourages writers to concentrate on creating content that resonates with readers, ensuring they stay immersed and engaged.
  • The author believes that a combination of an enticing title, a compelling image, relevant tags, and a strong introduction is key to attracting and maintaining reader interest.
  • Kamal O. Touhami advocates for a strategic approach to writing on Medium, including aligning content with popular categories and trends to increase visibility.
  • The author expresses a commitment to community engagement by offering to read and comment on other writers' stories in exchange for their engagement with his content.
  • The piece encourages readers to interact with the content by clapping, highlighting, and commenting, as well as following the author's page and subscribing to the newsletter for ongoing updates.

Views Vs reads on Medium

✍ Kamal O. Touhami

Photo designed by Kamal O. Touhami
NOTE: 
I want to reward you, dear reader.
So, if you spent more than 40 seconds reading this story, please leave me a 
note with this text, "good stuff". I will then come to your page and read 
two of your stories and leave two comments (+bonus). Thank you for your 
encouragement and engagement, dear readers.

Views and reads are great kPI metrics that can allow you to shift your focus on stuff that work. The play a pivotal role in shaping your performance on Medium. While you might perceive them as similar, they actually represent distinct aspects of reader interaction on your stories on Medium.

views

A view occurs when someone clicks on your article. However, it doesn't necessarily guarantee that they've delved into your content. It could be a mere glance, a brief skim, or perhaps they didn't engage at all. A view marks the initiation of the reader's interaction with your piece.

Reads

On the flip side, "reads" hold more weight. When someone invests time in your article, reading it thoroughly, from start to finish, that's a read. Medium considers a read when your visiting reader spends plus 30 seconds browsing your article. This metric reflects genuine engagement – a reader absorbing your words, scrolling through your thoughts, and reaching the conclusion. In the Medium realm, a read is considered pure gold.

“… we count a read when someone views your story for 30 seconds or more–scrolling to the bottom of the story is no longer required.” help.medium.com

Medium calculates reads by evaluating the percentage of people who spent 30 seconds or more reading your story in relation to the total views. Why this specific time frame? It aligns with Medium's preference for readers over mere clickers. The platform values engagement and rewards writers who manage to captivate their audience until the last word.

This emphasis on reads over views transforms the game on Medium. It fosters an environment that prioritizes quality content over quantity. The platform encourages writers to craft thought-provoking stories that keep readers enthralled, cultivating a community that values depth and insight.

Think of reads as a form of quality control

Rather than focusing on drawing large crowds, Medium encourages writers to concentrate on maintaining audience engagement, ensuring that readers stay immersed in the content. This shift in focus is the secret ingredient to bringing your amazing stories in front of the right Medium crowd.

So, the key is to craft words that stick, create content that resonates, and most importantly, keep them reading. That's the pathway to growth as a writer within the Medium community.

How to get more views

If you're looking to boost your views on Medium, many top Medium writers suggest that you need to aim for a 70% read ratio as the optimal strategy to showcase your article to a wider audience. To achieve this, there are a few key elements you need to nail down.

Story title

One important bit you need to keep in mind is that Medium works as a newsfeed, and your article won't capture attention unless your title is genuinely enticing, so that somewhere down the road, it could get on Medium algorithm’s radar. To enhance your title-writing skills, take a look at the currently popular content on Medium and model your headlines after them. Learning from what works can significantly improve the performance of your story title.

Story image

Selecting the right image plays a crucial role in driving more views on Medium. Many writers opt for platforms like Unsplash, freepik or Pexels to source fitting visuals for their articles. For instance, featuring a picture of an appealing person or animal tends to attract more viewers to your story, adding an extra layer of engagement to your content.

Story tags

Story tags on Medium are crucial because they act like magnets, pulling in not just more readers but the right ones. They’re like a roadmap, guiding people interested in specific topics straight to your story. It’s how you shout, “Hey, this is for you!” amidst the online noise. Tags help your story surface when readers search for something specific, making it a powerful tool to connect with your ideal audience in the vast sea of content on Medium.

Story engagement

Aiming for that 70% read ratio is not just about getting eyes on your article but keeping them engaged. So, focus on crafting really captivating story titles, selecting compelling story images, and creating content that entices readers to stay and explore. These elements combined will pave the way for increased views and enhanced visibility on the Medium platform.

Story introduction

Just getting someone to click on your Medium article doesn’t mean they’ll actually read it. To amp up your reads, it’s super important to create a short and interesting intro. Skip the long explanations and get right to the heart of your story. Start with an exciting tale and show you know your stuff. A good intro sets the vibe, making readers want to dive deeper into what you’ve got to say.

Story growth momentum

Alright, let’s talk about getting better as a writer on Medium. To do that, you’ve got to write about things that people on Medium really care about. There are nine big categories, like Life, Self-improvement, Work, Technology, and more. Each of these has lots of smaller categories inside. So, it’s like a big tree with many branches, and you want your writing to fit right into one of those branches to grab the right people’s attention.

Hi! My name is Kemal, and I hope you enjoyed reading this piece. If you did, then clap and highlight the parts that resonated with you the most. Share with us your thoughts in the comment section below. I can’t wait to discuss your views and exchange ideas. Maybe we’ll learn something from each other.

Follow my page and subscribe to the Newsletter 📰 to be notified every time I put out awesome content like this one above. Thank you, dear Champ!🤓

Writing
Self Improvement
Reading
Technology
Money
Recommended from ReadMedium