Summary

The article emphasizes the importance of commenting on other writers' work on Medium to increase one's visibility and readership.

Abstract

The author of the article reflects on their journey on Medium, highlighting the significance of engagement through commenting to enhance the chances of an article being read. Despite initial discouragement from low readership, the author stresses that comments are more impactful than mere claps or highlights, as they foster a sense of community, respect, and reciprocity among writers. The article suggests that genuine interaction through commenting can lead to increased followers, subscribers, and a higher read count, illustrating the author's own success in growing their Medium presence from zero to over 2300 followers within a year.

Opinions

The author believes that reciprocity, while important, is secondary to the act of commenting as a strategy for gaining visibility on Medium.
Engaging with other writers' content by leaving meaningful comments is seen as a key method for getting one's own articles read.
The author values the mutual support system within the Medium community, where writers often reciprocate by reading and engaging with the content of those who comment on their work.
Genuine comments are considered crucial, as writers can usually tell if a reader has genuinely engaged with their content.
The author considers the act of commenting as the "king" of strategies to increase readership, suggesting it is the most effective approach.
Feedback and comments from readers are viewed as essential motivators for writers to continue creating content.
The article implies that the number of fans and the frequency of notifications about read counts are indicators of success and recognition on the platform.

Want To Triple Your Chances of Reads?

Let the King of reads show you how it’s done

Reciprocity may be the queen on Medium, but having the king on board will advance the chances of your article getting reads.

Whether writing is your profession, a side-hustle, hobby, or a burning desire to get your messages across; Writers share one common goal — we all want to be read.

This month marks one year since I wrote my first article on Medium.

Hitting published the first time was a courageous moment.

But if you think hitting publish is the scariest phase of your writing journey, hold your breath, getting your articles read, is your biggest hurdle.

When no one reads what you write, you're not only demotivated but you are overcome by embarrassment.

I remember trying to console myself — It's a learning experience. I'm not here for the money or to become popular. I just want to improve my writing, so it doesn't matter if anyone reads what I write.

I lied.

Like any other writer, I want to get my message across — I want to share my experiences with others and offer help and walk the journey with them so they know they're not alone. I want to be that mentor I wish I had in my earlier years when I needed guidance from a friend.

I am always clear about my reason and vision for writing and feel blessed to have found Medium to help me on this journey.

But how did I do it? — How did I get my messages to be read when I’m a nobody on Medium?

How did I stand out amongst thousands of excellent writers, some of whom are accomplished professionals who write much better than I do?

Reading time is how you earn on Medium. Having your articles read is how you grow your followers, subscribers and get highlights and claps.

It is the reader who gives a writer recognition — the barometer that measures your progress and success as a writer — Each one complements the other.

A reader’s feedback and comments are the inspiration writers need to keep their creative juices flowing. It keeps us motivated.

We feel satisfied and accomplished knowing our messages are connecting with our readers.

There is no denying it, being read on Medium is King

But how do you increase your chances of being read?

Meet the King — COMMENTING

When you comment on someone’s article, you triple your chances of being seen among the thousands of writers you're competing with on Medium.

It is your opportunity to be eyeballed by that writer and others who are interacting in that space.

It's your moment to turn up your light and shine brighter.

Of course, you must read the article to make a meaningful comment.

When you comment on a writer’s article; it shows respect, appreciation and it’s an indication the article resonates with you. It’s also a guarantee, nine out of ten times a writer will visit your homepage and reciprocate reading at least one of your articles — I usually do.

A writer depends on claps, highlights, and comments to evaluate how well their article is performing.

You might miss your opportunity to shine just by clapping and highlighting.

Give yourself that added chance by commenting.

Writers show appreciation by responding to comments and reciprocates reads.

That's how I grew my followers from 0 to over 2300 in almost a year on Medium.

My read count grew from one to over one hundred reads on most of my articles.

I frequently get notifications from Medium that I have 50 and 100 fans.

There is no doubt, there are other factors to consider when you make a comment. Being genuine is one important one.

Writers are readers too, they feel every word you write even if it's just a line. They usually can detect if you’ve really read them.

So, there you have it — — the golden rule is to read, highlight, and never forget the king's authority.

Always leave a comment to advance your chances of being read.