What I Learned as a Boost Nominator in the Last 90 Days
Part of being a writer these days means adapting to platforms as they shift, change, and maybe even die.
Sometimes that means understanding how algorithms manipulate distribution … and sometimes that means understand how humans manipulate distribution.
Because let’s be honest, unless you have your own subscriber list, you have little control over who sees your stuff … (and even then you are not in total control).
Today, I’d like to share my experiences and insights from being a boost nominator for Medium’s article boosting program, where I’ve had the distinct pleasure of helping fellow educators gain more visibility for their incredible work.
(Sometimes I feel like Santa Claus … when everything works right!)
As many of you know, Medium is currently beta testing a novel program aimed at amplifying diverse voices and supporting more writers. The rationale is straightforward: algorithms alone cannot capture the richness of our collective creativity.
This is where EduCreate steps in.
We’ve been chosen among over a hundred publications to champion the writings of educators on Medium, a testament to our commitment to nurturing teacher and student writings.
In a nutshell, editors like myself suggest articles to Medium’s boosters, who then decide whether to boost it or not. We get 20 tries every month.
(And in case you are wondering, we can’t just boost our own articles 20 times 😆)
Boosting is an art, not a science.
The boosting process is unpredictable at its heart. There have been instances where articles I was confident would be boosted weren’t, leaving me puzzled. On the flip side, some pieces I had doubts about ended up being selected, much to my surprise.
This unpredictability can be disheartening, especially when you’re deeply invested in amplifying educator voices and sharing valuable insights with a broader audience.
What compounds this challenge is the subjective nature of the boosting process. Despite my best efforts to discern patterns or criteria that might predict an article’s success, the reality is that there’s no foolproof formula.
What appeals to one person might not appeal to another.
So, yeah, it can be as unpredictable as an algorithm but in different ways. I think Medium’s goal is to leverage both together as complementary forces.
Keep in mind that an average 50% of nominations are actually boosted. My rate is probably around 80% … but it is very uneven. I had one month where nearly every nomination was boosted and another month, not so much.
(My co-editor Alex Baidun has called a few … and he is at 100%!)
So keep in mind, not being boosted doesn’t mean your writing is not good (and probably vice versa). If a nomination doesn’t go through the first time, we just keep trying.
It will happen.
The “Not-So-Secret” Ingredients for a Boost-Worthy Article
While there’s no formula for guaranteed success, here are some pointers that can enhance your chances:
- Be Human-Centered: Infuse your articles with personal stories, unique perspectives, and research. Your human touch is what makes your content stand out.
- Length Matters: Aim for over a 5-minute read. Shorter pieces often miss out on depth and human elements.
- Bite-Sized Paragraphs: Medium readers prefer digestible content. Avoid long, dense paragraphs.
- Cite Your Sources: Linking to credible sources not only backs up your claims but also builds trust with your readers.
- Image Captions and Rights: Use captions for your images and ensure you have the rights to use them. AI-generated or Creative Commons images are good choices.
- Featured Image: A must-have for Medium articles, serving as a visual hook in the feed.
- Effective Headings: Use proper heading styles, not just bold text. It aligns with Medium’s style and looks more professional.
- Craft Your Titles Wisely: Avoid clickbait. Your title should clearly communicate the article’s value and target audience.
Think of boost-worthy articles as a blend of a magazine and a blog.
Journalism, personal blogs, and how-tos are all acceptable on Medium … but not necessarily boostable. They have to have a personal element, either experience, narrative, or expertise.
Most of the boosted articles I see are a blend. Informative and valuable like a magazine feature, but personal and human like a blog. The challenge is to intertwine these elements seamlessly, producing content that’s both informative and personal, appealing to Medium’s varied readership.
For example, a boosted article might begin with a personal anecdote or experience, akin to what you’d find in a blog, engaging the reader with its relatable tone. This could be followed by in-depth research or analysis, similar to a magazine feature, providing the reader with valuable insights and well-researched information.
Another example could be a how-to guide that starts with a personal story of how the author encountered a particular problem or situation, lending a human touch. This would then transition into a step-by-step guide or tutorial, delivering the informative content in an easy-to-digest format that mirrors magazine journalism.
By intertwining these elements in a balanced and seamless manner, writers can create content that truly resonates with readers, enhancing both the personal connection and the value of the information shared.
This maybe sounds easy at first, but it can be quite difficult.
That’s why EduCreate isn’t just nominating the best stories, but helping writers get better at writing boostable stories.
Because, guess what? Boostable stories are readable stories, regardless of whether they are boosted or not.
Join our community!
To this end, I’ve been developing a free community to help educators and students write better for medium. We are in the beta version right now, but if that sounds interesting to you, come check us out.
In The Creator Classroom, we’re not just focusing on writing; we’re building a supportive network where educators can collaborate, share experiences, and grow together.
Whether you’re looking to refine your narrative style, understand the nuances of engaging content, or simply seeking guidance on how to make your articles stand out, our community is here to assist.
We believe that your voice is essential, and through our collective efforts, we can amplify it to reach wider audiences.
➡️ Join The Creator Classroom Today and Elevate Your Writing Journey
Your voice matters. Let’s make it heard.
