Summary

The author reflects on the valuable lessons learned during their first month on Medium, emphasizing the importance of quality content, self-promotion, consistency, leveraging publications, and patience for success.

Abstract

In the article "What I Learned From My First Month on Medium," the author shares insights gained from their initial experience on the platform. They outline the initial goals of sharing writing, earning money, and progressing towards full-time writing, all of which they achieved. The author stresses that while quality content is crucial, it is complemented by the need for active self-promotion and consistent posting to build a dedicated audience. Engaging with readers and networking with other writers are also highlighted as essential activities. The article underscores the significance of utilizing Medium's established publications to increase visibility and the importance of understanding that success in writing is a gradual process, not an immediate outcome.

Opinions

Quality content is necessary but insufficient on its own; active engagement with the community and self-promotion are equally important.
Self-promotion through social media, email lists, and other platforms is key to gaining visibility for one's writing.
Consistency in posting is crucial for developing a loyal readership, with a recommendation to post at least three times a week, if not daily.
Publications on Medium provide a valuable avenue for new writers to reach a wider audience.
Curation can extend the life and reach of articles, leading to sustained readership.
Success in writing, particularly financially, is not immediate and requires dedication, quality, and strategic promotion.
The path of writing is challenging and not a quick way to earn a living; it is best suited for those with a genuine passion for the craft.

What I Learned From My First Month on Medium

Everything you need to know to start making money today

Like most writers on Medium, I joined the platform to:

1. Share my writing with the world

2. Make some extra cash on the side

3. Move one step closer to becoming a full-time writer

Now, a little over a month into this journey, I have been fortunate enough to accomplish all three of these goals, as well as learn some valuable lessons along the way. The top five being:

Quality content is only half the battle

I know we’d like to think that all it takes to be a successful writer in today’s day and age is to create quality content… and then, the rest will kind of just fall into place. Unfortunately, however, quality content is only half the battle. Over the past month, I’ve only spent about half my time on Medium actually writing. The other half of my time has been spent interacting with readers and networking with other writers. As shocking as it might sound, these activities are what have been integral to my success over the past month. Sometimes, you just gotta play the game in order to succeed.

Self-Promotion is key

If you’re anything like me, then you’d prefer to let your writing do all of the talking. However, I learned rather quickly that if I just write an article and move on to my next piece, my work is never going to get seen. In order to truly get eyes on my writing, I’ve needed to be willing to self-promote. This means sharing my article links on all social media platforms, blasting each article out to my email list, posting my articles on Facebook pages, and everything in between.

You’re not Stephen King. Nobody is following your writing closely enough to know when you publish a new piece. You’ve got to be willing to talk about your writing and promote the hell out of every new piece you write.

Consistency is key

Naturally, humans are creatures of habit. We like structure and we crave routine. As a result, it is important that you post on a consistent basis. You need to be posting at least three times a week… and you should be striving to start posting every single day. If you can become a writer that your followers can count on to provide them with quality content every single day, then you will quickly create a loyal and dedicated following.

However, if posting seven times a week does not work with your schedule…no worries! Find a schedule that works for you and stick to it. If that means only posting once a week every Tuesday morning…fine! Just make sure you post every single Tuesday.

Publications and curation are everything early on

No writer is going to have a massive readership right off the bat…therefore it is all the more important (especially in your early days) to leverage the followings of some of the platform’s biggest publications: The Post-Grad Survival Guide, The Writing Cooperative, Illumination, etc.

By posting your articles in one of these publications, you will automatically get your writing in front of the eyes of thousands of people. At least for your first few months on Medium, this will be the best and most effective way to increase your following.

In addition to publications, curation can also be helpful in getting your articles seen. Curation will give your pieces legs and can help every curated piece continue to get seen weeks, and sometimes even months, after publication.

Success doesn’t come overnight

Perhaps the most important lesson I have learned over the past month is that it’s not realistic to make millions from your writing right away. Hell, it’s not even realistic to make enough to support yourself (at first, that is). However, if you’re willing to do the things mentioned above and your content is of the highest quality, I promise that you will eventually achieve some form of success. Your readership growth will not skyrocket overnight. Instead, it will gradually grow with each new article you post, and as a result, so too will your income.

If you’re getting into writing because you think it will be a quick and easy way to earn a living, I urge you to find a different path now, because writing will be anything but quick and easy. Plus, there are a million other ways in the world to make money much quicker and far easier than with writing. This career path is only meant for people who truly love the art. But, if you’re still reading this article, then I think it’s safe to assume that you are one of these people, and if so, I promise you that you can achieve your dream. You just need to get started. So…what are you waiting for?

Happy writing!