Summary

The web content emphasizes the importance of authentic communication on Medium for writers to build a personal brand and connect with their audience on a deeper level.

Abstract

The article "Why Authentic Communication Matters on Medium" delves into the significance of establishing a personal brand and a one-person business mindset for writers on the platform. It argues that beyond content creation, writers should focus on authentic communication to build trust, stand out, and attract a loyal readership. The author suggests that a writer's unique voice, life experiences, and values are crucial elements of their brand, which should be shared openly to create genuine connections with readers. The article also criticizes the narrow view of branding as mere aesthetics and advocates for a holistic approach that encompasses the writer's personality and beliefs. By doing so, writers can rise above the noise, foster deep relationships, and become memorable figures in the Medium community.

Opinions

Authentic communication is key to enduring as a writer on Medium, requiring writers to test, redefine, manage, and expand their brand in line with the platform's evolution.
Successful bloggers may advise narrowing down to a specific niche, but exceptional ones encourage embracing oneself as the niche and creating a brand around it.
A writer's brand should reflect their voice, experiences, values, and personal story, which are as important as the content they produce.
Authenticity in branding goes beyond visual elements like colors and fonts; it's about presenting oneself as a relatable and trustworthy figure.
Communicating authentically helps elevate a writer's message, fosters real connections, makes them stand out, attracts a dedicated audience, and positions them as a positive influence in a world filled with negativity.
The author draws inspiration from individuals like Dan Koe and Jenna Kut

Why Authentic Communication Matters on Medium

How to think like you’re a brand or one-person business as a writer

On one of the rare occasions, I wore a dress (my own image)

Your brand is your public identity, what you’re trusted for. And for your brand to endure, it has to be tested, redefined, managed and expanded as Medium evolves. Brands (or writers) either learn or disappear. — Lisa Gansky

I encourage you to think beyond your stories, whether you’re a new or seasoned Mediumite — communicating authentically on Medium matters.

Real Talk Time: It’s easy to focus solely on content creation and posting a story daily (I do it too).

But if you’re like me, you want to grow on Medium and stick around.

The reality is there’s more to blogging than meets the eye.

Successful bloggers tell you to niche down. Exceptional bloggers have a different perspective & encourage you to accept the following principles…

✅ You’re the niche

✅ You need to create a brand and/or one-person business

✅ You need to build trust by communicating authentically

There is more to branding than the stories you write

Your voice matters.

Your life experience matters.

Your values, memories and lifestyle matter.

Your pain points and how you solved them matter (sharing your solution is a gift to your readers — also called value).

Your niche matters if you have one, but the trick is creating content around it to diversify what you talk about to appeal to a larger audience.

*Here’s an example of how I communicate my values on one of my websites (own image)*

Your readers want to know the real you

You have a story to tell.

Readers want to know the person behind your words — they want to know what you’re known for and your opinion on the state of the world.

Life can be messy, and most people can relate to the time you lost your temper with your husband or got bullied at work.

Get out of your comfort zone and share what makes you unique as a person (it’s scary to put yourself out there, but it builds trust and relatability).

People want to connect with you, not just your essays, blogs or stories.

Your brand is so much more than colours and fonts

Many people, including experts, limit branding to colours, fonts, digital assets, do’s and don’ts, strict style guides and tone of voice manuals.

This approach works, and it can be profitable. However, I encourage you to view yourself as a one-person business on Medium (you don’t need to sell a product).

You are the brand. You are the niche. Don’t become so focused on producing content to please the algorithm or your readers that you forget to focus on yourself.

Your readers want to hear your voice — it’s how you build trust and attract the people on your special frequency.

What do I mean by this? Think of yourself as a radio — your readers will either tune into your message or not (that’s okay). People on your wavelength will find you.

5 reasons why communicating authentically matters

Elevates you: It helps your message rise above the noise — when your voice shines through, your content will be memorable.

Connects you: Build trust and make your readers feel something; when you move beyond trustworthy into a deeper, more human connection, real friendships and loyalty blossom.

Makes you stand out: Elevating your message and connecting with your readers makes you memorable, different, and someone to follow.

Attracts a dream audience: Focus on attracting loyal followers who will actually read and interact with you and your content.

Become a beacon of light: Your frequency matters! In a world of confusion and hate, be an honest voice reminding humanity we’re all human and make mistakes (and we’re more alike than different).

So tell me, are you using your voice to show the real you — messy middle and all?

Inspiration for this story: Dan Koe & Jenna Kutcher both started as a one-person business. Diligent Dan has solidified my mindset and determination, but gentle Jenna reminds me to stay true to my frequency while blogging.