Why You Should Write for Smaller Publications

9 reasons going small might be the new big

You might get more bang for the buck with smaller publications.

Wait, what? You likely thought that it was the big publications that got you exposure, reads, curation, and fame but I’ve not found that to be true in my own experience. While some of my articles have done well on the bigger publications like P.S. I Love You, the Ascent, and The Writing Cooperative, I’ve found that a majority of my articles have done well on smaller Medium publications.

My articles have done as well or better on smaller publications like Change Becomes You (3000 followers), The Haven (9000 followers), Be Unique (3600 followers) and The Honest Creative (1300 followers). I don’t see their smaller followings as a hindrance and in fact, see the many benefits of publications with smaller followings. I’ve included 9 reasons below for you to consider publishing in smaller publications.

Instead of constantly pitching the big publications and dealing with the bureaucracy and selectivity of the bigger publications, here are some reasons that small is the new big when it comes to Medium publications. I’ve only had a positive experience with smaller publications and I want to share my publishing observations with you.

9 Reasons You Should Write for Smaller Publications

Smaller publications put you on the front page longer

This is an interesting phenomenon that I’ve found with smaller publications. Readers are constantly visiting the pages of publications and on the front page are new stories. If you visit a big publication, your story is likely to be there on the front page or the Latest Post section for a few minutes to a few hours. With the smaller publications, I find that my stories stay there for days or weeks. If a popular story, it stays on the front page of the smaller publication for months. Each time a reader shows up to the smaller publication, they see my story.

Smaller publications promote you more

I’ve found that it’s the smaller publications that make an effort to try to promote your writing more. I’ve noticed that smaller publications share your posts on Facebook, tweet out your posts, and share it in their newsletter. I’ve noticed smaller publications do things like round-up posts where they include your article along with other articles from that publication. Some publications do weekly or monthly posts with all their stories in them.

Smaller publications have more loyal readers.

It seems like readers of smaller publications are more loyal to those publications and keep going back to them. The smaller the publication, the more narrow the topic. Readers know exactly what they’re getting when they go to the small publications and are more likely to return to them because of those topics. Even as a reader, you’re less likely to get lost with a smaller publication. I, for one, prefer the smaller publications as a reader because it doesn’t overwhelm with hundreds of stories a day.

Smaller publications have a niche audience.

As I mentioned above, the smaller the publication, the smaller the number of topics which creates a niche audience. A niche audience is more connected to these tinier publications who can more easily find the topics they’re searching for. A niche means a smaller group of more interested readers who are searching for more posts on that specific topic. A niche can create a loyal and dedicated following who will keep coming back for more.

Smaller publications net more comments

Proportionally, I’m certain that smaller publications get more comments than their bigger counterparts. I, for example, am more likely to leave a comment on a small publication because my voice is unique and one of the few. In a large publication, your comment will be diminished in importance. The author might not even see it and others have likely already said what you wanted to. If you want your comment to stand out, a small publication is the place to leave it. More readers are thus likely to leave a comment on your stories which appear on smaller publications.

Smaller publications are like independent movies

Many people like the big blockbuster movies that are popular with a famous cast and crew. Yet there are people around the world who prefer the smaller, more interesting independent movies. They are not as polished, don’t have as many famous people in it, and have more interesting story lines. Indie films take more risks, are willing to try new things, and are not constrained by tradition or what the industry standard is. The smaller publications are the independent movies of Medium. Expect something different and more interesting when it comes to smaller publications and their stories.

Smaller publications publish your posts faster

You may not appreciate this unless of course, you’re a writer on the platform. The big publications are out to lunch while the smaller publications publish on the very same day. As a writer, you can truly appreciate your post being published soon after it’s written. I would prefer the certainty and timeliness of a small publication’s publishing schedule than the uncertainty and delay of the large publication. Some of the big pubs don’t even give you the courtesy of telling you that they’ve not chosen your piece so you might end up waiting for days or weeks and never get a response from them.

Smaller publications reject newer writers less

As a newer writer, you have limited choices when it comes to publishing. You can either publish without a publication, for your own publication or another publication. You’ll find what most of us find when we pitch the bigger publications: the big publications reject a lot more articles than they accept. Smaller publications by their nature are willing to accept more of your posts because they are looking for content for their publication. Publishing on a smaller publication that has a following is better than self-publishing without a publication.

Smaller publications give a damn

I know bigger publications give a damn too but smaller publications really give a damn. Smaller publications try to help you and help themselves. Smaller publications actually care about getting more readers, more writers, more traffic, and more success.

The big-name publications really could care less about newer writers. They only seem to care about their audience and what’s a good fit for them which makes sense for them.

Smaller publications are willing to take more of a risk on you. They know that you’re not established and they also know that they are less established so they are willing to give you a chance.

They know that your success is their success so they put in more effort to help you succeed. They respond quicker, help more with editing, and are more willing to publish your work.

Small publication owners also incidentally tend to be nicer, kinder, and more responsive. They don’t walk around these parts like they are the editor for Vogue or GQ!

There may be a time and place to upgrade to the bigger publications but there’s absolutely nothing wrong with the smaller publications on Medium. They give you the exposure you need along with the timeliness and responsiveness of publishing your posts.

I’ve had just as much success on smaller publications as I’ve had on bigger one. Since timeliness and responsiveness matter to me, I’m going to keep reaching out to them and sending them my work. For me, small publications are the new big.

Have you found success with smaller publications? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

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