Maximizing Your Medium Experience: Mistakes to Avoid
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Chapter 1: My Medium Journey
Having spent over six years on Medium, I initially approached writing sporadically, resulting in limited engagement and a follower count stuck below 100. However, a shift in my mindset and operational approach led to more fruitful outcomes. Here’s a breakdown of what strategies failed to yield results for me…
Section 1.1: Key Mistakes to Avoid on Medium
If you aim to thrive on Medium—whether it’s to earn from the Medium Partner Program, engage with a community, or drive traffic to your own platforms—make sure to steer clear of the following missteps:
Taking Extended Breaks
While taking time off isn’t inherently negative, prolonged absences can make it feel like you’re starting from scratch upon your return. I’ve experienced this firsthand; after a hiatus, I felt as if I had to rebuild my presence. A more effective strategy is to have a backlog of articles ready to publish, allowing for activity on the platform even during breaks.
Neglecting Engagement
Interaction is crucial. Engaging with comments on your articles and participating in discussions can significantly impact your traffic and earnings. I noticed a sharp decline in both when I unintentionally reduced my engagement. Writers often create exceptional content but miss out on deserved recognition due to lack of interaction. Aim to respond to all comments, read others’ stories, and pose questions to encourage audience reactions.
Limiting Yourself to Medium
The most successful Medium authors often diversify their presence across other platforms like Twitter, TikTok, or YouTube. While it’s important not to spread yourself too thin, extending your reach to at least one additional platform can be beneficial for driving traffic to your Medium articles.
Relying Solely on the Medium Partner Program (MPP)
MPP can be unpredictable. Changes in the program can either negatively impact your income or dramatically increase it. To enhance your chances of earning, consider diversifying your income streams. Personally, I engage in freelance writing, affiliate marketing, and create digital products.
Failing to Promote Your Medium Articles
I sometimes struggle with promoting my own content. However, platforms like Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, and email marketing can facilitate easy promotion of your Medium stories. Just share your work and observe the response.
TL;DR
The main errors I’ve encountered on Medium over the past six years include: taking extended breaks, failing to engage with others, limiting my presence to Medium alone, relying exclusively on MPP, and neglecting to promote my articles.
What mistakes have you made, and what insights have you gained? If you’re interested in monetizing your passion or exploring a side hustle, be sure to check out my ebooks on Gumroad!
The first video titled "Here's the Truth About Writing on Medium…" delves into the realities of writing on this platform, discussing common misconceptions and providing practical advice for aspiring Medium writers.
The second video titled "Medium doesn't pay Indian writers. Here's why you should still write on Medium." explores the challenges faced by Indian writers on the platform while also emphasizing the potential benefits of continuing to contribute to Medium.