Six Unexpected Benefits of Writing Short-Form Posts
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Don’t be misled into thinking that longer content is inherently superior. The platform is saturated with lengthy posts that often contain unnecessary filler.
Instead of a concise piece of 150 words or fewer, many articles stretch to 1,500 words or more.
My advice:
Keep your posts concise and engaging, rather than lengthy and tedious!
The essence of good writing lies in clarity, not length. A short post can convey a message just as effectively as a lengthy one. Once you grasp this fundamental principle of online writing, you'll appreciate its advantages.
What Constitutes a Short-Form Post?
When aspiring writers inquire about my daily productivity as a working mother, I share this crucial tip:
Focus on writing short-form content instead of long articles!
New writers often wonder what exactly defines a short-form piece.
The Impact of Short-Form Posts
In late 2020, Medium introduced the concept of short-form articles.
The appeal of writing in this format is its alignment with the brief attention spans prevalent among today's readers.
Consider platforms like Instagram, where users swiftly scroll through images.
- Medium’s short-form articles are capped at 150 words, taking roughly one minute to read.
- They deliver impactful snippets of information.
- Any piece of 150 words or fewer is automatically categorized as short-form.
- It's important to note: Short-form posts do not qualify for further distribution.
Short-Form Posts Can Achieve Virality Without Curation
Don’t let anyone convince you that only long articles can gain viral traction through Medium's promotional avenues.
There's clear evidence that you can generate revenue through short-form writing without relying on curation.
In a span of 10 months, I authored approximately 200 short-form pieces on Medium, with an average earning of $3 to $5 per post.
Here are two viral examples that challenge the notion that longer content is always superior:
Example #1 — $22
This viral article about bots on Medium garnered 1.1K views, earning $22.
Example #2 — $45
My viral one-minute post attracted 2K views and generated $45.
I also have a successful long-form article that earned around $40 for a 4-minute read with 620 views.
Pro tip: If you have a long article, consider transforming it into a short post and link it at the end for readers.
Six Compelling Reasons Why Short-Form Writing is Ideal for Beginners
- Revitalize your long-form content.
- Cultivate a consistent posting routine.
- Maintain a regular writing practice.
- Attract new readers.
- Experiment with various topics and headlines.
- Set achievable goals.
How to Craft an Effective Short-Form Post
Based on my experience writing 200 short pieces in 10 months, dedicating at least 30 minutes to create a 150-word post will yield positive results!
My Proven 6-Step Writing Process:
- Focus on a single idea.
- Select a headline and subheadline that are irresistible to readers.
- Include a compelling image with proper attribution.
- Keep your writing concise and engaging.
- Link to your long-form article and/or incorporate a call-to-action (CTA) to gain subscribers or members.
- Review and edit your short-form article, tagging it with #Short Story—avoid using #Short Form. Only this tag qualifies for Top Writer status.
Great! Now, Start Writing!
Key Takeaways
Let’s keep this brief.
Returning to my original advice:
Keep your posts concise and engaging!
Dare to write short-form pieces of around 150 words.
P.S. A short-form post can be just as impactful as a longer one. Once you grasp this simple guideline of online writing, you’ll find its application exhilarating. Edina Abena Jackson is aiming for 400 short-form articles this month. Quite the ambitious challenge, isn’t it?
© Kristina God