The Importance of Audience Engagement

If you're using Medium as a source of income, maximizing your audience is crucial. Here are five strategies to achieve this:

1. Cultivate your reputation and follower base over time.
2. Gain visibility through established Publications with existing followers.
3. Create content that has the potential to go viral, attracting both internal and external attention.
4. Capture the interest of a Curator who can promote your work on key pages and newsletters.
5. Utilize unconventional methods to influence others (though we can dismiss this as unrealistic).

We’ll focus on the first three strategies: Building Reputation, Leveraging Publications, and Emphasizing Curation.

Building Your Reputation

This first strategy is straightforward and something every writer is actively doing. The cycle is simple:

• More content produced leads to higher visibility.
• Increased visibility results in more readers.
• More readers translate to more followers.
• A larger follower count enhances visibility further.

While it may take time, this process is effective.

The Role of Publications

This article is published in Illumination, a collaborative platform designed to foster community and share quality ideas. By encouraging high standards, Publications can attract an audience that values quality content.

Getting published in a reputable Publication doesn’t guarantee success, but it does enhance your credibility and visibility:

• It introduces your work to a broader audience.
• Readers associate your work with a certain level of quality.

The Power of Curation

Curation is often viewed as the ultimate goal for writers on Medium, as it can dramatically increase your story's visibility. Some writers worry about being penalized for controversial content, but I believe that quality work will still receive attention regardless of its nature.

Medium is actively seeking compelling stories, especially those that resonate with current events, such as the pandemic.

Understanding the Curation Process

According to Medium's guidelines, the curation process blends artificial intelligence and human oversight. With a vast number of articles published daily, it’s impractical for a human team to read everything. Instead, algorithms initially filter submissions based on keywords and relevance, ensuring that popular topics are prioritized.

For instance, during the pandemic, keywords like "coronavirus" and "social distancing" became increasingly important.

The algorithm assesses various elements of your story, including:

• Tag accuracy
• Headline effectiveness
• Spelling and grammar
• Content type (fact or fiction)
• Emotional authenticity

This assessment generates a score that determines whether your work warrants further review by a human curator.

What Do Curators Seek?

While the exact criteria remain undisclosed, observing featured content on Medium provides valuable insights. Curators prioritize engaging, high-quality stories that captivate readers. Currently, topics related to COVID-19 dominate the Featured Stories list.

From the top 260 stories on April 13, 2020, a staggering 223 were related to the pandemic.

Relevance to Your Writing

Regardless of your niche—be it business, technology, or literature—writing for your audience is essential. Medium readers can be classified as either subscribers seeking stories or staff looking for content to share. Both groups deserve quality writing.

Delivering on Promises

Your headline must immediately capture attention. Make it distinct and straightforward to entice readers to delve deeper into your article.

Do You Need a Publication?

While it's not strictly necessary to be part of a Publication, it can greatly enhance your visibility and credibility. Most curated stories originate from established Publications rather than individual accounts.

The Impact of Length

The good news is that the length of your article is not a decisive factor for success. Focus on serving the story rather than adhering to a specific word count. The average reading time for stories varies, with an average of 6.1 minutes.

Tapping into Current Trends

To attract readers, your content must be relevant. Create pieces that either capitalize on current trends or remain perpetually engaging. Topical articles should connect to ongoing conversations, while evergreen pieces offer lasting relevance.

The Financial Aspect of Curation

Medium allows non-subscribers to access curated articles, raising questions about compensation for writers. However, those in the Partner Program will still receive payment for their work, as internal views are counted in their statistics.

Distribution Challenges

Curation also leads to distribution through personalized emails, which may not always feature your work. Your visibility in emails can vary based on individual reading habits.

Will This Article Be Curated?

Unfortunately, this article is unlikely to be curated due to its subject matter about Medium itself. However, I hope it provides valuable insights for those aspiring to achieve curation.

Has COVID-19 Influenced My Writing?

Yes, despite my initial intentions to focus solely on fiction and personal development. The pandemic has prompted me to explore marketing topics, driven by curiosity about current events.

The Bottom Line

To succeed on Medium, write on popular topics, craft compelling headlines, and maintain your unique voice. Utilize appropriate tags and consider submitting to relevant Publications. Even if your story isn’t curated immediately, it may still gain traction over time.

About the Author

Stephen Scott. A seasoned writer with extensive experience in copywriting and creative management. Connect with him on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.