But Both Can Be Winners with a Strategic Approach
I am pleased that my new account, with 100 followers, now gets more visibility than my old account, with 101835 followers. Here is what new and established writers could do to adapt.
Today, I experienced a mix of emotions when I discovered that my new Medium account, created out of necessity after being targeted by scammers, organically gained 100 followers. I want to briefly give a preliminary view of my experimentation to guide new and established writers.
I intentionally avoided promoting my new account as I was experimenting with organic growth on the platform and documenting my findings as part of my content marketing strategy for the research paper. For example, I didn’t ask my friends, family members, colleagues, students, the 162 publication editors, or my 500 proteges to follow.
Unlike my older account, I refrained from adding one of my published books not to show my author position or upgrading to Friends of Medium, knowing some readers tend to follow such privileged accounts for potential benefits. For example, I know that some writers only follow FoM accounts. Here is how my new account looks on Medium:
To contrast it, I also want to show how my main account looks but its disguised disadvantage, which I will briefly touch on below.
My main account has had no organic views and no new followers since May 2024. All traffic is through direct links which I provide to my readers on other platforms and social media. Medium totally restricted my account for reasons I still yet to understand. It just stopped growing out of nowhere when I wrote a satirical piece about the support team’s neglect, expressing my true feelings about being cloned countless times. The support team remained silent about it despite my multiple inquiries.
It is not a big issue for me. I have many options and a fallback position. For example, I am now pleased to see my small, slow-growing account steadily picking up followers, and even its new stories are earning more than my main account. However, I was deeply disheartened when my main account, which I had nurtured for five years and amassed over 100K followers, stopped receiving organic traffic in the past six months.
Worse, Medium curators ceased organically boosting my stories, essentially putting me in “distribution jail.” But this setback motivated me to explore other platforms, where I found great success — gaining 28K+ subscribers on Substack in a few months and getting 7 million views on NewsBreak. So, ironically, I thank Medium for pushing me outside my comfort zone.
I regret investing countless hours on this platform over the last five years, bringing thousands of members to this platform for its vitality and sustainability. As advised by wise mentors, I now invest more time in platforms that value my content and distribute it without censorship.
The saddest part is that now, after starting to share free chapters of my best-selling book Substack Mastery, which gained over a million views on other platforms, these valuable book chapters received ZERO organic views on Medium.
Out of 50,000+ freelance writers (32,000+ contributing to my publications), my book chapters from the main account only receive about 10 views a day and generate around 30 cents on Medium.
However, on Substack, they have received 100K views and attracted many paid subscribers — ironically, thousands of them are Medium writers who reach out privately for strategic advice.
This highlights the disconnect between Medium’s so-called “network distribution,” which, in my experience, has no real value and impact. Empirical data from my 15 public publications shows no evidence supporting this theory. I wrote a heartfelt and honest story about it from my tech account and invited the head of distribution to respond, but he did not.
What do my observations mean to new and experienced writers?
First of all, I have deep empathy and compassion for both new and established writers on this platform. Both groups have their own challenges, as I experienced them firsthand. These situations on the writing platform can create tremendous stress for freelance writers. We need to be careful and focus on our health, wellbeing, and happiness.
I wrote about this important matter today from my new account with an interactive podcast that can give you profound insights.
How Can We Regulate the HPA Axis in 3 Steps & Manage Chronic Stress for a Healthier & Happier Life
I explain the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, how stress, negative thoughts, and unpleasant emotions can…medium.com
The truth is stark yet necessary: Medium is a wonderful platform, but it is a fleeting stage. New writers, you are here to be seen, but don’t be fooled into thinking this is permanent. Without building your own foundation — whether through newsletters or personal websites — your audience will slip through your fingers.
Established writers, we have seen it all. Medium may shift, but as a thought leader, you can shine elsewhere with your engaging, meaningful, authentic, and inspiring content.
Substack and Patreon, two creator-friendly environments, are our loyal companions now. Medium remains valuable, but remember, its magic isn’t guaranteed forever. By taking personal responsibility: Diversify. Adapt. Flourish. Do it now before it gets too late.
Here is why and how to integrate Substack with Patreon which you can find anywhere for free with a podcast of it:
Substack Mastery Book: Chapter 15
Why and How to Integrate Substack with Patreon for Compelling Reasons Based on Experience and Observations of…medium.com
Thank you for reading my perspectives. I wish you a healthy and happy life.
Invitation to Be a Guest Blogger
I recently opened my website to welcome all writers as guest bloggers, offering a platform to boost visibility for your profiles, Medium stories, and Substack newsletters.
I’ve outlined the compelling reasons to join our community blog in detail, making it an ideal space for authentic and ethical writers who want to share their work freely.
Here’s Why I Opened My Website to Freelance Writers as Guest Bloggers from Multiple Platforms
I explain why and how writers can benefit from this free blogging opportunity, empowered by a non-commercial writing…medium.com
Here, no legal content is censored! I strongly value diversity, inclusion, and equality in distributing content. If you want a supportive environment to amplify your voice, I have created this accessible and supportive place for you.
About the Substack Mastery Book for Review or Purchase
As I shared in a previous post, this book has already hit the top 100 bestseller list in multiple categories in various Amazon marketplaces. Thank you, my loyal readers, for making this book a success and a valuable knowledge source for the community.
Many thanks to beta readers who started leaving honest feedback on this evolving book on Goodreads. If you enjoy and benefit from this book, I’d appreciate leaving honest feedback on Goodreads, as the Amazon version is not ready for review yet.
If you want to purchase the book at a reasonable price or gift it to someone you care about, you may preorder it via various Amazon markets. If the editing process is complete on time, I can get it published faster. The funds generated from this book will be donated to the management of the Substack Mastery site for the ILLUMINATION community. This education site also amplifies the newsletters of freelance writers.
Substack Mastery: Insider Secrets from a Content Strategist & Seasoned Author: Learn the Basics…
Substack Mastery: Insider Secrets from a Content Strategist & Seasoned Author: Learn the Basics, Stay Motivated, Grow…www.amazon.com
Several beta readers wrote five-star reviews about the book, which warms my heart but today I found this remarkable podcast created by Britni Pepper and found it very helpful for readers as a summary of the first three chapters. Substack writers can also learn from her skills so visiting Britni’s site can be helpful.
The Substack Mastery Podcast: Hello!
The first three chapters of the book, reviewed and discussed. Listen to this podcast for a deep view of the first three…substack.com
I also enjoyed this podcast by Mike Broadly, DHSc. Integrating Substack with Patreon Seamlessly for Greater Benefits for Creators
Community Building on Substack Bridging with Other Platforms
Integrating Substack with Medium is a great idea. To this end, as a community builder, I created a philanthropic organization that will empower creators, freelance writers, and content entrepreneurs with a commercial arm. I documented the strategy and high-level plan in a story. Please feel free to ask questions and provide feedback. Refraining from perfection, I choose a progressive path.
Here are our draft service definitions for creators, freelance writers, and content entrepreneurs. We will explain the details in our upcoming newsletter. Here is an invitation from a founding member.
If you are a writer on Medium and Substack, we have a new publication called Substack Mastery. You are welcome to join and share your Substack experience with your fellow writers and discerning readers. ILLUMINATION-Curators curate, feature, and promote newsletters of our contributors in collections like this one. Being part of a community can bring many benefits, such as a fast-growing audience. Substack Mastery Featured Newsletters: Episode 12.
For advanced writers, we also have a publication called Curated Newsletters, which replaced the former ILLUMINATION-Curated. As I withdraw from the boost program, I now allocate more time to support writers in extending their services to Substack or other platforms.
If you are a writer, you are welcome to join my publications by sending a request via this link. I support 32K writers who contribute to my publications on this platform. You can contact me via my website. I also have another profile to write and curate tech stories. Friend Links to My Sample Boosted Stories for Non-Members of Medium.
New Submission Guidelines for ILLUMINATION, Curated Newsletters, SYNERGY, and Technology Hits.
You are welcome to join the ILLUMINATION Community on Medium and Substack and our education tool, Substack Mastery, curated by ILLUMINATION-Curators. Here is the Importance and Value of Medium Friendship for Writers and Readers
Join me on Substack, where I offer experience-based content on health, content strategy, and technology topics to inform and inspire my readers.
Get an email whenever Dr Mehmet Yildiz publishes. He is a top writer and editor on Medium.
dr-mehmet-yildiz.medium.com
This story was initially published at DigitalMehmet.com. My blogs and website offer free access to inspiring and educational stories for freelancers and content entrepreneurs. Membership Tiers and Benefits of ILLUMINATION Substack Mastery Community. Please use this portal to contact me with inquiries and feedback. You can also read this chapter on my Substack.
Leave a Reply