I realized I needed to add up the “loss” from the withholding tax of 30%.
Thus, I need to multiply $50 x 1.3 = $65
But how much have I already earned?
I have six more days to reach the goal.
Am I able to reach it?
Yes, if I can get at least $1.00 per day for the next 5–6 days.
Unfortunately, the earnings have dropped lower than a dollar for the last few days.
As much as I have spent several hours reading and engaging with others, the numbers have dropped.
I need to return to the drawing board and understand what’s happening.
I probably have a few things that contribute to this lower readership or earnings:
Fewer articles behind the paywall. For some strategic reasons, I have published several articles for free (non-paywall). Most of this is for my general tech audience and marketing materials.
Fewer articles were published about “money-making” topics, which are very popular among readers.
Five Tips That I Will Try for My Upcoming Writings (You can try these too!):
Listicles and Guides: These structured, easy-to-digest formats often go viral. They break down information into bite-sized, numbered, or bulleted points, making them highly shareable on social media. For example, a travel blog might create a listicle like “10 Must-Visit Destinations in Europe,” which outlines top travel spots, offering quick insights and engaging visuals for each location.
Storytelling: Incorporating narratives in your content can deeply engage your audience by connecting emotionally. For instance, if you’re writing for a fitness website, you could share a personal journey of someone who overcame challenges to achieve their health goals. This not only inspires readers but also makes the content relatable.
Regular Features: Establishing a series of recurring columns can build a dedicated following. Readers return for the familiar format and content. A cooking blog, for instance, might have a weekly feature like “Sunday Supper Specials,” where a new recipe is shared every Sunday, encouraging readers to anticipate and return for these posts.
Email Newsletters: Keep your audience engaged and informed by sending regular newsletters. This could include updates, latest posts, or exclusive content. For example, a tech review site could send a monthly newsletter featuring a roundup of the newest gadget reviews, tech news, and a sneak peek at upcoming content.
Guest Blogging: Writing posts for other blogs can expose you to a new audience. Choose blogs that align with your niche to attract readers who are likely interested in your content. For instance, if you run a photography blog, guest posting on a popular travel blog about “Top Photography Tips for Travelers” can attract travelers interested in photography to your site.
Interactive Content: Engaging your audience with interactive elements like polls, quizzes, or infographics can increase your site’s engagement and time. For example, an educational website might include a quiz at the end of an article about history, testing readers on what they’ve learned. This makes the learning experience fun and encourages readers to interact with the content.
Thanks for reading this, my friends!
Any new suggestions? It will help me to achieve my goal this month!
UPDATE (January 31, 2024)
Voila! Yay! I achieved my target! Just an extra $0.65 above my target! I felt delighted!
The great thing about Medium Insights is knowing what works and what doesn’t.
I am guilty of reviewing the stats regularly because I should have spent more time on writing better.
Since Medium doesn’t have detailed insights like other commercial tools, we have to do with whatever is given.
However, that was the early days.
Now I know what works and what doesn’t.
If I look back at the top 5 highest earners, I can see similar trends and topics, which made me think twice about what kind of articles I should post in the future.
In this article, I reflect on the shortcomings in my writing journey over the past year. Despite having written over 100 articles, I needed more engagement, with most of my articles receiving minimal views and no significant increase in followers.
To address this, I identified and shared ten critical mistakes that I aim to avoid: 1) Writing without emotional depth; 2) Focusing on knowledge rather than problem-solving; 3) Failing to connect with my audience; 4) Neglecting effective headlines and SEO; 5) Using overly complex sentences; 6) Superficial engagement with fellow writers; 7) Unstrategically republishing old content; 8) Not keeping up with trending topics; 9) Lack of practical “How-To” guides; and 10) Inconsistently sharing my personal writing experiences.
I offer these insights to guide my fellow writers to improve their craft and reader engagement in the coming year.
In my article “Tripling My Medium December Earnings: When I Implement These Amazing Things,” I share my experience of significantly increasing my earnings on Medium in December.
After a disappointing November with relentless daily publishing but little success, I realized I needed a new approach.
Firstly, I aggressively expanded my network by connecting with active Medium writers, creating a dynamic and reciprocal network.
Secondly, I deepened my engagement by initiating meaningful conversations instead of just leaving comments, building a community where every voice matters.
I also appreciated comments by clapping, a simple yet impactful gesture. Beyond these strategies, I continuously improved my writing, experimented with styles, and crafted catchy headlines to draw in readers.
The result was a dramatic increase in followers, views, and earnings. I emphasize that success on Medium is about connecting with your audience, engaging with peers, and evolving as a writer.
My journey underscores the importance of authenticity, consistency, continuous learning, valuing interactions, and enjoying the writing process. This experience wasn’t just about earning more; it was about personal growth, community building, and enjoying the journey as a writer on Medium.
In this article, I share my struggles with writing on Medium, where initially, my posts received no views, comments, or claps.
Despite posting daily and focusing on topics related to my entrepreneurship journey, I needed more audience engagement. This led to frustration and thoughts of giving up.
However, before quitting, I took a break to analyze what others were doing successfully.
Upon my return, I implemented several changes: writing with emotion to resonate with like-minded entrepreneurs, exploring different niches besides entrepreneurship, creating better headlines, writing shorter articles that are easier to digest, engaging more with readers, and ensuring my articles were longer than 3 minutes for monetization purposes.
These changes resulted in a significant increase in views, follower count, and engagement. This experience taught me the importance of persistence and adapting strategies in writing, leading me to continue my journey on Medium with renewed determination and hope.
I discuss my realization that using AI, specifically ChatGPT, to expand my points into articles might be why my work on Medium wasn’t getting the boost I desired.
Despite receiving some views, reads, and claps, my articles never made it to the “For You” tab like many others. After researching, I stumbled upon an article titled “Medium Says Writers Can Use AI — Under One Condition,” which made me reconsider my approach.
Facing the challenge of not being a native English speaker, I decided to write more naturally, as if chatting with friends on WhatsApp or social media.
I turned to Grammarly for grammar checks and tone adjustments, opted for short, straightforward sentences, and embraced one-sentence paragraphs.
This article marks my first attempt at writing without AI assistance, and I’m eager to see how it performs. If successful, I plan to continue this new approach to writing.
In this article, I share my journey with the Medium Partner Program (MPP), where I went from just covering the $5.00 monthly fee to earning profits that exceeded my expectations.
My success on Medium wasn’t just about writing; it involved building a community.
I engaged with my followers and other writers through meaningful interactions, claps, and comments. Claps on Medium became a way to show appreciation and increase my visibility. I used highlights to mark impactful phrases in others’ articles, fostering connections.
Thoughtful comments and replies were vital in engaging with readers and authors alike. I also focused on creating exciting and insightful content, keeping readers engaged.
This strategy paid off in December when my earnings covered eight months of MPP fees.
My takeaways for other Medium writers are to build a genuine community, clap purposefully, use highlights effectively, engage meaningfully in comments, and create content that values the reader’s time.
My commitment to these strategies continues as I progress on Medium, finding joy in writing and satisfaction in building a community.
For those new or facing challenges on Medium, remember that success comes from consistent engagement, valuable content, and genuine connections.
Most top-earner articles will keep getting traction even after one month.
Lessons Learned
Articles related to writing on Medium are top earners.
Catchy headlines
Short sentences articles
Eye-catching photos
Keep writing and engaging, and your efforts could soon see significant rewards.
Writing online has become an increasingly popular avenue for individuals seeking to express their thoughts, share their knowledge, and earn extra income.
Medium has positioned itself as a viable platform for writers of all kinds, offering an easy-to-use interface and a potentially broad audience.
However, as with any platform, earning substantial income can be challenging, and writers often seek more lucrative opportunities.
The Medium Experience
Recently, I decided to give Medium a try, hoping to monetize my passion for writing.
After 30 days of consistent effort, I earned a modest $6.
While the process was satisfying and provided a creative outlet, the financial return was minimal.
This experience led me to consider other writing-related income streams.
A Lucrative Alternative: G2.com Reviews
Concurrently, I stumbled upon G2.com, a platform that rewards users for writing software reviews.
In contrast to Medium, G2.com offered $10 Amazon gift cards per review, resulting in a potentially higher income.
Over a month, by reviewing eight different software products, I earned $80 in Amazon gift cards.
This rate of return was significantly higher than my earnings on Medium.
Imagine if you could review one software per day.
How much would you earn? $10 x 365 = $ 3,650 per year?
Pros and Cons
While the financial benefits of writing software reviews on G2.com are apparent, this approach has limitations.
The number of software applications one can genuinely review is finite, and sustaining this pace for an extended period is unrealistic for most individuals.
In contrast, writing on Medium offers a sustainable, long-term option for those looking to develop their writing skills and establish an online presence.
Finding the Right Balance
Given the limitations of both platforms, finding a balance that suits your lifestyle and goals is crucial.
Medium allows for creative expression and the potential for passive income over time as your articles continue to attract readers.
On the other hand, writing software reviews on G2.com provides immediate financial rewards, albeit with a finite limit.
Tips for Maximizing Earnings
If you’re looking to maximize your writing income, consider the following tips:
Diversify Your Income Streams: Don’t rely solely on Medium or software reviews. Explore other writing platforms, freelance opportunities, and content creation gigs.
Build Your Brand: A strong online presence can attract more readers to your Medium articles, potentially increasing your earnings.
Focus on Quality: High-quality, engaging content is more likely to attract readers and generate income.
Network: Connect with other writers and industry professionals to open up new opportunities and collaborations.
Set Realistic Goals: Understand that building a substantial income through writing takes time and persistence.
Conclusion
Writing online offers a plethora of opportunities for creative expression and financial gain.
While Medium provides a sustainable platform for long-term growth, platforms like G2.com offer immediate financial rewards for software reviews.
By diversifying your income streams and focusing on quality, you can maximize your writing income and find a balance that suits your needs.
Remember, the key to success is persistence, networking, and a commitment to honing your craft.
Happy writing!
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Dr. Mazlan Abbas 