I have more than 2,000 audiences, and I write almost daily — sometimes twice or three times daily. But I get “crickets” on my engagement, especially the claps — Why?
Author’s Stats — Start actively in October 2023.
Most of my stories have a few claps, barely exceeding 200. However, I observed other writers with a smaller audience (sometimes less than 300) can have claps beyond 1K. That’s amazing!
Why can others usually reach beyond 1K, and why can’t I?
I have done what I have to do—read, comment, clap, highlight, and clap on other stories.
I have written consistently every day and try as much to improve on the catchy headlines.
I have read almost all the tips available about Medium but have yet to get that kind of engagement.
I have tried different niches, yet the ones that gained the most traction are always about Medium. Anything serious will get “crickets”.
Alright, one thing I have probably not done yet is write based on my true emotions—showing my anger, frustration, or happiness. Maybe this is what the audience wants to listen to.
There are particular niches, especially writing about the Internet of Things (IoT), that I can’t write this too informally.
Are you able to solve the mystery of claps and comments? Why did some stories perform well while others failed?
Could you share your experience in the comments? Thanks!
As a dedicated reader and subscriber of Medium articles, my initial enthusiasm has become a seething frustration. It’s about the swarms of repetitive articles littering the platform, most notably those purporting to deliver groundbreaking writing advice.
Medium’s potential for insightful content is lost amidst the echo chamber of “How to get followers” and “Earn money on Medium” articles.
It’s another day. I’m scrolling through Medium, fueled by hope and caffeine, looking for that gem of an article that will spark inspiration or offer a new perspective. Instead, I’m bombarded by titles like “Boost Your Views 10X” or “Earn $1000 in Your Second Month.”
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At first, these titles did catch my eye.
After all, who wouldn’t want to replicate such success?
But as I delved deeper, I realized these articles were hollow shells.
The profiles of such writers revealed a monotonous pattern — article after article about maximizing Medium metrics, with little to no divergence into anything remotely personal or profound. Their popularity, it seems, is not fueled by the quality or originality of their content but rather by a self-sustaining cycle of writing about how to write on Medium.
This unimaginative approach turns Medium into a meta-cesspool where content is about content creation rather than the world’s myriad topics and stories.
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It’s a circle that feeds itself, growing ever tighter and more insular, pushing out the kind of diverse, engaging content that attracted many of us to Medium in the first place.
I’m infuriated by the irony of it all.
Here we are, on a platform designed to democratize writing—where anyone’s voice can be heard—and what do we get?
It can be disheartening to come across article after article that seems to say the same thing in the same way. We understand that it can be frustrating to read content that doesn’t offer anything new or insightful.
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We urge content creators to strive for originality and creativity when producing material for their readers. Your time is valuable, and we want you to have access to engaging, informative, and genuinely helpful content.
Every time I see a comment praising these repetitive articles as “revolutionary” or “incredible,” I can’t help but scoff. It’s not revolutionary to tell people to use tags or craft catchy subtitles.
It’s basic, it’s been done, and honestly, it’s a bit insulting to anyone who’s taken more than a cursory glance at how digital content works.
And yet, these articles rake in views, claps, and followers.
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Aspiring writers can grow by dedicating the time and effort required to create authentic work. It is important to remember that quick fixes and easy success are often illusions and that success is often achieved through hard work and perseverance.
By staying focused and committed to their craft, aspiring writers can achieve their dreams and make a meaningful impact in the world of literature.
The allure of easy success may be tempting, but at what cost?
We risk turning a rich landscape of ideas into a barren echo chamber. Why should writers spend hours, if not days, crafting a heartfelt piece on climate change, racial injustice, or even personal memoir when they can whip up a “Top 5 Tips” article in under an hour and watch the views roll in?
I’ve experimented with writing these types of articles myself, curious if the engagement would be as good as promised. While they did perform well, the success felt hollow.
It wasn’t the kind of writing that made me want to be a writer in the first place. I didn’t feel proud; I felt complicit.
To be clear, only some articles about writing on Medium are good.
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There’s value in sharing experiences and tips that can genuinely help others. However, when every other article is a variant of “How I mastered Medium,” you have to wonder if we’re losing sight of what made this platform so appealing.
I want to read stories that move, educate, and make me think differently about the world—not another regurgitated listicle about writing better lists.
As for my path forward, I’m consciously avoiding clicking on bait-like headlines promising miraculous growth on Medium.
Instead, I’ll seek writers who are still dedicated to exploring genuine topics and sharing real stories.
I yearn for the return of the original spirit of Medium, where diverse voices and stories rise above the noise, not through gaming the system but through the inherent power and allure of well-crafted narratives.
To those still writing from the heart, talking about their lives, their challenges, and their successes beyond Medium metrics — I salute you.
Keep creating content that matters, for your stories, deserve to be read and celebrated.
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Dr. Mazlan Abbas 