Forget Everything You Know About Going Viral on Medium (2024)

Forget Everything You Know About Going Viral on Medium (3)

In the blogosphere, there is one milestone that each of us dreams about: going viral. Because, seriously, who doesn’t want that kind of feedback? Who doesn’t want an awful lot of eyes on their work? Who doesn’t get some deep satisfaction from knowing that a 1,000, 100,000, or 20 million people read what they wrote?

Viral article recipes have been around forever on Medium. A lot of writers, once they get to the point that their article’s stats blow out the roof, feel compelled to share their success and give pointers about how to do it. You can find instructions, listicles of superb tricks and tips for brilliantly useful topics, and amazing headlines that are supposed to get you the viral success you crave.

I can’t blame anyone for sharing their journey, be it out of helpfulness or humble-bragging, but let’s be clear here: There is no recipe for going viral. There are a few ingredients that will help you, but there is no surefire way to assure that this or that article will make it.

Whether you like it or not, the key ingredient is luck. This luck is similar to the luck in poker. Those who play poker claim that in the long run, it’s not a game of luck, but of expertise, skill, and timing. But it is understood that there is an element that is unpredictable.

I have been writing on Medium for a little over a year now, and I had one article that went viral and it defies every viral article rule.

Forget Everything You Know About Going Viral on Medium (4)

Let me break it down for you, to prove that you can forget everything about viral articles. Let’s see the myths debunked.

There are and there will always be topics that work better for viral potential. You can see how the pandemic-related articles go crazy and you can see how relationship advice or self-improvement is filling up the Popular on Medium list. Of course, going viral is about writing about some topic that can be of interest to…

Forget Everything You Know About Going Viral on Medium (2024)

FAQs

How do you get viral on Medium? ›

How to Go Viral on Medium! (Revealing the Algorithm)
  1. Hook Them From the Headline: Before readers even glimpse your masterpiece, your headline has to sing its siren song. ...
  2. Master the Art of Storytelling: We're wired for stories, so weave captivating narratives that draw readers in like moths to a flame.
Feb 5, 2024

How much do Medium authors get paid? ›

Medium writers average $15 to $30 for every 1,000 views, but Medium doesn't per view — they pay by read time. So while those views help, you want to focus on keeping readers on the page because that's where the real money comes from. Medium can be worth it for new writers, but it honestly depends on your goals.

How to be successful on Medium? ›

Do You Want to Write for Medium? Try These Tips for Success
  1. What to Write for Medium. Focus on the writing from the start. ...
  2. Publish in the Right Places. You can publish your article immediately under your name only. ...
  3. Write for Medium…with Soul. Focus on writing from the heart. ...
  4. What Does Boosting Do? ...
  5. What's the Paywall?
Feb 22, 2024

How to get noticed on Medium? ›

Start publishing articles to reach new users.
  1. Step 1: Create your Medium profile. For users to follow, Medium writers need to have a profile in place to begin with! ...
  2. Step 2: Invite your immediate connections. ...
  3. Step 3: Invite connections on your social media platforms. ...
  4. Step 4: Start publishing articles.
Feb 8, 2024

Is it hard to get 100 followers on Medium? ›

The 100 follower challenge is something that many writers on Medium are looking to achieve. This is an important milestone on the road to building a strong audience and writing career. However, it is not easy to get there. It requires dedication, effort and above all, quality content.

How long does it take to get 100 followers on Medium? ›

Some of my students needed several months to reach the 100 followers threshold until they learned from me how to get there with ease. I reached the goal of 100 followers within two months.

How much does Medium pay per 1,000 reads? ›

And the answer is that it varies, and depends on the read ratio. But we can say that, on average, you can earn anywhere between 10$ to 98$ per 1k views or reads. It seems possible to earn a good 100$ per article, then, as long as your read amount is high, and your read ratio even higher.

How much does Medium pay per 1,000 views? ›

A popular article on Medium can earn anywhere from $4.32 to $8.19 per 1,000 views, according to Medium's own data. This is known as the Medium RPM (revenue per mille).

How many followers do you need on Medium to make money? ›

Earning money on Medium – Where good ideas find you. is primarily based on the Medium Partner Program, which pays writers based on the engagement their stories receive. The number of followers alone doesn't determine earnings.

How often should I post on Medium? ›

There is no “one-size-fits-all” answer to the ideal posting frequency. However, data-driven insights and anecdotal evidence suggest that posting 3–4 times per week is a sweet spot for most creators. Here's why: Consistency: Publishing regularly shows the algorithm that you're an active and consistent writer.

What happens when you get 100 followers on Medium? ›

Reaching 100 followers on Medium is one of, if not the biggest, achievement for many writers on the platform. It's at this mark that you can apply for the Medium Partner Program and start to earn money from you're writing.

How to gain 1,000 followers on Medium? ›

Follow me and everyone who comment on this post and leave a comment to get follow back from everyone!
  1. Define Your Niche and Audience. ...
  2. Craft Engaging and Valuable Content. ...
  3. Consistency is Key. ...
  4. Leverage Social Media. ...
  5. Network within the Medium Community. ...
  6. Optimize Your Profile. ...
  7. Engage with Your Readers. ...
  8. Collaborate and Guest Post.
Jul 7, 2023

How do you get followers fast on Medium? ›

So, here's a little recap if you're trying to get to your first 100 followers on Medium:
  1. Publish 3+ stories per week.
  2. Publish in established publications for more views.
  3. Joining one or two good pubs should be enough. ...
  4. Write stories that are useful, and/or entertaining, and/or inspiring to readers.
Jul 14, 2023

What topics get the most views on Medium? ›

Popular Topics to Write About on Medium
  1. Personal Development and Self-improvement. ...
  2. Tech Trends and Updates. ...
  3. Health and Wellness. ...
  4. Social Issues and Advocacy. ...
  5. Entrepreneurship and Business. ...
  6. Productivity and Work Culture. ...
  7. Creative Writing and Storytelling.
Jul 21, 2023

Who is the most followed person on Medium? ›

  • Tim Denning. Tim Denning is the most followed individual author in the medium. ...
  • Darius Foroux. Darius Foroux is a book author. ...
  • Gary Vaynerchuk. Gary Vaynerchuk is second on the list. ...
  • Scott Galloway. ...
  • Benjamin Hardy, Ph. ...
  • Tim O'Reilly. ...
  • Nir Eyal. ...
  • Julie Zhuo.
Apr 18, 2023

How do you write a viral post on Medium? ›

Pay Attention to Trends

Add your spin and commentary. For example, many 2022 viral posts incorporated themes around Quiet Quitting, Great Resignation, burnout culture, etc. But they put a fresh angle on these established trends. A common trend on Medium for now is articles predicting things to happen in 2024.

Do you get paid for views on Medium? ›

Medium does offer a program called the Medium Partner Program, which allows writers to earn money from the views their articles receive. However, the specific amount a writer can earn will depend on various factors, such as the number of views their articles receive and the specific terms of the Medium Partner Program.

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