Title: Achieving 1000 Followers on Medium: My Journey and Insights
Written on
Chapter 1: My Experience of Gaining 1000 Followers
Reaching 1,000 followers on Medium is a significant achievement that I set out to accomplish over several months. I want to extend my gratitude to all who support my writing. While I enjoy expressing myself through writing and learning from the process, having an audience makes it all the more rewarding.
For those curious about my approach, the answer is simple: I wrote. The key is to create genuine, high-quality content infused with your emotions and passion. When you do this, followers will naturally gravitate toward your work.
I never adhered to conventional advice, engaged in marketing tactics, or participated in "follow for follow" schemes. This leads to a question: why avoid follow for follow?
Section 1.1: The Pitfalls of Follow for Follow
One of my earlier articles highlighted the drawbacks of follow for follow practices. I've observed numerous writers suggesting that you can increase your following by commenting in exchange for reciprocal follows. This approach is largely ineffective. Unless your primary goal is to inflate your follower count, which I find meaningless without genuine engagement, it’s counterproductive. Subscribers gained this way often disengage when their feeds become cluttered with content that doesn’t resonate with them.
Subsection 1.1.1: Why Authenticity Matters
Section 1.2: The Importance of Passion Over Trends
Another point to consider is the temptation to write about trending topics solely to attract subscribers. While niche subjects may appeal to a smaller audience, the essence of writing lies in enjoyment. For instance, I frequently share movie and book reviews, which may attract fewer readers than other topics, yet I continue to write them.
In fact, my varied interests have resulted in a diverse audience. Each article tends to resonate with specific groups, leading to different engagement levels. I've essentially created several small communities, each contributing uniquely—some offer book or movie recommendations, while others discuss software or trading.
Chapter 2: Establishing a Writing Routine
Writing regularly is crucial for several reasons. First, followers expect consistent content; if you stop publishing, they may lose interest. Additionally, for your work to be highlighted by Medium, a regular writing schedule is necessary. This visibility is essential for audience growth.
Moreover, cultivating a writing habit can enhance the process. Even if it’s not daily, committing to regular writing intervals—like every other day or dedicating an hour on weekends—can make it easier over time.
Section 2.1: The Reality of 1,000 Followers
While hitting the 1,000 follower mark may not seem monumental—it's roughly equivalent to half the population of my small town—it's a notable milestone on Medium. I’ve observed that many writers stop at around 100 followers after attempting to join the Medium Partner Program, only to become disillusioned by minimal earnings.
Though I do earn a decent income from my writing now, it took considerable time to reach this point.
Recap
In summary, there is no guaranteed method for attaining 1,000 followers on Medium. You might resort to follow for follow tactics to gain a quick follower boost, but this often results in low engagement. The only reliable strategy is to write consistently and authentically. My approach has always been guided by a few fundamental principles:
- Avoid follow for follow strategies (only follow writers whose work truly interests you).
- Write about topics that inspire you, regardless of their popularity.
- Maintain a regular writing schedule.
- Don’t write solely for monetary gain.
Thank you once again for helping me reach 1,000 followers!
For those interested in exploring more of my work, you can find all my publications below.