Why I Took a Break from Medium and You Might Consider It Too
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Chapter 1: The Hectic Month
April was an exceptionally busy month for me. I traveled back to my hometown in northern Spain, followed by a quick weekend trip to London to see a friend. During this time, I found it challenging to participate actively on Medium. Although I could have maintained my daily writing routine, I felt it was counterproductive to post without genuine engagement.
As May sped by, I barely had the mental space to comprehend the passing days, feeling as if I were still stuck in early May. Through my journey of learning about making money online, it became clear that I needed to focus on establishing and nurturing my personal brand. This was something I recognized even before joining Medium, yet I dedicated all my efforts to achieving success on the platform.
For the first time, I was witnessing real financial returns from my online endeavors, even if it was just a dollar here and there. However, I began to understand why taking a break from Medium might be beneficial for you as well.
Section 1.1: Diversifying Your Efforts
When writing on Medium, it’s easy to put all your efforts into one platform. While it can seem straightforward, it demands a significant investment of time. You can easily find yourself spending countless hours writing, editing, and engaging. The problem with focusing solely on Medium is that it is just one avenue for connecting with your audience. If it were to disappear, you might find yourself with no email list, no digital products, and no community to fall back on.
In the world of online business and side hustles, it’s crucial to develop multiple income streams. There are countless differing opinions online about this topic. Personally, I believe in concentrating on two or three income-generating activities and giving each one dedicated focus, but not all at once.
Subsection 1.1.1: Avoiding Common Pitfalls
Don’t repeat my mistake of trying to build the foundations of your business in a single evening. If your current focus is on Medium, allow it to be just that. Once you’ve established a strong presence and routine there, you can shift your focus elsewhere.
Section 1.2: Understanding Your Audience
Consider this: if you manage to earn over $250 a month on Medium, while that may seem substantial, it’s often not enough to replace a full-time job. You might think about creating a funnel to sell products to your Medium audience, which is a commendable idea and a common strategy for online businesses.
However, keep in mind your readers and niche. Many of them are also writers striving for the same goals. This isn’t necessarily detrimental; if you’re clever, you can design offers that resonate with fellow writers. Still, it poses a challenge because your audience is acutely aware of your intentions, making them less likely to be your ideal customers.
Chapter 2: The Reality of Medium Earnings
Medium offers a unique platform with potentially high rewards for writers. There’s no other social media venue where you can start today and see returns almost immediately. However, even with consistent high-quality writing, it’s quite difficult to surpass $1,000 in earnings.
If your ambition is to be among the top 1% of Medium earners, pursue that goal with vigor. Yet, consider that your efforts might yield greater rewards elsewhere. For many, the dream of earning $10,000 a month is inspiring but can only be achieved through a well-structured business model, which includes freelancing.
Writing on Medium itself isn’t a standalone business; it’s a platform built to promote quality content.
If you’ve made it this far, it’s important to clarify that this article isn’t intended to dissuade you from Medium altogether. I’m not stepping away either because I genuinely appreciate the platform and its community. However, if you have aspirations of increasing your income, don’t hesitate to step back from Medium temporarily to concentrate on developing your personal brand, agency, UGC portfolio, dropshipping venture, or whatever path you choose.
I wish you all the best in achieving your goals; I am confident you will succeed given your consistency and dedication. If you enjoyed this piece, consider subscribing for updates or sharing your thoughts in the comments.
Thank you for reading!
Love.