How I Crossed my First 1K Followers on Medium and You Can Too (Even If You’re Starting from Scratch!)

Sweta Sharma
9 min readJun 5, 2024

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(Read this if you’re struggling to grow.)

Followers or community people are a driving force for every creator, regardless of the niche they work in!

And, when you see your community expanding leap and bound, that feeling can’t be described in words.

Isn’t it?

I believe so😊

Photo by Jan Kopřiva on Unsplash

Recently I’ve crossed my first 1K followers on Medium.

Another milestone!

When I started writing on Medium I didn’t know it’d become one of my main priorities.

I want to diversify my online portfolio, but honestly, I don’t have the skills to build websites.

So, I decided to start my writing journey on a platform where I wouldn’t have to deal with technicalities.

I began my hunt for finding the right platforms.

Watched some YouTube videos, read some testimonials and after doing a bit of research I was convinced that Medium is the right choice.

I created a Medium account and started posting content related to my niche.

Some articles performed really well, some didn’t.

But that didn’t stop me from writing.

I kept on doing what needs to be done from my side and as a result of that I’m able to get the attention of people who’re genuinely looking for guidance or help.

If you’re also thinking about starting your online writing journey, let me assure you Medium can truly be a game-changer for YOU.

Not only in terms of money-making opportunities, but for building genuine connections with people.

Here’re the 6 hacks that you can try to build your very own organic clan on Medium. (I’ve personally used them and the results are already shared with you.)

1. Think What you Bring to the Table

When aiming to grow your follower base on Medium, it’s crucial to consider what unique value you offer.

Reflect on your strengths, experiences, and perspectives to determine what sets you apart from others.

Consider these two factors, if you’re feeling confused :

  • Unique Expertise and Knowledge: Each one of us possess some kind of expertise and knowledge level.

You just need to find out what’s that!

For example, I’ve practical knowledge on ‘How to Grow a Pinterest Account from Scratch’.

The reason is clear — I’ve done it for myself.

In fact, I’ve already crossed more than 70 Million views on my Pinterest account, organically.

Author’s Pinterest Analytics

I can easily help people looking to grow their Pinterest accounts.

You should do the same.

Make a list of things that fall within your expertise or knowledge areas.

You could be good at AI just like Christie C. or you can be good at selling books on Amazon KDP just like DannyOnDemand.

It could be anything.

  • Personal Stories and Insights: I believe personal stories have a huge impact on readers.
Photo by Sixteen Miles Out on Unsplash

You know why?

Because people connect with those stories on a deeper level.

I’ve pen down one of my personal stories in my profile too!

Just to let people have an idea about me.

You can also share such personal stories and insights.

Check this story by Jan Sebastian 🖐👩‍🦰 for reference.

Believe me, these stories work wonders.

2. The Talk-Write Principle

This principle is all about writing as if you’re having a conversation.

It means using the same straightforward language and clear expressions you would use when talking to someone.

By doing this, you make your writing easier to understand for everyone.

Plus, it helps create a stronger connection between you and your readers.

How?

Let me explain!

When your writing feels like a friendly chat, people are more likely to stay engaged and understand your message better.

Tim J. Schröder has written a beautiful post explaining the importance of simple writing, you can also give it a read.

I loved it and hopefully you’ll too😊.

3. Act Like a Solution Provider

Most of the people on the web are searching for solutions for their specific problems.

Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash

And these problems can vary.

If I talk about the online world, the potential problems of people can be :

  • How to make money online
  • How to grow social media account
  • How to start an online business from scratch

and a hundred different things, depending on the category.

What you can do as a writer, is to try and provide solutions to your readers in whichever way possible.

For example, I’m a Pinterest creator, as I stated earlier.

So, I can answer almost all the possible questions of someone who’s planning to grow their Pinterest account, such as :

  • How to get more followers on Pinterest
  • How to increase impressions on Pinterest
  • How to join Group Boards
  • How many times should one post on Pinterest, etc.

Being a solution provider helps you gain more followers because it shows that you’re here to help.

When you share useful tips or solve people’s problems on a consistent basis, they see you as someone they can rely on.

This builds trust, and people are more likely to follow you to get more of your helpful content.

Plus, they’re likely to save & share your content with others who might also find it helpful, helping you grow your followers even more.

Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

4. Don’t Leave It Too Quickly

We live in a world where we expect things to happen fast.

Social media, instant messaging, and on-demand services have conditioned us to want quick results.

When this doesn’t happen, we feel frustrated.

Photo by Spencer Quast on Unsplash

This is especially true for new writers on Medium or any other platform.

When you don’t see initial traction or engagement on your profile, it’s easy to get discouraged and think about quitting.

The absence of likes, comments, or followers can make it seem like no one is interested.

However, it’s crucial to resist this urge.

You need to think logically.

Building a following and gaining recognition takes time.

Remember, the most successful writers on Medium didn’t gain their audience overnight.

They stayed consistent, kept writing, and slowly built their readership.

You need to follow the same trick.

5. Collaborate to Win Big

Working together with others can help you achieve much more than working alone.

On Medium, you can collaborate with different writers through publications.

I own a publication which is specifically based on Pinterest Marketing, but I also submit my articles to some other publications.

By doing this, I can share my expertise with a broader audience and attract readers who might not find my content otherwise.

It’s a win-win situation: you provide valuable content to other publications, and in return, you gain access to their followers, boosting your own profile and influence on Medium.

Check this post to know about the top publications on Medium⬇️⬇️

6. Please the Search Engines

Apart from getting direct traffic on Medium, you can also attract visitors from search engines like Google, by using Search Engine Optimization (SEO).

SEO is the practice of making your content more attractive to search engines, which helps it rank higher in search results.

This makes it easier for people to find your articles when they search for related topics.

One of my articles is also ranked on the first page of Google, simply by following this practice.

To optimize your content, start by using relevant keywords.

These are the words and phrases people type into search engines when looking for information.

Try & include these keywords in your titles, headings, and throughout your article.

Additionally, focus on creating high-quality content that is informative and engaging.

Search engines favor well-written, valuable content that answers common questions.

Also, use clear headings, bullet points, and short paragraphs to make your articles easier to read.

By following these SEO practices, you can increase your visibility and attract more traffic to your Medium articles from search engines.

Final Thoughts🎯

Use the 6 hacks, stay consistent and you’ll definitely see success on Medium.

See you in the next value-packed article.

Till then, keep learning, keep growing!

Hey, pals! 👋 I’m Sweta — An Editor Turned Digital Content Creator.

If you’re on the lookout for content related to Passive Income, Digital Marketing, AI, etc. tap that ‘Follow’ button and be a part of my amazing community.

It feels great to have awesome people in team❤️

PS: I’d love to hear your thoughts and suggestions!

Feel free to drop a comment or message. Your input makes this journey even more special. 🌟

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Sweta Sharma

Hey! I'm Sweta, an editor turned content creator. Join my 13k+ community to start your online journey now🚀Side Hustle Blueprint ⬇️ https://bit.ly/3VWKzvS