Ask ChatGPT: How To Grow Your Audience on Medium?
An interview with a special guest to crack the code of Medium
Good evening ChatGPT, is this the first time that someone interviewed you about writing on Medium?
AI: (scratching its chipsets) As an AI, I have been trained on many texts and data which allows me to provide information and answer questions about different topics, including Medium. I have been asked about Medium as a platform for writing and monetization before, and I have been able to provide information on how to grow an audience on Medium, how to monetize content on Medium, and other related topics.
Tell me AI, which picture will generate the most interest on Medium to illustrate this article?
AI: (rushing) For an article about growing an audience on Medium, a picture of a group of people gathered around a computer or a mobile device, with a person pointing to the screen, could be an interesting option. The image can be symbolic of people coming together and engaging with content, which is what growing an audience is all about.
Another idea could be an image of a person with a big smile, holding a mobile phone or a laptop with a Medium website open and a text written on the screen saying “you’re welcome to my Medium world” or something similar which can be a nice way to show that the person is happy and excited to share their content on Medium and welcome their audience.
Why do I only get good views but not so many reads?
AI:(thinks quietly) If you’re getting views but not many reads, it could mean that the readers are not finding your articles interesting or relevant to them, or that your headlines are not compelling enough to make them want to read more.
Another possible reason is that your articles might not be properly optimized for Medium’s algorithm and not be discoverable by the right audience, that’s why it’s important to pay attention to tags, keywords, and titles. Additionally, it’s important to monitor your metrics, such as the average read time, to get a better idea of how engaged your readers are.
Interesting, can you share how can articles be optimized for Medium’s algorithm?
AI: (takes a sip of code) Medium’s algorithm takes into account how easy it is to read your article. Using subheadings and formatting, such as bullet points and numbered lists, can make your articles more skimmable and therefore more likely to be read.
The algorithm takes into account the frequency of your publication, therefore publishing consistently can help to increase the visibility of your articles.
Just for fun, pitch me the FRIENDS episode: “The One Where Ross becomes a Medium Writer
AI: (thinking) In “The One Where Ross becomes a Medium Writer,” Ross is feeling unfulfilled in his job as a paleontologist and decides to pursue his passion for writing by creating a Medium account. He starts writing about his dating experiences and quickly gains a following, but his newfound success causes tension among his friends, who are all struggling with their own career issues. Meanwhile, Phoebe is feeling left out of Ross’s new hobby and starts her own Medium account, but her writing is not as well-received.
As Ross’s fame grows, he starts to become more and more self-absorbed and alienates his friends. Eventually, they confront him and he realizes that he’s been neglecting their friendship in pursuit of his online fame. He apologizes and they reconcile, but Ross has to make the decision whether to continue writing on Medium or to focus on his relationships with his friends.
At the end of the episode, Ross makes amends with everyone and they all hang out together like old times. However, he doesn’t completely give up on his writing and tells his friends that he’s going to take a more balanced approach and make time for both his writing and his friends. He also tells Joey that if he ever needs a writing partner, he is welcome to tag along, which Joey accepts with enthusiasm.
I’m curious, what would be Ross’s first article then?
A.I: (without a doubt) The title of Ross’s first article on Medium could be something like “Dinosaurs and Dating: Navigating the Jurassic Jungle of Love” or “From Fossils to Feelings: My Journey as a Paleontologist and a Single Man” or “Unearthing Love: Lessons from the Dig Site”.
We are in the middle of our interview, what picture should I add to the text?
AI: (quickly) A good picture to add to the text, would be one that visually represents building an audience and growing on Medium. Some examples could be:
- An image of a person holding a sign with the word “Audience” written on it.
- An image of a group of people gathered around a computer, represents community and engagement.
- An image of a person holding a microphone, representing the act of sharing and getting heard
- An image of a person reaching out to another person, represents connection and networking.
I’m wondering AI since Medium writers are paid per reading time, can I become rich if someone falls asleep whilst reading my article?
AI: (irritated) No, it is not possible to become rich on Medium by having someone fall asleep while reading your article and staying on it. Medium’s revenue-sharing program, which allows writers to earn money based on the engagement their articles receive, is based on a variety of metrics such as the number of views, reads, and claps.
Staying on an article for an extended period of time, such as when someone falls asleep, does not directly translate into generating revenue for the writer. It’s worth noting that Medium’s algorithm takes into account the engagement of the readers, like how long the readers spend reading the articles, but this is not the only factor that determines the revenue for the writer.
So why does Medium share how much time readers spent on an article if it doesn’t lead to earning more money?
AI: (confused) Medium shares the time spent by readers on an article as a way to provide writers with information about how engaged their audience is with their content. The time spent on an article is one of the metrics used by Medium to measure engagement, which can help writers understand how well their content is resonating with readers and identify areas for improvement.
It’s worth noting that Medium’s algorithm takes into account the engagement of the readers, like how long the readers spend reading the articles, as a factor that determines the visibility of the article on Medium’s platform and the revenue for the writer.
Additionally, Medium’s time spent metric is also useful for readers, as it helps them identify articles that are well-written and engaging, and not just those that are popular.
So, this is why I keep seeing articles by Tim Denning all the time?
AI: (frustrated) Tim Denning is a well-known writer on Medium, who writes about productivity, personal development, and entrepreneurship. He has built a large and engaged following on Medium, and his articles are often widely shared and promoted on social media. This can increase the visibility of his articles and make them more likely to be seen by Medium’s audience, which can lead to more views, reads, and claps.
Speaking of famous people, what would Jerry Seinfeld say about Medium writers?
AI: (taking the mic) “Hey, you know what’s funny? Medium writers. Yeah, they think they’re hot stuff, writing all day and getting views, but let me tell you, it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. They’re always talking about how they’re going to make it big, but let me tell you, most of them are just writing about their cat. And the worst part? They’re always asking for feedback, like, ‘Oh, did you like my article?’ No, I didn’t like your article, I just read it because I felt sorry for you.
And then there are the Medium writers who think they’re the next Hemingway. They’re always talking about their ‘craft’ and how they’re ‘finding their voice.’ But let me tell you, buddy, if you’re writing about your cat, you’re not Hemingway, you’re just a cat guy. And then there are the Medium writers who think they’re experts on everything. They write articles about how to be successful, how to make friends, and how to be happy.
And don’t even get me started on Medium writers who write about self-help. They think they’re going to help people, but let me tell you, if you’re writing self-help on Medium, you’re not helping anyone, you’re just making yourself feel better. But you know what? I’ll give Medium writers some credit. At least they’re trying. They’re out there, putting their thoughts and feelings out into the world. And that’s more than I can say for most people. So, Medium writers, keep on writing, just don’t quit your day job.”
Thanks for sharing your wisdom with us today AI.
AI: (smiling) You’re welcome! I’m glad I could help. I am always here to assist you with any questions you may have.
