Mom…..Is Medium Mad At Me
How I Almost Lost My Account…..After A Week
I am a salesman. I always have been a salesman. When I started my Medium account, I did what I always do, sell. I heavily promoted my stories whether on twitter or simple plugs in Medium comments. My enthusiasm to grow my new blog almost ended my writing career before it began. In truth, I was doing something we all have done. I guess I just over did it.
“You are a shitty lawyer, Howard, but you are a great salesman.”
Saul Goodman
I just learned how claps work two days ago and finally became comfortable navigating the less than intuitive site (don’t get me started about the app). I wrote 5 articles, gained 50 followers in 5 days, and made a few, very cool, new friends. Things were going better than I could have expected.
Until…. I didn’t know it was possible but I think…. I pissed Medium off.
I heard the email sound on my phone and thought, “probably spam”. When I saw Medium pop up I thought. “Holy shit! I’m getting curated.” I’m sure you all would have as well (unless of course you are realistic). Imagine my surprise when I got a compliance email.
In Medium’s defense, I’m sure I commented and followed more than average. When I do something, I tend to do it. I get addicted and go wild. The same has happened with writing on Medium. It all started with a story about monks on meth. I didn’t think I would get views let alone reads, but I did. Now the numbers for Holy Rollers Rolling High are barely in the double digits, but I got reads. Even better than reads, I got engagement. Then I realized engagement is how you get followers.
I started reading massive amounts of articles on Medium. My job is dependent on the weather, and we have had a week of rain. So, I have been here on medium reading and engaging up to 20 articles a day
Now I’m from the south. In the south if there’s a guest book you sign it. Ain’t your mamma ever learned you nothin’?
That’s how I saw the comments section. A guest book. It was a chance for me to say “Hey, I’m a real person and I read your article”
My first goal on Medium was, and still is, to hit 100 followers to be able to join The Medium Partner Program. Naturally, I started to read as many of the seemingly endless articles on gaining followers as I possibly could.
There seems to be two ways of thinking when it comes to getting followers. Follow for follow, or engaging with people that want to read your articles. I chose the latter, and off I went commenting like a mad mad.
I would like to add, each comment was unique to the article. The problem was I was writing the same phrase at the end. It was close enough they thought I was copy and pasting.
“I’m a new writer on medium starting my 100 follower climb! If you have time, check out my stories. I would love some feedback!” The No Life King
I honestly thought this was harmless. I thought engagement was “the right way to do it”. I never typed follow for follow. If I mentioned 100 followers it was on an article about getting 100 followers.
I have read countless articles on Medium outlining how they gamed the system, and got 100 followers in a ridiculously short amount of time. I wonder if they got the same scrutiny.
What about Twitter? I did copy and paste to twitter. To my writer friends who follow me, I’m sorry for what you saw there. I don’t really care about Twitter. I made an new account to go with my nom de plume. I quickly got 200 followers “cheating”. Then I blasted my articles all over twitter in the hopes of getting a read here or there. There’s always a shameless self promotion post #writerslft. If the article was shocking enough, it worked pretty good….for views. Twitter people can barely read. They have Tik Tok attention spans. They don’t want to read my seven minute long story. I get it, but you do *cough* shameless plug *cough*.
I really enjoy writing, and Medium is the best place to do it. When I found out it existed, I bought in. I paid the $5 without question. I started writing and I haven’t stopped. I never intended to break the guidelines and aim only to produce quality content.
What did I do in response to this email of injustice? I called in the calvary, got my lawyer on the case, and staged a protest at Medium headquarters. The Free Speech Matters protest erupted on the capital and as we speak is spreading across the country.
Sadly, that’s a lie. It would have made a better story. I did what we all would have. I went to my comments, I edited a bunch, and deleted others. I responded to their email and asked for more information. Though I tried to, I could not resist the urge to ask Medium support for a read and some feedback. If they provide it, I will keep you all updated. I hope I’m in compliance now. If I disappear come looking for your King.
Sincerely The No Life King
P.s. I’m a new writer on Medium making my 100 follower climb. If you have time check out my new story. I would appreciate some feedback!
