Chapter 1: The Reality of Social Media

In today’s digital age, avoiding social media is nearly impossible for anyone, especially for creators.

Trigger Warning: This piece discusses monetizing digital content and the intricacies of writing. If that's not your interest, feel free to unfollow. Living in California, I face the everyday reality of expenses, and maintaining a lifestyle—like enjoying avocado toast—requires a steady income. My affection for money is not misplaced (though it ranks below my family and pets), as I aspire to live the life of my dreams, which, yes, comes with financial needs. 😎

For those unfamiliar with my background, I previously published extensively on Medium, often churning out five to eight articles weekly. Over the last two years, I’ve concentrated on blogging through WordPress, utilizing SEO strategies to secure positions in Google’s top search results.

My experience with Medium played a significant role in my ease with blogging and helped me attract organic traffic swiftly. I approached writing with the right mindset, learning from successful creators and committing to a consistent publishing schedule.

Medium taught me how to produce between 2,000 to 4,000 words daily—an achievable goal with discipline and dedication to regular writing sessions. Initially challenging, it becomes easier with practice, akin to building muscle through exercise.

Thanks to my Medium experience, I grew my content production from 4,000 words a day to writing blog posts of 5,000 to 10,000 words three to five times a week, leading to remarkable success. I amassed over 100,000 words on my blog in a brief period (no, I did not rely on AI to generate this content).

I emphasize results because they speak volumes. I frequently share screenshots of my performance metrics, as it continues to astonish me how many individuals market courses without tangible proof of their efficacy. Many creators promote outdated materials while failing to disclose their ineffectiveness, often targeting novices who lack critical knowledge.

The digital landscape changes rapidly, shaped by algorithms that dictate visibility and engagement. The more experienced you become in this space, the better you can identify those who mislead or fabricate claims to attract paying customers.

Data is crucial. It informs us about what strategies yield results and which do not. My approach is heavily data-driven, as I aim to maximize my limited time for quick wins in monetizing content.

As for writing about earning money on Medium, it’s no longer a reliable income source. In the past, I profited significantly from my contributions, publishing multiple times a week and seeing solid monthly returns. You can still find my earlier writings on this topic under my profile, complete with evidence of my success, which was more due to algorithmic favor than my writing prowess.

But then, Medium altered its algorithm.

Social media is for growth; email is for profit.

Medium operates as a social media platform, designed to keep users engaged. These platforms, much like characters in a story, will go to great lengths to retain users. For instance, tech moguls like Zuckerberg and Musk engineer their platforms to limit user migration, preferring to keep you glued to their sites.

Consequently, sharing links on these platforms often fails to drive meaningful traffic to independent publishers. This led me to focus on Google, where SEO once allowed for effective ranking. However, Google's recent changes have pushed bloggers to rely more on social media traffic than ever.

Flipboard stands out as a unique platform that supports publishers. It offers a space where creators can consistently drive traffic back to their sites, reminiscent of Pinterest's functionality.

My motto, "Social media is for growth, email is for profit," rings truer than ever following Google's September 2023 Helpful Content Update, which has impacted blogger visibility in search results.

Since my departure from Medium, I have dedicated two years to mastering SEO, achieving significant organic traffic through Google—until the Helpful Content Update hit. Google seems to be categorizing blogs as "unhelpful," which negatively impacts those who have adhered to established SEO practices.

In six months, I scaled from zero traffic to over 10,000 monthly sessions, only to face another shakeup in Google's ranking criteria.

So, I pivot. Adaptability is key in this field. I’ve since launched two additional blogs, driven by a passion for creativity.

Successful entrepreneurs possess the ability to pivot effectively when circumstances shift, maintaining minimal emotional fallout. Contrastingly, individuals like Musk may exhibit erratic behavior due to their vast wealth, navigating the consequences of their actions with relative ease.

Occasionally, I’ll share insights on Medium about my ventures outside that platform—perhaps once a month, or even less frequently—when the topic resonates with me, such as exploring success on platforms like Google, Flipboard, and Pinterest, or discussing writing, content creation, and the ethical use of AI.

While on-page SEO has evolved, the silver lining is that Google is simplifying its ranking criteria, reducing the need for exhaustive SEO tool analyses. Now, the emphasis is on creating quality content tailored to the audience.

By focusing on our readers, everyone benefits. Follow me on Flipboard!

Chapter 2: Understanding On-Page SEO Changes

In this video titled "How to Optimize a Page for SEO," learn about the latest strategies and techniques to enhance your web content effectively.

The second video, "SEO On-Page Optimization 101," provides foundational knowledge on optimizing your web pages for better search engine ranking.