How Quickly Did This Happen?

I began my writing journey when I had around 400 followers. It took me just two months to reach the 1,000 mark from there. On average, I gained about 10 new followers each day, with some spikes—especially during times when my work was featured, peaking at around 20 followers daily.

Recently, I ramped up my output by focusing on long-form content and posting multiple stories each day. This shift has led to a growth rate of 20 to 30 new followers daily. Over the past few days, I've noticed a promising trend. My advice? Once you’ve built a substantial body of work—around 100 or more articles—and maintain consistent daily writing, the Medium algorithm seems to start recommending your content more frequently. I’ve heard similar experiences from other writers: a slow start followed by significant growth. While I can’t provide concrete proof, I currently have 164 stories on the platform and nearly 2,000 comments, predominantly on my own pieces. It's exciting to see my follower count increase organically.

Does Engagement Really Make a Difference?

Absolutely! Engagement positively influences new views and reads, though the correlation with gaining followers can be inconsistent. For over a month, I’ve monitored my interactions and the resulting follower counts. On average, out of 10 new interactions, about 2 or 3 writers chose to follow me afterward.

So, if I gain 10 new followers each day, only 2 to 3 typically result from my engagements. The majority come from readers who discover my stories. However, this isn’t a strict rule; I’m selective about who I engage with. I’ve observed that when I connect with new writers, they often choose to follow me in return.

Do Followers Impact Reads and Views?

I believe they do, but primarily for those followers who are: actively writing, regularly reading, and checking their "following" tab. Hence, it’s crucial to be discerning about who you engage with:

• You can gauge their writing frequency through their profiles.
• You can see their reading habits from recent comments on other stories.

Pro Tip: Try to engage with other writers before you publish a new story. This strategy increases the likelihood of your work being read when they visit your profile.

Do Followers Affect Earnings?

In short, yes, but only if you can entice them to read your content. Why is this important? Because Medium emphasizes this in their guidelines.

So how do you encourage them to read your stories?

1. The Ineffective Way: Tagging them without a valid reason, which should be done sparingly. Medium disapproves of excessive tagging, and even if it were acceptable, it’s not a sustainable strategy. It may offer a brief spike in views, but that’s it.
2. The Effective Way: Engage with active individuals; some will follow you and read your stories, especially if your content is valuable and engaging.
3. An Even Better Approach: Discover writers whose work you enjoy, follow them, and hope they reciprocate. Regularly read their content, and they will likely return the favor, especially if they appreciate your writing. This method helps you cultivate loyal readers.

If you're part of Friends of Medium, consider joining my publication, CREATIVETECH Friends, designed specifically for FOMs to support each other’s growth. I also share standout stories from fellow FOM writers on social media, and I’ve noticed many in our community do the same.

Should I Follow First?

Generally, no—unless I’m genuinely impressed by someone’s work. Most often, those who catch my interest follow me back.

Tracking My Learning Journey

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Yana

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