Maximizing Earnings from Medium: My 100 Story Journey
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Chapter 1: Celebrating a Milestone
This month marks the publication of my 100th story on Medium. A heartfelt thank you to all my readers for your engagement and support! Initially, I hesitated to disclose my earnings, as they are modest and I prefer to keep my financial matters private. However, I believe sharing my experience might inspire some and provide useful insights for others regarding their content strategies.
Additionally, I plan to highlight not only my top-earning stories but also those that, in my opinion, deserve more recognition.
My Highest Earnings Over the Past Five Months
In December, I achieved my highest earnings despite it being a particularly hectic month in both my professional and personal life. Remarkably, I managed to publish an article each day. However, in January, my earnings took a hit, primarily because I didn't maintain a daily publishing schedule, with some weeks featuring only one story.
February and March followed a similar trend.
Key Takeaway: To enhance your earnings, aim for daily or even twice-daily postings unless your content provides groundbreaking insights and is at least ten minutes long.
Section 1.1: Audience Engagement Trends
An analysis of my audience stats indicates encouraging trends in both followers and email subscribers over recent months.
- Followers:
- There has been a steady increase in followers, suggesting a growing audience.
- The most significant jump occurred from November to December 2023, with an addition of 1,250 followers, indicating heightened interest during that time.
- While the growth rate varied, the overall trend points to positive audience engagement.
- Email Subscribers:
- The number of email subscribers also showed growth, albeit with some ups and downs.
- The notable rise of 11 subscribers from November to December 2023 correlates with the surge in followers.
- January saw no increase in subscribers, hinting at a potential plateau, but slight growth resumed in February and March.
Section 1.2: Insights from ChatGPT Analysis
After compiling the statistics from my stories, I utilized ChatGPT to draw some conclusions:
- Content Variety: My stories span a range of topics, including self-improvement, personal experiences, productivity, lifestyle, and entertainment. This experimentation allows me to connect with diverse audiences.
- Engagement vs. Earnings: There isn't a direct link between views and earnings. Some pieces with fewer views have generated higher income, while others with more views earned less. Engagement quality and content relevance are crucial factors.
- Story Length: My stories vary in reading time from 1 to 9 minutes. While longer stories may provide more depth, shorter ones also attracted attention, highlighting that quality is more significant than length.
- Publication Timing: Earnings fluctuated based on the month of publication, with November 2023 stories earning the most on average, although this could be coincidental.
- Resonant Themes: Certain themes, like self-improvement advice and personal reflections, have proven more appealing to readers. Focusing on these popular topics may enhance readership and earnings.
- Learning Through Experimentation: My writing journey reflects a commitment to experimenting with various topics, lengths, and styles. This approach is vital for understanding audience preferences and refining my content strategy.