The problem isn't platforms so much. It's us. We're essentially boring creatures who are overwhelmingly concerned with ourselves, and so where ever we congregate is going to turn in to some version of turd pile sooner or later. Forums, Facebook, Twitter, Reddit.... We're a locust swarm who descends upon every new platform, trashes it, blames the trash on the platform, and then swarms off in search of new territory to consume.
That said, your decision to self host using open source software is wise. If I wasn't so old and lazy, and hadn't done all this way too many times already, I'd do the same.
As regards the panel, I'd like to know more about how and what to write to grow on Medium.
I don't mean "how to get rich" or "how to get viral" on Medium. I'd like to know where the platform is going, what kind of content will be rewarded, how to make readers happy and see my reach grow proportionately to my efforts.
This is likely not to make the cut, but someone needs to pay attention to accessibility. Platforms like Medium do not make it easy for blind and low vision writers to use the platform the same as everyone else. Multiple emails to tech support fall on deaf ears. If you have a relationship with Tony, please help me send this sentiment to his attention for consideration. The platform should be adjusted to work with screen reading technology so that blind and low vision writers can write, tag, and attach images independent of sighted assistance.
I’m glad to hear you’re creating a panel discussion as part of Medium Day. I would love it to feature WC authors and/or other pub editors who discuss how they use their Medium articles to attract readers and potential freelance clients or customers who purchase their digital products or coaching services. It would be great to hear more details about the journeys of people who now earn enough from writing, products, coaching, etc to fully support themselves. I’m especially interested in hearing what they did to move from zero income, followers, and email subscribers to the level of success they now enjoy, how long it took, and how they survived financially along the way. I’d love for the panel to include people who have successfully pivoted from other careers and whose writing, products, and courses aren’t exclusively about how to make money writing.
Substack not having an API is not a conscious decision to keep the content behind a walled garden for two reasons. The first is that Substack is not a walled garden or closed system. Facebook and Instagram are walled gardens. You get a preview, and then you must create an account. Substack does not decide what content the public sees without a login. It's all public until an author decides otherwise, and if they decide to leave, then they can take both the subscribers and content with them. You can't take your social media content and followers with you if you leave. The second reason they don't have an API is because it's expensive, time consuming and requires another layer of security management. I work as a software architect, and I can tell you it has no real benefit for them. An API is a sunk cost that requires dedicated engineers, costly infrastructure and a new business design for user engagement with that content outside of Substack. I doubt they're trying to "protect" their IP or content.
I’d like to know how the “little” writers can make it on Medium, and how we can increase the demand for poetry, or get our other pieces boosted. Even with 1575+ followers, I’ve made $4.01 this month, published a chapbook of poetry that sold a total of 10 copies and all that took me since March 2021. I’ve been told by several people I have a talent for writing, especially poetry, but you wouldn’t know by looking at my numbers. It’s discouraging.
Would love to see a panel on how to use Generative AI and it’s tools and how not to use it in writing. Understanding how the technology will evolve and how to manage the risks - bias, toxicity, hallucinations etc of these technologies would be great. The topic of automated CS human content moderation would also come into play.
Hi Justin - really glad you are to host a session.
I 2nd Georgia’s idea of getting the survey data from Tony
I’d like to see a panel of editors talking through the decision points for what they include - going beyond the specs for submission of course
I know you don’t speak for Medium but like Nancy and others I would also love more context on boosting, curation, and paywall to understand better how to work on Medium
I sometimes feels as if I'm in a "silo" and that no one can read my work unless they're a follower or have typed in a "keyword." I'm wondering if there's a way to have articles on more than one publication or exposure to a wider readership that I might be missing. Maybe "cross-pollinate" isn't the correct term. It's really about getting more visibility. Boosting is a great start, but it's reliant on someone else's opinion of your piece.
I second the comment from Alberto. I'd like to learn more about how to grow on Medium. I feel there should be a way to cross-pollinate my stories on the platform. Also, what types of stories get "boosted." I had a story get boosted and it was a GREAT experience with lost of readers and comments. It's not about the money; it's about growing on the platform that interests me.
I think a OA el about the platforms and what’s good for what would be hugely helpful. I’ve started my own blog and newsletter again and repost to substack, medium, and LinkedIn. Is it worth the time? How long should I do it before deciding if it’s worth all the effort? And I can’t even begin to think about things like Reddit. Just basically what’s out there and what do you/the panel see as being important over the next 5 years. Thanks.
Thanks for posting, Justin. It's just that replacing Substack with your own site may be a solution in terms of ownership over your content. But authors like me are primarily interested in Substack for the connection and the potential audience building.
Moving my content on my own site is no big deal, I can do it anytime. I own the content anyway, it's on my laptop, in the cloud, I can export it from Substack etc. etc etc. But the move would raise a different, bigger issue for me, because I'd have to replace not the content storage, but the engagement.
Hey Justin, The survey Tony sent with his first announcement covered a lot of expectations and intentions kinds of questions. Specifically, he asked everyone to name a few favorite Medium leaders among publishers and I put your name up. Beyond that, my only suggestion is that you make Tony give you all of the data and responses from his survey and make your presentation the "color commentary" of what you write, already, and all of the time. For me, stay away from how to lists, tactics, and stories of others and their hyped up success stories. Instead, talk about Medium as a viable choice as a business investment for the long game. Medium, is, another platform that I, the writer and publisher, do not own. Their business goals and bank account are not shared with me. Talk about why we need each other.
Could you please discuss content moderation? I was bounced from Medium twice for not obeying their content moderation directives during covid-19. I am curious as to how you think it best to handle this. As I am no longer a paying member of Medium, I wonder if I can even access this event?
Could you please discuss content moderation? I was bounced from Medium twice for not obeying their content moderation directives during covid-19. I am curious as to how you think it best to handle this. As I am no longer a paying member of Medium, I wonder if I can even access this event?
Another Platform Collapses
The problem isn't platforms so much. It's us. We're essentially boring creatures who are overwhelmingly concerned with ourselves, and so where ever we congregate is going to turn in to some version of turd pile sooner or later. Forums, Facebook, Twitter, Reddit.... We're a locust swarm who descends upon every new platform, trashes it, blames the trash on the platform, and then swarms off in search of new territory to consume.
That said, your decision to self host using open source software is wise. If I wasn't so old and lazy, and hadn't done all this way too many times already, I'd do the same.
As regards the panel, I'd like to know more about how and what to write to grow on Medium.
I don't mean "how to get rich" or "how to get viral" on Medium. I'd like to know where the platform is going, what kind of content will be rewarded, how to make readers happy and see my reach grow proportionately to my efforts.
This is likely not to make the cut, but someone needs to pay attention to accessibility. Platforms like Medium do not make it easy for blind and low vision writers to use the platform the same as everyone else. Multiple emails to tech support fall on deaf ears. If you have a relationship with Tony, please help me send this sentiment to his attention for consideration. The platform should be adjusted to work with screen reading technology so that blind and low vision writers can write, tag, and attach images independent of sighted assistance.
Hi Justin,
I’m glad to hear you’re creating a panel discussion as part of Medium Day. I would love it to feature WC authors and/or other pub editors who discuss how they use their Medium articles to attract readers and potential freelance clients or customers who purchase their digital products or coaching services. It would be great to hear more details about the journeys of people who now earn enough from writing, products, coaching, etc to fully support themselves. I’m especially interested in hearing what they did to move from zero income, followers, and email subscribers to the level of success they now enjoy, how long it took, and how they survived financially along the way. I’d love for the panel to include people who have successfully pivoted from other careers and whose writing, products, and courses aren’t exclusively about how to make money writing.
Substack not having an API is not a conscious decision to keep the content behind a walled garden for two reasons. The first is that Substack is not a walled garden or closed system. Facebook and Instagram are walled gardens. You get a preview, and then you must create an account. Substack does not decide what content the public sees without a login. It's all public until an author decides otherwise, and if they decide to leave, then they can take both the subscribers and content with them. You can't take your social media content and followers with you if you leave. The second reason they don't have an API is because it's expensive, time consuming and requires another layer of security management. I work as a software architect, and I can tell you it has no real benefit for them. An API is a sunk cost that requires dedicated engineers, costly infrastructure and a new business design for user engagement with that content outside of Substack. I doubt they're trying to "protect" their IP or content.
I’d like to know how the “little” writers can make it on Medium, and how we can increase the demand for poetry, or get our other pieces boosted. Even with 1575+ followers, I’ve made $4.01 this month, published a chapbook of poetry that sold a total of 10 copies and all that took me since March 2021. I’ve been told by several people I have a talent for writing, especially poetry, but you wouldn’t know by looking at my numbers. It’s discouraging.
Would love to see a panel on how to use Generative AI and it’s tools and how not to use it in writing. Understanding how the technology will evolve and how to manage the risks - bias, toxicity, hallucinations etc of these technologies would be great. The topic of automated CS human content moderation would also come into play.
Agreed.
Hi Justin - really glad you are to host a session.
I 2nd Georgia’s idea of getting the survey data from Tony
I’d like to see a panel of editors talking through the decision points for what they include - going beyond the specs for submission of course
I know you don’t speak for Medium but like Nancy and others I would also love more context on boosting, curation, and paywall to understand better how to work on Medium
I sometimes feels as if I'm in a "silo" and that no one can read my work unless they're a follower or have typed in a "keyword." I'm wondering if there's a way to have articles on more than one publication or exposure to a wider readership that I might be missing. Maybe "cross-pollinate" isn't the correct term. It's really about getting more visibility. Boosting is a great start, but it's reliant on someone else's opinion of your piece.
I second the comment from Alberto. I'd like to learn more about how to grow on Medium. I feel there should be a way to cross-pollinate my stories on the platform. Also, what types of stories get "boosted." I had a story get boosted and it was a GREAT experience with lost of readers and comments. It's not about the money; it's about growing on the platform that interests me.
I think a OA el about the platforms and what’s good for what would be hugely helpful. I’ve started my own blog and newsletter again and repost to substack, medium, and LinkedIn. Is it worth the time? How long should I do it before deciding if it’s worth all the effort? And I can’t even begin to think about things like Reddit. Just basically what’s out there and what do you/the panel see as being important over the next 5 years. Thanks.
Thanks for posting, Justin. It's just that replacing Substack with your own site may be a solution in terms of ownership over your content. But authors like me are primarily interested in Substack for the connection and the potential audience building.
Moving my content on my own site is no big deal, I can do it anytime. I own the content anyway, it's on my laptop, in the cloud, I can export it from Substack etc. etc etc. But the move would raise a different, bigger issue for me, because I'd have to replace not the content storage, but the engagement.
Hey Justin, The survey Tony sent with his first announcement covered a lot of expectations and intentions kinds of questions. Specifically, he asked everyone to name a few favorite Medium leaders among publishers and I put your name up. Beyond that, my only suggestion is that you make Tony give you all of the data and responses from his survey and make your presentation the "color commentary" of what you write, already, and all of the time. For me, stay away from how to lists, tactics, and stories of others and their hyped up success stories. Instead, talk about Medium as a viable choice as a business investment for the long game. Medium, is, another platform that I, the writer and publisher, do not own. Their business goals and bank account are not shared with me. Talk about why we need each other.
Could you please discuss content moderation? I was bounced from Medium twice for not obeying their content moderation directives during covid-19. I am curious as to how you think it best to handle this. As I am no longer a paying member of Medium, I wonder if I can even access this event?
Could you please discuss content moderation? I was bounced from Medium twice for not obeying their content moderation directives during covid-19. I am curious as to how you think it best to handle this. As I am no longer a paying member of Medium, I wonder if I can even access this event?