Three Ways To Get More Readers
Use these strategies on Medium or anywhere readers gather
By now, you’ve heard that Medium changed the way it measures engagement.
Radically.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing. Today I hope to give you some ways that will improve your odds of success.
Sound good?
First, an analogy.
Writing on Medium is a lot like playing a board game.
Medium created the game (platform) back in 2012. They invited writers to play and make moves on the platform. As time went by, they learned that some of the rules of the game needed updating.
So they changed the rules.
They can because they own the game board.
We can play by the rules and win. Or we can make up our own rules and get disqualified.
As in any situation like this, we have a say, but we don’t get a vote.
Now let’s look at how to get people to read our posts all the way to the end, shall we?
Here’s an acrostic that will help you remember the points.
V.I.P.
And those letters will probably make you feel good, too.
By the time you reach the end, you’ll know you’ve got this.
V is for Value.
The key when you write is to add value to a reader’s life. Whether you teach or tell stories, your readers are looking for something. Entertainment. A better way to make money. A way to solve a problem or get rid of some pain.
Deliver that, and interested people will read — guaranteed.
And be sure to ADD value. What I mean is, don’t just repeat what other writers are saying. Give us your spin. Don’t recycle someone else’s words and message. Bring your own. Give us a compelling reason to come to you — because you’re the only one who is saying it that way.
I is for Intrigue.
Sounds straight of a spy novel, huh?
TV shows do this. When we watch American Idol or The Masked Singer and they get ready to announce the winners, they put off the actual announcement until the end of the show. But they give you pieces to grab along the way so you’ll keep watching.
Cliffhangers aren’t just for stories.
Drop clues to show us what’s ahead. If they’re attractive, they’re like a magnet drawing the reader to the last word.
If it’s really good, we’ll look for more.
P is for Personal.
Think of your reader as a friend, not a number on your stats board.
You wouldn’t go to coffee and talk to your buddy like you’d write an English paper. You’d have a conversation.
By the way, if you’re not sure your copy sounds conversational, read it out loud before you publish.
If you can, have a friend read it and give you feedback.
Remember, you’re writing for humans. SEO is great, but even that is fed by humans looking for things. It’s better to imagine someone reading your work than it is to imagine what it looks like in print.
That’s it. Now go out and be a Medium VIP!
