Why I no Longer Post to Medium
To all my fans and followers on here.
I am sorry. Let us hope that this piece of content actually gets delivered to you, which is part of the point of the post. Today is farewell, and an explanation as to why! </3
The Good Ol’ days are gone
My start on Medium was quite a long time ago as I for sure have been on since about 2017, but I’m thinking it may have been a bit beforehand. Point being I’ve been around for a while, and have posted 115 stories. Granted a couple dozen of those were comments.
I joined because I had yet to really grasp the power of Wordpress at the time (WP.com was my first blog, and now I’m on WP.org). Medium allowed me to create my blogs on a hosted place, and the chance for virality was a great addition.
I actually liked it at first, and it wasn’t until later that I realized some of the greater features like publications, importing, and MEMBERSHIPS. Let it be known I do not write for money, I write to create quality content, and in turn that may lead to money. However first and foremost I want to create a quality piece of knowledge shared.
Also little complaint there was NO information at the time on Medium’s own website explaining those tools, and I only found out about them through third party content. Even now it is not much better on the communication front on their end.
Frustrations Galore
Medium is strict. Much more strict than you might first think as well, and that greatly hinders your ability to grow. Now it is easy to follow their directions if you know what they are, but for new bloggers on the scene it is really confusing. Now that they are pushing the memberships a lot more (which I’ll get to later), it is even worse for viability.
Taking the High Road
Regardless of your position of creating paid only posts, they are a wall to your viewers, and that is never good if you want to grow a relationship with your following. Creating content isn’t about making money, it is about creating a connection with someone, and more importantly solving their problem. If you do it well enough, then monetization happens as you go. Although that is not the point.
P.S. I am not against making money, I am an entrepreneur after all, but I am against forcing people.
So if you wanted to create free posts, before you were able to get reach, and now that the platform has become a bit more saturated; Medium needed to find a more “sustainable” business model. OR perhaps just wanted to make more money, not sure which is true. Now your free posts will only be distributed to your followers, and maybe found if they pop up in search.
They will not send it out into the ecosystem of distribution unless it is behind a paywall.
Why don’t you go with the Flow?
I could totally make paid posts, or syndicate my main blog’s content to free posts. However I don’t feel that would be in my best interest, and really the best interest of the viewer. I think that the platform is experiencing a sense of greed. That may sound harsh, but I feel that it is true. If you disagree that is perfectly fine, it is simply my intuition that makes me think that.
I do not feel that it aligns with the core ideology of the PolyInnovator or United Living Construct brands.
Syndication
The one problem with reposting your content here is SEO. Yes you can put canonical links to your original posts, but Medium doesn’t like that. You can get penalized on the platform if they feel like you are taking traffic away from them. YouTube does the same thing if they think your video is too outward centric.
Secondly, in regards to search engines, Medium’s SEO rankings are more than likely stronger than your own website’s. Meaning that the same post will more likely pop up under medium, instead of your site, which that is no good.
Lastly, even though you are putting a canonical link, Google can still think it is duplicate content. Which considering Medium’s ranking factor could penalize YOUR site.
My Contact with Medium
I have emailed the platform at least three times, maybe four, over the past two years. I could see the changes happening, and I realized what they were doing. I also felt concerned about the paywall model.
Bear in mind I do think that having a paywall is okay, but the way they implemented it was subpar. Personally I am going with a Patreon or Uhmi model, where certain pieces of content is hidden behind that membership paywall. However I think the amount of free content is going to out number the paid 3 to 1. I want to make my members feel valued, so there are going to be other ways of creating a special connection with them.
Without leaving my free subscribers in the dust.
Back to the point
Every. Time. I contacted the platform they were extremely late in response, usually somewhat rude, and generally it was pretty copy pasted.
Not really even acknowledging the actual issue at hand, simply redirecting to an on site resource “explaining” the situation. Which mind you their articles are rather vague in some areas.
P.S. I am working on my own site’s documentation today, and I am making sure to make things as detailed as I can.
With All of this together
I really don’t feel comfortable posting here. Even writing this post I am worried about the negative response from the platform.
More importantly I am feeling bad to the people who have followed me on here, and the publications I created.
Both of my publications are going to get new lives elsewhere. PolyInnovator is my personal brand, and has been my main focus for now. Down the line when I am ready to relaunch ulcweb.tech and the U.L.C. as a whole I will make it new.
I really hope ALL of you stay in touch. I will be putting all my socials, links to new blogs, everything below so that I can make it easier for you.
In the Meantime…
Check out my brand new website! :D ❤
https://polyinnovator.space/
New Blogs
LinkedIn Articles (Pulse) ^
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We must stand for what we believe in, for if we stay stagnant then what does that make of us? -Dustin M.
