Unlocking the Secrets to Writing a Viral Article on Medium
Written on
Chapter 1: Introduction to Viral Writing
During my initial three months of writing on Medium, I immersed myself in numerous articles aimed at enhancing writing skills. A recurring theme in these discussions was the quest to achieve "viral" status for a story on Medium. I set out with the goal of making one of my articles go viral, though I was uncertain of what that entailed.
To my delight, I achieved this with one of my recent pieces, which gained visibility through Google's algorithm and has continued to attract views and generate income even two months after its release.
Viral Article Performance and Earnings
In the past three months, my article titled “Region-Beta Paradox: Why We Get Stuck in 'Not So Bad' Situations” has garnered:
Photo courtesy of Author
Though 500 views and approximately $3 in earnings may not seem significant, this represents over three times the engagement and revenue compared to my previous top-performing piece. Remarkably, most of these views originated from external sources such as Google and email.
Photo courtesy of Author
This was the most surprising aspect of the results; being featured in Google’s algorithm allowed my article to be discovered and shared more widely than my earlier pieces. Here’s what I learned and how you can apply these insights to enhance your own articles' visibility and engagement.
Write About What Sparks Your Interest
It's essential to write in your authentic voice and focus on topics that genuinely intrigue you. Over the past months, I've explored various subjects, which played a crucial role in crafting my viral article. I first learned about the Region-Beta Paradox through a podcast and became eager to delve deeper into the phenomenon. This genuine curiosity led me to create a thorough and engaging article on the topic.
A helpful guideline is that if something piques your interest, it likely resonates with others as well. Identify the subjects you’re passionate about and write extensively or from a unique angle on those.
SEO for Titles and Descriptions
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is vital for online writing, but how does it function on Medium? Here are a couple of strategies to enhance your Medium articles' SEO:
- Title & Description: Your title should accurately reflect your content and include relevant keywords that potential readers might search for. For instance, if you’re writing a beginner's guide to Italian cooking, include terms like “risotto,” “recipe,” and “beginner” to attract more searches.
- Medium SEO Settings: Medium offers tools for managing your external SEO. Access these by clicking the three dots (…) next to “Submit” and selecting “More settings.” Scroll down to the SEO descriptions and tailor them to suit your article:
Photo courtesy of Author
Updating these settings can significantly enhance your article's searchability both internally and externally.
Consistency is Key
What’s the best strategy for increasing the likelihood of going viral? Consistent writing and ongoing improvement. While it might not be a quick route to massive views, it is a proven way to grow your audience and hone your writing skills. Many writers have produced numerous articles before achieving viral status.
Was it ten? Twenty-five? Fifty? It’s unlikely that it was just one. Each piece you write helps you understand which topics to focus on. Regardless of your current stage in writing, the essential action is to keep publishing and learning. With persistence and effort, your chances of achieving viral success will rise.
Chapter 2: Key Video Insights
The first video, "Your Story Will GO VIRAL If You Learn This," provides valuable insights into making your articles more engaging and shareable.
The second video, "How I Cracked the Passive Income Code on Medium ($6,000 from ONE article!)," shares strategies for generating substantial income through a single article on Medium.