Understanding Medium's New Blogroll Feature and Its Implications
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Chapter 1: Introduction to the Blogroll Feature
Have you heard about the latest addition to Medium's features? It’s the Blogroll! This functionality is quite common on blogging platforms such as WordPress and Blogger, yet it was previously absent on Medium.
To activate the Blogroll, just navigate to the design settings and enable the option. Voila! You’ll find it on your profile, conveniently located in the left sidebar, just beneath your bio.
Section 1.1: Limitations of the Current Blogroll
However, unlike traditional blogrolls that many writers are familiar with, Medium's version is not customizable at this time. Additionally, the initial display shows only a limited selection of members, which is understandable—imagine trying to showcase 200 members all at once!
Since few users are likely to click through to see the complete list of followers or scroll beyond the first twenty, it turns out that the algorithm, rather than the individual writer, determines who appears on their Blogroll.
Subsection 1.1.1: Algorithmic Preferences
So, which writers does the algorithm prioritize? It tends to highlight those who have published recently or whose work has garnered engagement from the users. This could evolve over time, but for now, it's crucial to pay attention to this aspect.
Section 1.2: The Shift in Medium's Business Model
What does the introduction of the Blogroll signify? Medium appears to be transitioning towards a more relational business model. The company is likely reducing its focus on in-house publications, as indicated by the changes in the search function and the rollout of Blogrolls.
The common thread among these changes is the emphasis on consistent and recent publishers—whether on an individual’s profile or within a publication. This aligns with how notifications have functioned for some time now.
Chapter 2: Key Insights from Medium's Evolution
The first video titled "How To Get 1,000 Daily Views On Medium.com Without Having An Audience" explains strategies for boosting your visibility on Medium, even if you’re starting from scratch.
Another video, "How to Start Writing on Medium - Medium For Blogging | Medium Article Writing," provides essential tips for new writers looking to establish themselves on the platform.
What are the implications of these updates? What lessons can we glean from these shifts?
Well, thankfully, the guiding principles remain unchanged!
- Write Regularly: Publishing consistently ensures that you appear in readers' networks, potentially making it onto their Blogrolls if they opt to enable the feature. So, keep writing!
- Engage with the Community: Reciprocity—an idea that Terry Mansfield expertly embodies—proves to be effective! Take action now!
- Stay Informed: Keep up with the latest features that Medium introduces. Whether you view these as essential tools or mere embellishments, it’s vital to be aware of them. This knowledge will help you decide how to best utilize them in your writing and profile. A great starting point is to check out the Medium and Medium Creators publications.
In conclusion, I hope this article has reinforced a crucial lesson:
Write.
Write more.
Read and respond.
And then, write some more!