Medium Is Changing Again
So is Vocal. Interesting, no?
Happy Friday…
Yesterday I got an email from the folks at Medium. It said that when they gave that first $500 bonus back in April, it was intended to be a one time thing.
But then, the response was so enthusiastic, they decided to do it again in May. They said they’re going to do it again for June and July. Then it will be over.
The really interesting part was at the very bottom of the email.
Here’s what it said…
In August, we'll announce more writer programs and Partner Program updates. In the meantime, thank you for all that you bring to our vibrant community — we can't wait to see what you write this summer!
I’m sure it’s going to be interesting (might be sarcasm) to watch as people jump all over that, trying to predict the changes for yuks and views.
Once the changes are announced, there will be a glut of people giving advice before they’ve taken the time to learn how the changes actually shake out. Because, that’s how people be.
Here’s where it gets interesting…
Vocal is making changes, too. They launched an affiliate program not long ago and it’s super easy. You just add your affiliate tag after any url on the site. No need to log in and get specific links, you can link to anything and get paid for referrals.
They’ve also announced two upcoming changes.
1) The ability to “follow” writers is in development.
2) The ability to “bookmark” posts is in development.
I suspect followers will be a game-changer for them. Because right now, no one can follow a specific writer’s work over there. Which means if someone likes my writing, they can’t follow me. Or you, for that matter.
Currently, the only way for readers to find the writers they like is to hunt them down every time. Because the homepage is totally random. When following goes live, it’s going to change a lot over there.
Vocal already offers two things Medium does not offer.
1) Writing challenges that pay significant cash prizes
2) They pay for both internal and external reads.
There can only be two?
There’s a theory in marketing that every competitive industry will eventually narrow down to two primary contenders.
That’s not to say there aren’t other companies in the same space. Just that two always rise to the top. Coke and Pepsi. That sort of thing.
Will that be Medium and Vocal?
I suspect NewsBreak shot themselves in the foot when they decided to switch to local content and started asking applicants to submit a resume for consideration.
They feel a bit flash in the pan to me. I could be wrong, because I never did write there. But I don’t see it splashed all over Medium anymore. Tons of people were talking about NewsBreak when they had the initial big payout guarantees, but I don’t hear much now that those are gone. It’s like the radar has gone silent.
Is Medium changing in response to Vocal?
No idea. It’s possible. I’m sure they are both on each other’s radar more than either one is saying. They seem to be the two that are rising to the top.
Regardless what changes they both have coming, it feels like it’s a great time to be a writer. The best time to start was a year ago. Next best time is now.
Are you on either platform? If yes, which one and how’s it going?
:)
What I wrote this week…
Thought for the day…
The greatest thing in this world is not so much where we stand as in what direction we are moving. —Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
Clicking the ❤ is free and a nice way to say you enjoy my writing. :)
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Have a great weekend…
xo,
Linda
So much to comment on here but first? I need to tell you that this morning when I opened my Medium app the FIRST story that popped up was....wait for it....
"Medium Bonuses Will Be Gone by August."
😂😂 It's starting already.
I'm on both, but I've stopped submitting things to Vocal. It's been a huge disappointment. I've entered about 10 challenges and posted over 50 stories. My reads have generated less than $7.00. I haven't even come close to winning a challenge and when I read the winning entries, I'm often surprised by them: a story with the phrase "the rain went pitter pat" and sonnets with too many lines and an inaccurate rhyming pattern, for instance. The chances of beating 8,000 or more people for a prize are not very good. Anyone can read as much as they like for free on Vocal, so the only incentive to subscribe is access to the challenges. Therefore, only writers are paying in. Readers can give tips to writers, but if that ever happens to me, I'll collapse in shock. It feels like writers are being exploited. I make much more on Medium. I will not renew my Vocal membership.