Walter, I don't know if you have Tony's ear, but there's a reason so many big writers have left Medium for Substack and I plan to be the latest.
*The Boost is KILLING the site.*
I've brought countless subs, I do 120,000 views per month on 5-minute reads that have 80%+ retention, and my RPM has gone from $70 prior to the MPP changes, to $30 immediately after, to $16 in December and $10 over the past few days.
It's a slap in the face.
When you pay $20,000 for one article, it takes so much money out of the pool that the marquee writers who made the site what it is start to wonder what they're grinding for when they're seeing their pay drop every single month.
Keep the Boost if you want, but remove that ridiculous 10x pay escalator.
Hi James, feel your pain. For Michelle (and some more from the Online Writing Club, incl Walter, the Boost made them stay and really helped them financially and as motivation boost). I see both sides of the coin. Sorry to hear about your lower earnings.
Medium is changing all the time. Who knows what 2025 brings :)
I've seen a lot of people get really excited about getting Boosted early and then quitting because it didn't happen again. Lots saying Boosts are drying up.
Not the way to attract long-term, consistent, quality writers imo!
Hello James! Thanks for your comment. Unfortunately I don't have a seat at the table that makes those decisions. I've seen Boost evolve a lot over the last year and a half. Sometimes the changes benefit me and sometimes they benefit others. My own Boost rate has gone down lately, but I still get quite a few nominations through, so I think the program has value. I expect it will continue to evolve, so I hope it will become more equitable in the future. This is a great subject to talk about at length, thanks for leaving your response.
I started writing on Medium beginning of 2024. I started really well and had about one or two pieces boosted each month. Then around October or November it just stopped. I barely get any views anymore. Since then I haven't written anything new for medium and I'm just posting my substack articles on medium, which I know aren't really the right articles to get a boost but honestly I can't be bothered anymore to put in any effort to get only a couple views.
Oops this turned out more negative then I intended sorry.
Hi Sophie, remember your wonderful boosted pieces. I'd keep writing on Medium and not only repurposing. Your vital hit could be around the corner although I also see you're having good success here.
Did you hear about my VIP member program? If love to help you become a bestseller in 2025! You got what it takes and I know you from the Bootcamp
That's okay Sophie, you're actually doing the right thing. I still have the occasional article take off and do well on Medium. Sometimes I'm completely surprised by what will do well. It's worth taking the time to post on both sites!
I bet you'll soon earn more on Substack than on Medium Walter. However writing on both and creating a flywheel is powerful. Thanks for all the insights in the comments here
Very similar with me, although I started out in 2023.i got no boost til now, and the likes, very few, don't come from persons who write on the same stuff as me. Not that that would be better. Part of my content is behind a paywall, but besides having more than 100 subscribers that do not comment or share, I have no other gain.
Thank you Kristina! I'm really looking forward to this and working with your wonderful online writing school. Actually, before I joined your school I was only sitting at 70 subscribers! I appreciate all that you've done for me! Wishing you a prosperous 2025!
All we need now is a date and time we can share. Then I'll send your note to my subscribers so they can join the Q&A. Let me know when. You can combine it with your Q&A for your newsletter . It's just a test. Let's see how it goes
Walter, I don't know if you have Tony's ear, but there's a reason so many big writers have left Medium for Substack and I plan to be the latest.
*The Boost is KILLING the site.*
I've brought countless subs, I do 120,000 views per month on 5-minute reads that have 80%+ retention, and my RPM has gone from $70 prior to the MPP changes, to $30 immediately after, to $16 in December and $10 over the past few days.
It's a slap in the face.
When you pay $20,000 for one article, it takes so much money out of the pool that the marquee writers who made the site what it is start to wonder what they're grinding for when they're seeing their pay drop every single month.
Keep the Boost if you want, but remove that ridiculous 10x pay escalator.
Walter, I don't know if you have Tony's ear, but there's a reason so many big writers have left Medium for Substack and I plan to be the latest.
*The Boost is KILLING the site.*
I've brought countless subs, I do 120,000 views per month on 5-minute reads that have 80%+ retention, and my RPM has gone from $70 prior to the MPP changes, to $30 immediately after, to $16 in December and $10 over the past few days.
It's a slap in the face.
When you pay $20,000 for one article, it takes so much money out of the pool that the marquee writers who made the site what it is start to wonder what they're grinding for when they're seeing their pay drop every single month.
Keep the Boost if you want, but remove that ridiculous 10x pay escalator.
This is an existential risk to the site I love.
You can also join our Q&A session with Walter in January
Hi James, feel your pain. For Michelle (and some more from the Online Writing Club, incl Walter, the Boost made them stay and really helped them financially and as motivation boost). I see both sides of the coin. Sorry to hear about your lower earnings.
Medium is changing all the time. Who knows what 2025 brings :)
I'll send you a DM re Riverside
I've seen a lot of people get really excited about getting Boosted early and then quitting because it didn't happen again. Lots saying Boosts are drying up.
Not the way to attract long-term, consistent, quality writers imo!
Hello James! Thanks for your comment. Unfortunately I don't have a seat at the table that makes those decisions. I've seen Boost evolve a lot over the last year and a half. Sometimes the changes benefit me and sometimes they benefit others. My own Boost rate has gone down lately, but I still get quite a few nominations through, so I think the program has value. I expect it will continue to evolve, so I hope it will become more equitable in the future. This is a great subject to talk about at length, thanks for leaving your response.
👍
I started writing on Medium beginning of 2024. I started really well and had about one or two pieces boosted each month. Then around October or November it just stopped. I barely get any views anymore. Since then I haven't written anything new for medium and I'm just posting my substack articles on medium, which I know aren't really the right articles to get a boost but honestly I can't be bothered anymore to put in any effort to get only a couple views.
Oops this turned out more negative then I intended sorry.
Hi Sophie, remember your wonderful boosted pieces. I'd keep writing on Medium and not only repurposing. Your vital hit could be around the corner although I also see you're having good success here.
Did you hear about my VIP member program? If love to help you become a bestseller in 2025! You got what it takes and I know you from the Bootcamp
That's okay Sophie, you're actually doing the right thing. I still have the occasional article take off and do well on Medium. Sometimes I'm completely surprised by what will do well. It's worth taking the time to post on both sites!
I bet you'll soon earn more on Substack than on Medium Walter. However writing on both and creating a flywheel is powerful. Thanks for all the insights in the comments here
Very similar with me, although I started out in 2023.i got no boost til now, and the likes, very few, don't come from persons who write on the same stuff as me. Not that that would be better. Part of my content is behind a paywall, but besides having more than 100 subscribers that do not comment or share, I have no other gain.
Sorry to hear this. Join our Q&A with Walter in January. We'll share date and time and all the deeds soon
Walter is a great writer. I read him on both Medium and Substack.
(I'll update you on my viral Medium piece! It's is the Energizer Bunny of Medium stories: It just keeps going and has now passed $23K!)
Wish you a prosperous New Year and lots of success here and on Medium and with your books of course ❤️
Stil got our interview in the can but needs editing... Hope to publish it in the next weeks and then we can also share an updated screenshot
You’re got your hands full for sure —I’m patient:)
Thanks. Today is my 🎈 🎂 birthday so I'm suuuuper busy 😂
Thanks Michelle! Congrats on that piece, that's awesome!
I paid to have an old cap fixed today! Yay for being able to afford dental care! That story made everything better.
Super! 😍
Thank you Kristina! I'm really looking forward to this and working with your wonderful online writing school. Actually, before I joined your school I was only sitting at 70 subscribers! I appreciate all that you've done for me! Wishing you a prosperous 2025!
All we need now is a date and time we can share. Then I'll send your note to my subscribers so they can join the Q&A. Let me know when. You can combine it with your Q&A for your newsletter . It's just a test. Let's see how it goes
Okay, how about Thursday, January 9th at Noon CST? Thank you!
😃 sure. I can share this
Walter, I don't know if you have Tony's ear, but there's a reason so many big writers have left Medium for Substack and I plan to be the latest.
*The Boost is KILLING the site.*
I've brought countless subs, I do 120,000 views per month on 5-minute reads that have 80%+ retention, and my RPM has gone from $70 prior to the MPP changes, to $30 immediately after, to $16 in December and $10 over the past few days.
It's a slap in the face.
When you pay $20,000 for one article, it takes so much money out of the pool that the marquee writers who made the site what it is start to wonder what they're grinding for when they're seeing their pay drop every single month.
Keep the Boost if you want, but remove that ridiculous 10x pay escalator.
This is an existential risk to the site I love.
Hi James, Walter replied above
Such extremely attractive and needed invitation// ASAP I plan to upgrade on the ones here who are NOT supporting Amazon nor military influence AI