How Nominators on Medium Evaluate Stories for Boost (With Killer Insider Interview)
More eyeballs. More traction. - Medium.com incentivizes writers with its new Boost Program (further distribution and reach)
Buckle up!
Because in today’s newsletter issue, we get to go DEEP behind the scenes of Medium’s hot and new Boost Program.
As Buster Benson, Product Manager, shared on Medium Day, there are two pillars of incentives on Medium:
💸 the traditional one is the Medium Partner Program = money
💥 the new and exciting one is the Boost = reach and distribution (😉Pssst! There’s also a “Boost Bonus” included in Medium’s new earnings calculation. You definitely also earn more when you get Boosted!)
I’m Jumping Out of My Skin Excited!
Following in the footsteps of Ariel Meadow Stallings, Medium's new Director of Publisher Growth, Thomas Smith (friends call him Tom), one of Medium's first official Boost Nominators, now shares some pretty killer insider information.
I'm honored to have Tom tell YOU what kind of stories he nominates for Boost, and why you definitely don't have to have a huge fan base to be more widely read.
Learning more about Tom's perspective as a Boost Nominator was euphoric.
Here are 8 exciting nuggets of information you need to know based on the questions I received from you:
What’s Medium’s new Boost Program?
Medium’s new Boost is a system to identify the best individual stories on Medium and give those stories to a broader audience.
For writers, Boost means = more views, more reads, and more earnings.
How many Boost Nominators are there?
At the moment, there are more than 60 Boost Nominators on Medium.
Till September 2023 it will be 100.
What do Boost Nominators do?
These folks from the Medium community support Medium’s internal Curation team by nominating your stories for a big fat Boost.
Then it’s up to Medium’s curation team to evaluate whether to Boost your piece.
How many stories can Nominators nominate?
Per week, Nominators can nominate up to 5 stories for a Boost. 20 stories per month.
If they are 100% successful they can earn $900 USD.
Who is Tom Smith?
He’s the owner of “The Generator” (learn more at 4:55 on YouTube) on Medium, CEO of Gado Images, SEO consultant, and YouTuber.
On Medium, Tom has written 600 stories so far.
What type of stories is Tom as Nominator for stories about generative AI looking for?
“I’m looking for stories that really go that extra mile. That really go in depth. I like stories that share a lot of real world examples. Not just sort of theorizing. But talking about…
How can you actually go and use this tool, and implement this process?
And what does it actually mean for you as a person working in a space or maybe not working in the space?”
Do I need to have a big audience?
“(…) that’s another thing that I’m looking for as a Boost Nominator is just sort of different voices, underrepresented voices.
And also looking for stories from people who maybe are really great experts on this technology and have something really incredible to share, but they don’t necessarily have a big audience on Medium”
Ariel mentioned that Medium wants to find hidden gems and diamonds in the rough…
“Maybe they have a hundred followers or something like that or even fewer, but they just write an incredible piece. The Nominators like me use our taste and find those kinds of diamonds in the rough for stories that deserve to be shared more broadly than maybe an algorithm would share them based on the person’s following.
(…) I’m looking for those stories from really great experts or people who might otherwise have their story buried, even though it’s sharing this really unique and original perspective.”
Experience the Power of Audience!
Within the last past months, I’ve seen many fellow writers experiencing the power of audience.
I tell ya, suddenly getting more eyeballs and more traction feels…
bizarre, surreal, and incredible!
Do you want to feel the same?
Medium is definitely the place to go from zero to audience.
The purpose of Medium’s new Boost Program is to find the most engaging individual stories!
If you’re currently looking to get Boosted on Medium, my interview with Tom is pure gold:
With so much love,
Kristina
P.S. In this week’s Substack Chat, you can AMA about the Boost & how to be seen and read on Medium.
P.S.S. “I love Kristina’s Newsletter” <– If that sounds like you, please consider sharing this post. This helps me support more people — just like you.
👍 Trending Boost Stories on Medium:
Stories That Will Get An Automatic *No* From Boost Nominators
Medium’s Biggest and Most Impactful Boost System Ever Is Here
**Become a Medium Member, earn money writing online, and join me on Medium! (referral link)**
🔥 Hot Boost Videos
New BOOST Program on Medium 🚀 Insider interview with Boost Nominator Tom Smith
How to get BOOSTED on Medium 🚀 Insider Interview with Medium’s new Director of Publisher Growth
🙌 What Do You Think Of Today’s Email?
If you enjoyed this write-up and would like to recommend my Substack, I would certainly welcome it!
LOL!!! Are you Medium's new shill? Should we be "euphoric" that those of us who've stuck with the platform for years will be getting even less than we already are so "newer, unrepresented" writers can get all the glory? I agree with Michelle. So let me get this straight: Medium says they want heartfelt, quality writing, but they really don't. "Oh, look. Another flipflop!"
That interview seemed to be largely focused on...wait for it...AI. I thought Medium was steering away from that. This interview doesn't do anything to encourage those who write spectacular HUMAN stories.
I'm confused now.
And I agree with Michelle Tehaux. One still needs to be discovered by a boost nominator to even come close to making decent money. I've been submitting to pubs that have the capability but still don't see any improvement.