It seems like every time I start to get the hang of a platform, it dies. It's sad, not just because I feel like I'm always falling behind but also because Medium used to be quite a trustworthy source of content.
Sorry to bring the sad news. You are not falling behind: In general, all these platforms start out with some people who are being promoted by the platform and become the top of a pyramid scheme, everybody else under them. So, if you are not one of those, you can forever try hunting a place in the top, but it will never happen, you will never get there. It is, in fact, not possible.
What you can do instead, is enjoy all the creative work done by everybody there – all those runners-up – and you can take part yourself. Even if not being a winner, it can be a fun game.
And there are very many platforms. For us who have seen them appear from the beginning, it has become like a cycle of day and night, or the seasons, or any other such repeating development that we are used to seeing and accepting as life.
So, the death of a social media platform is, in a way, just as life confirming as a falling tree or a ripening grain: Something new will grow on the spot where it was. And we, who mainly had the benefit of looking at it, rather than growing it, we will not have invested so much in it that it feels like a loss – it rather feels like life.
Don't worry. I already knew the news, but it is a bit frustrating, isn't it? But you are right, so is the nature of life. I guess it's the same problem I have with winter. I need to embrace the seasonal changes.
Sorry to hear that. And yes, it is sad — and not really necessary. They have arranged their user facing policy so that it starts high, with many promises and possibilities, and then it regularly gets worse after that. This leaves all the old users frustrated, only with the newer users not, and basically causing a regular exchange of users. Like in a factory, where one set of workers are worn out after 8 hours and then replaces with a fresh set.
I'm happy to find you here, I too am a Medium refugee. I've given some thought to what you said about subscriptions and you are right we can't subscribe to everyone that comes across our feeds. My solution might be for us to set up ko-fi pages and suggest readers might chip in for one time coffees at the bottom our free articles. It's just a way to keep the enthusiasm and encouragement going. What do you think? Mitch.
Hi Mitch, too sad to be scared away from what we liked, but then again – new views and practices, new paths to walk, and on top of all that, some of the same great people who went in the same direction and settled nearby, with whom we can talk.
Life isn't all that bad when thinking carefully about it ;)
Your idea about ko-fi pages is interesting, and I know that some are doing it already. It looks like it works, for some, even though I never saw any response to my Buy Me a Coffee link on Medium.
One thing that worries me a bit, but maybe for no reason, is what the Substack Publisher Agreement (https://substack.com/pa) says:
"If you choose to charge a subscription fee for your publication, you agree to the following:
No Circumvention: You agree to process payments from Readers only in the manner determined by us. This includes using the third-party payment processing platform (“Payment Processor”) we choose, and following any other rules we specify. You may not circumvent your payment obligations to us by soliciting payment from a Reader outside of Substack or by using any alternative method to collect subscription payments. This includes receiving payments for your publication through links to PayPal or a separate Patreon page."
Would ko-fi be considered as such a circumvention? Would a cup of coffee be considered a "subscription fee"?
That's a grey area for me since my intention is to have a publication that hosts both free and paid articles.
Since the free articles aren't behind the paywall, I wondered if we could put the Ko-fi links on just them. I don't have a clear understanding of what Substack wants us to do regarding 3rd party links like ko-fi. In the meantime I'll leave them out. Mitch.
That could be a way forward. And the mixed kind of publication is quite common, so it could affect very many people. Therefore, I believe that Substack must have considered it already. It's just about finding a text describing what they decided :)
Still, you are one of the lucky ones for whom the place still functions to some degree. Many people literally earn 3 cents per article now, as a general rule. Boosts may be happening more often, but they do not lead to the same amount of reads as before.
I think, that with a potential earning of $40, many people would be happy to post on the platform. Maybe not the same people as before, but then a new wave of users, seeing this as a good way to supplement their incomes.
And, also, for someone who earns $200 in a good month, it can mean a lot. This is possibly the future aim for Medium, if only they can keep up that level. Because, there is a lower limit for everyone, where it simply doesn't feel fair anymore.
We have different limits. I noticed a comment, a post (here on Substack) where someone found it not feasible to have a substack that brought in only $10k per month – they felt that they could earn much more elsewhere.
Well, my limit isn't that high, but it is higher than 3 cents per article, if I'm being promised that I can earn money.
It seems like every time I start to get the hang of a platform, it dies. It's sad, not just because I feel like I'm always falling behind but also because Medium used to be quite a trustworthy source of content.
Sorry to bring the sad news. You are not falling behind: In general, all these platforms start out with some people who are being promoted by the platform and become the top of a pyramid scheme, everybody else under them. So, if you are not one of those, you can forever try hunting a place in the top, but it will never happen, you will never get there. It is, in fact, not possible.
What you can do instead, is enjoy all the creative work done by everybody there – all those runners-up – and you can take part yourself. Even if not being a winner, it can be a fun game.
And there are very many platforms. For us who have seen them appear from the beginning, it has become like a cycle of day and night, or the seasons, or any other such repeating development that we are used to seeing and accepting as life.
So, the death of a social media platform is, in a way, just as life confirming as a falling tree or a ripening grain: Something new will grow on the spot where it was. And we, who mainly had the benefit of looking at it, rather than growing it, we will not have invested so much in it that it feels like a loss – it rather feels like life.
Don't worry. I already knew the news, but it is a bit frustrating, isn't it? But you are right, so is the nature of life. I guess it's the same problem I have with winter. I need to embrace the seasonal changes.
I've suffered the same experience. It's so frustrating and sad.
Sorry to hear that. And yes, it is sad — and not really necessary. They have arranged their user facing policy so that it starts high, with many promises and possibilities, and then it regularly gets worse after that. This leaves all the old users frustrated, only with the newer users not, and basically causing a regular exchange of users. Like in a factory, where one set of workers are worn out after 8 hours and then replaces with a fresh set.
Hi Jorgen how are you my friend? Smiling.
I'm happy to find you here, I too am a Medium refugee. I've given some thought to what you said about subscriptions and you are right we can't subscribe to everyone that comes across our feeds. My solution might be for us to set up ko-fi pages and suggest readers might chip in for one time coffees at the bottom our free articles. It's just a way to keep the enthusiasm and encouragement going. What do you think? Mitch.
Hi Mitch, too sad to be scared away from what we liked, but then again – new views and practices, new paths to walk, and on top of all that, some of the same great people who went in the same direction and settled nearby, with whom we can talk.
Life isn't all that bad when thinking carefully about it ;)
Your idea about ko-fi pages is interesting, and I know that some are doing it already. It looks like it works, for some, even though I never saw any response to my Buy Me a Coffee link on Medium.
One thing that worries me a bit, but maybe for no reason, is what the Substack Publisher Agreement (https://substack.com/pa) says:
"If you choose to charge a subscription fee for your publication, you agree to the following:
No Circumvention: You agree to process payments from Readers only in the manner determined by us. This includes using the third-party payment processing platform (“Payment Processor”) we choose, and following any other rules we specify. You may not circumvent your payment obligations to us by soliciting payment from a Reader outside of Substack or by using any alternative method to collect subscription payments. This includes receiving payments for your publication through links to PayPal or a separate Patreon page."
Would ko-fi be considered as such a circumvention? Would a cup of coffee be considered a "subscription fee"?
I'll ask around to get some clarification. It would be good to have ko-fi links on free articles. Mitch.
That's a grey area for me since my intention is to have a publication that hosts both free and paid articles.
Since the free articles aren't behind the paywall, I wondered if we could put the Ko-fi links on just them. I don't have a clear understanding of what Substack wants us to do regarding 3rd party links like ko-fi. In the meantime I'll leave them out. Mitch.
That could be a way forward. And the mixed kind of publication is quite common, so it could affect very many people. Therefore, I believe that Substack must have considered it already. It's just about finding a text describing what they decided :)
My latest boosted story on Medium got less than $40. It used to be 3x as much. So, yes, it is dying.
Still, you are one of the lucky ones for whom the place still functions to some degree. Many people literally earn 3 cents per article now, as a general rule. Boosts may be happening more often, but they do not lead to the same amount of reads as before.
I think, that with a potential earning of $40, many people would be happy to post on the platform. Maybe not the same people as before, but then a new wave of users, seeing this as a good way to supplement their incomes.
I mean... for the sake of money, $40 is almost nothing. Yet, it equals to 8 paid subs per month, and suddenly it becomes significant:)
That's the spirit!
And, also, for someone who earns $200 in a good month, it can mean a lot. This is possibly the future aim for Medium, if only they can keep up that level. Because, there is a lower limit for everyone, where it simply doesn't feel fair anymore.
We have different limits. I noticed a comment, a post (here on Substack) where someone found it not feasible to have a substack that brought in only $10k per month – they felt that they could earn much more elsewhere.
Well, my limit isn't that high, but it is higher than 3 cents per article, if I'm being promised that I can earn money.