Danny Forest had an excellent article on Medium in the way it was constructed, its theme and the authenticity. First Medium likes articles that are goal oriented. Medium is looking to compete with YouTube in that you can learn skills by reading. They want the writing to convey a message of something you can learn with easy concepts to grasp and apply immediately. Medium wants proven results and action-oriented text.
The way the articles are supposed to be titled is to have an actual number highlighted as to the things that can be learned from the article as well as the emotion to overcome. Once the headline pulls in the reader as to what can be achieved, then each paragraph needs to have its own title in bold. This will allow the reader to go through the article quickly if they are just glancing. It is supposed to lead the reader through. What many readers don’t realize with this technique is that within each bold paragraph heading are ideas to relate to and the more you are able to identify with the article the more likely it is that you have already mastered the goal. By being able to maintain the readers attention within each bold paragraph shows that there is a correlation of understanding.
The articles also need to have a numbered agenda to achieve each idea. Under one or two of the paragraphs the steps used to achieve something like charisma in the case of Danny Forest’s article are used. The way that Danny has consistently written for Medium on several important skills to adapt to daily life has proven his results.
- In fact, I have noticed that in this issue, I myself have started to write with instruction. I have written about instruction in the past to bait advertisers, as I thought they would want to read the magazine before deciding to advertise.
- I have not shown that to be effective. Many did copy my selling techniques on social media in the Sabana, but not to the degree of incorporating into this magazine.
- Bear in mind, as of writing this article I did practice some of Danny’s advice and let my social post play to add to the surroundings with my party.
There is a recap at the end and Danny is doing this nicely with a full numbered checklist that takes you through every point in the article. Most articles on Medium want the end of the article to sum up the parts that make the difference. It is not supposed to just be a conclusion that ties in the opening paragraph but is supposed to be the lessons that can be learned or have been learned as a result from reading. It is the action plan that you can immediately take with you from having spent time going over the criteria to knowing a subject. If you have read and been able to fully go over all the details, Medium finds that you are indeed capable of saving, sharing, clapping and commenting on the article.
I think people are beginning to refrain from showing they have an interest in something directly but are willing to share. They may just be sharing to themselves but often they want someone else they care about to see what touched them. For example, Danny’s article is not only highlighted here but at the end of this magazine with all the other articles I have read since the last edition for anyone who is willing to go through my notes to build their own story about my influence.
As a result, Medium is best made up of its parts with articles:
- Goal oriented
- Skills from reading
- Something you can learn
- Apply immediately
- Proven results
- Action oriented
- Actual number highlighted
- Paragraph titles in bold
- Just glancing
- Lead reader
- Relate and able to identify
- Mastered the goal
- Reader’s attention
- Correlation of understanding
- Steps used
- Adapt to daily life
- Write with instruction
- Copy selling techniques
- Practice advice
- Numbered checklist
- Sum of the parts
- Learned as a result
- Willing to share
I am not sure how I ended up being the first to view Danny’s article. I hope I am doing it justice. I did clap and I did share it, I even commented. I usually share every article I read. I don’t always clap as many Medium articles already have several claps and Medium is not rewarding writers solely on clapping, but I think more in terms of read time. Meaning of those that skim articles are still important. I have a feeling that his article of Danny’s will eventually do very well, I am happy to be on board with the analytics as many of the other articles I took influence from on Medium that are tracked also went on to do very well. I feel good that some of my reading has paid off, literally.