Medium.com has carved a niche as a vibrant platform for writers to share their stories, ideas, and expertise. Its minimalist design and user-friendly interface make it a haven for readers to discover and engage with high-quality content across various topics. As an active user and a Partner Program member, I’ve found it to be a promising venue for both writers and readers.
However, a recent experience highlighted some drawbacks. Despite adhering to their guidelines, my account was suspended without prior notice, leaving me confused and disappointed. The flagged article, “Effortlessly Launch Profitable Review Sites with Digital Review Fortune,” aimed to share my genuine experience with an affiliate product. Unfortunately, this violated Medium’s rules.
Table of Contents
The Good: Why Medium is Still a Viable Option
While strict content policies are essential for platforms, the lack of a warning or a chance to rectify the issue before suspension feels unfair to paying members. This raises concerns about control and reliability regarding content ownership on such platforms.
Here are some aspects that make Medium a good platform:
- User-Friendly Interface: Easy to Write, Read, and Share
- Medium’s clean and straightforward design simplifies content creation, reading, and sharing.
- Engaged Community: Fostering Meaningful Interactions
- A strong sense of community fosters valuable interactions between readers and writers.
- Potential for High Visibility: Ranking Well and Gaining Traction
- With proper SEO and quality writing, articles can rank well on Google, attracting significant traffic.
The Bad: Frustrations and Control Issues
Sudden account suspensions without detailed explanations or warnings can be frustrating and damaging to creators. Additionally, the platform’s power to suspend or delete accounts undermines the stability and security for creators who rely on it.
Here’s what can be frustrating about Medium:
- Lack of Transparency: Sudden Suspensions and Unclear Explanations
- The absence of detailed explanations or prior warnings regarding account suspensions can be very frustrating.
- Control Issues: Dependence on External Policies
- Ultimately, the platform holds the power to suspend or delete accounts, which can be a concern for creators who rely on it for their audience.
My Advice: Diversification and Building Your Own Platform
Given my experience, I strongly advise fellow writers to consider building their own websites and email lists. Owning a personal platform provides greater control over your content and audience, ensuring you’re not at the mercy of external policies and potential suspensions.
The Necessary Precautions: Diversifying for Long-Term Success
Medium.com remains a valuable platform, but diversification is crucial. Building your own site and maintaining direct communication with your audience through email lists offers the security and control that third-party platforms might lack.
Here’s how to diversify and build a sustainable online presence:
- Building Your Own Website: Owning Your Content and Audience
- Diversifying beyond Medium with your own website provides greater control and security.
- Building an Email List: Direct Communication with Your Audience
- An email list fosters direct communication with your audience, building stronger relationships.
Additional Tips for Review Writers
For those aiming to create digital product reviews, I highly recommend Digital Review Fortune. It’s a fantastic tool for crafting well-organized and profitable review sites.
Additionally, if you’re looking to publish review articles and get more traffic, consider using Leadsleap with their Social Review feature. It’s a powerful tool for increasing your reach and engagement.
