Medium is a popular online publishing platform that allows anyone to share their thoughts, ideas, and stories. One of the key features of Medium is its tagging system which helps in categorizing content and making it easily discoverable by readers. Understanding how tags work on Medium can significantly impact your visibility and reach on the platform.
Tags are keywords or phrases that you attach to your story to help describe what it’s about. When used effectively, they can improve the discoverability of your content by connecting it with readers interested in those specific topics. On Medium, you can add up to five tags per story.
Choosing the right tags for your article involves understanding what works best on the platform. Generally, broad topics like ‘Life’, ‘Personal Development’, ‘Entrepreneurship’ tend to be popular among readers as they cover a wide range of subtopics. Using such general tags increases the chances of reaching a larger audience as these subjects appeal to a wide demographic.
However, specificity also has its benefits. Niche tags like ‘Digital Nomad Lifestyle’ or ‘Vegan Cooking’ could attract a smaller but more engaged audience who are specifically interested in these areas. Combining both broad and niche tags can create an effective balance between medium.com/ reach and engagement.
While using popular tags might seem like an easy way to gain visibility, overusing them may not always yield positive results due to high competition within those categories. For instance, while ‘Politics’ or ‘Technology’ might have millions of followers, they are also saturated with articles making it harder for newer or less-known writers to stand out.
Additionally, using irrelevant tags just because they’re trending can harm your credibility among readers who expect certain types of content based on the associated tag(s). It’s important therefore that chosen tags accurately represent what’s in your piece – this not only aids honest communication but also builds trust with potential followers.
The underused or less competitive tags could be gold mines waiting for exploration. They can provide an opportunity for your article to stand out and reach a dedicated audience who are specifically interested in that topic.
In conclusion, the key to mastering Medium tags is balance. It’s about understanding which tags are popular enough to give you visibility, but not so overused that your content gets lost in the crowd. It’s also about being authentic and choosing tags that truly represent your content. By doing so, you increase the chances of reaching a receptive audience and creating meaningful engagement on Medium.