Incorporating Publications to Boost Your Traffic Effectively
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Understanding the Impact of Publications
Utilizing a publication can significantly streamline the process of distributing your content to a wider audience. However, the mechanics of this approach may not align with our initial expectations.
Image By Eliobed Suarez on Unsplash
Have you ever shared an article in a publication and noticed varied levels of engagement? Sometimes it resonates well, while at other times, it barely garners attention. This variability highlights the nuanced role of publications as a primary channel for driving traffic, which I will explain further.
Illustration from Medium's Help Center: "Getting started with a Medium publication"
There are numerous strategies we can employ within publications, but today we will focus on the core aspects. Since publications fall under network distribution, they have the potential to showcase your work not only to your followers but also to those who follow the publication itself. However, there can be a noticeable delay between posting and audience visibility.
This observation is something I’ve personally encountered, and while many have noted it, the underlying reasons weren't clear to me initially. If you look closely, the “following” feed often prioritizes publications you subscribe to, placing them prominently in your feed.
It can be puzzling when unfamiliar names suddenly appear in your following tab, which exemplifies the influential nature of publications in leveraging traffic. This phenomenon is also evident in the “For You” section.
While I’m not a tech expert, it’s clear that the algorithm prioritizes publications, which affects what stories appear in your feed. The delay in visibility is due to the system needing time to process various signals to determine the relevance of a story, based on the author’s activities and the specifics of the article.
Although this may sound intricate, my observations suggest that the system signals are straightforward. I follow numerous publications, and their stories occasionally emerge unexpectedly due to correlations I hadn’t considered, including the tags used in posts.
Another point to note is that older posts can resurface unexpectedly. This is part of how the Medium network operates, as it takes time for content to circulate within the platform.
Supporting Publications as a Writer
As writers, we may sometimes overlook the importance of following the publication we contribute to. The follow button can be somewhat elusive, appearing in multiple locations. Following the publication is essential as it plays a significant role in traffic distribution on Medium.
Make sure to follow the publication that supports your writing. You can do this directly from any post published under that publication. Following won’t cost you anything and will enhance your reading experience.
If you’ve already followed, I appreciate your support. Should you find this information beneficial or have additional insights, please feel free to share your thoughts.