The Ideal Length for Medium Articles: A Deep Dive
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Chapter 1: Understanding Medium's Approach
To effectively engage with your audience on Medium.com, it’s essential to grasp the platform’s philosophy and a particular study conducted by the organization.
As a reference, this paragraph highlights critical insights into the article's context.
Section 1.1: The Importance of Article Length
Most individuals aren’t professional writers, and our time is often limited. This raises a vital question: what’s the ideal length for a blog post? Should you opt for multiple shorter pieces or concentrate on a few detailed articles each month?
Did you know that Ev Williams, the founder of Medium, also co-founded Twitter? After leaving Twitter, Williams aimed to create a balance between concise tweets and more extensive blog posts, leading to the creation of Medium—an arena for medium-length content.
If you’re curious why Tony Stubblebine, Medium’s second CEO, suggested that Medium caters to occasional contributors, the explanation lies in the platform's origins. Williams pondered:
“…how do we enhance understanding while fostering a level playing field for ideas from various sources?”
For him, in-depth content often necessitates infrequent posting—likely due to the time required to craft stories that are 3–7 minutes long. Research indicates that the ideal blog post is one that can be read in about seven minutes.
Additionally, Mike Sall, the Head of Product Science at Medium in San Francisco, has a keen interest in maximizing reader engagement. To delve into this topic, a study was performed to determine the optimal post length that would maintain reader interest. The findings suggest that a blog post that takes seven minutes to read is most effective, as engagement tends to decrease beyond that point.
Section 1.2: Key Takeaways
It’s important to note that Medium automatically calculates and displays your “read time” at the top of your article, which looks something like this:
Based on my observations, a seven-minute read typically equates to around 1,400 to 1,600 words, depending on the inclusion of multimedia elements like images, videos, or gifs. However, Mike advises that this should be viewed merely as a guideline, as Medium has observed significant variations in their data.
Ultimately, the message is to write as much as necessary to convey your message effectively. It’s essential to differentiate between “read time” and “average reading time.” For further insights, check out:
Dear New Writers: How Medium Calculates Your Earnings
a detailed guide on utilizing your stats dashboard.
Chapter 2: Optimal Blog Writing Techniques
The first video, "How long should a Medium article be?" explores the research behind the ideal length for articles on Medium, providing valuable insights for new writers.
The second video, "How to Write The Perfect Blog Post in 2023 (Step By Step Tutorial)," offers a comprehensive guide on crafting engaging blog posts, perfect for those looking to enhance their writing skills.