Writing a Medium article that actually gets read is more than just jotting down your thoughts and hitting the publish button. It requires strategic planning, understanding your audience, and most importantly, formatting your article in a way that makes it easy to read and engaging.
Start with an introduction that hooks the reader. This can be a question, a bold statement or an intriguing anecdote relevant to your topic. The goal is to pique interest so they continue reading beyond the first few lines.
Next comes the body of your article. Break down complex ideas into smaller sections or paragraphs for easy digestion. Long blocks of text can be intimidating and may discourage readers from continuing. Use bullet points or numbered lists where appropriate to clearly communicate steps or key points.
One of the biggest advantages Medium offers over other platforms is its clean, minimalist design which encourages focus on content rather than distracting elements like pop-up ads or banners. Leverage this by using images strategically throughout your article to break up text and provide visual interest without overwhelming readers.
Another important aspect of formatting on Medium is using pull quotes effectively. Highlighting important sentences not only breaks up large chunks of text but also Medium.com emphasizes key points you want readers to remember long after they’ve finished reading.
Remember that online reading often involves scanning through articles quickly rather than deep reading every single word. Therefore, make use of subheadings to guide readers through different sections in your piece while allowing them quick insights into what each section covers.
In addition, ensure that you have clear line breaks between paragraphs for easier readability on screens both big and small since many people consume content on their mobile devices these days.
Finally yet importantly, conclude with a strong call-to-action (CTA). Whether you want readers to leave comments, share your post or follow you for more content – make sure it’s clear what action they should take next after finishing your article.
Proofreading shouldn’t be overlooked either as grammatical errors can detract from the credibility of your content. Use tools like Grammarly to catch mistakes you may have missed.
Formatting a Medium article is about balancing aesthetics and functionality. It’s about making your content visually appealing while ensuring it’s easy to read, understand and engage with. By following these tips, you’re not only improving the readability of your articles but also increasing their chances of being read and shared by others on Medium. Remember, quality content that’s well-formatted will always stand out in the crowded digital space.
