Or are you happy 'sitting on the fence'…

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Although I never wrote it, I had the title for my first article planned; "Medium, I want my money back!" My goals weren't big. I wanted to earn back the $5 (US!!) that I had paid to sign up.

Signing up was a big deal. I wasn't working and anything I put on the credit card comes out of my husband's earnings. On one income, we budget.

It wasn't long before I realized this wasn't TikTok. No algorithm was going to push my efforts. My articles languished with no views and I worked it out very quickly that I had to take charge!

I began reading, clapping and commenting voraciously. Before long I had earned my first $5 and I was hooked! I still felt like the writer who commented they would "consider joining FOM once I will have a consistent number of followers….and ideas!"

Could it really pay off for a newbie?

I was still on the fence about Friends of Medium.

I would have to make sure Medium would give me my $15 (US!!) back! There's my follow up article! Medium I want my $15 back!! Other's agreed: "I read this post a week or two ago and I made a promise to myself that once I made $15 from the partner program earnings, I would pay for the FoM membership".

As of today (June 17, 2024) I have earned $39.12. What am I waiting for? I've earned enough to be a FoM! I'm so proud of myself!!

My best article has earned $9.85.

My second best $4.52.

A part of me was greedily wanting to keep my whole $40!!! But what if these articles had paid 4x more under the FoM programme?

Today, though I read a brilliant article addressing the whole "to be or not to be" a FoM. It is by a really helpful writer called Sompa Mensah You can read it here.

I read the (over 100) comments and compiled a list of the general consensuses on FoM. I will quote some of the comments but not give credit for them. Some people may not want to be called out publicly in my article and if you go to Sompa's article you can read them for yourself.

My favourite was from a writer who said he had signed up for FoM and would report in a month what his opinion was. I left my own comment noting the month was up and what did he think? I laughed out loud when he responded:

"You are evil! Ironically, I switched back to regular membership a few hours ago. Really I have actually seen LESS engagement".

This left me wondering two things.

1. Are the writers sprouting the benefits of FoM the minority who are enthused because, for them it did work? They are waxing lyrical about the benefits in genuine excitement while the rest of us slink back to the sidelines in embarrassed shame that it didn't work for us.

2. Did this writer engage enough to see the 4x compensation results? One comment said "I've not been super active the past week, and it's definitely showing. Just goes to show that you do indeed have to turn up every day!" No surprises there! Another said, "being more active on the platform helped too". Yep! Singing to the choir here!!

Yet another, however, agreed with the original poster. "I tried it before Christmas, but it didn't seem to make any difference to my stats!" they lamented.

Those that were pro FoM had the following encouragement to join:

"But my earnings doubled from the previous month, which was my first month on Medium, and I am well pleased". That made me prick up my ears!

"Love that my reads will be 4x as valuable from now on". That's the theory! The thought jazzes me too!

"I have fewer views and readings, but the earnings have already exceeded April" Who doesn't want to do better month after month? This is my personal goal to outdo myself!

"Old stories gained new attention". So, as a FoM these stories might see the light of day and get some loving?? Here's the prompt to self promote and add some of my articles that haven't earned me a cent. Like a socially awkward child I love them anyway!

On the other hand, "I didn't become a friend of Medium because the information about this matter is contradictory". Ultimately, we all must evaluate and make our own informed decision. This person remained a fence sitter and that's OK too.

In my early days on medium I had stumbled across an article espousing the benefits of being a FoM (Friend of Medium). In the comment section writers were expounding a publication solely for FoM content creators and some announcing they only read FoM articles. I was angry and horrified at this (seemingly) elitist attitude on my beloved medium platform. I commented that it made me 'sad' although a lot of other words sprang to mind.

Today I read a comment that said, "For me it is for those ready for an advanced level of maturity and commitment for a medium community member". I guess there is truth in that if I don't twist it with my own cynicism. That's me though…. mature!! snicker

We all know there are some gob-smackingly brilliant articles by little known or newbie authors. Being a FoM allows us to encourage EVERYONE and reward them for their efforts.

But you know what?? I did it!!

I clicked on my profile picture and opted in to be a Friend of Medium. It was quick and (after all the deliberation) painless.

One of my personal hesitations had been that it's mid-month. I wondered if I should wait for the new billing cycle to try out FoM. I was excited to realize that medium pro-rated my upgrade. It only cost me $4.51 ($6.38 CDN) to upgrade my membership for the rest of June. And I've already earned the fee for July and August! I'm way out front.

If you enjoy content about medium I've had my say on the following:

Subscribe and I'll keep you updated on where I'm at a month from now. Comments are always valued! Welcome to my world, friend!!