The Last Thing I’ll Say About Medium’s Algorithm

How understanding distribution levels freed me from the daily posting trap

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I should stop writing about Medium. Why? Because Medium won’t prioritize distributing this type of content.

Understanding Medium’s Distribution System

Let me share what I’ve learned about how Medium distributes content. There are three levels:

1. Network Distribution

This is the basic level for all posts that follow Medium’s rules. Your story reaches:

• Your Follower’s and Publication Follower’s “Following” tab
• Medium Digest emails
• Subscribers Email notification

2. General Distribution

This level goes beyond your personal network. Your story reaches readers who follow topics related to your tags. But here’s the important part: your tags only work when Medium selects your story for General Distribution.

Your story won’t make it to General Distribution if it has:

• Clickbait titles or images
• Too much negativity
• Low-value content
• NSFW content