“How I Got 10K Views on Medium Without Ads”

In a world flooded with content, getting traction as a writer on Medium can feel impossible—especially when you're starting out and have no audience, no paid promotion, and no connections. Yet in just a few months, I managed to get 10,000+ views on my Medium articles without spending a single cent on ads.

In this blog, I’ll break down everything I did to grow my reach from 0 to 10K views using only free tools, smart writing strategies, and consistency. This guide is ideal for beginners looking to build a personal brand, gain writing credibility, or monetize through Medium.

Why Medium?

Medium is a great platform for new writers because

• It has a built-in audience (unlike personal blogs)

• It supports long-form, quality content

• It’s easy to format and publish

• You can join the Medium Partner Program and earn based on reads

But the key to success isn’t just publishing—it’s publishing smart. Here's how I did it.

Step 1: I Picked Topics That People Actually Search For

I didn’t just write what I felt like. I researched what real people were searching for using free tools like

• AnswerThePublic

• Google Trends

• Medium Search Bar (start typing and see suggestions)

• Reddit & Quora (to find pain points people have)

My top-performing categories:

• Productivity (e.g., Notion, study hacks, AI tools)

• Self-improvement (habits, routines, goal-setting)

• Writing tips (Medium growth, content writing)

Pro Tip: I focused on evergreen topics that would still be relevant 6 months later.

Step 2: I Created Headlines That Hooked Readers

Your headline is 80% of your article’s success.

I used these formulas:

• How I [Achieved Result] Without [Obstacle]

• [Number] [Adjective] Tips for [Audience]

• Things I Wish I Knew Before [Doing X]

Examples:

• “How I Organized My Entire Life Using Just Notion (Free Template Included)”

• “7 Writing Habits That Made Me 10x Faster”

I made sure every headline made a clear promise and sparked curiosity.

Step 3: I Published Consistently (But Not Too Often)

Instead of publishing daily, I focused on quality over quantity.

• 1-2 posts per week

• 800 to 1,500 words each

• Each article had a clear takeaway or actionable value

Consistency helped build momentum, but I never posted fluff just to meet a quota.

Step 4: I Used Publications (This Was a Game-Changer)

If you post on your own profile, your reach is limited. But Medium Publications has thousands of followers.

I submitted my articles to popular publications in my niche:

• Better Humans

• Start It Up

• Mind Cafe

• The Writing Cooperative

• The PyCoach (for AI/tech topics)

Getting accepted into publications helped my work reach way more people.

How to apply:

1. Read their submission guidelines (usually on their Medium profile)

2. Follow the format and tone

3. Email or submit through their form

Step 5: I Optimized the First 100 Words

The introduction (hook) is the second-most important part after the headline.

I made sure to:

• Ask a question or paint a relatable problem

• Use short, punchy sentences

• Preview the solution without giving it all away

Bad intro: “This is my experience with using Notion to plan my week.”

Better intro: “Overwhelmed by tasks and to-do lists? I was too—until I found a system that actually works. It took me 20 minutes to set up in Notion. Here’s how I did it.”

Step 6: I Promoted My Work Organically

No ads. No bots. Just authentic sharing:

Where I shared:

• Twitter (writing/X communities)

• Reddit (only in relevant subreddits like r/productivity and r/Notion)

• LinkedIn (great for professional content)

• Email (I built a tiny newsletter with MailerLite)

I avoided spamming and focused on adding value to conversations. When someone asked about writing routines or productivity systems, I shared my article as a helpful resource.

Step 7: I Engaged With the Medium Community

I wasn’t just writing and leaving. I also

• Commented on other articles I liked

• Clapped for writers in my niche

• Replied to comments on my own posts

This not only built connections but also encouraged readers to return to my page.

Step 8: I Used Medium Stats to Double Down

Medium gives you great analytics. I tracked:

• Which headlines got the most views

• Where traffic was coming from

• What topics had the highest read ratio

When I noticed that my article on Notion tools was outperforming everything else, I wrote more content in that style, like

• Templates

• Personal productivity hacks

• Comparisons (Notion vs. Trello)

Bonus: I Joined the Medium Partner Program (for Free!)

Once I had a few articles with decent traction, I signed up for the Medium Partner Program. It lets you earn money based on read time from Medium members.

It’s not passive riches, but I started earning $30–$100/month purely from organic views—which was amazing for something I enjoyed doing anyway.

What Didn’t Work

Not everything I tried worked. Here’s what I avoided or learned to skip:

• Clickbait titles with no value

• Publishing too often with low-quality posts

• Generic topics like "Why You Should Wake Up Early"

• Spamming links on forums or groups

Focus on long-term trust, not short-term hacks.

Tools I Used (All Free)

• Hemingway App—for clarity and editing

• Canva—to make cover images

• Notion—to organize article ideas and publishing calendar

• ChatGPT—to help brainstorm titles and outlines

• Medium Stats—to learn from performance

Final Thoughts: You Can Do This Too

You don’t need to be an expert, have a following, or spend on ads. You just need to:

1. Write things people actually care about

2. Package your message clearly

3. Show up consistently

That’s it. That’s how I reached 10K+ views without any ads.

If you're serious about writing, start today. One article can change everything. ✍️