How to Display Medium Posts on a WordPress Website
Many website owners are discovering the benefits of displaying medium posts – either the ones that fit in the space or those that don’t – on their websites. When used effectively, medium posts can increase the engagement rate of your content, attract and retain more qualified traffic, and boost your SEO all while saving you time. So let’s take a look at how you can implement this useful tool on your own WordPress site.
Why Are People Embracing Medium Posts?
The rise of the ‘shareable blog’ has meant that content can be found and shared across all social media platforms. With websites like Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook becoming the go-to platforms for finding and sharing content, more and more content creators are realising the benefits of publishing in the medium format.
The advantage of a medium post is that it can be shared effortlessly. When someone shares a post that they have found valuable and intriguing, it means that you have accomplished your goal of having that content stand out from the rest – even if it’s just for a few seconds as the person clicks to read the blog post. A study conducted by HubSpot reveals that posts which stand out the most in a stream are typically around 500 words and include plenty of visual content.
Shorter content means that readers can engage with the content in a shorter period of time. If someone is browsing through their Instagram feed and sees a short and snappy caption along with an intriguing looking image, they are more likely to engage with that content than they are with a post that is a few hundred words long.
How Is Medium Different From Other Post Formats?
As the name suggests, the medium format is somewhere in the middle – neither overly long nor overly short. In the same way that a novel isn’t just a collection of short stories, a medium blog post will usually contain a mixture of various post formats.
You might publish a pure stream of posts (if your blog is purely focused on content), or you could opt for a more structured approach and include a mix of video, audio, and text. Whatever method you choose, you should always be aiming to make your posts as engaging and accessible as possible.
As an Instagrammer with over 500,000 followers, Elle MacLeman knows a thing or two about gaining and retaining attention on her platform – and she embraces the power of all content formats. On her blog, MacLeman frequently publishes both long and short bits of content, mixing things up. Sometimes she’ll write a 500 word post, other times she’ll go for a more in-depth piece. She’s even used case studies and how-to guides when the mood strikes her.
This approach has given her blog the following:
- A whopping 41.5 million pageviews a month
- 264.5 million monthly active users on Instagram
- 15.2 million followers on Twitter
- 2.8 million subscribers on YouTube
So not only does the medium format allow for more opportunities for engagement, it also provides a wider reach to her content. Now if only we could get WordPress to give us all the fun luxuries of a fully-fledged membership site – like inviting users to subscribe to her blog’s email list with a click of a button.
Where Can I Find Help With My Blog?
If you’re looking to dive into the medium format and want some guidance, you’ve come to the right place. We have compiled a list of helpful tips and best practices to assist you in making the most of your new found blogging skills.
Use Video Content Equally With Text
You don’t have to limit yourself to text only when posting on your blog. Videos are extremely popular on social media and should be considered as an integral part of any blog content.
If you’re opting for a more traditional blog post format and are only including text in your composition, you should consider using video content to increase your post’s appeal. The reason being is that although reading text on a screen is straightforward, accessing video content can be difficult, especially if you’re using an app on your phone that doesn’t allow for full screen viewing.
So not only will video content engage your readers more effectively, it will also hold their attention longer than text-only content – even if it’s just for the 2 seconds that it takes them to click play.
Embrace Repetition
When someone shares a post on social media that they have enjoyed, it means that you have accomplished your goal of having that content stand out from the rest. So why not take this opportunity to post on your blog about something that you have covered before?
Repetition is a useful tool in any content creator’s arsenal. Whether you cover the same topic in the exact same way or you take a new spin on an old topic, the more you can do to engage with your readers and prove that you know what you’re talking about, the better.
Consult With An SEO Expert
If you’re looking to improve your blog’s SEO and want some expert guidance, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve compiled a list of helpful tips and best practices to assist you in making the most of your new found blogging skills. Check it out.