Applying SEO on Medium: How to Get More Than 3,000 Views (Without Selling Your Soul)
Ever poured your soul into a Medium article only for it to get… 17 views?
You hit "publish," sit back, and wait for the views to roll in. But instead of skyrocketing stats, you get... nothing. Maybe a pity clap from your mum. Maybe a bot from 2015. But actual readers? Ghost town.
Meanwhile, some random post titled "How I Made $10,000 While Meditating in a Cave" is blowing up. You start wondering—is the Medium algorithm rigged? Do I need to start writing weird listicles? Is SEO a scam?
Breathe. You don’t need to write clickbait or sacrifice your writing integrity to get more views. You just need to understand how Medium SEO actually works—and how to use it to your advantage.
In this article, you’ll learn how to optimise your Medium posts to attract real, engaged readers—without feeling like a shady marketer. Let’s get into it.
Why SEO on Medium Isn’t the Same as Google SEO (And Why That Matters)
Before we get into tactics, let’s clear up a common myth:
Medium SEO isn’t just about Google. In fact, Medium has its own internal ranking system.
Here’s the breakdown:
Google SEO → Helps your Medium articles appear in Google search results.
Medium SEO → Helps your articles rank within Medium itself, so they show up in front of Medium’s built-in audience.
That means you’re actually playing two SEO games at once—one inside Medium and one outside it. And the best part? You don’t need to master both to get more views. You just need to optimise smartly (which we’ll cover next).
The SEO Sweet Spot: Optimising Without Sounding Like a Robot
Step 1: Choose Your Keywords (But Don’t Overdo It)
Keywords are how people find your articles. But stuffing them everywhere makes your writing sound like a spam email from 2007.
How to find the right keywords:
Think like a reader: What would someone type into Google or Medium to find your article?
Use Google Autocomplete: Type in a phrase related to your topic and see what suggestions pop up.
Check Medium’s search bar: Medium has its own autocomplete feature that shows popular search terms.
💡 Example: Instead of forcing "Medium SEO tips" into every sentence, use variations naturally:
"Here’s how to optimise your Medium posts for SEO."
"SEO for Medium isn’t the same as traditional Google SEO."
Step 2: Write Titles That Get Clicks (Without Being Clickbait)
Your title is everything. It determines whether someone clicks—or scrolls past.
❌ Bad: "SEO Tips for Medium" (Too vague)
❌ Worse: "How to Get 1,000,000 Views in 5 Minutes" (Clickbait-y and unrealistic)
✅ Good: "Applying SEO on Medium: How to Get More Than 3,000 Views (Without Selling Your Soul)" (Specific, intriguing, and human)
Step 3: Optimise Your First 200 Words
Medium’s algorithm prioritises engagement, and that starts with your intro. If readers bounce early, your post won’t get recommended.
💡 What to do:
Hook them immediately (use humour, a question, or a relatable struggle).
Naturally place your main keyword in the first paragraph.
Show them why they should keep reading.
Medium Tags, Internal SEO & Algorithm Secrets
How Medium’s Algorithm Works (in Plain English)
Medium wants to show readers articles they’ll engage with. It prioritises posts based on:
✅ Read time – Did people stick around, or did they bounce after 5 seconds?
✅ Claps, highlights, and comments – These signal “This article is good!”
✅ Follows and shares – More followers = more organic reach.
How to Choose the Right Tags (And Why They Matter)
Medium lets you add five tags to your article. Choose wisely—these help Medium categorise your post and recommend it to the right readers.
✅ Good tag strategy:
3 broad tags (e.g., "SEO," "Writing," "Content Marketing")
2 niche-specific tags (e.g., "Medium SEO," "Blogging Tips")
❌ Bad tag strategy:
Random, unrelated tags (e.g., "Dog Training" on an SEO post)
Using only niche tags (your audience is too small)
Getting Google to Love Your Medium Articles Too
If you want external traffic from Google, you need to:
✅ Use keywords in your title, intro, and subheadings.
✅ Write longer, high-value content (Google favours in-depth articles).
✅ Get backlinks (share your article on Twitter, LinkedIn, or even Reddit).
🔑 Pro tip: Google loves listicles and how-to guides. Articles like “5 Medium SEO Hacks Every Writer Needs” tend to rank well.
Common SEO Mistakes That Are Killing Your Views
🚨 Mistake #1: Keyword Stuffing
Google and Medium both hate keyword spam. If your article reads like:
"Medium SEO tips are great. These Medium SEO strategies will help your Medium SEO ranking on Medium."
…congrats, you sound like a bot. Use keywords naturally.
🚨 Mistake #2: Ignoring Readability
Big blocks of text = instant bounce. Use:
Short paragraphs
Bullet points
Headings to break things up
🚨 Mistake #3: Skipping Promotion
Medium SEO helps, but if you also share your article on social media, newsletters, and forums, you 10x your chances of getting discovered.
The Ultimate SEO Checklist for Medium Writers
✅ Title is compelling and includes a keyword
✅ First paragraph hooks readers and includes the main keyword
✅ Tags are a mix of broad and niche-specific
✅ Formatting is easy to read (short paragraphs, headings, bullet points)
✅ Call to action encourages engagement (ask for claps, comments, shares)
✅ Promotion plan (share on Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.)
Final Thoughts: You CAN Get More Views Without Selling Out
SEO doesn’t have to feel gross. You’re not scamming people—you’re just making it easier for them to find your amazing content.
Use these strategies, stay consistent, and watch your Medium stats finally start moving in the right direction. 🚀
And hey—if this helped, go ahead and clap (like, 50 times). Medium loves that. 😆