Escaping the Algorithm
Writers Are Fleeing to Owned Audiences
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My Medium friends can read this story over there as well.
Remember when getting “curated” on Medium felt like winning the lottery? I do.
Or when publishing something online felt like progress. You’d hit publish, go make a coffee, and by the time you sat back down, the stats were climbing. People read, commented, clapped, liked, shared. You felt seen.
These days? Not so much.
Now, it’s a guessing game. You write something you’re proud of, post it on Medium, X, LinkedIn, or wherever, and… nothing. Or very little.
Maybe it gets a few reads. Maybe it sinks immediately. Either way, you’re left wondering what went wrong.
It probably wasn’t the writing.
What Changed?
The platforms changed. The algorithms changed. And the way people find and engage with content? That’s changed too.
The problem is that we (or most writers) are still relying on systems we don’t control. We’re putting our work into the hands of a platform that can flip a switch and make you disappear overnight.
And we ARE noticing. Many are walking away from this model of writing.
Not from writing itself, but from depending on platforms that play by rules we’ll never fully understand. From a lack of transparency.
Instead, we’re moving toward something more stable: owned audiences. And the romanticized idea about this owned audience.
Why the Algorithm No Longer Works for Most Writers
Let’s keep this simple. Algorithms are designed to keep people on a platform. That’s their main purpose. Not to promote great writing. Not to support independent voices. Not to help you grow a loyal following.
They boost what performs well on the platform — whatever fits the mood of the week. If that happens to be your post, great. But it usually isn’t.
Most writers now live in a loop of publishing something, watching it flop, doubting themselves, and trying again. It’s tiring. And pointless, if the deck is stacked.
Depending on an algorithm to grow your audience is not a strategy. It’s gambling.
And platforms noticed too. Medium introduced human boost to counter the algorithm.
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Why Other Win
You’ve probably heard it before, but it’s worth repeating: email works.
That’s how Substack built its empire. Not because it’s sexy. Not because it’s trendy. But because it’s direct. When someone signs up for your email list, they’re giving you permission to talk to them.
No middlemen. No weird ranking system. No algorithm (at that stage).
Here’s what you get when you build an email list:
Control. You decide what goes out and when. No one’s throttling your reach.
Consistency. If someone signs up, they’ll hear from you until they opt out. No weird disappearances.
Connection. People check their inbox. They reply. It’s a two-way street.
Monetization. Paid newsletters, courses, consulting — it all becomes easier when you’re not starting from zero every time.
It’s not just about marketing. It’s about building something that lasts.
But…
One mistake some writers make is going all-in on their newsletter and ignoring everything else. Bad move.
You still need people to find you.
Email is great for keeping an audience. But it’s not built for discovery. That’s where platforms like Medium, X, LinkedIn, and even Instagram still play a role. You just have to shift how you use them.
Substack notices this too, and added Notes and other discovery mechanisms.
It’s all about balance.
The better approach:
Post for exposure. Use public platforms to put out short versions, excerpts, or quick ideas.
Link to your list. Always give readers a way to go deeper with you.
Stay consistent. Don’t disappear completely. Keep showing up where people are already looking.
Collaborate. Guest posts, newsletter swaps, shoutouts — these still matter.
The Shift
You’re not the only one feeling this. More writers are moving off-platform and taking their readers with them.
People are tired of chasing views, likes, and invisible metrics. They’re building newsletters. They’re setting up paid tiers. They’re creating small communities. Not always trying to go viral, just trying to build something sustainable.
It’s not glamorous. But it works.
You don’t need a million followers. You need a few hundred people who actually care about what you do.
What This Means for Us
If you’re writing online — and especially if you want to make money doing it — here’s the short version:
Stop relying solely on platforms you don’t control.
Start building your own list.
Use public channels to bring people into your world.
Don’t get distracted by numbers that don’t matter.
Find a balance.
This isn’t about jumping ship from Medium or wherever you hang out. It’s about recognizing what those platforms are good for. And what they’re not.
And find the perfect complement. For me, it’s the combination of Substack and Medium that does the trick.
The Bottom Line
We, writers got comfortable letting platforms do the work of distribution. That was fine for a while. It’s not fine anymore.
The tools are better now. The readers are smarter. The game has changed.
You don’t have to play it the old way.
The algorithm won’t save you. But your audience might.
If you build it the right way.
I really appreciate this article. I just started with Substack for the very reasons you mentioned. I have been so frustrated with writing articles that go nowhere. Thank you so much for the great advice 😊