If I started writing on X in 2025, here’s what I would do (0 to 200k followers)

Summary

In this video, the speaker shares their journey through various writing platforms, including Quora, Medium, and X (formerly Twitter), emphasizing the importance of adapting to algorithm changes. They highlight strategies for success, such as identifying viral formats and tailoring them to your niche. The speaker advocates for consistency, clarity in messaging, and building an email list to drive audience growth. Ultimately, they recommend leveraging platforms like X and LinkedIn for their strong distribution and offer practical advice for aspiring digital writers to succeed in 2025 and beyond.

Takeaways

• 😀 Quora was once a top platform for the author, but its algorithm changes led to a decline in reach and earnings, prompting a shift to other platforms.
• 😀 Medium offered a lucrative paywall program that paid writers per read, which led the author to earn $150,000 in 2018 by republishing viral Quora content.
• 😀 Medium's payout structure eventually changed, leading to a drop in income, similar to the decline of Twitter (X) threads' virality over time.
• 😀 Content creators need to stay adaptable, as the digital landscape constantly changes, with platforms and formats fluctuating in popularity.
• 😀 Successful creators observe and mimic viral formats, not content, and adapt them to their own niche or area of expertise.
• 😀 It's essential to stay consistent with content creation, ensuring that your work is clear and focuses on one specific topic or niche.
• 😀 Collecting emails is vital for building an audience and establishing long-term relationships with followers.
• 😀 Automation tools can help streamline the process of growing an online presence, making content creation and management more efficient.
• 😀 Viral formats can be found by observing what's working on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn, where trends often emerge.
• 😀 Tailoring viral formats to fit your niche is crucial for growing an audience while maintaining relevance to your topic or industry.
• 😀 X and LinkedIn are currently the top platforms for digital writers, offering the best distribution for content creators in 2025.

Q & A

What is the main takeaway from the speaker’s experience with different writing platforms like Quora, Medium, and X?

The main takeaway is that writing platforms and their algorithms change over time, and success on these platforms can be fleeting. The key is to stay adaptable, shift with the changing landscape, and focus on understanding what formats are working at any given moment.

How did the speaker monetize their content on Medium, and why was it lucrative in the beginning?

The speaker monetized their content on Medium by reposting viral answers from Quora behind the paywall. Medium paid writers per read, much like artists are paid per stream on Spotify. In the early stages (2017-2018), this was very lucrative because the payout system was generous, and the speaker earned around $150,000.

Why did Medium’s payout system change, and how did it affect the speaker’s earnings?

Medium changed the payout system and algorithm, causing the views and payouts to drop significantly. As a result, the speaker's monthly earnings, which were once as high as $10,000-$15,000, fell to around $100 per month.

What viral format was particularly effective on X (formerly Twitter) in 2021, and how did the speaker apply it?

In 2021, profile threads became a viral format on X. These threads would introduce lesser-known individuals who had a significant impact on familiar topics. The speaker applied this format by creating threads about unconventional figures related to digital writing, storytelling, and copywriting, thus staying relevant to their niche.

What’s the difference between copying content and copying the format, according to the speaker?

The speaker emphasizes that it's not about copying the content directly, but rather copying the format. This means mimicking how content is framed or structured, while still tailoring it to your own niche or area of expertise.

What does the speaker mean by 'finding viral formats and tailoring them to your niche'?

The speaker suggests that identifying viral content formats (such as profile threads on X) and adapting them to your own niche or topic (e.g., digital writing) is a powerful way to grow your audience. This involves reworking the format to serve your specific content rather than just repeating someone else's idea.

How important is consistency in building an audience, according to the speaker?

Consistency is crucial for building an audience. The speaker advises focusing on one area and becoming known for it. Being clear and consistent in what you offer helps to keep the audience engaged and encourages long-term growth.

Why does the speaker emphasize the importance of being clear and not confusing to the audience?

Clarity is vital because if an audience is confused by the content, they are unlikely to engage with it. The speaker suggests that being clear about what you can help the audience with and why they should pay attention is essential to maintaining interest.

What role does email collection play in audience growth, according to the speaker?

Email collection plays a significant role in long-term audience building. By gathering emails as you grow, you can establish a direct connection with your audience, which is more reliable than relying solely on social media platforms.

Which platforms does the speaker recommend focusing on for writing in 2025, and why?

The speaker recommends focusing on X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn for writing in 2025. These platforms are currently providing the best distribution and visibility for writers, making them ideal for growing an audience and gaining traction.