# How I Earned $1.05 Per Read on Medium and Why It Matters
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Understanding Medium's Earnings Structure
Earning $1.05 per read is quite impressive, if I may say so. But that's not the only highlight; this article also boasted an exceptional 100% read rate, which seems almost unbelievable.
Here’s the evidence: 
You might be wondering, shouldn't the payout be around $0.70 per read? The reason for this discrepancy is that the earnings came solely from two readers, leading to a higher average of $1.05 instead of the expected $0.70.
Reflecting on the Metrics
I have to admit, the statistics from this article made me chuckle. They’re quite low, making the 100% read ratio quite achievable. Yet, the earnings seem perplexing. While I’ve seen others thrilled with just 5 cents per read, I have posts that received eight reads for a mere 3 cents.
So, what’s the explanation behind this unusually high payout?
I decided to analyze some of my other posts to get a clearer picture. I have three additional articles that also maintained a 100% read ratio, yet they attracted a modest readership. How could one piece earn 210 times more than others with just a single extra read? Moreover, another article with four reads earned only about one-fifth of this one’s earnings.
The answer lies in the readers.
The Importance of Reader Engagement
The primary factor here is that being a Friend of Medium can quadruple the earnings for articles they interact with. This can significantly enhance a writer's income at month’s end.
To verify this, I checked who applauded my article and examined their profiles. In my case, two out of three readers were Friends of Medium, while the third was not a member, resulting in no earnings from that viewer.
Engagement is Key
These statistics clearly demonstrate that higher engagement correlates with increased earnings. The article about being copied was read by individuals who are Friends of Medium, and notably, those two Friends also left comments on my work.
I always make it a point to reply to every comment. It seems that the claps received on these responses also contribute to the earnings from the article. Therefore, fostering engagement is crucial for boosting your earnings on Medium. Simply relying on reads may cause writers to overlook a vital aspect of Medium's algorithms.
To promote engagement, consider posing questions in your writing, reaching out to fellow authors, and focusing on well-researched, well-articulated topics that naturally attract interaction. Additionally, you can introduce elements of gamification, similar to the ongoing Walda🕵️ experiment being conducted by Janis Gross, Oliver Lövström, and others, which I find incredibly intriguing!
Chapter 2 Insights on Maximizing Earnings
Explore more effective strategies and insights into how to optimize your Medium writing for better earnings.