Chapter 1: A Troubling Request from Vocal Media

Recently, I've found myself at odds with Vocal Media, and this latest development is hard to digest.

I was once a celebrated contributor on the platform, consistently winning and placing in various challenges, and enjoying numerous Top Story features. However, things have taken a downturn. The site shifted its focus to a select group of writers linked to a particular Facebook group, often neglecting quality in favor of favoritism. Long-time contributors like myself were sidelined as new and potentially less dedicated authors were courted for profit.

The platform, once thriving, has seen its stock value decline significantly. I remember joining Vocal Media around two and a half years ago when it was a hub for exceptional writing. Moderators ensured high standards, and I was inspired by talented poets and fiction authors whose work I admired. Some of those great writers are still around.

Throughout my journey, I have won or placed in at least seven challenges, though my profile doesn't reflect all of these victories due to the lack of public acknowledgment for certain contests.

I take pride in my contributions, having driven significant traffic to the site. My passion for the platform led me to abandon Medium for a year, believing it to be inferior—how naive of me! I’m not boasting; my work speaks for itself, and I genuinely valued the platform.

However, I began to feel overlooked, and the situation worsened. Questions arose among creators. Nowadays, many of the top stories appear to be generated by AI, often without proper attribution, and the leaderboard is dominated by a tight-knit group of loyalists. It feels increasingly like a content mill.

And yet, here I am, being asked to invest.

Let's review the situation...

After I attempted to share some constructive feedback as a recognized creator, I found myself blocked by CEO Jeremy Frommer on Twitter:

It's frustrating to see that while I was blocked from voicing my opinions, they still reached out to me for financial support. They asked me to invest at $10 per share, despite the fact that their stock is currently valued at just 2 cents:

Actually, it's 2.3 cents.

Let's discuss Regulation Crowdfunding (Reg CF). Essentially, this is a fundraising method for companies akin to GoFundMe. Here's the SEC's definition:

Jeremy Frommer, I'm curious—what exactly do we get for our $10 investment? What’s the purpose of the other $9.98? Is it just a donation? While this approach is legal, I worry that most creators who received this solicitation may not fully understand what they are committing to.

Moreover, why would I invest in a company that disregards creator feedback? As one of the top writers on your platform, why would I contribute financially when my concerns led to a Twitter block?

It seems creators are being encouraged to invest with the hope of gaining an edge in challenges, raising ethical questions about the implications, especially since shareholders and their families are typically excluded from participating.

I had a strong affinity for Vocal Media, which reciprocated my dedication until I expressed my honest views. It’s disheartening, especially since my insights could be valuable to you.

Investing ten dollars in a company with such poor stock performance? This can't be a serious proposition!

Chapter 2: My Strategy To Make Money On Vocal Media

In this video, I discuss effective strategies for monetizing content on Vocal Media, sharing insights from my personal experience and how to navigate the platform successfully.

Chapter 3: My Vocal Media Earnings for 2021

This video provides a detailed overview of my earnings on Vocal Media throughout 2021, revealing the ups and downs of being a content creator on the platform.