What Exactly is Simily?

In essence, Simily is a paid publishing platform that allows users to submit a wide variety of content. Writers receive $0.02 for each read, which counts views from both internal users and external visitors. To cash out, you need to reach a minimum threshold of $10, equating to 500 views. If you don't meet this target within a month, any earnings will roll over to the following month.

So far, I’ve struggled to find detailed information about the team behind Simily, its origins, or its history. It’s surprising how elusive this information is, considering Google is typically a treasure trove of details.

To gauge its popularity, I checked its social media presence as of January 16, 2022:

• 227 followers on Instagram (unverified)
• 573 followers on Twitter (unverified)
• 415 followers on LinkedIn
• 51 likes on Facebook (unverified)

Types of Content Accepted

I’ve extracted the following key points from their Story Guidelines:

• Simily welcomes both fiction and non-fiction creative writing.
• Submissions should be polished and free from grammatical errors.
• There’s no strict word limit, but if a piece exceeds a 15-minute read time, it’s advisable to divide it into smaller sections.
• While not mandatory, including a featured image, category, and tags can significantly enhance discoverability on the platform. For guidance on adding these elements, check the video below.

Video Description: A tutorial on creating articles on Simily.co, including how to add images and tags for better visibility.

Restricted Content: Due to agreements with Stripe, erotica is currently not allowed on Simily. However, the platform is committed to fostering an inclusive publishing environment and hopes to incorporate such content in the future.

From my observations, the platform hosts a mix of stories and journal entries, with a clear emphasis on storytelling as evidenced by features like ‘Story of the Week’ and ‘Poem of the Week’. Additionally, genres such as Sci-Fi and Romance are prominently listed.

Subscription Models

Unlike Medium, where you either pay $5 for full access or get nothing for free, Simily allows users to earn money without any subscription.

Currently, I have a Free Account, but I plan to upgrade to Unlimited Access on my next pay day. The frustration of being unable to read other writers’ stories is palpable for someone who enjoys engaging with their work.

A Social Experience

Simily functions not just as a publishing platform, but also as a social network. You can follow other writers and receive followers in return. As a newcomer, I’ve proactively followed several users to build my presence on the platform. Additionally, direct messaging is available, allowing for immediate discussions, even after receiving critical feedback on your work—though this feature is restricted to paid accounts.

Comparing Simily to Medium

As a member since January 9, 2022, I’ve noticed several distinctions between Simily and Medium:

1. Simily supports both PayPal and Stripe as payment methods.
2. There’s no built-in image search engine, so you must provide your own visuals.
3. It incorporates social media functionalities.
4. There are three subscription tiers.
5. Earnings are based on both internal and external views.
6. Statistics are limited; you can only see earnings per post.
7. Currently, there are no designations for Top Writers or Top Earners.
8. It offers “How To” videos for guidance instead of lengthy written instructions.

As of now, I’ve earned $0.46 from seven published stories and garnered 23 total visits. I have 19 followers and have created a group called ‘Share Your Work’ with 20 members. I anticipate significant growth in these metrics in the coming months.

Reflecting on my experience with Vocal Media, where I began writing in March 2020, I see parallels. At that time, the platform was relatively new, and many were hesitant to join. I took the leap and eventually earned nearly $4,000, even after I stopped writing there.

Will Simily become a dominant force in publishing in 2022? Only time will reveal the answer.

Video Description: A critical look at Simily and its potential failures in the competitive publishing landscape.

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