Entry requirements are suitable for the support of new writers entering the platform. Anyway, only if people like your content and you share actively and consistently will people follow you.

However, if you're not ready to pay a small monthly fee on the forum, it's about something other than true Membership. There are issues on every social platform. It can also be that Medium silently boosts more stories from paying customers..

Be creative, love what you do, and you will get noticed.