What has drawn writers to Medium? It started with exclusivity and quality content. But, above all, it’s the opportunity to collaborate with others in their field.

That, and more, in today’s Lunchtime Links:

The content country club: Unlike Tumblr’s image- and GIF-heavy look, the founders of the online publishing platform Medium value the site’s clean look and promise quality content. “Images are great, too, but we’re building a platform that helps words shine, because it seems like that’s what’s needed now,” cofounder Evan Williams, also a cofounder of Blogger, told Mashable. Medium functions a lot like a country club. It’s been fostered by chosen journalists, writers, and thought leaders through a collaborative model that allows them to get feedback on their work before it’s published. Writers can also become a part of “collections,” or categories, and they can invite other writers they believe should be a part of the Medium community. It’s both exclusive and collaborative, ensuring quality content is produced. How can your association foster community through a collaborative platform?

An organized inbox: The new Gmail will use tabs to categorize its inbox according to the type of email in these categories: Primary, Social, Promotions and Updates. According to Google, this new organization should simplify your inbox, so spam won’t bury important emails. “It’s a recognition of the simple fact that all emails aren’t created equal—and, more important, an admission that some might not be worthy of your inbox in the first place,” tech writer Kyle VanHemert says in Fast Company.

Maintain an editorial calendar: When creating content for your association, members may be the first “customer” to come to mind. But how do you keep that content organized and up to date? How do you track your performance? Try using an editorial calendar. “It helps you get organized, keep track of what resonates most with your audience and acts as a content trail for easy cross-promotional opportunities. It allows you to easily plot your content success over time and doesn’t cost anything to implement (outside of time),” YourMembership.com suggests. Check out its five tips for using an editorial calendar to increase your site visits.

What interesting reads have you found today? Let us know in your comments below.

(Medium screenshot)