Writing on Medium can be a great way to make money, build an audience, and establish yourself as an expert in your field. It is also a great platform for sharing your thoughts, stories, and ideas with the world. But like any other writing endeavor, it takes dedication and hard work to be successful at it.
This guide will provide you with all the information you need to know about writing on Medium, including how to create content that stands out from the crowd, how you’ll get paid for your articles, and additional tips for success. With this knowledge, you’ll be well-equipped to start earning money through writing on Medium!
Is Medium Worth Writing On?
Writing on Medium can be highly beneficial for writers and entrepreneurs alike. Not only does it offer a wide reach to potential readers, but it also allows creators to monetize their content and build an audience from the ground up. Additionally, Medium offers helpful analytics tools that allow writers to better understand how their content is being received and who is reading it.
You Do Get Paid
When it comes to getting paid for your writing on Medium, there are several different options available. Writers can choose to join the Partner Program, where they will receive payment for each piece of content they write depending on how it performs (this does mean that if it doesn’t perform, you won’t earn anything).
Building Your Network
Besides earning money, Medium also offers great networking opportunities. Writers can connect with other authors in their genre or even get discovered by editors of publications through interacting with them in the platform’s comment sections.
Becoming An Authority
Finally, writing on Medium allows creators to establish themselves as an authoritative figure within their chosen industry by providing valuable insight into current topics or trends. This can be an effective way of quickly building your credibility, and also honing your writing skills.
The disclaimer for all of this is of course that it takes hard work and a lot of persistence. You won’t become a millionaire overnight writing on Medium!
Is It Free To Write On Medium?
It is free to write on Medium. Newcomers will be granted access to the platform without any fees or restrictions, allowing you to create your own stories and publish them to Medium’s vast reader base (possibly 100+ million each month!). Writers can also join publications, which allows you to leverage the visibility of existing fan bases.
Medium also allows writers to post images, videos, and audio clips within stories. This helps make your writing more engaging for readers while also giving writers the chance to showcase their creativity even further.
In addition, Medium provides helpful analytics tools that allow writers track performance metrics like pageviews, total time spent reading an article, and user engagement levels (measured in claps and comments). This gives creators insight into what content performs best so that they can adapt accordingly and optimize future posts for maximum impact.
What Can You Write About On Medium?
When it comes to what you can write about on Medium, the possibilities are virtually endless. From short stories and opinion pieces to research-based articles and tutorials, there is something for everyone.
No topic is off limits on Medium (for the most part), and you’ll find fiction, product reviews, how-to guides, personal stories, and everything in between. This means you don’t need to niche down as much as you might with your own website (more on that in the next section).
If you have something you want to write about, Medium can be the perfect testing ground for it!
How To Get Started Writing On Medium
Step 1: Sign Up For A Medium Account
Getting started with writing on Medium is easy. All you need to do is sign up for an account. You can create a free account on the platform’s website or by downloading their app from the App Store or Google Play Store. Once you set it up, you’re ready to start publishing your stories!
Step 2: Choose Your Niche
Now it’s time to decide what kind of content you want to write about. Whether it’s fiction, nonfiction, travel, lifestyle, finance, health & wellness, or something else entirely, there are plenty of topics to choose from. It might take some trial and error to figure out what resonates best with your target audience, but once you find your niche it will be easier to build a more consistent following over time.
However, as I mentioned in the previous section, you don’t need to narrow things down to one niche. You can write about almost anything on Medium, and you don’t need to be an expert to do so. You will likely benefit from keeping things roughly consistent, but you’re not bound to one niche for your entire time spent on the platform!
Step 3: Create Compelling Content
Once you have chosen your niche (or niches), it’s time to start creating compelling content that readers will love. Utilize descriptive titles and captions when submitting articles in order to draw readers in and entice them to click. Additionally, make sure to include relevant images alongside your story to draw readers in and split up your text.
Step 4: Apply For Publications
If you’re looking for additional exposure, then consider joining individual publications to increase your visibility even further. This will give your work more exposure and potentially lead to collaborations down the line as well. However, you need to be accepted into publications, so be prepared for some trial and error!
Publications are like online magazines where writers can submit their stories and have them reviewed and edited by an editor. This not only helps writers refine their work but also ensures that it meets the publication’s standards. Joining a publication also provides writers with more exposure as they will be featured alongside other talented authors, allowing them to gain more readership and recognition.
Step 5: Track Performance Metrics
Medium provides helpful analytics tools that allow writers to track performance metrics like pageviews, total time spent reading an article, and user engagement levels. This gives creators insight into what content performs best so that they can adapt accordingly and optimize future posts for maximum impact (and potential earnings).
Having data-driven insight into how well each post is performing can help inform future decisions and improve overall traffic & engagement levels over time. However, engagement can fluctuate a lot on the platform, so it will take consistent publishing to learn enough about what works and what doesn’t.
Step 6: Interact With Others
Finally, don’t forget that networking is key when it comes to building an online presence through writing on Medium. Connect with other authors in your genre or even get discovered by editors of publications through interacting with them in the comment sections.
5 Beginner Tips For Writing On Medium.com
1. Read & Learn
Before beginning to write on Medium, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the platform and its community. Take time to read articles by other authors and learn what works best for the Medium audience. Understanding the conventions, styles, and genres that perform well can help you craft engaging content that resonates with readers.
You can read 3 stories for free each month, but signing up for an account will give you unlimited access to thousands of new stories every month.
2. Establish A Plan & Schedule
As with any writing project, it’s essential to have a plan in place before getting started. Map out what topics you’d like to cover, decide on the frequency of your posts, and establish a regular publishing schedule that works for you.
Consistency is key on most platforms, but especially on Medium. It’s a slow game at first, but with more consistency comes more rewards and opportunities later down the line!
3. Join Publications
Joining publications is a great way to get yourself noticed by both readers and editors alike. Publications provide writers with more exposure as they will be featured alongside other talented authors, allowing them to gain more readership and recognition. Some publications even have their own websites where your writing can be featured too.
4. Use Available Monetization Opportunities
Once established on the platform, you should take advantage of the various monetization options available. These include:
- The Medium Partner Program
- The Medium referral program
- Substack newsletters
- Patreon and other similar platforms
5. Build Your Brand & Authority
Writing quality articles is not the only important aspect of writing on Medium. Promoting yourself as an authority in your industry by publishing original research or providing valuable insight into current topics or trends can help establish your credibility within your niche(s).
This can of course lead to more readers and engagement (and therefore more money), but it could lead to more opportunities off the platform as well. These could include brand deals, freelance writing jobs, or even just relationship building with other people in your industry.
How Medium Pays You
The Medium Partner Program
Medium offers its users a unique way to earn money from writing through their Partner Program. Writers that opt in for this (it’s free) receive a share of the revenue generated from paying Medium members, based on how much engagement and read time their posts get. You will need at least 100 followers to be eligible for the Partner Program.
Substack
Writers may also join Medium’s partner platforms such as Substack or Patreon, which offer similar monetization opportunities. These programs allow writers to create subscription-based newsletters and share in the revenue generated by their subscribers, or accept donations from dedicated fans. This is an excellent way for writers to build their own personal brands and gain additional exposure while earning money at the same time!
Medium Referral Program
You can also encourage your audience on the platform and elsewhere to sign up for a Medium account (that’s my affiliate link) and you’ll earn a portion of their membership fee in return. This is an ideal method for any writers, but especially those with existing audiences.
The Medium referral program will earn you half of each referred member’s subscription fee for as long as they’re subscribed.
How Much Medium Pays You As A Writer (Partner Program)
The exact amount writers get paid depends on a variety of factors, with the most important being the level of engagement and number of readers your stories get, and how long paying members spend reading your stories. You can earn nothing on the platform as a writer if your stories don’t perform, or you can earn $100 or more. Some top writers bring home thousands of dollars every month!
You’ll likely earn pennies from your first stories on the platform, but I have had one story make me more than $700, while others have brought in a few bucks here and there. It’s a lot of trial and error, and if you want to make some serious money from writing on Medium, you’ll need to put out a lot of high-quality content.
How Often Should You Write On Medium?
How often you should write on Medium depends largely on your goals and motivations. For writers looking to monetize their content through the Partner Program, it is important to consistently produce quality content in order to retain existing readers and attract new followers. Publishing daily or weekly articles may be necessary in order to stay relevant and keep readers engaged.
For those looking to build an audience or establish themselves as an authority in their industry, you might be able to write less often. Writers can also choose to focus on creating longer form pieces such as research papers or detailed guides, which can be published at a less frequent rate yet still garner lots of attention.
Regardless of your goals, it is important to maintain consistency with your posting schedule. Having a predictable publishing schedule can help build trust with readers who know what type of content they can expect from you and how often.
I recommend you start by trying to publish at least 3 articles per week, and you can see from there both how much you enjoy it (writing on Medium might not be for you) and whether you can achieve your goals, be they financial or in the form of audience building.
The Pros & Cons Of Writing On Medium
The Pros Of Writing On Medium
Writing on Medium has a number of advantages for writers who are looking to make money from their content or build an audience in their respective industry. One of the key benefits is the ability to monetize your content, which allows writers to make a passive income from readers who enjoy your writing.
Additionally, using Medium as a platform increases your visibility and helps writers build an audience for their work. With the right combination of quality and consistent content, it is possible to gain recognition both within your respective industry and beyond. This in turn can lead to more networking opportunities, potential job prospects down the line, and increased exposure for future projects.
Writing on Medium is also relatively easy compared to other publishing platforms, since it simplifies the publication process with its intuitive interface and user-friendly tools. This means it’s a quick and easy way to get your stories out there into the world!
Finally, writing on Medium is also a great way to hone your writing skills and see what people like. If nothing else, it’s a good training ground for writers to improve their skills and become a better writer.
The Cons Of Writing On Medium
Although there are many advantages associated with writing on Medium, there are also certain drawbacks you need to consider. The first and most important one for many is the fact it’s hard to earn a consistent income from Medium. The Partner Program allows you to earn money very easily, but the amounts can be pitifully low for beginners. It’s not going to make you rich very quickly!
Although building an audience can help increase your visibility and potential job prospects down the line, it is important to note that readership numbers may fluctuate over time as trends change or users move onto different platforms. That’s a drawback of using any third-party platform that you don’t control, as you are at the mercy of their algorithms as to whether you are successful.
How Long Does It Take To See Success On Medium?
The answer to the question of how long it takes to see success on Medium greatly depends on your goals and commitment levels. For some, it may take only a few weeks or months for their content to gain traction if they create high-quality content and utilize effective strategies for promoting their articles.
On the other hand, for those who are looking to establish themselves as authorities within their respective industries, it may take years of consistent effort and writing before they are able to reach that level of recognition. The same applies for those looking to earn substantial income from the platform.
Consistency Is Key
In either case, it is important for writers to commit to producing quality work in order to increase their chances of success. No matter what your goals are or how long you plan to spend on the platform, you need to put out consistent, high-quality articles if you want to be successful on Medium!
Final Thoughts
Medium is a great platform for writers looking to establish an online presence or make money from their work, or even just improve their writing skills. However, it is important to weigh both the pros and cons associated with it before committing long-term.