You've heard that folks are Earn Money from Medium.com by writing stories, sharing ideas, and engaging with a big audience. Sounds cool, right? But how does it actually work? This guide will explain everything you need to know about earn money from Medium, from getting the hang of the platform to practical tips for boosting your earnings.
What is Medium.com?
Medium is a popular online place where anyone can write, share their stories, and engage with a large audience. It was started by Ev Williams, one of the co-founders of Twitter. Medium has become a platform for writers to share ideas on topics such as technology, culture, health, and personal experiences.
Medium allows writers to earn money through its Partner Program. This program pays writers based on how much Medium members engage with their stories—such as time spent reading and "claps" from readers. Let’s see how you can start making money on Medium!
Step 1: Join the Medium Partner Program
First thing to do if you want to earn money from Medium is join their Partner Program. Here’s how:
Create an Account: If you don’t have a Medium account yet, sign up using your email, Google, or Facebook account.
Set Up Your Profile: Fill out your profile by adding a bio, profile picture, and links to your other social media accounts. This helps readers connect with you and trust you more.
Join the Partner Program: To qualify, you need to be in a country where Stripe (Medium's payment processor) is available. Visit the Medium Partner Program page and sign up. You’ll need to provide your payment details via Stripe.
Get Approved: Medium will review your application. Once approved, you’ll be able to start earning money.
Step 2: Understand How Earnings Work
Medium pays writers through two main things:
Member Reading Time: Medium members pay a monthly fee. Part of that fee is given to writers based on the time members spend reading their articles. The longer they read, the more you earn.
Claps: The more claps your story gets, the more it shows that readers like your content. Claps can also boost your earnings by increasing your story’s reach across Medium.
Medium uses an algorithm to figure out how much each writer gets paid. While the exact formula isn’t known, it depends a lot on engagement metrics.
Bonus Tip: The 5% Rule
Medium takes 5% of your total earnings, with the rest going straight to you. Keep this in mind when figuring out how much money you can make.
Step 3: Write Content That Engages
Now that you're set up, the next step is creating content that grabs readers’ attention. Some tips:
Choose a Niche: Think about what you're passionate about or know a lot about. Picking a niche helps attract a targeted audience.
Craft Catchy Headlines: Your headline is the first thing people see. Use strong, clear headlines that promise value to the reader.
Examples:
“How I Lost 20 Pounds in 3 Months by Doing This Simple Thing”
Create Valuable Content: Focus on giving real value. Whether it's sharing a personal story or a how-to guide, make sure readers feel like they've gained something by the end—knowledge or inspiration.
Write Visually Appealing Content: Break up your text with subheadings, bullet points & short paragraphs. People tend to skim, so make it easy for them.
Tell Stories: Even if it’s something technical, frame it in a narrative format which is more relatable & memorable.
Include a Call to Action: Encourage readers to leave comments, clap, or follow you, which increases your reach on the platform.
Step 4: Get Published in Medium Publications
Medium has many publications—collections of stories picked by editors—that can greatly increase how many people see your articles.
How to Get Published:
Research Publications: Find those related to your niche & check their guidelines.
Submit Your Story: Most have a process where you pitch your story to editors.
Build Relationships with Editors: Engage with them by commenting on their posts or sending thoughtful emails, which might increase chances of getting published later on.
Popular Publications:
- The Writing Cooperative (for writing tips)
- Better Marketing (for digital marketing)
- Personal Growth (self-improvement)
- The Startup (business & tech)
Step 5: Promote Your Stories Outside of Medium
While Medium has its own ways to share stories, promoting them outside also helps.
Share on Social Media
Post links on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and use relevant hashtags.
Email Newsletter
If you have an email list, sharing stories can drive traffic, especially if your audience is interested in your niche.
Cross-Post
Consider republishing stories on other sites like LinkedIn or your personal blog, linking back to the original post.
Engage with Community
Read, clap for other writers’ stories, leave comments, and participate. Being more active means more people will discover your content.
Step 6: Analyze and Optimize Performance
Tracking your progress helps you understand what works and what doesn’t.
Check Your Stats Regularly
Monitor which stories perform well and look for patterns. Do certain topics, formats, or lengths perform better?
Experiment with Different Styles
Try different types of content to see what resonates most with your audience, such as listicles, personal stories, guides, etc.
Adjust Strategy Based on Feedback
Pay attention to comments and feedback. They provide insights into what your audience wants to read more about.
Use keyword research and relevant tags in your writing. Aligning with popular searches helps with internal distribution and search engine traffic too!
Step 7: Leverage Paid Partnerships and Opportunities
Additional ways to monetize beyond the Partner Program include:
Publications’ Sponsorships: Some partner brands share revenue from featured stories.
Affiliate Marketing: Use affiliate links (complying with rules). When readers click and make a purchase, you earn a commission.
Self-Promotion: Promote your own products and services within articles, such as consulting services, courses, or links to them.
Paid Newsletters or Memberships: If you have a strong following, consider launching a paid newsletter or membership program with exclusive content for dedicated readers who pay for it!
Step 8: Stay Consistent and Patient
Earning money is not a quick-rich scheme. It requires consistency, quality writing, and patience. Stay motivated, aim to publish small, then gradually increase. Celebrate milestones, learn, and improve. It might take a while to see significant earnings, but keep writing, experimenting, and working toward long-term success!
Stay dedicated, experiment, and try new strategies—who knows how successful you could be?