Why YOU Should Be Writing On Medium In 2023
The perfect platform to monetize your writing skills
Medium, the go-to platform for bloggers and writers, offers a plethora of compelling reasons to join its community and start earning money right away.
Contrary to common misconceptions, Medium provides an exceptional opportunity to showcase your writing skills while reaping financial rewards.
Let’s delve into the details!
What is Medium?
Established in 2012, Medium has become a renowned platform for social journalism. Whether you’re a professional or an amateur writer, Medium helps you share stories on any topic within the platform’s guidelines.
While English dominates Medium, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to find stories in various other languages as well.
Even now, in 2023, Medium remains one of the best platforms, if not the best, for earning money through your writing, without the need for advertisements or sponsors.
Speaking from personal experience, I embarked on my Medium journey in February 2021 with modest expectations. English not being my native language, I was surprised by the opportunities Medium presented. Fast forward to June 2023, and I couldn’t be happier with my decision to give Medium a chance.
To date, I’ve made over $15,000 solely from Medium.
Partner Program
To monetize your writing on Medium, all you need to do is join the Medium Partner Program.
Applying is a breeze: create a Medium account, sign up for the Partner Program, and start crafting your original posts.
Before you can start earning, you’ll need to meet a few criteria:
Have at least 100 followers (Update July 2023: This requirement will be removed soon)
Publish at least one story
These requirements pale in comparison to platforms like YouTube, which demands 1000 subscribers and 4000 hours of watch time within 12 months.
Once you meet Medium’s criteria, you’ll begin earning money based on the reading time of your audience. It’s a straightforward and gratifying principle.
However, there is a small caveat: your readers must be paying members of Medium*, each contributing $5 per month.
In my first few days on Medium, I experienced the thrill of being paid for my stories — an immensely satisfying feeling for any writer.
Debunking Common Misconceptions
Despite its simplicity and transparency, many writers misunderstand how Medium works.
While it’s true that you receive compensation for stories eligible for earnings, the payment comes from Medium members* who themselves contribute $5 per month.
To make your story eligible, simply enable the “meter” setting before publishing.
Here’s the crucial point many people miss: you don’t have to be a paying Medium member to publish metered stories.
Even with a free account, you can publish metered stories and still get paid. (Update July 2023: This won’t be possible in the future. From now on, you’ll have to be a member to earn)
The only limitation is that free accounts are restricted to reading three metered Medium stories per month.
Nevertheless, you can write and publish as many metered stories as you desire, all while earning money.
Why Choose Medium in 2023?
Apart from the enticing financial prospects, there are numerous other reasons to consider writing on Medium this year.
Firstly, Medium boasts a large and largely supportive community, allowing you to connect with great writers and discover awesome stories. The more you engage with fellow writers and readers, the higher the engagement you’ll witness on your own posts.
Secondly, Medium offers a vast array of fantastic publications. By submitting your stories to these publications, you gain exposure to larger audiences, receive valuable editing tips and feedback, and have the opportunity to enhance your writing skills.
With hundreds, if not thousands, of great publications covering a wide range of niches and styles, you’ll find the perfect fit for your content.
And if all this still isn’t enough, there’s more:
Medium vs. Your Own Blog
As a fellow blogger, I understand the allure of having your own blog.
However, building and maintaining a successful blog requires significant time, consistency, effort, and energy — not to mention the possible financial investment — while overnight success remains elusive.
On the other hand, writing on Medium offers an effortless setup process, immediate access to readers, and the potential to reach a wide audience from day one, with earnings in sight.
But don’t abandon your own blog just yet! Combining Medium with your blog can prove beneficial.
Cross-posting allows you to create articles for both platforms, expanding your reach and readership. Just be cautious about duplicate content, a topic I’ll explore in a future post if you’re interested.
Medium and Domain Authority (DA)
Consider the advantage of backlinking.
Links play a crucial role in improving the SEO and Domain Authority rankings of your blog or website. Obtaining backlinks from high-rated websites holds significant value, and Medium, with its impressive Domain Authority score of 96, is one such desirable source.
Thus, linking from Medium to your blog enhances its reputation, while crosslinking between your blog and Medium produces solid results.
Parting Words
Having discovered the remarkable benefits of Medium, I genuinely regret not starting sooner.
In 2.5 years, I’ve received invaluable feedback, honed my English writing skills, gained confidence in writing in English, tapped into my creativity, and yes, earned a good income.
While it may not be mind-blowing, it has exceeded my expectations and surpassed what 2.5 years of writing for a new blog could have accomplished.
So, don’t hesitate — give Medium a try*!
You have nothing to lose, especially considering you can utilize the platform for free if you want. Create your account, start writing, and unlock the potential that awaits you on Medium.