As a freelance writer, I know firsthand how challenging it can be to make a living solely from writing. But with the rise of platforms like Medium, it’s become easier than ever before to monetize your writing and build a following. In this article, I’ll share 25 secrets to making money writing on Medium that I’ve learned through my own experience and research.
First and foremost, it’s important to understand how Medium works and how you can leverage its features to your advantage. One key aspect of Medium is its Partner Program, which allows writers to earn money based on the engagement their stories receive. By joining the Partner Program and enabling the “metered paywall” on your stories, you can earn a portion of the revenue generated by Medium’s subscription service. Additionally, Medium offers a referral program that allows you to earn money by promoting the platform to your followers and friends.
Understanding Medium’s Partner Program
As a writer on Medium, I’ve found that the Partner Program is one of the best ways to monetize my writing. Here’s how it works:
- Medium makes money through memberships at a tag of $5/month.
- When members read a story and clap for it, a portion of their membership dollars goes to the writer of the story.
- This ratio of claps to dollars is unknown; the algorithm is kept secret by Medium, so that nobody can “game the system.”
To participate in the Partner Program, you need to sign up for a Medium account and apply to join the program. Once you’re accepted, you can start earning money from your writing.
The amount of money you earn depends on a few factors, including the number of claps your story receives, the length of time readers spend on your story, and the number of reads your story gets. Medium uses a complex algorithm to calculate your earnings, but you can get a rough idea of how much you’ll earn by using Medium’s earnings calculator.
Overall, the Partner Program is a great way to make money on Medium. By writing high-quality content that resonates with readers, you can earn a steady stream of income from your writing.
Writing Engaging Content
As a writer on Medium, one of the secrets to making money is crafting engaging content that resonates with your readers. To do this, you need to identify your niche, create eye-catching headlines, and craft compelling stories.
Identifying Your Niche
To write engaging content, you need to identify your niche. This is the area that you are passionate about and knowledgeable in. It could be anything from technology to personal development to cooking.
Once you have identified your niche, you need to focus on creating content that is relevant to your audience. This means understanding their pain points, interests, and needs. By doing this, you can create content that resonates with them and keeps them coming back for more.
Creating Eye-Catching Headlines
The headline is the first thing that your readers will see, so it’s important to make it eye-catching and attention-grabbing. A good headline should be clear, concise, and relevant to the content.
To create an eye-catching headline, you can use numbers, questions, or power words. For example, “5 Secrets to Writing Engaging Content on Medium” or “Are You Making These Mistakes in Your Medium Writing?”
Crafting Compelling Stories
To keep your readers engaged, you need to craft compelling stories. This means using storytelling techniques such as anecdotes, metaphors, and imagery to bring your content to life.
A good story should have a clear structure, with a beginning, middle, and end. It should also have a clear message or lesson that your readers can take away.
By identifying your niche, creating eye-catching headlines, and crafting compelling stories, you can write engaging content that resonates with your readers and helps you make money on Medium.
Growing Your Medium Following
As a writer on Medium, growing your following is key to making money. Here are a few tips that I’ve found helpful:
Engaging with Other Writers
One of the best ways to grow your following on Medium is by engaging with other writers. Leave thoughtful comments on their articles, follow them, and highlight their work. This will help you build relationships with other writers on the platform and potentially lead to them promoting your work to their own followers.
Promoting Your Work on Social Media
Another way to grow your following on Medium is by promoting your work on social media. Share links to your articles on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. This can help you reach a wider audience and potentially attract new readers to your Medium profile.
Remember to be genuine and authentic when engaging with other writers and promoting your work on social media. Building a following takes time and effort, but with consistent effort, it’s definitely possible to grow your Medium audience and make money as a writer.
Optimizing Your Medium Articles
As a writer on Medium, it’s important to optimize your articles to increase visibility and engagement. Here are two ways to do that:
Using SEO Techniques
One way to optimize your Medium articles is by using search engine optimization (SEO) techniques. This involves researching and using relevant keywords in your article title, subtitle, and throughout the body of your article. By doing this, you increase your chances of appearing in search engine results when readers search for topics related to your article.
Another way to optimize your article for SEO is by including a meta description. This is a brief summary of your article that appears in search engine results. Make sure to include relevant keywords in your meta description to increase the chances of readers clicking on your article.
Including Relevant Tags
Another way to optimize your Medium articles is by including relevant tags. Tags are keywords or phrases that describe the content of your article. By including relevant tags, you make it easier for readers to find your article when they search for topics related to your article.
When choosing tags, make sure they accurately describe the content of your article. Avoid using irrelevant tags or tags that are too broad. This can result in your article being buried in search results or attracting the wrong audience.
By optimizing your Medium articles with SEO techniques and relevant tags, you increase your chances of reaching a wider audience and earning more money through the Medium Partner Program.
Monetizing Your Medium Articles
As a writer on Medium, you have the opportunity to monetize your articles in a number of ways. Here are two effective methods:
Utilizing Medium’s Paywall
One of the simplest ways to earn money on Medium is by utilizing their paywall feature. When you publish an article on Medium, you have the option to put it behind a paywall, which means that only Medium members can access it. As a writer, you earn a portion of the $5 monthly membership fee that Medium members pay. The more engagement your article receives, the more money you earn.
To maximize your earnings, it’s important to focus on creating high-quality content that resonates with your audience. This means writing articles that are informative, engaging, and well-researched. You should also promote your articles on social media and other platforms to attract more readers and increase engagement.
Selling Your Own Products or Services
Another way to monetize your Medium articles is by selling your own products or services. For example, if you’re a freelance writer, you could use Medium to showcase your writing skills and attract new clients. You could also sell digital products, such as e-books or online courses, that are related to your niche.
To sell products or services on Medium, you’ll need to create a dedicated landing page that provides more information about what you’re offering. This landing page should be well-designed and persuasive, with a clear call-to-action that encourages readers to make a purchase.
Overall, there are many ways to monetize your writing on Medium. By utilizing Medium’s paywall or selling your own products or services, you can earn a steady income from your writing and build a loyal following of readers.
Consistency is Key
As someone who has been writing on Medium for a while, I can tell you that consistency is key when it comes to making money. Here are some tips that have helped me stay consistent:
Creating a Posting Schedule
One of the best things you can do to stay consistent is to create a posting schedule. This will help you stay on track and ensure that you are posting regularly. When creating your schedule, think about how often you want to post and what days of the week work best for you. For example, you might decide to post once a week on Wednesdays and Fridays. Once you have your schedule, stick to it as closely as possible.
Sticking to Your Plan
Creating a schedule is one thing, but sticking to it is another. To stay consistent, you need to be disciplined and committed to your plan. This means setting aside time each week to write and edit your posts, and making sure that you are meeting your deadlines. It also means being flexible and willing to adjust your schedule if necessary. For example, if you are feeling overwhelmed and need to take a break, don’t be afraid to adjust your schedule accordingly.
In conclusion, consistency is key when it comes to making money on Medium. By creating a posting schedule and sticking to your plan, you can ensure that you are posting regularly and building a following. Remember, success on Medium takes time and effort, but if you stay consistent, you can achieve your goals.
Learning from Successful Medium Writers
As a writer on Medium, I’m always looking for ways to improve my craft and increase my earnings. One of the best ways to do this is by learning from successful Medium writers. Here are a few ways I’ve found to learn from the best:
Analyzing Top Performing Articles
One of the easiest ways to learn from successful Medium writers is by analyzing their top performing articles. By looking at the structure, style, and content of these articles, I can get a better understanding of what works on the platform. I pay attention to things like:
- Headlines that grab my attention
- Opening paragraphs that draw me in
- Subheadings that break up the text
- Clear and concise language
- Engaging stories and anecdotes
- Relevant and useful information
- Calls to action that encourage engagement
By studying these articles, I can get a better sense of what works on Medium and apply those lessons to my own writing.
Connecting with Successful Writers
Another way to learn from successful Medium writers is by connecting with them directly. I’ve found that many writers on the platform are happy to share their knowledge and offer advice to newer writers.
I’ve reached out to successful writers in a few different ways:
- Leaving thoughtful comments on their articles
- Responding to their stories on social media
- Joining writing groups and communities on Medium
- Attending virtual writing workshops and events
By connecting with successful writers, I’ve been able to get feedback on my own writing, learn about new Medium features and updates, and get tips on how to increase my earnings on the platform.
In conclusion, learning from successful Medium writers is a great way to improve my writing and increase my earnings on the platform. By analyzing top performing articles and connecting with successful writers, I can gain valuable insights and apply them to my own work.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I believe that making money on Medium is definitely possible, but it requires a lot of hard work, dedication, and patience. It’s important to remember that success on Medium doesn’t happen overnight, and it may take some time before you start seeing any significant income.
However, if you’re willing to put in the effort, there are many strategies that you can use to increase your earnings on Medium. Some of the most effective techniques include writing high-quality content, building a loyal following, and leveraging the power of social media to promote your work.
Another important factor to consider is the importance of networking and building relationships with other writers on Medium. By collaborating with others and sharing your work with a wider audience, you can significantly increase your exposure and potentially earn more money.
Ultimately, the key to success on Medium is to stay focused, stay motivated, and keep pushing yourself to create the best possible content. With time and effort, I believe that anyone can succeed on this platform and start earning a steady income from their writing.