Medium publications are a great way to showcase your writing and connect with a wider audience. They function as mini-magazines within the Medium platform, where writers can publish their work and readers can discover new content on specific topics. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the process of creating a Medium publication.
I have several publications on Medium, and have at any time been the editor to over 20! So I can easily show you the ins and outs!
Understanding Medium Publications
When you create a Medium publication, you become the editor-in-chief, responsible for curating and publishing content that aligns with the publication’s theme. You can choose to publish your own work or invite other writers to contribute.
Publications can be open to anyone or closed, requiring writers to request permission to contribute. Closed publications are great for building a community of writers and maintaining a specific tone and style.
One of the benefits of publishing in a Medium publication is increased visibility. Publications have their own followers, and readers can discover your work through the publication’s feed or by searching for content on a specific topic. Additionally, Medium curates content from publications, increasing the chances of your work being featured on the platform’s homepage or in recommended reading lists.
Overall, Medium publications are a valuable tool for writers looking to build their audience and showcase their work. By creating your own publication, you can establish yourself as an expert in your field and connect with other writers and readers who share your interests.
Planning Your Publication
When creating a Medium publication, planning is key. We need to define our niche, audience, and objectives.
Choosing a Niche
The first step is to choose a niche for our publication. We want to choose a topic that we are passionate about and that has a large enough audience to sustain our publication. We can use Google Trends or Medium’s built-in search feature to see what topics are popular and trending. We should also consider our own expertise and experience when choosing a niche.
Defining Your Audience
Once we have chosen a niche, we need to define our audience. Who are we creating content for? What are their interests and needs? We can use tools like Google Analytics and social media insights to gather data on our target audience. We should also consider our audience’s demographics, such as age, gender, and location.
Setting Objectives
Finally, we need to set objectives for our publication. What do we want to achieve with our content? Are we looking to build a community, drive traffic to our website, or establish ourselves as thought leaders in our niche? We should set specific, measurable, and achievable objectives that align with our overall goals.
By planning our publication in advance, we can create a focused and successful Medium publication that resonates with our audience and achieves our objectives.
Creating Your Publication
When creating a Medium publication, there are a few key steps to keep in mind. In this section, we will cover the three main sub-sections: Naming Your Publication, Designing Your Publication, and Setting Up Rules and Guidelines.
1. Naming Your Publication
The first step in creating your Medium publication is to choose a name that accurately reflects the content and tone of your publication. When choosing a name, consider the following:
- Keep it simple and easy to remember
- Make it relevant to your content
- Avoid using trademarked names or names that are already in use on Medium
Once you have chosen a name, you can add a description that further explains what your publication is about. This will help readers understand what they can expect from your publication.
2. Designing Your Publication
The design of your publication is important because it will be the first thing that readers see when they visit your publication. You can customize the design of your publication by choosing a cover image, adding a logo, and selecting a color scheme.
When designing your publication, consider the following:
- Choose a cover image that accurately represents your publication
- Add a logo that is easily recognizable
- Select a color scheme that complements your content
3. Setting Up Rules and Guidelines
Setting up rules and guidelines for your publication is important because it will help maintain the quality and consistency of your content. When setting up rules and guidelines, consider the following:
- Define what types of content are allowed in your publication
- Establish a tone and style for your publication
- Set guidelines for formatting and length of articles
By setting up rules and guidelines, you can ensure that your publication stays on track and maintains a high level of quality.
Managing Your Publication
Managing a publication can be a challenging task, but it’s also rewarding. We have the power to shape our publication’s voice and create a community of writers and readers around it. Here are some tips on how to manage your publication effectively.
Recruiting Writers
Recruiting writers is the first step in building a successful publication. We want to attract writers who are passionate about our publication’s topic and can contribute high-quality content. Here are some ways to recruit writers:
- Promote our publication on social media and other platforms.
- Reach out to writers who have published on Medium and invite them to contribute.
- Encourage our current writers to invite their friends and colleagues to write for us.
- Create a submission form or email address for writers to submit their work.
Editing and Approving Posts
Editing and approving posts is crucial to maintaining the quality and consistency of our publication. Here are some tips on how to do it effectively:
- Set clear guidelines for what kind of content we’re looking for and how to submit it.
- Review submissions promptly and provide feedback to writers.
- Edit posts for grammar, style, and clarity.
- Approve posts that meet our publication’s standards and reject those that don’t.
Promoting Your Publication
Promoting our publication is key to growing our readership and attracting new writers. Here are some ways to promote our publication:
- Share our posts on social media and other platforms.
- Collaborate with other publications and writers in our niche.
- Submit our publication to Medium’s topic pages.
- Offer exclusive content or perks to our subscribers.
By following these tips, we can manage our publication effectively and build a community of passionate writers and readers.
Final Thoughts
Medium continues to be a great platform for creators to monetize their online writing! I hope you found this guide covering how to create a Medium publication, useful! If you want to learn more about Medium, check out the free content on our blog! If you are still in need of more detailed strategies for making money with Medium, you can also check out my Medium course.