How to Make Money on Medium: A Complete Guide

Introduction

Writing online has become a viable way to earn income, and Medium offers one of the more interesting models: a built-in audience of readers willing to pay a subscription, and a system where writers are paid by engagement. If you’re willing to treat writing as more than a hobby—if you’re willing to learn, experiment and grow—then Medium can become a source of side income (and potentially more). That said, it’s not a guaranteed get-rich-quick scheme. The key words are: strategy, persistence, quality, and engagement.

In this article we’ll go through:

How Medium’s monetization works (the core model)
Setting yourself up the right way (account, niche, publication)
Writing and publishing your stories for maximum income potential
Growing your audience, building your brand, and promoting your work
Optimising for income: what metrics matter, what you can control
Alternatives and additional revenue streams beyond the main partner program
Pitfalls, realistic expectations and “what to watch out for”
Action plan: what to do next, step by step

Let’s dive in.

1. How Medium’s Monetization Works

To make money on Medium, you first need to understand how the platform pays writers, what the rules are, and where the opportunities lie.

1.1 The Core: Medium Partner Program (MPP)

The primary way to earn money on Medium is via the Medium Partner Program (MPP). When you publish a story and mark it “members-only” (i.e., behind the paywall for paying Medium members), you become eligible to earn revenue.

Here’s how it works in essence:

Medium has a pool of revenue collected from paying subscribers (members).
Writers who publish content that these members read, engage with, spend time on, etc., get a share of that pool.
The key metrics: how much time a paying member spends reading your story (“member reading time”), engagement (claps, responses), how deeply they read (not just a quick skim).
You’ll need to join the Partner Program, set up payments (usually via Stripe where supported).

1.2 The Requirements & Eligibility

Before you can earn, you have to meet certain criteria:

You must be eligible in your country (Medium supports many countries, but not all).
You must be at least 18 years old.
You must publish at least one story in the past six months (if you’re inactive you may lose eligibility).
You must mark your story as “members-only” if you want it to be eligible for earnings.

Note: Historically some extra rules existed (followers minimum, etc.), but Medium has changed over time. E.g., some sources say you no longer need a minimum follower count.

1.3 What Determines Your Earnings

Your income will depend on several factors:

How long paying members spend reading your content. The more “member reading time” you accrue, the more you get.
How many paying members you refer or bring in (through referral links). Some of your revenue comes from new members you attract.
Whether your story gets extra visibility (boosts, being featured, being published in a large publication). More visibility increases the chance people see and read it.
The niche, quality, engagement (claps, comments, shares), and your consistency. Even though Medium doesn’t publish exact formulas, these are clear correlates of success.

1.4 How Much Can You Earn?

This varies widely. Some writers earn a few dollars a month. Others, with strategy and luck, earn hundreds or even thousands monthly.

One source: “Active writers make about $500–$1,000 per month” with consistency.
But many new writers may make only $0-$20/month at first.
Because earnings scale with reading time and engagement, posting many stories doesn’t guarantee high income unless the engagement is there. As one writer observed:

“I used to publish around 15 stories monthly, earning me up to $200. Now, I make the same amount from posting a few stories.”

In a Reddit thread someone wrote:

“It depends what you define as ‘earning money’… A dollar or two? You’d start making that with engaged reads (>30 seconds) on your first few article, assuming you’re in the Partner Program.”

In short: big potential, but it takes work, quality and time.

2. Setting Yourself Up for Success

Before you start trying to “make money,” you need to lay a solid foundation. This means setting up your Medium account, determining your niche, choosing whether you’ll write under your own name or build a publication, and preparing for writing and promotion.

2.1 Create / Optimize Your Medium Profile

Choose a clear writer name, write a bio that explains who you are and what you write about.
Add a good profile photo and possibly a header image.
Link to your other presence (website, social media) if you have.
Make sure your profile communicates value – what readers will get from your work.
(This helps build trust and followers.)

2.2 Choose Your Niche

Picking a niche is very helpful. Rather than writing about whatever comes to mind, choosing 1-2 themes allows you to build authority, a loyal readership, and consistent topics that readers come back for. For example: personal development, finance, productivity, remote work, (micro) entrepreneurship, or a specific hobby. Several sources emphasise this:

“Find a niche … It’s just much easier to become an authority or familiar voice in a niche than a writer trying to connect with a broad audience.”
“Choose a niche … it helps to stick to one niche because you can consistently publish in the same publications and grow an engaged audience.”

Therefore: pick a niche you are both passionate about and that has reader interest on Medium.

2.3 Decide Between “Personal Writer” vs “Publication”

On Medium you can publish under your own profile, or you can create/contribute to a publication (which is like a magazine/collection). Each option has pros/cons:

Your own profile: full control, you keep all branding, followers are yours.
Publication (yours or others): publications often already have an audience, which can give you more visibility and higher reach. Many writers submit their stories to established publications to get more exposure. For example:

“Use publications to boost your earnings … getting published in a popular publication can dramatically increase your readership.”

If you start, you might aim to publish in one or two publications relevant to your niche.

2.4 Set Up Payment / Partner Program

When you’re ready, go to your Medium settings and join the Partner Program.
Connect your payment method (often Stripe). Make sure your country is supported.
Make sure you understand the terms: e.g., your stories must be marked “members only” if you want them to earn revenue, and you must be active.
Set realistic expectations: you’ll likely start small, so think of this as a building phase.

2.5 Plan Your Content Strategy

Decide on how often you’ll publish (e.g., once a week, twice a month).
Plan topics ahead of time, aligned with your niche.
Research what stories in your niche on Medium are getting engagement: look at their headlines, structure, style.
Think about evergreen vs timely content: evergreen (topics that stay relevant) can keep earning for months.
Think about reader value: what problem are you solving, what insight are you giving, what story are you telling?

3. Writing & Publishing for Maximum Income Potential

Writing good content is core. On Medium, to earn money you need to attract paying readers, get them to stay, and engage. So your writing and publishing approach matters.

3.1 Crafting Headlines and Hooks

Your headline is your “first impression.” If your headline doesn’t attract clicks, even the best article won’t get read.

Use clear benefit-focused headlines: e.g., “How I doubled my freelance income in 6 months” or “10 steps to stop procrastinating today”.
Use curiosity, emotion, numbers, or how-tos—these tend to work well. For example sources mention:

“Craft compelling headlines … A headline serves as the gateway to your article.”
But don’t overpromise or mislead; if readers click and immediately bounce, Medium’s algorithms will penalise the story (fewer future recommendations).

3.2 Structure & Storytelling

Medium is a readership that appreciates well-structured, readable content. Some tips:

Use subheadings, short paragraphs, bullet lists, numbered steps—to break up text and make it scannable.

“Break down your content into sections … Bullet points and numbered lists can be effective tools for simplifying complex information.”
Use storytelling where possible: tell your personal experience, use examples, be human. Readers connect with authenticity.
Use visuals (images, graphs) to support your points. A more visual piece tends to be more engaging.

“Use visual elements … Incorporating images, graphs … can significantly enhance engagement.”
Ensure your content delivers value: whether it instructs, entertains, inspires, or solves a problem. Value = engagement = earnings.

3.3 Make It “Members-Only”

If you want earning potential via the Partner Program, mark your story as “members-only”. Medium’s help pages explain how to make a story eligible.
However: you can also publish some stories publicly (free) to attract readers, build followers, and funnel them into your paid ones.

3.4 Publishing in / Submitting to Publications

Getting your story into a medium-large publication can boost its reach:

Research publications in your niche on Medium. See their subscriber counts, style, submission guidelines.
Submit your story (or pitch it) to these publications.
If accepted, you get access to a larger audience and possibly higher engagement.
Example:

“When I wanted to get more eyes on my articles, I started submitting my stories to publications … This helped me reach a larger audience.”

3.5 Timing & Frequency

Do not sacrifice quality for quantity. It’s better to publish fewer high-value articles than many low-value ones. From one writer:

“I used to publish around 15 stories monthly, earning me up to $200. Now, I make the same amount from posting a few stories.”
Find your rhythm: maybe aim for 1-2 quality posts per month if you’re starting. Then ramp up as you improve.
Consistency is key: readers (and Medium’s algorithm) favour regular activity.

4. Growing Your Audience & Building Your Brand

Writing the stories is one thing. But earning well on Medium also depends on having an audience who know you, trust you, and engage with you. This section focuses on building that.

4.1 Engage With the Medium Community

Respond to comments on your stories: engage with readers, answer questions, thank them. This helps build reader loyalty.

“Engage with your audience … Engage directly with those who comment on your articles. This shows you value their input, encouraging further interaction.”
Read others’ work in your niche; comment thoughtfully. This raises your visibility and builds relationships with other writers/readers.
Follow writers in your niche; learn what they do well.

4.2 Promote Your Stories

Don’t rely solely on Medium’s internal algorithm. You must promote:

Share your stories on social media (Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook) where your audience is.
If you have an email list or newsletter, send your story link to your subscribers.
Republish (or link) on your own blog/web-site if you have one (with canonical links to avoid SEO penalties).
Use your Medium “About” page, profile, and bio to link out to other content you do (to build your brand).

4.3 Build Your Following / Brand

Encourage readers to “follow” you on Medium so they’ll see future stories.
Establish your style, voice, and value proposition (what readers can expect from you).
Over time, your name/brand becomes known in your niche—which means readers are more likely to click your new stories, engage with them, and share them.
You might consider building off-Medium assets (such as your own blog, email list, social media presence) that feed your Medium audience.

4.4 Leveraging Publications for Reach

As already noted, publishing in established publications boosts reach. Also:

If you build your own publication (invite guest writers, etc.) you can position yourself as a hub in your niche.
Being included in Medium newsletters or “top story” lists within a publication can significantly increase your article’s views and thus your earnings.

5. Optimising for Income: Metrics, Strategy & Hacks

This section focusses on the “money side” of things: what metrics matter, and how you can optimise your writing and strategy to increase earnings.

5.1 Key Metrics That Drive Earnings

Based on what we know:

Member reading time: The more minutes paying members spend reading your stories, the more you earn.
Engagement: Claps, responses, highlights, and comments matter. They help show to the algorithm that your story is high quality and worthy of more distribution.
Story reach / visibility: If Medium’s algorithm or a publication features your story, you get more readers, which means more potential paying member reading time.
Referral/bringing new paying members: Some income may come from new members you bring in via your referral link.
Longevity / evergreen content: A story that continues to get reads over weeks/months will continue to earn.
Bounce rate / time on article: If many readers click but quickly leave, Medium’s algorithm may reduce future distribution. This emphasises quality and readability.

5.2 Optimisation Strategies

Here are practical tactics you can apply:

Write longer, high-value articles, but only if they keep reader interest. A 500-word shallow piece will likely be skimmed; a 1,500-3,000 word deeply-crafted article can keep reader interest and build reading time.
Use strong intros that hook the reader in the first few sentences (so they don’t bounce).
Use visuals (images, graphs, screenshots) to break text and keep engagement.
Use subheadings, short paragraphs, white space, bullet lists: improves readability.
Focus on evergreen topics (that stay relevant) which can accumulate reading time over weeks/months.
Repurpose your older stories: update them, re-share, re-submit to publications, build follower list.
Promote your stories externally: the more initial traction you get (reads, claps), the more likely Medium will surface your story inside the platform.
Track what works in your Partner Dashboard: which topics, headlines, article lengths, publication methods yield the best result? Then replicate.

“Focus on topics that appeal to me and my target audience … don’t waste time on AI. Instead, develop your writing skills.”
Don’t publish purely click-bait: If people click and bounce quickly, it harms your future visibility.

5.3 Monetisation Beyond the Basic

While the Partner Program is the main route, you can layer on additional income strategies:

Use Medium to link to your own products, services, e-books, consulting, etc. For example: at the end of a Medium story, invite the reader to check out your course/ebook/consultation.
If you have a blog or website, use Medium as a traffic funnel. Publish on Medium (free or paid), link to your site, and earn via ads, affiliate links, or your own product.
Use affiliate marketing inside your Medium stories—though be sure to follow Medium’s rules and be transparent.
Build your own membership / Patreon: Use Medium stories to build an audience, then invite them to join your membership for exclusive content.
If you have enough following, you might create your own publication on Medium and invite others to write, share revenue or use it as a brand hub.

6. Realistic Expectations & Pitfalls

Setting realistic expectations is crucial, as is avoiding some common pitfalls many writers fall into.

6.1 Realistic Timelines

Many beginners will start with small earnings (a few dollars or tens of dollars per month) while they learn the platform and build a following.
To earn consistently significant income (hundreds or more per month) usually takes time: months to years, depending on how much you write, how well you promote, how engaged your audience becomes.
Don’t expect overnight riches. One writer’s summary:

“Everyone’s journey is different. You won’t be able to predict your earnings… success depends on your topic and a catchy title rather than the number of published articles.”

6.2 Pitfalls to Watch Out For

Writing too broadly: If your topic is too generic and you don’t build a loyal audience, you may struggle for engagement.
Quality over quantity neglected: Publishing lots of low-value articles can reduce your performance.
Ignoring promotion: Relying only on Medium’s internal algorithm is risky—external promotion helps.
Expecting huge income immediately: Many writers give up when they don’t see quick returns.
Ignoring platform changes: Medium may change rules, algorithms, features. Staying updated is important.
Using purely AI-generated content: Platforms are increasingly sensitive to low-quality / spammy / AI-only content, and engagement will suffer.
Failing to build a “home base” beyond Medium: Medium is a valuable platform, but having your own list/website means you’re not entirely dependent on Medium’s policy or algorithm.
Ignoring country/payment restrictions: Some users may be in countries where payment or Partner Program support is limited/unavailable. Red flags when you can’t connect a payment method.

6.3 Is It Worth It?

Yes — if you enjoy writing, have something to say, and are willing to treat it like a small business (even if side hustle). For many, Medium offers:

A built-in audience and discoverability
A platform that handles hosting, design, distribution
Potential to earn revenue without building your own website and monetising it via ads/affiliate etc (as a sole focus)

However, if you’re expecting to make quick, high income without consistent effort and audience building, you might be disappointed. As one Reddit user said:

“It is definitely not a scam. I make an extra $100-200 per month from it … It’s a great place to develop your voice.”

7. Action Plan: What You Should Do Next

Here’s a step-by-step plan to get started and build momentum on Medium:

Step 1: Setup & Launch

Create/optimize your Medium profile (photo, bio, niche statement).
Choose your niche and draft 3-6 story ideas.
Write your first article (public or members-only) to ‘launch’ yourself on Medium.
Join the Partner Program and set up your payment method (once you’re ready to monetise).

Step 2: Publish Your First Paid Story

Write a high-value story aligned with your niche (e.g., 1,000-2,000 words, strong headline, visuals).
Mark it as “members-only” (if your goal is revenue).
Submit/publish it, and share on your social media/email list.
Pay attention to initial traction: how many reads/claps/comments you get, how far people read.

Step 3: Promote & Build Audience

Share your article on Twitter/LinkedIn/Facebook (wherever your audience is).
Comment on and engage with other relevant writers and their work.
Respond to every comment you get on your story.
Encourage readers to follow you for future stories.

Step 4: Analyse & Iterate

After a week or two, check your Partner Dashboard: what’s working? Which story got more reading time? Which topic/hook performed best?
Based on that, plan your next article. Experiment with variations: different headline styles, story formats (how-to, listicle, personal narrative), article lengths.
Consider submitting to a medium publication if eligible.

Step 5: Build a Portfolio & Evergreen Content

Over time publish 10-20 stories: mix of timely (current events/trends) and evergreen (long-lasting interest).
Make sure some content “plays the long game” (evergreen) so it keeps earning after initial publish.
Consider linking older articles to newer ones (“related stories”), so readers stay longer.

Step 6: Expand Monetisation

Once you have built an audience, think about additional revenue streams:
- Promote your own product/service via Medium.
- Use affiliate links (appropriately) in stories.
- Build your email list/own website for traffic beyond Medium.
- Create your own publication (if you want to scale and invite guest writers).

Step 7: Long-Term Growth

Keep writing and improving your craft: storytelling, structure, visuals, editing.
Diversify your topics slightly within your niche to reach adjacent audiences.
Monitor Medium’s updates/algorithm shifts: adapt as needed.
Consider cross-platform traffic: Instagram, YouTube, podcasting to feed readers to Medium.

8. Summary & Final Thoughts

Making money on Medium is real, but it demands the same things any successful online writing business demands: value for readers, consistency, promotion, and audience building. The Partner Program gives you a built-in monetisation mechanism, which is a huge plus compared to starting your own blog where you have to build traffic, monetise, manage hosting, etc.

If I were to summarise in three key take-aways:

Focus on value and engagement: writing articles people stay to read, not just skim.
Build audience & promote: visibility matters as much as writing.
Think long-term: your earnings will build over time; don’t expect huge income overnight.

If you commit to the process, you can build a side income that grows. Perhaps one day it becomes a meaningful part of your income stream. Even if you never reach thousands per month, you’ll have built a portfolio of writing, a reputation, and possibly ancillary opportunities (speaking, consulting, product sales) emerging from your Medium presence.

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Ny Thaily

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