Maximize Your Earnings: 3 Strategies for Medium Writers
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Chapter 1: Understanding Your Value as a Writer
Your time spent writing is more precious than you realize. When you contribute to Medium, you are essentially becoming part of their business model, creating content without immediate financial reward, hoping for a few cents per read later on. You produce the product first, with the potential for earnings coming afterward.
This setup benefits Medium significantly, but it can be less advantageous for you—unless you learn to leverage your content effectively. While Medium can be a lucrative platform for writers, most of that income is unlikely to stem from their partner program.
The days when the partner program could reliably support writers are fading. The algorithm has shifted so much that only a handful of individuals manage to earn a sustainable income here (and it's probably not you or me).
So, what alternatives exist? Here are three strategies to help you maximize the income from your Medium stories. These methods are the reasons I continue to use the platform, none of which rely on the partner program. The earnings from the partner program are pitiful, yet my appreciation for Medium remains due to the opportunities it offers.
Section 1.1: Discover Your Next Product Idea
Utilize your story metrics to identify your next product concept. Whether you plan to write a book, develop a course, or offer coaching, your analytics will be instrumental. Examine the titles and subjects of your most successful stories. You can download a zip file of your Medium content, which includes a curated list of your top-performing articles. Transform your best free stories into paid products. Think of Medium as a testing ground for your readers' preferences, allowing you to make informed decisions for your next venture.
This video provides a comprehensive guide on how to profit from your writing on Medium, offering insights that can help you turn your passion into a revenue stream.
Section 1.2: Repurpose Your Content
Another approach is to combine multiple stories into a single paid product. Many writers successfully compile their Medium articles into complete books. I have taken segments of my Medium stories and adapted them into newsletters and course chapters. Repurposing and reformatting your content in various ways can significantly enhance your earnings. If you merely write and wait for the partner program to pay you, you are underutilizing your writing time.
Subsection 1.2.1: Harnessing Medium's Audience
Medium has invested millions to cultivate its readership. As individual creators, we lack such financial resources. Since we are contributing content without compensation, it’s essential to leverage each article as a tool to grow your email list. Medium serves as a platform that controls your audience, making it risky to build a sustainable creative career solely on their site. Relying on a free Facebook page, for instance, could lead to disappointment if that page is suddenly taken down. By developing your own email list, you take ownership of your audience and, by extension, your business.
Email serves as a crucial safeguard against becoming invisible. It provides a direct connection to your most valuable clients without intermediaries.
Chapter 2: Building Your Email List
When you’re ready to start your email list, I have something valuable for you. I’ve created a free email masterclass designed specifically for aspiring writers like you. This course, known as Tribe 1K, took several months to develop and has undergone many revisions to ensure its effectiveness.
Now is the perfect time to initiate or expand your email list. I will guide you in attracting your first 1,000 (or your next 1,000) readers without spending a dime on advertising. My previous Tribe 1K students include bestselling authors, esteemed professors, lawyers, CEOs, doctors, and everyday people—just like you and me.
Your email list can empower you to gain independence through your creative endeavors. To grow your creative business, you need email before you risk losing your audience’s attention. Simply having a social media account isn’t enough. Establish your list before you find yourself in need of it—waiting until then might be too late.
Reserve your spot before I start charging an enrollment fee.
My Tribe 1K Email Masterclass, valued at $97, includes all necessary templates and checklists. Enroll today to secure your place.
August Birch, also known as the Book Mechanic, is a Michigan-based author specializing in both fiction and non-fiction. As an email marketing specialist for writers and creators, August empowers indie authors to achieve freedom through their craft. When not engaged in writing, August enjoys time with his wife and son, carries a pocket knife, and uses a safety razor for grooming.
And before you leave…
If you enjoy my content, consider joining Medium as a paying member. This membership grants you unlimited access to stories (not just the three free articles per month). Click this link or the image below. I will receive a small portion of your membership fee, but it won’t cost you anything extra.
In this video, discover three innovative ways to earn money writing on Medium in 2024, which can help you maximize your creative potential.