How to make money on Medium [I’ve earned $28,000+]

This article may contain links from our partners.

Sharing is caring!

Are you looking for ways to make money on Medium? Look no further! In this article, we will explore various strategies for making money on the popular publishing platform. This my Medium profile for reference, if you want to check it out.

Before we kick this off, if you’re looking for ways to make extra money, here are some websites/resources to check out:

  • Cliqly: Make money emailing. You sign up for free and get access to 5,000 emails to send pre-written emails to, from the start. You’ll earn money for each person that clicks a link in those emails. Easy! I’ve heard of newbies making upt o$2,500 in their first 2 weeks with this! I made just under $600 in a few weeks, when I started. They also have a referral program.
  • Free Affiliate Marketing Ebook: Affiliate marketing is something that can make you passive income. It can make you a full-time income, working part-time but, it’s not instant money and takes some hard work and effort with. I make a full-time income with affiliate marketing, a big chunk of which is passive. There are affiliates that start making up to $10K to $20K per month within a few months of starting affiliate marketing but, everyone’s experience is different and these results are not typical. Check out my free ebook to learn more about how affiliate marketing works and how to get started with it.
  • Neighbor: This is a chance to earn income passively by monetizing your unused storage space. If you’ve got extra closet space, a spare bedroom, attic, garage, or other space in your home, you can rent it out and store other people’s goods there for passive income every month.

According to Medium, Medium writers can earn a significant amount of money. From September 2020…

  • 68.7% of writers or publications who wrote at least one story for members earned money.
  • 6.4% of active writers earned over $100.
  • $49,705.40 was the most earned by a writer, and $16,685.5 was the most earned for a single story.

From joining a partner program to selling products through your writing, there are many opportunities to earn income on Medium.

Whether you are a seasoned writer or just starting out, this article will provide you with valuable insights and actionable tips for monetizing your work on the platform.

What is Medium?

medium homepage

Medium is a popular online publishing platform that allows people to share their ideas and stories with a global audience. It was founded in 2012 by Evan Williams, the co-founder of Twitter, and has since become a go-to destination for millions of readers and writers around the world.

One of the unique features of Medium is that it uses a paywall system, which means that some content is only accessible to paying members.

This allows writers to earn money from their writing through a revenue-sharing program called the Medium Partner Program.

In addition to being a platform for writers, Medium is also home to a wide range of publications that cover topics such as technology, business, politics, and culture.

How to become a Medium writer?

To become a writer on Medium, you’ll need to first create an account on the platform.

This is a simple process that involves providing your email address and creating a password. Once you’ve created an account, you can start publishing your own stories by clicking on the “Write a story” button on your dashboard.

Before you start writing, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with Medium’s guidelines and best practices.

In general, the platform encourages writers to focus on high-quality content and to respect the intellectual property of others.

You should also take the time to explore the different publishing options available on the platform, such as the ability to publish stories privately or to submit them to publications.

As you start publishing your work on Medium, you may also want to consider joining the Medium Partner Program, which allows writers to earn money from their writing through a revenue-sharing system.

To be eligible for the program, you’ll need to have at least three stories published on the platform, with at least one of them being made available to the general public.

You’ll also need to have an active membership with Medium. This means that you either have a paid subscription or that you have invited at least one other person to join the platform.

Once you’ve met these requirements, you can apply to join the program through your account settings.

What kinds of topics can you write about as a Medium writer?

In Medium’s rules, they share what kind of content and topics they prohibit:

  • Hateful content
  • Threats of violence
  • Harassment
  • Intimate or explicit images
  • Gambling
  • Betting
  • And, other categories

See the full list.

Is Medium free?

Medium has limited free access. So, you’ll be able to read a few Medium stories during the month for free with unlimited access available for just $5/month. The $5/month access is a steal. Medium is home to thousands of different stories on a range of topics. It’s a worthwhile investment, especially as a writer.

I highly recommend you get the $5/month Medium membership.

My personal experience with Medium

I’ve been writing for Medium since around 2016.

Up until 2022, with a few dozen stories, I barely made any money on the publishing platform. I decided to take my writing seriously and treat Medium writing like a full-time job and I started making real money, earning up to nearly $6,000/month from the Medium Partner Program.

I’m going to share my best tips and advice for making money on Medium.  Here are some easy ways to get started…

5 Easy Ways to Make Money on Medium

There are many ways to monetize your Medium content:

  • Medium Partner Program
  • Affiliate marketing
  • Selling products
  • Selling services
  • Lead generation

What is the Medium Partner Program?

medium partner program

The Medium Partner Program is a revenue-sharing program that allows writers on the platform to earn money from their writing.

It works by dividing the revenue generated from membership fees and advertising between the writers and Medium itself.

To be eligible for the program, you’ll need to have at least three stories published on the platform, with at least one of them being made available to the general public.

You’ll also need to have an active membership with Medium, which means that you either have a paid subscription or that you have invited at least one other person to join the platform.

Once you’ve been accepted into the program, you’ll be able to earn money from your writing in a few different ways.

First, you’ll receive a share of the revenue generated from membership fees, which are paid by users who want to access the platform’s premium content.

You’ll also be able to earn money from advertising revenue, as ads will be displayed alongside your stories.

Finally, you’ll be able to earn money from product sales, such as books or courses, that you sell through your writing on the platform.

To maximize your earnings through the Medium Partner Program, it’s important to focus on creating high-quality content that resonates with your audience and to actively promote your work on the platform.

medium partner program

You should also take advantage of the various tools and resources provided by Medium to help you grow your audience and reach a wider audience.

What is Medium affiliate marketing?

Medium affiliate marketing is affiliate marketing through the Medium platform. This is about writing valuable content for your audience and inserting affiliate links that earn you a commission when a conversion happens.

To break it down a bit, let me explain how affiliate marketing works…

  • Affiliate marketing is a type of performance-based marketing in which a business rewards an affiliate for each customer brought to the business by the affiliate’s own marketing efforts.
  • The affiliate is typically paid a commission based on the sale of a product or service, or on the actions of the customer, such as filling out a form or signing up for a newsletter.

Here’s how affiliate marketing works in a typical scenario:

  1. A business signs up to be an advertiser on an affiliate network.
  2. The affiliate network connects the advertiser with affiliates who are interested in promoting the advertiser’s products or services.
  3. The affiliates agree to promote the advertiser’s products or services and are given unique tracking links to use in their marketing efforts.
  4. The affiliates use the tracking links to promote the advertiser’s products or services on their own websites, social media accounts, or other marketing channels.
  5. When a customer clicks on a tracking link and makes a purchase or takes a desired action, the sale or action is tracked by the affiliate network.
  6. The affiliate network pays the affiliate a commission based on the sale or action.

There are many different types of affiliate marketing programs, and the terms and conditions of each program can vary significantly.

Some programs pay a flat commission for each sale, while others pay a percentage of the sale price. Some programs pay a fixed fee for each lead or action, while others pay a variable amount based on the quality of the lead or action.

How much money can you make with affiliate marketing?

I have worked with companies that have shared that their top affiliates make up to $50,000 per month referring their products! There is real money in affiliate marketing.

According to ZipRecruiter, the average salary of an affiliate marketer is $154,000/year.

average affiliate marketer salary

Are you surprised to learn that?

It is possible to make a significant amount of money with affiliate marketing, but the amount of money you can make will depend on a variety of factors, including the amount of traffic you can drive to the merchant’s website, the conversion rate of that traffic, and the commission rate you are receiving.

Some affiliates are able to make a full-time income from their affiliate marketing efforts, while others may only make a few hundred or a few thousand dollars per month.

What’s the key to making money from affiliate marketing?

The key to making money with affiliate marketing is to focus on building a long-term, sustainable business and to continually optimize your marketing efforts to maximize your earnings.

In general, it’s important to remember that affiliate marketing is a performance-based business, which means that you’ll need to work hard to drive traffic and conversions in order to make money.

It’s also important to choose high-quality products or services to promote, as this can help to increase your chances of success. With the right strategies and approaches, it is possible to build a successful and lucrative affiliate marketing business.

How do you find affiliate programs to join?

There are a few different ways you can find affiliate programs to join:

  1. Search online: One of the easiest ways to find affiliate programs is to search for them online. You can use search engines like Google to find affiliate programs in your niche or industry, or you can use websites like Affiliate Scout or Affiliate Program Directory to find affiliate programs in a variety of different industries.
  2. Look for affiliates programs on merchant websites: Many merchants and brands offer affiliate programs directly on their websites. You can usually find information about these programs on the website’s footer, in the “Partners” or “Affiliates” section. For example, my website host Siteground offers an affiliate program that pays $50 for each sigup.
  3. Join an affiliate network: An affiliate network is a third-party platform that connects affiliates with advertisers. To join an affiliate network, you’ll need to create an account and apply to become an affiliate. Some popular affiliate networks include Commission Junction, ShareASale, and Amazon Associates.
  4. Reach out to merchants or brands directly: If you can’t find an affiliate program for a specific merchant or brand, you can try reaching out to them directly to inquire about their affiliate program. Many merchants and brands are open to working with affiliates and may have an affiliate program in place that is not widely advertised.

Once you’ve found an affiliate program that you’re interested in joining, be sure to carefully review the terms and conditions of the program before you apply.

This will help you to understand the commission structure, payment terms, and any other important details of the program.

What are examples of affiliate programs to join?

There are affiliate programs available in a wide variety of different industries, so you should be able to find programs that are relevant to your interests and audience. Here are a few examples of affiliate programs you might consider joining:

  1. Amazon Associates: Amazon Associates is a well-known affiliate program that allows affiliates to earn a commission by promoting products from Amazon.com.
  2. ShareASale: ShareASale is an affiliate network that connects affiliates with advertisers in a variety of different industries, including retail, fashion, and technology.
  3. Commission Junction: Commission Junction is another popular affiliate network that offers a wide range of affiliate programs across various industries.
  4. ClickBank: ClickBank is an affiliate network that specializes in digital products, such as ebooks, software, and online courses.
  5. eBay Partner Network: The eBay Partner Network is an affiliate program that allows affiliates to earn a commission by promoting products from eBay.com.

These are just a few examples of the many affiliate programs that are available.

Can you sell products and services on Medium?

Yes, you can sell products and services on Medium and I’ve done both!

I’ve sold digital products (ebooks) on the platform and I’ve sold my Pinterest management services (no longer offered).

My ebooks are:

It is possible to sell products and services on Medium. There are a few different ways you can do this:

  1. Sell products through your stories: If you have your own product, such as a book or course, you can sell it through your writing on Medium. You can include a link to your product in your stories and use your writing to promote and sell your product. You can see my ebooks (above) are examples of this.
  2. Offer services through your writing: If you have specialized knowledge or skills, you can offer services, such as consulting, coaching, or editing, through your writing on Medium. You can use your writing to promote your services and include a link to your website or contact information so that interested parties can get in touch with you. My former Pinterest management service is an example.
  3. Sell products or services through a landing page: If you don’t want to include links to your products or services in your writing, you can create a landing page on your website or on a platform like Gumroad or Sellfy. You can then use your writing on Medium to promote your landing page and drive traffic to it.

Keep in mind that you’ll need to follow Medium’s guidelines and best practices when selling products or services through the platform.

In general, it’s important to focus on creating high-quality content that adds value to your readers and to be transparent about any products or services you are promoting.

Are sponsored posts allowed on Medium?

No, sponsored posts are not allowed on Medium. This is explained in Medium’s guidelines. If you have your personal blog (not on Medium), you can make money with sponsorships. It’s a great way to make money as a content creator.

What other ways can you make money on Medium?

Lead generation.

I have used Medium to grow my email list, grow my Substack and drive those leads to my projects and affiliate links off Medium.

How do you get $1,000 a month on Medium?

Writing on Medium is one of the best ways to make money blogging. You will just monetize your Medium blog instead of making money from your personal blog. I do both!

There are several strategies you can use to try to make $1,000 a month on Medium:

  1. Join the Medium Partner Program: The most common way for writers to earn money on the platform is through the Medium Partner Program. You’ll need to qualify in order to join.
  2. Sell products through your writing: Another way to monetize your writing on Medium is to sell products, such as books or courses, through your stories. This can be a great way to earn passive income and can potentially provide a steady stream of revenue over time.
  3. Offer services to other writers: If you have specialized knowledge or skills, you may be able to offer services, such as editing or coaching, to other writers on the platform. This can be a great way to monetize your expertise and earn income from your writing on Medium.

It’s important to note that making $1,000 a month on Medium will likely require a significant amount of work and dedication. It may take time to build up your audience and monetize your writing, so be prepared to put in the effort to achieve your financial goals.

Can you actually make money on Medium?

Yes, you can actually make money on Medium. I’ve been earning consistently on the platform for over a year, earning between $800 to nearly $6K per month from the Medium Partner Program alone. I monetize my writing on Medium in other ways as well.

It is possible to make money on Medium through a variety of different strategies.

The most common way for writers to earn money on the platform is through the Medium Partner Program.

In addition to earning money through the partner program, you can also monetize your writing on Medium by selling products, such as books or courses, through your stories.

You can also earn money by:

  • Working with brands or businesses to create content for them (writing services)
  • Offering other services, such as editing or coaching, to other writers on the platform

Ultimately, the amount of money you can make on Medium will depend on a variety of factors, including the quality and relevance of your content, the size of your audience, and your ability to effectively promote and monetize your work.

However, with hard work and dedication, it is possible to turn your writing on the platform into a profitable venture.

Final word on making money on Medium

Bottom line, making money on Medium is possible. I’m proof.

If you’re inspire to start on Medium, I encourage you to join the platform and start writing. Online writing has a ton of helpful benefits.

It can help you monetize your spare time, express yourself through a creative outlet, teach, inspire, and entertain others along way.

Visit Medium to start your membership and join as a writer.

Recommended Resources to Increase Your Income and Save Money

Legendary Marketer

This online training program shows you how to start an online business. You can join free then, take their 15-day business builder challenge to learn how to start an online business. Business owner Amalie Lund made $100K in 6 months, after going through this program!

Swagbucks

If you’re in a pickle and looking to make some extra money, look at paid online surveys. Swagbucks is one of the best survey companies to use. They offer a multifaceted site with many ways to earn:
  • Surveys
  • Watch videos
  • Listen to music
  • Online shopping
  • Discovering stuff online
It’s free to join and you can start making money sharing your opinion and through other ways as soon as you’re sign up.

Arrived Homes

If you’re looking for a way to earn passive income with no work, look at rental home investing with Arrived Homes. You’ll invest in rental properties with a little as $100 and entirely online. This is a way to make your money work for you and earn passively with rental income.

Jenn Leach, MBA

Jenn Leach is a Houston-based MBA with over a decade of experience in the banking industry. She writes at Millennial Nextdoor where she writes finance, money, business, and lifestyle content to help millennials create additional income streams online. Join her on Substack at https://jennleach.substack.com.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Posts