Medium.com has become more than just a platform for sharing personal thoughts and stories—it’s now a viable source of income for thousands of writers worldwide. Whether you’re a professional blogger, an aspiring journalist, or a niche expert, Medium offers multiple ways to earn money, build authority, and grow an engaged audience. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the secrets of making profit from Medium, including the Medium Partner Program, affiliate strategies, product offerings, and long-term monetization plans.
1. Understanding the Medium Partner Program (MPP)
The Medium Partner Program is the primary built-in way to earn money directly from your articles. Here's how it works:
💰 How Earnings Are Calculated
Earnings come from two sources:
- Member reading time: The more time Medium paying subscribers spend reading your stories, the more you earn. It’s based on engagement, not just clicks or claps.
- Referred members: If a user becomes a paying subscriber using your referral link, you earn 50% of their monthly membership fee as long as they remain subscribed.
Pro Tip: Focus on creating high-quality content that retains readers. Long-form, insightful, and emotionally engaging pieces tend to earn the most.
📈 Why Engagement Matters
Medium’s algorithm rewards:
- Average reading time
- Responses and claps
- Highlighted text
- Shares across the platform
Writing a compelling introduction, formatting your article with headers, and using visuals increases readability and engagement—which translates directly into income.
2. Becoming a Top Medium Author: Consistency and Strategy
Earning a consistent income on Medium isn’t about writing a viral hit—it’s about long-term, strategic content creation.
🗓️ Publishing Schedule
Posting 2–3 times per week allows you to stay active, keep your audience engaged, and improve your chances of getting curated or featured in publications.
🎯 Finding Your Niche
Profitable niches on Medium include:
- Personal development
- Technology and AI
- Entrepreneurship and startups
- Health and wellness
- Writing and creativity
- Finance and investing
- Productivity and habits
Choose a niche you’re passionate about, but also one with a proven readership.
🔍 Keyword Optimization
Although Medium isn’t Google, it still uses SEO principles. Incorporate keywords in your:
- Headline
- Subheadings
- Meta description
- Tags
- First 100 words
This improves discoverability both on Medium and external search engines.
3. The Power of Referrals: A Passive Income Goldmine
Medium introduced a referral program that allows writers to earn recurring income from subscribers they bring to the platform.
🧲 How to Use Your Referral Link
Your referral link is unique. When someone signs up for Medium using it and becomes a member, you receive a portion of their fee—around $2/month per person.
📣 Promoting Your Referral Link
- Add it to your Medium bio
- Mention it in call-to-actions at the end of articles
- Promote it on social media, YouTube, and newsletters
- Embed it in your free lead magnets (ebooks, checklists)
Writers who combine storytelling with subtle promotion can build a recurring income stream while adding value to their audience.
4. Leveraging Medium Publications for Maximum Reach
One of Medium’s most underutilized features is its network of publications. These editorial hubs have their own audience and can drastically boost your visibility.
📚 How to Join Publications
- Identify publications in your niche (e.g., Better Humans, Entrepreneur’s Handbook, The Startup)
- Review their submission guidelines
- Send a well-crafted pitch or submission
- Build a relationship with editors over time
🧠 Why Publications Matter
- Wider audience = more views
- Increased chance of curation
- Higher authority and brand trust
- Improved article SEO and backlink potential
Some publications even offer external sponsorships or editorial bonuses.
5. Monetizing With Affiliate Marketing
Medium allows affiliate links as long as they’re disclosed and genuinely helpful. This opens up another profit channel.
🔗 Best Practices for Affiliate Success
- Write product comparisons or tutorials
- Include only 2–3 affiliate links per post
- Use affiliate platforms like Amazon Associates, Impact, or PartnerStack
- Always disclose affiliate relationships transparently
✍️ Types of Content That Work Well
- “Top 5 Tools for Remote Writers”
- “How I Built a Side Hustle Using This App”
- “Complete Guide to Starting a Blog With Bluehost”
If done right, affiliate marketing on Medium can be both ethical and profitable.
6. Selling Your Own Products and Services
Medium is a trust-building platform. Once readers know and value your insights, they’ll likely be interested in buying from you.
🎁 Digital Product Ideas
- eBooks
- Online courses
- Notion templates
- Private newsletters
- Printable guides
💼 Service-Based Income
Many writers use Medium to promote their:
- Coaching sessions
- Writing services
- Consulting packages
- Paid mentorship programs
Use the bottom of your articles or your author bio to direct traffic to your website, product page, or landing page.
7. Using Medium as a Traffic Source
Medium has a high domain authority, which means content on the platform ranks well in Google. Writers can use this to their advantage.
🔄 Traffic-Back Strategy
- Publish value-rich articles on Medium
- Link back to your main site or blog (avoid spammy over-linking)
- Offer lead magnets (free PDFs, webinars) to capture email addresses
- Use your email list to sell products, services, and premium content
This strategy transforms Medium from a monetization platform into a marketing funnel for your broader business.
8. Direct Donations and Crowdfunding
Some readers want to support your work directly. Medium doesn’t have a built-in donation tool, but you can use third-party platforms.
💸 Popular Tools
- Ko-fi
- Buy Me a Coffee
- PayPal.me
- Patreon
Add donation links at the bottom of posts or in your author bio with a thank-you message. Even small donations can add up, especially if you publish often.
9. Building an Email List for Long-Term Growth
Owning your audience is one of the best investments you can make. Use Medium to build your mailing list.
📥 How to Grow Your List
- Offer a freebie (ebook, checklist) at the end of your articles
- Use a landing page from Mailchimp, ConvertKit, or Systeme.io
- Mention your newsletter in every article
Once you have an email list, you can drive traffic to:
- New Medium posts
- Affiliate offers
- Product launches
- Paid workshops
Medium is great, but your email list is your real asset.
10. Realistic Income Expectations on Medium
Let’s break down what real Medium writers are earning:
| Monthly Views | Est. Medium Income |
|---|---|
| 1,000 | $3 – $15 |
| 10,000 | $50 – $200 |
| 50,000 | $300 – $900 |
| 100,000+ | $1,000+ |
But that’s just MPP income. When you combine affiliate sales, digital products, and referrals, your actual monthly income could be 2–4x higher.
11. Secrets from Top Earning Writers
Here are a few strategies successful Medium authors use consistently:
- Repurpose content: Turn blog posts, newsletters, or tweets into Medium articles.
- Optimize headlines: Use strong, curiosity-driven titles (avoid clickbait).
- Engage in comments: Respond to readers and build relationships.
- Batch your writing: Create multiple posts at once to stay consistent.
- Use visuals: Add custom images, infographics, and even videos to improve engagement.
Many top writers also run side newsletters, YouTube channels, or communities—all driving traffic to and from their Medium profile.
12. Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Writing too broadly or without a target audience
- Posting once and expecting quick income
- Stuffing affiliate links into every paragraph
- Ignoring formatting (walls of text = poor reader retention)
- Not promoting your content outside of Medium
Success on Medium isn’t about luck—it’s about strategy, consistency, and audience building.
Conclusion: Medium as a Sustainable Income Stream
Medium offers an incredible opportunity for writers and creators to earn money doing what they love. By combining multiple monetization methods—Medium Partner Program, referrals, affiliate marketing, and product sales—you can turn your writing into a serious income source.
But remember: profit follows value. If you consistently provide useful, inspiring, or educational content, your income will grow. Focus on long-term trust-building, not just short-term clicks.
✅ Next Steps to Profit from Medium
- Join the Medium Partner Program and set up your referral link.
- Choose a profitable niche and plan 10–20 article topics.
- Submit your best work to top Medium publications.
- Incorporate affiliate links, referrals, and product promotions naturally.
- Track your analytics and double down on what works.
Whether you're earning your first $50 or aiming for a full-time income, the real secret is this: treat Medium like a business, not a hobby.
