When it comes to the benefits of blogging for business, blogging on Medium can be a game-changer. If you're seeking a platform that can help you leverage your blog content, build a following, and collaborate with like-minded writers, look no further. With its array of features and customization options, Medium can help you take your brand and your blog to the next level. The potential is endless!
What Is Medium?
Medium is a social publishing platform that is open to all and home to a diverse array of stories, ideas, and perspectives. Anyone can write for the platform, so it's great for beginners. Anyone can create an account on Medium and start using it and writers can earn money from the platform when they meet certain conditions.
Diverse Content Landscape
Popular topics on Medium range from mental health to social media, from world affairs and trending news to productivity hacks. This makes it a solid choice for anyone who wants to start blogging.
Accessibility and Audience Engagement on Medium
Medium is user-friendly and easy to navigate, making it accessible to both seasoned bloggers and newcomers to the blogging scene. The platform's intuitive design and simple publishing process attract a wide range of content creators. Medium also has a built-in audience of engaged readers who visit the platform to consume and interact with content.
Origins and Vision
According to SimilarWeb reports, the Medium blog has 170M monthly visits. This makes it a place for readers and bloggers to meet each other with less effort. This ready audience provides bloggers with an opportunity to reach a wider readership and gain exposure for their content.
Unveiling the Origins of Medium
Medium was founded by former Twitter co-founder and CEO—Evan Clark Williams—mostly known as just Ev Williams. Ev also founded Blogger—one of the earliest blogging platforms. So, as you’d expect, Medium shares many similarities with Twitter, but like Blogger, it was built for medium to long-form content. And that is actually where the name “Medium” came from.
Medium is an ad-free platform that uses a user subscription model instead. This means that the platform is user-centric and focused on providing high-quality content to its readers. It values the experience of the users and is not cluttered with disruptive ads that can disturb the reading experience.
Reading and Writing on Medium
Medium is an open platform where anyone can read and write. All you need to do is create a free account and you can start exploring the rich variety of content available on the platform. You can read other people’s articles or write your own stories. Medium encourages creativity and expression by allowing everyone to share their thoughts and ideas.
Earning Money on Medium
Writers can earn money on Medium through the Medium Partner Program. By joining this program and locking their stories behind a paywall, writers can receive compensation when paying members engage with their content. The compensation is directly linked to the subscription fees paid by members, making it a fair and transparent way for writers to monetize their work on the platform.
Subscription Model
Medium operates on a subscription model, where paid members can access unlimited stories on the platform. Free members are limited to reading up to three paywalled stories per month. The subscription fees paid by members help support both the writers on the platform and keep Medium ad-free. This creates a sustainable ecosystem where quality content is rewarded and valued.
Encouraging Paid Subscriptions
Paid subscriptions are highly encouraged on Medium because they directly benefit both the writers and the platform itself. Writers need to be paid Medium members to join the Partner Program, which costs only $5 per month. By becoming a paid member, you not only support the writers you enjoy reading but also help keep Medium ad-free and focused on delivering a great user experience.
Earning as a Writer
Writers in the Partner Program earn money based on the engagement metrics of their locked stories, such as reading time, claps, highlights, and new followers. Free members’ reading times do not contribute to writers’ earnings, highlighting the importance of paid subscriptions in supporting the writers and the platform.
Who Should Write On Medium?
Freelance Writers
Freelance writers can utilize Medium as a powerful tool to showcase their writing skills, attracting a global audience and potential clients. It serves as a dynamic portfolio, enabling writers to connect with other professionals in their field.
By consistently blogging on Medium, freelancers can establish credibility, increase visibility, and network with industry experts. Sharing insights, expertise, and opinions on Medium can help writers expand their reach and land new opportunities.
Businesses
Businesses can leverage the platform by blogging on Medium to increase brand visibility, attract potential customers, and drive traffic to their websites. By syndicating blog content from their websites to Medium, businesses can reach a broader audience and generate more leads.
This strategy not only boosts SEO but also enhances credibility and authority in the industry. Sharing valuable content on Medium can help businesses build relationships with readers, establish thought leadership, and nurture a loyal following.
Blogging On Medium Vs Your Own Blog
When considering whether to focus on developing one's blog or blog solely on Medium, it's essential to weigh the pros and cons of each option. Medium offers a range of benefits that can help bloggers reach a broader audience, as well as some drawbacks that can limit the control and earning potential of content creators.
Pros of Blogging on Medium
Huge Readership
With around 170 million monthly readers, Medium offers bloggers the potential to reach a vast audience, increasing brand awareness and reaching more prospects.
Easy to Set Up and Use
Medium is user-friendly and straightforward to navigate, making it accessible to seasoned bloggers and newcomers alike.
No Technical SEO Worries
Medium handles technical SEO tasks like sitemaps and load time, allowing bloggers to focus on writing quality content.
Collaboration and Feedback
The platform enables authors to collaborate on content before publishing, fostering a sense of community among writers.
Earning Potential
Through the partner program, bloggers can earn money from their content, providing a passive income stream.
Cons of Blogging on Medium
Lack of Platform Control
Bloggers don't have control over the platform, leaving them at the mercy of Medium's policies and potential content removal.
Trends and Appeal
Medium's popularity could change, impacting a blogger's reach and audience engagement
Getting Noticed
With numerous contributors, it can be challenging to stand out and gain visibility on the platform
Hard to Get Tangible Results
Converting readers into sales may be challenging without driving traffic to a personal website
Potential Earnings
While some writers earn significant amounts, the majority make less than $100 per month.
When choosing between developing a personal blog or focusing solely on Medium, it's essential to consider the overall goals and priorities of the blog. Medium offers significant benefits and can effectively raise brand awareness, but bloggers may benefit from creating their own blog to have total creative control over content. Quality content that engages readers remains crucial, regardless of the platform chosen.
Effortless Blog Publishing with Feather
Feather is an SEO-friendly blog that allows you to publish blog content through Notion without the need for coding or design skills. Try Feather’s notion to blog software for free today—create a new account and go from notion to blog in minutes!
How To Start Blogging On Medium
To start blogging on Medium, you need to sign up for an account first. Head over to medium.com and create your account. It’s entirely free to create an account, but if you’re serious about making money, you should join the Partner Program. And to do that, you need to be a paid Medium member. So, shell out $5 per month or $50 annually to become a Medium member.
Setting Up the Basics
Once you’re on Medium, set up the basics. Write a short, sweet bio, set a profile photo, and decide on your username and subdomain. You can choose to use your real name or a pseudonym. It’s all up to you!
Following Writers and Publications
After signing up for Medium, follow the writers and publications you find interesting. Content on Medium is surfaced from accounts you follow, publications, and tags. Make sure to follow your favorite writers and publications to see their latest posts on your feed.
Joining Publications
On Medium, you can publish stories directly on your profile or join a publication where many writers can contribute. Some publications have a large following, giving new writers more visibility. Join publications that align with the type of stories you want to write.
Getting Familiar with Editing Tools
Medium’s editor is simple yet powerful. Click the plus sign that appears at the beginning of a new line to access options like adding images, videos, embedded content, code blocks, or new parts. You can also format text by highlighting it. Use these tools to enhance your stories.
Crafting Catchy Titles and Subtitles
Titles and subtitles are key on Medium. These texts are what most people see on their feeds, so make them attention-grabbing. While SEO titles are clear and direct, Medium titles should be catchy to attract readers. Focus on creating titles that pique curiosity and drive clicks.
Writing and Publishing Your Story
When you’ve written and edited your story, it’s time to publish. Click on the “Write” tab at the top-right corner of your Medium homepage to access the editor. Before publishing, make sure your story adheres to Medium’s rules. Avoid hateful, harmful, or exploitative content to stay in good standing. Once you’re ready, hit the “Publish now” button to share your story with the Medium community.
I've found that many writers wonder how they can make money with their blogs, and I'm happy to say that it is indeed possible on Medium with the Medium Partner Program. This program pays writers directly on a monthly basis, and to become part of it, you first need to be a paid Medium member.
You'd also need to meet certain requirements, like being at least 18 years old, to live in an eligible country. As of now, Medium pays writers from 42 countries in the program. Once you're part of the Medium Partner Program, you can put both newly published stories and existing ones behind a paywall, exclusive for premium members. When someone reads your post, you will get a portion of their membership fee. It's a great way to make money for your writing, and I think it's awesome!
Medium Alternatives For Creating Your Own Blog
1. Feather
Feather is an SEO-friendly blog that allows you to publish blog content through Notion, and it requires no coding or design skills. Feather allows companies to write blog content on Notion and automatically publish it to their Feather blog. Feather allows you to setup a Subfolder blog (domain.com/blog instead of blog.domain.com, because subfolder is better for SEO).
Feather enables companies to get the HubSpot experience through Notion by allowing them to manage all of their CRM and website blog management through Notion. We also offer options to change design with custom CSS, collect Emails, and much more. Write on Notion, and automatically get that published to SEO-friendly blog – Collaborate with the entire team easily during the publishing process.
Try Feather’s notion to blog software for free today — create a new account and go from notion to blog in minutes!
2. Content Hub
This blogging platform is ideal for content marketers and is part of HubSpot's CRM. It offers a range of features, including a drag-and-drop website builder, free web hosting, and built-in SEO tools. It also integrates with HubSpot's other tools, making it easy to create and distribute blog content.
3. WordPress
WordPress is a popular blogging platform that offers a range of features, including responsive, mobile-ready themes, monetization options, and a WordPress.com subdomain. It is ideal for beginners and hobby bloggers who want the option to scale.
4. Squarespace
Squarespace is user-friendly and ideal for bloggers and small businesses that require a creativity-oriented online presence. It includes built-in sales and SEO tools.
5. Wix
Wix is a simple website builder with eCommerce tools that is owned by Square. It offers a range of features, including SEO tools, free plugins and themes, and inventory management. It is ideal for anyone interested in an easy-to-use website builder or eCommerce business owners.
Complete Step-by-Step Guide On How To Create A Blog for Your Website on Notion with Feather
Use Notion As Your Blog CMS With Feather
Feather is a game-changing tool that offers numerous benefits for those who wish to blog on Medium. Feather is an SEO-friendly blog that allows you to effortlessly publish blog content through Notion, requiring no coding or design skills. This handy platform provides a seamless experience for companies to write blog content on Notion and automatically publish it to their Feather blog.
Subfolder Blogging for Enhanced SEO
Feather's standout feature lies in its ability to set up a Subfolder blog, which is more advantageous for SEO purposes compared to a subdomain. The platform allows you to manage all of your CRM and website blog management through Notion, giving you the HubSpot experience without actually using HubSpot.
Streamlined Blogging with Feather
Feather also enables you to change your blog's design with custom CSS, collect Emails, and much more. By writing on Notion and automatically publishing to an SEO-friendly blog, you can collaborate easily with your entire team during the publishing process. Feather is a revolutionary tool that streamlines the blogging process and augments your reach on Medium.