Medium.com is both a blogging platform and an ad-free reading platform.
But, I’ve been using Medium for years, so I know that it is used for way more than either of those things.
What is Medium used for?
Medium is used for blogging, learning, affiliate marketing, networking, and growing an audience. People also use Medium to build an email list, sell online courses, promote their other writing, and make passive income. Primarily, Medium is a place to write or read interesting articles.
In this article, we’ll explore everything you need to know about how people use Medium.
What Is Medium?
Medium.com is a unique online publishing platform that launched back in 2012.
It bridges the gap between simple social media updates and in-depth news articles. Writers, journalists, experts, and everyday individuals can share their stories, ideas, and insights on Medium.
It’s not just a space for writers though.
Readers find a diverse range of topics, curated to their interests. With its sleek design and user-friendly interface, it prioritizes the reading experience. No flashy ads or pop-ups – just pure content.
Over the years, Medium has evolved.
For example, it introduced a partner program allowing writers to earn based on the engagement their articles receive.
I’ve been in this Partner Program for 3 years and counting.
Whether you’re a writer looking to share your voice or a reader seeking quality content, Medium.com offers a fresh and innovative approach to online publishing
How Does Medium Work?
When I first started on Medium, the platform was relatively simple and focused primarily on allowing anyone to write and share.
Now, it’s transformed into a more sophisticated space, still keeping its foundational idea intact but with added layers of features and opportunities.
As a writer, I’ve not just shared my thoughts; I’ve built an audience, connected with fellow writers, and even earned a significant amount from my articles.
The community is active, and the feedback loop is constructive.
Every time I publish a piece, I’m sharing it with a global audience, and the immediate feedback, in terms of claps or comments, gives a pulse of how the article is received.
Here is how Medium works:
- Publications. Over time, I’ve been able to contribute to various publications on Medium. These are curated collections of articles, often centered around a theme or subject. By contributing to a publication, I’ve noticed a spike in my readership since these have their dedicated follower base.
- Partner Program. I joined the Medium Partner Program the first year into my journey. This program allows writers to earn based on the readership and engagement their articles receive. Every month, based on claps, reading time, and other factors, I receive a payout in my account.
- Networking. One of the hidden gems of Medium is its networking capability. I’ve connected with fellow writers, engaged in meaningful discussions, and even collaborated on joint articles or projects.
- Boost. Medium curators often pick well-written articles to be featured in topics or even the daily digest. Being “boosted” amplifies the article’s reach, and I’ve had a few of my pieces get this honor. Plus, you usually make more money.
The algorithm of Medium, while sometimes a mystery, seems to prioritize quality, original content tied to first-hand experience.
Articles that are well-researched, authentic, and resonate with readers tend to do well.
The platform’s design is reader-centric, ensuring that the focus remains on the content and not on intrusive ads.
The analytics section gives detailed insights into how each article is performing.
Over these three years, while the platform has seen many changes, the essence of Medium remains the same – a space for genuine storytelling and knowledge-sharing.
13 Best Uses For Medium
Medium is used for all sorts of things (and I’ve personally tried and tested many of them).
Here are 13 ways people use Medium: from learning coding languages to affiliate marketing to making a full-time income.
Medium Is Used for Blogging
Medium is a great platform for bloggers for a few reasons:
- It’s easy to sign up and get started
- You can reach a wide audience
- You can monetize your writing
I use Medium in all of the ways mentioned in this article but primarily in this way. In my opinion, Medium is one of the best platforms for blogging. It’s easy to start your blog and you can make money fairly quickly.
If you do choose to start a blog on Medium, I wrote a good article about my 10-step process.
Medium Is Used for Affiliate Marketing
Medium is a fantastic platform for affiliate marketing.
With a large audience of engaged readers, it’s easy to reach your target market. And because Medium is a respected publication, your readers will be more likely to trust your recommendations.
Plus, you can earn recurring revenue by referring people to join the Medium Partner Program with your Medium affiliate link.
I make almost $200 per month using this method.
Here’s how it works.
First, you need to sign up for the Medium Partner Program. Once you’re approved, you’ll be given an affiliate link that you can share on your Medium posts.
When someone clicks on your link and joins the program, you’ll earn a commission. It’s that simple!
Because the Medium Partner Program is a subscription service, you’ll earn recurring revenue every time someone renews their membership.
Just be sure to include a disclaimer before you share your link, so your readers know that you’re being compensated for your recommendation.
Medium Is Used for Networking
While Medium is first and foremost a platform for sharing your original thoughts and stories with the world, it can also be an incredibly powerful networking tool.
By connecting with other writers, bloggers, and thought leaders in your field, you can build relationships that will last long after you’ve left the Medium platform.
These connections can often lead to professional opportunities, whether it’s guest-posting on each other’s blogs or collaborating on a larger project.
In many ways, Medium is the perfect place to network with like-minded individuals who can help you further your career goals.
These relationships have led to friendships, business opportunities, and even collaborative projects.
If you’re looking to network on Medium, here are a few tips:
- Follow people who interest you. If you’re interested in connecting with someone, make sure to follow their profile. This way, you’ll be notified every time they publish a new story.
- Engage with their content. When you find something that intrigues you, take the time to leave a thoughtful comment or share the story with your followers. These small gestures go a long way in building rapport.
- Connect offline. Once you’ve established a connection with someone, don’t be afraid to reach out and connect offline – whether it’s through social media or email. This is where you can really get to know someone and start building a lasting relationship.
Medium Is Used for Building an Email List
Medium allows you to easily build an email list from your stories.
All you need to do is include a short CTA and link at the bottom of each story. You can build an off-platform email list or a Medium email list. When readers sign up to your Medium email list, they receive emails whenever you publish new content.
This is an excellent way to increase readership and engagement, as well as make more money from your stories.
Plus, once you’ve built up your Medium email list, you can download it and use it however you wish.
Medium Is Used To Grow an Audience
If you’re looking to grow an audience, then Medium is definitely worth considering.
The platform already has millions of users, so there’s a good chance that your target audience is already active on the site. Plus, the fact that quality content is rewarded with higher visibility means that it’s easier to stand out from the crowd on Medium than it is on other sites.
Once you’ve built up a decent-sized audience on Medium, you can then transfer that audience to your own blog or website, or even to other social media platforms such as YouTube or Instagram.
In other words, Medium can be an excellent way to get your foot in the door when it comes to growing an online following.
Medium Is Used for Entertainment
Medium is a great place to find entertaining articles on a variety of topics.
Whether you’re interested in reading true crime stories, learning about unique historical figures, or keeping up with the latest celebrity gossip, there’s sure to be something on Medium that will capture your attention.
And because Medium is home to a wide range of writers and perspectives, you’re sure to find articles that are both informative and entertaining.
Medium Is Used for Learning
There are a lot of things that you can learn about by reading Medium articles.
You can learn about blogging, website building, coding, making money, marketing, and relationships (to name a few). Many people use Medium as a learning portal to scale their skill sets.
The great thing about using Medium for learning is that you can read articles on your own time and at your own pace.
You can also listen to audio versions of some educational articles.
You can also bookmark articles that you want to come back to later or save them to your library so that you can refer back to them easily. In addition, if you have any questions about what you’re reading, you can always reach out to the author directly or join a conversation in the comments section.
Learning on Medium is a great way to gain new skills and knowledge at your own pace.
Medium Is Used for Repurposing Content
People also repurpose content on Medium.
One great way to repurpose content is to turn videos into text articles that you publish on Medium. This can be a great way to reach a new audience, as well as earn some extra money through Medium’s Partner Program.
And if you already have articles published on other sites, you can re-publish them on Medium through canonical links.
This will not only help you get more exposure for your work but also allow you to earn more money without producing new content.
Medium Is Used for Selling Online Courses
Medium can be a great platform for selling online courses.
By sharing your expertise and knowledge on the platform, you can build up an audience of interested readers who are willing to pay for further education.
There are a number of big-name Medium writers who have gone on to create successful online courses.
They teach others how to make money from writing on the platform. If you have valuable knowledge and insight to share, then creating an online course could be a great way to monetize your Medium account.
Medium Is Used for a Passive Income
Medium is one of the best platforms out there for building a passive income stream.
The reason why it’s so good is because it has a built-in audience of millions of people who are ready and willing to listen to what you have to say. All you need to do is publish high-quality content on a regular basis and you will start to see the money rolling in.
Trust me, I’ve done it myself and I can attest to the fact that it really does work.
I even wrote an article about how you can make good money on Medium.
Medium Is Used for Getting Lucrative Writing Contracts
If you’re a writer, you’ve probably considered using Medium to help you land more writing gigs.
And you’re not alone—Medium is becoming an increasingly popular platform for writers looking to get noticed and snag some lucrative writing contracts.
But how, exactly, can you use Medium to your advantage?
Here are a few tips:
- Start by establishing yourself as a professional writer or niche expert. The more visibility you have, the more likely it is that people will reach out to you about writing for them. You can do this by writing well-crafted articles and posts that showcase your skills and expertise.
- Be active in the Medium community. Comment on other people’s articles, share interesting articles with your followers and engage in meaningful discussions. This will help you build a network of contacts who may be interested in hiring you for writing projects.
- Use Medium’s bio feature to share your contact information. With this feature, you can make it as easy as possible for people to contact you.
Medium Is Used for Monetizing Book Writing
Medium can also be an effective tool for getting paid to write a book.
You can write each chapter of your book as a separate blog post on Medium, and then get paid for the engagement that your post receives.
This not only provides you with some immediate income, but it also gives you valuable feedback that you can use to improve your chapter before you publish it on any other platform (including Amazon).
Once you’ve published your complete book, you can link to it from each individual article/chapter that you published on Medium.
That gives your readers an easy way to access the entire book.
Medium Is Used for Sharing Fiction & Poetry
Medium is a great platform for sharing your creative writing with a large audience.
You can create a profile and start sharing your stories, poems, and articles with the world.
Medium makes it easy to find and connect with other writers. You can follow fellow creatives and comment on their work. This helps to foster a community where you can exchange feedback and ideas.
Plus, Medium’s algorithm ensures that your work is seen by people who are interested in reading it.
What Is Medium Best Used For?
I’m probably biased but I think Medium is best used as a blogging platform.
You can post about anything that you want and get paid for it. Personally, I blog on both Medium and my own self-hosted websites (like this one). On Medium, I write about topics that I wouldn’t rank for on my websites.
Here are a few other reasons I think Medium is best for bloggers:
- Medium provides another income stream in case your website gets hit by a Google update
- You can “double dip” by re-posting content on Medium
- You can make money on Medium while you wait for your self-hosted blog to age
If you do start blogging on Medium, check out this video about what you should do in the first 24 hours:
Is Medium an Online Community?
Medium is not an online community. It is primarily a place to share your ideas with the world.
The platform itself is designed to be a medium for writers, not a social network. You can only interact with other users by responding to their stories or articles.
Even then, your response will only be visible to people who are also reading that particular story or article.
In contrast, online communities such as Reddit and Facebook are designed around the idea of user interaction. Users can like, comment on, and share each other’s content.
They can also follow each other’s activities and join groups with like-minded individuals.
As a result, Medium is more akin to a publication than it is to an online community.
Final Thoughts: What Is Medium Used For?
The more time I spend on Medium, the more uses I find for the platform.
Ultimately, it doesn’t matter how you use Medium, only that you do. Check out Medium for yourself—I’ll see you there.
Related posts:
- Medium.com Vs Steemit: Which To Choose & Which To Avoid
- Why Is Medium So Popular? (Solved)
- Is Medium Worth It? (SOLVED for Readers and Writers)