This comment makes me a bit relieved. But all the examples you mentioned, they've been here since a long. As someone who just got eligible for MPP, in aug 2024 and haven't earned much, do you think it's good idea to stay there?
Right. I’m not leaving either. I’ll just be posting less but I’ll keep my level of engagement with other stories. And I’ll also be keeping up with the updates. I did downgrade from FOM though, for now.
This is the article and the author I've been waiting for! Christina Piccoli is so brilliant and her articles help to answer questions I've been wanting to ask for awhile. Especially those having to do with sticking it out when you can't see the forest for all the trees. Hang in there and don't give up!
Don't give up when your note or post doesn't get any views or when only 2 or 3 reviews, claps, comments or reposts/restacks trickle in every day. Even low views are better than no views. The thing to do is read advice from the well known authors and take their advice. You can't get much better than trusted and popular authors who have been there, and done that - like this one right here! She is top notch in my opinion! Thank you for being one of my role models!
In 2025, I plan to be more grateful and gracious every day to those writers who have learned and forwarded those experiences.
Also, I am looking forward to a new year filled with gratitude to those offering support and motivation to new writers, like me. Who's grateful? I know I am!
Thanks for the insights, which I found interesting.
re "How about you? Are you leaving or staying?" Joining Medium has been one of those items on my to-do list for years, but I haven't joined because I prioritized writing for paying clients over speculative work.
In hindsight, that choice was almost definitely a mistake. I mostly ghostwrite, so I spend most of my productive work hours building other peoples' brands without taking sufficient time to build my own. But I realize that's gotta change.
Interesting perspective. The money at Medium is not great (although can be for some sometimes), but it is a great place to build your brand and your portfolio.
In the new year I’d like to find freelancing (or maybe ghostwriting?) work. I want income that’s a little more steady if possible. Any tips to get started?
A couple of days ago, I was in the middle of responding to this comment, but I got derailed because I got a phone call that literally changed my life (thanks to that call, I'm going to move and start over in a new place, but for the next month it's going to be a mad scramble to pack everything up and get out of here.)
I'm super annoyed with myself because the comment I was writing was shaping up to be a good one that actually answered your question about tips on getting started. I should have saved it, but I didn't. I'm so sorry. I will have to revisit it again soon. Thanks for following, and happy new year! Here's to new beginnings!
No worries! It's so funny but every time I think about starting freelancing, something like this happens. Or I'll read something about how horrible it is. I swear the universe is saying "don't do it!" lol
I will remain on Medium indefinitely, focusing more on AM than the lousy earnings structure. Here I can see the purple badge in the next three years or so. SS won’t be my main income even with the purple badge, but it would be a great income source for helping so many people from all walks of life with many things they struggle with in their lives and businesses… That includes writers helping others become successful here, and I won’t be doing that… I will help beyond that and much more. My trilogy unit explains it all once you understand the bigger picture.
Always look beyond vanity metrics. I earned less than $500 from Medium last month, yet my SEO workshop sold out 7 days in a row. Where did the traffic come from? Medium. Use it while it’s around. I’m not sure how long that’s going to be. I also find it hard to believe that people are making that sort of income. My recent article had over 22K reads and earned not even $60. But it doesn’t matter. Medium is serving me exactly what I want, so it’s all cool with me. Thank you for the recommendation, Christina. You’re a star ❤️
I've grown weary of folks bitchin' and moanin' about Medium. The complaining has always been there in the 2 years I've been active there.
But....... it's also on X, LinkedIn, Fbook, and so on and so on.
I'm not suggesting that some of the folks you've mentioned are complaining - some are just shifting their priorities - fair enough.
Social media platforms - Medium and Substack included - have been and will continue to change, change, change. If folks don't go in with a mindset prepared and ready for that... then they'll surely run headlong into disappointment or complain-mode.
When folks mistake social media as THE tool to 'earn' revenue - and not simply as a marketing tool - that's when frustration and complaining start to take over.
But... that's not the platform's fault - it's a mindset issue. Everyone on Medium started at $0. Just because someone got themselves to some $2,500 or $25,000 months does not mean they are entitled to that going forward (and esp. because they only pay $50/yr, or $150 to be a 'friend')
I'm with you on preferences for simplicity, ease of posting and a variety of other features I prefer on Medium.
2 years in, on both platforms, I still click around here on Substack trying to figure out where to get to certain things (e.g., two different "Settings" panels... drives me nuts).
And, if it was/is about the money, I've still made vastly more on Medium than Substack, over the same time frames.
Yes, on Substack I have the added leverage of gathering 'emails' - but on Medium I earn $. about $10k last year. On here... less than $1,000.
Similar to others, I leverage Both/And. I see, and utilize, all of social media as my "Voice Lab" and as my R&D laboratory for ideas, thinking, and writing.
Someday, the investment in marketing through social media posting may turn into bigger, dependable revenue streams. In the meantime, I use my consulting, ghostwriting, and other gigs to pay bills and use social media as a supplement (like vitamins, not my entire diet).
A long-game mindset helps level off the potential roller coaster of ups and downs... Don't get too excited about the downs, and don't get over-confident on the ups. Just Goldilocks it along.
This is awesome, David. I agree with you on everything. Medium doesn't even owe any of us anything. It's an added benefit that they pay writers. I think it's amazing that you can get paid for blogging there. haha I get it though. Once you make a certain amount, then it disappears, it stings. But it's much better to think of it as a marketing platform with the added benefit of getting some payment too.
I also use it to experiment with topics and that's fun for me.
Hey David, I fully agree with you here. But, you can earn a lot more here if your approach is right. You also need to be open to suggestions to be susceptible to new ideas and information. Are you? Let's discuss it in DM.
Being newer to 'online writing' i've found myself in an interesting place. Like yourself, I've witnessed many people (like Tom and Jamie) vacating Medium while I am just starting to experiment. From simply taking my SS articles and posting them on Medium I have started to make money... nothing crazy, but $50 here, $200 there. That's not nothing, and for little extra effort. For now, I will keep it up.
I'm not convinced of Medium anymore. I quit several times, but this was my last time. I don't believe in the long-term earning potential. It used to be much better with the old CEO. They don't want you to earn a full-time income, no matter how much time you are willing to put in and they are public about it. Good luck ❤️
Well, I don't think it's supposed to earn us a full-time income, but I understand the frustration. I just looked at my stats this morning and thought "What the hell am I wasting my time for?" Yet, I'll persist. For better or for worse.
I was tracking it when I was sending people from Medium to my newsletter on ConvertKit, and it was pretty significant. But...I was also growing rapidly on Medium at the time. It's slowed down quite a bit since then.
Hi Christina, I like your pragmatic and optimistic approach, which aligns with mine. Based on my years of observations and analysis of both platforms, I firmly believe that integrating Medium with Substack can be the optimal approach for freelance writers who want to grow their audience and get better tangible and intangible outcomes. I articulated it in a recent interview, giving some insights to writers for 2025. https://medium.com/p/bc9b1cb1ecb5
Thank you for writing this valuable story linking to several great view points supporting your insightful ideas.
Thanks, Dr. Mehmet for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. I know you've had a frustrating time on Medium. I'll definitely check out your interview.
I still hold out hope that they'll figure out what they've been doing is a huge mistake and readjust. The CEO seems to really believe in his plan and I know they're doing what they think is best, but the Boost has been a *disaster*.
They're also so fixated on publications that they've now reversed what you see first on posts from the writer to the pub.
I don't know about anyone else but I'm there for specific writers, not random publications.
It's a bit of a mess but I'm playing the long game ... if all the other big writers leave, I'll be one of the only ones left. And if they readjust the payment system after that, it'll be $$$.
Staying to cross populate my two gratitude publications. I also document my maker progress over there until I find the balance. It's working for the mix I have at the moment. You cannot beat the ranking on Google to draw to other projects, so I will be learning how to write better for it.
This comment makes me a bit relieved. But all the examples you mentioned, they've been here since a long. As someone who just got eligible for MPP, in aug 2024 and haven't earned much, do you think it's good idea to stay there?
Absolutely! You can earn money with your articles, plus you can use Medium to promote your Substack, or anything else you have to market.
Right. I’m not leaving either. I’ll just be posting less but I’ll keep my level of engagement with other stories. And I’ll also be keeping up with the updates. I did downgrade from FOM though, for now.
I'm just keeping everything as is for now. I think things will turn around...
This is the article and the author I've been waiting for! Christina Piccoli is so brilliant and her articles help to answer questions I've been wanting to ask for awhile. Especially those having to do with sticking it out when you can't see the forest for all the trees. Hang in there and don't give up!
Don't give up when your note or post doesn't get any views or when only 2 or 3 reviews, claps, comments or reposts/restacks trickle in every day. Even low views are better than no views. The thing to do is read advice from the well known authors and take their advice. You can't get much better than trusted and popular authors who have been there, and done that - like this one right here! She is top notch in my opinion! Thank you for being one of my role models!
In 2025, I plan to be more grateful and gracious every day to those writers who have learned and forwarded those experiences.
Also, I am looking forward to a new year filled with gratitude to those offering support and motivation to new writers, like me. Who's grateful? I know I am!
Aw, thanks so much, Patti! I appreciate your kind words. :) :)
Thanks for the insights, which I found interesting.
re "How about you? Are you leaving or staying?" Joining Medium has been one of those items on my to-do list for years, but I haven't joined because I prioritized writing for paying clients over speculative work.
In hindsight, that choice was almost definitely a mistake. I mostly ghostwrite, so I spend most of my productive work hours building other peoples' brands without taking sufficient time to build my own. But I realize that's gotta change.
Interesting perspective. The money at Medium is not great (although can be for some sometimes), but it is a great place to build your brand and your portfolio.
In the new year I’d like to find freelancing (or maybe ghostwriting?) work. I want income that’s a little more steady if possible. Any tips to get started?
A couple of days ago, I was in the middle of responding to this comment, but I got derailed because I got a phone call that literally changed my life (thanks to that call, I'm going to move and start over in a new place, but for the next month it's going to be a mad scramble to pack everything up and get out of here.)
I'm super annoyed with myself because the comment I was writing was shaping up to be a good one that actually answered your question about tips on getting started. I should have saved it, but I didn't. I'm so sorry. I will have to revisit it again soon. Thanks for following, and happy new year! Here's to new beginnings!
No worries! It's so funny but every time I think about starting freelancing, something like this happens. Or I'll read something about how horrible it is. I swear the universe is saying "don't do it!" lol
Good luck with your move! Sounds exciting!
Thank you!
I like the pink tank, quite a funny analogy, and ironic.
😆
I will remain on Medium indefinitely, focusing more on AM than the lousy earnings structure. Here I can see the purple badge in the next three years or so. SS won’t be my main income even with the purple badge, but it would be a great income source for helping so many people from all walks of life with many things they struggle with in their lives and businesses… That includes writers helping others become successful here, and I won’t be doing that… I will help beyond that and much more. My trilogy unit explains it all once you understand the bigger picture.
That sounds like a great plan, Hein! I can't wait to see how you work everything.
Always look beyond vanity metrics. I earned less than $500 from Medium last month, yet my SEO workshop sold out 7 days in a row. Where did the traffic come from? Medium. Use it while it’s around. I’m not sure how long that’s going to be. I also find it hard to believe that people are making that sort of income. My recent article had over 22K reads and earned not even $60. But it doesn’t matter. Medium is serving me exactly what I want, so it’s all cool with me. Thank you for the recommendation, Christina. You’re a star ❤️
I love the way you use Medium to your advantage, even without making much in earnings there. Thank you for teaching me about that side of things!
Yup, with ya, Christina.
I've grown weary of folks bitchin' and moanin' about Medium. The complaining has always been there in the 2 years I've been active there.
But....... it's also on X, LinkedIn, Fbook, and so on and so on.
I'm not suggesting that some of the folks you've mentioned are complaining - some are just shifting their priorities - fair enough.
Social media platforms - Medium and Substack included - have been and will continue to change, change, change. If folks don't go in with a mindset prepared and ready for that... then they'll surely run headlong into disappointment or complain-mode.
When folks mistake social media as THE tool to 'earn' revenue - and not simply as a marketing tool - that's when frustration and complaining start to take over.
But... that's not the platform's fault - it's a mindset issue. Everyone on Medium started at $0. Just because someone got themselves to some $2,500 or $25,000 months does not mean they are entitled to that going forward (and esp. because they only pay $50/yr, or $150 to be a 'friend')
I'm with you on preferences for simplicity, ease of posting and a variety of other features I prefer on Medium.
2 years in, on both platforms, I still click around here on Substack trying to figure out where to get to certain things (e.g., two different "Settings" panels... drives me nuts).
And, if it was/is about the money, I've still made vastly more on Medium than Substack, over the same time frames.
Yes, on Substack I have the added leverage of gathering 'emails' - but on Medium I earn $. about $10k last year. On here... less than $1,000.
Similar to others, I leverage Both/And. I see, and utilize, all of social media as my "Voice Lab" and as my R&D laboratory for ideas, thinking, and writing.
Someday, the investment in marketing through social media posting may turn into bigger, dependable revenue streams. In the meantime, I use my consulting, ghostwriting, and other gigs to pay bills and use social media as a supplement (like vitamins, not my entire diet).
A long-game mindset helps level off the potential roller coaster of ups and downs... Don't get too excited about the downs, and don't get over-confident on the ups. Just Goldilocks it along.
This is awesome, David. I agree with you on everything. Medium doesn't even owe any of us anything. It's an added benefit that they pay writers. I think it's amazing that you can get paid for blogging there. haha I get it though. Once you make a certain amount, then it disappears, it stings. But it's much better to think of it as a marketing platform with the added benefit of getting some payment too.
I also use it to experiment with topics and that's fun for me.
Oh yes, I hear ya on the sting. In Oct. I had my best month ever, then plummeted back to earth.
However, many years of managing my own investment portfolio certainly provided some resilience to the smaller plummet of Medium earnings. ;)
Hey David, I fully agree with you here. But, you can earn a lot more here if your approach is right. You also need to be open to suggestions to be susceptible to new ideas and information. Are you? Let's discuss it in DM.
Being newer to 'online writing' i've found myself in an interesting place. Like yourself, I've witnessed many people (like Tom and Jamie) vacating Medium while I am just starting to experiment. From simply taking my SS articles and posting them on Medium I have started to make money... nothing crazy, but $50 here, $200 there. That's not nothing, and for little extra effort. For now, I will keep it up.
That sounds like a nice little side income if you ask me. And why not? It's easy enough to do.
My thoughts exactly.
I'm not convinced of Medium anymore. I quit several times, but this was my last time. I don't believe in the long-term earning potential. It used to be much better with the old CEO. They don't want you to earn a full-time income, no matter how much time you are willing to put in and they are public about it. Good luck ❤️
Well, I don't think it's supposed to earn us a full-time income, but I understand the frustration. I just looked at my stats this morning and thought "What the hell am I wasting my time for?" Yet, I'll persist. For better or for worse.
Good luck. I wish you lots of success ❤️
How many trafic you can being here from medium?
I honestly don't know because I don't have tracking set up. I should look into that! 😅
I asked because I was thinking of writing on Medium just to bring traffic and visits to my Substack.
I was tracking it when I was sending people from Medium to my newsletter on ConvertKit, and it was pretty significant. But...I was also growing rapidly on Medium at the time. It's slowed down quite a bit since then.
In any case, it doesn't hurt to try it!
Many thanks, Christina.
Or us?
Hi Christina, I like your pragmatic and optimistic approach, which aligns with mine. Based on my years of observations and analysis of both platforms, I firmly believe that integrating Medium with Substack can be the optimal approach for freelance writers who want to grow their audience and get better tangible and intangible outcomes. I articulated it in a recent interview, giving some insights to writers for 2025. https://medium.com/p/bc9b1cb1ecb5
Thank you for writing this valuable story linking to several great view points supporting your insightful ideas.
Thanks, Dr. Mehmet for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. I know you've had a frustrating time on Medium. I'll definitely check out your interview.
I'm staying and focusing on it more in the new year. I like Medium. It's easier to write over there.
The writers are raw, fresh, and not all journalists. There are hidden gems, I just found a new one today.
I don't like the Boost and hoping they figure something different out.
Good read!
I think we can get trapped in our bubbles over on Medium, just like any other platform. It's good to expand and find the hidden gems as you did.
I'm repurposing stuff to Medium but not really doing much else with it at the moment.
That's a good strategy to save yourself some time.
I still hold out hope that they'll figure out what they've been doing is a huge mistake and readjust. The CEO seems to really believe in his plan and I know they're doing what they think is best, but the Boost has been a *disaster*.
They're also so fixated on publications that they've now reversed what you see first on posts from the writer to the pub.
I don't know about anyone else but I'm there for specific writers, not random publications.
It's a bit of a mess but I'm playing the long game ... if all the other big writers leave, I'll be one of the only ones left. And if they readjust the payment system after that, it'll be $$$.
I'm with you on playing the long game. I'm holding out hope that the platform will change for the better over time. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Staying to cross populate my two gratitude publications. I also document my maker progress over there until I find the balance. It's working for the mix I have at the moment. You cannot beat the ranking on Google to draw to other projects, so I will be learning how to write better for it.
That’s great, LaLa! I have to remember to add something to your publication. I haven’t done that in a while.
Oh I'm looking forward to it! Thank you 🙏