Medium Partner Program: Unlocking Your Earning Potential

Are you passionate about writing and interested in earning from your talent? The Medium Partner Program (MPP) might be the perfect opportunity for you.

This unique program allows writers like you to earn money for the content they publish on Medium based on engagement from Medium members as well as users they’ve brought to the platform.

With a focus on quality content and audience engagement, this platform helps you gain exposure to new readers while earning income based on the time members spend reading your work. You also earn a commission when your articles convert non-paying readers into members.

There are bloggers earning a consistent income in upwards of $5000/month, so with the right approach, Medium can actually pay your bills.

Overview of the Medium Partner Program

The Medium Partner Program allows you, as a writer, to earn money for the content you publish on Medium based on engagement from Medium members and users.

Since its launch in 2017, the program has paid out $28 million to over 200,000 writers, as stated by TechCrunch. The purpose of the Partner Program is to reward writers for creating quality content while helping them grow their audiences.

Moreover, the aim of the Medium Partner Program is to support talented writers and encourage them to keep producing great content. Founded by Ev Williams in 2012, Medium has evolved over time, and so has the Medium Partner Program.

Medium Membership

Medium membership offers members access to exclusive content. Major benefits of becoming a Medium member include:

• Unlimited access to all stories on Medium
• Smooth reading experience with no ad interruptions
• Option to listen to stories as you go about your errands
• Organize stories into manageable lists
• Ability to create your own publication for a wider reach
• Option to map your own custom domain for coherent branding

So, while you don’t need a Medium subscription to be part of the partner program, I highly recommend it, especially for features such as domain mapping and publication creation.

By leveraging the Medium Partner Program and Medium membership, you have the opportunity to connect with a vast network of readers and writers, grow your audience, and earn from your writing skills.

Medium Partner Program requirements

To join the Medium Partner Program, you must meet certain eligibility requirements, which include:

• Have at least 100 followers
• Have at least one published story on Medium
• Residing in a country where Stripe, Medium’s payment processor, operates
• Be 18 years and above
• Publish a new story at least once every six months to keep the partner status

You also need to provide accurate and complete tax info when applying.

Note that the stories behind the paywall must follow Medium rules, and cannot include the topics such as follow-for-follow, non-organic growth strategies, or the Partner program itself.

Eligible countries

Currently, the Partner program is only available in the following countries:

Getting Started with MPP

Enrolling in the Medium Partner Program is simple. Log into your Medium account, navigate to the Medium Partner Program section, and click on the “Apply Now” button. You will be directed to a Typeform page where you will need to submit your details to help the team review your account. 

To do this, connect your Stripe account to Medium or create a new Stripe account if you don’t have one. You will need to provide your legal name, routing number, and bank account information.

Once approved, you will be able to accept the terms of service. You will also need to set up Stripe as the payment method.

Once connected, your earnings from the Medium Partner Program will be directly deposited into your linked bank account every month provided you meet the set minimum payment threshold. 

Medium Partner Program terms of service

As a participant in the Medium Partner Program, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with the Medium Partner Program Terms.

Adherence to the terms ensures your eligibility to earn from the platform. Pay attention to rules regarding content, conduct, and monetization. By staying aware of and complying with these terms, you maintain good standing in the program.

Monetizing your stories (Locking)

After enrolling in the Partner Program and setting up your Stripe account, you can choose to put your story behind a paywall to start earning money. This is often referred to as locking your story.

This allows only paying members to access your full story, increasing your potential earnings.

This needs to be done on a per-story basis, and you can still publish stories outside of the paywall​. Note that only locked stories accrue earnings through the member reading time earning method.

Through the Medium Partner Program, you can earn money in two ways:

• Based on the total member reading time of your articles.
• By earning bonuses via referrals.

a) Member reading time

Your earnings in the Partner Program depend on the reading time and engagement of Medium members. When paying members spend time reading and interacting with your stories, it increases your revenue. The more time they spend reading, the more you can potentially earn. 

b) Medium Referral program

Another way you can earn money through MPP is through referred memberships. You’ll earn a recurring 50% commission, less the standard payment processing fee of 2.9%+$0.30 on the $5/month or $50/year membership fees. 

This means, that if you refer 10 users who pay monthly, you will be $25 commission less $4.45 processing fee.

Your payout will be on a monthly basis as long as the reader’s membership plan is active.

How much does Medium pay per 1,000 views?

The amount of money that Medium Partner Program writers earn is based primarily on the reading time. Claps no longer influence your Medium earnings. They did in the past.

Another nuance in the new counting system is the reading time of non-members who become paying members within 30 days of reading your content.

That said most writers can expect to make between $2.5 and $9 USD per 1000 views. However, some writers earn much more than this, while others earn much less.

The highest amount ever earned by a single story on Medium is $16,685.50. That’s insane!

How to grow your Medium partner earnings

The Medium Partner Program is not a get-rich-quick scheme. It takes time and effort to build a following on Medium and earn a significant amount of money from the program.

However, for writers who are willing to put in the work, the Partner Program can be a great way to earn money from their writing.

Here are some tips for increasing your earnings from the Medium Partner Program:

• Write high-quality content that is interesting and engaging to readers.
• Promote your articles on social media and other channels.
• Get involved in the Medium community and interact with other writers and readers.
• Refer new members to Medium.
• Leverage the power of publications for more views on your stories

Publish stories in Medium publications

To publish your stories on Medium, explore various publications that align with your interests and ideas. By publishing in Medium publications, you increase the visibility of your content to a wider audience, including Medium members.

When submitting your stories to a publication, follow their specific guidelines and editorial standards. If your story is accepted, it’ll be published under the publication’s umbrella, alongside other relevant content.

Medium Partner FAQs