For a long time, the only way to make money with Medium content was via the revenue share based on the reading time and claps.
However, Medium has introduced a referral program to their Partner Program that allows writers also to earn a commission from referred memberships.
Medium is a popular online platform that allows writers to publish their work and earn money based on readership. With the Referral Program, you can earn even more by referring new members to the platform.
What is Medium Referral Program?
The Medium Referral Program (MRP) is a new way to make money with Medium by referring new members to the platform.
When someone signs up for a Medium membership using your referral link, you earn a portion of their membership fee. This program is a great way to monetize your content and reach on Medium.
You do need to be a member of the Medium Partner Program (MPP) to earn from referrals. If you are not yet enrolled in the MPP, you can apply through Medium’s official page on their referral program. Once approved, you can start referring readers and earning extra income through the MRP.
The referral process is simple. You will receive a personalized referral landing page that you can share with your audience. When a reader clicks on your referral link and becomes a paid member, you will earn a portion of their membership fee.
These earnings are on top of the reading-time-based Partner Program earnings.
How to join the Medium Referral Program
If you’re interested in earning recurring income through Medium’s Referral Program, all you have to do is to apply to the Medium monetization program.
You do need to meet certain criteria to be accepted though, including:
- Have at least 100 followers on Medium
- Have at least one published story on Medium
- Reside in a country where Stripe, Medium’s payment processor, operates
- Be at least 18 years old
- Publish a new story at least once every six months to keep the partner status
How to find your Medium referral link
Once you’ve met the requirements and your account is approved for monetization, you can find your referral link by following these steps:
- Go to your “Settings” page on Medium.
- Scroll down to the “Publishing” tab
- Click on “Share your membership referral page.“
- Copy your membership referral page link
Sharing Your referral page effectively
Here are some effective ways to share your referral page and get more referrals:
a) Add to social media ages
Share your referral page link on your social media pages, such as Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn. Make sure to include a clear call-to-action and explain the benefits of joining Medium through your referral link.
b) Add to your Medium profile
By adding your referral link to your Medium profile you ensure that it’s visible to anyone who visits your profile. This is a great way to promote your referral link to your existing Medium followers.
c) Embed it to your Medium articles
Another effective way to promote your referral link is to include it in your Medium posts. You can add your referral link as an embedded view, which means that the link will be visible within your post and readers can click on it directly. Make sure to include a compelling call to action.
d) Promote your Medium email subscription
By encouraging people to join your Medium newsletter, you make it easy for them to receive a promotion from Medium that encourages them to support you by becoming a paid member. So, your conversions will increase as more and more people join your email list.
Earnings and payouts
The payout process for the Medium Referral Program is straightforward. Partner Program writers are paid monthly based on Medium member activity. Referral earnings are additional to existing Partner Program earnings, which are based on member read time.
You will receive your payment via Stripe, a third-party payment processor, which will deposit your earnings directly into your bank account on a monthly basis.
You’ll earn 50% commission less payment processing fees for every member you refer for as long as they remain a paying member, and you, a part of the Partner Program.
So if you refer one user, and based on Medium’s monthly membership fee of $5 as of August 11, 2021, you will make a 50% commission on $5 which is $2.5 less the (processing fee). The standard payment processing fee is 2.9% + $0.30, bringing your net commission to $2.27 per month per qualifying referral user.
There is no minimum payout threshold for the Medium Referral Program, though they had proposed a $10 minimum payout which is yet to be reinforced.
Is the Medium referral program worth it?
Strengths
- Recurring revenue: Medium’s referral program offers a recurring revenue stream, meaning that you can earn money each month as long as the person you referred continues to pay for their subscription. This is a big advantage over programs that only offer a one-time payment for referrals.
- High commission rate: Medium’s referral program offers a commission rate of around 50%, which is higher than many other programs. This means that you can earn a significant amount of money for each person you refer.
Weaknesses
- Limited eligibility: Medium’s referral program is only available to writers who are enrolled in the Medium Partner Program. This means that if you’re not a writer on Medium, you won’t be able to participate in the referral program.
- Limited referral options: Medium’s referral program only allows you to refer people to purchase a Medium subscription.
Medium referral program FAQs
How do I invite friends to join Medium?
To invite friends to join Medium, you need to provide them with your unique referral link. You can find your referral link by clicking on your profile picture on the homepage and selecting “Settings”. Then, navigate to the “Publishing” tab and click on “Referrals”. From there, you can copy your referral link and share it with your friends via email, social media, or any other platform you prefer.
Is there a limit to the number of friends I can refer to Medium?
No, there is no limit to the number of friends you can refer to Medium. You can refer as many friends as you want, and you will earn a reward for each friend who signs up using your referral link and becomes a paying member.
How can I track my Medium referral earnings?
You can track your Medium referral earnings by visiting the “Referrals” page in your Medium account. This page will show you how many friends you have referred, how many of them have become paying members, and how much you have earned in total.
Can I refer myself to Medium’s referral program?
No, you cannot refer yourself to Medium’s referral program. The referral program is designed to reward users for referring new paying members to Medium, not for signing up for a new account themselves. If you refer yourself, you will not be eligible for a reward.
Conclusion
If you’re a writer on Medium, we encourage you to join the Medium partner program and take advantage of their generous affiliate program.
To get started, simply visit Medium’s partner page and follow the instructions to create get started. Once approved, you can grab your custom referral link and start promoting it on Medium, and other platforms.
If you also create videos, we recommend that you explore the Youtube Partner Program and see if it’s the right fit for you to supplement your online income. A few hundred dollars from a few sources can help you foot your bills.
