Making money on Medium is not as mysterious as people think. Yes, some writers earn $5 a month while others earn $5,000 — but the difference is not luck. The real difference is strategy, consistency, and understanding how Medium’s system works.
If you are inside the Medium Partner Program, you already have the opportunity to earn real money. But opportunity is nothing without the right approach. This long-form guide will walk you through the exact strategies top Medium writers use in 2025 to grow their reach, increase their reading time, and maximize earnings.
Whether you’re a total beginner or someone who’s published a few posts but isn’t seeing results yet, this guide will show you the fastest path forward.
Table of Contents
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Why Medium Is Still One of the Best Platforms in 2025
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How Medium Actually Pays Writers
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Strategy #1: Choose Topics Medium Readers Are Already Searching For
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Strategy #2: Write “Value-Rich” Content That Keeps Readers Hooked
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Strategy #3: Master the Art of the Perfect Headline
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Strategy #4: Format Your Articles Like a Pro
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Strategy #5: Use Publications to Get Instant Reach
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Strategy #6: Publish Consistently Using a Smart System
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Strategy #7: Promote Your Posts Outside Medium
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Bonus Tips Top Writers Don’t Share
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Final Thoughts
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External Link
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Tags
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Thumbnail Prompt
1. Why Medium Is Still One of the Best Platforms in 2025
Medium went through many changes in the past few years, but one thing hasn’t changed: it remains the easiest platform to earn money from writing online without needing:
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your own website
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SEO knowledge
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a social media following
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design skills
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marketing background
You simply:
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Write
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Publish
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Get paid when members read your story
Medium handles the audience, distribution, design, hosting, and analytics — all for free.
Thousands of writers around the world have turned Medium into:
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a side income stream
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a full-time career
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a writing portfolio
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a brand-building platform
If you’re strategic, you can turn Medium into a monthly earning machine.
And the best part?
You don’t need viral posts or luck.
You only need the right system.
2. How Medium Actually Pays Writers
Medium pays based on Member Reading Time (MRT).
Not views.
Not followers.
Not claps.
Not likes.
Just how long paying Medium members spend reading your stories.
The longer they read, the more you earn.
Medium also pays you for:
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new members who join through your referral link
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high-engagement stories
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stories distributed in Medium channels
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external traffic that turns into paid Medium members
This means someone can make:
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$10 with 500 views
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or $200 with 300 views
It depends on reading minutes, not traffic.
So your goal is simple:
👉 Create content that people actually finish reading.
This blog will show you how.
3. Strategy #1: Choose Topics Medium Readers Are Already Searching For
If you write on Medium randomly, your earnings will also be random.
But if you choose topics readers actively search for, your earnings will grow consistently.
In 2025, the top-performing Medium categories are:
🔥 Tech & AI
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AI tools
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AI productivity
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ChatGPT
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Programming
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Machine learning
Readers love future-focused tech.
🔥 Productivity & Personal Development
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Habits
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Discipline
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Mindset
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Creativity
Still one of the most popular Medium niches.
🔥 Make Money Online & Freelancing
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Side hustles
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Online income
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Freelancing tips
Readers want financial independence.
🔥 Software Engineering & Coding
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Web dev
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Dev careers
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Roadmaps
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Clean code
Huge search volume.
🔥 Business, Marketing & Startups
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Entrepreneurship
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Marketing strategies
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Business lessons
🔥 Career Growth & Self-Improvement
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Remote work
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Career mistakes
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Leadership
🔥 Real-life Stories With Lessons
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Failures
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Mistakes
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Personal journeys
These niches bring millions of readers every month.
To make money, you must write for readers, not just for yourself.
How to pick your niche (simple method)
Ask yourself:
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What topics can I write 50+ articles about?
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What do people often ask me?
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What do I have experience in?
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What do I enjoy reading?
Pick 2–3 topics and stay consistent for 30 days.
Your audience will grow faster.
4. Strategy #2: Write “Value-Rich” Content That Keeps Readers Hooked
Since Medium pays for reading time, your goal is not just writing —
your goal is keeping the reader until the end.
Here’s how to do it:
1. Start With a Strong Hook (first 3 lines)
Your intro must make the reader think:
“Okay, I want to keep reading.”
Examples of good hooks:
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“I made every writing mistake possible. Here’s what finally worked.”
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“If you’re not earning on Medium yet, it’s not your writing — it’s your strategy.”
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“Most new writers fail for one simple reason: they write what they want, not what readers want.”
Avoid boring intros like:
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“In this article, I will talk about…”
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“Medium is a platform created in 2012…”
Readers leave instantly.
2. Give Real Value
Value means:
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teaching something
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solving a problem
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sharing a lesson
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providing steps
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giving insights
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telling a story with a message
Medium readers love actionable content.
3. Use Examples Everywhere
People understand better with examples.
Instead of saying:
“Use strong titles.”
Write:
“Example of weak title: My Writing Journey
Example of strong title: I Wrote 30 Days on Medium — Here’s Exactly What Happened.”
4. Use Subheadings Every 2–3 Paragraphs
This increases reading time by:
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reducing scrolling fatigue
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giving structure
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making your article feel shorter
5. Don’t Write for Word Count
Write for clarity, not length.
You can write 600 words and earn more than a 3,000-word post if readers actually finish it.
6. Use Storytelling When Possible
People remember stories 22x more than facts.
Even in instructional posts, add mini-stories:
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personal failures
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mistakes you made
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lessons you learned
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experiences you had
Stories = higher retention = more money.
5. Strategy #3: Master the Art of the Perfect Headline
Headlines matter more than anything else in writing.
Your headline determines:
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click-through rate
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views
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earnings
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distribution
A perfect Medium headline is:
✔ short
✔ clear
✔ specific
✔ emotional
✔ benefit-focused
High-Performing Title Formulas
1. How I + Result
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“How I Earned My First $200 on Medium in 14 Days”
2. Number + Lesson
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“7 Writing Mistakes That Kill Your Medium Earnings”
3. Stop/Start Formula
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“Stop Writing Like a Beginner on Medium”
4. Secrets/Strategies/Blueprint
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“The 2025 Medium Growth Blueprint No One Talks About”
5. Negative Framing
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“Why Your Medium Posts Aren’t Getting Views”
6. Curiosity Gap
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“This One Change Increased My Medium Income by 300%”
Use these formulas and your click-through rate will increase instantly.
6. Strategy #4: Format Your Articles Like a Professional
Formatting is one of the most underrated parts of Medium writing — but it affects reading time, and therefore earnings.
Here’s how to format like a top writer:
1. Use Short Paragraphs
2–4 lines max.
Walls of text scare readers.
2. Use Lists and Bullets
Lists make reading easier and increase retention.
3. Add Spaces Between Sections
White space is your friend.
4. Add 1–2 Images
Medium uses Unsplash integration — super simple.
5. Use Bold & Italics Wisely
Highlight only key phrases (less is more).
6. Write in a Clean, Conversational Tone
Medium readers don’t want academic writing.
7. Break Long Articles Into Sections
Makes the article feel shorter, even if it’s long.
7. Strategy #5: Use Publications (The Fastest Way to Grow)
The single biggest accelerator for new Medium writers is:
publications.
A publication is like a magazine inside Medium.
When you publish with a big publication, you instantly:
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reach thousands of subscribers
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get more reads
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increase your credibility
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grow your follower count
Top Medium Publications (2025)
Tech & AI
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Level Up Coding
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Towards AI
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The Generator
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AI Mind
Productivity & Personal Development
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Better Humans
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Mind Cafe
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Publishous
Business & Entrepreneurship
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Better Marketing
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The Startup
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Entrepreneur’s Handbook
General
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Medium Digest
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Human Parts
Submit your stories to publications every time unless it’s extremely personal.
8. Strategy #6: Publish Consistently Using a Smart System
Consistency beats talent on Medium.
Top writers don’t publish randomly.
They use systems.
Best Publishing System for 2025
Weekly Plan
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3–5 stories per week
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Write daily, publish often
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Repurpose once a week
Monthly Plan
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12–20 stories per month
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Focus on 2–3 niches
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Review analytics and adjust
What Happens When You Publish Consistently
By week 2:
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more followers
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more reads
By week 4:
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algorithm starts pushing your stories
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higher earnings
By month 3:
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stable income
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solid audience
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writing improves naturally
Consistency is the only “secret” of top Medium writers.
9. Strategy #7: Promote Your Posts Outside Medium
External traffic can boost distribution massively.
Share posts on:
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X (Twitter)
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LinkedIn
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Facebook
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Reddit
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WhatsApp
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Quora
Even 20 external views can trigger Medium’s algorithm.
10. Bonus Tips Top Writers Usually Don’t Share
These tips come directly from writers earning $1,000–$5,000/month.
1. Build a Writing Slow-Burn Portfolio
Posts don’t always earn instantly — but they earn for months.
2. Write Evergreen Topics
Content that stays relevant earns longer.
3. Use Storytelling in Tech & Business Posts
It increases reading time dramatically.
4. Don’t Wait for Viral Posts
Even small posts earn money on Medium.
5. Study Your Analytics
Look at:
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reading time
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traffic sources
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which topics perform best
Then double down.
11. Final Thoughts
Medium is one of the most powerful platforms for writers in 2025 — not because it pays the most per view, but because:
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it pays you for your writing skills
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it gives you an audience
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it helps you build a brand
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it supports new writers
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it rewards long-term consistency
If you follow the strategies above, your Medium earnings will grow month after month.
You don’t need luck.
You need a system.
And now, you have one.
