online writing

Your Medium Blog Isn’t Going to Give You Passive Income

The algorithm expects you to write frequently.

Anangsha Alammyan

28 Dec 2024 • 5 min read

The algorithm expects you to write frequently.

When I joined Medium as a writer, the premise had me hooked:

Write articles about whatever topic you like.
Put the articles behind a paywall to earn whenever a Medium member reads your work.
The articles stay online forever, and you keep earning as long as your profile on Medium exists.

Once you publish an article, it keeps earning even when you sleep…forever. Sounds like passive income, and every writer’s dream, right?

Wrong!

After spending four years on the platform, I can say one thing for sure: Your Medium blog isn’t going to be the passive income stream you hoped for. Yes, old articles keep earning years after they’re published, but this income is less.

I’m close to publishing 1000 articles on the platform. And even now, I’ll struggle to make even $100 a month if I don’t publish anything.

Sure, in some countries and in some situations, $100 a month might be enough. But for a full-time writer who sees Medium as a stable income stream every month, this isn’t sustainable.

The reality of the Medium algorithm

For new writers looking to make Medium their full-time income stream, let me break your bubble. Medium isn’t designed to be the full-time income stream of any writer.

I’ve been in the Boost Nomination Program for over a year now. I’ve heard it straight from Product Designers at Medium: This platform isn’t designed to pay your monthly bills. If you’re looking for a place to publish authentic stories, then yes. But if you’re expecting to be paid a writer’s salary for your work, then no.

Medium is meant to be “the better internet,” a place to read AI-free, human stories that educate, inspire, and leave you with some food for thought.

Medium is the place for readers. It’s the place for writers who have a 9-to-5, but are passionate about sharing their story. It’s the place for writers who don’t care about monetizing their work, and anything they earn from their writing is a pleasant surprise.

Medium isn’t the place for hustling writers, at least, not those looking to make a living out of it.

But what about writers looking to earn?

You can still earn money if your stories are behind the paywall and you’re a member of the Medium Partner Program.

But after the recent influx of new writers and the Boost program being built-in to the Medium website, if your article isn’t boosted, you’ll likely earn a few cents from it.

I have 186,000 followers on the platform.
I often publish in publications that have 250,000+ followers.
And yet, a non-boosted story barely gets 1000 views.
None of my recent non-boosted stories have earned more than $10.
It’s been seven months since any story was boosted at all.

Does it mean new writers have no hope on Medium?

Not really. If you publish quality content and aim for the boost, you can earn upwards of $100 for a single article.

Without the boost, you’ll probably have to write 100 stories that earn $1 each to make $100. Without using AI, we know that’s not possible in a month.

So yes, it’s pretty hard for new writers right now on Medium.

What I do to make $1000+ every month?

If you saw my Partner Program earnings dashboard at the start of this article, you’ll notice I’ve been making $1000+ every month consistently from Medium.

How did I manage this?

I have close to 1000 stories published on Medium.
Every month, I publish 10–15 new stories.
I share every article on LinkedIn and my newsletter to get more viewers.

So yes, the earnings from Medium are very much active. If I stop publishing 10–15 new articles every month, I’m sure the income curve would fall flat, and my income from here would go back to 0 within a few months.

What about earning from old stories?

Yes, old stories do make money when new readers find them on the platform. But this isn’t anything significant.

Let me show you a case study of my highest-earning article on Medium.

It was published in November 2022. Within a few months, it crossed 200k views and earned more than $5500.

Now, even though it gets 100+ views every month, it barely makes a dollar, as you can see in the screenshot below.

Yes, old stories can still earn on Medium. But it’s peanuts, and nowhere close to giving you a steady stream of passive income every month.

What can new writers expect?

If you’re starting out on Medium, expect to write. A lot.

And don’t expect to make hundreds of dollars in your first month. That’s a distant dream only a lucky few are able to achieve. For the majority, even making $5 in your first month is a huge deal.

As a platform veteran, I’d suggest aiming to write 100 articles first before giving up on the platform. Why 100? Because they give you enough sample space to sort through your stats and understand what your audience wants from you. You’ll also know what kind of content works.

The algorithm treats every writer differently. What becomes viral for me might fall flat for you. But if there’s one thing in common, it’s this: nothing beats consistency.

If you can pick a niche (or ten), and write diligently until you’ve published 100 articles, your writing will take off. This isn’t wishful thinking, but based on the analysis of 300+ writers I’ve mentored since 2020.

If you’re looking for accountability and a community of writers to help you along the way, join my 100 Day Challenge Community. 50+ writers have pledged to stay consistent for 100 days on Medium, and you can join the same. We discuss writing queries, exchange strategies, share wins, and remind each other that writing isn’t as lonely as it seems.

Medium earnings will never be your passive income

When it comes to writing on Medium, the real prize isn’t the Partner Program earnings. It’s the beautiful portfolio you build that showcases your best work.

When you come to terms with this, your journey on Medium will be more fulfilling, and you’ll be less likely to get demotivated when the dollars don’t come flooding in.

And if you need a community of writers to guide you along the way, you know where to find one.

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