Chapter 1: Introduction to Medium's New Features

Medium has unveiled an exciting new tier designed to enhance user engagement and allow writers to monetize their work better. With the introduction of the Friend tier, members can now earn money for external views on their stories.

Yesterday, I shared a post titled "Higher Views but Earnings (Still) Low? — Here's Why You See This Phenomenon On Medium." It features a writer who expressed surprise at the high number of external views from non-members. For instance, out of 228 views, 138 came from non-members.

To summarize, Medium has eliminated its "3 free reads per month" feature, which allowed users to read three stories per month without a membership. This change was made because the previous strategy didn't yield the expected results. Instead, Medium is experimenting with a new model aimed at achieving a milestone of one million paying subscribers by 2024.

As of September 2023, Medium has stopped offering the three free reads and is now providing "longer" previews of articles. Non-members can access a more substantial portion of articles than before, but full access requires a subscription.

Attention! There’s a loophole for shorter articles; non-members can read them entirely for free, allowing them to enjoy content without restrictions.

Chapter 2: Understanding the Friend Tier

This week, Medium is rolling out its new "Friend tier." To clarify, for a monthly fee of $15 or an annual fee of $150, which is three times the standard membership cost, users can earn money from external views.

How does this work? You promote your stories by sharing a unique friend link, allowing you to get paid for every external view that comes through that link. Additionally, you can support fellow writers by sharing their work through this system. It operates similarly to a recommendation engine found on platforms like Substack or ConvertKit, where you can suggest paywalled articles, earning four times more for the writers you recommend.

The good news is that you’ll also receive compensation for views from non-members. If you enjoy earning badges, you’ll receive a "Friend of Medium" badge, and the first 500 users to upgrade will receive a tote bag, reminiscent of past promotions by Medium.

Alex Benzer, the Director of Medium's Product team, shared insights about how this new tier will benefit both writers and readers. "When Friends of Medium engage with member-only stories, they will generate four times more earnings for those writers compared to regular members," he stated.

The program is designed for those who are willing to promote their work. If you’re open to sharing links to your stories through newsletters and social media, this could be an excellent opportunity for you to earn from your external views.

Exciting New Changes to Medium's Partner Program - This video discusses the latest updates and features in Medium's Partner Program, helping writers maximize their earnings.

However, this tier may not be for everyone. If you are uncomfortable promoting yourself, cannot afford the fee, or prefer to wait and see how the program unfolds, you might want to hold off.

Chapter 3: Final Thoughts and FAQs

As we wrap up, it's essential to note that Ariel Meadow Stallings, who oversees the Boost Beta program, has indicated that this new structure will not impact your distribution on Medium. There are multiple ways to achieve distribution, and having a badge will not necessarily enhance your visibility.

It's crucial to remember that generating reads is now part of your responsibility as a writer. If you have social media platforms to share your work, you'll likely find success in this new structure. But if you prefer to focus solely on Medium, this might not be the best fit for you.

Benzer remarked, "This is just the beginning for Friend memberships. It lays the groundwork for a new community experience that we're in the early stages of developing."

What do you think?

A — I'm giving it a go. It’s worth trying out to see how it works.

B — I can contribute more to the writers I read.

C — I can't afford it; I'm not financially stable.

D — I upgraded recently!

E — I don’t have access yet.

F — Finally! I expressed my willingness to pay more a while back.

G — Where can I sign up?

Stay tuned for my upcoming post with an FAQ section!

My Strategy For Medium's NEW Partner Program (and algorithm) - This video outlines effective strategies for navigating Medium's updated Partner Program and optimizing your earnings.