Friend of Medium — Is It Worth It?

Summary

The article discusses the early impact of Medium's "Friend of Medium" program on a writer's viewership and earnings.

Abstract

Medium's "Friend of Medium" tier has been introduced to reward writers, allowing members to boost writers' earnings and share access to paywalled content through "Friend Links." The author, having upgraded to this tier, reports a significant increase in daily views from an average of 70–80 to 153 and 146 in the subsequent days. Financially, the author notes a substantial improvement in earnings, with a daily average of $1.65 before the upgrade, jumping to$ 4.56 and $10.10 after joining the program. While acknowledging the short time frame of observation, the author is optimistic about the potential for sustained earnings growth but remains cautious due to Medium's history of policy changes. The article invites others to share their experiences with the new program.

Opinions

The author is optimistic about the immediate positive impact of the "Friend of Medium" program on their viewership and earnings.
There is a recognition that the observed increase in earnings is based on a very limited time frame and may not be indicative of long-term results.
The author is cautiously hopeful that the higher earnings will continue but is aware that Medium's policies and earnings structure can change.
The author values community feedback and encourages others to share their experiences with the new membership tier.

My way-too-early review of the Friend of Medium Program

Medium recently created a new membership to reward writers with its “Friend of Medium” tier. Members can now help writers earn four times more earnings, and it’s possible to share “Friend Links” of others to any paywalled story to enable non-members to read and contribute to the writer’s earnings.

I signed up as soon as it became available to my account, and I noticed an immediate uptake in views the next day. Usually, I average around 70–80 views per day, but in the last couple of days, I’ve received 153 and 146 views.

How My Earnings Are Impacted So Far

My earnings on Medium tanked in October, and they never recovered much throughout the entire month of November. I keep track of my daily earnings, and I average around $1.65 for the first 28 days of the month. However, my earnings since making the upgrade to “Friend of Medium” reached $4.56 on the first day and $10.10 on the second day.

These earnings are a huge difference compared to normal, and it will be amazing if they last or keep growing. Of course, a two-day period is way too short of a sample size. I’ll have a much better idea if these earnings are the new normal by the end of next month or if it’s just a flash in the pan. I also know all too well that Medium can make changes at any time.

Feel Free to Let Me Know Your Experience

Anyway, I just wanted to give a quick update for anyone who’s on the fence about joining the new program. I know that two days is not long enough to make any lasting conclusions, but I was surprised to see such a difference in the income. If anyone else has also made the change, feel free to let me know your experience. As always, thank you for taking the time to read!