Summary

The article provides a comparative analysis of WordPress and Medium, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of each platform for writers.

Abstract

The article "The Ultimate Guide on the Pros and Cons of WordPress and Medium" delves into the features of two popular writing platforms, WordPress and Medium, offering a detailed comparison to help writers choose the best fit for their needs. WordPress is recognized for its extensive customization options, plugin variety, and monetization potential, but it requires more technical knowledge, time investment, and maintenance. On the other hand, Medium is praised for its simplicity, community engagement, and quicker monetization through a subscription model, though it lacks the design flexibility of WordPress. The author shares personal experience, having transitioned from WordPress to Medium, primarily due to the time commitment and financial constraints associated with WordPress. The article suggests that Medium is ideal for those who prioritize ease of use and community support, while WordPress is better suited for users seeking comprehensive control and customization of their blog.

Opinions

The author has personal experience with both platforms, having successfully used WordPress for a TeeBall blog and eventually choosing Medium for its ease of use and community aspects.
WordPress is highly customizable, offering control over design, plugins, and monetization strategies, but this flexibility comes with the need for technical skills and significant time investment.
Medium is seen as a more straightforward platform that doesn't require coding knowledge, allows for quicker content publication, and provides a built-in community of writers and readers.
The author views the time and financial investment required for WordPress as significant drawbacks, which were pivotal in their decision to switch to Medium.
Monetization on Medium can be achieved faster once a writer gains 100 subscribers, whereas WordPress may take longer to generate revenue.
The article implies that WordPress might be the preferred choice if time and money are not limiting factors, while Medium is recommended for those who value simplicity and community engagement over extensive customization.

The Ultimate Guide on the Pros and Cons of WordPress and Medium

Features of these writing platforms that you never considered

Writing photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels

As a writer, you look for the best online writing platform and there are many to choose from. There’s Blogger, Wix, Tumblr, Buy Me a Coffee, the free and paid version of WordPress, and you might even add LinkedIn and Twitter as other writing options. But then there is one which you may not be very familiar with and that is Medium.

I’ll compare some pros and cons of WordPress, which is the most popular online blogging platform, with Medium.

To be honest, about two years ago, I barely knew what Medium was, but I had spent a few years writing on WordPress. I had a TeeBall blog I built from scratch and took to page one of Google.

Before COVID started, I was looking for a writing platform and trying to decide between these two platforms and finally decided on Medium.

So, you may be in a similar situation.

I have tried other writing platforms, and they are okay. But WordPress offers a lot of tools that are available for writers.

Features of WordPress

Let’s start off with the Pros:

1. You can design your own platform from the background, logo, placement of tabs, and other features.

2. You pick your plugins for the various tools that are available.

3. You pick the paid or free version of the blog depending on your budget and goal.

4. You publish anything you want.

5. You add affiliate links.

6. You sell items from your website.

7. You choose your domain name.

There are others but these are some of the more popular features. Now, let’s discuss some of the negative features.

Here are the Cons:

1. You need to know some coding to create your blog.

2. Creating a blog takes a lot of time.

3. You pick the plugins and there are over 59,000 to choose from.

4. If you want to make money from WordPress, it takes a lot of time.

5. You have to update the plugin from time to time.

6. You pay for hosting the blog from GoDaddy, BlueHost, and other similar platforms.

7. Lastly, putting together a WordPress blog can take a lot of time.

Once again, there are other negative features of WordPress but these are some of the more popular ones.

This is an extensive list of Pros as well as Cons of using WordPress. The main negative features that led me to Medium were time and the ability to make money from the site. So if time and money were not an issue for you, then WordPress would be your best option.

However, if these two options are an issue, then you may want to consider Medium.

Features of Medium

When I finally, decided on Medium, I already had an account for two years but never used it. I wrote a few articles and then forgot about the platform. With Medium, it is best to write and use the platform as much as you can. Medium, unlike WordPress, allows you to join a community of other writers.

Most Medium writers are there to support you. Everyone may have their own personal agenda, but you all share a common like or dislike of the platform. With WordPress, it is hard to generate a similar type of community.

Other features of Medium include:

1. You pay one flat fee for writing on the platform (this does not include the difference between paying monthly and yearly for Medium).

2. You do not need to know coding since the platform is set up for the most part. There are a few things you will need to do, but it will not take as long as it would for creating a WordPress site.

3. You can earn money faster than on WordPress even though you need to build a following of 100 subscribers. But you could put an affiliate link on an article and if someone makes a purchase, you earn money.

4. Once you have 100 subscribers, you can earn money within the first month. The key is to write articles that readers want to read. Also, befriending other writers does not hurt either.

5. You do not need money to pay for a domain, template, or plugins. You can start writing in five minutes or so.

6. You can make friends with other writers which is very helpful.

7. You can use the platform to attract clients or new business.

This is a general overview of WordPress and Medium so there is of course more that I didn’t cover.

Can you think of something that I didn’t mention?

Feel free to support my work by becoming a Medium member for $5 a month. I may earn a small percentage and you get to read all the articles on this platform when you join here.