Today Is the Last Day for Medium

Why you must start writing right now

Medium is closing up shop and moving on.

Ev Williams is preparing the letter to wish us the best in our lives.

Medium was a grand experiment that had so many success stories but like all great things, the time for Medium has come and gone.

Ev learned a lot and will be taking along the lessons from this platform to his next venture.

There will be one final payment to all the writers on the platform. And you’re welcome to keep your stories on the platform. The website isn’t going anywhere for now but there won’t be staff or a company to support it.

The company wishes you the best in your creative pursuits and is grateful for all of your support and contribution to it.

Medium is a grand experiment

While Medium isn’t closing shop (yet), it’s very much in the realm of possibilities.

There is no concrete or even remote hint that Medium is closing its doors but that doesn’t mean it could.

Medium is in fact a grand experiment to connect writers and readers. It allows novices and the world’s greatest minds to share their thoughts and ideas on the platform. It curates, shares, and distributes the pieces to an audience who will be most interested in them.

Yet, there is a possibility that Medium could shut down any day as other social media platforms have done in the past. Medium could become a casualty in the virtual cemetery known as Vine, Myspace, and Googleplus.

Under what circumstances could Medium close?

• If the people who are supporting the company and raising venture capital for it decide to pull the plug, there goes Medium.
• If the founder decides he’s had enough of this little platform and is ready to move on and try something else, goodbye Medium.
• If subscribers decrease and people stop renewing their Medium membership, there goes Medium with it.

While none of this is happening, it’s all within the realm of possibilities.

You could wake up any morning and get that exact email I opened this piece with. Medium could be an entity that we all loved but may have to say goodbye to.

You don’t have as much time as you think

I want to remind you that your time is limited and your window for success for Medium is even smaller.

This is a message to get you to stop procrastinating and start writing immediately.

Medium is a life-changer. You don’t realize how good you have it with Medium. Not only do you get to write what you want and publish at your own pace but Medium partners with you and helps you get your work in front of people who want to read it.

You write the song and Medium is your Spotify. You create the show and Medium becomes your Netflix.

You are the creator and Medium does the work of finding you your readers. This is a revolutionary platform that connects writers with their readers.

Oh, and you get paid for it!

Medium gives you the platform, promotes you, and then pays you for the reads! I can’t think of anything that has helped and promoted writers as much as Medium does.

All good things come to an end

Medium is too good to be true.

If you listen to all the people complaining about Medium and the stats, you’d think otherwise. Most of the complaints come from people who think that Medium owes them something. It doesn’t.

Medium is an open, democratic platform that allows in the voices of everyone. You don’t have to have a fancy degree, pedigree or creative writing degree if you write here. You come as you are and write as you are.

You begin at the level that you’re at and progress.

And that’s exactly why you don’t have time. Anything can change on the platform. Outside forces like the founders, the board, or the market dynamics could shut down Medium.

The site you spend a few hours a week on could disappear into the thick of the night. All you’ll get if this does happen is one farewell email and blog update from the founder.

You may believe that you have time and that you are going to wait until your kid graduates, you’re less busy at work or the pandemic is over, but by that time, Medium could be over.

We are in the midst of a grand experiment as great as the Industrial revolution was after the world wars. Promotion and pay for writers who can write about what they want.

If you’re on the platform today, you have a huge head start. You can’t squander the opportunity or the time. You can’t play the “wait and see” game or the “someday” game.

If you’re just starting, there’s no time to sit back and see where this goes. This opportunity may never come back and never exist in history again.

If you don’t know how easy Medium makes your life, you likely weren’t writing online before Medium. Before Medium, you had to hustle on the blogosphere to rack up views, readers, and subscribers. You were at the mercy of search engines and having to be found.

If you have writing dreams or have thought of becoming a writer, time to stop reading and start writing on the platform. Don’t take Medium for granted and assume it will be here for the end of time.

Start writing today

Medium is a game-changer for writers and you might not even realize it because you’re too close to it and most people you hear from are criticizing it.

You don’t know how long this platform can sustain itself and how long it will last.

Write today and most importantly, start a mailing list today. Why a mailing list? Just in case, Medium calls it quit and you have to fend for yourself as a writer. You won’t have easy access to thousands of readers.

You’ll only have the folks who signed up for your newsletter so start one and ask your readers to sign up right now. Mailchimp allows you to collect email addresses that you have access to. If you use Medium’s newsletter, you won’t be able to see their email addresses when they sign up. You want to be able to see it in case you need to contact your readers outside the Medium platform.

While you’re at it, sign up for mine here so you get writing tips and inspiration.

Time is of the essence.

Your writing can’t wait.

Your readers can’t wait.

And your writing dreams definitely can’t wait.

What do you think about the future of Medium? Will it be gone too soon or stand the test of time? Leave a comment below and let’s discuss.