Why Your Medium Articles Are Getting Views But Not Making Money

Let’s clarify two huge misconceptions about Medium stats

I recently wrote an article about how difficult it is to sustain a steady income on Medium. I assumed that once I started making $1,000/month, I’d continue earning the same amount, if not more. I received many responses from writers who have struggled with the same reality. I also received messages from individuals who are confused about Medium stats and how exactly articles make money on the platform. One writer, Ken Taro asked an interesting question that needs addressing.

I’ve also published articles with thousands of views and a hefty number of comments that made very little in comparison. So, I’d like to clarify a few things about making money on Medium.

The Old Monetary System Relied On Claps

As you may already know, Medium is constantly changing. Not long ago, the amount of money you earned on an article relied heavily on the number of claps it received. This system made writers hungry for public recognition. If you ask me, chasing “claps” on Medium is just as toxic as chasing “likes” on Instagram. It also created a cheesy camaraderie where writers were connecting in exchange for claps.

While some favored this system, there was a discrepancy between the popularity of an article and the recognition it received. In other words, writers had to rely on their readers, not only to clap for articles they enjoyed but, to remember to clap. On October 28, 2019, Medium changed the way articles earned money. And I personally think it was for the best.

The New System Relies On Member Reading Time

Now, the amount of money an article earns is reliant on the “reading time” of paying Medium members. In other words, the longer a paid member spends reading an article, the more money it makes. While claps are still a good measure of a story’s success, they don’t determine its monetary value. Neither does an article’s number of views.

Some of the harshest criticism of this new system comes from poets on the platform, as their posts are inevitably shorter than long-form articles. However, writers who have grown a loyal following and know how to write engaging content can greatly benefit.

I explained this in my response to Ken.

So, although Ken’s article had 19,000 more views than mine, it made a significantly smaller sum of money. The only reasonable explanation would be if Ken’s article was significantly shorter than my 11-minute article, which earned over $850. Turns out, it was.

Only “Internal” Views Make Money On Medium

Another important thing to note is that Medium articles only earn money when paid members read them. While you yourself don’t have to be a paying member on Medium to earn money, your readers do.

So, if your article has 29k views but 24k are “external” views (meaning they were read by people who are not paying the $5/month Medium membership fee), you essentially earn nothing for the majority of your story’s exposure.

Growing your Medium following might be more beneficial than sharing your articles externally via social media. That’s why it’s so important to build up a loyal following on Medium. While it’s smart to market your writing on social channels outside of Medium, paid members reading your work will ultimately make you the dough.

The Lesson: Longer Articles On Medium Are Eligible To Earn More Money

So here’s the takeaway. If you want to earn more money on Medium, you might want to consider writing longer articles. Just be careful not to fill the platform with low-quality, longwinded jargon. Remember, long articles only make money if people read them, so you need to keep your audience engaged.

And just so you know, Medium isn’t the only platform that rewards creators for keeping their audience engaged longer. Youtube uses a similar system, which is why their most lucrative videos are usually over ten minutes long. While there’s no hard and fast rule on Medium as to how long an article should be, purely based on my own experience, I suggest trying to hit the 7-minute mark. You can see draft lengths under your list of stories.

A New, Additional Way To Make Money On Medium — Get Your Friends And Family To Sign Up

It might be worth mentioning that Medium has implemented a new way for writers to make money on the platform. They have launched a referral program, in which you receive approximately half of that person’s $5 membership fee per month.

While it may not sound like much at first, the more people you convince to sign up, the more money you’ll make over time. The easiest way to do this is to add your membership referral link at the bottom of your articles like so.

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