Summary

The article outlines the necessary steps for Medium writers to monetize their content through the Medium Partner Program by correctly setting up paywall settings for their stories.

Abstract

The author of the article emphasizes the importance of properly configuring paywall settings on Medium to ensure eligibility for earnings. Despite having substantial story views, reads, and read ratios, the author was not earning until they learned from Lucian Ioan Chirilă about the requirement to opt into the Medium Partner Program and enable the paywall for stories. The article provides a step-by-step guide for both published and yet-to-be-published stories to help writers rectify their settings and start earning. It also includes visual aids to assist with the process and ends with a call for feedback on whether there are other methods to enable earnings on Medium.

Opinions

The author acknowledges a personal oversight in not realizing the need to enable the paywall for earnings on Medium.
There is an expression of gratitude towards Lucian Ioan Chirilă for bringing the issue to the author's attention.
The author suggests that their experience might not be unique and questions whether others were also unaware of the paywall requirement.
The author humorously refers to themselves as a "clown" for not knowing about the paywall setting, indicating self-deprecation and a light-hearted tone.
There is a hint of curiosity and an openness to learning about alternative methods for enabling earnings on Medium, if they exist.
The author is hopeful that the article will be helpful to other Medium writers who may be in a similar situation.

You Won’t Get Paid On Medium Unless You Do This. Are You Eligible To Earn?

Non members can read here

I promise you this isn’t clickbait. The below events are based on a true story!

First of all, I need to give a massive shout out to Lucian Ioan Chirilă who highlighted the issue to me.

If it wasn’t for him, I’d still be publishing content, opening my stats and seeing a big fat $0 next to my earnings!

So, if you keep seeing nothing next to your earnings, this may be why.

Proof

Over recent weeks, I’ve seen others post their story stats and how they’re making a few $$

One thing started to stand out.

Their stories were lower than mine in terms of views, reads and read ratios, yet they were earning and I wasn’t

Below is proof that this isn’t clickbait and I was in fact earning a big fat ZERO

*FYI, the $0.53 I’ve earned in the bottom picture only happened yesterday after I selected what is needed to earn!*

If You’ve Already Published A Story Follow These 5 Steps To Earn

*Disclaimer*

You’ll need to be part of the Medium Partner Program first

So, here it is, the simple steps I somehow didn’t know about….

1. Once you’ve published a story you need to click on these 3 dots and select, “edit story”

2. You then need to click on the 3 dots top right

3. From there you’ll need to select “manage paywall setting”

4. You then need to click “paywall your story” and a green tick should appear

5. Press save

To Set This Up Before Publishing Follow These 3 Steps

Click “publish” in the top right of your screen

2. You’ll then be sent to a different window and you’ll need to click “paywall your story”

3. Press “publish & send now”

You’re now all set to earn!

Conclusion

Don’t be a clown like me and please make sure you select the above if you want to be eligible to earn!

I’m still hanging my head in shame that I didn’t know this.

Am I the only one who had no idea this needed to be done?

If there’s another way of doing this, what is it?

Maybe I am indeed a clown?

Thanks a lot for reading and I hope I’ve helped someone out there!